BY JEN STEVENSON and RICHARD JACKOWAY
No doubt you got a calendar for the holidays, maybe even a few–desk, wall, day planner. Perhaps you even snagged a New Times calendar (see related story). Now you’ve got these big, blank days to fill up, so it looks like you live an interesting life. Let us give you a start. Here’s 20 dates of significance to SLO County residents. Some are events, others just for your information. Either way it looks to be an interesting year.
New Laws, Jan. 1
The new year also brings in hundreds of new laws. So stop watching football and bone up, because as you know ignorance of the law is no excuse.
Here are some of the more interesting ones from Sacramento:
• Starting today, most businesses must start paying overtime if you work more than eight hours in the day, like it was before a couple years ago.
• All school buses built from here on must have seat belts. Farm labor vehicles too.
• Your health care plan must now allow you to get a second opinion and pay for prescription contraceptive methods. And no health care provider may share, sell, or use your confidential medical records for commercial purposes.
• Now if someone is intentionally killed because of their disability, gender, or sexual orientation, the perpetrator cannot be sentenced to less than life in prison without the possibility of parole.
• Landlords and employers cannot discriminate on basis of sexual orientation.
• You can no longer buy more than one concealable gun a month.
• Service stations must now provide free water and air to customers.
• Your vehicle license fee is going down 10 percent.
San Luis Marketplace Meeting, Jan. 12
The San Luis Marketplace project’s timeline suffered a setback early this month, when it was revealed that Mayor Allen Settle–a proved proponent of the project from early on–had a possible conflict of interest.
As a result, the project was pulled from the Planning Commission’s Dec. 1 agenda, postponing any decisions with regards to the project until Jan. 12 to give those involved time to make necessary adjustments. But even this date could be pushed back. Officials have said the project will not go forward until there is a determination on the conflict issue by the state Fair Political Practices Commission. Settle has asked for such a review, but it is unclear when or if they will rule.
Settle owns a home at 1610 Oceanaire, which backs a portion of the property affected by the project. According to regulations set forth by the state Fair Political Practices Commission, it appears that a conflict exists if the property in question is within a 300-foot radius of the boundaries of the proposed project.
Settle, a political science professor at Cal Poly, insists that no true conflict of interest exists.
The proposed Marketplace would be built on the 131-acre Dalidio property that borders the existing Central Coast Plaza to the north, Oceanaire Drive to the south, and is sandwiched in between U.S. 101 and Madonna Road.
If approved, the San Luis Marketplace will consist of approximately 515,000 square feet of retail space, and two possible anchor tenants could include a Target and a Lowe’s home improvement store.
Winter Bird Festival, Jan. 14
This isn’t your typical bird festival. We’re talking four-day avian extravaganza, including dozens of field trips, workshops, even an ice cream social.
The highlight of the event will be a banquet at the Morro Bay Veteran’s Hall on Jan. 15 with feature speaker Kimball Garrett, ornithology collections manager at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, who will give "A Peek at the Future of California Birding."
If you plan to attend, you'd better fly fast because the deadline to register is Dec. 31. Registration is $35 for all four days or $15 for one day. Info and registration: 1-800-231-0592 or online at www.morro-bay.net/birds.
New Dorms, Jan. 18
In January, Cal Poly will seek approval from the California State University Board of Trustees to build new dormitories that will accommodate from 800 to 900 students. You may not think this date affects you, but if you ever try to rent or buy a house in San Luis Obispo or just drive around town during the school year, you know the difference the lack of oncampus housing has had.
The aesthetic details of the dorms have yet to be completely ironed out, but Alan Pepe, assistant director for housing and business services, said that the university hopes to construct 200 four-bedroom apartments with single-occupancy rooms, a kitchen, living room, and at least one bathroom, possibly two.
The dormitories will be built on approximately 6 acres, nestled in the foothills between the famous Poly "P" and the entrance to Poly Canyon. The original site was around 15.7 acres, Pepe said, but was narrowed down after allowances were made for a nearby power substation, small wetlands area, and the aesthetic considerations of not building too far up the hillside.
