CNG Reports on Hays Appointment

Gene Hays Appointed to GT City Council

Sandoval, McNaboe Nominate;

Hays Wins Council Vote, 3-1

Gene Hays

By: Margie Miller

From Jan 13, 2011 Grand Terrace City News

After reviewing 13 candidates for over three hours Tuesday night, the last remaining

spot on the Grand Terrace City Council was decided upon with a 3-1 vote affirming Gene Hays. Although, several long time residences applied for the position many of them known for their contributions to the community, it was a fairly newcomer that garnered the seat vacated by Walt Stanckiewitz.

After a contentious selection process, where one third of the field was eliminated due to a 2-2 block vote, Hays was nominated first by Councilmember Darcy McNaboe and a second time by Bernardo Sandoval and seconded by McNaboe. McNaboe agreed to modify the selection process on the condition Hays would be the candidate up for consideration.

“I’m extremely disappointed in the process. What should have been a clear and easy process turned into political gamesmanship by a member of the council,” Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz said. “There was a 2-2 split sometimes, and I attribute that to a fear of a voting block on one side or the other. Once we started to get into candidates that no one had any knowledge of, and they were rejected, I wondered ‘What’s going on here?’

“It became a cooperative effort on the part of Bernardo and Darcy, they found common ground in Mr. Hays and we were finally able to get three affirmative votes for a candidate.”

Hays became the council choice upon receiving the final tally of 3-1, with Councilwoman LeAnn Garcia being the nay vote. Hays is an attorney in Grand Terrace, specializing in immigration law. He has resided in Grand Terrace for the last seven years. “I believe in listening to the concerns of the community and acting upon those issues that are relevant to the residents in the city," Hays said during his interview. "And I feel that the council should be fiscally responsible and live within our means." Hays filled the seat left vacated by Stanckiewitz, who was elected mayor in November.

After much debate, the council elected to appoint for the fifth seat rather than hold a special election, which would have cost the residents approximately $ 35,000.

Stanckiewitz said Hays has a number of strong qualities that could make him an effective council member. “He has no perceived connections to anyone – none of us knew him that well,” Stanckiewitz said. “He talked about vision; he talked about the hard choices we’re going to have to make budget-wise and is aware of the realities we’re facing. “He’s intelligent and I think he’ll bring new ideas.”

Several of the other candidates interviewed throughout the evening expressed concerns with the fiscal direction of the city as well and felt that it was the number one priority for 2011.

After the selection process was over, Hays said, “I really love Grand Terrace and I’m ready to roll up my sleeves’ and get down to doing city business.”

Hays will be inducted Thursday evening, January 13, at a special meeting to be held by the council, which includes the discussion of the proposed new city park to be built off Grand Terrace Road.

Appointment of Gene E Hays FINISHED

Gene E Hays is now a sworn in member of the Grand Terrace City Council and Member of the Grand Terrace City Redevelopment Agency Board of Directors.

We look forward to his input on the Council, and to the Blog. Many readers have been asking questions about him and his background. In time we'll get to know his abilities as a Council Member.

During the Appointment Process he got to see first hand what it will be like working with the other members of the Council.

Planning Commission Meeting and Appointment

The Agenda for the Planning Commission Meeting that is scheduled to be held on Thursday, January 20, 2011 is now available on-line. Click below for Agenda http://www.cityofgrandterrace.org/archives/32/01202011.pdf

* * * * * *

The City of Grand Terrace is Accepting Applicationsto Fill One Vacancy on the Planning Commission

The Mayor and City Council invite interested residents to complete an application for one vacancy on the Grand Terrace Planning Commission.The appointment to fill the vacancy created by the election of Darcy McNaboe as Council Member is for the remainder of the unexpired term. The term will expire June, 2014.

Applicants must be 18 years of age and reside within the corporate limits of the City of Grand Terrace.Applications are available in the City Clerk’s Office and on the City’s website at http://www.cityofgrandterrace.org/.

The deadline for filing the application is February 9, 2011 by 5:00 p.m. in the City Clerks Office located at City Hall, 22795 Barton Road, in Grand Terrace.

Applicants will be interviewed at a regular meeting of the City Council.For more information regarding the appointment process, please contact the City Clerk's Department at 909 430-2212.

Gene Hays: In The News and From the Email InBox

Immigration attorney joins Grand Terrace City Council

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer

Posted: 01/12/2011 08:20:16 PM PST

Updated: 01/12/2011 09:34:50 PM PST

GRAND TERRACE - Gene Hays, an immigration attorney with no government experience, will be sworn in today as the fifth member of the City Council.

The council members voted 3-1 on Tuesday to select Hays after interviewing 13 applicants.

"I'm looking forward to rolling my sleeves up and getting down to business," Hays said.

Several residents had expressed fear that the open seat, held by Walt Stanckiewitz until he was elected mayor in November, would lead to repeated 2-2 stalemates until the next election in 2012.

