November 2009 

Real Estate Roundup (September/October 2009)  Cornish & Carey (www.ccarey.com) 4251 Park Road, Benicia - 8,030 SF lease to C&C Automotive Colliers International (www.colliersparrish.com) 535 Getty Court, #E & F, Benicia - 20,160 SF lease renewal to Gunnebo Entrance Control Inc. 6860 Goodyear Road, Benicia - 15,808 SF lease renewal to Interstate Electric Company 3140 park Road, #B, Benicia - 2,400 SF lease to Lawrence Custom Floors 5001 Fermi Drive, Fairfield - 71,550 SF lease to Crystal Geyser Water Company 4705 Mangels Blvd., Fairfield - 2,155 SF lease to PHM Services, Inc. 4717 Mangels Blvd., Fairfield - 1,441 SF sale to E Davis 2051 Cessna Drive, Suite 100, Vacaville - 12,375 SF lease to Vacaville Fruit Co., Inc. 190 S Orchard Road, Suite B-115, Vacaville - 2,175 SF lease to Bronico Incorporated Cushman & Wakefield (www.cushmanwakefield.com) 801 Chadbourne Road, Fairfield - 29,520 SF least to Diablo Valley Packaging 4820 Business Center Drive, Fairfield - 27,000 SF lease renewal to Geovera Insurance 4820 Business Center Drive, Fairfield - 2,650 SF lease to Dr. Gupta 4820 Business Center Drive, Fairfield - 2,500 SF lease renewal to Nelson Staffing Premier Commercial (www.pcres.net) 260 Link Road, #C, Fairfield - 1,700 SF lease to Chad Pananganan

Lots of "Energy" Forecast for Solano's Future www.solanocounty.com/energycluster This month's EDC breakfast event gave attendees lots to think about: Solano County has lots of wind and sun, and is located in one of the nation's largest research areas, making it the perfect place for renewable energy.           Economic researchers paint a rosy picture for Solano County's energy growth opportunities in the energy sector. Collaborative Economics has just completed research into the history and potential for economic grown for Solano's energy cluster.  The conclusion: "Solano is rapidly creating new (energy) opportunities for economic prosperity and job growth."           "We are strategically placed," Michael Ammann, president of EDC said. "There is billions of dollars being invested in clean energy research in Northern California, and Solano has both the land and workforce skills to become a key player in this vital new industry.  But, to take full advantage we need to begin working on a unified, dedicated effort.           "Can we pull our policy folks together to get this done?" Michael Ammann, president of Solano EDC asked during the meeting.           Doug Henton, president of Collaborative Economics, presented findings of the study, and told attendees "...this is a very exciting time for investment."           Henton said that the renewable energy cluster in Solano County is ", small today, but it is fast growing."           In the past 10 years the energy growth in Solano County has been constant.  Still small, this industry cluster promises great potential as more emphasis is placed on clean, renewable energy sources.           One way to "jumpstart" opportunities in this field is through a unified, cooperative support to attract both research and production industry.           Both Solano EDC and the County of Solano are dedicated to spearheading a more collaborative effort that will increase the opportunities in this field.           Ammann told attendees that Solano EDC is ready to work actively with both private and public sectors to create a strong, viable collaboration that can result in faster energy growth opportunities.           Board of Supervisors chair John M. Vasquez said: "All of you need to have that edge (over other counties)--that hook that makes you just a little different than the rest (of the region)."             Currently there are some 20 clean energy generation (solar and wind) projects, energy conservation, and clean transportation efforts in Solano and employment has increased 71 per cent in this energy cluster since 1995.           Although the energy cluster is small compared to other industries, it promises to afford high growth potential in the years ahead.

Time to Renew Membership in Solano EDC Now's the time to join or renew your Solano EDC membership.  The 2010 membership drive was kicked off last month.  For more than 25 years EDC has served the interests of Solano County.  Now, more than ever before, funding is needed to maintain this on-going activity which has guided Solano's economic development.   Budget cuts in the public sector have greatly reduced city and county capabilities to fund EDC as past levels, and the Board of Directors is urging private sector organizations to help keep funding at current levels.  The Board is committed to assuring that EDC is functioning at a level that can help during these tough times, and also position Solano to take full advantage of the sure-to-come opportunities in the months ahead.            So, join today, to help assure a bright future for our communities and residents.  Call 707 864-1855 for more information. Membership in Solano EDC is truly a worthwhile investment for a better tomorrow!

Did you know? - Turkey Trivia Did you know that 90% of Americans eat turkey on Thanksgiving but only 50% of Americans eat turkey on Christmas.  Q:  What country eats the most turkey a year per capita? A:  It's not the US; Israel eats the most turkey a year per capita. Q: What great American statesman lobbied to make the turkey the national symbol? A:  Benjamin Franklin, I am sure glad he did not get his way, would that mean we would be eating a Bald Eagle instead of a turkey on Thanksgiving?

The Solano Economic Development Corporation's mission is to enhance the economic vitality and quality of life in Solano County communities through the attraction, growth and retention of business and industry. Solano EDC Team Mike Ammann, President (mike@solanoedc.org) Sandy Person, Vice-President (sandy@solanoedc.org)  Pat Uhrich, Office Manager (pat@solanoedc.org) Andy Turba, Special Projects (andy@solanoedc.org) Solano Economic Development Corporation 360 Campus Lane, Suite 102, Fairfield, CA 94534 Phone: (707) 864-1855  Fax: (707) 864-6621 Website: www.solanoedc.org

Solano Index recognized for excellence

Solano Index recognized for excellence

Just as the county embarks on a study of the local energy industry, the second spinoff report from the 2008 Index of Economic and Community Progress, the County received an award on the original ground-breaking report.

The California Association for Local Economic Development presented the County an Award of Excellence in Economic Development Programs for the Solano Index, 14 diverse indicator areas that measure the strength of the local economy and the health of the community.

“This tool brings together all aspects of the community to focus on attracting and retaining quality jobs,” said Supervisor Michael Reagan.  “Receiving this award from the people who do economic development for a living affirms that we are on the right track for improving the economy in Solano County.”

