SSM planners want airport expansion nixed

  By Jonathan Jeisel

Calling it a “flawed” document that violates the county’s own land-use rules, San Martin’s planning advisory board is asking county supervisors to reject a county report that would – among other things – allow 140 more planes at South County Airport over the next two decades.

The San Martin Planning Advisory Committee voted unanimously Wednesday to reject portions of the county’s draft Airports Master Plan update – which sets growth limits at the county’s general aviation airports – and asked that it be sent back to the county’s Airports Commission for more input and retooling.

“The Airport Commission, county consultant and county staff have not properly taken local land-use policies and community input into consideration,” reads a position paper approved by the committee, which is made up of San Martin residents and serves as the unincorporated community’s only strictly local government body.

But District 1 County Supervisor Don Gage – who thinks that amount of growth recommended in the report is “fair,” if not set in stone – said supervisors will press ahead with a decision later this month as scheduled.

“The staff’s recommendation is just a recommendation, as is the planning committee’s and the Airport Commission’s,” he said. “We’ll look at them and determine what’s best for Santa Clara County. We may or may not modify it … there are a lot of things we could do.”

When complete, the updated Airport Master Plan will set growth limits and roles for each of the county’s three general-aviation airports – South County, Palo Alto Airport and San Jose’s Reid-Hillview – through 2022. Through it, county airports officials have recommended the San Martin airfield take the major portion of new growth in the system.

Last month, airports staff said the San Martin recommended the facility be able to base between 425 to 550 aircraft by 2022 – roughly 125 to 250 planes above the current maximum growth capacity of 300 outlined in the airport’s 1982 Master Plan. They have since revised the recommendation, asking a total of 418 planes allowed to be based in San Martin by 2022.

The San Martin airport currently has room for 178 planes, but that number will increase to 278 in 2003 with the expected completion of 100 new hangars that were already approved by supervisors. Roughly 90 planes park at the airport now.

But Wednesday, San Martin committee members said the recommendations and draft airport master plan document fail to adequately take the county’s own land-use policies into account.

Among its points, the group’s position paper said noise increases from airport expansion would rob San Martin of its rural identity that’s slated for protection in the county’s master land-use document, the General Plan.

Although no formal noise studies have been conducted yet in the master plan update, airport officials have forecast a threefold jump in the amount of individual takeoffs and landings – from 56,000 a year now to up to 175,560 a year – at South County’s new recommended maximum basing capacity.

But according to the San Martin committee, the unincorporated hamlet’s background noise level is just one-tenth of San Jose’s – so increases that would be considered irritants in San Jose would mean wholesale change for San Martin’s rural nature.

“It’s not just an aggravation, it defines an area,” SMPAC member Barry Shiller.

The committee’s paper also said quality-of-life impacts on local infrastructure such as roads and sewage have not been addressed in the county airports report, again clashing with general plan policies on travel demand and quality of life.

And the paper said there hasn’t been an appropriate public forum to address and study residents’ concerns.

Minutes and position papers submitted at meetings have not been used or forwarded to points onward in the decision-making process – such as the Airports Commission, the report said.

“They have to consult the community, and that hasn’t been done,” Shiller said.

Supervisors are due to review the draft master plan and make a policy decision on airport growth Nov. 19. But the San Martin committee asked it be returned to the Airports Commission for more complete analysis of issues and alternative solutions, with alternate proposals and pros and cons of each.

Outside Wednesday’s meeting, county Airports Director Jerry Bennett said there’s no perfect place for an airport – but he doubted the recommended changes would change San Martin as drastically as suggested.

“Yes, it’s a rural area, and everyone wants to keep it rural,” he said. “(The airport) is not going to make it non-rural.”

Thursday, Gage said the recommended 418 planes to be based at South County seem like a “fair” amount of growth that he thinks would come gradually over many years’ time – and correspond with other overall growth projected for South County and its economy.