And at first, the council appeared to be headed down that path, as eight successive candidates were nominated, then failed either for lack of a second or in a 2-2 split with Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz and Councilman Bernardo Sandoval on one side and councilwomen LeeAnn Garcia and Darcy McNaboe on the other.

Sandoval then proposed voting again on Hays, who was originally nominated by McNaboe, and all but Garcia approved.

Garcia and Hays said afterward they were focused on the future, not the nomination.

"I look forward to working with you," Garcia told Hays after the meeting. "I was unable to support you, as I really do not know you."

Hays said finances were the council's biggest challenge, exacerbated by contracts where he said the city had not protected its interests.

On Wednesday, he added that he would apply his legal experience as he dug into the budget.

"The physical viewing of the budget, that's No. 1 for me," he said. "Once I have a look at it, then I'll approach it with the same attention, thoughtfulness and diligence as I approach legal cases."

The council will meet at 6 tonight for a public workshop regarding a proposed park on Grand Terrace's west side.

ryan.hagen@inlandnewspapers.com
909-386-3916

NOTE ADDED:

LeeAnn's statement "I look forward to working with you," Garcia told Hays after the meeting. "I was unable to support you, as I really do not know you." She could not support Sylvia Robles although approved by 1700 voters and clearly qualified on the matter of the budget because, she doesn't like her. The citizens wish the new council member well, however the Council did not select the best qualified candidate because of Garcia and McNaboe's personal feelings, not because of the qualifications. These Garcia and McNaboe should be given a voter reaction for their insistence on not selecting the best candidate for the council.

Mr. Hays, he graduated from law school in 1999. He attempted to pass the California bar exam after several tries, and went to the State of Washington to take the bar there and passed the bar there in 2005 after an additional 2-3 times. That means he cannot practice law in any State Court in California. He can practice law in Federal Courts such as Immigration cases, but he can not practice civil or criminal, in any of the Califorinia Courts.

Perhaps he can Guide the Council in the use Federal Law to Claw Back some of the losses due to improper management in the past. Debt Bonds are regulated by the Federal Government. Some of the other funds received have Federal Regulations tied to them. The Federal Courts over lap some of the type of cases that State Court handles. Often State Courts will not hear or get a local government case because of cronism in local politics and the Federal Courts is the only jurisdiction that will take on local government individuals.

Perhaps he will apply the attention to detail a good lawyer should have in case preparation. At a minimum he should be able to aid the city in writing better terms and conditions and detailed line item scope of work or specification requirements into the contracts and agreements so we never build something that can't pass code again, or find ourself paying for a Developers error in planning or building. His being on the Council will be a wait and see situation as the citizens don't know him.

He starts with a clean slate, Garcia and McNaboe not so much.

Budget Budget Budget Budget Budget Budget Budget

Every or nearly every candidate for the council seat said the biggest challenge GT faces was the Budget. Yet, because of their own non related to the Budget reasons Garcia and McNaboe refused to seat the highest qualified candidate, who also received 1700 votes in the last election. Are we shocked. No of course not. Garcia in particular is showing more and more that she is entrenched and has no desire to serve the majority of the community but to run her own agenda of petty interpersonal relationships or non relationships as the basis of her governance.

Note that she was forceful about not having an appointment from the start. There was no reason for her to say and vote any differently from that stance No on all nominations, thus leaving the decision up to Sandoval, Stanckiewitz and McNaboe. She was livid that the "Rules" changed and the council could come to a joint agreement. It is clear she has no respect for Walt Stanckiewitz. Soon it will be clear that she has no respect for any of her co council members who she feels personally attacked because they were able to come to a consensus and make an appointment. Her tantrum was unprofessional, and directed at the best qualified Candidate who by the way folks had nothing to do with the compromise struck by Sandoval, McGuire and Stanckiewits. Yet, Garcia had to spew venom toward Robles and Stanckiewitz to ease her own rage at the fact that a compromise was reached.

This conduct needs to be carefully evaluated by the voters and citizens of Grand Terrace.

The decision should have been made by asking WHO would be best qualified to aid solve the MOST IMPORTANT PROBLEM facing GT in the Next Year. BUDGET BUDGET BUDGET... the answer to that was Sylvia Robles and the Majority of Citizens know that, but because of Garcia and McNaboe we have selected a guy that may be a Nice Fellow but who lacks the expertise to handle that the biggest problem nearly all who spoke identified as being Number 1 of all Problems.

I have a problem with that logic. It is not an example of selfless service to the community. It is petty, and in the end may hurt the progress of our city to self sustainability.