According to the index, the county experienced unprecedented economic opportunities between August 2000 and August 2008, outpacing the state and the Bay Area in many areas, including growth in per capita income and several industry clusters, such as life sciences and specialized manufacturing.  In addition, Solano County’s economic diversity expanded and created a better balance of jobs. The index also revealed that the county needs to do more to connect its youth to the opportunities in the work force.

The idea for the index came from a series of Economic Summits in 2007 that built a shared economic framework for the seven cities and the County.  A key component of the framework was a need for comprehensive data that could help decision-makers understand and proactively manage trends affecting the local economy and community.

“The index helps us tell the story of how we are doing as a community,” said Michael Ammann, president of the Solano Economic Development Corporation. “It also gives us the empirical data to take advantage of opportunities that will expand the prosperity of the people who live and work in Solano County.”

The Solano County Index project is managed by the Solano EDC and was prepared by Doug Henton of Collaborative Economics, the originator of the Silicon Valley Index.

Since the Index was presented in November 2008, several workshops have been held that engaged a diverse group of community members to address community challenges that were identified as having impact on the future growth of the economy, including reducing the high school dropout rate and juvenile crime.

In addition, the first of five in-depth analyses of industry clusters was released.  This report focused on the life science cluster in Solano County, which has experienced a six-fold increase in local jobs since 2000. The report praised the local schools, especially the Solano Community College, for building the training programs that are providing the industry with qualified people to employ.

A report on the energy industry cluster will be released in the fall of 2009.

The Solano Index and the Life Science Cluster Study can be viewed at www.solanocounty.com/economicindex.

CALED is a statewide professional economic development organization dedicated to advancing its members’ ability to achieve excellence in delivering economic development services to their communities and business clients. CALED’s membership consists of public and private organizations and individuals involved in economic development: the business of creating and retaining jobs.

The Solano Economic Development Corporation is a collaboration of private and public investors that provides leadership for economic development marketing of Solano County and its seven growing cities: Benicia, Dixon, Fairfield, Rio Vista, Suisun City, Vacaville and Vallejo.

Posted: May 24, 2009 

Copart partners with Speed for TV show

Copart partners with Speed for TV show
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | November 20, 2009

Copart President Jay Adair stands in the company's control room at their Fairfield headquarters. Photo by Brad Zweerink

FAIRFIELD - Copart has signed a deal with the cable channel Speed to produce a new television show that will highlight vehicle auctions on Copart's Web site.

The television show, called 'Sold In Seconds,' will make its debut March 2 and air each Tuesday at noon. So far, the companies have agreed to produce 13 episodes.

Copart has long lamented the fact that it languishes in relative anonymity, despite being a multibillion-dollar company that sells thousands of cars each year.

Company President Jay Adair said the arrangement with the Speed network was borne out of Copart's recent involvement with professional racing. In 2009, it sponsored two trucks in the NASCAR Truck Series and another car in the NASCAR Nationwide Series.

'Once we got into NASCAR, that got the attention of Speed,' Adair said. 'We got the standard response we always get -- 'You guys are selling billions of dollars of cars, how have I never heard of you?''

The half-hour show will be filmed live each week at noon, which is when activity in Copart's online auctions is typically at its peak. The format will involve hosts -- who have not been hired yet -- describing the activity in the auctions as it is occurring. They might note, for example, that someone in Guatemala is bidding against someone from Alaska for a Dodge Neon that is located in Missouri, or point out that an exotic Bugatti is about to go on sale.


Adair said he is hoping the show can capture for viewers the experience of witnessing or participating in the auction themselves. Adair said an apt comparison is participating in a charity auction. Of course, it would be even more desirable if they actually did participate.

'The experience of bidding is the fun and whether you end up purchasing the items may come later,' he said.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Solano seeks pay dirt as green energy mecca

Solano seeks pay dirt as green energy mecca
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | November 19, 2009

FAIRFIELD - With abundant wind and sun, positioned in one of the hottest research areas of the country, Solano County would seem a perfect place for renewable energy.

It may be one day.

For now, officials are still trying to figure out how to take advantage of the area's resources. The Solano Economic Development Corporation hosted a breakfast event Thursday to discuss the challenges and the opportunities in moving toward more renewable energy.

'Can we pull our policy folks together to get this done?' wondered Mike Ammann, Solano EDC president.

Since 1995, employment in the clean energy sector has grown by 72 percent, significantly outpacing the growth experienced by carbon-based energy sectors and the rest of the county as a whole.

'It is small today, but it is fast-growing,' said economist Doug Henton, who prepared a report on the subject.

Some of the work is already going on elsewhere at the experimental level, in labs at UC Davis, UC Berkeley and the national energy facilities in Berkeley and Livermore.

Henton said the field is becoming an increasingly popular target of moneyed investors. He presented data showing the amount of venture capital increasing four-fold in just the last two years.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Dry dock company plans three-phase project on Vallejo's Mare Island

Dry dock company plans three-phase project on Vallejo's Mare Island
By Jessica A. York
Posted: 11/18/2009

What can Vallejoans expect next in the still unfolding project that could reopen two of Mare Island's long-dormant dry docks?

California Dry Dock Solutions, the company that won approval of its project plan early this month, expects to implement it in three phases.

For their business to locate on Mare Island, the company first will need:

* A lease from property owner and developer Lennar Mare Island

* Federal contracts to dismantle up to four retired and obsolete naval ships initially, now moored off Benicia's shores in Suisun Bay

* A permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers and San Francisco Bay Conservation and Development Commission to dredge soil in front of the dry docks in the Mare Island Strait.

The proposed project first requires inspections and the permit. Second, the company would dredge about 102,000 cubic yards off offshore soil to allow ship passage. The third phase would include equipment repairs and readiness checks of the dry docks, removal of unneeded buildings, parking lot construction, and city permits to prepare existing buildings.

The developer expects that entire process to take seven months.

Even with the needed federal contracts and final permit approval,any needed dredging cannot occur before June, California Dry Dock Solutions officials said.

Breaking down the proposed four initial ships could take up to two years, company Business Operations director Jay Anast.

