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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07/09/04 B A K E R S F I E L D CITY MANAGER'S OFFICE MEMORANDUM July 9, 2004 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: Alan Tandy, City Manager ~'7/_~ r~. SUBJECT: General Information 1. As you have probably seen in the media, there is no State budget, and the open issue is how much future protection we will get for the $7.0 million the State is taking from us over the next two years. The League has, apparently, already backed off absolute protection. It will, in all likelihood, wind up being no real protection at all. Our position that opposed the League giveaway is proving to be absolutely correct. Their latest bulletin is enclosed, as well as related articles from the July 9th Los Angeles Times, Sacramento Bee, and Hanford Sentinel. 2. At the next regular Council meeting, I hope to have on the agenda an amendment to the Development Agreement with the Holiday Inn Select that will take back catering and concessions in the Convention Center. Those services have been provided by the Holiday Inn for about the last ten years. We will be proposing that the concession and alcohol portion go to Aramark, an expansion of their functions from the Garden. We will also be proposing that catering in the building be open - subject to rules on insurance fees, etc. that would be administered by SMG. That will make the local caterers happy! 3. Regarding the Sphere of Influence issue, we note the following: a. Next week we appear before the Editorial Board on Tuesday and the Governmental Review Council of the Chamber on Friday; b. In letters of June 14th and June 24th sent to the City of Shafter to have public meetings to try to resolve the sphere issues, the only response was a June 15th letter from Shafter which said such meetings should not be public. I also sent Shafter a compromise proposal, dated June 16th, and asked them again to respond in the letter of June 24th. We have received no response to our requests. 4. Chief Fraze prepared the enclosed activity report with information on the Fire Department's call volume and incidents related to the Fourth of July holiday. Honorable Mayor and City Council July 9, 2004 Page 2 5. The property that we recently purchased at 24th and Oak Streets has been a popular location to place signs of various sorts. Since we do not allow private signage to be placed on any City property, we will maintain our policy at that location. 6. The Northeast Bakersfield Specific Trails and Parks Plan has received another reward; the latest is from the American Planning Association - Central California Chapter. Congratulations go to all the Development Services staff who contributed to the project. 7. Per the attached notice from KernCOG, a public hearing for consideration of the Destination 2030 Regional Transportation Plan will be held on July 15th. Other public workshops will be held throughout the County over the next few weeks; the anticipated date for adoption of the document is August 15th, 8. Congratulations to all the High Five recipients for the second quarter of 2004. Their extra efforts are appreciated, especially during these challenging financial times. AT:rs cc: Department Heads Pam McCarthy, City Clerk Trudy Slater, Administrative Analyst Jul 89 2884 1G:SB:ZB Via Fax -> 3241858 t~lan E. ?aMy Page 881 Of 881 LEAGUE 1400 K Street, Suite 400 · Sacramento, California 95814 OF CALl FOR, NIA Phone: 916.658.8200 Fax: 916.658.8240 C I T I E S www.cacities.org Page 1 of 1 TO: Mayors, Council Members and City Managers FROM: Chris McKenzie, Executive Director RE: Update DATE: July 9, 2004 The direct negotiations between the Governor and legislative leaders about the Local Government Agreement have been placed on hold for the weekend. The Governor is out of the country until Sunday evening attending a funeral in Austria. Legislative and gubernatorial staff along with League, CSAC and Special District staffs continue to discuss outstanding issues in a local government finance package. All parties remain optimistic that some kind of settlement by early next week is possible, but as of today.. No Deal Has Been Struck! Local government representatives have developed a framework for a possible agreement. I met twice yesterday with the League Board to brief them on the framework and how its components are being received. The negotiations of the last three days have been carried out by L.A. Mayor Jim Hahn, Fresno Mayor Alan Autry and myself, with League officers Pat Eklund (First Vice President) and Alex Padilla (Second Vice President) directly involved as well. President Eon Loveridge is in constant contact by phone. Our negotiating