Park Workshop Notice: BUDGET BUSTER

To Read the Staff Report and Council Packet : http://www.cityofgrandterrace.org/Archive.aspx?AMID=&Type=&ADID=624


Thursday at 6:00 pm the Park Workshop or Special City Council Meeting will be held. Folks as citizens of California and Grand Terrace this is a bad idea at this time. Doug Jacobsen pays property taxes on that property, and that revenue will be lost to the city, county and state if that land becomes Park Land. In addition Doug Jacobsen has not replace the housing elements he removed, thus putting our RDA behind an 8Ball in our required housing elements. In addition Jacobsen and Staters have also gotten sufficient help from Grand Terrace Tax Payers and State Tax Payers and Federal Tax Payers for their Development. This park is a bad idea all around and the neighbors don't want it in addition.

This is simply a way that The Planning and Economic Development Department is trying to please a Developer. It has zero to do with the desires of the neighborhood or community. Try a park near Terra Loma if you want to serve an under-served portion of our community. Oh that's right Jacobsen doesn't own property on that side of Grand Terrace he wants to off load along with his responcibility to build housing elements he disposed of in GT.

Dual Meetings Thursday Night: Pick One

School Board Meeting Thursday and Park Work Shop Thursday in GT. Note City and CJUSD were told the soil was contaminated prior to the sale of the property. They duly noted the information and 100 soil samples can easily miss the dump locations on property that size. This is why in most of the country we don't build schools in Industrial Zones or Land that was used as Industrial in the past.

GRAND TERRACE: High school construction delays may be costly

11:54 PM PST on Tuesday, January 11, 2011

By DARRELL R. SANTSCHI
The Press-Enterprise

Colton Joint Unified School District trustees face tough choices in getting construction back on track for the long-awaited Grand Terrace High School.

The school board, which meets Thursday, is being asked to choose between two alternative construction plans -- both of which would push the opening of the school into next year.

One of the alternatives, involving the hiring of a general contractor to complete any work that existing contractors cannot, would cost as much as $7 million. It calls for work to be completed by Dec. 20, eight months later than had been planned.

The other alternative, involving close monitoring of construction work, calls for work to be completed in April 2012.

Either alternative would mean the school will not open as planned in August, which generated complaints from Grand Terrace residents who did not learn of the construction delays until the district's consultant, Vanir Construction Management Inc., sent a formal letter to the district in November saying the work would not finish in time.

Vanir Vice President David Anderson told school board members at a December board meeting that "unusual circumstances and events" had delayed construction of the school.

Vanir Project Director Michael De Vries said buildings on the 58-acre site being demolished to make way for the school contained lead and asbestos, and that workers found water wells, sewage ponds and asbestos pipe underground.

More than 30,000 cubic yards of concrete base material buried under dirt and asphalt had to be removed, he said. Construction crews also found septic tanks, leach lines and a cesspool that had to be drained, removed or filled in.

But the longest delays were caused by rainy weather from November 2009 to February 2010.

School teacher Tobin Brinker criticized Vanir for taking so long to send its letter.

"How much is your reputation worth to you?" he asked officials of the construction management company at the December meeting. "I would hope that Vanir takes a haircut on this along with the school district."

Grand Terrace Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz criticized workmen for not discovering the underground material after having drilled more than 100 test borings as part of pre-construction soil tests.

"Some of it doesn't pass the smell test," he said of Vanir's report.

Several school board members complained that they were caught off guard by the November letter, although Vanir officials said they had been keeping district administrators up to date in weekly meetings.

School board member Kent Taylor said he favors hiring the general contractor to prevent more delays.

"It is really about fulfilling a pledge and a promise to the community," he said at the meeting. "Let's accelerate it and get it done."

Board member Roger Kowalski favored the other alternative.

"We are not gaining anything" by finishing the work in December, he said, contending that the school would not be able to open for several months anyway after construction is completed.

"I have lost confidence," board member Randall Ceniceros told Vanir officials. "Every year I anticipate a rainy season in California."

Board President Patt Haro said she, too, was disappointed.

"I don't like being made to look like we are lying to the public," she said.

The $55 million high school would be Grand Terrace's first, housing 2,500 students in 96 classrooms, with a 2,500-seat gymnasium and 96 classrooms.

Reach Darrell R. Santschi at 951-368-9484 or dsantschi@PE.com

Questions: What would your answers be?

The Applicants for the City Council Seat were asked 4 questions. It may be interesting if we had readers answer the same questions and posted them.

1) What is the role of the City Council, A Council Member, and the City Staff?

2) Internal and External forces impact our Revenue and Finances how would you manage them?

3) How do you envision Grand Terrace in 10 Years, specifically how it relates to the Barton Rd Specific Plan and the General Plan?

4) What is the biggest changeless GT faces in the next year?