Cleaner train engine means cleaner air for Solano

Cleaner train engine means cleaner air for Solano
By Barry Eberling | DAILY REPUBLIC | November 18, 2009

FAIRFIELD - Capitol Corridor Locomotive 2015 will be emitting half the pollutants next time it makes its way through Fairfield and Suisun City.

The locomotive has had an $826,000 diesel engine overhaul. Another $2.6 million is earmarked to do the same for five of the 17 other Capitol Corridor locomotives.

'Those trains roll through residential neighborhoods in Solano County and the Bay Area,' Solano County Supervisor Jim Spering said Wednesday. 'It means a lot less pollution in those neighborhoods.'

Train smoke contains tiny particles that can get lodged in the lungs, according to the Bay Area Air Quality Management District. That can cause respiratory problems and higher asthma rates.

'We can't move that housing, but we can sure clean up the air,' said Spering, who sits on the Capitol Corridor Joint Powers Authority Board.

Spering doesn't want to stop with six retrofitted trains. Federal funding could be available for further work, he said. He expressed hope that all the Capitol Corridor locomotives can be converted in coming years.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Planners give early OK to Cordelia project

Planners give early OK to Cordelia project
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | November 18, 2009

FAIRFIELD - A major shopping center project in Cordelia got the go-ahead Wednesday from the Fairfield Planning Commission.

Landowner Garaventa Properties is hoping to build a 465,000-square-foot retail project called Green Valley Plaza on 44 acres it owns along Suisun Valley Road on the north side of Interstate 80.

It has not announced any tenants, nor designed how the center would be laid out. Those will come later, but the commission's vote of unanimous support was an indication that there appear to be no major problems created by siting stores there. City officials have said they hope giving early support will make retailers more likely to commit.

'I like the idea that we are pre-approving this,' Commissioner George Curry said.

Once a final layout is ready and architectural drawings have been prepared, the item would have to go back to the commission. At that point, the plug could still be pulled if significant problems appear.

Environmental and design questions aside, the remaining major hold up is one far beyond the influence of leaders in Fairfield. The whole region is suffering from a high number of retail vacancies brought on by the national recession, a condition that will likely determine when Green Valley Plaza breaks ground.

'We don't expect this project to truly move forward until the economy recovers,' planner Dave Feinstein said.

The Green Valley Plaza project is not unprecedented in size, but it is larger than most local retail developments. For comparison, the Nut Tree Village shopping center in Vacaville is about 330,000 square feet.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Hearn Continues to Build a Green Workforce

Hearn Continues to Build a Green Workforce

(VACAVILLE, CA) – Hearn Construction, as part of our commitment to sustainable building and environmental responsibility, has taken new steps to equip the company to meet the green building challenges presented by many of today’s construction projects. Keith Burnham, Director of Preconstruction and LEED AP, has been at the forefront of this movement at Hearn Construction. He is now joined by other staff members who are trained specifically to work on green building projects.

As part of this effort, Hearn Construction recently hired Max Schanck as a Project Engineer to enhance our team of skilled building professionals. Mr. Schanck has a B.S. in Business from CSUS Sacramento, and is a LEED Accredited Professional. He has started work at Hearn serving on two ongoing projects with LEED components, an assisted living center renovation and addition in Novato, and a historic building renovation in downtown Sacramento. Max says he enjoys plan analysis and job planning, discovering proactively what needs to be addressed in each job. Max also has great client relations skills formulated when he served as head of the Service and Warranty Department at a previous job.

Existing employees are also receiving training to work on LEED projects. Noel Scott, Amy Wieck, Don Swift, Kevin Butler, Jennifer Wilson, Paul Nolan, and Laura Roberts have all recently completed LEED Core Concepts training. Hearn employees are encouraged to learn new skills to complement their job efficiency, and the company supports job skills training for all employees. It is Hearn’s policy to hire and keep the most experienced, highly trained professionals in the building industry.

Napa Pacific, Inc. dba Hearn Construction provides construction services throughout California and Nevada, with offices in Vacaville and Newport Beach, CA. The company specializes in design/build and preconstruction services for a wide range of construction projects including hotels, multi-family housing, resorts, wineries, tenant improvements, office, retail, medical, and biopharmaceutical. Napa Pacific Inc. dba Hearn Construction currently holds contractor’s license 352885 in California and 0073763 in Nevada. For more information, visit www.HearnConstruction.com.

Greening the County's future

Greening the County's future

Solano County has demonstrated its leadership in "green" energy, long before the term was popularized in the media. In 1989, Solano County constructed its first major electrical generation project when it built a 1,500 kilowatt combined heat and power (cogeneration) plant to serve the new County jail facility. Since that first installation Solano County has embarked on numerous energy conservation, generation and renewable energy efforts.

The latest project of a 746 kilowatt solar array on a parking shelter earned Solano County the distinction as the largest producer of solar energy in the county. Solano County produces and contracts 57% of the electricity it consumes from alternative energy sources (cogeneration 49% and solar 8%). Projects are being explored that will increase that percentage to over 70% by 2011. As a whole, Solano County has invested more than $30 million in energy projects and has recognized tens of millions of dollars worth of energy cost savings. The County’s efforts have garnered several awards, including the 2003 Environmental Protection Agency’s Green Power Partnership Award.

As a result of the series of Economic Summits that the County has conducted over the last two years to facilitate a collaborative approach to addressing shared economic opportunities and challenges, a study of the energy industry cluster in Solano County is currently being conducted. An expectation of the report is to determine the existing scope and the potential growth in the energy industry, especially among renewable energy sources. The findings will be presented by the Solano Economic Development Corporation in September 2009.

The expansion of green energy production is also reflected in the recently updated County General Plan, which was cited by the California Attorney General Office as a leader in addressing the state’s mandated Climate Warming/Greenhouse Gas Emission requirements. The implementation efforts of the General Plan includes the development and adoption of a climate action plan that will reduce by 2020 the total greenhouse gas emissions in the county by 20% below the State mandated 1990 level. The plan will also create adaptation strategies to address the impacts of climate change on the county, such as sea level rise, increased risk of flooding, diminished water supplies, public health, and local agricultural-based economy.

