Cedar Street Times
Recently published articles from the Cedar Street Times.
Final vote is in: Measure J goes down by less than 1%
With all the votes counted, including the late ones and the questionable and damaged ballots, Monterey county Elections reports that Measure J, which would have funded our library with a $96 parcel tax, missed passage by a very scant margin.
Yes votes were 2,747 or 65.91%; the measure, being a special parcel tax, required 66.66%. No votes were 1,421 or 34.09%. Total votes were 4,168.
Supporters of the measure are understandably disappointed and will meet soon to decide what next steps to take. The city council has said that they will no longer fund the library to the extent needed to operate at what most would term “decent” levels after this fiscal year.
State Water Board issues CDO but delays harsher measures 1 year
By Marge Ann Jameson
Water customers on the Monterey Peninsula have won a brief reprieve from the State Water Resources Control Board, which has imposed a cease and desist order (CDO) against California-American Water. The Board has enjoined Cal-Am, the water utility for Pacific Grove and most of the Monterey Peninsula, from exceeding pumping limits on the Carmel River of 10,496 acre-feet per year effective immediately, but extended the effective date of further reductions to October 1, 2011.
“They met us halfway and let us take ownership of the problem,” said Aengus Jeffers, a local attorney who was asked by several of his Pebble Beach water entitlement clients to become involved.
Pebble Beach was perhaps the biggest winner of the day. The CDO allows Pebble Beach water entitlements to remain valid until 2016.
Peninsula projects that had all permits as of Oct. 20 will be “grandfathered.” Owners of vacant lots with no permits as of Oct. 20 are probably out of luck, barring the development of new water sources, though developed parcels outside of Pebble Beach may have some room to maneuver. Pacific Grove itself is essentially out of water.
As of October 1, 2011, no additional water from the Carmel River can be used by the utility for new service connections or increased use of water at existing service addresses. An additional 121 acre-foot reduction in pumping will also be required at that time.
Clarifications are forthcoming. “Are they going to credit water brought online from the aquifer storage project and the Sand City desalination plant?” asked Jeffers.
Jeffers was among two busloads of Peninsula people who went to Sacramento on Oct. 20 to attend the hearing and make presentations; Peninsula business and community members formed a loose coalition they called “Our Water, Our Lives.” Among those who testified were Richard Stillwell, former Pacific Grove volunteer fire chief, and Moe Ammar, president of the Pacific Grove Chamber of Commerce. A number of associations and elected officials also testified, including Pacific Grove Mayor Carmelita Garcia and Councilmember Ken Cuneo.
State Senator Abel Maldonado pointed out that “finding a balance isn’t easy,” but finding a balance has become a distinct possibility with area-wide cooperation among state agencies, citizen groups and utilities over the past few years. The California Public Utilities Commission was represented by Cynthia Truelove, who drew applause when she said, “The PUC proposes a formal process to . . . manage the situation without having to enforce the CDO.”
A Regional Water Project is under development to work toward a goal of providing up to 15,200 acre-feet of potable water per year for the Monterey Peninsula, the former Fort Ord and Marina. A number of projects are already under way and approved, including conservation efforts, a desalination plant in Sand City and a regional desalination plant, which is likely to be built south of the Salinas River and pump seawater and brackish groundwater. Also in the works is aquifer storage and recovery in Seaside and a system to deliver recycled water for urban irrigation.
An additional 10,400 acre-feet are sought in the second phase of the project which includes water catchment and percolation ponds for stormwater, additional wells in north Monterey County and expansion of projects developed in the first phase.
Cal-Am provides some 89 percent of its customers’ water by directly diverting water from 21 wells downstream of the San Clemente Dam on the Carmel River.
Many who testified on Oct. 20 cited efforts at conservation already undertaken by area users and asked the Board not to “punish” Peninsula residents by imposing the CDO. Peninsula water users are among the most conservative in the state, having reduced usage 30 percent to an average of 70 gallons per person per day as compared to 300 for the rest of the state.
While many were satisfied with the one-year extension, believing that it offers the Peninsula enough time to get projects completed, others were not as happy.
“This was really a minimum,” said Brian LaNeve of the Carmel River Steelhead Association - and a building contractor - “A lot of people wanted more strict guidelines.”