If approval to build is granted, according to the project timeline, the dormitory designs should be finished by fall quarter, 2000 and ground will be broken early in 2001.
While university officials have been pondering the idea of new housing for several decades now, it has only been recently that this project has taken shape.
If everything goes according to schedule, the campus should be herding students into their new rooms by fall quarter 2001 or winter quarter 2000.
Voter Registration Deadline, Feb. 7
Anyone who wants to have their say at the polls in the 2000 primary election needs to register by Feb. 7.
Federal rules dictate that those who intend to vote need to register by exactly 29 days preceding the election date, which is scheduled for March 7 this year.
The year 2000 is a leap year (It’s a leap year because while dates ending in 00 aren’t generally leap years, they are if they are multiples of 400. And you though the election ballot was complicated.). So the deadline for all those desiring to "make a difference" to hustle on down to the county recorder’s elections office and sign up is Feb. 7. Or if the election’s office is out of the way, just walk through downtown and wait for one of the many registration form and clipboard-wielding agents of some political party to swoop down on you. It’s very simple.
Scarry Day, Feb. 22
Know a kid? Then you better reserve some time on Feb. 22 to go out to the Cuesta College Auditorium (while it still exists) and see Richard Scarry’s Busytown. Huckle Cat, Lowly Worm, and the other denizens of Busytown will be there, courtesy of the Omaha Theater Company’s presentation. There are shows at 10 a.m. and 7 p.m. Tickets are $6.
Primary Election, March 7
Anyone interested in the political process is perking up for this year’s elections.
By the time the primary rolls around on March 7, the collective ears of the county should be ringing with the barbs, insults, and self-commendations tossed about freely by the various local candidates, as they preen and condemn alike in their attempts to win a greater measure of political power.
Most of the races on this ballot are per forma, with candidates facing no opposition within their own party. Congresswoman Lois Capps gets a free ride as do. Joe Furcinite of the Libertarian Party and Reform candidate Richard Porter. The competition will be among the Republicans, where Ernest Allen Rowe is taking on Mike Stoker.
Assemblyman Abel Maldonado is on to the November general, against Democrat Laurence Houlgate.
The real battles will be in the county supervisor races should be quite compelling to watch, with incumbents Harry Ovitt, Peg Pinard, and Mike Ryan all fighting to keep their positions in Districts 1, 3, and 5. But perhaps the most provocative face-off will be between Ryan and former supervisor David Blakely, which pits pro-growther against previously jilted preservationist, with emotions running high on both sides.
Census Day, April 1
OK, perhaps you don’t need this one down on your calendar. But just know that someone may be coming by starting this week for the every 10-year national head count.
Rex Allan Krebs Trial Date, April 3
Better mark this one down in pencil. Delays in criminal trials are pretty standard, and this one has a lot of ways to be set back.
First and foremost is the currently outstanding change of venue request. Rex Allan Krebs’ lawyers have argued that the suspected murderer of local college students Rachel Newhouse and Aundria Crawford can not get a fair trial in this county because of the immense publicity generated by the disappearances and Krebs’ arrest. If Superior Court Judge Barry LaBarbera agrees, then there will be a lengthy delay while the trial is moved to a new location and new public defenders are assigned to the case.
In addition, Krebs’ current defense team have already asked for a delay, which will be ruled on in January.
But for now there’s a trial date on the books. If all goes as planned, Krebs will go on trial before LaBarbera on April 3, at 9:30 a.m., in department 10 of the county courthouse.
30th anniversary Earth Day Fair, April 22
For the past 10 years Earth Day has become Earth Month with a long list of local events. So perhaps you should mark many dates on your calendar, but April 22 is the biggie. The Earth Day Fair will take place at Mission Plaza all day long. Their will be displays of solar vehicles, composting, and other green endeavors.
The Best Comes Out, April 27
On Thursday, April 27, be sure to run out to the nearest bright red New Times newstand and pick up the first Best of SLO County issue of the new millennium.