The County’s 504-vehicle light equipment fleet includes four low-speed neighborhood all-electric vehicles, 15 hybrid vehicles and 91 flex-fuel vehicles capable of running on the alternative fuel E85, which is comprised of 85% alcohol and 15% unleaded gasoline. The installation of an above-ground tank for E85 is in progress at the corporation yard in Fairfield. Bio-diesel is used in most of the heavy equipment fleet, which includes construction equipment such as road graders, backhoes, and wheel loaders, and to fuel diesel-powered light pickup trucks and medium-duty trucks. Additionally, propane is in use to fuel some medium duty trucks for road construction activities.

To assist Solano County with promoting the public health, safety, welfare and sustainability of the community, the County established a voluntary Green Building Program in June 2008, which provided incentives for property owners and building professionals wishing to build green to voluntarily participate in the program. A Mandatory Green Building Program is expected to be proposed later this year. The County has also participated in the Bay Area Green Business Program since July 2007. The program is a team approach, among local and regional agencies, to help businesses comply with environmental regulations, conserve resources, prevent pollution, and minimize waste in their operations. To date, three Solano County businesses have been green certified, eight are nearing certification and 19 are working toward their certification.

Other aspects of greening Solano County’s future are the efforts to reduce, reuse or recycle. The County’s Integrated Waste Management Division has developed a Recycling Guide, a resource document printed annually and is distributed annually the community as part of the AT&T Yellow Pages. Its website equivalent, www.recycle-guide.com, includes time sensitive event and program information.

County employees incorporate the concept of reduce, reuse or recycle into their daily activities. For example, the Public Works Traffic Division strips, cleans and reuses old aluminum road signs, Public Works Operations uses erosion control devices made from recycled tires, General Services Facilities Operations uses recycled landscape materials and recycles green waste. The Public Works Operations staff also cleans up litter and illegal dumping sites along County roads, which in turn is either recycled or properly disposed.

Their efforts were augmented in September 2008 when the Board approved the creation of an Illegal Dumping program that has enabled the Sherriff’s Office to assist in the investigation of items illegally dumped along the roads in the unincorporated areas of Solano County. The County’s Waste Tire Enforcement Program ensures businesses that generate or haul waste tires properly dispose or recycle this material. A Waste Tire Amnesty Day in September 2008 collected more than 15,000 tires for recycling.

Environmental protection measures are also ensuring responsible environmental stewardship in Solano County. For example, the County oversees one of the most comprehensive policies for land application of biosolids. The local ordinance requires that generators of biosolids search for other methods to utilize the material and encourages conversion to energy to meet this requirement. The Bay Area Clean Water Agencies is an active participant in the department’s biosolids stakeholder group meetings and is currently pursuing a biosolids to energy project as one method to comply with local requirements.

The District Attorney has one of the most active Consumer and Environmental Crimes Units in California, demonstrating the department’s commitment to both protecting and improving the environment through appropriate enforcement measures as well as by promoting self-help, education and responsible environmental practices.

The District Attorney also hosts educational presentations and seminars at various public venues, such as senior citizen centers and at public service organization meetings. Along with information about how to be a more environmentally responsible citizen, the District Attorney encourages the public to scrutinize environmental claims in both the news and advertising media so they better understand the meaning of terms such as “recycling,” “biodegradable,” and “enviro-friendly.”

Vacaville Planners OK larger home pla

Vacaville Planners OK larger home plan

By Melissa Murphy/

Posted: 11/18/2009 01:02:16 AM PST

A housing developer will offer a larger home design in a new Vacaville subdivision, while it also makes plans to move its offices to the city.

Concord-based Meritage Homes is moving to Vacaville at the beginning of the year, according to Scott Kramer, a planner for the developer, and will occupy office space at the Nut Tree.

Meritage Homes is also building Sterling Chateau, unit five, a new subdivision that sits at the west side of Vanden Road, north of the Southtown development area and south of the existing Heritage Place neighborhood.

While other developments have requested smaller home plans, Planning Commissioners approved a new plan for a bigger home in the development.

They voted 6 to 0 in favor of a 2,279-square-foot, two-story home plan with three different exterior elevations.

Commissioner Frank Crim said he was pleased with the overall design of the plan and that it is consistent with the other home designs.

Planning Commissioner Dan Broadwater did not attend the meeting.

The new housing plan also includes a two-car garage, four bedrooms and a den.

The new plan will replace previously approved plans for 12 of the homes, to keep pace with the changing market, according to Fred Buderi, city project manager.

Kramer added that developers are starting to see the market come back and "wanted to add to the diversity of their two-story offering."

Meanwhile, a three-year time extension was granted to Southwest Crossing LLC and Miller-Song Group for the Southtown Commons Planned Development and design review.

Commissioners voted 6 to 0 in favor of the extension.

Although the extension will give the development until Oct. 16, 2012, to have a planned development and design review approved, the applicant Mike Rice said that if the market continues to gradually improve, he hopes they won't use all three years of the extension.

Commissioner Brett Johnson was pleased with the possibility the homes will be built sooner.

"I'm happy to hear this is possibly moving much quicker than anticipated," he said. "It's a unique product that is much more affordable."

The Southtown Commons project, at the east side of Leisure Town Road, south of New Alamo Creek Channel and east of the Southtown Development Area, was originally approved by the Planning Commission in 2005. It consists of 39 acres, which includes nine acres for 241 single family residential lots, a five-acre parcel for a self-storage facility and a 3.25-acre parcel for a detention basin/park.

A staff report explains that the project has been dependent on construction of major infrastructure improvement associated with the Southtown development west of Leisure Town Road, as well as the Southtown Commons project on the east side of the road.

Rice explained that the detention basin/park will be dual use, but is not big enough for sports activities, but mostly used for landscaping and walking along the path on the outer sides of the basin.

Dixon planners to discuss design of tire cent

Dixon planners to discuss design of tire center

By Melissa Murphy

Posted: 11/17/2009 01:01:27 AM PST

A new tire business is rolling into Dixon.

Les Schwab Tire Center would like to build a 13,351-square-foot auto service facility on 2 acres.

Planning commissioners will vote today on the design review and a lot line adjustment, merging two parcels into one.

The new tire center would be on the east side of North First Street and north of Ramos Oil/Shell gas station and convenience store.

