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Kiss the Ring: Italian Small-Town Mayor Proposes a Monarchy to Retain Local Control

If you haven’t heard in the news, Italy is going through some major financial difficulties so the country’s government decided it could save money by combining towns and cities with fewer than a 1,000 residents (so much for local control). Unsurprisingly, the town folk didn’t take too kindly to the suggestion and a bit of a backlash has erupted. While mayors from many affected towns have agreed to the change, others are protesting and fighting to protect the ancient regional differences that shape various cities when it comes to keeping intact local traditions, dialects and diversity. The mayor of one town in particular has thought of a more novel approach to keep his town safe from unfavorable annexations: making himself a monarch by establishing the town of Filettino as an independent state. Mayor Luca Sellari jokingly noted that “it’s everyone’s dream to become a prince,” and that the move is no laughing matter “if that’s what it takes to keep the town autonomous and protect its natural resources.” The New York Times reports:

“The would-be principality already has a coat of arms that now graces everything from T-shirts (‘going like hotcakes,’ Mr. Sellari said) to a liqueur, the Amaro of the Principality, which a local bartender, Maria Cerrocchi, said was just a brand-name bottle ‘with a photocopied label stuck on it.’  Filettino has even printed its own currency, the fiorito, which means ‘flowered’ (‘like the town will flower in its new guise,’ the mayor explained) and which harks back to the florin, the money first coined in 13th-century Florence.”

The part-time councilor plans to write the monarch’s new national anthem. The monarchy idea is sure to bring even greater attention to the anger that many small-town mayors feel in response to the course the national government is charting. Small towns had their budgets slashed and local officials feel it would be far wiser to address the bigger issues, such as retirement age. While the idea of merging small towns may be ultimately withdrawn, Filettino’s mayor has said he will still pursue secession and his monarchial plans.

Hercules Councilman Who Won Seat during Recall Election Fined $500 for Resume Fabrications

In June voters in Hercules demonstrated they were overwhelmingly in favor of a recall of Council Members Joanne Ward and Donald Kuehne, but political turmoil in the city didn’t end there. Gerard Boulanger was selected as a new councilman by voters as part of the recall election but almost immediately after winning a seat he faced calls for his resignation due to false claims about his past experience on his resume. For instance, his resume included nonexistent university degrees and membership on a city council in his native France. After claims about serving on a municipal council of two communities were disproven, another statement from Boulanger could also not be corroborated, namely that he served on the board of an urban planning and wastewater-treatment agency. In reality, his only experience was as an appointed delegate to the French senatorial electoral college. In response, the city of Hercules has now fined Boulanger $500. Mercury News reports:

“The California Elections Code sets a maximum fine of $1,000 for knowingly making a false statement of material fact in a candidate statement. Hercules Mayor Myrna de Vera noted at the Aug. 23 council meeting that neither the state Attorney General nor the Contra Costa County District Attorney appeared interested in pursuing the matter, and so the council, minus Boulanger, stepped in and set a $500 fine, which Boulanger paid; de Vera said the money will go to the Hercules Emergency Library Project, a community effort to raise $50,000 to keep the library open 40 hours a week instead 35 through the end of the fiscal year.”

Now that the fine has been paid, the council considers the issue closed and has moved on from the transgression. That being said, many residents are still upset and want to see Boulanger resign. The new councilman says that he felt he had to inflate his resume to win a seat because it lacked “gravitas.” In reality he co-owns a carpet-cleaning business with his wife.

Apology Tour Continues for Santa Ana Mayor Pro Tem after Uproar over Hitler Comment

Santa Ana Councilwoman Claudia Alvarez, an Assistant District Attorney in the city, has been on a major apology tour for recent remarks that have provoked serious backlash. During a recent council meeting, there was discussion about a controversial tax for downtown property owners and Alvarez made a comment comparing a downtown property owner to Hitler. Irving Chase, who owns roughly four blocks downtown, was the subject of her comparison, and Chase’s parents happen to be survivors of the Holocaust. Alvarez specifically said, “Hey, so if Hitler rents you a place, he’s giving us a great deal, so who cares what he stands for? We need to put a stop to this.” The following day after Alvarez made the comment she apologized and noted that emotions got the better of her. Alvarez has been making the rounds on various TV stations and newspaper interviews to apologize for her remark. For one interview, she stated:

“My intent was not to offend the Chases or to offend the Jewish community by any means, or to trivialize anything that's happened to the Jewish community, but the words came out and I do apologize to all of them.”

