Week in review

Cops accept new contract

In what appeared as a final act of goodwill before his last day on the job, outgoing Redwood City Police Chief Carlos Bolanos helped negotiate a new contract between the city and the Police Officers Association, which have been at a standoff for the past 16 months.

The Redwood City POA voted in favor a new three-year contract that will provide vision and dental coverage and a raise equivalent to 8 percent, covering two years of salary freezes. It also adjusts the compensation formula the city uses each year to determine whether the department is being paid like other similarly sized cities, said Redwood City police Detective Carmine Galotta.

Police have long pushed for vision and dental coverage, perks other city employees receive.

Bolanos had never stepped into negotiations before this year, opting instead to allow negotiations remain between police and city negotiators. Bolanos offered his help after accepting a position as San Mateo County undersheriff, Galotta said.

The POA and the city have a long history of bitter contract disputes, but Galotta said he feels some hard feelings have been repaired and the POA is eager to move forward.

Newly named Police Chief Louis Cobarruviaz was sworn in Thursday afternoon at City Hall. Police have been working without a contract since Sept. 1, 2005 and contract negotiations reached an impasse after meetings with state negotiators failed last year.

New airline cuts British influence

Virgin America plans to cut the power of its British counterpart Virgin Group to meet federal regulations currently barring the company from taking off, the company said in a comprehensive reply to DOT concerns about ownership.

The U.S. Department of Transportation in December tentatively denied the Burlingame-based company rights to operate until it could prove 75 percent of the company is owned or controlled by U.S. citizens. A response issued Wednesday makes key changes downplaying the power of the U.K.-based Virgin Group. Local leaders are joining in the company’s letter writing effort to allow the company to take to the sky.

Under federal law, a U.S. airline must prove that the president, two-thirds of the board of directors and at least 75 percent of the voting interest are made up of U.S. citizens. The DOT questioned Virgin America’s close ties to the U.K.-based Virgin Group.

City to tackle global warming

The San Mateo City Council took the first step Tuesday night toward an ambitious goal of reducing the effects of global warming by considering a plan that would create a special green ribbon committee and set up new regulations for green policies.

Members of the Sierra Club, Unitarian Universalists and the League of Woman Voters urged the council to pursue green policy and create a special green ribbon task force to spearhead the effort. The council ultimately directed city staff to draft a report on ways San Mateo can realistically encourage energy efficiency without breaking the bank.

The idea was presented by Councilman Brandt Grotte, who encouraged the council to consider state grants for new programs and to form a committee to evaluate new policies. Grotte suggested staff measure where the city is at now in terms of energy efficiency and make realistic goals of where it wants to be.

The San Mateo council agreed it could be doing more.

"It’s time we got serious about this and take time to figure out what to do and to put some real common sense to it,” said Councilwoman Carole Groom.

Parks to get $6.2M makeover

A $6.2 million makeover of Sugarloaf Mountain and Laurelwood Park was approved Tuesday by the San Mateo City Council, ending years of planning for the highly regarded open space.

Laurelwood Park and Sugarloaf Mountain make up the 225-acre property nestled in the hills on the west side of the city. Laurelwood Park sits at the base of Sugarloaf Mountain with not much more than some footpaths, the outdated playground and a soppy field. A plan years in the making would upgrade paths, pave some for disability access, upgrade a play area and create rest rooms at Laurelwood Park. If approved, construction is set to begin spring 2008 and be completed by the fall.

The city changed the plans based on resident concerns about how trails are routed up the steep Sugarloaf Mountain.