Fall Treats And Traditions!

Calendar of RSCA Events

Raindrop fell on the Shores prior to the official start of fall. e
days are growing shorter and the fun seasonal festivities are
multiplying! In addition to many events the first weekend in
October (Port Fest in Redwood City and Chocolate Festival and
Save the Music in Belmont), there are lots of exciting events and
fall traditions to enjoy. How many Shores runners, walkers, and
dogs will be at the Belmont Water Dog Run on the 12th?
RSCA board members are looking forward to one of our
favorite family events of the year, the Halloween Parade!
RSCA has hosted the Annual Halloween Parade at Marlin Park
RSCA Halloween Parade at Marlin Park
Saturday, October 26th at 2 to 3pm
Get your costumes and treat bags ready for
our annual community tradition visiting the
Good Witch with treats from RSCA!
“Are You Ready” Disaster Presentation
Saturday, Nov. 16th at 10:30am to 12:30pm at
Sandpiper Community Center. RSCA invites you
to a presentation on home safety & emergency
preparedness by our fire department!
“Show Your Cards” Disaster Drill
Display your OK/Green signal card on Sunday,
November 17th so that local CERT members
can conduct a windshield survey drill of the
Shores to maintain disaster management skills.
RSCA Welcomes Santa to Redwood Shores
Saturday, December 7th at 2 to 4pm at the
Sandpiper Community Center. (Members of
RSCA will have special access — membership

information is on page 4.)

since 1989 and we can’t wait to see what this year’s most popular
costume is! Once again, RSCA invites all Shores residents and

You can always find more information about these

especially Shores kids, to preview their Halloween costumes at

and other community events on our web site at

Marlin Park on Saturday, October 26th from 2 to 3pm.
We’ll have eight to ten treat stations with goodies for the little
ones (so bring a treat bag or bucket)! And don’t forget your
cameras for photo opportunities with the Good Witch. RSCA.org
In October, RSCA kicks off our annual membership campaign
and we ask all residents, and especially readers of e PILOT, to
help us keep Redwood Shores a GREAT place to live and work!
(See page 4 for details.) Show your support for our Shores
community as a member of RSCA, with a $45 contribution,
which can be paid online if you join our email list. Alternatively,
you can bring or mail a check to RSCA at your convenience. (And
please, please, please join our email list to maximize efficiency utilizing
online methods.) anks for considering!
RSCA hopes you enjoy all the treats available living in Redwood
Shores! We wish you a safe and Happy Halloween!
Page 2 October 2019 e PILOT
RSCA PROVIDES TREATS FOR THE SHORES!
Redwood Shores Community Association
serves everyone in the Shores to ensure that RSCA Membership for 2020 — Celebrating
our area is safe, beautiful, and maintained. 50 Years of Service to the Shores!
Since 1970 (nearly 50 years!) your Redwood Shores Community
Association has worked to make and keep the Shores a GREAT
place to live and work! RSCA has fought many battles, big and
small, to maintain the quality of life we enjoy here on “our little
island.” RSCA was instrumental in:
• kicking off construction of fire station 20, both elementary
schools and our library,
• suggesting maintenance and improvements by public works
and the parks and recreation departments,
• keeping our levees clean and strong so we’re not in a flood zone,
• encouraging programs like our summer concert series in
Marlin Park and local activities for seniors,
• ensuring the city, neighboring cities and county consider our
specific area needs, take action to remedy problems, and keep
us informed about projects affecting our community.
RSCA sponsors many events throughout the year such as our:
• Halloween Parade,
• ‘Show Your Cards’ Drill
• Santa Visit to the Shores,
• Light Up the Shores Contest,
• Annual Meeting for all residents and Shores business owners,
• Springtime EGGstravaganza event,
• Sounds of the Shores summer concert series,
• National Night Out,
• Annual Levee Cleanup,
• and other timely informational events as needed.
RSCA keeps you informed through e PILOT monthly
magazine, our email list, our roadway signboards, and on our
website at RSCA.org.
e primary purpose of RSCA is to be THE advocate on issues
that affect the quality of life in the Shores. Our mission is to
represent the interests of residents and businesses in the Shores.
Our many activities are only made possible by your financial
support, and the larger our Membership the more effective we can
be as advocates for the Shores. RSCA continues to be the strongest
advocate on issues that affect the Shores; we need you to join and
support these important efforts for our community.
Page 4 October 2019 e PILOT
In mid-fall we kick-start our annual membership drive, asking
that each household contribute $45 to support the Redwood
Shores community. is year is very special as it marks our 50
year anniversary of service to Redwood Shores! Stay tuned for
some historical pieces and fun plans for our members.
If we have a valid email address (THANK YOU!) you’ll soon
receive an email with a link to log into our web-based
membership system (memberplanet.com) where you can review
your contact information and make your 2020 Membership
payment online.
If you aren’t on our email list, (see below) you can join anytime
from our website! And you will soon be receiving a letter from
RSCA asking for your membership and financial support.
Whether you rent or own, everyone is encouraged to be a
member of our community association!
In case you wish to help us before the holidays, simply mail your
$45 check along with name, address, phone number and email
address to RSCA at 274 Redwood Shores Parkway, PMB #603,
Redwood City, CA 94065. ank you for your support!
PleASe, PleASe, PleASe JOin OuR e MAil liSt!
As more of our systems move online, email is the most efficient way
we have of staying in touch with ALL of our Shores residents and
businesses. More and more of RSCA’s efforts are focused on getting
important information to you more quickly. Your Shores magazine,
e PilOt, comes once each month, but many things do happen
between printing and delivery to you.
With our annual membership campaign now underway, we ask
you to go to RSCA.org and click the “Join our email list” button.
(e button is on the main page when using a standard internet
browser, from a mobile device, select Feedback from the Menu to
find the “Join our email list” button, or just scan this QR code!)
It only takes about one minute to enter
your name, street address, and email.
(You can also review our Privacy Policy,
and know that we do not share or
overuse this important information.)
ank you for making Redwood
Shores a GREAT place to live and work!
 REDWOOD SHORES
COMMUNITY ASSOCIATION
274 Redwood Shores Pkwy, PMB #603
Redwood Shores, CA 94065 - 1173
www.RSCA.org | info@rsca.org