“People are making assumptions that tomorrow there will be 418 airplanes there, and that’s not the truth,” he said. “If it grows at the rate it’s growing, they won’t reach that capacity until 20 years from now.

“You’re not going to see whatever people are suggesting there – it’s going to be over the next 20 years – and over those 20 years the projected growth rates are headed south in terms of industry and jobs.”

The master plan will also eventually decide whether South County Airport should accommodate the business community and its larger turboprops and corporate jets, but county officials have said that decision will come later after the Nov. 19 meeting.

Committee members have questioned the logic behind setting policy on capacity without identifying what types of aircraft the airport would support.

“It would seem difficult to determine the number of planes if we don’t know the types of planes that are going to be there,” said committee member Sylvia Hamilton.

While South County grows, officials have proposed to essentially cap growth at San Jose’s Reid-Hillview airport, which has been a source of lively protest for years from residents in subdivisions that run adjacent to the airport’s edge.

Officials have recommended trimming 150 planes off the current growth capacity at Reid-Hillview – leaving room for only 24 more planes over the present-day actual capacity of 726.

Palo Alto’s airport was also slated for more limited growth than South County, taking on room for 23 more planes than current master plan levels dictate and 60 more than can be accommodated at today’s level of development.

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Drug lab suspect arrested in SJ
  By Carol Holzgrafe

Police tracked down and arrested Wednesday a Morgan Hill man sought for allegedly running two drug labs. Cary Imhoff, 36, was found at a south San Jose motel after a week-long search.

“He no longer has to run and hide,” Bob Cooke, commander of the Unified Narcotic Enforcement Team (UNET) task force, said Thursday.

The investigation began when Imhoff was identified as the person who dropped off meth chemicals and sludge at the Llagas Road Transfer Station in San Martin according to a UNET report.

On Oct. 29, UNET found crank, or methamphetamine, with a street value of $10,000 at Imhoff’s house at 16672 Lone Hill Drive off Spring Street. Two days later, on Oct. 31, authorities found a much larger lab in a warehouse on the property of Imhoff’s parents, Glenda and Rocke Garcia, at The GlenRock Group, 100 E. Third St.

Police said the lab contained enough unfinished drugs to reach a street value of $1 million.

Cooke said the Garcias are not involved at all with the alleged drug labs.

Cooke said he had been in contact with the Garcias, urging them to encourage Imhoff to turn himself in.

Instead, working with information from a confidential informant that Imhoff was staying at motels in the Monterey Road/Senter Road area, the task force checked several hotels and found the fugitive. Cooke said Imhoff’s former girlfriend, Theresa Ayala, 33, had been renting motel rooms for him in her name.

Imhoff was arrested without incident on the stairs outside his room and booked into Santa Clara County Jail, charged with possession for sale and manufacture of methamphetamine. Imhoff was in possession of a small amount of marijuana and $500 cash when we was picked up, Cooke said.

Imhoff remains jailed in lieu of $1.5 million bail.

Police later visited Ayala at her San Jose home.

“When we got to her place to talk about what she had been doing, she could barely carry on a conversation,” Cooke said. “It was really bizarre.”

Because Ayala displayed traditional signs of amphetamine intoxication, she was taken into custody for allegedly being under the influence of a controlled substance, Cook said. She was later released.

The UNET report says the District Attorney’s office is considering filing charges against her as an accessory after the fact.

“We knew she was hanging around with Imhoff and we’d seen her vehicle at his house a week before the first bust,” Cooke said.

Police found Imhoff’s 1981 Chevy pickup parked behind Ayala’s house. He said the couple no longer has a relationship but are still friends.

Cooke said Ayala formerly lived in Morgan Hill.

The UNET task force is still investigating the meth lab incidents. Cooke asked that anyone with information should call their local police department, UNET at 831-636-8622 or the South Bay Methamphetamine Task Force at 452-7360.

Cooke also cautioned citizens to keep a look out for such activity on their own or nearby property.

“It only takes 36 hours to make crank (meth),” he said. “Know who is coming and going from your warehouses and sheds, especially if they are in a rural area.”