The plan consists of building an auto service facility that includes a showroom, storage warehouse, seven auto service bays and an open-ended truck canopy for larger vehicles.

The Tractor Supply Co. building is to the north of the proposed site, while Gymboree is to the east.

About four years ago, the Planning Commission and City Council approved a request to divide one 12-acre parcel into nine parcels and a request for three buildings totaling 18,824 square feet of retail, at the southeast corner of North First Street and Vaughn Road.

According to city staff, the applicant, Panattoni, did not construct the 18,824 square feet of retail space.

Tractor Supply Co. did, however, build a 24,727-square-foot building and about 25,000 square foot of outside display area on 3.82 acres just north of the project site.

In other action, commissioners will consider amending the land-use designation for two possible sites from nonmulti-family land use to high-density residential.

The Housing Element, according to Community Development Director David Dowswell,

must be updated every five years as part of the city's general plan.

"The intent of the a Housing Element is to provide for the housing needs of Dixon's projected growth for all sectors of the population regardless of income, age or ethnicity," the report said.

Dowswell, explained that, the city needs to identify at least 10 acres of land that can have the land use and zoning changed to accommodate an additional 250 units.

The General Plan Advisory Committee identified three potential sites that could be re-designated, one of which is not being considered at this time due to the owner's request and because it has some fairly expensive drainage issues that would need to be solved, according to city staff.

The staff report said that the highest priority site is on the west side of North First Street, just south of Stratford Avenue and north of West H Street. The other location is on the east side of North First Street and south of North Lincoln Street.

The Dixon Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 600 East A St.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 12:59pm PST

UC Davis transfers increase almost 16%

Sacramento Business Journal - by Kelly Johnson Staff writer

Enrollment by transfer students at the University of California Davis has risen by 15.9 percent to 2,219 students, the most ever for the campus.
UC Davis this fall enrolled 2,219 transfer students, compared to 1,914 last fall, a news release said.
The number of transfer students is increasing even as the university has shrunk the size of the freshman class because of budget constraints. UC Davis plans for the long-term to boost the proportion of transfer students further, to 35 percent by fall 2020 from the current 33 percent, the release said.
For the first time in years, the university has guaranteed housing to transfer students.
UC Davis set a record fall enrollment overall. Enrollment increased 2.3 percent to 32,153. The number of new freshmen declined 11.3 percent to 4,412, the release said.
The changes among new undergraduates at UC Davis reflect the UC Board of Regents’ January mandate to curtail enrollment for UC’s freshman class and increase the number of transfer students.

Tuesday, November 17, 2009, 2:11pm PST

New, clean Capitol Corridor train unveiled

Sacramento Business Journal - by Melanie Turner Staff writer

California’s cleanest passenger locomotive, which will operate on the Capitol Corridor route between Sacramento and the Bay Area, was unveiled Tuesday during an event in San Francisco hosted by the Bay Area Air Quality Management District and its partners.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency last year tightened locomotive engine standards for all diesel line-haul, passenger and switch engines in the United States. The regulations will reduce harmful particulate matter emissions by 90 percent and oxides of nitrogen (gases from engine combustion) by 80 percent, by 2030.
Most trains traveling between Sacramento and the Bay Area are powered by highly polluting diesel engines. New engines use pollution controls to drastically cut those emissions.
“The Sacramento Metropolitan Air Quality Management District is pleased to continue its partnership with the Bay Area Air District to bring more clean locomotives to the Capitol Corridor,” Sacramento Metro Air District executive director Larry Greene said in a news release. “This is an important investment in the health of citizens all along this successful route.”
Funding of $826,000 was provided by the Bay Area Air District, the Sacramento Metro Air District, and the U.S. EPA. The engine will perform at a level that exceeds what is currently required by the EPA’s regulations.
“It sets a new benchmark for cleaner passenger rail throughout California,’ said Jack Broadbent, executive officer of the Bay Area Air District, in the release.

Planners seek early OK for Green Valley Plaza project

Planners seek early OK for Green Valley Plaza project

By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | November 16, 2009 19:33

FAIRFIELD - What's at Suisun Valley Road and Business Center Drive right now is an expanse of dirt and asphalt, landscaped with weeds and trash.

What's proposed is an major shopping complex, one that would rival anything in Fairfield save Westfield Solano mall.

But don't say goodbye to the weeds just yet -- it's all still several years away.

Nevertheless, the Fairfield Planning Commission will weigh in Wednesday on a proposal for a 465,000-square-foot Green Valley Plaza shopping center. The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Wednesday in the City Council chamber at 1000 Webster St.

'The city couldn't begin to tell you when we seriously expect groundbreaking to begin because so much of when this project moves forward depends on the retail market,' planner Dave Feinstein said.

In a somewhat unorthodox step, the commission will be asked to give a tentative go-ahead to a project that is still in the 'idea' stage.

Doing the work early also removes some of the commitment risk, an advantage as the developer works to land premium businesses, Feinstein wrote in a report. 'To the degree that the city can complete environmental review as early as possible, the more likely that national tenants will commit to building and/or leasing space at the center,' he wrote.

When Fairfield approved a Wal-Mart Supercenter in late 2006, so much of the detail work was done that planning commissioners and City Council members knew what color the walls would be and the spacing of trees in the parking lot.

In contrast, planning commissioners will be asked Wednesday to give a similar certification without knowing what retailers will be brought in or where the cars will go.

'There is enough information out there to give us a good sense of what the impacts of developing that site will be,' Feinstein said. 'Traffic impacts, runoff impacts or economic impacts are really separate issues from what do the buildings look like and where are they located. We can make very reasonable assumptions about what those impacts will be simply by knowing what the maximum development will be on the site.'

There are also built-in protections to ensure that Fairfield does not get stuck with a funky or impractical design, Feinstein said.

Once a final layout is ready and architectural drawings have been prepared, the item would have to go back to the commission. At that point, the plug could still be pulled if significant problems appear.

Other questions remain, some of which will not truly be answered until the customers arrive.

Adding all that retail space could badly hurt a market already suffering from several large retail vacancies, Suisun City Community Development Director April Wooden wrote in a letter to city leaders.

