Walmart Files Petition; Great Mall Farmers Market Moves to Saturdays

Walmart submits signatures to put grocery expansion on ballot. Wal-Mart said it had collected about 6,000 signatures to file for a November election. Last summer, the Milpitas City Council had voted down a proposal to expand the Milpitas Walmart in the McCarthy Ranch Shopping Center. With the signatures, the multinational corporation can circumvent the City Council and take the proposal directly to the voters. The election will cost taxpayers more than $215,000 and $3-$3.50 to verify each signature, according to the city clerk. 

City unemployment rate 10.6 precent. for February was lower than San Jose's, but at double digits, it remains higher than any other suburb in Santa Clara County except Gilroy and Morgan Hill.  The county unemployment rate was 10.3 percent, according to the state Employment Development Department.

Proposed hike in water and sewer rates. An informational meeting was held for the public on Saturday morning to answer questions concerning a four-year projected increase. The city manager, public works director and utility engineer were on hand to answer questions. A similar informational meeting is scheduled for Thursday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m. at the senior center. A public hearing is scheduled for May 3 at the City Council Chambers.

Farmers market at Great Mall moves to Saturdays. The Great Mall farmers market will reopen for a new season in April. Instead of Sundays, it will move to Saturdays, approved by the city planning commission this week. Milpitas has two farmers markets, one year-round at the India Community Center and one seasonal at the Great Mall. Both used to take place on Sunday mornings.

City's newest public art. A new mural featuring 20 people who helped shape Milpitas history is now featured at the Barbara Lee Senior Center. Fremont artist talks about his latest work, created on panels in his art studio. See what the mural looks like with a , which include Milpitas' first African-American mayor.

School employee arrested for taking gas. A maintenance worker who lives in Milpitas was arrested by police on Tuesday and charged with embezzlement. , 48, allegedly took gasoline for personal use from the maintenance yard of the Milpitas Unified School District. 

Emergency preparedness tips. Sean Simonson from the city of Milpitas Office of Emergency Services offers these , from building a disaster kit with five days of supplies to signing up for Alert SCC, a free service that send messages to your cell or land lines in the event of an emergency.