The CDO makes Cal-Am subject to immediate reduction of 549 acre-feet per year. The cutbacks amount to three gallons per person, LaNeve said, and opined “That’s not a lot.”
The Carmel River Steelhead Association was instrumental in bringing the overdraft problems in the Carmel River to the attention of the State Water Resources Control Board. LaNeve, speaking for the Association, he said, “We’re not anti-growth, but you have to control it.”
LaNeve cited estimates that 10 percent of the customers use 40 percent of the water. “Those are the people we need to find” and convince to retrofit for water conservation and to use more conservative practices in water usage.
A building moratorium hurts people in his business, he said, but he pointed out that a retrofit to more water-conservative appliances and fixtures is only required locally when there is a remodel.
“Could there be an incentive for retrofitting?” he asked.
Catherine Bowie, Public Information Officer for Cal-Am, was also among those who went to Sacramento for the hearing and stands with the Steelhead Association in underlining the importance of finding new sources of water.
“It was very important to note how many people went to Sacramento, to show the Board how important this issue is to us. Water is our most vital resource and cutting back water allocations is really hurtful all the way around,” she said. “New water projects are the main thing. We hope the state and other agencies will not stand in our way but will help us get these projects approved and under way as soon as possible.”
Customers have been asking Cal-Am about the potential of rationing in Pacific Grove, she says. Cal-Am will soon meet with the Monterey Peninsula Water Management District about ways to impose rationing, said Bowie. “We’re hoping to put it off as long as possible,” she points out. She also stated that if and when rationing is placed into effect, it would likely be a per capita reduction rather than a percentage of current use. A per capita reduction, she feels, would be more equitable to those who already conserve.
The other 13 candidates
An impressive group of 15 candidates applied for the two vacant positions on the PG City Council. All care for the city, and each has something to contribute. Many have said that they will consider running for the city council in November, 2010. Here’s a look at those candidates and what they said on their resumes. Watch this space when filings begin for the 2010 elections. We present them in the order they were presented to the city council, which was a random choice by the deputy city clerk and the city attorney.
Jonathan Wizard is a Pacific Grove firefighter. His stated objective in applying for the appointment to City council is “to become an effective and productive member of the city council and make a positive contribution that positively affects the residents, guests and employees of the city as well as the city as an entity. He graduated from Pacific Grove High school and has an AS in Fire Science, plus California State firefighter II certification and other related certificates. In his oral presentation, Wizard said he would like to see a “change in the way Pacific Grove does business.” He believes that younger, working people and new citizens are effectively disenfranchised and that a “younger representative” is needed on the city council. Read the rest of this story »
It’s Cuneo, Huitt
No coin flipping this time, but it took five roll call votes for the sitting councilmembers to finally seat Ken Cuneo and Robert Huitt to fill the vacancies left when Vicki Stilwell resigned and Carmelita Garcia was appointed mayor to fill Dan Cort’s position. And no wonder — there were 15 very qualified candidates, any one of whom would be an asset to the city. It took three rounds of nominations and votes to appoint Cuneo, and when the council appeared (on the fourth vote) unable to garner the four votes necessary to fill the vacancy left, they swore Cuneo in and added his vote. He promptly nominated two additional candidates — Dan Miller and Richard Ahart, both of whom ran unsuccessfully in the November, 2008 election with Cuneo — but when it came down to the vote, Cuneo went for Robert Huitt, as did the rest of the council. Huitt previously served on the council for eight years but was ‘term-limited’ out seven years ago.
Woman, 63, beats her mother to death
Jean Danvers
A 63 year-old Pacific Grove woman has been charged with homicide in the beating death of her mother, 96. Jean Danvers allegedly called in a medical emergency on Thursday evening, September 24, and told the communications center that she had beaten her mother. The mother, Charlotte Danvers, was found lying on the floor when medical personnel and police arrived.
She was taken to Community Hospital of the Monterey Peninsula where she later died. The younger Danvers was arrested and charged with assault by force likely to produce great bodily injury, battery against an elder and crimes against an elder. The homicide charge was added after her mother succumbed.
Jean Danvers was unable to post bail and was lodged in Monterey County Jail.
Planning fee recovery: Community input is vital
Pacific Grove’s Community Development Department (CDD) set a goal of “preserving services through the economic storm,” meaning that, after large budget cuts, staff layoffs, contracting with other agencies, reducing staff by 43 percent and instituting voter-approved taxes, there is still a budget gap of $1.5 million.