The Green Valley Plaza project is not unprecedented in size, but it is larger than most local retail developments. For comparison, the Nut Tree Village shopping center in Vacaville is about 330,000 square feet.

'Given the magnitude of these vacancies in a down economy, a real concern exists regarding the potential for this project to result in the additional closures of area businesses,' Wooden wrote.

She did not return calls Monday for comment.

The project has been in the works for the better part of a decade. The Terminal Stations truck stop sat at the intersection from 1966 to 2003, when bulldozers knocked down the last dilapidated remnants of Jason's Coffee and its fellow establishments. In January 2005, the Planning Commission agreed to rezone 30 acres from industry and business park to commercial.

Reach Ben Antonius at 427-6977 or bantonius@dailyrepublic.net.

Former Mervyns sites see some action

Former Mervyns sites see some action
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | November 13, 2009

Part of the former Mervyns location at Westfield Solano mall may be getting a new tenant. The bankruptcy of Mervyns left behind empty retail space in its Fairfield and Vacaville locations for more than a year. Photo by Brad Zweerink

FAIRFIELD - The bankruptcy of clothier Mervyns left gaping holes in the shopping scenes of both Fairfield and Vacaville.

Now, after more than a year, those gaps may be starting to close. Jim Shepherd of real estate group Cornish & Carey announced at an Oct. 29 forum on the local real estate market that Forever 21 had agreed to take over the top floor of the store in Fairfield, and Burlington Coat Factory would move into the Vacaville store.

Shepherd could not be reached for comment Friday.

City Project Manager Karl Dumas said property owner Developers Diversified Realty is 'pretty close' with at least one tenant for the Fairfield store. However, Dumas said he is not aware of any formal arrangements being made.

Forever 21 has been highly active is snapping up vacated Mervyns stores around California during the last year. The retailer, which specializes in fashionable clothing for young women and men, obtained more than a dozen leases as part of Mervyns' liquidation process.

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The store's size -- 88,000 square feet -- could make it difficult to fill in one fell swoop but Dumas said there may be other options. In October, seasonal retailer Halloween Spirit split the building and operated their store out of only the top floor.

'In today's economy, there are not a lot of retailers that are that size (88,000 square feet) that are looking to expand, so the space may end up with a couple different uses there,' Dumas said.

Even leasing a single floor would be about 40,000 square feet, much larger than Forever 21's traditional stores. However, in the last year the company has started launching a large store concept under the 'Forever 21 XXI' brand. The XXI stores range from 30,000 to 100,000 square feet, and many have been opened in former Mervyns sites.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

'Rock star' commander takes over Travis wing

'Rock star' commander takes over Travis wing
By Talia Sampson | Daily Republic | November 15, 2009

Brigadier General Eric W. Crabtree, left, welcomes Colonel John C. Flournoy Jr. as the new 349th Air Mobility Wing Commander Sunday morning in Fairfield. Photo by Adam Smith

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE - The Air Force Reserve's 349th Air Mobility Wing said good-bye to one 'rock star' commander and welcomed another during a Sunday morning Change of Command ceremony.

Brig. Gen. Maryanne Miller is heading to the Pentagon to become the director of Programs and Requirements, Office of the Air Force Reserve, at Headquarters US Air Force.

She handed over command to Col. John C. Flourney, Jr., whose daughter Charlene Flourney, 13, sang the national anthem at the ceremony.

During the ceremony, Brig. Gen. Eric W. Crabtree, Commander of the Fourth Air Force at March Air Reserve Base called Miller 'one of those rock stars of command' who has 'received accolades in every single job she's held.'

'The good news is . . . we will bring in another one of those rock stars of command,' Crabtree said of Flourney, who previously served as commander of the 932nd Airlift Wing at Scott Air Force Base, Ill.

In her remarks, Miller said this was the third time Flourney had followed her into a position.

'I told him I'd keep his seat warm at the Pentagon,' she joked.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Travis CO builds on strong community ties

Travis CO builds on strong community ties
By Ian Thompson | DAILY REPUBLIC | November 13, 2009

Travis Air Force Base commander Col. James Vechery speaks at the Veterans Day commemoration ceremony Wednesday at the Fairfield Center for Creative Arts. Photo by Brad Zweerink

TRAVIS AIR FORCE BASE - When 60th Air Mobility Wing commander Col. James Vechery speaks in the community, he asks that whenever he mentions the phrase 'Team Travis' that the audience to shout back 'Airpower!'.

It's both a bedrock statement of what Travis is all about and a tool to further bolster already-strong community support.

'It is to excite us about what we do,' Vechery said. 'It's a rallying cry.'

This is part of the Travis commander's unflagging efforts to keep his command at the top of its game, working closely together to ensure the War on Terror gets all the supplies and fuel it needs.

'Their willingness to get out there and do what they do. It gets me excited,' Vechery said of how he feels about the airmen he oversees.

It was Vechery's grandfather, who flew for United Airlines, who inspired him as a young child to learn to fly.

Joining the Air Force allowed him to both fly and serve his country at the same time, Vechery said.

Vechery entered the Air Force in May 1988 when he was commissioned as a second lieutenant after graduating from the University of Maryland.

After serving three years as an instructor pilot, he entered the airlift world as a C-5 Galaxy pilot at Dover AFB, Del.

It was a good fit.

'We put the global in global reach,' Vechery said of the Air Mobility Command mission to get men and supplies to anywhere in the world they were needed.

Vechery took over command of the 60th Air Mobility Wing in July, replacing Brig. Gen. Mark Dillon who headed to Germany to command the 86th Airlift Wing. Vechery came to Travis from McConnell AFB, Kan., where he commanded the 22nd Air Refueling Wing.

When he heard he was going to command Travis, his reaction was 'wow.'

'There was a definite wow factor because I had heard a lot of good things about Travis,' Vechery said.

He describes Travis as 'a phenomenal base' with military members and their families who have 'a lot of pride, passion and professionalism.'

'We ask a lot of them and they deliver big,' Vechery said.