_____________________________________________________________________

Your Answers Will Be Posted Here As They Come In

First Input:

The function of the City Council, a City Council Member and the Staff:

The City Council is the body that approves the actions of the Staff who works as guided by the priorities set by the City Council and the required laws of the county and state and the city ordinances. The Staff has the responsibility to carryout the tasks required or are the actual workers. The staff also provides input to the City Council for discussion and consideration prior to taking action on a non routine or pre authorized action. The Individual Council Member has no individual power or authority to act without the entire Council's Consent for a specific purpose. Council Members should listen to constituents and carry the information to the Council Chamber, but never should a Council Member say he or she will take care of a particular problem as an individual interface. IF the constituents concern is a routine matter the City Council Member may inform the City Manager of the Issue so that if routine it could be dealt with properly or put on the Agenda for Full Council Consideration.

How I see Grand Terrace ten years from now and how this year's decisions help get the ball rolling in relation to the Grand Terrace General Plan and the Barton Road Specific Plan. I see a need to modify both plans to push them out of the 80's mind set and into the 2020's or 2050's. The Planning/Economic Development Department should provide plan ready drawings for the installation of Composting Toilets, Solar Panel Installations, and Parking Lot Car Ports with Solar Panels. Electric charging parking lots and power generated will off set the cost of power to businesses. I see a entire city that is designated as an Economic Zone and Each Home as a Home Based Business Location. Free Business Licenses can be obtained by any Home Owner or Renter. The Free License comes with the requirement to receive payments through a banking agreement that will automatically collect sales taxes. The Home Based Businesses will be encouraged to provide goods and services for a customer base outside of Grand Terrace, thus generating new capital or expendable funds to our local economy.

I see the Water of Blue Mt. or Grand Terrace Water being a resource we all own and can benefit from. Our water company has a product we can sell as a community. Each house hold will have an allotment of water. Any allotment not used by the household can then be bottled and sold. The sale will generate Sales Tax to the City and Income for the Water Company and the Citizen who did not use the water. In order to save water, all toilets will be converted to composting toilets, and the city will have its own gray water treatment and distribution facility. Humus will be collected and transformed into power or some other safe by product or burned for power generation.

The City will encourage homeowners to install PV Power to their home sites by providing ready approved free plans for installation. The Community will support internally 50% of its working aged adults and 100% of its working aged teenagers who desire part time employment or a volunteer opportunity. There should be artisins shops and light manufacturing in Grand Terrace. In addition there should be a Electric and Hydrogen Only Auto Repair Service Industry to be captured. The entire city should have free wireless access.

This will all be done in part by the city getting out of the way of entrepreneurship. The city will stop promoting the idea that the Redevelopment Agency is some how wanted in every business and homes business. Land and Business ownership should be restored to those who own the land and business. If the land is “Under Utilized” that is the Owner's prerogative not the Problem of the City. The city may provide ideas, options and opportunities for that Owner. However, it should not be the practice of the city to dictate to a land owner or business owner.

I see a city that has a strong and busy volunteer base of 10 percent of its citizens per month providing active civic services. I see the Dog Park finished by such a group. The City will get out of the way, and allow folks to donate what they can find, as they find it. Chain Link Fence from Craigs List, or Picnic Tables from a Government Auction... Composting Toilets (Modern) and so forth. Citizens can get these things done much more efficiently than the Government, IF the Government would get out of the way. Provide guidelines and let the volunteers get it done.

A housing facility for extremely low income and homeless vets and women will house our share of the nations poor and disenfranchised. These facilities will require the renter to pay 25 percent of their income for rent 10 percent into a savings account to facilitate their eventual moving out of the facility. If we don't allow homeless people to live on our streets we must provide a place for people to lay their heads, have a drink of water and at least starve to death in some sort of dignity.

A day labor and employment agency for Grand Terrace will aid citizens and business in connecting local labor with local jobs. This will include part time work for teens. This employment agency will be privately owned and will receive a 10 percent charge for the connection. All labor starts at minimum wage or above. The person hired does not pay the fee, the employer does. All employees would be checked for employment status and proper taxes would be paid.

How we get to a future of sustainability depends on what we do this year. Rather than make a bigger debt hole as Mr. Schwab proposed at the interview. I think we struggle this year. The budget will be tough. Even if the Economic Zone was changed it will take time for home businesses to get sufficient revenue to fill the needs of our City's current budget.

Many people in this recession have taken pay cuts of 40 percent and are still working 50 hours a week to keep that job. Any city employee earning above $50,000.00 per year should receive a 60 percent pay cut on all income above $50,000.00. All legal means should be used to reduce the current cost of retired employees, and the cost of future retirements. All medical coverage should be limited to communicable diseases, employment injury, any other costs should be considered add on and paid for by the individual. Co pays should be paid by the individual not the city. Stipends to the City Council Members should be cut by 60 percent and only actual travel expenses should be paid via a travel voucher / report accounting procedure. If the City Council met 2 times a month that is 24 meetings and Mc Naboe said one council member costs 14,000 per year. That is 583.33 per meeting. Some council members use more Medical Benefits than others.

I see the need for the employment payroll checks to be at least in a summary report to the Citizens and Council. This expense is not on the check register and as the Human Costs increase the citizens never get a grip on that budget item.