One area being examined is the large general revenue subsidy for fee-based services that Pacific Grove has, particularly in the planning department. Staff estimates that 73 percent of the cost for service, on average, is borne by General Revenues – the public.
Staff, looking for ways to recover costs, reached out to the community for input. Read the rest of this story »
Loading zone on Lighthouse is going away
Parking on the north side of Lighthouse Avenue between 13th Street and 12th Street will soon be converted to 90-minute parking. Currently, it is a mixture of 90-minute parking, loading zones and 20-minute parking. Read the rest of this story »
New 4-way stop coming at Gibson and Fountain
At its July 14 meeting, the Traffic Safety Commission decided to ask staff undertake a study of the intersection of Fountain Avenue and Gibson Avenue. Gibson had previously been designated a through street from Eardley Avenue to Alder Street while traffic on cross streets, including Fountain Avenue, were required to stop at Gibson.
“A lot of times people (traveling on Fountain) think that you (traveling on Gibson) are coming to a stop,” said resident Karen Sheppard at that meeting. She also expressed concern for middle school students going home at the end of the day.
Conversely, there was also testimony that traffic on Gibson does, in fact, stop as if there were already a stop sign there.
Staff took traffic counts, a peak-hour hand count and an accident analysis. They noted that the presence of many senior citizens from Canterbury Woods and Forest Hill Manor, the presence of a medical office and the fact that the area is a walking route for students from Robert Down and Pacific Grove Middle School result in higher than expected vehicle traffic and pedestrian traffic at the intersection.
The installation of four-way stop signs at the intersection was approved on the consent agenda at the city council’s September 16 meeting.
They’re on their way
Jack Beigle was the first to report a Monarch sighting in Pacific Grove — a single “scout” seen last week.
“It would be interesting to know if the Monarchs sort of glide down a freeway route to the Sanctuary, or if it is a random distribution of arrival all over town” said Helen Johnson of Monarch Alert.
Anyone spotting a Monarch in Pacific Grove over the next few weeks is urged to call Monarch Alert at 1-877-7740, Mailbox 7. If the butterfly is tagged, the tag number would be helpful but it is not vital. Or spotters may call Cedar Street Times at 831-324-4742. We’d like to know where it was seen.
Monarchs were seen last week in coastal Marin as well. There were five sightings in one day at Muir Beach and three in the Marin Headlands.
Butterfly bond renewed
Debt service on the 1990 Butterfly Habitat Bonds has come up again, and the City Council voted unanimously to renew the special property tax with a levy of .004 percent on assessed value.
Based on a median assessed valuation of about $260,000, a property in Pacific Grove would pay $10.40 per year at that rate.
The funds can only be spent on debt service of the Butterfly Habitat Bonds, which were issued in 1990 to acquire and rehabilitate the Monarch Sanctuary.
Retrospective
When we set out to start a weekly newspaper, we did it because we believe that Pacific Grove needs and wants an unbiased, locally-run, Pacific Grove-oriented newspaper. We weren’t running for City Council, we weren’t backed by anyone who was; we just wanted to provide Pacific Grove with straight news, photos, and events coverage. We didn’t reckon on an economic meltdown, either locally or on a national level, but we’ve been able to keep our heads above water.
Cedar Street Times has been very well received. We have more than doubled our original press run and we have picked up a number of subscribers to our email version. We have a number of contributors, regular and not-so-regular, who offer us news of interest to the city’s population of all ages and interests.
We’re pleased to offer a regular “Green Page” on ecology and nature issues and a regular page on arts events. We have provided, joyously, space for student poets, writers and photographers. We have reported on every City Council meeting and many committee meetings. We’ve offered profiles of local businesses and reviews of restaurants, plus regular food columns on cooking. We responded to requests for a police log, and we happily provide a look in Pacific Grove’s past on a weekly basis. We’ve offered some outstanding photo essays, if we do say so ourselves.
We’re proud of what we’ve done and how far we’ve come, and we look forward to a long and . . . is “interesting” the word we want? . . . tenure.
The following are examples of the stories we covered during our first six months, though this is certainly not the entire gamut. We hope you will join us in our future endeavors.