Their latest coup was scoring top marks in an Operational Readiness Inspection where Air Force inspectors put the command through the wringer to ensure they are doing the job right.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

Solano County judge OKs Potrero Hills Landfill's environmental document

Solano County judge OKs Potrero Hills Landfill's environmental document
By Danny Bernardini
Posted: 11/13/2009

After years of court cases and appeals, the environmental document surrounding expansion of Potrero Hills Landfill has been approved.

Now it will be up to the environmental groups who have been challenging the growth on whether to appeal the Nov. 3 decision.

David Tam, with Sustainability, Parks, Recycling And Wildlife Legal Defense Fund, said it was too early to know if and when an appeal would be filed, but said a decision may be made next week.

The latest ruling was handed down by Solano County Superior Court Judge Paul Beeman, who had previously rejected several attempts to approve the environmental documents to expand the Suisun City landfill.

Potrero Hills Landfill accepts waste from several counties throughout the Bay Area and Sacramento, as well as Nevada. Several years ago, plans to expand the landfill were met with resistance. Since then, Waste Connections has purchased the landfill and plans to continue the effort to expand.

Several efforts to stop the expansion have centered around environmental documents that were said to not have not addressed some aspects enough. One of Beeman's denials in the past said the documents didn't properly explore using Hay Road Landfill as an alternative.

The latest effort included Tam's group seeking to dismiss a lawsuit filed by Waste Connections in an effort to have a federal judge eliminate the voter-approved Measure E, which outlaws the importing of waste from other areas, which Solano County has ignored for nearly 25 years.

Beeman addressed that effort in his ruling.

"Furthermore, even if Measure E were to be enforced, it still allows for some waste generated out of county to be brought into Solano County for disposal," Beeman wrote. "While enforcement of Measure E could serve to extend by years the capacity of Potrero Hills, it would not achieve the project objective for a stable, long-term source of disposal capacity for locally-generated waste."

Dixon planners to discuss design of tire center

Dixon planners to discuss design of tire center
By Melissa Murphy
Posted: 11/17/2009

A new tire business is rolling into Dixon.

Les Schwab Tire Center would like to build a 13,351-square-foot auto service facility on 2 acres.

Planning commissioners will vote today on the design review and a lot line adjustment, merging two parcels into one.

The new tire center would be on the east side of North First Street and north of Ramos Oil/Shell gas station and convenience store.

The plan consists of building an auto service facility that includes a showroom, storage warehouse, seven auto service bays and an open-ended truck canopy for larger vehicles.

The Tractor Supply Co. building is to the north of the proposed site, while Gymboree is to the east.

About four years ago, the Planning Commission and City Council approved a request to divide one 12-acre parcel into nine parcels and a request for three buildings totaling 18,824 square feet of retail, at the southeast corner of North First Street and Vaughn Road.

According to city staff, the applicant, Panattoni, did not construct the 18,824 square feet of retail space.

Tractor Supply Co. did, however, build a 24,727-square-foot building and about 25,000 square foot of outside display area on 3.82 acres just north of the project site.

In other action, commissioners will consider amending the land-use designation for two possible sites from nonmulti-family land use to high-density residential.

The Housing Element, according to Community Development Director David Dowswell,
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must be updated every five years as part of the city's general plan.

"The intent of the a Housing Element is to provide for the housing needs of Dixon's projected growth for all sectors of the population regardless of income, age or ethnicity," the report said.

Dowswell, explained that, the city needs to identify at least 10 acres of land that can have the land use and zoning changed to accommodate an additional 250 units.

The General Plan Advisory Committee identified three potential sites that could be re-designated, one of which is not being considered at this time due to the owner's request and because it has some fairly expensive drainage issues that would need to be solved, according to city staff.

The staff report said that the highest priority site is on the west side of North First Street, just south of Stratford Avenue and north of West H Street. The other location is on the east side of North First Street and south of North Lincoln Street.

The Dixon Planning Commission meets at 7 p.m. in the City Council Chamber, 600 East A St.

Solano eyes future as 'epicenter' for alternative energy

Solano eyes future as 'epicenter' for alternative energy
By Ben Antonius | Daily Republic | November 13, 2009

The Valero refinery in operation Friday morning in Benicia. Growth opportunities in the energy sector will be the main topic at the next Solano Economic Development Corp. meeting on Thursday. Photo by Brad Zweerink

FAIRFIELD - Energy may turn out to be the operative word as Solano County looks for new ways to power its economy.

Growth opportunities in the energy sector will be the main subject at the Solano Economic Development Corp. meeting Thursday. A 2008 report from Solano EDC identified energy, along with biotechnology, as the areas with the greatest growth potential.

'We have opportunities to grow in what I would call traditional carbon-based as well as renewable-based energy,' said Mike Ammann, president of the Solano EDC. 'That can do a lot of things for us in terms of new job opportunities and new business opportunities.'

The meeting is at 8 a.m. Thursday at the Hilton Garden Inn in Fairfield. It costs $25 for Solano EDC members and $35 for non-members.

Since 1995, employment in the carbon-based energy sector has grown by 45 percent, significantly outpacing the 30 percent growth experienced by the rest of the county. Though smaller, clean energy has seen 72 percent growth in that same time frame, the EDC reported.

Some of the work is already going on elsewhere at the experimental level, in labs at UC Davis, UC Berkeley and the national energy facilities in Berkeley and Livermore.

Ammann said the message Thursday is that Solano County can benefit by positioning itself to be the destination if and when those projects move out of the experimental stage.

See the complete story at the Daily Republic online.

UCDcreating secure WiFi for U.S. Army

UCDcreating secure WiFi for U.S. Army
Published By Daily Democrat
Created: 11/16/2009 02:30:26 AM PST

Creating secure, mobile wireless networks for the military is the aim of a $35.5 million, 10-year grant from the U.S. Army Research Laboratory to a group of universities including UC Davis. The research project, which is unclassified, will also likely have benefits in civilian use.

The new grant will create the Communication Networks Research Center, one of four centers in a new Collaborative Technology Alliance for Network Science run by the Adelphi, Md.-based Army Research Laboratory.

The project's overall goal is to conduct basic scientific research and create foundational theories on wireless networks that are capable of supporting a mix of highly mobile individual soldiers, ground vehicles, airborne platforms, unmanned aerial vehicles, robotics, and unattended ground sensor networks; that can withstand interference and jamming; and that can reconfigure themselves rapidly as needed.

