CaliforniaCityNews.org

Could Appellate Court Decision Invalidate Red Light Cameras?

Cities in California could face a class action lawsuit forcing the refund of thousands of illegally issued red light camera fines in the wake of an Appellate court decision in favor of an Orange County motorist.  According to the Newspaper.com:

"The California Superior Court's Appellate Division canceled a photo ticket issued to Orange County resident Thomas Fischetti because the city of Santa Ana failed to provide a thirty-day warning period before issuing tickets at each intersection equipped with a red light camera. Santa Ana, with the support of a trial judge, claimed that it was good enough to have a thirty-day warning period at a single intersection in the city."

Turns out, the same motorist took a 2005 ticket he received in Costa Mesa up the judicial flagpoles.  That case caught the eye of even the League of Cities.  This could get ugly... read more.

House Passes $819 Billion Stimulus

The House approved President Obama's $819 Billion economic stimulus measure Wednesday by a 244-188 vote split (surprise) along party lines.  In fact, not a single republican voted for it. 

The president, for his part, is touting the plan that will "save or create" over 3 million jobs.  He's also talking up increased accountability in his plan vs. the original TARP. 

Read more in the LA Times, NY Times or check out the AP video below.  What does it all mean for cities?  On the transportation front, on Monday CalTrans proposed that cities and counties receive 25% of the total amount received by California via the Regional Improvement Program (RIP). Under this proposal, cities and counties would be guaranteed a minimum of $700 million statewide, which would be distributed by the regions. Cities would submit project lists to their regional transportation agency, and the region would prioritize those projects as required by the legislation. There would not be a guarantee that every city would receive funding from the stimulus package, but cities with projects ready to go that do not require NEPA review would all be able to compete for funds without having to compete directly with state and transit projects.

CALCOG is currently opposing this minimum finding level, but the League and CSAC are obviously ready to go to the mats for it.  We'll keep you posted. 

Next City in Line for Bankruptcy?

Not far from Vallejo, the cities of Isleton and Rio Vista are teetering on the edge of bankruptcy.  The SF Chron as an indepth look at the troubles facing the latter of the two, where city leaders are facing a shortfall of nearly $1 million, out of a $6.6 million budget.  Unlike Vallejo, where union contracts greatly exacerbated the city's fiscal woes, the story in Rio Vista focuses largely on a collapsed housing market.

Read more in the Chron here.

Council Adopts Code of Conduct

The city of San Marcos unanimously adopted a "code of ethics" at its Tuesday meeting, though not without some lengthy debate.  The city became the 28th California city to do so, though several councilmembers found the move unnecesary -- though several of them attempted to add drug testing to the code. 

Read more in the North County Times.

Cities Bailing Out Auto Dealers

The Wall St. Journal has a look at recent efforts by Victorville and Redlands to prop up local auto dealers -- the conrerstones of many cities' retail tax income. Close to 5 percent of dealerships have closed across the country in the last year.  Victorville recently extended a $200,000 line of credit to one of its largest dealers.  Read more in the WSJ.

Sagging Retail Economy Drags on City Coffers

As if everyone didn't already know the recession was hurting us all, right?  Well, we thought the Merc had an interesting look at how Silcion Valley cities are being impacted by sagging retail reciepts. 

"What does a $19.95 flowered spring top at the Gap have to do with street lights and police?" the Merc asks.  Answer: "For cities, the answer is a lot."

Read more here.

And the State's #1 City for Recycling is...

Fresno?  That's right, as reported this Morning by the Fresno Bee, "In less than a decade Fresno has transformed itself from a city struggling to meet the state's minimum recycling requirements to an example of how municipal recycling programs can succeed."

Read all about it...

Vallejo Reaches Deal with Police Union

Vallejo and its police employees have reached a tentative contract agreement that could save the city $6 million over two years and be a first step in resolving the city's dire fiscal situation.

According to the Vallejo Times Hearld, the "agreement would extend the police officers' contracts from 2010 to 2012, eliminate minimum staffing provisions, allow for wage hikes in 2010 and 2011, cap medical benefits, limit cash payouts for vacation and sick leave, and pay a total of $1 million in officer damage claims between 2012 and 2014."

The POA was one of several city unions that challenged Vallejo's bankruptcy filing last year.  In order for the city to really make headway, it would still have to reach agreements with the Firefighters and Electrical Workers challenging the bankruptcy.

Read more in the Vallejo Times Hearld. 

Taking a Bite Out of Crime?

The City of Lancaster is forwarding a unique strategy in combating gang violence in the city -- by focusing on man's best friend.  An ordinance being considered this week would require spaying and neutering of all varieties of pit bulls and Rottweilers, favorites of local street gangs. 

"I want gangs out of Lancaster," Mayor R. Rex Parris told the LA Times. "I want to make it uncomfortable for them to be here. Anything they like, I want to take it away from them. I want to deliberately harass them."

Opponents raise the common argument that specific breeds of dogs are not predisposed to aggression.  Read more in the LA Times. 

Danville Officials Honor Pilot of Downed US Airways Jet

The East Bay town of Danville, noted hometown of Nobel-prize winning playwright Eugene O'Neill and supermodel Christy Turlington, can now add Chesley B. "Sully" Sullenberger, the pilot of US Airways Flight 1549 that crashed into the Hudson River earlier this month.  "Sully" is credited with saving the lives of all aboard, and was honored in his hometown over the weekend. 

With national and international press coverage, one longtime Danville resident speculates it's the biggest event to hit town since the filming of Mrs. Doubtfire. 

Read more in the SF Chron or the Merc, or check out the video, courtesy of the AP, below.