Coastal cleanup results for 2009
At Lover’s Point beach there were 27 volunteers who picked up 50 pounds of trash and 31 pounds of recyclables according to Jill Poudrette, Monterey County Coordinator of the Coastal Cleanup Day and Adopt-a-Beach Manager for the California State Parks, Monterey District.
At Asilomar State Beach 80 volunteers picked up 130 pounds of trash and 50 pounds of recyclables. Once again, it appeared that most of the trash was purposefully dumped or left as litter.
In 2008, Asilomar had 75 volunteers who picked up 36 pounds of trash.
Police Chief Engles resigns
Citing work load and staffing issues as part of the reason, Pacific Grove Police Chief Darius Engles has tendered his resignation effective mid-January, 2010.
“I have a concern with the staffing levels at the department,” he said.
Engles has run an understaffed department for three years now. Budgeted for 23 sworn officers, the department currently has 18 which results in a lot of overtime for other officers and extra duties for the chief himself. Even if all the positions were filled, Engles says that on average there would be three people out at any given time due to vacations, training requirements, sick leave, long-term disabilities or family emergencies. If an officer is out on a disability or leave, the position cannot be filled by a new recruit, leaving the department short-handed. Read the rest of this story »
Council lets the dogs out
Local dog owners fond of walking with their pets at the Rip Van Winkle Open Space are breathing easier this week, as the likelihood of parking citations along the popular wooded area has abated.
Much has taken place since Cal Fire contacted the city of Pacific Grove last summer with concerns about cars blocking the fire access road at the open space. Citizens dissatisfied with the parking re-alignment in December requested staff to come up with a new plan, and the Traffic Commission did so. Last April, Traffic Engineer Malcolm Knisely sent in his recommendations, which included removal of stunted trees and a stump (offset with a two-for-one planting of oaks deeper in the woods) plus the installation of decomposed granite to shore up the ground where cars would park. Read the rest of this story »
CalPers debate update
The question of the legality of a June 5, 2002 ordinance which granted increases in CalPERS benefits is not a question for the Pacific Grove City Council, according to City Attorney David Laredo. He said that even if the council determines that the 2002 agreement was flawed, the council does not have the authority to overturn it and the matter must go before a court of law. Read the rest of this story »
Bankruptcy not an option–for now
Bankruptcy for the City of Pacific Grove seems to be off the table for the foreseeable future. The Budget and Finance Committee received quotes from various law firms for services from handling inquiries to completing a filing, and after looking at the costs the full council decided not to “explore or pursue chapter 9 bankruptcy further at this time.” Read the rest of this story »
More positions cut
As he offered a peek at next month’s fiscal year-end report, Director of Management and Budget Jim Becklenberg told the city council that the city needs to make further cuts now to help the budget process. He recommended that four positions currently vacant be eliminated. “Yes, they are needed to provide basic services,” he said, but added that the budget requires they be taken out of the equation. Read the rest of this story »
Contract with Monterey is a done deal
In the face of burgeoning costs for a preferred in-house model, the City of Pacific Grove will instead contract with the city of Monterey for building services
“This model will cost approximately $150,000 less than an in-house model,” said Jim Becklenberg, Director of Management and Budget. He also indicated in his staff report that a contract service model such as the one be proposed following with the City of Monterey would afford Pacific Grove more flexibility and take less time to implement than would an in-house model.
Another factor in the decision was the need to provide continued customer service at a level that Pacific Grove’s people have come to expect. The current, interim model uses a contract with Monterey for Chief Building Official services. Monterey also provides plan check services. Building inspection services are provided with an outside company, Precision Inspection company, Inc. City staff performs application intake duties, while every aspect is overseen by the City’s Chief Planner.
Back in April, the City Council was shown proposals for contract services and opted to accept the proposal from the City of Monterey while continuing the interim plan until now. Becklenberg told the Council that he and staff are confident that Monterey will provide the full range of services requested in Pacific Grove’ request for proposals, and in fact will improve on some areas.
Monterey will:
- Staff the building counter at Pacific Grove City Hall with certified building technicians/inspectors from 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, Monday through Friday.
- Provide service at Monterey city Hall building counter from 1:00 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.
- Chief Building Official will be provided an office and work from Pacific Grove City Hall as needed.
- Plan check will take place at Monterey City Hall.
- Pacific Grove performance standards will be met for plan check and building inspection.
- Pacific Grove’s trained building inspector will become Monterey’s building inspector, offering a seamless transition.