This city needs to begin to get out of the RDA addiction. The city will exist with out it, it isn't like some big black hole will swallow us up and we become dust. Dooms Day for the RDA is not Armageddon. Natural yes Piece Meal Development is the soundest. With a reasonable plan and reasonable specific plans and zoning Piece Meal Development is what built this country, and what is sustainable. This has to start this year. No new RDA Projects should be funded by increasing the Debt. Let Developers pay their own way. RDA development is not sustainable.

Gene Hays: Appointed to City Council Seat

Gene Hays: President of Blue Mountain Beer Company. Desired to put a Pub/Brewery in GT, near the Seventh Day Adventist Church and the Fire Station. See Agenda Packet 09022010. No other record of attendance of City Hall /Chamber Meetings. He is an Immigration Law Attorney with Law Office in Grand Terrace has been appointed to fill the City Council Seat vacated by the election of Walt Stanckiewitz to the Mayor's Chair. During his interview his most stellar moment came when he accurately characterized the flaw in the city's past contracting practices which resulted in the city getting the short end of the deal several times in the past years. He was less clear about the questions of GT 10 years forward, and how that relates to the specific plan or general plan. He gave a fair answer to his understanding of the Council Government Structure. He recognized the future problems with budgets but assured the other members that he would work in collaborative mode to resolve this quagmire facing not only Grand Terrace but all government agencies and entities.

Just prior to Hays being appointed, Leeanne Garcia flew off into a tantrum. The Council had eliminated all of the 13 who applied. Some of which recieved a 2/2 vote. Some were given a motion which did not recieve a 2nd. Others including Schwab, Wilson, Dodd were not even given a motion. At this point Mayor Stanckiewitz asked are their any more motions? Silence. Then he asked. Are we deciding to have a 4 member council? That's it? He looked to his right and to his left looking for input. McNaboe asked can we return to a Motion on an individual? She was told NO by Council Member Garcia. Walt turned and asked about the rules.

Then apparently fearing that the Revisit to a Motion would have been to nominate Sylvia Robles, Garcia went on about how she was not going to change her vote, not be pressured, she expected respect, and ...... so forth. Walt turned away to try to put out the rant. Sandoval said to McNaboe that he would second Hays if that was possible to do. After consultation with the City Attorney it was decided that the Council could change the rules by a motion and a vote, to reconsider Hays. That motion passed with Garcia Voting NO. Then the motion was made to Appoint Hays and with a 3 to 1 vote Hays was appointed to the Council.

Leeann Garcia was so fixed that in spite of the fact that Sylvia Robles received 1700 votes in the last election, and holds the proper education and specific work experience that is needed in this city at this time, she would not vote for her under any circumstance and thought she had locked down the appointment rules to preclude the appointment of anyone she felt she had slighted her personally regardless of the needs of the community and council. You saw her act on a personal level, not a professional level tonight. Joining Garcia in a NO vote for Sylvia Robles Appointment was Darcy McNaboe. Stanckiewitz and Sandoval voted Yes for Sylvia Robles.

Gene Hays, may well be the 2nd or 3rd or 4th vote. But, Garcia was not interested in compromise she was intent on making sure as sure as she could that Sylvia Robles was not seated and if that took leaving the seat empty she was content with that outcome.

Walt did nothing other than to ask a question. What do we tell these 13 people who have applied? We can't do our jobs in selecting one from this pool of applicants? He may have been looking at either Sandoval or Garcia when he made that statement, but he quickly turned to face McNaboe with the same open Question. Garcia chose to take his comment as a personal injury, and she had to control herself by looking out into the audience at a face of some one she respected. Thus saying Stanckiewitz. I don't respect you, I will not converse with you look you in the eye. This from a person who said she could get along with 3 people on the council. Garcia voted NO for Hays.

It is a good thing that there is a 5th man on the council. Clearly there needs to be a offset for when Garcia becomes offended, be it from a citizen or a fellow council member.

Hays will take the oath of office at the Jan 13 Special Meeting regarding the Park Grant Workshop.

West Side Resident Rejects the Park Plan

From the Email InBox:

As of Monday morning the 10th, the illuminated sign now on Barton Road says in lavender letters on a white background as of Jan.13th a special Workshop for discussion of the new Park on GT Road. This prior to the on or about discussion of the whole park on the 20th. (Why, why, Barrie told me this had already been discussed at some previous workshop)

I am finding quite contradicting information on the new park. Seems 1-2 years ago the City of GT. sent Barrie out to discuss with the neighborhood the situation of "what exactly we would like to see" and also let slip the park position was decided via the G.T. city council, it was a fact, and the city council of GT voted upon it and it was 100% done, except for paying for it.