Board of Directors

Nina Boire Connie Munevar

Kevin Brehmer Sue Nix
Jim Cvengros Ben Ploshay
Carol Ford Steven Tsujisaka
Shannon Guzzetta Bob Slusser
Don Long John Zolck
(Email us if you would like to become a board member.)

RSCA’s Board of Directors meet on the 2nd ursday

of each month. Our next Board Meeting will be at
the Redwood Shores Library at 7:00pm on:
October 10th, 2019
• Fall Treats And Traditions ...................................................Page 1

ARCHITECTURAL DESIGN BOARD (non-HOA areas):

For CC&R copies & information, email <ADB@rsca.org>
DEADLINES for e PILOT
e deadline for space reservation is usually the end of the first
week of each month for the following month’s issue.
Please email <ThePILOT@rsca.org> for a precise schedule.
PUBLISHER: Redwood Shores Community Association
e PILOT is the official monthly publication of
the Redwood Shores Community Association.
CIRCULATION: 6,000 Shores Households & Businesses
Opinions published in e PilOt are solely those of the
authors and not the expressions of RSCA unless so officially
and expressly designated.
https://www.facebook.com/RSCAorg/
• RSCA Events Calendar ......................................................Page 1
• RSCA Provides Treats for the Shores..............................Page 4
• From the Mayor: Not Like a Business ...........................Page 6
• Technology Workshops for Shores Seniors ......................Page 6
• Teal Pumpkin Project ....................................................Page 6
• It’s Elementary School Update ......................................Page 8
• Commute Times and Start Times for Shores Teens ............Page 8
• La Vita Saporita: A Clean Halloween...........................Page 10
• Halloween Family Concert ..........................................Page 11
• Save the Date for Highschool Musical Jr. at Sandpiper ....Page 12
• Council Develops Residential Design Standards ..............Page 12
• Shores Living ....................................................................Page 14
• Architectural Design Board ..............................................Page 14
• RSCA anks Public Works.............................................Page 14
• Flu Shot Reminder .......................................................Page 15
• Trash Team / anks to Levee Cleanup Helpers...............Page 16
• SVCW Financing Saves Ratepayers Millions................Page 18
• St. Mark’s Corner: A New Apple for a New Age ............Page 20
• Shores Business Classified Ads .....................................Page 21
• Belmont Water Dog Run.............................................Page 21
• Library Events for October ..........................................Page 22
e PILOT October 2019 Page 5
 FROM THE MAYOR
i An B Ain , C ity Of R edwOOd C ity
I often get asked “why can’t government run like a business?”
It’s a reasonable question. After all, in business things often get
done quickly and efficiently. In my day job, for example,
something can break in the news at 6am, by 8am we have a plan
in place, by 9am we’re executing, and by 6pm we’re reporting
results. By contrast, in City government, there are projects that
I have been working on for more than 15 years.
After years of working in both the government and the private
sector, I can clearly see the differences, and I’ve come to
understand that frankly, it’s by design. Confining discussions
among decision-makers to public meetings is an inefficient and
unnatural way to communicate, however, we must remember
that the goal of open meetings, and government in general, is
not efficiency. Is it slow? Yes. Is it frustrating? Extremely –
especially for those of us who thrive on getting things done. But
it’s also the best form of government that exists today.
At the heart of democracy is the belief that government should
be of, by and for the people. Because of that, we have strict laws
at the federal, state and local levels to ensure that the people’s
business is conducted in the public eye. Open meetings reflect
the value of having individuals with a wide range of experiences,
backgrounds and viewpoints come together to develop a
consensus. Consensus is derived through debate, deliberation, and
give and take. is process is time consuming and cumbersome,
and very different than how most businesses operate.
Open meetings give the public a seat at the table, and as elected
officials, part of our job is to hear and evaluate the public’s