- Monterey will receive 75 percent of related permit revenue with a minimum of an $84 plan review fee.
The agreement will be effective from September 1, 2009 through June 30, 2013 with a 180-day termination required. With revenues expected to be $364,000 for fiscal year 2009/10, and a total cost of $402,000 for the contract services, the cost to Pacific Grove would be $129,000 after subtracting $273,000, which represents the 75 percent of the permit revenue retained by Monterey.
Library tax heads for fall ballot
The Pacific Grove City Council has approved a resolution declaring a fiscal emergency requiring the urgent enactment of a special parcel tax to “preserve the public health, safety and welfare” of Pacific Grove - to wit, save the library. The legal declaration of the existence of a fiscal emergency is not required to place the special tax on the ballot but was directed by the city council at its July 15, 2009 meeting. The city council voted to call a special election.
The new parcel tax measure will read: PACIFIC GROVE LIBRARY FUNDING MEASURE (designation to be determined ) Shall the City of Pacific Grove Library Funding Measure be approved to enact an ordinance to create a Special Parcel Tax and limit that revenue to the sole purpose of maintaining and improving services at the Pacific Grove Public Library? Read the rest of this story »
The resignation: Cort and Council under fire
By Marge Ann Jameson and Cameron Douglas
Stunning his constituents - and most of the rest of the Monterey Peninsula — Mayor Dan Cort has offered to resign in the face of what appears to be a narrowly based recall effort on the part of some disgruntled citizens.
Many in Pacific Grove awakened Tuesday morning, August 4, to the mayor’s email, which stated that he himself had received an email from David Dilworth threatening that if Cort did not resign by 11:45 a.m. that morning, Dilworth would go forward with a recall campaign. Cort stated that he believes it was an attempt to keep him from voting on the Police Officer Association contract on the council agenda for the August 5, 2009 meeting. Read the rest of this story »
Now they’ve added half the City Council
This is a press release from the self-styled “Committee to Save Pacific Grove” which states that they are not only trying to recall Dan Cort but have added Bill Kampe, Vicki Stilwell and Deborah Lindsay to the list.
Press Release Tuesday, August 04, 2009 Contact: Terrence Zito: 373-3326 A Recall effort begins today to allow Pacific Grove voters to remove the Mayor Dan Cort, and three Councilmembers, Bill Kampe, Vicki Stillwell and Deborah Lindsay, for their votes to give raises to city employees while cutting back vital services for Pacific Grove citizens.
Terrence Zito said “The final straw was when Mr. Cort and other Council members voted to cut back Library funds and to give away the City’s beloved Museum with a one-sided contract. These did not protect our public interests.”
“Other examples include Kampe, Stillwell and Lindsay voting at the last Council meeting to give Police raises after voting to decrease other services including our Library, our Museum and our Fire Department. The vote was 3-3 and is continued to this week’s Council meeting.
“This Recall is not in response to any single vote, but to a pattern of mismanagement of city assets and finances. Police raises are just one part of the overall pattern of financial blunders.”
David Dilworth added “This Recall is the only option available to the public to turn around a city that is on the edge of insolvency.”
“We are saddened that Mr. Cort continues to demonize citizens who have genuine concerns about the downward spiral the city has endured under his tenure. We believe the citizens of Pacific Grove deserve a civil debate on these grave issues - not more name calling from the Mayor.”
Mayor Cort resigns as of Aug. 31
This morning, Cedar Street Times along with most, if not all, media outlets on the Monterey Peninsula, received an email from Mayor Dan Cort stating his intention to resign as mayor of Pacific Grove as of August 31, 2009. He attached a pdf of a recall petition sent to him by David Dilworth, long an opponent of most of Mayor Cort’s policies and actions, but unsigned by any other citizens.
The following is from Mayor Cort’s announcement. Stay tuned.
“Today, I received an email from David Dilworth (attached) threatening me with a recall petition if I did not resign by 11:45 a.m. on Tuesday, August 4, 2009. Mr. Dilworth stated that if I resigned “for family or other reason”, that the media and general public would never need to know of the recall effort. I believe this is an attempt to intimidate me into resigning before I am able to vote on the Police Officer Association contract that is on Wednesday’s Council Agenda. I will be at that Council meeting and I will vote on that item. “I am informing the media and the public of this recall effort both because I am confident I could beat the recall effort, and to let the citizens of Pacific Grove know of this small band of citizens who are attempting to use bullying tactics and intimidation to get their way.
