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| Burn baby, burn |
Someone once compared our situation with the SMPD to being the unwilling and captive partner in an S&M relationship. That is actually a pretty accurate description.
After that little comedy wraps up the doors open and the money changing begins. This week at our temple of earthly delights the sum of $731,558.26 will fly out the door. $1,084,980.76 if you include Item B. The League of California Cities gets $6,057 for all of the wonderful things they do for us, something poetically called a "sewer lateral abandon" cost us $2,200, and the fabulous Tyler Technologies gets $19,575 for a software update. I get mine from Apple for free. Oh, and John Harabedian gets a check for $662.77. Something called the REIM 2013 New Mayors & Council Academy. I can only begin wonder what that is all about. Maybe he taught some young wannabe politico types how to say, "I really don't have a problem with any of that."
Next up is Consent Calendar Item B, and it involves a $293,422.50 check to the Bank of New York to cover some of the expenses involving our Water Bonds. If you see former Mayor Doyle around town be certain to shake his hand and tell him "job well done." Also ask him how our PUSD Board of Education vote is going as well. He really does do a lot for us.
Consent Calendar Item C has do to with an extension of the Second Unit Amnesty Program. So far only 6 people with granny flats have stepped up and confessed to their scofflaw ways. I suspect this is because nobody really trusts the city. After all, look what they did to the Hildreths. Plus I don't think people are to eager to have to spend the money needed to bring their backyard sheds up to the exacting standards of City Code. Most folks just want to be left alone.
People need to watch out what they say at City Council meetings, because usually it ends up costing us money. Consent Calendar Item D involves the City's response to a resident request to put up a "4-way stop configuration" at the intersection of Highland and Baldwin. But rather than just put up some stop signs, an engineering study needs to be conducted. And that will cost us $4,288. The City doesn't like to do anything cheap.
Consent Item E is an update on the sad fate of the Community Budget Survey. Here is how the Staff Report describes it:
A subcommittee consisting of Mayor Moran, Mayor Pro-Tem Walsh, and staff met to review options for the community budget survey in March. The subcommittee had originally hoped to conduct a survey for this year's budget cycle; however, with the priorities for other projects taking precedence, the subcommittee decided to conduct multiple small surveys which will take place over a 12- to 18- month period.
Good to know that taxpayer and resident opinions on the UUT extension are not a top priority for the subcommittee.
Agenda Item #2 has to do with some zoning issues, driveway paving and RV parking. You may recall that the last time the lion's share of the attention on this item went to RV parking. Apparently those who own them would like to park those big breadboxes with wheels on their property, while some of the neighbors think the things look like refugees from a trailer camp and don't wish to see them anywhere near their homes. There are about 5 staff suggestions on how to solve this imbroglio. I hope one can be made without things getting too rough in Council Chambers.
Agenda Item #3 has to do with a CUP for Verizon. Apparently some people can't hear them now, but once they install a new antenna things will become a lot clearer. Of course, being 21st century people they don't call it something as mundane as an antenna. This item is to be forever known as a 49-foot-high wireless communication monodeciduous stealth facility and equipment shelter. Please try and get the terminology right. Otherwise you will not be respected.
The next item is Agenda #4, and it deals with getting rid of certain commissions, committees and other such bothersome stuff. City Staff claims that some of them simply have to go because they are burdened with more important things. Like maybe crafting another UUT extension measure, or perhaps making plans for all of those green condos they hope to build downtown. Personally I'm not buying any of it, and in my opinion these commissions and committees can meet without City Staff being present. As a matter of fact, they could probably replace City Staff entirely on some matters. The planned destruction of the Tree Commission by combining it with the so-called Green Advisory Committee is also particularly irksome. They are getting rid of the wrong one. Placing the needs of staff ahead of those of the commissions and committees is like putting the cart before the horse. Limiting resident participation in the affairs of this city is not what we need to be doing right now.
The 5th Agenda Item is John Harabedian's absurdly expensive "Public Safety Master Plan." Apparently after over 100 years of stories existence the City of Sierra Madre has yet to figure out what its Police Department needs to be doing with its time. And in order to solve this mystery we should turn over anywheres from $35,000 to $75,590 to some consultant in order to find out. A horrible waste of money at a time when the City is attempting to raise every rate and tax that it can in order to keep the gravy train on the tracks. It is also a deceptive ploy designed to buoy the reputation of the SMPD in order to better sell the UUT extension. And after all, the SMPA did support Johnny when he ran for office. Spending a big chunk of our tax money on this wasteful myth-making boondoggle is the least he can do to return the favor.
Agenda Item 6 involves spending $64,000 to some company called Inter-Con so we can be ticketed for our parking violations more cost effectively. This used to be the responsibility of the Code Enforcement Officer, but Ms. Volpe retired and she was never replaced. Now it has to be done by the Police, but they don't like it because they have more important things to do. Like file lawsuits against the city and appear on City Council campaign postcards. Oh, and not solving a single burglary here in years. Can't forget that one. Drop this and Agenda Item 5 and we'll save around $100,000. One note here, Chief Giannone is of the opinion that Inter-Con will issue so many tickets that they'll actually turn a profit for the City. Just what we need in town, parking ticket people who are expected to make their numbers.
Agenda Item 7 is all about contracting out for Police Dispatching services. Like contracting out for Police services, City Staff is highly opposed to this. They had asked Pasadena, Monrovia and Arcadia about what it would cost to do have them take over dispatching for us, but only Arcadia came up with a bid. I doubt Moran, Walsh and especially Harabedian will go for this one, and another opportunity to save money on a public safety expense will be lost.
Agenda Item 8 is an attempt to justify the $30,000 spent on a Buxton Market Demand study. Something of particular interest to certain individuals because there is always the possibility that the State will decide they don't need to pay for this out of our former CRA funds. And honestly, if I was them I wouldn't pay for it, either. A colossal waste of taxpayer money.
OK now.
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