Morning News Round-Up -- 1.12.09: "Swell of Interest" Hoodie Edition...

Even though Watch Dog wrote about it here and the San Mateo Civil Grand Jury reported on it here, the San Mateo Daily Journal today points out that the cost of collecting garbage may go up because the profits from recycling are plummeting. (Oh yeah, and a new, more expensive contract is being considered and a new facility is being planned to sort our stuff.)

And if skyrocketing garbage rates weren't enough...

The good folks of Belmont are facing huge rate increases/taxes to pay for Belmont's portion of a new sewer treatment facility. Homeowners may see a $250 fee increase, renters $175, and condo-dwellers $200. But the real pain will come to businesses, whose fees may be based on square footage: restaurants $1,435, stores $137, and offices $89 (all per 1,000 square feet)...hold on to your hats folks, Belmont is just the first City to look at how to pay their share -- Redwood City, San Carlos, and cities in the West Bay Sanitary District all need to pay up soon...

Speaking of City finances -- Menlo Park is about to get a boost from the Rosewood Sand Hill Hotel, due to be complete in February. Expect to shell out big bucks for a room -- of which, a 10% tax will be levied and go directly to the Menlo Park General Fund...how lucky for them! Perhaps they can pay for the increased cost of garbage...or sewer...

The City of San Carlos has been talking about swapping out real grass with synthetic grass at Highlands Park. After study, public hearings, and more study, the idea may be close to being implemented. Before they go any further, though, they should check out this bit from Watch Dog Silicon Valley. Apparently, State Senator Abel Maldonado has taken up the anti-synthetic field cause for a group of parents in San Jose saying:

Blood, sweat, skin cells, and other materials can remain on the turf because the fields are not washed or cleaned. It's like playing on a giant used Band-Aid. I'm not against turf, but I want to make sure that it's totally safe for kids...

Burlingame City Manager Jim Nantell gets a nice bio-piece written about him in today's Daily Journal. The piece is good -- what isn't answered about it is...why? Watch Dog likes Nantell, and so does everyone else seemingly, but a biographical sketch of a City Manager is a bit weird...no?

As always, Sue Lempert's piece in the Daily Journal provides great background as to the political goings on around the County. She focused on San Mateo's vacant Council seat today and names names as possibles: Robert Ross, Tish Busselle, Randy Torrijos (see Watch Dog's piece on Torrijos), Bertha Sanchez, Fred Hansson, Richard Hedges, and Karen Herrel. Herrel's name comes with the caveat that she would be a place-holder until the next election when (shock!) folks would be able to elected their City Councilmember. If San Mateo did that -- it would make the Board of Supervisors look silly for their undemocratic action. Lempert also gets into the (possible) power struggle between State Senator Leland Yee and Assemblymember Jerry Hill about the San Mateo County Democratic delegates elected to the State Convention -- bottom line: Hill outmaneuvered Lee...(just like Hill outmaneuvered the SBWMA...)

A "swell of interest" is not something Dr. House should see...rather, it is the (possible) precursor to Mavericks this weekend. 40-foot (!) waves are possible this weekend -- get your binoculars ready...

Congrats Half Moon Bay -- you have a new Interim City Manager. Retired Huntington Beach Fire Chief Michael Dolder got the nod for the next 6 months as Farmer John and Half Moon Bay try to figure out who to hire long-term.