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Gilroy approves bond issue for school work
  By staff

A second go-around for a Gilroy school bond charmed voters Tuesday who gave the $69 million plan to improve public school facilities their overwhelming blessing. Measure I, labeled “new and improved” by supporters, received 62.4 percent voter approval, 7.4 percentage points more than the required 55 percent.

In the March election, a similar bond measure failed by just 146 votes.

“I think the fact that we included Phase One construction of the new high school this time around was a big factor,” said District Superintendent Edwin Diaz.

The bond from March – Measure D – only earmarked money to be spent on acquiring land for the new high school campus. Measure I will buy the land and construct general use buildings and classrooms for 900 students.

Also Tuesday, voters returned Jim Rogers and TJ Owens to the district’s governing board. Joining them are the respective third and fourth place finishers in Tuesday’s election, David McRae and Tom Bundros.

With all precincts reporting, Rogers had 4,549 votes (21.6 percent), Owens garnered 4,501 votes (21.3 percent), David McRae took in 3,953 votes (18.7 percent) and Tom Bundros landed 3,732 votes (17.7 percent).

David Oberstadt earned 2,421 votes (11.5 percent) and Jesus Florencio Gonzalez got 1,946 votes (9.2 percent).

The terms are for four years.

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Rule violated but no penalty
  By Carol Holzgrafe

A minor brouhaha over the substitution of a Morgan Hill Playhouse theater subcontractor was put to rest by the City Council Wednesday with no penalties assigned to the contractor.

The motion approved by the council, 5-0, said that while a violation occurred, no penalties would be charged. It also included a fix for the future so the problem would not be repeated.

The Playhouse, on the site of the new community and cultural center at Monterey Road and East Dunne Avenue, is being renovated into a community theater. Kent Construction of Gilroy won the bidding to contract the work.

The problem began when Kent replaced Associated Plumbing, the designated plumbing subcontractor, with Curro Plumbing of Gilroy because Associated was unable to provide the necessary insurance. Associated had asked that their bid be withdrawn. Such action is accepted procedure when necessary but the city must be notified in writing. The city was not.

There were also accusations by Mel Sakata compliance agent for the South Bay Piping Industry Labor Management Trust that Kent had “bid shopped” to find a lower bidder. This is forbidden.

Larry Kent, an owner of Kent Construction told the council that he had attended two meetings with the city where he was told of the written requirement. He conceded failing to follow proper procedure and apologized.

“But I just dropped the ball,” he told the Council. “I absolutely did no bid shopping and just want to clear my name.”

When using Associated Plumbing became impossible, he said, he just chose the next company on the original bidding list - and offered the job to Curro. The difference between the amount of the Associated bid and the higher Curro bid will be paid by Kent, not the City.

Back in September the infraction came to the attention of Sakata. He insisted that, if Kent Construction violated the subcontractor substitution provisions of the code, the union would expect the city to enforce penalty actions of the code by canceling the contract with the prime contractor or by assessing the prime contractor a penalty of not more than 10 percent of the subcontract price, according to the code.

City Attorney Helene Leichter responded to Sakata that, “based on the correspondence which you have already received, Kent Construction does appear to have violated (the code in question) as they substituted subcontractors with the city’s permission (or knowledge).”

Council agreed with Leichter that the violation did, indeed, occur but that it was not egregious enough to incur penalties in light of Kent’s explanation and apology.

“He had to pay more to get the job done ($2,750),” said Councilman Greg Sellers, “and I think this is sufficient penalty. The infraction has been rectified and there is no need to go further.”

A week of activities beginning Dec. 7 with a black tie ball hosted by the mayor is scheduled to celebrate the community center’s opening. The Playhouse, which will seat 193, will not be ready until mid-January and will have its own grand opening.

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Morgan Hill Police Reports
  By staff

Battery: A 28-year-old Morgan Hill male was taken to county jail charged with spousal abuse. The report was taken on Sept. 4 at 11:23 a.m.