concerns. Every agenda provides an opportunity for the public
to address the Council, and we do this both at the beginning of
the meeting, and again as we hear each item on the agenda. We
allow each speaker up to three minutes, to ensure that everyone
has an opportunity to be heard in an orderly manner.
All that said, there are some best practices that government can
borrow from business. For example, for the last two years, our
boards, committees and commissions have presented their annual
work plans to the Council. is ensures better communication, and
greater alignment of our efforts. We have put new policies in place
that guide the way we interact with the public, with each other, and
how we do business as a city. We’ve used technology to increase our
internal efficiency, and how we respond to constituents. ere is
more we can do however, and we are open to suggestions.
Ultimately though, business and government are two different
animals. Government can’t run like a business any more than an
elephant can run like a cheetah. We must understand, accept and
embrace the differences, as we think about how to best serve the
public and support this fragile experiment called democracy.
Page 6 October 2019 e PILOT
AnewVista Technology Workshops for
Older Adults in Redwood Shores
Redwood City has partnered with AnewVista to host technology
workshops for Redwood Shores seniors. AnewVista’s goal is to
empower older adults to have a self-determined lifestyle that
includes technology to provide a better quality of life. AnewVista’s
approach is to work with seniors to help overcome the fear of
technology and provide support for individuals and small groups.
ese workshops are FREE for the Fall quarter. ey are on
Wednesdays from 10:30 to 11:30am at the Redwood Shores
Library, room D. For more information, please contact
AnewVista at <info@anewvista.com> or call 650-300-0688.
October 9, 2019
Product Trial – Virtual Reality Demonstration
October 23, 2019
Home Security Cameras – what to look for / how to choose
november 6, 2019
Digital Arts Projects – photo editing
More AnewVista classes are being held at the Redwood City
Veterans Memorial Center. Visit www.anewvista.com, go to the
members section from the top menu, and click on the Redwood
City Class schedule.
What is the Teal Pumpkin Project®?
The Teal Pumpkin Project intends to raise awareness of food
allergies and promote inclusion of all trick-or-treaters throughout
the Halloween season. Participation is simple:
1. Provide non-food treats for trick-or-treaters (such as glow
sticks or small toys — for a list of other ideas and resources,
refer to website).
2. Place a teal pumpkin in front
of your home to indicate to
passersby that you have
non-food treats available.
3. Add your home to the
Teal Pumpkin Project map
(see website).
4. Spread the word! Tell friends and
family about the Teal Pumpkin Project.
For more information and ideas for non-food treats, please review:
www.foodallergy.org/education-awareness/teal-pumpkin-project
Market Update
Address Bed/Bath Sq Ft Price/Sq Ft List Price Sale Price
563 Compass Circle 5/3 2,880 $850.69 $2,688,862 $2,450,000
257 Monaco Drive 4/3 2,545 $962.67 $2,499,942 $2,450,000
509 Keelson Circle 4/2 2,280 $1,063.60 $2,300,000 $2,425,000 25
Average Days on
475 Starboard Drive 3/2.5 1,980 $1,089.90 $1,858,000 $2,158,000 Market
246 Biarritz Court 3/2.5 2,019 $1,040.12 $2,138,312 $2,100,000
5 Channel Drive 3/2.5 1,860 $1,000.00 $1,735,000 $1,860,000
$1,016.30
648 Spar Drive 3/2 1,600 $1,143.75 $1,625,000 $1,830,000 Price per Square Foot
26 Barcelona Circle 3/2.5 1,970 $862.94 $1,595,000 $1,700,000
303 Star sh Lane 3/2.5 1,500 $1,090.00 $1,550,000 $1,635,000 $1,980,000
729 Newport Circle 2/2.5 1,180 $1,059.32 $ 1,249,000 $1,250,000 Median Sale Price

Just Sold Just Sold

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Redwood City Hillsborough
5 Bed | 3 Bath 4 Bed | 5 Bath

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Compass is a real estate broker licensed by the State of California and abides by Equal Housing Opportunity laws. License Number 01991628. All
material presented herein is intended for informational purposes only and is compiled from sources deemed reliable but has not been veri ed.
Changes in price, condition, sale or withdrawal may be made without notice. No statement is made as to accuracy of any description. All
measurements and square footage are approximate.

