News Digest News Digest (May 12, 2004)

Libraries closed Friday morning, early afternoon

All five of Palo Alto's city libraries will be closed on Friday, May 14, until 2 p.m., so employees can attend special training. The libraries will be open from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m.

The Friday toddler and pre-school program normally scheduled at the Mitchell Park branch will also be cancelled.

Books returned in the drops during the morning will be checked as if they had been returned the previous day, officials said.

The library's catalog will also be available online, as usual, at the city's Website or at webcat.cityofpaloalto.org. Items can also be renewed via an automated telephone lone, by calling 326-5374.
Two options put forward for fiber-optics

A November election on the city's fiber-optic proposal is looking less likely, but work on the complicated venture continued last week.

Two options for paying for Palo Alto's proposed $40 million fiber-optic business were recommended for further study by the city's Utilities Advisory Commission last Wednesday night.

The new public venture would build a system of glass cables throughout town, giving the city the capability to supply extremely fast Internet access, with high bandwidth, and cable television to every home and business in the city.

Neither financing option recommended by the commission would require a vote.

The first preferred option would utilize a certificate of participation, similar to a loan. This option has low interest rates, but would risk city general fund revenues if the project failed to meet expectations. It would also put a major city asset, like City Hall, up for collateral. (This plan was erroneously labeled the "certificate of appreciation" option in last Wednesday's Palo Alto Weekly.)

The other recommended choice would fund the venture with revenue bonds, backed by the city's electricity company. If the project fails, electricity rates could rise to pay the deficit.

This option had initially been the most desirable among city officials, but attorneys now believe this could be illegal under California law.

"There was not legal representation at the meeting," Commission Chair Dick Rosenbaum said. "We don't fully understand what the problem is with revenue bonds."

The commission also asked the city's financial experts to look for new potential options, and to research possible partnerships for the venture.

The commission's recommendation will be forwarded to the City Council on May 24. A final decision on the fiber proposal is not likely until late July, at the earliest.

Next week, the Palo Alto Chamber of Commerce will host a forum on the fiber optic venture. It will be held at the Chamber's offices on Tuesday, May 18 from 1:30 p.m. to 2:30 p.m.

For more information or to RSVP, e-mail Audrey Sullivan Jacob at government@paloaltochamber.com or call (650) 342-3124. --Bill D'Agostino

Abrica announces council bid Abrica announces council bid (May 12, 2004)

Ruben Abrica, a member of the original East Palo Alto City Council after incorporation in 1983, has announced his bid for one of the four seats up in November's council election. Abrica, who later served on the Ravenswood City School District Board after losing a council re-election in 1988, announced his candidacy at Tuesday night's council meeting.

Abrica is the only Latino to serve on the council in the city's 21-year history, despite bids by several others in the last two elections.

This year's election will be unusual because of the vacancy created by Councilman Chris Woodard's resignation. That means there will be the scheduled election for the three, four-year seats, plus an election for the unfilled two years of Woodard's term, and candidates must declare if they are running for one of the four-year seats or the two-year seat. --Don Kazak

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