This Week in Local Government

It happens all the time - a housing development starts going up, a new policy is implemented in the school district, and you find yourself asking "when did that happen? Did I miss a meeting?"

Chances are, you did. In the hectic world we live in, it's not easy keeping up with the various city panels and their schedules. But the fact is, the decisions they make often play a direct role in the quality of your life.

In that spirit, Martinez Patch is going to publish a list of meetings and other goings-on each Monday, to help our readers know what's going on, and do something about it before the decisions get made.

School Board:

Tonight (Monday, April 11) the Martinez Unified School District board meets at 7 p.m. in the district office board room, 921 Susana St. Among the items on the agenda are two items regarding bonds: one is a refunding of up to $14.5 million from funds from an outstanding bond, the other is the issuance of up to $25 million from a $45 million bond approved by voters in 2010. The board will also discuss energy policy, and five year strategic focus areas for student achievement, among other items.

Planning Commission:

The Planning Commission meets Tuesday, April 12, and will discuss approval of the Alhambra Highlands project, which would allow the construction of up to 112 homes on 78 acres of a 300-acre parcel. The remainder of the property would be dedicated open space. The project is controversial for several reasons - opponents point to the destruction of up to 625 mostly old-growth oak trees, the danger of landslides on unstable soil, the loss of privacy to neighbors, and homes being contructed on what many consider visually imporant ridgelines. A group has been formed to try and convince local agencies to purchase the property for permanent open space, and it is expected that the group will be at the meeting.

The commission will also hear rules and regulations regarding cell phone towers, specifically the fact that towers cannot be prohibited based on fears of health effects from the radio waves.

The commission meets at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 525 Henrietta St.

Cemetery Commission:

The Cemetery Commission meets Wednesday, April 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the upstairs board room, 525 Henrietta St. The board will discuss road repair and erosion control, the urban tree grant update, maintenance practices of other pioneer cemeteries, and planning for the 2011 spring clean up.