CaliforniaCityNews.org

Actor to Address Temecula City Council; Seeks Permission to Hold Benefit Concert for Veteran

The actor Gary Sinise is perhaps best known as Lt. Dan from the movie “Forest Gump,” but the celebrity has also made quite a name for himself as an advocate for veterans, which is why Sinise will appear before Temecula’s City Council this week to ask permission to hold a benefit concert on the steps of City Hall on behalf of a wounded veteran named Cpl. Juan Dominguez. The veteran suffered injuries in Afghanistan and the concert would support the construction of a home for Dominguez.

In a press release, the actor commented, “I’m deeply honored to have the opportunity to address the Temecula City Council. I see our concert as a tangible way to recognize the heroism, sacrifice and determination Juan has displayed as he attempts to move past his injuries. I firmly believe our concerts will go a long way towards helping build a home for Juan that will allow him to lead a more independent and fulfilling life with his 9-year-old daughter Victoria.”

Dominguez is a native of New Mexico, but has chosen to make Temecula his new home, which led Temecula Mayor Chuck Washington to comment that “He sees Temecula as a great place to live; he's impressed with the school system and the safety of the community.” The North County Times reports:

“Mayor Washington said Friday that foundation officials decided to stage the concert in front of the Civic Center after seeing pictures of the Steve Miller concert that was held there in September. ‘They were very impressed,’ he said.”

If the council grants its permission (as it surely will), then the concert is slated for March 1st and tickets will go on sale at the Old Town Temecula Community Theater, with prices ranging from $35 to $150.

LA County Rebuffs City’s Push for Management of Neglected Beach

Officials with the city of Malibu and the county of Los Angeles have clashed over who can best manage an 11-acre stretch of beachfront property known as Dan Blocker County Beach. Council members like Jefferson Wagner contend the county has been too slow in advancing much-needed improvements; for instance, there is no path to gain easy (and safe) access down to the waterfront, a parking lot, or restrooms. The county has owned the land for 16 years and has managed it for even longer.

The lack of public accommodations has been the case for decades, despite the fact the state provided a $700,000 grant and the county has also spent a hefty chunk of change developing plans that have yet to materialize into much progress. Nevertheless, beach-goers still frequently visit the stretch of prime beach by working around its inaccessibility.

Councilman Wagner has asked for action from the county for years, which led him to argue for the property to change hands. The LA Times reports that Wagner stated, “The public deserves access to their property. Truly, opening that beach is the right thing to do. Whether it is the city, county or state, it should be opened. It should be staffed and manned."

So what does the county think of the city’s proposal to take over the beach’s management? A spokesman for Supervisor Zev Yaroslavsky bluntly stated, “It's not going to be a city beach.”

The county has reported that it does have plans to develop the prime beach area and the issue will go before the Board of Supervisors by mid-2012. The Times notes that the plan is as follows: “$4.8-million proposal to build 15 parking spots, a walkway, benches, drinking fountains and restrooms on two acres of bluff-top.”

Chowchilla Stands Up to the State; Files Legal Challenge over Prison Conversion

During the summer, officials in the city of Chowchilla expressed concerns about a proposal from the State Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation that would result in one of the region’s jails being converted from a women’s prison into a facility that would house male inmates. Both county and city officials noted they preferred the status quo and that a men’s jail would not be a welcome addition to the local community. The city also fears that a men’s prison could present onerous burdens on local services.  Now that the state is moving forward with plans to convert the Valley State Prison for Women into a facility for men, Chowchilla officials have decided to file a legal challenge.

Mayor Janan Hebert commented, “The Chowchilla City Council feels it is imperative to take necessary steps to protect our community and our rural way of life from the state's planned prison conversion. It's unfortunate that we have to file papers in court in order to keep our neighborhoods secure, but CDCR has left us with no other options."

The legal action seeks to force the CDCR to conduct analysis of the change under the California Environmental Quality Act. In December, state officials denied they had to perform such an action because the conversion would merely “reorganize inmates,” so an exemption was filed.

The state department contends the conversion is necessary because it is in a bit of tight squeeze, as it must comply with the Supreme Court’s order requiring the state’s prison population to be reduced, so space is being sought and Chowchilla’s name became a part of the mix. Realignment also is a contributing factor.