The OC Register reports on the background to the story:

“She will not, however, be apologizing personally to Irv Chase and his son, Ryan, both of whom were the target of her caustic statements on Wednesday. ‘As you know, it's not an amicable relationship, but my apology has been everywhere.’ The term ethnic cleansing has been used by downtown merchant Sam Romero to describe the fears of some of the Chases' retail tenants, who worry they may be displaced through the landlords' efforts to attract more diverse businesses and shoppers to what has been for decades a working class Latino shopping street. Some shopkeepers have complained that the Chases have told them to change the merchandise they offer to appeal to a more affluent customer.”

Kevin O'Grady, the regional director for the Anti-Defamation League's OC and Long Beach divisions, released the following statement: “Your statements also call into question your ability to serve as a Deputy District Attorney for the City of Orange County. While the First Amendment entitles you to your personal beliefs, your conduct raises doubts about your judgment and your ability to enforce California's laws fairly."

Video coverage can be found here:

Angry Residents Initiate a Recall of all 5 Lindsay City Council Members; Cite Financial Ruin

Residents in the city of Lindsay have been frustrated with their city council for quite some time and underneath the surface have been grumblings about a potential recall election. However, this month, the Tulare County Association of Governments accused the city of misusing taxpayer dollars and is demanding that the city pay back $3.75 million in Measure R funds; as a result, angry residents have been motivated to take action and begin the recall process. A group of citizens have now initiated a recall of all five Lindsay City Councilmembers and a statement has been filed with the Tulare County Elections Office for its Notice of Intention to recall.

City officials fired back regarding claims that the Measure R money was misused. The money was used for a downtown revitalization project that resulted in new sidewalks, signals and a roundabout. Lindsay City Manager Rich Wilkinson commented that “It's not like the money disappeared. The money was spent. It was spent right here downtown.” He also noted the city is willing to pay back $933,572 if the use of some funds was considered ineligible.

It has been reported that recall fervor has taken an ugly turn in the city with one councilwoman’s car being vandalized and Mayor Ed Murray’s son, 30-year-old Travis Murray, posted controversial commented on his facebook page about the recall. The Recorder reports that Murray’s son posted the following: “to all you pieces of [expletive] out there who are trying to recall my dad...[expletive].” And in response to someone’s comment, Murray wrote: “[Expletive]...all i need is axcess to a deer rifle and a scope...lol.”

Here is an excerpt from the notice of intention to recall that citizens filed:

“The recall process is being initiated to remove you from the Lindsay City Council. Under your leadership, the City of Lindsay, has failed to treat each and every member of this community fairly and with respect in regards to programs and services provided by the city. You have not provided adequate oversight of the city manager position, which is one of your duties per the City Charter.

“Not only have you failed to respond to questions from the public you represent, the city administration, again under your leadership, has been anything but transparent with details on how our tax dollars have been spent. The citizens insisted that city hall stop paying excessive managerial salaries. You appointed a new city manager, who makes an even higher salary than our former city manager.

“Your actions and inactions have exposed us to financial ruin and this community cannot afford the risk of bankruptcy with your continued presence on the city council. We the people of Lindsay deserve transparency, accountability and oversight in our city Government. You have failed and outright refused to provide us with that.”

Palmdale, Modesto, and Sonoma the Latest Cities to Launch on Strong Cities, Strong St.

The City of Palmdale is lucky number 13 on “Strong Cities | Strong State.” Sitting just 60 miles north of Los Angeles, Palmdale is the birthplace of stealth technology and hosts some of the world’s largest aerospace companies, like Lockheed Martin Aeronautics Company, Northrop Grumman, the Boeing Company, and NASA. Community members enjoy over 150 acres of park land, three swimming pools, two recreation centers, and a senior center. Palmdale’s success stories included the following:

• DryTown Water Park: a six-acre park offering waterslides, a play area for kids and a pool
• “Partners for a Better Palmdale” program: built upon nearly two decades of community-based policing through its Partners Against Crime program.
• Palmdale Regional Medical Hospital: a state-of-the-art hospital with 239 licensed beds all in private, single-occupancy rooms.

Read more, see photos, and connect with Palmdale here.

