July 02, 2004

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Palo Alto Online

News digest

Palo Alto's largest union was set to vote on a new contract Thursday, as the Weekly went to press. Union leaders signed off a written agreement and recommended that the membership approve it.

The 600-plus workers with the Service Employees International Union, Local 715, were to begin voting Thursday afternoon. A final tally was expected Thursday evening.

"It looks done, although you never know until the members vote," said Maya Spector, the chair of the union's local chapter. She works as a librarian at the Palo Alto Children's Library.

The details of the final agreement were being kept private until after the members' vote.

The union threatened to strike last week, following months of slow negotiations.

Union members are the city's rank-and-file workers, and don't include managers, police officers or firefighters. They check out library books, climb utility poles, clean facilities and handle 911 calls.

For the new contract, the city hoped to save money by reducing benefits for workers, while the union wanted to strengthen its unit and protect its most vulnerable employees.

A vote had been initially set for Monday, June 28, but that got pushed back after a tentative agreement hit a snag.

Updates on the union's vote can be found at www.paloaltoonline.com --Bill D'Agostino
Stanford retakes management of Red Barn

The Red Barn and equestrian center, one of the most historic structures at Stanford, will go back under university management in September after being run by a private company for the last two decades.

Stanford will expand riding services and education for students while also continuing to serve private borders.

The Red Barn is a national historic landmark and is part of the 13-acre equestrian center. Stanford will also renovate the facility, which has been run by Equestrian Associates.

"We are very grateful to Equestrian Associates and to the many community members who have supported the Red Barn and equestrian center over the past several decades," said provost John Etchemendy. "Their efforts have preserved an important historical asset for both the university and the area community and have benefited the many people served by the Red Barn."

The Red Barn, located on Electioneer Drive near Junipero Serra Boulevard, will be managed by the university's Department of Athletics, Physical Education and Education.--Don Kazak
Land preserved for open space

A former Stanford professor has agreed to preserve a 191-acre forest in La Honda to Peninsula Open Space Trust (POST) as open space.

Dr. Frances Conley, former chief of staff at the Veterans Affairs Palo Alto Health Care System and professor of neurosurgery at Stanford University, inherited the property from her late parents, Konrad and Kathryn Krauskopf. The bought the property, located in the Santa Cruz Mountains near the intersection of Skyline Boulevard and Highway 9, 40 years ago.

Conley said her parents wanted to preserve the property and is honoring their wishes.

"We're delighted that this beautiful piece of land will be permanently protected as open space," said Audrey Rust, POST president. She preserved the land through an open space easement. The land is valued at $1.35 million.

Open space easements are voluntary agreements between property owners and conservation organizations to preserve property from development while retaining private ownership. --Don Kazak

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