CaliforniaCityNews.org

Legislature Votes to Take Redevelopment Funds. . . Again

The following is excerpted from the CA Redevelopment Association's Executive Director Update

In the face of a threatened veto by the Governor, the Legislature made changes last Friday to the budget passed a week ago having to do with a new "rainy day" fund and increased income tax withholdings, but left intact a $350 million take of redevelopment funds. The Governor is expected to sign the budget bills tomorrow.

Because the take of redevelopment funds violates Article XVI, Section 16 of the California Constitution, which specifies that tax increment must go to redevelopment agencies, the CRA Board of Directors is considering whether to file a lawsuit against the State. If the Board decides to proceed, local government plaintiffs will be needed to join the suit.

The estimated amount for each redevelopment agency's ERAF shift is posted on the CRA website, www.calredevelop.org, under "Impact of $350 million Take Away."

To gather information for a possible lawsuit CRA needs to hear from agencies that will be adversely impacted by this take of local funds. We need specific details of projects that will be eliminated or critically diminished because of the cuts. In addition to a description of the project, details should include the costs, the purpose of the project, and financing and timing issues. Please contact John Shirey at jshirey@calredevelop.org or (916) 448-8760, if your agency is interested in joining a possible lawsuit as a plaintiff.  (Costs of the lawsuit will be paid by CRA.)  Please send information about the impacts to Lillian Henegar at lhenegar@calredevelop.org or (916) 448-8760.

Agencies considering filing a lawsuit on their own are asked not do so without first contacting CRA.

Follow the link below to a full summary of ERAF Shift Provisions

Binding Arbitration Leads To Retroactive Pay For Police

Hang onto your hats...if this story doesn't make you nervous, we're not sure what will...

Police officers, dispatchers and technicians for the city of San Luis Obispo recently received an estimated $2.3 million in retroactive pay awarded through binding arbitration, according to city officials.

The pay for the 65 individuals represented by the San Luis Obispo Police Officers Association appeared in their Aug. 28 paychecks, and they cover the past three years. City Finance Director Bill Statler said the money came out of the city’s general fund and reserves.

An additional $651,000 will be retroactively awarded to others in the form of retirement,

Medicare and unemployment insurance for a total retroactive pay package of $2.96 million, Statler said.

The retroactive pay is from an arbitrator’s award in June that raised officers’ pay from $71,800 to $97,700 annually, depending on experience, years served and education. With a raise planned for January, top officers will make $102,600 annually, while top dispatchers will make $75,000. Full story in SanLuisObispo.com

Tragedy Strikes Fairfield Again

A day after a jury convicted Fairfield City Councilman Frank Kardos of felony assault against an ex-girlfriend, authorities said Saturday that he had apparently killed himself.

The Fairfield police and fire departments received a call Saturday morning and found the 54-year-old Kardos inside his home. The councilman was later pronounced dead at NorthBay Medical Center.

The city was not releasing further details about Kardos' death, said spokeswoman Morgana Yahnke.

Kardos is the second councilman from the city to die this month.LA Times coverage here.

City seeks to solve sea lion issue by shooting them - with water

NEWPORT BEACH Got a sea lion problem?

Try shooting them – with water, of course.

In an attempt to do something – anything – to deter the sea lions that have been infiltrating the Newport Harbor, the city has hired a local boater to scour the water in search of boisterous mammals that have hauled their way onto boats. Read more in the Orange County Register

Racy Pics Agendized in Florida County Commissioners Meeting

This story was sent to us by a regular CCN reader...

Perhaps they should have stopped reading at "Old School Biker Rodeo," but county officials in Hernando County, Florida found photos depicting "gratuitous female nudity" in a permit request for the aforementioned hoedown. 

It seems this event (now in its second year) combines the unusual elements of exotic dancing and charity.  More details from Tampabay.com.  Leave it to the counties...

CaliforniaCityNews Launches Website Devoted to State Ballot Propositions

CCN is proud to announce CaliforniaPropositions.org, a website developed as a resource to learn about and take action on ballot measures across the state.  The site is already turning heads, prompting a story in the LA Times yesterday.

The site contains info all current propositions, and a blog on the campaigns, of course.  The biggest feature, however, is an online network that allows politicos to create profiles and join groups supporting or opposing any measure on the statewide, or local, ballot in California. 

You can create your own groups, join others' or just snoop around to to see who's supporting what, and why.  You could even post a petition to qualify the next big initiative in your city, or for the state at large.

We hope you'll take a look, and join the ranks of Californians already engaged on the initiatives that will shape the future of the state.

Check it out: www.CaliforniaPropositions.org.

City Revenue Estimates for Special Programs in the State Budget

Michael Coleman, the foremost expert on local government revenues in California, has calculated and posted estimates of city-by-city allocations of the COPS program based on the $214.2 million appropriation outlined in the current budget proposal.  That's a 10% reduction from the $238 million funding level of FY07-08. 

According to Coleman's calculations, after allocations to county Juvenile Justice, DAs and Jail Operations, there would be $85,037,400 for frontline law enforcement programs.  This money is allocated to cites, unincorporated areas, and five police special districts on the basis of population with a $100,000 minimum. 

Other good stuff on Coleman's CaliforniaCityFinance site:

Estimated allocations of the $350 million Redevelopment ERAF hit.

Estimated Proposition 42 streets and roads allocations for FY08-09.

Proposition 1A and Proposition 42 funds at risk of borrowing in the continuing budget standoff.

FBI Releases City Crime Stats -- But are they Accurate?

The FBI released ciy-by-city stats on violent crime, and the city Police Chief witht he the unhappy job of explaining why his tops the list is questioning whether they're even accurate.

Barstow had more violent crime than any other California city with a population under 25,000.  Among cities with population under 50,000, the only ones that reported more incidents of violence were West Hollywood, West Sacramento and Watsonville.

According to a report in the Desert Dispatch, however, Barstow "police Chief Dianne Burns has no confidence in the numbers that the police department has been reporting to the FBI. Due to some combination of issues with the department’s crime statistic software and with the staff inputing processes, Burns believes that crime incidents have been misreported."

Sacramento Showdown - Governor Vetoes Budget

Tensions continue to mount as Governor Schwarzenegger vetoed the state budget passed by the Assembly and Senate in the wee hours of the morning. Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger today said he would veto the long overdue budget lawmakers sent him just hours before because it does not include long-term spending changes he wants.

The move extends the state's record-setting budget impasse and sets up what could be an unprecedented override attempt.

"People aren't getting paid, hospitals are in danger of closing, but I will not sign a get out of town budget...that punishes taxpayers," Schwarzenegger said.

If lawmakers vote to override the veto, Schwarzenegger said, he will veto all the bills awaiting action on his desk.Full story in the Sacramento Bee. More coverage in The Los Angeles Times The San Francisco Chronicle and The Associated Press And for those interested in seeing who actually voted for the budget and may be there for a potential override...the list here.

City Uses DNA To Fight Dog Poop

We can't make this stuff up...

PETAH TIKVA, Israel (Reuters) - An Israeli city is using DNA analysis of dog droppings to reward and punish pet owners.

Under a six-month trial programme launched this week, the city of Petah Tikva, a suburb of Tel Aviv, is asking dog owners to take their animal to a municipal veterinarian, who then swabs its mouth and collects DNA.

The city will use the DNA database it is building to match faeces to a registered dog and identify its owner Reuters story here.