From INTHENEWS: NEW EMPLOYEE

Here we go again: The City of Grand Terrace should not be in the business of attracting Retail Clients to fill Doug Jacobsen’s Private Development. To pay a person $115,000.00 per year to do what Doug Jacobsen should be doing is not the right thing to do with tax payer’s money.

It looks like Powers can spend money, what were the specific results of spending all that taxpayer money? That is not clear in this article.

BEFORE one additional Retail spot is built all available space should be filled or ready for back fill of all pre-existing or currently developed sites. That is called “RE-Development” not NEW Development.

Before you pave over the last bits of farming space, GT may want to think about how it will feed the citizens if the trucks stop bringing food to GT.

Good Luck GT… the cost of an employee is 2x’s their income so the City Council is spending $230,000.00 for this function. Note to Citizens…. This is the same City Council that will not fund the Sports Teams and thus forces them to sell fireworks putting the citizens at risk, because “they have no money”.

GT's new official an important development for city
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 10/08/2008 09:43:59 PM PDT


GRAND TERRACE - The city has a new asset in its quest to bring major retail projects to town.
Joyce Powers has been lured from Riverside to become the city's community and economic development director.

Her first day is Oct. 20.

"I think heads will turn when they see the quality of this person that is coming from Riverside to Grand Terrace," said Steve Berry, acting city manager.

Since 2003, Powers has been in charge of downtown projects for the city of Riverside, managing a 21-member staff and a $190 million budget for three redevelopment teams.

"She has a track record of negotiated solutions to developer challenges," Berry said. "She also has a track record in assembling properties and working with stakeholder and community groups.

She has a tremendous track record of starting a project and completing a project."

Powers previously worked for the cities of Oceanside, Temecula, Moreno Valley and Norco.

"I'm very pleased and very excited to start work in Grand Terrace," Powers said.

Powers will replace part-time Community Development Director Gary Koontz.

The City Council included money for a full-time position in the 2008-09 budget.

Koontz did not want to work five days a week, Berry said.

Powers, 51, will earn $115,000 a year, plus benefits. She beat out seven other candidates.

Berry said a full-time director is needed to move forward some key projects on

Barton Road and complete an update of the city's General Plan.
"There's a tremendous amount of work to be done," Berry said.

In the nearby Riverside County community of Highgrove, officials are looking at 40 acres for retail development at Garfield Avenue and Center Street.

"If that happens before we get our Barton Road projects going, we would have the unfortunate situation where half of our community could be shopping in Highgrove," Berry said. "We don't get any tax benefit or anything else.

" This is why we need to kick it up a notch."

In a letter to Berry expressing interest in the position, Powers said she has implemented many activities and programs to improve residents' quality of life.

She said that her experience includes a focus on city gateways and entrances to business parks, residential and commercial improvement programs, and quality affordable housing.

"We are fortunate to have someone of this caliber," Berry said.