Modesto became the 14th city featured on the “Strong Cities | Strong States” website, giving Northern California another city on the site. Perfectly placed in the center of California, east of the San Francisco bay, Modesto offers something for everyone: family-friendly attractions, festivals, museums, and agricultural tours and tastings and more. Its 210,000 residents enjoy more than 15 miles of bike paths, 75 parks, and their very own minor league baseball team, the Modesto Nuts. Modesto boasts the following success stories:

• “Takin’ it to the Streets”: These citywide cleanup days have become a huge success since their 2010 launch. More than 4,000 volunteers have cleaned up more than 69 tons of trash/green waste, filled park playgrounds with 529 tons of sand and painted more than 25,000 square feet of graffiti.
• Community Development: The City of Modesto is working to implement activities that promote business opportunities and economic development. In July 2010, the City council authorized the first community development loan to American Metal Fabricators to create jobs.
• Recycling Water: In a partnership with Stanislaus County, Turlock, Ceres, and the Del Puerto Water District, Modesto has helped create the North Valley Regional Recycled Water Program, which will provide 32,900 acre-feet of recycled water to drought-impacted areas nearby.

Read more, see photos, and connect with Modesto on their profile here.

Finally, Sonoma Valley's very own City of Sonoma is next. Good soils, temperate climate, and abundant food and water attracted indigenous peoples to the Sonoma Valley for at least 12,000 years before Spanish missionaries settled in the early 19th century. Today, the city’s residents enjoy that same fine weather and good life. Sonoma’s success stories include the following:

• Economic Development Partnership: In 1995, the City of Sonoma recognized that its economy could not be separated from the larger valley and thus began cooperating with the county to improve the lives of residents.
• Waste Reduction: In December 2010, Sonoma began a program to compost food scraps from local restaurants, and has since cut down on waste significantly.
• Water-wise Garden: In 2010, the Sonoma County Water Agency brought forth a new community educational tool for the resident in Sonoma in the form of this garden at the Sonoma Community Center.

 Read more, see photos and connect with Sonoma on their new profile here.

Pension Proposals: GASB Introduces Significant Changes for Financial Reporting by Govts

The Governmental Accounting Standards Board recently produced a proposal for significant improvements to its standards of accounting and financial reporting for the pension benefits that state and local governments provide to their employees. According to GASB, the objective of such changes is to improve accountability and the transparency of financial reporting, as well as the usefulness of the information it provides users of external financial reports of governmental employers and pensions plans. The existing standards have reportedly been in place since 1994. GASB posits that there is an increasing need among the users of governmental financial reports for comparable information about pensions and that concepts regarding what constitutes a liability and an outflow of resources need continual development. Under the proposal, local governments will have to modify how they report pension costs, obligations, and unfunded liabilities. The changes are found in the Plain Language Supplement to the Exposure Draft, which can be read here. Some excerpts include:

• A government would report in its financial statements a net pension liability equal to the difference between the total pension liability and the value of assets set aside in a pension plan to pay benefits to current employees, retirees, and their beneficiaries.
• Future salary increases and future periods of employment with the government would continue to be incorporated into projections of benefit payments.
• Changes of assumptions, as they relate to the liability for active employees, would be deferred and systematically incorporated into pension expense over a weighted average of the remaining service periods of employees.
• Differences between projected earnings on pension plan investments and actual earnings would be deferred and incorporated into the expense calculation over five years.

 GASB is looking for public feedback from organizations that will be impacted by the proposals. You can find information about submitting written comments here.

In addition, a webinar will be held on September 7th on the proposed changes, giving listeners the chance to understand the proposed guidance contained in the documents, how the documents would change accounting and financial reporting for pensions, and other issues of importance to the preparers, auditors, and users of governmental financial reports. Find information here.

Manhunt Underway for Gunman who Killed Veteran Fort Bragg City Councilman

Veteran Fort Bragg City Councilman Jere Melo, 69, has been gunned down and a manhunt is underway for the shooter. Melo was working in the forestland of the rugged parts of Mendocino County and reportedly he was investigating a marijuana-growing operation. When Melo and another man stumbled upon the gunman, he fired and took the councilman’s life. The prime suspect is Aaron Bassler, a Fort Bragg transient. Melo had extensive experience in the timber business and he was working as a forest land manager and was walking on his employer’s land when the incident occurred.