• Maria Ruiz, 27, was charged with two counts of battery and taken to county jail because of a likelihood of reoccurrence. The report was taken at 11:23 a.m. on Sept. 4.

• Four Live Oak High students were detained for fighting on campus. The reports were taken on Sept. 9 at 9:31 a.m. and 9:34 a.m.

• A resident of the Cochrane Village Apartments reported he was assaulted by someone he knows in the complex. The resident said he thought the suspect might be drunk. The report was take at 12:20 a.m. on Sept. 10.

• A 30-year-old San Jose male was taken to county jail charged with domestic battery and false imprisonment. The report was taken on Sept. 10 at 2:29 a.m.

• A Britton Middle School student was detained on charges of battery. The report was taken on Sept. 12 at 11:17 a.m.

Petty theft: An employee of a store on E. Dunne Avenue reported that a suspect stole two 18-packs of beer and ran away. The report was taken at 8:37 p.m. on Aug. 29.

• An employee of a store on E. Dunne Avenue reported that a suspect stole two 12-packs of beer and ran to a vehicle parked on Dunne Avenue. The report was taken on Aug. 30 at 12:04 a.m.

• A Huffy bicycle was stolen from the 17800 block of Monterey Road overnight. The report was taken at 7:02 a.m. on Aug. 31.

• A Morgan Hill resident reported her cell phone stolen from her vehicle while it was parked in the Vineyard Town Center parking lot. The report was taken on Sept. 4 at 10:25 a.m.

• Three solar landscaping lights were stolen from the front yard of a residence overnight. The report was taken at 9:03 a.m. on Sept. 5.

• An employee of the Big KMart reported he put his cell phone down while at work and someone stole it. The report was taken on Sept. 5 at 1:09 p.m.

• A cell phone was stolen from a salon in the 16300 block of Monterey Road. A customer left the phone there and when she returned, the phone was gone. The report was taken at 3:02 p.m. on Sept. 5.

• Cash was stolen from the booking area of the police department. There are known suspects. The report was taken on Sept. 5 at 5:14 p.m.

• A Morgan Hill resident reported her 16-year-old daughter stole a silver wedding band and a diamond engagement ring from her purse. The report was taken at 3:09 p.m. on Sept. 7.

• A Morgan Hill resident reported her cell phone stolen when she was arrested on Aug. 8. She reported that a male passenger in the officer’s vehicle stole her phone while she was being arrested. The report was taken on Sept. 7 at 3:29 p.m.

Auto burglary: A resident of the 17200 block of Rosemary Circle reported the tool box on his Ford truck was broken into overnight. Tools and golf clubs were stolen. The report was taken at 7:52 a.m. on Sept. 10.

Stolen vehicle: A Morgan Hill resident reported her Mercury Cougar was stolen from her carport overnight. The report was taken at 9:13 a.m. on Sept. 9.

• A Morgan Hill resident reported his Honda Civic was stolen from the parking lot of M.H. Tile. He said he had permission to park the vehicle there overnight, and the vehicle was gone in the morning. The report was taken on Sept. 10 at 7:15 a.m.

Fraud: A Morgan Hill resident reported someone has been going through her mailbox. She said a balance transfer check was stolen and forged, and she has a copy of it. The report was taken at 4:03 p.m. on Sept. 12.

Grand theft: A Morgan Hill resident reported her diamond earrings, valued at $600, were missing. She said she last the earrings sometime in May. The report was taken at 12:55 p.m. on Sept. 8.

• A resident of the 1100 block of Cochrane Road reported two bicycles and a child’s helmet stolen from in front of the residence. The property was valued at %530. The report was taken on Sept. 9 at 5:11 p.m.

• A construction manager reported the theft of a charging device for a forklift. The device is valued at $2,000. The report was taken at 3:57 p.m. at Sept. 10.

• A resident of the 17000 block of Monterey Road reported mother-of-pearl handled utensils and ivory opera glasses were stolen while she was on vacation. The report was taken on Sept. 11 at 3:03 p.m.