Researchers will focus on the science behind creating secure and trusted networks, said Prasant Mohapatra, professor and chairman of computer science at UCD and principal investigator for the UCD portion of the project.

Mohaptra said UCD' share of the total grant will likely be between $7 to $8 million.

Security and trustworthiness is an emerging issue in wireless networks generally, Mohapatra said. Military applications are even more complex.

"How much do you trust sources? How much do you trust information that is relayed back to you? Are there intruders on your network listening to information or planting misinformation? These are problems we want to address," Mohapatra said.

Other UCD faculty taking part in the project are Professor Karl Levitt and Associate Professor Felix Wu of the Department of Computer Science; Associate Professor Raissa D'Souza, Department of Computer Science and Department of Mechanical and Aeronautical Engineering; and Assistant Professor Qing Zhao, Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering.

The UC system also trains over 12,000 health care practitioners each year.

The Future of American Health
By Sandeep Abraham on Nov. 16, 2009

Last Monday, the House of Representatives passed H.R. 3962, also known as the Affordable Health Care for America Act, a hard-won victory for President Obama who has made it the top priority of his presidential agenda.

The bill only passed, however, after House Democrats made immense compromises with House Republicans over some of its policies, with one of the more provocative issues discussed being abortion.

The bill, now awaiting passage or dismissal by the Senate, restricts the use of government money to fund abortions, thanks in large part to lobbying by Catholic bishops.

In addition to this, the new passed bill varies from its predecessor, America’s Affordable Health Choices of 2009, in a few key areas: it prohibits insurance companies from refusing coverage or charging more coverage for people based on medical histories or gender, second, it increases MediCare coverage for 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Level, and third, it repeals the exemption of insurance companies from anti-trust laws.

It will also still include what has been the primary point of contention between Democrats and Republicans – the public option, or a federally funded and federally-run insurance provider.

According to a fact sheet published last month by the UCLA Center for Health Policy Research, the new legislation would provide access to health insurance to the nearly 4 million of the 6.4 million non-elderly population who were uninsured in 2007.

“Just enacting the reforms agreed on in all current proposals would secure access to health insurance for millions of Californians,” said Shana Alex Lavarreda, one of the writers of the fact sheet and the director of insurance studies at the Center. “It would be a dramatic change for the better.”

The University of California is also a federally-funded institution which provides health services to thousands of people in California. As the fourth-largest health care provider in California, UC discharges over 140,000 inpatients and makes over 3.8 million out-patient visits annually. Even then, 40 percent of its patients have either no health insurance or rely on Medi-Cal.

The UC system also trains over 12,000 health care practitioners each year. With the newly-opened School of Nursing at UC Davis, it intends to blunt the impact of California’s expected shortfall of over 17,000 physicians by 2015 and over 116,000 nurses by 2020.

The UC also trains about 60 percent of all medical students in California and is often the site of the only Level one trauma centers regionally. In addition, the UC is heavily invested in research, and the Sue and Bill Gross Stem Cell Research Center at UCI is the leading innovator in stem cell research on the west coast.

To say that the UC has a large stake in health care reform would be to grossly understate the gravity of this legislation.

The UC published a Statement of Principles on Health Care Reform on Monday, outlining its considerations for potential health care reform. It outlined the UC’s primary considerations in the health care debate: the affordability and access of quality health care for California’s millions.

The statement, while pledging the UC’s support for health care reform, insisted that any reform legislation brought before it comprehensively addresses the often opposing imperatives of containing rising costs and providing quality care.

While the creation of the public option and affordable (and mandatory) insurance for all would create a vast demand for doctors and nurses, it would also bring in the necessary funding UCI needs for its medical facilities while alleviating the costs of UC-provided student health insurance.

“UC is a large health care provider in a competitive environment, a major employer facing rising health care costs, and an educational institution comprised of academicians, many of whom hold divergent views.” Wrote UC representatives in the report. “UC can therefore play a crucial role as an honest broker to health care industries and stakeholders affected by health care reform.”

UC Irvine in particular has taken the initiative in addressing healthcare reform, prompting this brazen headline from OC Weekly: “UC Irvine Seeks To Cut Through Health care Reform Bullshit.”

On Oct 1, UCI Center For Health Care Management & Policy at the Paul Merage School of Business held a one-day conference, titled “Comparative Effectiveness: Lessons from Abroad.”

The conference invited speakers from Britain, Canada, Germany and the U.S. to discuss the effectiveness of different health care policies with the U.S. speakers discussing the implications of similar systems in our country.

UCI’s primary method of addressing health care reform is to spread as much awareness and understanding as possible, to inform the public about the implications of the bill at UCI and in the UC system, and to assure the public that UCI is prepared to deal with whatever legislation may come its way.

One UCI student, third-year public health major Benji Zachariah, is particularly apt to participate in the health care debate because he, along with six others, spent their summer providing free health care to villagers in Yunnan, China. Zachariah was drawn specifically to public health because it dealt with the social aspect of medicine.

“I definitely feel that [universal health care] is a necessity. You know, Western medicine saves so many lives, but at the same time we are so behind other countries even in things like life expectancy. We may have the most technologically advanced health care and maybe the best response, but to be honest, the health of the U.S. as a whole isn’t as great as other countries. Our obesity levels are out the roof,” said Zachariah.

On the current health of Americans, Zachariah brought up the fact that current American habits are fairly unhealthy – a love of fast food, a fast-paced life and the prevalence of smoking to name a few. While universal health care might be a boon to millions who are uninsured but require medical attention, it could further degenerate American health.

“People are so comfortable eating what they are eating, they realize ‘Oh now I have my free universal health care,” maybe they’ll just be more lazy,” Zachariah said. “In a sense, I think that could happen, but I can’t really say because I haven’t seen it. In other countries, I’ve seen that it worked out fine. They have universal health care, they don’t need to pay their bills, but they’re also really healthy.”

The bill is currently going through the Senate and a vote will come to the fore only after the Congressional Budget Office has analyzed the bill and calculated its costs. President Obama is hopeful that Senate will vote on the bill by the end of the year.