e PILOT October 2019 Page 7

IT’S ELEMENTARY
MiChAel Milliken, Ph.d.
BRSSd SuPeRintendent
e school year is going quickly! We have a number of fun
upcoming events to which you are invited.
SAve the MuSiC feStivAl On SundAy, OCtOBeR 6
e Save the Music Festival takes place Sunday, October 6, from
11am to 5pm at Twin Pines Park in Belmont. is is a fun
community event for all ages with outstanding music (on three
stages), food, and drink. Please join the party and support the
music programs in our local schools. We look forward to seeing
you there! See schoolforce.org for details.
wAteR dOg Run On SAtuRdAy, OCtOBeR 12
Mark your calendars for the 2nd annual Belmont Water Dog Run
on October 12th, 2019! Runners (and walkers) can once again
select from four distances: 5K, 10K, the Kids' Mile and Fido's
Mile (for dogs who want to run with their people!). Proceeds
from the race will benefit local schools, and space is limited, so
sign up today at belmontwaterdogrun.com.
OngOing iMPROveMent
We are continually working to improve our schools. On October
9, all school staff will participate in our annual district-wide
safety drill at all school sites in partnership with the Belmont and
Redwood City Police Departments. e focus of this training
will be school lockdowns and the reunification of parents and
students after any type of emergency. e following week, on
October 14, students will stay home while their teachers learn!
We’ll be focusing a good part of the day continuing to familiarize
ourselves with the new science textbooks and materials that were
purchased this summer after a rigorous evaluation process last
winter and spring. e curriculum aligns to California’s new
science standards, which include engineering concepts in all
grades, beginning in kindergarten.
SAndPiPeR SChOOl iS All gROwn uP!
As you likely recall, with the support of the City of Redwood City
and the community via Measure I in 2014, we built a two-story
classroom building at Sandpiper School to accommodate
enrollment growth. As part of that expansion, we made Sandpiper
a kindergarten to eighth grade school, adding 6th, 7th, and then 8th
grade, one year at a time. is year, Sandpiper has 8th grade
students for the first time, and the school has 170 students in
grades 6-8. is offers families a great local alternative to Ralston
Middle School, and it lessens the vehicle congestion on our streets.
at’s 170 students that are largely walking and biking to their
neighborhood school rather than commuting to and from Ralston
Middle School. ank you for making this possible!
Reach Dr. Milliken at <mmilliken@brssd.org> or 650-620-2703.
Page 8 October 2019 e PILOT
Speaking of Commuting To and From
Ralston Middle School...
Parents speak up about start times and ask the district’s middle
schools to consider changing the start time to 9am. is could have
a significant impact on the health and well-being of our students.
lOng COMMuteS, lOng dAyS
Most Redwood Shores middle school students attend Ralston and
face a significantly longer commute than other district students.
It’s our default middle school, but it’s certainly not a neighborhood
school. Most take an hour-long bus ride – each way. We can’t
change the commute length, but we can ease its detrimental
impact by pushing back Ralston’s start time.
Ralston’s 8:20am start time requires RWS students to begin
boarding busses at 7:03am. It’s earlier than what’s proposed in
Senate Bill 328, which is pending the Governor’s signature (and
doesn’t offer sufficient relief for our RWS students), and it doesn’t
take into consideration RWS students’ commute time. It’s much
earlier than Carlmont’s average start time of 8:57am. Most RWS
middle schoolers have to wake up before 6:30am and return
home around 4:00pm. is makes for a 10-hour school day,
which is then followed by homework, and for many kids,
additional enrichment activities, classes, or sports.
ReSeARCh BACkS uP lAteR StARt tiMeS
Numerous studies show later middle school start times are better.
e American Academy of Pediatrics strongly supports the efforts
of school districts to optimize sleep in students and middle
schools to aim for start times that allow students the opportunity
to achieve optimal levels of sleep (8.5–9.5 hours) and to improve
physical and mental health, safety, academic performance, and
quality of life. While an 8:20am start time may seem reasonable,
it’s too early for the 400-500 RWS students whose commute
begins around 7:00am.
Kyla Wahlstrom, a lecturer at the University of Minnesota who
conducted the first study examining the effects of later start times
on high schoolers back in the late 1990s, suggests that taking
only teens’ sleep needs into account, the best start time would
be around 9:00 or 9:30am; starting later would give them the
optimal amount of time to sleep and get ready.
tAke ACtiOn – let’S ChAnge Middle SChOOl StARt tiMeS
RWS students comprise more than a third of the Ralston student
population. Want to see a later start time that will help all the
students – and especially the large group from RWS – perform
better? Contact the school board at <board@brssd.org> and
Ralston Principal Michael Dougherty <mdougherty@brssd.org>.
Ask them to consider a later start time for the health of all middle
school students in our district. e more feedback the district
receives from parents now, the more time they’ll have to implement
changes for the next school year.
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Bagel Street Cafe 593-0103 Nob Hill Foods 654-2106 Select Physical Therapy 591-9581
Bank of America 631-5476 Orange Theory 562-6577 Starbucks Coffee 654-4037
Falafel Tazah 622-9983 Otuko Sushi 264-8418 The Grill House 264-8017
GNC 654-2782 Postal Annex 622-9094 Togoʼs Eatery 654-7760
Jamba Juice 802-2900 Provident Credit Union 591-7845 Una Mas Restaurant 654-4690
Palo Alto Medical Foundation 691-6407 Redwood Shores Dental Care 654-6545 Vision One Optometry 716-4981

Go to our website www.marketplaceredwoodshores.com for valuable coupons.