team is frequently consulting with the League board of directors, which will make the final call on any final agreement. All three local government associations are using the framework to advance the local government position in the negotiations. Key issues in the negotiations that remain unresolved are: · Suspension of Property Tax Protection. Local governments are seeking comprehensive protection of local government property taxes. Some legislative leaders want to be able to suspend that protection during severe financial downturns. Talks are focused on conditions under which a suspension could be constructed. Our position is that it should not be allowed, but if it is necessary it should be severely constrained. · Sales Tax Protections. Local governments seek a strong constitutional protection against the state taking local government revenues while some legislative leaders want to retain authority to redistribute, for local government purposes only, the growth on sales tax through future legislation. We strongly oppose this. We know that a lot has been asked of local officials in this prolonged budget debate, but it may be near an end. Our negotiating team has consistently made it clear that Proposition 65 provides our preferred alternative course of action if the Legislature cannot agree substantially with what we have advanced. Please stay the course and stay involved in following the negotiations and alerts sent out from the League. We intend to update you over the weekend if something urgent develops. Thanks! ~an~...d Sentinel: Governor's deal sparks budget clash Page 1 of 2 Governor's deal sparks budget clash ~ ~j By James C. Loughrie Sentinel Reporter HANFORD - To the surprise of many, the state budget impasse has been brought about by a deal forged between Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger and local governments - a compromise that received almost unanimous support from local city councils and the Kings County Board of Supervisors. The arrangement, made in May, would take $1.3 billion statewide from counties, like Kings; cities, like Hanford and Corcoran; and special districts, like Armona and Kettleman City; over the next two years. "The governor's the one person who was willing to come to the plate and say let's work something out," Kings County Supervisor Tony Oliveira said about the deal. Local government leaders, through organizations like the California State Association of Counties and the League of Cities, made the agreement with Schwarzenegger in exchange for the governor's support of a state constitutional amendment. The amendment would protect local funding, such as property and sales taxes, from future raiding by the state. Originally, the local government coalition planned for Proposition 65, which requires voter approval before the state can usurp any local government funds. The compromise with the governor calls for a constitutional amendment rather than statewide voter approval in Proposition 65. State Sen. Dean Florez, D-ShaRer, considers himself in the minority of Democratic legislators in that he does not approve of either the governor's or a Democratic watered-down version. "I think both of them offer far less protection than Proposition 65," Florez said in a telephone interview Wednesday. Florez said that despite any deals made in Sacramento regarding local government financing, he will still campaign for Proposition 65. "Unfortunately for local governments, their lobbyists got involved with the governor, got a cigar and ran into the arms of a very charismatic governor who sold them snake oil," said Florez. Oliveira, who sits on the board of directors and executive committee for the statewide county government association, said the legislature did not approach local governments like the governor did. "We've been planning a ballot initiative for three years now. Every time the state gets in trouble, instead of cutting spending or raising taxes, if that's what they think they should do, they just raid local coffers," Oliveira said about the need for local government protection. Despite any deals, Florez said he believes voters will see through Sacramento's compromises. "I haven't given up on it. I think once people see the amount of cuts in fire and police ... The way Proposition 65 stands, it's much stronger protection," he said. One of the elements that has complicated local government budgets is the passage of Proposition 13 in 1978. The initiative put a cap on property taxes paid by homeowners, and incidentally limited local government revenues, which at http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/articles/2OO4/O7/O8/news/dailyO1 .prt 7/9/2004:. ~_anfo,_,rt;1 Sentinel: Governor's