Government Watch

Unlike full-time child-care providers, ancillary child-care centers — usually located at malls, large retailers and fitness centers — are currently not required to be licensed or even meet basic standards of operation regarding criminal background checks and staffing qualifications, according to Yee’s office.

Under the legislation, facilities would be required to establish health and safety standards and protocol to instruct staff on when emergency services should be requested. Facilities would also have to have at least one person on staff who has been trained in pediatric first aid and pediatric CPR and at least one staff member who is over the age of 18. All staff over the age of 18 who engage with children will need to undergo a background check. In addition, one staffer will be required for every four infants, for every 10 children aged 6 or less, and for every 15 children 7 and above, according to Yee’s office.

SB 766 will next be considered by the Senate Appropriations Committee.

County government

• The Board of Supervisors unanimously granted District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe’s request to rehire recently retired homicide prosecutor Al Giannini to assist in the May 13 retrial of William Hamilton Ayres, the former prominent child psychologist accused of molesting several former male patients. Giannini can earn up to $83,241.60 which is equivalent to the hourly rate of his former position. The funds will come from the already approved budget of the District Attorney’s Office.

The board also agreed to create an honorary position of poet laureate and appoint a two-member committee to winnow down nominations. The two-year post will have no fiscal impact.

City government

• The Redwood City Council unanimously adopted its climate action plan, which includes 15 key measures to help it meet the state-recommended target reductions in greenhouse gas emissions. The plan includes actions involving renewable energy, smart growth development, residential, commercial and energy efficiency programs, solid waste diversion, water conservation and parking management policies. The plan is available at www.redwoodcity.org/ClimateActionPlan.pdf

• The San Carlos City Council voted 3-2 against extending an urgency ordinance for 120 more days to require a conditional use permit for all new uses in the industrial areas. The original ordinance was meant to temporarily protect space earmarked for a hotel at the corner of Industrial Road and Holly Street from being possibly developed into a large fitness facility. Councilmembers Karen Clapper and Mark Olbert favored the extension.