“While I am confident that the voters of Pacific Grove would see through the lies and deception of this small minded group, I do not believe it is in the best interest of the City, and its citizens, to spend the next six to twelve months distracted by a recall effort. The issues facing Pacific Grove, and cities throughout the State, are too important right now to be pushed aside for the personal vendetta of a few disgruntled complainers.
“I am proud of the accomplishments of this City Council and the previous Council that I was privileged to serve along side, and it is unfortunate that we will not be able to finish our terms together. However, I believe it is in the best interest of the City, its citizens, and my family and me, that I resign as Mayor and allow the Council to focus their efforts on providing solutions to the many issues facing the City at this time.
“I ask that all those who have supported me in the past, and those that have opposed me, come together for the good of Pacific Grove and support the new Mayor and Council as they do the best they can to provide the most efficient and effective municipal services to Pacific Grove.
“I have been honored to serve as both a Council Member and your Mayor, and wish you all the best in the future.”
The letter: Seppuku by any other name. . .
The is the letter (email) which was sent to Mayor Dan Cort Monday evening advising of a recall petition and inviting Dan to “save face” by resigning.
Hello Dan,
Sorry to bring you bad news.
Tomorrow morning at 11:45 we will begin publicly gathering signatures to recall you from office.
I have attached a copy of the Recall Notice petition.
There is a group of cross-partisan citizens who have committed to work diligently and persistently to allow Pacific Grove voters to remove you from office.
There is one small light remaining for you, assuming you may wish to save your reputation from the Recall footnote that would be in your Wikipedia entry for the rest of your life.
Do not construe this as a negotiation, nor is it up for discussion.
I am authorized to let you know that if you publicly elect to resign “for family” or any other reason before we begin gathering signatures at 11:45 - the people who have already signed have agreed that the media and the general public never need know about you facing a recall effort.
I am authorized to let you know, because I am the only one left who wishes to give you the chance to save face.
with all due respect and haste,
David Dilworth
Cost-cutting challenges Pacific Grove’s core services
Library removed from chopping block — for now
By Marge Jameson
Recommending a budget gap “target” of $2.5 million, Director of Management and Budget Jim Becklenberg warns that basic service assumptions in the City of Pacific Grove will be challenged in the coming years. Coming hard on the heels of staffing and cost reductions put in place in recent years, he and his staff are recommending a series of changes in service levels. Read the rest of this story »
Tom Pollacci To Stand Trial
Judge Russell Scott has ordered Thomas Ronald Pollacci to stand trial in Monterey County Superior Court on charges of forcible rape, rape of an unconscious person and sex with a person incapable of giving consent. On March 3 of this year, a warrant was issued for Pollacci, who turned himself in to Seaside police. He was released on $300,000 bail.
The preliminary hearing took place on the afternoon of July 10, eight days after Pollacci’s 50th birthday. Prosecutor Christina Johnson brought testimony from investigators and officers who served with the Pacific Grove Police Department at the time of the incident, which began to unfold in the early morning hours of April 21, 2008. Read the rest of this story »
PUC conducts hearings on water plans
By Joe Fabeets
The California Public Utilities Commission held four public hearings this week - two in Monterey and two in Seaside - with the purpose of gathering public input to help select the best plan for solving the Peninsula’s water shortages. The last of the hearings took place at the Oldemeyer Center with nearly 100 people in attendance.
Representatives of California-American Water and the Marina Coast Water District greeted the audience. “California-American Water’s objective in this process is to secure a new, reliable source of supply that’s sensitive to the environment and reasonably priced for the customers,” according to Cal-Am Vice President of Operations Tom Binowski. Read the rest of this story »
Unfunded TRAN leaves City to borrow from itself: Other options explored
Without sufficient reserves, Pacific Grove faces a cash-flow problem. In the long term, property tax revenues will enable the City to meet its financial obligations, but not until November. And the City has bills now, as it does every year.
Normally, the City applies to a pool of similar communities for a “Tax Revenue Anticipation Note,” or TRAN, which is a short-term loan, funded by selling the note on the open market, and which bridges gaps in cash flow. But this year, the TRANs did not sell on the open market, partly due to California’s reputation for fiscal crisis. While they are expected to sell in about 30 days, Pacific Grove will reach deficit levels by the end of July without interim funding.