deal sparks budget clash Page 2 of 2 the time were largely supported from property taxes. On top of Proposition 13, in 1991, then-Gov. Pete Wilson shifted property taxes into a special fund that supported public schools. The shift made it easier for the state to meet its Proposition 98 requirement, the 1988 ballot initiative that stipulates that 40 percent of California's general fund must be spent on education. Enter another complication for local governments in 1996, when Proposition 218 passed with 56 percent of the vote statewide. The initiative set a requirement of voter approval before local governments pass any new taxes or fees. The unintended consequence of these propositions, said County Administrative Officer Larry Spikes, has been greater control of local spending by the state legislature and governor in Sacramento. "I think this would work much better (property taxes) if the state would keep its hands off and keep it local," Spikes said. Before Proposition 13 passed with 65 percent of the vote statewide, local governments like cities and counties divided property tax revenues among each other. After the shift by Wilson to fund education, local governments could count on approximately 25 percent of available property taxes. According to the proposed Kings County budget, presented to the Board of Supervisors last week, the county expects less than 18 percent of its budget to come from property and sales taxes. The largest single funding source for Kings County will be state and federal money that is earmarked to fund specified programs, such as health and human services, public works and planning. That portion is more than 72 percent of the county budget, which makes any Sacramento-based state budget decisions more critical. (This reporter may be reached at j!.~!gh~pu!.~..t_~_~,_!!~ ) (July 8, 2004) Copyright © 2004 Pulitzer Central California Newspapers. All Rights Reserved. ht~p;./~_..w._~.~e~_e...~!.~ http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/articles/2004/07/08/news/daily01 .prt 7/9/2004 Lo..p~.A,. -2~geles Times: Democrats Say Budget Talks Are Deadlocked Page 1 of 3 http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget9jul09,1,7100910.story?coll=la-headlines-califomia Democrats Say Budget Talks Are Deadlocked As local funding dispute remains unresolved, the state controller stresses the need for a decision. By Evan Halper and Jordan Rau Times Staff Writers July 9, 2004 SACRAMENTO -- Legislative Democrats announced Thursday that state budget talks have reached an impasse that will probably delay any action until at least early next week. Meanwhile, the state controller sent a letter to lawmakers warning them of the financial consequences if an agreement is not reached soon. Budget talks remain bogged down over the issue of how to protect money for cities and counties. Democrats, who hold majorities in both legislative houses, are resisting a constitutional amendment supported by Republicans and local government leaders that would make it impossible to temporarily reduce future payments to cities and counties -- even in an emergency --without support of four-fifths of the Legislature and the governor. "We're at an impasse," said Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Darrell Steinberg (D-Sacramento). "If it takes three or four additional days to avoid a mistake that will last 10 or 20 years, then it is worthwhile." With negotiations stalled, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger announced he would be in Austria this weekend to attend the funeral of that country's former president, Thomas Klestil, and lawmakers headed back to their districts for the weekend. Legislative leaders said they would continue negotiating with administration staff.' As news spread through the Capitol that it would be several days before even the framework of an agreement was reached, State Controller Steve Westly sent a letter to lawmakers warning of the consequences of delaying the governor's $103-billion spending plan much longer. The state is now nine days into the new fiscal year. Unlike last year, when California was faced with running out of cash in the summer, Westly said a $15-billion bond issue approved in March affords lawmakers some breathing room. But he told legislators that the state Constitution would prohibit him from making large payments to schools, colleges and universities if no budget is approved by July 28. And the state must immediately stop paying vendors for any of their work since the new budget year began July 1. Partisan rancor in the Capitol continues to increase. "The Democrats keep saying no to everything, even when they are common-sense ideas," said Assembly