Government watch

• On Monday, state Sen. Leland Yee, D-San Francisco/San Mateo, introduced legislation to provide independent oversight of all pari-mutuel wagering on California horse races.

On May 3, 2008, a thoroughbred owner placed 1,300 — $1 "quick pick” bets at the former Bay Meadows Race Track in San Mateo for the Kentucky Derby superfecta, in which the first four finishers must match the exact order of an individual ticket. However, the "20” horse was not included in any of the possible 5,200 spots on the bettor’s tickets. The "20” horse, ironically, was the race favorite and eventual winner, Big Brown. A winning $1 bet would have paid $29,368.90.

Scientific Games, the company that processes such bets at California tracks, said the error was the result of a computer glitch which excluded the highest numbered horse in every race from being part of the quick pick pool.

"Hundreds, and potentially thousands, of California consumers may have been defrauded,” said Yee. "Senate Bill 662 will ensure that the Horse Racing Board establishes a real-time transactional monitoring system of all pari-mutuel wagering at California horse tracks.”

City government

• The San Bruno City Council will hear a presentation about potential use of alternative energy for the Water Quality Control Plant.

The Water Quality Control Plant in South San Francisco is shared with San Bruno — about an 80/20 split. It is also the largest energy user in South City, making it a top priority in the city’s effort to reduce its carbon footprint. The city engineers who created the multi-phased plan to utilize a mixture of alternative energies are now waiting to see if city officials can approve the plans and if there is funding to make the idea a reality.

The council meets 7 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at the Senior Center 1555 Crystal Springs Road.

• Parking violations could become costlier in South San Francisco.

On Wednesday, the City Council will consider raising parking violations currently under $30 to $35; fines that are currently $30 or more will be increased by $10; and fines for parking in a red zone will be increased from $25 to $40. The increased rate is poised to cover the estimated loss in revenue from increased state takeaways, as well as maintain the revenue stream.

Last month, the council decided not to vote on a proposal to raise parking fees $6. If adopted, the fines were to raise from $25 to $31 for red zone and meter violation tickets and from $20 to $26 for overtime parking violation.

The council meets 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 12 at the Municipal Services Building community room, 33 Arroyo Drive.

Education

• The San Mateo County Community College District Board of Trustees will hold a study session on the nursing programs at Cañada College and the College of San Mateo.

The board will honor the Peninsula Health Care District March 11 for its nine-year history of support and more than $2 million investment in the College of San Mateo’s nursing program. Each year since 2001, the district has funded the cost of clinical faculty, supplies and skills lab support for a 12-student cohort for two years. To date, district funds have supported 108 nursing students (including 12 for the 2009-10 school year). An additional $108,000 of district funds has supported 27 CSM nursing students through the district’s RN Loan Forgiveness Program. The average cost of nursing tuition at CSM is $30,856/student and rising.

The board meets 6 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at the District Office board room, 3401 CSM Drive, San Mateo.

• The Belmont-Redwood Shores Elementary School District Budget Advisory will meet 3:30 p.m. Tuesday, March 10 at the District Office, 2960 Hallmark Drive in Belmont.

• The San Mateo Union High School District Board of Trustees will vote to eliminate three positions — locksmith, word processing coordinator and office assistant. If adopted, classified employees are guaranteed a 45-day notice of termination.

The board meets 7 p.m. Thursday, March 12 at the San Mateo Adult Resource and Technology Center, 789 E. Poplar Ave., San Mateo.

• On Thursday, the San Mateo-Foster City Elementary School District Board of Trustees approved plans to implement uniforms and a year-round schedule at the Bayside S.T.E.M. Academy beginning this fall.

• The San Bruno Park Elementary School District Board of Trustees will consider an agreement with Trans Star Limousine Service.

There is a legal mandate to provide students with special needs home-to-school transportation. Currently, the district uses a number of providers to fulfill this service. Under the proposed contract, the district would use its own vehicle and a Trans Star driver to provide rides for up to 19 students. If approved, the agreement would diminish the district’s dependency on third party providers.

In other business, the board will hold a second reading of a camera surveillance systems on campuses. As drafted, cameras would be prohibited within a classroom, laboratory, library or other study space unless a theft or vandalism occurred in the space. Any campus with cameras will have signs informing those on campus. Cameras will be allowed on school buses.

The board meets 7 p.m. Wednesday, March 11 at Crestmoor Elementary School, 2322 Crestmoor Drive.