For over a decade, the "Best of" issue has spotlighted the best and brightest of the county in practically any category imaginable: Best Steak, Best Local Wine, Best Use of Taxpayer’s Money, Best Place to Take a Date for Under $10, Best Local Politician, Best Nonexclusive Local Listserve for Community-Minded Activists, and the list goes on.
Its become a source of pride for county businesses, organizations, and residents, to be designated as winners of a "Best of" award, and every year this accumulation of who’s who in the county boasts new categories to showcase an even greater variety of the people, places, and things that make SLO County special.
Special Olympics Meet, May 19
You know those New Year’s resolutions your about to make? If one of them is to do good deeds, here’s an easy and immensely satisfying way. Just mark this day on your calendar and head over to Atascadero High School for the annual Special Olympics Countywide Area Meet. Some 400 developmentally disabled youngsters compete, but they can’t without an army of volunteers.
Call 544-6444 and ask for Theresa Rapley to become involved.
Book Fair, June 3
The first ever Central Coast Book and Author Fair comes to the Mission Plaza in SLO with dozens of authors peddling their wares, including local novelist Catherine Ryan Hyde, whose new book is being made into the Kevin Spacey-Helen Hunt movie, "Pay It Forward."
Mid-State Fair, July 27
Every summer the Central Coast eagerly anticipates the biggest festival in the county, the California Mid-State Fair in Paso Robles. A county tradition since 1946, the fair consistently attracts huge crowds every year to sample its smorgasbord of carnival rides, livestock auctions, food booths and of course, the ever impressive entertainment line-up.
Last summer, it was all about Britney Spears. Thousands of fans, young and old alike, stormed the fairgrounds to catch a peek of their favorite teen pop queen at a sold-out show.
Next year, the 54th annual Mid-State Fair will be held from July 27 to Aug. 6, and just who will be up on stage titillating the crowds is not yet known. Right now, fair coordinators have their feelers out, trying to gather up the cream of the crop of the music world, said chief executive officer of the fairgrounds, John Alkire.
"We’re in the process now," he said. "We have a lot of offers out there, we put a lot of hooks out there, and we’re hoping for another diversified line-up."
Fair officials are no doubt also hoping for attendance figures like last year. Final count for the number of fair-goers last year revealed that a hefty 373,011 passed through the gates, a 62,000-person increase from 1998. So far, there aren’t any official estimates concerning next year’s possible draw.
But while there are still some questions regarding next year’s grand summer soirée, one thing is already set–the theme.
And what might the theme of the Mid-State Fair 2000 be?
"Millennium Magic," of course.
Cal Poly Sports Complex, Aug. 1ish
The Cal Poly Sports Complex is on schedule and sailing towards completion in August of 2000, thanks in part to the extremely mild winter weather the Central Coast has been enjoying this year.
According to William MacNair, project manager for the Cal Poly facilities planning department, approximately 42 percent of the sports complex is complete.
While on the surface it may not appear that there’s been much progress on the 47-acre site since the official groundbreaking in October of 1998, MacNair said much of the completed work is underground.
Over 80,000 linear feet of underground utilities are buried beneath the surface, including the storm drains and electrical, irrigation and drainage systems.
In the next couple of months, however, the surface landscape should start to take shape. One major component of the project that remains to be done is the lighting installation, MacNair said.
The project was set on its way in July of 1998, when the California State University Board of Trustees authorized Cal Poly to go forward with plans to build the complex. In August and part of September, abatement work was done to remove asbestos and lead paint from the site, and the sheep unit and rodeo grounds that sat on the acreage were relocated.
In October 1998 the official groundbreaking took place, and since then the complex construction has been quietly buzzing along.
"Right now we are making good progress," MacNair said. "It’s been helpful that there’s been a minimum of rain so the contractors can work."
Upon completion in August, MacNair said, the complex will be available for Cal Poly’s Associated Students Incorporated and athletic department–the project’s major funders–to schedule activities.
When the complex is completed, it will offer a new softball and baseball stadium and six multi-purpose fields.
Niblick Bridge, Oct. 15
By the time Halloween rolls around next year, the Niblick bridge expansion will have wrapped up in the north county, if all goes as planned.