Calabasas and Upland Join Strong Cities, Strong State with New Profiles

The City of Calabasas is located in the southwest portion of the San Fernando Valley north of Malibu and west of Los Angeles. Calabasas was founded as a community away from the urbanization and congestion of the sprawling Los Angeles metropolitan area. A family-oriented community that is home to about 25,000 people, Calabasas is a city youthful in age but with deep roots. From its early days, Calabasas has maintained a pioneer spirit as "The Last of the Old West." Calabasas’s success stories include the following:

• Ruth Willer Rental Assistance Program: The Ruth Willer Rental Assistance Program provides financial support to keep seniors and permanently disabled Calabasas residents in their homes amidst challenges faced by rising rents, economic hardship, and an aging population.
• Bradon’s Village: A Universally Accessible Playground: Gates Canyon Park in Calabasas is home to Brandon’s Village, a universally accessible playground that has become a magnet in the Los Angeles area for families seeking a safe, clean and accessible playground for children of all abilities.
• Secondhand Smoke Control Ordinance: In 2006, Calabasas passed the landmark Comprehensive Second-Hand Smoke Control Ordinance which prohibits smoking in all public places in the City at times when other persons can be exposed to secondhand smoke.

Read more, see photos, and connect with the city here.

The City of Upland (population approximately 73,700) was founded in 1906 and is nestled at the base of the San Gabriel Mountains in the heart of San Bernardino County. Broad, beautiful tree-lined streets winding graciously below the majestic snow-capped San Gabriel Mountains are the trademark of the City of Upland. The City of Upland has successfully blended its naturally dramatic setting with unique shopping, popular restaurants, businesses and professional buildings and modern technology. Upland’s success stories include the following:

• City Partnerships: Upland is known as the City of Gracious Living, and though the City has had its fair share of economic speed bumps, Upland is a city whose businesses support a strong sense of community.
• Community Programs: Upland’s community programs include a First Time Home Buyer Program, an Emergency Repairs Program, a Housing Improvement Program, a Reviving and Enhancing Neighborhoods Program, and an Upland Pride Paint Program.
• Emergency Operation Plan: The preservation of life and property is an inherent responsibility of local, state and federal government. The City of Upland has prepared and Emergency Operation Plan to ensure the most effective and economical allocation of resources.

Read more, see photos, and connect with the city here.

America’s Best and Worst-Run Cities: 3 CA Cities on Worst-Run List

Strength of local economies, fiscal discipline and standard of living were all factors that were considered in 24/7 Wall St.’s rankings for the best-run cities in America. The 100 largest cities (by population) comprise the municipalities that were scrutinized and in the end it was the cities that best managed their debt and resources that landed at the top of the list. Notably, none of the top-run cities have high poverty rates, so to be fair, with a lucrative tax base and high-income residents, management of such entities certainly has some advantages. Being the economic center of a region and population growth are also traits that characterize America’s best-run cities, according to the rankings.

So what city is the best-run in America? It’s Virginia Beach, Va. Researchers cite the city’s "large and diverse tax base stabilized by the presence of military bases” as a major factor for its placement. That being said, a California city has taken the prize for 2nd place, as Irvine has placed just below Virginia Beach as the best-run city. As reasons for Irvine’s ranking, it is noted that “The City Council plans conservatively [and this] past fiscal year (2010-2011), Irvine outperformed its budget expectations by nearly $14 million.” Coming in third is Madison, Wisconsin.

While two California cities make the best-run list, there are three cities from the Golden State that make the worst-run list. For instance, San Bernardino comes in 4th and its poverty rate is citied as well as “massive loss in home values, and unemployment rates have skyrocketed to the third-highest in the country among the largest cities.”

And what characterizes the nation’s worst-run cities? MSN reports that “Nine of the 10 worst-run cities rely on older industries that are shrinking. Hialeah, Fla., was an important textile hub in the 1960s through the 1980s. Cleveland, Ohio, was one of the nation's leaders in steel production. Detroit, Mich., of course, manufactured cars. Since their booms, all of these cities have shed tens of thousands of jobs. While residents who were able to moved away, those without resources remained. As a result, the cities' expenses have remained high while their tax bases have shrunk.”

Here are the rankings:

Best-run cities:

1. Virginia Beach, Va.
2. Irvine, CA
3. Madison, Wis.
4. Fremont, CA
5. Lincoln, Nebraska
6. Chesapeake, VA.
7. Seattle, Washington
8. Scottsdale, Arizona
9. Chandler, Arizona
10. Plano, Texas

Worst-Run Cities:

10. Hialeah, Fla.
9. North Las Vegas, Nev.
8. Fresno, Calif.
7. St. Louis, Mo.
6. Stockton, Calif.
5. Cleveland, Ohio
4. San Bernardino, Calif.
3. Newark, N.J.
2. Detroit, Mich.
1. Miami, Fla.