Follow us on facebook for pop up specials from your favorite merchants.

e PILOT October 2019 Page 9

 e Boisset Wine Society is
one of my favorite wine clubs
because they have over 20
properties where we can enjoy
complimentary tastings (both
locally and in France) and a
Celebrating a Clean Halloween wide selection of delicious
organic and biodynamically
Fall is my absolute favorite time of year. Cooler temperatures, farmed wines ranging from
pumpkin spice everything, costume parties and treats abound! under $20 to collectibles over
But if you’re trying to live a healthier lifestyle, all this revelry can $300. It’s like being in 20
derail the best clean living habits quickly. Here are my top three high-end wine clubs for the
tips for staying on track this season: price of one!
eAting For non-drinkers or those of
us who just want to cut back,
One of my least favorite things about this time of year is the I always recommend drinking
abundance of candy and random junk food that is literally non-alcoholic beverages in a
everywhere. So this is the time of year that I make a conscious wine glass. Whether its
effort to seek out healthy new dessert recipes to try. It keeps my sparkling water, juice,
kids (and me) excited about trying new treats and forces me to kombucha or a mocktail,
be creative with healthy lunch staples: pumpkin tangerines, everything feels more festive
banana ghosts, cream cheese + in a pretty glass. I even stock
cracker spiders, you get the idea. up on inexpensive glassware
for the kids.
Being MeRRy
Environmental toxins are one of the leading causes of so many
health challenges ranging from cancer to autoimmune diseases,
allergies, infertility and more. Some of the easiest ways to reduce
our exposure is to be aware of things we use in our homes and on
our bodies. Replace scented candles and air fresheners with an
essential oil diffuser. Swap out plastic materials for glass, especially
for food storage. Choose cleaner
cosmetics and skincare products
with safer ingredients from
(Visit LaVitaSaporita.com for reputable companies. Check out
healthy treat ideas and recipes.) cleanbeautyproject.org for a
list of recommendations and
Be extra mindful of food allergies, especially if you’re serving or safer substitutes for common
sharing food for a party or entertaining trick or treaters. We always household products, or email
keep an allergy-friendly bowl of non-food treats available (think me at heyg@lavitasaporita.com
goody bag loot) and I try to include at least a few gluten and dairy with any questions!
free options on every table.
dRinking
As a former Chicago girl, fall meant the beginning of two seasons: Guyanne Lufrano is a consultant for health and
football and drinking. Not much has changed since moving closer wellness professionals and Founder of the Clean
to wine country! But I’ve recently learned that many of my favorite Beauty Project, a nonprofit organization that
supermarket wines contain artificial colors and preservatives, not provides free resources and workshops to educate
to mention all the pesticides and fertilizers that make their way our community about the connections between
into the bottle. So I spend the season seeking out and sampling environmental toxins and human health. She’s a
wines from organic and biodynamic producers, often doing wine Redwood Shores resident, Sandpiper mom, Wine
Society Director for the Boisset Collection, and
tastings with friends so we can try them together.
lifestyle blogger at LaVitaSaporita.com.
Page 10 October 2019 e PILOT
e PILOT October 2019 Page 11