Republican Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield. "I think from their standpoint, they think it is somewhat politically beneficial to hold up California's budget." The deal the Republicans and local government leaders are pressuring Democrats to accept would allow the state to slash funds to cities and counties by $1.3 billion for each of the next two years in return for the protection against future cuts. Democrats say they are willing to support some future protection, but not as much as the cities are demanding. · http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-meobudget9jul09,1,2948233,print.story?coll=la-headlines-califomia 7/9/2004 L~s~,A~?c_~. es Times: Democrats Say Budget Talks Are Deadlocked Page 2 of 3 Assembly Speaker Fabian Nufiez (D-Los Angeles) said local governments "need to develop a greater appreciation for the concessions that have been made thus far." Those include prohibiting the state from borrowing from local governments more than twice every 10 years and requiring that money be repaid within three years, Nufiez said. But Democrats want to be able to borrow from the cities and counties with a two-thirds vote of the Legislature. Concerned that the proposal being pushed by local governments gives cities and counties more protection than schools, the powerful education lobby has lined up against it and is pressuring Democrats not to move off their position. In a conference call on Thursday during which Nufiez polled his 48-member caucus, only a handful said they would vote for the plan local governments have on the table, according to a lawmaker who was on the call. "It looks awfully greedy," said Kevin Gordon, executive director of the California Assn. of School Business Officials. "If education dollars can be suspended with a two-thirds vote, then I don't think any other segment of government ought to be extended a protection greater than that. The local government folks should not ignore the very significant political factor of the education community. If they overreach, we will be there to remind voters of that fact." The cities and counties have been trying to use as leverage Proposition 65, a November initiative that would prohibit the state from ever touching local government money again -- and would force the state to give back any cuts it makes to help close this year's $14-billion budget shortfall. Yet Democrats say their polls show the proposition has little voter support, and Republican leaders conceded this week that the measure would probably fail. "They may want to dismiss it but we think there is a lot of grass-roots power behind it," said Los Angeles Mayor James K. Hahn. "Without a deal that is the only thing on the ballot for people to vote for." Hahn and other city leaders said they put their compromise proposal on the table this week, and now it is up to the Democrats to present an acceptable alternative. "We have already moved off of our demand that under no circumstances would the state ever be able to look to local government for funding for help," Hahn said. "That was a significant move. And one not popular with a lot of cities and counties." "We think the ball is in the Legislature's court to respond to us comprehensively," Hahn said. Chris McKenzie, executive director of the League of California Cities, said his coalition would not come off its demand that any cutting of local government require a four-fifths vote of the Legislature until Democrats offer an alternative as part of a total package. He said it has not been easy to negotiate such a complicated deal with the budget deadline bearing down on everyone involved. "It is difficult ... in this environment where there is so much pressure to come to a resolution and everybody is passing the latest rumor of what is going on," he said. Schwarzenegger spokesman Rob Stutzman said the administration is optimistic that middle ground can be reached. "We're pretty well convinced that we can get there," he said. Times staff writer Robert Salladay contributed to this report. http://www.latimes.com/news/local/la-me-budget9jul09,1,2948233,print.story?coll=la-headlines-califomia 7/9/2004 ~b..e c~ra~amento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger's failure makes new taxes inevitable - bt Page 1 of 2 This story is taken from P_oJ.!.tJ~s at sacbee.com. Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger's failure makes new taxes inevitable - but what kind? By Dan Walters -- Bee Columnist - (Published July 9, 2004) Arnold Schwarzenegger's failure to make a serious dent in California's chronic fiscal crisis means that increasing taxes will return as a political issue next year - and probably for years thereafter. His promises to close the immense gap between income and outgo without new taxes may have been doomed from the onset, especially after he widened the chasm by $4 billion-plus a year by reinstating the politically popular reduction in property taxes on cars (vehicle license fees). Although the Legislature's majority Democrats cleverly adopted the strategy of not stridently demanding new taxes this year, and thereby not appearing to directly confront the popular new governor, there's no doubt that they always maintained the goal of maneuvering the state into a position where tax increases were inescapable. Protected by incumbent-oriented legislative districts, Democrats could refuse to accept spending cuts until he acceded to their demands to maintain spending levels on education, health and welfare services. And to the extent that he caved in, the state's deficit would widen and the inevitability of new taxes in 2005-06 and beyond would increase. Preliminary calculations indicate that Schwarzenegger's concessions since January have increased 2004-05 spending by $3 billion, raising it beyond the 2003-04 level. The extra spending would largely be covered with remnants of the $15 billion deficit refinancing bond issue that he persuaded voters to pass in March. Thus, if the pending budget is enacted, the state will have maxed out its credit cards and will face deficits of $7 billion or more in 2005-06 and around $10 billion in 2006-07, according to legislative calculations. Wall Street bankers would be unlikely to extend California even more credit, at least on terms the state could accept, and would insist on some kind of tax increase. Some in the Capitol - conservative Republicans, especially - believe that Schwarzenegger, despite his no-new- taxes rhetoric, really wants to raise taxes and went along with the Democrats' spending demands as part of a grand strategy to make new levies palatable to the public. That's an interesting political theory, but whether Schwarzenegger was complicit with the Democrats or was outmaneuvered by them is beside the fiscal point; the numbers themselves move the state in that direction. If raising revenues next year by $5 billion or more is inevitable, as increasingly appears to be the case, the next question is how it should be done. The political answer would be to raise those taxes that the broad public finds least objectionable, such as levies on cigarettes and liquor, or income taxes on very high-income taxpayers. Democrats have been touting the latter. The correct answer would be more complex and politically difficult. We could raise more revenues while reforming a state and local tax system that's seriously out of kilter - and, in fact, lies at the root of the state's fiscal dilemma. Local governments are too dependent on a sales tax that hits only a fraction - a declining fraction - of personal spending while the state is too dependent on an income tax that is too volatile because it's too connected to the stock market gains and losses of high-income taxpayers. The imbalance encourages local governments to make land use decisions that favor sales tax-producing retail http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/9933361 p- 10855352c.html 7/9/2004 The' 8-~c~amento Bee -- sacbee.com -- Dan Walters: Schwarzenegger's failure makes new taxes inevitable ' Page 2 of 2 # business; the state ramps up spending and cuts taxes when it is rolling in money'from a stock market surge, ~then must contend with the hangover when the market slumps and revenues decline. We could expand sales taxes to services, and perhaps even cut the overall rate. We could give local governments a share of income taxes in lieu of some of their sales taxes. Or we could exchange sales taxes for property taxes. ' We could broaden the income tax to flatten out its peaks and valleys and produce more predictable streams of revenue. We could also look at the tens of billions of dollars in tax loopholes, many of which have outlived whatever public usefulness they once had, and close some of them. The state tumbled into budget hell because politicians always took the most expedient approach to making fiscal decisions and ignored future consequences. Isn't it time to do something right? About the Writer Reach Dan Walters at (916) 321-1195 or .d~a!t~rs@.sacbee,c.o~. Back columns: Go to: Sacbee / Back to story Contact .Bee..CustQmer...S.er~!ce Advertise Onlin~e I Privacy Policy I Terms of Use I Help I _Sit~e Map _New~ I $~_o_rt~ I B_usi__n~s_s I ~O!i_ti.C~ I _O_p_in_l_o~ I Entertainment I Lifest~yle I Tr~ay_eJ I _W__o._m_e_n Classifieds I Horn_es I Cars I J_o_b_s_ I _S_h_o_ppj_ng GUIDE TO THE BEE: I Subscribe I Contacts I Advertise I _Bede Ev~e~Ls I Community Involvement [ Sacramento Bee Web sites ] _S.a.c_b_e~.,~.