You can read the full list of rankings here.

Hearings Get Underway for Proposed Charter in Costa Mesa

On Tuesday the Costa Mesa City Council will have its first official public hearing on a proposal to implement a city charter. We’ve relayed previously that Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Jim Righeimer had put forth the charter idea as a way to enhance local control, which was met with criticism from union representatives, who argue a charter proposal is first and foremost a legal strategy that would merely allow Costa Mesa to skirt around litigation over the outsourcing of city positions. The Daily Pilot points out that “The lawsuit is scheduled to go to trial in April, and if Costa Mesa loses, it could throw the council majority's budget-cutting plans into disarray.”

The city held an informational meeting last week, and the occasion led to many residents expressing skepticism over the need for a charter as well as the city’s timeline. Critics questioned why the issue had to be voted on in June instead of November and that action may be moving too fast.

Costa Mesa staff compiled a list of 66 edits and suggestions to the charter proposal in preparation for Tuesday’s meeting, and the edits can be viewed here. The Register points out that some of the edits include:

• Public works contracts be open for public bidding.  Prevailing wage should be paid.
• Conflict of interest provisions
• Disclose details of all communications between council members and individuals or organizations (other than city employees) at the next regular council meeting.

State law requires a city to hold public meetings on charters so that input can be gathered. The second official charter meeting is scheduled for February 14th, so residents can voice their thoughts up until that point. On March 6th the council will decide whether to put the charter to a public vote. The city’s website is allowing input online, which can be viewed here.

Recipe for Revenge: Local Govt Political Leverage in the Battle over Redevelopment

The dust is far from settled on the redevelopment front as local officials make their legislative push to revive the agencies in the aftermath of the Supreme Court’s recent ruling. In addition, the City of Cerritos, along with nine other cities, filed a separate legal challenge in Sacramento Superior Court in order to raise constitutional claims that were not addressed in the court’s decision (a copy of the complaint can be seen here).

However, writer Joe Mathews over at NBC’s Prop Zero argues in an interesting article that the court’s ruling provides a recipe of revenge for local governments if they’re willing to consider another route in light of the governor’s staunch position on the matter and the inevitable budgetary tug-of-war that could decrease agencies’ slice of the pie every year if they are preserved in some other (i.e. weaker) form.

Mathews posits that local governments should use their political leverage in upcoming battles over pension reform and the governor’s desire to raise taxes by demanding greater power to raise their own revenues. An excerpt from Mathews’ article reads:

“The smarter move would be to launch a long-term campaign to return the power to set tax rates to local officials. Yes, that's a game-changer. And yes, that would change one provision of Prop 13. But the policy is right, and the strange politics of 2012 offer an opportunity. Gov. Jerry Brown and the Democrats are desperate to pass tax initiatives. But to do so, they'll need support from local elected officials -- for political cover and because the money from Brown's tax initiatives is supposed to go to local governments. By the same token, Republicans want pension reform and a new spending limit, and will have trouble getting them if local governments oppose the measure.”

“Locals should leverage Democrats' need for support for the tax initiatives -- and Republicans' desire for pension reform and spending changes -- to demand more flexibility to set tax rates themselves. The specifics of such a change would involve everything from tweaks of existing laws to the possibility of a future ballot measure or a constitutional revision process.  If Brown and Democrats balk, then the local governments should threaten to oppose -- loudly -- the tax initiatives, and to continue to use the courts to frustrate state budget-balancing efforts.”

Mathews concludes that without greater revenue-raising power, local governments will find themselves stuck in the same position, meaning the state will balance its budget on the backs of locals while offloading greater responsibility without the funds needed to cover the costs. Read the whole article here. Let us know what you think of Mathew’s arguments by leaving a comment below.

Millionaires Tax Campaign Says Fund Local Services by Taxing a Kardashian

Last week it was announced that Governor Brown’s campaign to raise taxes was rolling in the dough, with $1.2 million collected in two weeks. You’ll recall that Brown wants to pass a ballot measure that would raise $7 billion annually for five years. While the campaign’s early contributions certainly grabbed plenty of notice, a rival tax plan has come up with another way to make headlines: The Courage Campaign and the California Federation of Teachers have apparently figured out that if you really want attention, then nowadays it seems -- for some inexplicable reason -- all you have to do is throw a Kardashian in the mix (logic is no help when trying to find a rationale for the fame of the omnipresent clan known as the Kardashians. If you haven’t heard of them, then count yourself blessed).