The quarter-mile long bridge has been under construction since March of 1999, and two more lanes will be added to the expanse by the time construction is complete in October. So far the project is on schedule, and moving along well. The expansion is being funded by about $2 million of Measure D money.
General Elections, Nov. 7
This is the big one. The presidential election, plus a whole bunch of big races: senate, congress, local mayors and city councils, even the controversial SOAR initiative which would create a bunch of other election decisions in the future.
The Copelands Project, Dec. 25
When the Copeland brothers’ brought their master plan for a newly-designed Chinatown/Court Street portion of downtown before the city council, the reaction was pretty positive all around, even characterized as "the feel-good love fest of the year."
The project would include
a large underground parking structure between Monterey and Palm streets, over which would lie retail stores, a restored Chinatown, housing, live-work spaces, open space, restaurants, and possibly a theatre.
While response to the initial plans has been overwhelmingly cheerful, one noted drawback of the project could be its super-speedy timeline, which calls for the retailers involved to be opening their doors for shoppers in time for Christmas 2000, a mere year away.
Just how the whole undertaking will pan out remains uncertain. But if all goes well, architect Mark Rawson said it is possible that construction would begin in spring of 2000.
"We really haven’t got a specific schedule developed right now," Rawson said. "We’re hoping to start the beginning phases sometime around the spring."
As far as a year 2000 completion date for the project, the hoping continues.
"We’re hoping to have a substantial part of the project completed by the holiday season of next year," Rawson said.
Possible Annexation of Froom Ranch, Dec. 31
To annex or not to annex, that is one big question for the year 2000 stewing in the minds of San Luis Obispo County and city officials.
City officials were pretty steamed in July when the county Planning Commission went over their heads and voted to approve Alex Madonna’s Froom Ranch Project, allowing the developer to go ahead with plans to build a big-box store shopping complex on the south-eastern edge of the city.
The city’s ire only escalated in November when the county Board of Supervisors overturned an appeal of the July vote, giving the project a 3-2 thumbs up.
Madonna had danced around with the city for years trying to get approval for his project. Had things gone more smoothly, he would have annexed the Froom Ranch property in order to receive city services, and in turn San Luis Obispo would have received oodles of tax dollars from the project.
Frustrated by the city’s continual dickering over the environmental studies of the property, Madonna turned to the county for support, and found a decidedly warmer welcome.
Now city officials are loudly lamenting the county’s decision, mourning the loss of valuable tax dollars from the shopping center that will now go to the county. In the city’s appeal, officials requested the county halt the project and order Madonna to work with the city.
However, since the city was denied its request, a miffed Madonna controls the power to annex, and he’s most likely feeling a bit peevish toward the city for their previous handling of the project.
But the city isn’t completely out of the running. While denying the city’s appeal, the Board of Supervisors voted 5-0 to give the city all sales tax revenue from the project if Madonna chooses to annex his property to the city by Dec. 31.
What happens next should be interesting. Within a year, Madonna must decide if he wants to work with the city, allowing it its cut of tax dollars, or whether he wants to stand defiant in the city’s corner, supplying his own costly services.
"We don’t know what we want to do yet," Madonna said this week. "We’re with the county now, and we’re happy there. It depends on how the city treats us in the future. The way they’ve treated us in the past, I’m reluctant to go their way."
The ‘Real’ Millennium, Dec. 31
For the millennium purists out there, this is a nod to the "true" millennium New Year’s Eve–Dec. 31, 2000.
The year 1999 has been characterized by extreme millennium hype–with stores filled to the brim with everything from commemorative year 2000 champagne bottles and wine glasses to millennium socks and underwear. There are even millennium Cheerios–"Millennios." Writers have run rampant, spewing dramatic verbiage like "As we stand on the brink of the new millennium..."
But while the rest of the world is waltzing around in millenniu-phoria, deciding what to wear to the biggest New Year’s eve party in a thousand years, there has been a decidedly vocal faction who plaintively insist that the real celebrating should be held off for another year.
Yeah right, said most of the world. We’ve got reservations already–for Dec. 31, 1999. Æ