Save the Date! San Carlos Children’s eater and
Sandpiper School proudly present Disney’s smash
musical hit “High School Musical JR” in November
Full of singing and dancing, Disney’s delightful musical High
School Musical Jr comes to life at the Sandpiper Community
Center. Troy, Gabriella and the students of East High must deal
with issues of friendship, cliques & clichés and family while
balancing their classes and extracurricular activities. Although
basketball star Troy and intellectual Gabriella come from different
cliques at school, they join together to audition for the school
musical, threatening the status quo in the process. Will the couple’s
alliance open doors for others to shine as well? Come watch our
Sandpiper kids rock their version of this show this fall. is will be
a fun musical filled with a lot of heart, friendship and basketball!
Save the show dates: Friday & Saturday, Nov 8th & 9th at 7PM;
and Sunday, Nov 10th at 3PM. For ticket inquiries please send
an email to <buytickets4hsm@yahoo.com>.
Disney’s High School Musical Jr. is presented through special
arrangement with and all authorized performance materials are
supplied by Musical eatre International (www.mtishows.com).
Council Approves New City-Wide Residential
Development Standards, Studies Design Guidelines
As land values continue to rise, the size of proposed single-family
homes has increased. Many residents (in non-HOA areas) have
voiced concerns about the size and massing of new homes
compared to existing homes on their streets. Others worry that
larger homes threaten the affordability of their neighborhood.
Based on community input and a study of the issues, the City
Council recently took action on residential development standards.
AdOPtiOn Of flOOR AReA RAtiO
On August 26, the City Council approved a new standard for
floor area ratio (FAR), the ratio of the total building size in
proportion to the lot size. Building size is the total covered area
of all floors of a single-family home measured to the outside of
stud walls. It includes attached garages. It does not include most
basements, detached structures such as garages, sheds and
accessory dwelling units, and some architectural features.
Planning Commission review will be required for any project that
exceeds 3,000 square feet or 45% of the lot, whichever is greater.
Page 12 October
August 2018
2019 e PILOT
e FAR review threshold applies to all architectural permit
applications for single-family dwellings in any zoning district.
ere are three exceptions: ground floor additions; new single-
family homes or additions built on a lot of less than 5,000 square
feet; and second story additions of 100 square feet or less.
e new standards became effective immediately. For more
information, go to www.redwoodcity.org/far.
new RegulAtiOnS fOR ACCeSSORy dwelling unitS (AduS)
New regulations governing Accessory Dwelling Units (ADUs) went
into effect September 25. ey address neighbors’ concerns about
height and privacy related to second-story ADUs above detached
garages in back yards. e Council lowered the maximum height
for a second-story ADU above a garage to 20 feet (not including
roof slope) from 28 feet. Portions of an ADU above a garage are
limited to 576 square feet. Balconies and second story decks on
detached ADUs are prohibited. Additional regulations and
information can be found online at www.redwoodcity.org/adu.
uPdAteS tO ARChiteCtuRAl PeRMit APPliCAtiOn
e City updated the Architectural Permit application packet,
including the Neighbor Notification form, which the applicant
provides to adjacent residents prior to submitting for proposed
second-story additions or new two-story homes. e updated form
includes information about how to appeal a decision and an
overview of the appeal process; an option for the neighbor to
request placement on an email list of interested parties; and a
requirement that the neighbor acknowledge receipt of project
information and submit that acknowledgement to the City. For
more information, see www.redwoodcity.org/planningpermits.
Study Of ReSidentiAl deSign guidelineS
e City recently began a study of Residential Design Guidelines
for second-story additions and new two-story single-family homes,
and is in the process of reaching out to residents for input.
e first phase of outreach began in August and will continue
through November. To date, outreach efforts have included
attending neighborhood association meetings; neighborhood
specific Walk-Shops; distribution and collection of comment cards
at public places such as libraries and community centers;
information gathering sessions; a booth at the farmer’s market; a
Pinterest page to post your favorite homes; an open house/joint
study session with the Planning Commission and Architectural
Advisory Committee; and an online survey. Upcoming events
include two community workshops; an online interactive mapping
tool; and a public meeting to consider an overview of the takeaways
and a framework for the guidelines (in mid-November). e
second phase of outreach will take place in February/March to
consider draft guidelines and potential updates to findings,
standards, and procedures for two-story homes and additions.
e City will release a draft set of residential design guidelines
in early 2020. e target date for completion is June of 2020.
For more information about the process and how to provide
feedback, go to www.redwoodcity.org/designguidelines.
*Note: Redwood Shores properties have CC&Rs and HOA rules that further
limit most of these design guidelines.*
 Do You Know...
SHORES LIVING ... that EVERY residence in the Shores is
covered by Covenants, Codes &
Restrictions (CC&Rs)?
Whether you live in one of our many
Home Owners Associations (HOAs) or in
the original sections of the Shores, there
are CC&Rs on ALL Shores homes!
by Meenakshi Tripathy
You should have received a copy of the CC&Rs when you
I have lived in the Shores about a decade and a half now and purchased your home. But if you live west of Shell and NOT
probably walked by the bay almost every single day of my life here... in an HOA, that might have been some time ago. If you need
yet the gorgeous views, the beautiful birds, the silent sting rays and a new copy, email <ADB@rsca.org>.
the frisky seal that accidentally made it’s way to the backwaters never
get old. I am always amazed by the beauty, quiet and peace that
Shores Living has blessed us with and feel grateful for the privilege.
And with this privilege comes a responsibility to our community.
More often than not, as I am walking the paths, I see speeding,
honking cars, not waiting for pedestrians (especially our kids
walking back from school). I see injured/dead birds on the road,
run down by impatient drivers among other things. A few things
I’ve learned to be mindful as I live in this beautiful community:
RSCA anks e Public Works Department
—> SlOw dOwn: Yes, I understand life in the Bay Area For Making Our Levee Trails Safer!
is unbearably busy and we have places to go to…yet In case you were wondering about the work completed recently
we choose to live in this wild life preserve. So, drivers where Spar Drive meets the Bay Trail, here are some details and
please slow down – whether it’s our kids walking before and after photos.
these roads to their neighborhood schools or the wild is portion of the levee had a very rocky, steep, potentially
life... they are counting on you. dangerous path off the trail. It has now been appropriately sloped
—> PiCk uP: I am a dog owner and one of my pet and paved, with adjustments and additions of removeable bollards
peeves is dog owners not picking up after their pets. with reflective markers and signage — for a safer ride, walk or run.
Please, please help keep our community pristine. I RSCA thanks
feel happy every time I run into that gentleman who the Public Works
has a trash bag and picks up trash on his walks along
department for
the bay... have you seen him on your walks?
responding to
—> Quiet dOwn: It’s funny! I walk along the bay most this problem and
days and I meet a lot of fun personalities on my
making these
walks... one such interesting person, wears some sort
improvements!
of a stereo and plays loud music. Water carries the
noise and amplifies it... please be mindful of your
neighbors and fellow walkers... we might just be out
for the quiet and solitude.
Some wise person once said “Quality of life begins at home, it’s
in your streets and your backyard and around your community.”
I believe that for a community to be beyond awesome, it is very
dependent on the compassionate actions of its community
members... Are you with me for true Shores Living?
Meenakshi Tripathy is a Redwood Shores resident and a Sandpiper
Mom. She can be found most evenings getting walked by her Maltipoo
by the Shores. She is a Product Strategist, wife to a patient man, foodie
and blogger. She is also a HOA Board Member for Gossamer Cove.
She blogs @ Random Ponderings of a Working Mom.