¢~.~. I S~_c!!cket,.c.~m I S_a~ra...mento,com Co.nt.act..sacbee..cqm This article is protected by copyright and should not be printed or distributed for anything except personal use. The Sacramento Bee, 2100 Q St., P.O. Box 15779, Sacramento, CA 95852 Phone: (916) 321-1000 http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/9933361 p- 10855352c.html 7/9/2004 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- No budget accord in cards this week Page 1 of 2 This story is taken from P.o.!i_t.!_(;s_ at sacbee.com. No budget accord in cards this. week' Schwarzenegger will go to Austria for a funeral as Capitol impasse lingers. By Margaret 'Talev -- Bee .Capitol Bureau - (Published Suly'9, 2004) Lawmakers signaled Thursday they are still-days away from a state budget deal, and Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger'announced he will travel to Austria-to attend-weekend funeral services for Austrian President Thomas Klestll. President Bush asked .the Austrian-born Schwarzenegger, who knew Klestil for 35 years, to lead the U.S. delegation attending Saturday's scheduled funeral service and Interment in Vienna. Klestil, 71., died Tuesday, two days before his second term in office was to end. The governor was torn over whether to leave California, given the budget impasse days into the new fiscal year, said communications direCtor Rob Stutzman. Schwarzenegger announced he would go after Senate President Pro Tern .lohn Burton, D-San Francisco, and Assembly Speaker Fabian Nfifiez, D-Los Angeles, said they were sending their members home through the weekend. The delay means it is unlikely a new budget will be in place at least until .the end of next week. 'The 'longer the impasse lasts, the more it threatens to affeCt individuals and companies who work for or do business with the state. Beginning Thursday, legislative staffs could begin working without pay. By month's end, executive .branch appointees could stop getting paid. State Controller Steve Westly said he planned to maintain full pay for state workers but that, beginning July 28, he might ,be forced to halt large payments to community colleges and schools. Despite .hints of.progress Thursday .morning, the biggest stumbling block in the $103 billion sPending plan remained how to Protect local governments from having the state dip into .local taxes when the economy dips. Cities and counties told the governor weeks ago that they could agree to $1.3 billion in cuts this year and again next year in exchange for constitutional protection against future raids. Schwarzenegger and Republican lawmakers, who have enough votes to block Democrats from pushing through a budget, say they are standing by the local governments. Democratic legislative leaders rejeCted an initial demand, which would have required a supermajority vote of four-fifths of the Legislature In order for the state to take local dollars during times of fiscal crisis. Republicans and the local governments say they can't accept a Democratic counteroffer, which calls for the two- thirds vote threshold already In place but requires the state to pay any money back within three years and limits such .borrowing to twice in any decade. Local officials offered up a new compromise Thursday morning, but Democratic lawmakers did not embrace it http://www.sacbee.com/content/politics/v-print/story/9933358p- 10855353c.html 7/9/2004 The Sacramento Bee -- sacbee.com -- No budget accord in cards this week' Page 2 of 2 and negotiators from all sides declined to outline the specifics. Both sides urged one another to give up more. "The hay's In the barn," said Fresno Mayor Alan Autry. "The counties and the cities have gotten together what we can accept, and now it's in the hands of the (state) politicians." Democratic lawmakers said they simply would not agree to a provision that-requires more than a two-thirds vote to suspend local government protections - in part because every other interest group, including public schools, would then demand such protection and lawmakers would have their hands tied. N0fiez also suggested that 'local governments are not in a strong' bargaining.position. ~'I think local government leaders need to go back to their districts and to think very clearly through what it is that's on the table, develop a greater appreciation .for it and then let's come back," N6fiez said, About ,the Writer The Bee's Margaret Talev can be reached at (916) 326~5540 or _m_talev~sacbee,¢o_m_. Go to: S.acbee / Back to ~story ~_d.,y._g~i. sg__O_.n!!.9~ I Rrj.v_.._a.c¥_.P_~!i_~y_ I Te_rms_.o__f.U_se. *1 H.~/p I News I Sports I Business I Politics I Op!.n!on I .Entertainment I Lifestylf~ I Tra~e.!. I Women Classifieds I Hom~s I Cars I ]ohs I Shopp!ng G_U-_IDff.