Sunday, August 24, 2008

Thoughts on Next City Council Agenda

The new city web site is doing a better job of providing information.

When it notes on the Agenda that the Support Documents will be provided to the "Majority of the Council" and will be posted on the web site CONCERNS SHOULD BE RAISED.

Who on the Council is not getting the Information? OR Who on the Council is just too busy to read the support documents to the items on the agenda? THIS should be of interest to the community of VOTERS.

ALSO ON THE AGENDA:

Assistant City Manager is to be appointed to be Acting Temporary City Manager. Isn't this what is already in his job description? Or are we seeing the City Council Pre-disposition to moving Steve Berry into Tom Schwab's job? Is City Manager Tom Schwab going to retire due to his medical situation?

Here are a few more thought on the matter of the appointment on the agenda.

Steve Berry has been acting as the head of the Community Services and Public Works... he has not been involved directly with the City Manager's work. If he has enough time to do both jobs perhaps he was an unnecessary hire all along, and his job should be eliminated in future budgeting.

The City Clerk and Tom Schwab's Secretary have a better understanding of the work Tom Schwab has been doing. They have been working at the city longer, and have not only history but first hand involvement in all things at the City Manager's Function Level. So why is it that the city's Park and Party Planner is being appointed above the City Clerk or City Manager's Secretary? Is it because they are only "Women".

Or is it something else?

Friday, August 22, 2008

JUST SAY NO TO ADDED COST TO SENIOR HOUSING

Quick Comments on the "ADDED COSTS" being asked for by Corporation for Better Housing.
FIRST: THEY are the professionals who wrote the original quotation and failed to provide sufficient planning professional expertise and construction estimates. So any additional cost should be their Burden, not the Taxpayer's.

The "Fund" is a DEBT that Taxpayers will have to repay. There is no FREE MONEY HERE even if Steve Berry wants to suggest that to be the case.

IF the City is going to pay for this added cost the funds to pay for it should come from the City Manager, Assistant City Manager, Planning Department Head's Income. Perhaps they should have a 10 percent per year reduction in their income until the cost over run is paid for. They contributed to the contractual, design, and management falure which caused the "Delay" and Cost Overruns.

IF the Bid had been Competitive, If the Location had been where it was in the City's General Plan, IF the Contractor and City had done a EIR and IF the City and Contractor had done their design work in conjunction with citizen input being included in the planning and IF the Financial Plan was clear and explained to the public prior to the signing of the DEAL, one may be more willing to say it was a Materials Cost Increase that caused the price over run and delay.

Inflation or the cost of money is a part of any contract bid. IF the Center for Better Housing failed in their estimate the City of Grand Terrace should not have to pay for their failures. The Center for Better Housing is not a Charity. This will just lower the income of their Board of Directors who may have to drive their sports car for one more year if the Citizens of GT don't pay the price mark up.

SAY NO: DON'T Pay Extra

Delays increase cost of senior housing project
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer Article Launched: 08/21/2008 08:11:52 PM PDT
GRAND TERRACE - The price tag for the city's first senior housing project is rising.

The city may have to spend another $740,000 in redevelopment funds to complete the $21 million project.

The City Council is expected to discuss the issue at its Sept. 9 meeting.

If approved, the added expense would bring the city's share of the cost to about $10 million, said City Manager Pro Tem Steve Berry. The developer partnering with the city is paying the rest.
Berry said the city's contribution is coming from a special fund that can only be used to build low- and moderate-income housing. City services such as police and fire protection won't be affected by the additional cost, he said.

The 120-unit apartment project, known as the Blue Mountain Senior Villas, has been in the works for several years. It is under construction on Grand Terrace Road, just east of Mount Vernon Avenue.

After it was approved by the council in 2005, a group of residents filed a lawsuit, claiming the city did not adequately address potential environmental impacts such as traffic, noise and air pollution.



The group, known as Citizens for Responsible and Open Government, prevailed in court and the city had to complete an environmental-impact report.


The city agreed to reduce the height of the apartment complex and adjacent senior center from three stories to two to appease neighbors concerned about losing their views.


The price of wood, copper, cement, tile, carpeting and other building materials has gone up dramatically since the original cost estimates for the project were produced, Berry said.
"This is an example of what happens when a project gets delayed," Berry said.

The one- and two-bedroom apartment units are expected to open in January. The project also will include a 7,000-square-foot senior center and a 2.5-acre park for passive uses.
More than 200 people are on a waiting list to move in. One-bedroom apartments will range from $600 to $1,000 per month and two-bedroom units will range from $750 to $1,200, utilities included.

JoAnn Johnson, who runs the Grand Terrace Senior Center, called the project "absolutely essential." "When you stop and think, we have been talking about this for about seven years," Johnson said. "I used to jokingly say that if I should live so long, I would move there. But the fact is we've had seniors who intended to move there that died. It's gone so far past the expected date. It's really been a hardship."

stephen.wall@ inlandnewspapers.com (909) 386-3916

Monday, August 11, 2008

5 to Run for 3 Seats

So far Citizens have taken up the challenge to lead the City. Thank You... for running for City Council.

