The history of theater in 12 steps A&E | P.14 MARCH 12, 2010 VOLUME 18, NO. 10
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MountainViewOnline.com
Mountain View Whisman eyes ‘Shoreline Community’ funds SCHOOL OFFICIALS SAY PROPERTY TAXES HAVE BEEN DIVERTED FOR LONG ENOUGH — CITY DISAGREES By Daniel DeBolt
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or seven years Mountain View has been home to Google, the hottest company in the world. But for all that time its substantial property taxes — and those of other major companies in the area north of Highway 101 — have been diverted into a special city fund through something called the Regional Shoreline Park Community.
It’s an arrangement that some local school officials would like to see reevaluated. Craig Goldman, CFO of the Mountain View Whisman School District, says his district hasn’t been getting the full benefit of those companies’ property taxes. This year alone, he said, Mountain View’s elementary and middle schools are missing out on $5.8 million in property tax revenue from Google and other big-ticket Mountain View companies located in
“We’re not interested in picking a fight with the city.” CRAIG GOLDMAN
the Shoreline area. Another $4.3 million would go to the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District. The Mountain View Regional Shoreline Park Community, also known as the “Shoreline Community,” was created in 1969 to funnel property taxes into paying for Shoreline Park maintenance and for improvements to the surrounding indusSee SHORELINE, page 8
Council OKs flood basin concept for McKelvey Park the waters of Permanente and Hale creeks overflow their banks hough they took issue with — and to save homeowners in several design details, City certain areas from having to Council members approved buy flood insurance. Three other a conceptual plan Tuesday for flood basins have been proposed, turning McKelvey Park into a including two in the Los Altos area 15-foot-deep flood basin, includ- which have yet to be approved and ing new baseball fields and a play- another one, already approved by ground paid for by the Santa Clara the council as a concept, in the Valley Water District. Cuesta Annex. The council voted 4-1 to approve A handful of neighbors opposed the concept with the use of artimembers Jac ficial turf proSiegel opposed, posed for the A handful of Laura Macias new ball fields, abstaining and neighbors opposed which they said Mike Kasperzak would keep absent for the the use of artificial them from being third week in a to walk their turf proposed for the able row. dogs at the park. Council memAnd a new playnew ball fields. bers and sports ground for the leagues were park, which has largely supportnever had one, ive of the idea, saying it was an was slated for a dangerous location, opportunity to upgrade the park neighbors said, facing oncoming at no cost to the city and that traffic at the northern tip of the lowering the park by 15 feet could park on Miramonte Avenue at the actually be aesthetically pleasing. corner of Park Drive. But neighbors said the park’s new Council members agreed, and conceptual design was too orient- said the playground should ed towards sports and not enough trade places with a portion of towards neighborhood needs. the parking lot in the design, The concept is part of a larger which is twice as large as the Water District plan to protect current one with 72 spaces. 2,250 homes in Mountain View from a “100-year flood” — when See COUNCIL, page 11 By Daniel DeBolt
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MICHELLE LE
REFLECTING:
Helen Kim examines artwork by Monta Loma students while perusing “Arts in Action,” an annual exhibit put on by CSMA which showcases the works of local students and faculty. The show is currently on display in the City Hall Rotunda through March 21.
MVLA board approves bond measure By Kelsey Mesher
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fter 18 months of “exploration,” trustees of the Mountain View-Los Altos High School District voted 5-0 at their regular meeting Monday to place a $41.3 million bond measure on the June 8 ballot.
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In the last few months, board members and administrators have been reaching out to various groups to gauge support for the bond, said Superintendent Barry Groves. He himself had spoken with at least 20 groups, he said, including PTAs, the City Council and the Chamber of Commerce,
and received “really positive” feedback. The proposed bond would extend the current tax rate — $14.70 per $100,000 of assessed valuation — by six years. The current bond, approved by voters See MVLA, page 12
GOINGS ON 25 | MARKETPLACE 26 | MOVIES 19 | REAL ESTATE 28 | VIEWPOINT 15