• A Morgan Hill resident reported approximately $600 worth of tools and a tool box was stolen from the front of the resident’s home. The report was taken at 8:02 a.m. on Sept. 12.

If charges are dismissed or you are found innocent, call 779-4106 to have the information published. To report graffiti, call the hotline at 778-7483.

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Neighbors protest homes targeted for teachers
  By Carol Holzgrafe

Affordable housing for teachers is not often a controversial subject when keeping good teachers in the community has reached a crisis point. In Morgan Hill it is.

The City Council Wednesday voted to rezone property destined for such a purpose in the face of objections from neighbors.

The complex is proposed for a vacant plot of land near the northwest corner of Monterey and Watsonville roads, and would be built next to a new development of mostly duets homes. Neighbors from this community are worried that the new residents will increase traffic and the development will lower the quality of their lives.

“This project would lower property values - it’s too dense,” said neighbor Andy Growiostra.

They were also concerned that the units would not remain in the hands of teachers, police officers and public employees it is intended to serve.

“I’m afraid of gangs in the units if they are not sold to teachers,” said Parviz Shahab. And, many were suprised to learn that the city had never contemplated building a park on the land as they had been led to believe when buying their homes.

After the neighbors had voiced their fears to the council, several young Morgan Hill School District teachers rose to add another perspective.

“I’ve come back to give back to Morgan Hill,” said Mark Davis, one of four Live Oak graduates teaching at Barrett Elementary. “I’ll have to leave in a few years if I can’t afford to buy a house. But this (project) gives me hope.”

“Good schools equal a good quality of life equals higher property values,” Davis told the council.

Trish DeWitt, a San Martin/Gwinn teacher, has been on a list to buy below market rate house for years.

“Teachers deal with the American dream daily,” she said. “You trust us to teach your children; please trust us to own a home in Morgan Hill.”

Dennis Lawler, executive director of the non-profit South County Housing, which is working with the city to build the houses, tried to put the neighbors at ease. The project, he said, has been designed to blend with adjacent houses and the density is actually the same for both areas.

He said it is unusual to require that teachers always be given first priority in buying these units but that it could be done. Mayor Dennis Kennedy said it would be done.

The council was unanimous in support for the idea of affordable housing and for the development.

“The purpose of teacher housing,” said Councilman Larry Carr, “is to get those entry-level teachers. Either they leave the district or they change careers if they can’t find housing. When they leave, the district will have to use more teachers with emergency credentials”

Kennedy stressed that the council was approving the project’s concept, not the site and architectural plans.

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FBLA chapter returns from leadership conference
  By Special to the Times

Sanguine smiles gleamed on the faces if the 13 Future Business Leaders of America (FBLA) members who returned recently from the California Leadership Development Institute (LDI) in Fresno.

Leadership training for chapter officers and members from throughout California was the thrust of this conference. In addition to tuning in to the message from the keynote speaker, the members attended a variety of workshops to help them in motivating fellow members, working as a team with a variety of personalities and backgrounds, becoming better communicators, being a role model, and learning how to complete California FBLA’s projects for this year.

Skip Lemoine, the opening speaker, talked about leadership and communication in ways that are not taught in business school. He currently owns an online gaming company, “Nixon Vision” in addition to being a Leadership Fellow with TRI Leadership Resources and working at Cingular.

Alan Mello, the breakfast speaker, talked about getting to where you are today, but where you go beyond today and your future is what you make of it. He is the chief financial officer at Leapfrog Ventures, an early-stage private equity fund in Silicon Valley.

Both Skip and Alan are FBLA alumni who are giving back to their organization that gave them a head start in the competitive workforce.

The talent show, FBLA Idol, was relaxing, fun and enjoyable. Live Oak’s group performed a unique and interesting dance routine.

“It was so much fun getting to mingle with others from all over California, but the whole conference was educational as well,” stated Alana Lee, a first-time attendee.

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