It will be interesting to evaluate statements of the individuals seeking a council seat. Of course we will contrast those statements with the pact actions of individuals and the council, and the expressed community desires.

FIRST and FOREMOST: Thank You For Running...

Thursday, August 07, 2008

Here We Go Again

Fiber Optics is interesting Technology but to hear the City is Considering Burdening the City Tax Base with between 1 to 10 Million cost to install it well I just have to shake my head and in my best Ronald Reagan voice say, "Well, Here We Go Again".

The reasonable reader would say there is a big difference between 1 Million and 10 Million.. and that an estimate with such a gap is not an estimate it is a wild guess based on ignorance not information.

The reasonable reader would ask, oh how much is this going to cost me? How much for the individual home owner, and tax payer, and eventually the monthly fee required to use the fiber optics connection. Nothing is free.

Once upon a time you could own a house, and not Be FORCED to buy CITY WATER, CITY SEWER SERVICE, CITY TRASH SERVICE and so forth. This is one more thing the City Will FORCE us to pay for one way or another.

As far as the need for Fiber Optics to build any type of business in Grand Terrace is fiction. Eventually the data stream from "Our Fiber Optics System" would be flowing into a non fiber link or server somewhere along the line and the data transfer would slow down. For folks who live with the Grand Terrace 215 Bottle Neck as part of our identity we should know that a fast system is only good if it links to a free flowing fast system.

So Steve Berry may want to check his enthusiasm and put the City Check Book back in his pocket. This "Great Opportunity" doesn't pass the smell test.

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Cities explore fiber options
Loma Linda may share system with GT to help it win business
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/05/2008 09:32:36 PM PDT

GRAND TERRACE - The city is exploring the possibility of hooking into Loma Linda's fiber-optic network as a way to boost economic development.
Officials in both cities are in preliminary discussions on a plan to bring a fiber-optic connection to Grand Terrace businesses.

Loma Linda has linked 2,000 new homes in the city to high-speed fiber-optic Internet service through its Connected Community Program. Loma Linda University, the Jerry L. Pettis Memorial Veterans Medical Center and many businesses in town are part of the network. The city is in the process of expanding the four-year-old program to include older homes.
Grand Terrace would like to tap into the same technology.

The City Council has included the development of a fiber-optic program among its top priorities for the current budget year.

"We're looking at bringing the fiber-optic loop into the city of Grand Terrace as an economic development tool," said City Manager Pro Tem Steve Berry.

Berry has met several times with Konrad Bolowich, Loma Linda's information systems director, to discuss how the two cities could work out a fiber-optic partnership.

"We've got well over $1.5 million in electronics and optics that run the network that they don't have to acquire and build," Bolowich said. "Our advantage is we have somebody to share that cost with us. It becomes a very reasonable partnership between two neighbors."

Many details have not been determined, including how the fiber would be installed.
Carrying the fiber through a hair-thin tube is cheaper and less invasive than traditional underground pipes, Bolowich said.

He estimates it would cost somewhere between $1 million and $10 million to bring the network from Loma Linda's westerly city limits on Barton Road to the 215 Freeway interchange in Grand Terrace about four miles away.

One idea Berry wants to pursue involves the participation of Loma Linda University Medical Center, which is expanding into other communities because of space limitations at its main site on Barton Road and Anderson Street.

The hospital leases a fiber strand from the city of Loma Linda, connecting its off-campus facilities to the medical center via a secure network.

Grand Terrace could use fiber optics as a selling point to bring hospital-related businesses that provide higher-paying jobs into town, Berry said.

"We have vacant land available if they would be interested in developing that land with us for medical facilities," Berry said.

Berry said he plans to set up a meeting with hospital officials in the next week or so to discuss the concept.

Tuesday, August 05, 2008

GT YOUTH SHOW DETERMINATION WORKS

Flying to the World Series
GT girls softball squad wins West
Stephen Wall, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 08/04/2008 09:23:59 PM PDT

This Success Story shows how parents and children and ADULTS can have a positive impact on the lives of children.

Now, if only the support from our community could come via other than FIREWORKS that would just be dandiest of all.

Monday, August 04, 2008

Sufficient Justification for Speed Reduction.

The Rational Reasons to allow LEV's and NEV's and other Light Vehicles on our Roads can be simply stated, and Justify the changing of City Code and Ordinance and Street Signs to facilitate the use of Greener Vehicles in our City's.

For those Drivers in Traditional Vehicles the Slower Speed Limit:

1: Reduce the need to SPEED UP to the Maximum Speed Limit between 1/3 to 1/4 mile stop lights and Signs.

2: Reduce impact of higher speed accidents,(not only a medical issue but a financial savings).

For those Drivers in LEV's and NEV's

1: You would be able to go from the Soon to be Completed Senior Housing and all areas of Grand Terrace to the Retail Shopping areas in Grand Terrace via a LEV or NEV. Currently you would be in violation of the law because Barton Road and Mt. Vernon have posted speed limits of 40 MPH in the retail and even residential areas of these streets. Making the use of an LEV or NEV IMPOSSIBLE or at least IMPRACTICAL unless you are to be limited to your Quarter of the Town. (This may be needed as the Design is Short on Parking Spaces and LEV's are Smaller)

2: You would enjoy the ease of popping out to the store or restaurant and spending your money in town.