If the C-C is authorizing some one to appear on their behalf, then give them the straight poop, and do not send Barrie.Now am finding out via letter and via the staff that the city has NOT 100% decided as to if there will be a park, and we are to pay off Jacobson and neighbor first. (Didn't Barrie just tell us a while back this was a sure thing?)

A part of monies have been gathered via a grant through Sacto, and the residents of GT are expected to make up for the shortfall. Much of this as noted in the letter we received. (Oops, did we forget to mention an increase in property taxes?)

Then too the C-C for G.T. had gotten us fooled in thinking the 67 million that we paid to the state was only for an environmental assessment, not the actual construction costs of a bridge over the freeway. I had thought that figure too low. Should have been in the billions.

Have a neighbor up the street involved in local real estate. Was told to me years ago the cost of the house and Jacobson property were well below market. "Wish I could have bumbled on to that sale".Joyce is today trying to defend her interest into the situation by saying the "Improvements" along G.T. Road, that she had installed .....

The residents across the street do not want it, nor does anyone in the nearby trailer park. For it only means a large gathering of Boom-boxes for first year until the five yers has been run out, and the Sherrif can take care of. No big time sound wall in the immediate future. Seems the only one approving of the new park are Sacto, the C-C and the residents to east side of freeway. Is better and cheaper to let the land sit idle and gather property taxes. I would think that the C-C ought to be looking at ways to INCREASE the tax base, not at ways of removing a couple items.

Waaa? What's that? I can't hear you over the noise across the street ...

Gramps Adds a thought to the above.

If there is a park built, the Tax Assessor will then increase the property values around the park and those people will pay increased property taxes as well as have the added noise and traffic a park will bring to their neighborhood.

Write to the Governor of the State and tell him to take back the grant offer. The Citizens of GT do not have the money to pay for a new park, and neither do the Citizens of the State of Grand Terrace.

Collect the taxes from Doug Jacobsen at the assessed value and don't off load his dealings onto the backs of the Citizens of the State or Grand Terrace.

Will YOU Raise Your Taxes for a Park?

$2,800,000.00 for the park... at 3000 homes or households that would be about $950.00 per household. Will we the citizens of Grand Terrace Tax ourselves in order to pay for the West Side Park. IF not perhaps we should say to the State of California, thanks but no thanks. Or will we be willing to pay a tax to Pay Doug Jacobsen $300.00 per each household for the land he purchased to replace the low and moderate income homes he removed in order to build the Mega Staters?

The Park is not Free. Grant money from the State comes from our tax pockets some where down the line. A park is needed. Perhaps Mr. Jacobsen would sell the property for 2.00 in exchange for not having to replace the homes he removed and naming the park DJ Family Park. Then when a Eagle Scout or Scout Group want to make a project of it the city may muster the support from within.

The annual cost of operation and maintenance is not included in the above estimates. Do we as a city have the finances to hire an individual to run the park. That includes retirement, medical, and all other overhead associated with employment.

This is not prudent use of the financial resources of the State nor the City.

Facebook & Twitter and the "Other Grandpa Terrace"

Grandpa Terrace on Facebook is not Gramps or Grand Pa Terrace from this blog. If you desire to contact Grand Pa Terrace of this blog it is simple by email GrandTerraceNews@yahoo.com.

This Grandpa or Gramps does not have time for Twitter and feels the space available in that format precludes intelligent review of issues or foster any real depth to the issues of GT Governance. I have an account for the sole purpose of reading Facebook and Tweets posted about Grand Terrace.

We welcome more discussion on GT Issues, however, don't be confused. GrandPaTerrace of this blog does not use a City Official Logo of any kind to suggest that this is "Official". The end result of their pages is that more folks read this blog on a consistent daily basis. Their efforts ended after the election. Perhaps the opposition to this blog has returned to the ignore them they'll go away strategy . This all matters not. Any Email request has been answered by post or posting, or by a direct note from Gramps. Quite frankly this blog is a sufficient demand for time.

Bring a Friend to the Council Meeting...

Grand Terrace council to interview applicants for vacant seat

Ryan Hagen, Staff Writer

Posted: 01/10/2011 05:16:35 PM PST

Updated: 01/10/2011 05:55:29 PM PST

Sun Telegram San Bernardino

GRAND TERRACE - A fifth member could join the City Council this evening, preventing what many say would otherwise be a 2-2 deadlock for the next two years.

But first, current members will interview the 14 applicants for the position and agree on a future colleague.

The field includes familiar faces from the 2010 election - council candidates Sylvia Robles and Tom Schwab and mayoral candidate Doug Wilson - as well former Councilman Herman Hilkey.

Most of the remaining applicants are relative newcomers to the city's political scene, including many who have not spoken at a City Council meeting in at least the last year, according to the minutes of those meetings.

"There are some very good candidates, and I can honestly say there's a bunch of them I don't even know, so I can tell you they're not a part of a voting bloc of mine," Mayor Walt Stanckiewitz said.

