Not So Fast Moments at the City Council Meeting

A quick review of the City Council Meeting tonight for those who are interested.

The normally pro development of any kind residents of the area near the former proposed Manhole Cover Plant were back in front of the council reporting a new property owner has commenced work and may have damaged Water Company Drainage. The concern is the business will most likely increase heavy traffic on their rickety roads, be built in a flood zone, and may add to the erosion of the near by hills that support the narrow roads in their pocket of the community.

Here is the question. Where is Code Enforcement and or the Building Inspector, and or the Economic Development Director? Each of these city functions should be in contact with the new owner of the property.

Converting Agriculture/Residential Land that is in a flood zone to light manufacturing/industrial well that was the swift planning of the former City Managers and Council over the objections of the property owners and conservationists.

Second HOLD THE BOAT MOMENT: What's the real need for more bike lanes in GT? How many people ride vs how many people will be refused the use of parking spaces on the street? Or will pedestrians no longer be able to walk along Canal Street?

There was a comment that along the path and trails signage may be needed to remind riders of the helmet laws. How about going a step further. Lets put up signs that all traffic laws apply to bike riders. No more running stop signs, stop lights, or riding on sidewalks. No more riding against the flow of traffic. If you ride at night you must have a front light and reflectors as a minimum. And oh yes, you must obey the safe speed laws. Our Law Enforcement Officers should enforce these laws as well as they enforce the laws related to cars and trucks. Bike lanes should be posted for use by horse drawn carriage, horses, goat carts, electric carts, electric bikes and electric mopeds, and powered wheel chairs where there is no passable sidewalk. (Many of our sidewalks are bumpy). You can even get a DUI riding a bike.

Pedestrians walking in a bike lane where there is no other sidewalk should walk against the traffic and be respectful to on coming traffic and step out of the way. I would assume this would be true of scooters, skateboards and people on skates but that would need to be checked. These are not gear assisted modes of mobilization.

The cost of violating the law on a bike is by far much more dangerous to the rider of the bike. However, to disregard the property damage and trauma on the auto driver who hits you or you hit is not civil.

Bikes should not be encouraged to ride over the freeway where there is the on ramp. Unless the bike path is an elevated lane or tunnel. Both of which cause a problem for transients, graffiti artist and law enforcement. The better routing would be cross the freeway at Newport and ride on that road that is only suitable to light traffic use.

The City Council has accepted the assistance and co-ordination of an Eagle Scout and the LDS in Beautification and Clean-up activities scheduled in the near future. The GT Woman's Club will also be helping the Scout in his project.

Not So Fast Mayor (The Sky is Falling if the RDA Ends) Stanckiewitz. Yes Highgrove got a new library with RDA Funds. No it is not true that that is the ONLY way Libraries are built or funded. GT Citizens are and have always been welcome at the Highland / Riverside Libraries as well as the Colton Library. Our RDA/City provided such a limited space the County has very limited reason to justify the cost of staff that runs such a small number of books and clients. It's nice to say we have a County Library in our City. Highrove is part of the COUNTY and is not a City and they got a new RDA Library. Hmmm this could be a point for reverting to COUNTY, more than supporting the current RDA of GT.

Not so Fast Council Member Hays: The City of Grand Terrace has a Chamber of Commerce. The Government should not have their fingers in who is attracted to GT or a City Authorized Business Recruiting Committee. The Chamber of Commerce is supposed to build businesses in GT if they dissolve there may be a need for a Committee of interested citizens to aid the Planning and Economic Development Department.

Encouragement of Volunteer and Individual efforts by citizens and business people in GT is a good thing. However, for the City to Authorize an official active Committee of Representatives to go out Recruiting on "Our Behalf" that could lead to some conflict of interest issues in the future. We don't need to go there.

Closed Door Meeting had 3 items... Mayor should have said we go to Closed Door Proceedings the meeting does not Adjourn until he reports if the Closed Door Proceeding resulted in a reportable decision or not and if so what that decision was. Just a formality but it does matter.