Page 14 October 2019 e PILOT

e PILOT October 2019 Page 15
 anks Again to Levee Cleanup Helpers
and Organizers!
RSCA’s Annual Levee Cleanup was very successful and we
appreciate the event sponsorship from SAn MAteO CRedit uniOn,
community grant from RedwOOd City, help from the Public
Works department (providing pickers and staff members drive to
lift heavy trash bags), and fire department visit, and our partnership
Saturday Morning With e Trash Team with ReCOlOgy to make it possible! Recology employees were so
helpful with information about recycling and reusing, and picking
by Harvey Radin
up everything collected. is was the 21st year for this event and
We’re the Trash Team! at’s the name young Zack wanted for the we had the most volunteers ever! We appreciate all of the
four of us. We ranged in age from Zack, age four, to his mom and community helpers who gather together to help keep our miles of
another Shores neighbor -- both Millennials, I believe, and me. beautiful levees debris-free. is year, the group collected:
What a wonderful way to spend a Saturday morning, last August, • 145 LBS GARBAGE
with a crowd of volunteers at the Annual Levee Cleanup! Our • 50 LBS RECYCLING
youngest teammate wondered why people drop food wrappers, • 95 LBS ORGANICS
cups and so on along levee trails and in parks around our Shores RSCA’s levee cleanup chair Nina Boire has orchestrated this event
community. Why, indeed? e little guy had asked a very good beautifully for many years and is so grateful for assistance from the
question. We pondered our response. ‘map men’ — Ken Kaufman & John Zolck (who also coordinated
Zack spotted the first bit of litter and was thrilled to try out a Carlmont High School volunteers), and the set-up team including
gadget provided to each one of us. It’s called a litter stick or litter Bob Slusser, Don Long, Jim Cvengros, and Shannon Guzzetta.
grabber, I think, with a handle that triggers pincers, kind of like
pincers on lobsters and crabs. Mastering the device requires hand-
eye coordination. Our youngest teammate got it, right away. So
did the two Millennials. And me, I was right with ‘em.
“I found a green trash,” our youngest teammate called out, excitedly,
after spotting a green plastic bag, almost hidden in foliage. We even
competed. Who could capture the smallest bits of litter with our
litter sticks? at can be challenging in windy conditions.
In one of the areas where our Trash Team was at work, we spotted
remnants of plastic bags caught up in large rocks. Hard to say
how long they’d been there, but we realized what you hear, in
the news, about the environmental impact of plastics and other
such litter, sadly, seems to be accurate. e stuff just doesn’t seem
to break down.
We all felt a range of emotions, that Saturday morning. Overall,
we felt mighty good, especially when, after completing our work, Redwood Shores Beautification and
someone passing by said two words that meant a lot to us. Event Planning Teams Need Your Help!
“ank you!” she said.
If you care about keeping the Shores beautiful, well-maintained,
Bruce and Stephanie, in another team of volunteers, asked me to
and safe, or are curious about the many agencies at work here, please
share this with you. ere’s an app called My Redwood City, for
consider joining the Redwood Shores Community Association for
reporting malfunctioning street lights on city streets in the Shores.
a meeting, an event, a project, or as a member of the Board of
Street lights generally have a tag number you need to note in the
Directors. e RSCA Board meets on the 2nd ursday of each
app to help RWC maintenance staff pinpoint faulty lights.
month and handles a variety of follow-up items between meetings.
For example, the freeway toll lane project will soon be close to
(After a career in corporate communication, Harvey
our area, and we must keep our overpasses open and clear for
Radin wrote books and articles about public opinion
and PR. His articles have been published in access in and out of Redwood Shores.
Business Insider, American Banker, Talking Biz Your support is needed to help RSCA advocate for the Shores
News and the Pagosa Daily Post. You can reach out and all residents and businesses located here. Please Join Us!
to him by email at <hoastrategic@gmail.com>.) Contact <president@rsca.org> for details.
Page 16 October 2019 e PILOT
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e PILOT October 2019 Page 17
 CReAtive finAnCing fOR SeweR infRAStRuCtuRe uPgRAde
will SAve RAtePAyeRS MilliOnS
Silicon Valley Clean Water (SVCW) will save ratepayers about $9.8 million as it moves forward with major
infrastructure repairs, including the Regional Environmental Sewer Conveyance Upgrade (RESCU), which is
estimated to cost nearly $500 million when completed. SVCW will finance infrastructure repairs using the least
costly methods available, including government loans, wastewater revenue bonds, grants, and available cash reserves.
Under the Clean Water Act of 1972, federal and state government provided the majority of funding for wastewater
treatment plant construction. Clean Water Grants accounted for $46.3 million of the $57.9 million that it took to
build the treatment plant, pump stations, and conveyance pipelines owned by SVCW today. at was 80% of the
total cost. As assets have aged, the absence of federal and state funding programs puts the burden of financing
repairs on local agencies and cities.
SVCW continually works to obtain the lowest-cost financing available. To date, they have secured the following
financing to fund the capital improvement program and ensure that public and environmental health goals are met:
• ree separate State Revolving Fund (SRF) loans for a combined $57 million
• Wastewater Revenue Bonds that generated $310 million in proceeds
• Grant funding worth $3 million
• Members’ cash reserves contributions of $57 million
• And, most recently, a Federally-funded low cost loan program called WIFIA
(Water Infrastructure Financing Innovation Act,) at a value of $218 million
In conjunction with the WIFIA loan, SVCW issued interim Notes to finance construction of the RESCU program.
ese Notes carry a low interest rate and will span the period between construction and receipt of WIFIA loan
proceeds. By issuing Interim Notes, the agency saves $9.8 million on this portion of funding.
e RESCU Program includes 11 projects that constitute full replacement and rehabilitation of SVCW’s sewer
conveyance system. For more information, go to svcw-rescu.org.