Two earlier council meetings dedicated to deciding whether to appoint a candidate or hold an election split largely between residents advocating for Robles - who narrowly lost a two-person race to Councilwoman Darcy McNaboe - and those who saw her as too closely aligned with Stanckiewitz and Councilman Bernardo Sandoval.

While all three deny any such allegiance, many residents said appointing Robles would reinforce perceptions of two hostile camps on the council.

The council will interview each of the candidates in public, then nominate individuals until a majority can agree on someone.

A staff report recommends limiting each interview to 15 minutes.

The interviews are the final item at the meeting, which begins at 6 p.m.

"Bring a blanket, your jammies and a pillow," Stanckiewitz said.

Budget Election Possible in June: Republicans Fight Idea

Republican Party Leaders and Members and League of California Cities, (Or the Friends of the Redevelopment Agency Scam), are all set to fight the proposed Brown Budget and any possible election proposed to give the People of California a vote on the question of raising taxes to retire the debt. So given the situation an election in June is Unlikely and California's budget problems will continue to plague our re-set of all government budgets and long term obligations including our own excessive retirement obligations for former employees.

Brown’s budget proposal will be voted on in June in a State Wide Special Election. He will ask the citizens if they will pay for Half of the DEBT the State Accrued over the years. He will make cut backs to raise the other half of the funds.

The State of California has to go on a beans and rice budget like many folks are doing right now. Either pay off the debt or file bankruptcy and do a major do over. That is what many families face, that is what the State and City face. It is time to see it as it is not how we pretend it will be in the rosy future.

Gadflies and Court or "Old Guard" Intimidation & Violence

It doesn't matter that the Arizona shooter is deranged. That goes without saying. Still, elected officials and candidates who engage in such provocative fan-flaming are planting seeds that encourage gun violence, and anyone with half a brain knows it.

It would be appropriate for the City Council to evaluate which politic was promoting fear and sometimes even violent images in their campaign or by their supporters. Those are the elements which perpetuated past abuse of power and management. In our little way Grand Terrace has a role to play in the bigger picture. This is why civil remedy or the courts or dealing with Facts and Records is so important to this blog's discourse.

There should be no room at the City Council Dias for persons who used or benefited from the "Stop Walt" (Bernardo, Sylvia being mindless puppets) flier. Add the video by J McConnell, editor of the Blue Mt Outlook published by the Chamber of Commerce which is paid by the city for "Services Rendered", on the net portraying violent acts against Grandpa Terrace or Grand ma Terrace , or the Gadflies of Grand Terrace. Sure he says it was produced as an individual, but who's his target for his beating down? Who may take up his example? Who was his intended benefactor?

When a flier or movement relies on the facts of a persons conduct be it negative than that is fair political conversation as we elect people and their conduct to represent us in and outside the community. So I do not see all "negatives" as the same. To say Walt is excitable and gets angry or impatient at times is fair use of language and may be something the voters should consider. The use of "he's a bomb throwing mad man" you never know when he'll go off type of language was used to differentiate Mr. Wilson and Mr Schwab from Mr Stanckiewitz. The projection of violence wet even further in the whisper campaigns against Walt in particular. Let's hope the Current City Council Members give this a great deal of thought. Which side of civic behavior are they going to stand on?

To compromise their decision so that those who wrote the "Stop Walt" flier and the videos with violence are the "Happy Half of the Community" is in my opinion a surrender to the dark side of politic. It will take courage to appoint Sylvia Robles at this point, but I still think it is the right thing to do all things considered. Sylvia Robles will be the collateral damage of the negative campaigns. Give them this crumb of a victory and you'll be empowering the behavior in the next election.

6:00 PM Be There for the 5th Member Appointment

Above emails have had their entire email address removed. However, citizens who speak at a Council Meeting give their Name and Address during Public Comment as a condition of being heard as a citizen. The black city made redactions were not sufficient marking to prevent decoding some of the addresses. So, the intended redactions were removed by clipping them out so no one could read through the ink and get the email addresses intended to be hidden by marker.

City Council Member Appointment Meeting

6:00 PM

The January 11, 2011 City Council Agenda and Staff Reports are now available on-line.Click below for Agenda and Staff Reports.

http://ca-grandterrace.civicplus.com/archives/38/01112011%20Council%20Packet.PDF

Read post below for a quick study on who is a Candidate for Appointment.


A Request for Copies of Email sent to Council Persons Garcia and McNaboe resulted in the following documents to be sent to the blog for posting. Email was from 7 Individuals . one of which spoke at two of the meetings, one spoke between the two meetings on the topic. So the evidence provided it that there is additional input of 5 individuals via email contact, prior to making a decision to appoint a council member. Is this really your idea of a Lot Of or Many Citizens? (This accounts for some emails including the name of the Spouse as holding the same view.)