Director of Management and Budget Jim Becklenberg presented options to the City Council at the July 15 meeting, and on a 4-2 vote the Council approved the option for internal borrowing - borrowing from other funds the City has on hand and which are not needed before tax revenue comes in. Read the rest of this story »
How did we get here?
Since adoption of what was thought to be a balanced City budget, Pacific Grove has been hit with the potential of State of California raids on revenues. While a budget deal was expected as early as Thursday, July 16, City officials believe they must plan on a “worst case scenario.”
The worst case includes a property tax takeaway of $451,000. While essentially a loan which would, by state law, have to be repaid within a three-year period, such a takeaway would still have a major impact on the City’s ability to provide services.
Gas Tax revenues in the amount of $240,000 per year are used by the City to pay a portion of street maintenance workers’ salaries and street lighting costs. If the State suspends these revenues for cities, which has been recommended by the Governor and the Legislative Analysts Office, those revenues would then be replaced by General Fund monies.
Prop 42 funds are also up for grabs by the State. TAMC, the Transportation Agency of Monterey County, passes through these sales tax on gasoline funds for which Pacific Grove’s allocation is $146,000, the loss of which would reduce the amount of maintenance that Pacific Grove could do.
CalPERS Board has changed its rate-setting policies. The City can now expect a 1 percent increase in FY 2001/12, 3 percent in FY 2012/13, and 5-6 percent in FY 2012/13. In the parlance used repeatedly by various speakers at the City Council meeting on July 15, this is merely “kicking the can down the street,” only to have to kick it again later.
Monterey projects refund of fire department costs: Reduction of charges also likely in future
Monterey City Manager Fred Meurer has advised Pacific Grove’s Interim City Manager Charlene Wiseman that Monterey will likely refund a portion of Pacific Grove’s 2008-09 payments for fire protection because of cost savings that the Monterey Fire Department was able to achieve in fiscal year 2008-09. Meurer advises that the amount may be as much as $100,000, and that more accurate numbers will be available next month, in august.
In addition, Meurer states that there will be a reduction of $167,800 in the charges to Pacific Grove for fiscal year 2009-10 as a result of cost savings efforts made in Monterey and Pacific Grove, and he has directed his staff to reduce the monthly charges Pacific Grove pays as a result.
He is also projecting a reduction of $281,000 in charges for fiscal year 2010-11, partly as a result of recognition that Pacific Grove’s reserve fire apparatus have been used “disproportionately” to assist Monterey while Monterey suffers mechanical problems with their own fire apparatus. Monterey anticipates that it will need Pacific Grove’s reserve equipment for the better part of a year while they await the building and equipping of a new fire engine.
A fire engine can cost from $50,000 to more than $750,000. The National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) has compiled guidelines for apparatus design based upon review of the anticipated hazards and geographical terrain of the area the fire department will service, as well as other variables. Other factors may include ease of operation response speed, equipment storage and equipment deployment.
The manufacture of a fire engine remains a custom, almost one-of-a-kind operation. Typically, a group of workers is assigned to the fabrication of the body and assembly of the truck frame. A separate group performs body finishing, then the apparatus is wired, equipped, and tested by a third, or “equipment,” group.
Dark Sky: What is it?
The City of Pacific Grove will soon be looking more closely at the issue of light pollution, an issue brought forth by David Dilworth at the July 15, 2009 City Council meeting. Light pollution is what causes that urban glow in the night sky surrounding a populated area. It is caused by unshielded, misdirected and excessive light sources.
According to the Dark Sky Society, bare bulbs can affect the night vision of drivers. It can blind maritime navigators, and negatively affect birds, animals and fish in the vicinity. In addition, there is evidence that human beings need dark to produce tumor-suppressing melatonin and to avoid sleep deprivation.
The Dark Sky society advocates directing outdoor lights toward the ground and turning them off when not in use.
More than $4.5 billion dollars is wasted every year in the United States on light pollution, according to some estimates. Dilworth believes that Pacific Grove could save up to half of its electricity bill by using ground-directed fixtures and timers as well as simply turning off unnecessary lights.
The Dark Sky Society can be found at www.darkskysociety.org, and there are other sources on the Internet as well.