Front of Plant Construction

Page 18 October 2019 e PILOT

e PILOT October 2019 Page 19
A New Apple for a New Age
St. Mark’s Corner by Richard Watkins
By a show of hands, who has ever uttered the phrase “back in my
day we could...” or “when I was kid, we didn’t have...”? Yup. at’s
a lot of hands.
e fact is, every generation seems to bemoan some sort of
change from theirs to the next. From good to bad or from bad
to worse. And I’m no different.
It seems to me that when I was kid, there wasn’t as much “bad
stuff” happening. Sure, we would hear about some bad stuff
happening in the general vicinity in limited occurrences. But we
hardly ever heard about stuff happening in other states let alone
other countries; unless, that is, the event was so catastrophic. For
me, my first foray into the ways of the world was in November
1978. I was nine years old and got hit with a double whammy
with the Jonestown Massacre followed by the Harvey Milk/Mayor
Moscone assassinations merely nine days later.
What I wasn’t aware of, however, was that earlier in February of
that year, three teenage boys were shot and killed by a prison escapee
from Alabama in Des Moines, IA. Why would I? Iowa was some
1,800 miles away. Nor did I hear about 10 guests dying in a
November 26, 1978 fire at a Holiday Inn in Greece, New York.
It wasn’t as though bad things weren’t happening everywhere. We
just didn’t know about them because we didn’t have the personal
or technological bandwidth of knowledge. We were, if you will, like
Adams and Eves... that is, before the apple (cue ominous music).
See, Adam and Eve had it pretty good. ey were in communion
with God. ey had dominion over all the animals. ey had
ample food to eat. And they had grace. ey were as innocent as
children. Which is the way it should have been. As Jesus put it in
Matthew 18:3 “Amen, I say to you, unless you turn and become like
children, you will not enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles
himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.”
But we all know how that turned out, right. A couple of bites of
the forbidden fruit from the tree of knowledge and all of a sudden,
they had… well, knowledge. ey knew everything. ey knew
shame, fear and anger. ey knew disobedience, selfishness and
betrayal. ey knew right and wrong and good and evil.
So how are we like Adam and Eve? Like I mentioned above, when
I was child, I was child-like. Naive. Uneducated in the worldly
way. Oblivious. I didn’t know about a lot of stuff that happened
if it wasn’t in my immediate world with the few rare exceptions.
But as I got older, I too took a bite out of the apple; I mean Apple.
Page 20 October 2019 e PILOT
And I took a bite out of Google and Facebook and Netflix and
Amazon and HBO and Yahoo and many, many other fruits of the
tree of knowledge in the garden of Silicon Valley. And now, I can’t
stop knowing stuff. In the blink of an eye (or the click of a mouse)
I can know that a train derailed and caught fire in Duplo, Illinois.
at an Arizona state trooper was arrested Tuesday after several
women said he assaulted them during traffic stops. at a
Milwaukee mother was charged with neglect after her 42-pound
teenage son died. at a 73-year-old woman was charged with
killing her 82-year-old neighbor with a brick at a home for seniors.
And the knowledge goes on.
What’s important here is what do we do with this type of negative
knowledge. It is easy to lament it. Sympathize over it. Get angry
at it. Feel depressed about it. Fret over it. Vex about it. Hate
because of it. What’s more difficult, and very often not done at all,
is pray about it. Ask that God grant mercy to those involved so
that they are comforted and consoled. Ask that those in the wrong
be forgiven and for those affected to find the strength to forgive.
Ask for them to receive grace. But above all else, ask with the blind
faith of a child because as Jesus said in Matthew 21:16: “...Out of
the mouths of infants and nurslings you have brought forth praise...”
St. Mark’s Corner is also available as a blog post on the web at
www.saintmarkbelmont.com/category/st-marks-corner, or on
Facebook. Like us or follow us at @SaintMarkBelmont.
Do you remember... October 17, 1989?!
How many Shores residents know what a big earthquake feels like?
Each year on the anniversary of the 6.9 magnitude Loma Prieta
earthquake, people and organizations around the world participate
in safety drills for International Shake Out Day (or ‘e Great Shake
Out’). Next month’s PILOT is dedicated to disaster preparedness,
but it’s never too soon to start preparing! Are you ready? To find
out, attend the fire department presentation on November 16th.
If you have an item of interest, business or an organization affiliated
with the Shores and would like to contribute an article to e PILOT
on a rotating basis, please contact <ePILOT@rsca.org>.
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e PILOT October 2019 Page 21
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