Busy week for county, Modesto and Turlock officials

It's a big week for local government:

— The Modesto City Schools board, starting at 6 p.m. today, has a full agenda, but the most interesting discussion likely will grow out of trustee Kim Spina's suggestion for a "blue ribbon" committee of community leaders "to review the current status of the district's operations" and offer "possible solutions to the demands placed on the district while it faces a shortfall in resources." Our thought: The district already has a budget committee reviewing possible cuts for 2010-11. There needs to be a clear and defined purpose for this second committee, and citizens will only want to serve if they believe that their input will carry weight and affect change. A closed-door session starting at 5:30 p.m. includes evaluations for the superintendent and his associates. 425 Locust St.

— Riverbank mayor candidates — six, if they all show up — will answer questions at a League of Women Voters forum, beginning at 6 p.m. today in the Riverbank Community Center, 3600 Santa Fe St.

— The Modesto Planning Commission, meeting at 7 tonight, considers the specific plan for Kiernan Business Park East, 153 acres north of Pelandale Avenue and east of Dale Road. Basement, Tenth Street Place.

— The Stanislaus County Board of Supervisors has a pretty routine agenda Tuesday, with the possible exception of a 9:15 a.m. hearing on whether to allow a three-field baseball complex on what is now a driving range on Parker Road in east Modesto. Basement, Tenth Street Place.

— The Modesto City Council will talk at its 5:30 p.m. meeting Tuesday about whether to abandon the blue bag program for recyclables as of Jan. 1 and focus on encouraging residents to recycle in other ways, especially by putting paper and food waste into the green cans. Fact is, the blue bag system is recycling in name only at this point. The market for glass, plastics and tin is so low that the garbage companies aren't actually recycling the items put in blue bags. Instead, the trash put in the big black cans is going to the landfill or the garbage-burning plant. Basement, Tenth Street Place.

— Sports or arts? Beginning at 7 p.m. Tuesday, the Turlock City Council, in its role as the redevelopment agency board, will review where to spend its money -- if it gets much after state cutbacks. The most interesting items -- whether to give $3 million to the Turlock Unified School District for a new track and field at Turlock High and/or to provide long-discussed funding for the Carnegie Arts Center. Council chamber, 156 S. Broadway.

— The next steps in the environmental review of the San Jose to Merced section of the California high-speed train project will be discussed Thursday at the Merced Community Senior Center, 755 W. 15th St. An open house begins at 6 p.m., followed by the presentation and Q&A from 6:30 to 7:30.