This rival tax plan to the governor’s proposal is being called the “Millionaires Tax of 2012” and it’s using “celebrity” Kim Kardashian’s name (or more aptly, hatred for her) to generate support for its cause. This tax would raise $6 billion annually by raising income tax 3% on those who earn $1 to $2 million; in addition, it would raise the rate by 5% on those who earn over $2 million. The campaign contends that a higher tax rate on wealthy Californians could help fund schools and local services. To drum up support for the millionaire’s tax, the Courage Campaign has made a video called “Tax Kim” that claims she made more than $12 million in 2010, but she only pays one percentage point more in state income taxes than a middle-class Californian.

The video’s subtitle reads: “That's not OK, especially when budget cuts are decimating schools and critical programs for children and the elderly. Don't you think she could pay a little more?” More info on the campaign can be seen here.

View the video here:

Local Govts Do it Better: LAO Positively Reviews Pilot Program in SBDO; Alt Treatment

If you want something done right (and cost effective), then leave it to local government to get the job done---that’s essentially the conclusion of the LAO in a recently released report about a notable pilot program. In response to long waitlists at state hospitals, the Department of Mental Health began a pilot program in San Bernardino so that those deemed incompetent to stand trial (IST) could be treated in county jails as opposed to state hospitals for treatment. The wait list for such a transfer to state hospitals is often between 200 and 300 individuals a month, hence the creation of the pilot program. Many IST commitments are forced to remain in a county jail before transfer due to staffing and physical space at state hospitals.

In an update, the non-partisan LAO concluded that San Bernardino, in comparison to the state, provided greater flexibility, reduced costs, and those deemed incompetent to stand trial (IST) were restored to competency in a shorter amount of time than at state hospitals. Overall, treatment at the county level reduced waitlists and was more cost-efficient.

The LAO estimates that counties spend a combined annual total of at least $3.5 million to hold IST commitments in their jails beyond the 35-day period while they wait for a state hospital bed to become available. During the pilot program, the report notes that “San Bernardino County estimates that it has been able to achieve net savings of more than $5,000 for each IST commitment.”

The report concludes:

“We find the pilot program provides less incentive for potential malingerers, has greater flexibility to hold down costs, and is able to restore ISTs to competency in a shorter amount of time than the state hospitals. Additionally, the number of referrals from courts into IST treatment has decreased, possibly because treatment in a county jail is less appealing to defendants who may use a claim of incompetency as a defense strategy to keep out of prison.”

The LAO also advocates that the pilot should be extended into other counties. You can read the full report here. In addition, the LAO released the following video about its report:

Download Video as MP4

 

Here Comes the Sun: Researcher Maps Solar Grid Parity in Cities; San Diego to be 1st City?

John Farrell, a senior researcher on the New Rules Project at the Institute for Local Self-Reliance, has published an interesting animated map at the website “Energy Self-Reliant States” to project solar grid parity in cities across the United States. Solar grid parity refers to the point at which electricity from solar power is less costly than electricity from the existing grid. The animated map predicts that it will be a city in California to be the first solar grid parity city; specifically, San Diego in the year 2013. According to the figures presented, “In just 7 years, 1 in 6 Americans living in major metropolitan areas could lower their electricity bill by installing solar –without any incentives.” Farrell notes that he drew his conclusions with the following data:

“We used the following assumptions in the construction of this animated map: 1.) The cost of solar in 2011 is $4.00 per Watt installed. 2.) Grid electricity price is the average residential retail rate reported by PVWatts for the core city of the metropolitan area. 3.) The cost of solar decreases by 7% per year. 4.) The grid electricity price increases by 2% per year.”

Take a look at the animated map here and click the “animate” button or input the year you want to see figures for. For instance, by inputting the year 2015, the map shows that grid parity will only be evident in two cities: San Diego and New York. However, by 2020, the map shows that 17 cities will have solar grid parity with 6 cities achieving that status in California.

There are issues to ponder, however, when considering the accuracy of the chart’s conclusions. Some critics have argued it doesn’t seem to fully account for local incentives and tax benefits that affect prices. In addition, one might take issue with the projected utility rate increase, which possibly falls short of the national historical average and there is reason to believe costs will increase far more than outlined by the graph’s numbers. That being said, the map is an interesting perspective on when the rising-grid-cost and falling-solar-cost curves will intersect in cities.