3: You will enjoy not polluting the air, and tearing up the roads the way heavy vehicles do. This is a savings for the LEV Driver and the City.

Your Businesses in Town, will enjoy a Captive Market. Well more captive. Folks will spend a buck on a hair cut in town rather than drive to Riverside for a Higher Styled Cut.

For US ALL

1: LEV's NEV's and E-Bikes Produce ZERO Air Pollution, cost less to purchase and run.

It would be interesting to see what City Council Members will add this LOCAL ENERGY and TRANSPORTATION ISSUE to their desired topics for why Voters should Support them.

Colton Police Enforce LEV LAWS?

There was an Editorial in today's paper indicating that the Colton PD were unfriendly to the use of LEV/ (Electric Golf Cart Size Vehicles) and will not let them be used on the Under Utilized Bike Path along Inland Center Drive/Colton Ave. Colton should know that the Bike Path Can be designated for Bikes and LEV's it is simply a action of the City Council to "Make it So". However, it would take City Council Action to make the bike path available for LEV's.

IF you have an LEV or NEV and you have the guts, I suggest taking your ticket court, and make a federal case about it if you can.

Here is the deal. IF the Vehicle is on a road that has a speed limit more than 35 mph it is operating on a road reserved for the Oil Company and Big Auto Company Manufactures. These roads also can be used by persons on a bicycle, horse or even pedestrians if they follow the law as they use the same surface area and space the auto's and trucks use. BUT, NO we would not want the LEV or NEV (Golf Cart Size Vehicle) to be on or in the same space that would just be unacceptable.

The flawed logic that this is a safety issue is simply an attempt to perpetuate the use of fule guzzling over powered heavy vehicles. It is time the City of Grand Terrace and the City of Colton join Rank on this issue and have all roads in the two cities designated to a 35mph speed limit.

OF course the Freeway would be excluded from the speed limit reduction. However, La Cadena, Valley Blvd, Mt. Vernon, Barton Rd, Washington, and all other streets should be 35mph and the POLICE and Sheriff should be informed that the use of LEV/NEV/ and Electric Bikes should be encouraged on our city streets.

People who use LEV's and NEV's Shop and work in the TOWNS they LIVE IN... The City Councils looking to keep Sales tax Revenue should think about how they can keep the shoppers in town... The promotion of the use of LEV's would effectively do this.

The use of LEV's would also increase the use of Metro Link and Bus Lines for longer commutes. If there was a way to drive an LEV to the Metro Link Station in either Riverside or San Bernardino, more riders would ride. Bus Service to the stations is not convenient for many potential Train Riders.

When will our City Councils see that Sustainability takes guts to break away from the ways things have been done in the past. Protecting the Auto Industry, or Big Oil should be suspect. Protecting the concept that ever increasing consumption, and debt is a good thing should be suspect.

When we say, we have enough and produce a bit more to share, we should understand that is not only sufficient but desirable.

Friday, August 01, 2008

This should not be NEWS:

City's freeway funds at risk
San Bernardino Sun
Thu, 31 Jul 2008 11:54
PM PDTGRAND TERRACE - The city risks losing millions of dollars to replace an outdated interchange with the 215 Freeway if the state raids local coffers to balance its budget.

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The above reflects the direct result of conduct for which our own City Council Participates. The conduct of False Pride and Bad Economics.

Our City Council and Our Local Realtors prided themselves in the Ever Increasing Property Values of homes and property in Grand Terrace. Yet, while Property Prices increased PRODUCTION of any PRODUCT became NILL... this is a FALSE Economy.

To fund these increased Housing Prices the Home Owners went into ever increasing debt. That ever increasing debt inflated the property tax revenue that justified the Redevelopment Agency to obtain DEBT.

This Imaginary type of Economy is more like a soap bubble than a balloon it will pop were as a balloon sometimes slowly deflates.

As we enter into this changing economy perhaps we need to redefine successful economics.

In a Successful Economy housing should cost no more than 1/4th the income generated on or within a 5 mile commute. The lowest paid head of household should be able to afford sufficient safe housing. Sufficient Housing should include alternatives such as accommodations the size of hotel rooms. ( The State of California can put how many criminals in a small jail cell and it is not considered, Un Safe, Un Healthy, or Undersized. ) How is it that building a small house or housing accommodations that are small and efficient is NOT LEGAL for anyone other than State or Government Facilities such as the Senior Center?

In a Successful Economy we are able to consume and produce real tangible items. Respecting Permaculture, Agriculture, and Manufacturing in our community is needed. We need to develop a product or justification for human settlement in Grand Terrace other than Retail Sales Tax on Imported Items, and Earnings Earned 40 to 90 miles away, or Debt Financing.

Failure to rethink and remold ourselves will contribute to the problem rather than be a leader to a Sustainable Future and a Healthy Community Model for California.

The California Employees who are finding out what it may be like to work for minimum wage when they have Maximum Living Expenses, and Debt and no other support should be an example for us all that the California Dream should be based on something produced not a DEBT on a DEBT on a Dream.