41 Minutes City Council Meeting a REVIEW

From the Email InBox:

Not verbatim..... What was Said at City Council Meeting...

Council person Garcia:

Thanked Firemen for the Pancake Breakfast. Asked the fire department spokesperson to say a few words about fire safety - with the 4th of July coming up. (Kind of ironic - since she voted against banning the fireworks). The spokesperson said that there are four levels of drought and right now we are in the 3rd level (Note to city: It's not rocket science - it's dry out, don't allow fireworks).

During the time the spokesperson was talking, the city manager and city attorney were having their own conversation and not paying any attention to what was being said.

The Mayor said something to the effect that fire safety was not just a concern during the month of July (really? Maybe she felt she had to say something to defend her position - voting against banning the fireworks).

LeAnn thought Grand Terrace Days went great (or something like that). She would like everyone to attend the upcoming Chamber Luncheon because the CEO of Miguels will be there. She said something about a hike up Blue Mountain and mentioned the graffiti on JB's. She also mentioned something about investment and infrastructure and capital improvement.

Council person Cortes:

Talked about some seminar or meeting she went to. She thought GT days was a lot fun. She mentioned the Chamber Installation Dinner - June 21st. And she wished all the Daddy's a happy Father's Day.

Council person Miller:

He thought GT days went very well and thinks Steve Berry should commended. Brought up the graffiti on the railroad overpasses. Talked about DHL flight pattern out of March (Norton maybe?) changing. Concerned about the noise factor.

Council person Buchanan:

Also brought up the Chamber Installation Dinner - June 21st at Shandin Hills Golf Club - R.S.V.P. by June 8th. He thought a great job was done on the Parade and stated "No one works as hard as Steve".

Mayor Ferre:

She had a great time at GT days and hope everyone else did. Asked about the lights being installed on Barton and Honey Hills. Asked about the cleared property across from the Stater Bros warehouse on Barton Rd. She was told that was the Fawcett Property (? spelling) that the city needs to purchase to expand the bridge. The property was sold to a developer who has cleared the property. She was also told that it shouldn't be a problem for the city to buy this property from the developer (as we all know, if the developer doesn't want to sell it, the city can just take the property by imminent domain, so no problem).

No mention of AES - but then AES did contribute to GT Days, so it's not likely that the city will take a stand against them is it?

No thought of canceling the sale and use of fireworks since Southern California is experiencing one of the worse droughts in almost a hundred years.

From the Email InBox:

Next Council Meeting June 26 most likely will not be held because there is "Nothing On the Agenda". However it will not be officially canceled until 72 hours prior to the meeting. So don't all go on vacation thinking you don't have to pay attention to what may pop up on an agenda.

The City Council/City Manager Tom Schwab have refused to put on the agenda:

Eminent Domain Use Restrictions and Limits
AES Proclamation
Investigation as to the Payment for the Car Purchased For City Manager's Use and then "Sold" without Public Notice to Steve Berry, with no paper trail for the final transaction being made available.

The City Council Sang the Praises for the GT Days Event.
They said that Asst City Manager Steve Berry's Staff and Steve spent MANY HOURS. The prudent question should be: How Many Hours, at what cost, how much was spent for a one day party, regardless of where the contributions or funds came from. Is there a better use of resources and manpower? The Old West was not All Gun Slingers and Dance Hall Girls... Where were the artisans, skills and trades?

How much did it cost to put out the last major fires in Grand Terrace? Who paid for it?

For folks who are "Concerned" about Community the Mayor not knowing that the "cleared land near the Stater Brothers Offices, was the Grand Terrace Tractor Yard, where a person could have looked at Historical Farm Equipment, and enjoy a bit of history. The disregard for the historical value of that property and collection is telling and may be the very attitude that soured the prior owner with regard to selling a portion for improving the bridge situation. The city lost a possible attraction or unique feature that could have brought more folks to GT in a good way.

A road or a Bridge is PUBLIC USE... IF there is money for the building of the BRIDGE and the Purchase of the Land, Eminent Domain is an appropriate use. The Problem is that this is not in the City of Grand Terrace, it is COLTON, and there is no benefit to Colton to improve the bridge or make the land purchase. What is the plan, a land swap, trade Terra Loma for all the Colton land East of La Cadena except for the Stater's Property? We have seen how the Terra Loma folks are treated by the GT City Council.

Things we all agree with are
Fire House Pancakes were yummmy...
Rail Road Bridge is less than artful...
TJ's Graffiti....
215 traffic is a problem for the entire STATE: San Bag needs to get its act together on this MAJOR POINT... and Grand Terrace City Needs to get it done for REGIONAL Reasons not for City Reasons.


The Public did not attend the City Council Meeting is a demonstration of the Public Displeasure of not being heard or having any input to the items on the Agenda.