I find the document contents interesting on several levels. The Meeting where the appointment discussion was opened for Public Comment was on December 21st, 2010. The email dates are interesting. I'd like to say that if this is All of the communications received by the Council Members than they misrepresented the number of citizens communicating to them. The word "Many", "Several", implies more than 4 + Terry McGuire who spoke at the meeting as well as sent email.

PRE MEETING: December 16, 2010 Terry McGuire sent an email to all council members:

Terry McGuire spoke at the first meeting and expressed an interest in having Doug Wilson appointed. Then at the second meeting and in the email he sent December 16, 2010, he was insistent about his right to have a vote. He also suggested that the Voters had not had the opportunity to evaluate the FPPC action and resulting findings prior to the election taking place. This is wrong the FPPC decision was made prior to the election and the results were made public and Ms. Robles still got nearly 50 Percent of the vote. Some of the conflicts have been corrected and thus did not need to be acted upon by the FPPC. Those issues were not directed at unelected persons running for office at the time.

Terry McGuire, mentioned that the campaign was divisive and nasty and the city was split in half. Well folks this blog reported some uncomfortable facts that is true. However, Ms Robles, Mr. Stanckiewitz, and Mr. Sandoval did not publish the Halt Walt flier that was distributed in the dark of night. This was one of the few times the 3 responded with the same voice denouncing that flier. Statements made to the News Papers that Walt was some sort of bomb throwing temper bound person were made by Tom Schwab. Tom Schwab also was highly critical of Ms Cortes and her readiness prior to Council Meetings. The FPPC found that McNaboe and McGuire had done nothing wrong. The FPPC missed the point that the complaint was trying to address and that was the Relationship with ELECTED Officials (Walt Stanckiewitz and Bea Cortes) - The City's Relationship with the Chamber of Commerce- and the use of preferred mailing rates. To have these matters cleared is not an inappropriate action on the part of any citizen.

PRE MEETING: 12/16/2010 To Group Council from Don and Alice Hallwachs
The Hallawachs simply asked for an election.

PRE MEETING: 12/08/2010 To Garcia, Stanckiewits, McNaboe : From Mickey & Danelle Bubier
12/16/2010 To Garcia, Stanckiewitz, McNaboe : From Mickey & Danelle Bubier

FIRST:
Fears unrepairable damage done by past election but desires election to fill empty seat. The "Damage" done in the election, that only another election could start the healing process. It is time to look forward not backwards.

SECOND:
Wanted an election. If not an election some one who did not run for office. Claims to have seen ads where Walt, Bernardo and Sylvia were running together. (This is not factual, and a flier that was distributed was done without the support of Sylvia Robles Campaign) (The add or flier that was most widely distributed was the Nasty Flier "Stop Walt". That should not constitute justification for an assumption the three ran together.

Included in the same email was the perpetuation of a miss interpretation of the use of an allegory when Ms Robles suggested Highgrove be annexed. She was not suggesting that the county lines be violated and Highgrove be absorbed into Grand Terrace. No she was suggesting that certain services be looked at as being overlapping in our two closely nit communities. Services such as Transportation or the Metro Link, Blue Mt. Park, and yes possibly support for their Library, which is accessible to our citizens. As a financial or economic evaluation I think this overlapping service area, exchange of services makes since. Some of our seniors swap attendance at Senior Center Activities on a regular basis. There is a county line between the two communities, but there is no reason not to find areas where we can collaborate to the benefit of both communities.

PREE MEETING 12/14/2010 To McNaboe, Stanckiewitz (Request to send to all Council) From Burt Sueyiemezian

Supported the idea of having an election because the community is divided as a result of the past negative and full of hate campaign that preceded the vacancy. Fells that an election would unite the community. Of if an appointment is to be made it should be some one other than those who ran for election.

POST MEETING 12/23/2010 To McNaboe From Roxanne Williams

Williams wrote to suggest she had a possible resolution to the question. Being that she is seeking an appointment that may be the resolution insulated in the communication. She asked for an appointment to have a discussion at Mc Naboes earliest convenience.

For those who's candidates lost when Sandoval and Stanckiewitz won it seams their only place to vent it to be angry at Sylvia Robles and cast forward misrepresentations regarding her campaign and actions. The question should be who is being deviance? Which power base is going to win, those who published the "Halt Walt" materials, or those who feel it is right to question government actions, and try to correct errors of the past, and bring Transparency to the governance of Grand Terrace.

Doug Wilson attended the Unity Rally where Robles, Sandoval, & Stanckiewitz attended, so are we to conclude he was also running as a 4th member of a group? Robles did not attend the coffees held by Sandoval & Stanckiewitz she held her own events and directed her own campaign. This truth should be told and recognized. Linkage was not her doing.

Note to Mr. McGuire: Gadfly's as you call the folks who watch over our government are an aid to all the voters and citizens, even when they get it wrong, we all become better informed by their actions. I for one can learn from any example, good or bad.