The local community is in shock over the official’s death. He had been a member of the city council since 1996 and is a former two-term mayor. This particular year was his 15th on the council. Fort Bragg Mayor Dave Turner commented that “Jere is probably the hardest-working councilman ever. He’s a guy that gets along with everybody. He brought civility to the council." The Bee reports:

“Turner said Melo received a report that someone was living and growing marijuana in a wooded area managed by Campbell east of Fort Bragg. He was shot while investigating that report. The shooting occurred around 10 a.m. Saturday. Passengers on the historic Skunk Train, which runs nearby, heard shots, according to the Santa Rosa Press Democrat. Melo attended UC Davis, and got a forestry degree from UC Berkeley. He moved to Fort Bragg in 1966 and was described by city officials as a tireless worker.”

City officials said it was thanks to Melo’s dedication that a first-class high school football stadium was built as well as new firehouses. Melo is survived by his wife Madeleine and two children.

Auburn City Council Moves Forward with Draft of City Charter Proposal; Revisions Underway

This week the Auburn City Council continued to kick around the idea of becoming a charter city. Supporters, such as Mayor William W. Kirby, contend a change to a charter could increase local autonomy and after much discussion, the council is expected to provide another opportunity for public comment on September 12th. During this week’s council meeting, City Attorney Michael Colantuono was directed to make some revisions to the draft document of the proposal and once the final draft is approved, voters will have the deciding say during the June 2012 election. Debate around the issue has been contentious at times, as we’ve relayed previously that labor opposition is fiercely concerned about the interests of union construction workers, especially when the city needs $20 million in repairs to the city's sewer system (a charter allows a city to bypass prevailing wage law on some public works projects). The Auburn Journal reports the following on revisions to the draft proposal:

“Some of the changes to the draft include stating that the current elected city clerk and city treasurer will serve out their terms before new qualifications for the positions and a new ordinance directing how they would be filled would go into effect. Another change states that council members will continue to choose who will be the mayor and vice mayor.  Colantuono also points out in his changes to the draft that with bid preference on city projects the council can pass an ordinance to attach an assigned distance or radius from the city to the preference.”

Further comments on adjustments and revisions can be seen here. The final version of the charter will also be available on the city’s website before the Sept. 12 meeting.

Placerville Council Votes to Remove Mayor from His Post Due to Felony Charges

After his arrest on felony perjury and conspiracy charges, this week the Placerville City Council voted unanimously to strip Mayor David Machado of his title. Based on the accusations he is facing, Machado is suspected of buying property to profit off a redevelopment zone that he voted to establish and he subsequently attempted to hide the conflict of interest by tying the property to his son’s name. In addition, it is believed that Machado worked his way around city inspections when improvements were made on the property without any permits. Now that the Machado has been ousted, the council also voted to implement an extended leave of absence without pay. The Bee reports:

“The DA's criminal complaint puts the allegations into two counts – one of perjury, one of conspiracy – backed by 30 enumerated ‘overt acts’ Machado is alleged to have committed. It is not known whether Machado, 53, has secured legal representation, and he has not responded to phone calls or visits to his home address.”

While the council distanced itself from Machado’s actions, many residents voiced concerns that the issue was merely the tip of the iceberg. Vice Mayor Mark Arcuna has been nominated to fill the role of interim-Mayor. News 10 filed the following report:

Pack the Moving Van: San Jose Council Approves Tax-Incentive Deal w/ Netflix

The city of San Jose has bagged a deal with Netflix, as the popular video-rental company is planning to expand its business with a new DVD division. Under the tax-incentive deal that was approved by the city council, Netflix will agree to a 5-year lease agreement and Mercury points out that “San Jose will provide Netflix payments equaling half of sales tax receipts from the company's operations in the first year, 40 percent in the second and 30 percent in the third.” The company plans to make the move in October. In return for the tax breaks, Netflix plans to make $1.6 million in improvements. Mercury notes:

“One resident, Ross Signorino, questioned why cash-strapped San Jose should give any company a tax break. But Mayor Chuck Reed and other city officials said the company only gets paid if it provides new revenue to the city. They noted that Netflix had many choices for its relocation and that other cities and states are competing for such business.”

The new operation will be based out of 55,000 square feet of office space in San Jose. In addition, 225 people will be employed at the new location.