~_O T_H_E__BEE_.'. I Sub_~ribe_ I C_0pta_c_t5 I A_d¥_ertise I Bee_ E__v_e__nJ~ I ~o_rn_mu_n_Lty__!nvolvement [ Sacramento Bee Web sites ] Sacb_e_e.,.c~m I ~a_cTicket,r~om I _S~_crame~o~_,c_o_m _Contact sacbee,com This article Is .protected by copyright and should not be .printed or distributed for anything except personal use. The Sacramento Bee, 21_00 Q St., P.O. Box :t5779, Sacramento, CA 95852 Phone: (916) 321-1000 Copyright ©. The. 5pcram.entq.. http://www.sacbec.com/contentYpolitics/v-print/story/9933358p-10855353c.html 7/9/200z BAKERSFIELD FIRE DEPARTMENT M E M O R A N D U.M To: Alan Tandy, City Manager From: Ron Fraze, Fire Chief"'~.~(q~%. Subject: 4th of July Update Date: July 7, 2004 This is a summary of activities and events related to the Bakersfield Fire Department in regards to the 4th Of July holiday. Fireworks went on sale at noon on July 1st citywide. In preparation for the sale of fireworks, our fire prevention division inspected each booth for proper safety features and proper distances. -As a security check, 20 of the booths were randomly tested by our Arson division for selling fireworks to under age minors. Unfortunately, 10% of the booths tested failed and were cited. In reviewing our call volume from July 1 through July 5, there was a significan~ increase over normal volumes. Our dispatch center handled over 1,000 fireworks related calls during this time period. The majority of these calls were within our city limits. This call' volume is nearly double that of an average week. I have attached a'graph as a point of reference. We also had specific troubled areas such as Lake Ming Campgrounds. On the night of July 4th, members of our Arson division, along with County Park Rangers, made a sweep of the Lake Ming campgrounds. There were over 2,000 people using the grounds. During the sweep Various illegal fireworks were confiscated and 8 citations issued. In that area there is a high potential for fire due to the dry vegetation at the park. To assist in the increased call volume, we staffed our 4 squads and had them handle .fireworks complaint calls. In the early evening, responses to these non-emergency calls were taking over 90 min,utes to respond due to the overwhelming requests. Through the evening they wrote 12 citations and numerous illegal fireworks were confiscated. We' had Several significant fires during this time frame as well. Two of the fires were caused by altered legal fireworks. There were also 2 multi-alarmfires on the morning of July 5th which sent one of our firefighters to the hospital. These fires are under inyestigation and it's too early to give definitive causes. The most tragic outcome of this time period was the death of 45 year old Bakersfield resident Raymond Reilly. Mr. Reilly, a father of three, was an innocent bystander killed when a homemade bomb, made from an altered legal firework, blew apart and sent shrapnel into his body, piercing first his chest, then his heart. He was pronounced DOA at Bakersfield Heart Hospital. The basic ingredient for the device that claimed the life of Mr. Reilly wasn't an exotic concoction gleaned from the internet, but was legally purchased here in the City of Bakersfield ... an altered Safe and Sane Piccolo Pete firework. It is.a matter of question whether this tragic event could have been prevented through education. The City of Bakersfield is one of 11.48 cities state-wide that allow the sale and use of "Safe and Sane" fireworks within their jurisdiction. Eight states have banned them outright, six states have partial bans, and over 300 of the cities within the State of California have' followed suit. The trend in California is to eliminate the public use of potential deadly devices. · In 2004, the City of Santa Rosa imposed a city-wide fireworks ban, and experienced a reduCtion in Public service call volume of 60% over this 4th of July holiday compared to the stone time last year. ° About 2/3 of cities in the County of Los Angeles do not permit the use of any type of fireworks within their boundaries,, and communities and counties in and around the Inland Empire are considering their own bans. · There are already geographically-based bans (designed to protect forests and rural areas) in specific portions of Kern County. The Fire Department is tasked with ensuring the safety of our citizens, and charged with assessing fire and medical related threats and passing that inforlnation to our City leaders. By allowing the status quo, we are currently playing the odds. National injury, death, and p[operty damage statistics can be cited at will. But the fact of the matter is that the latest local statistics for the City of Bakersfield are plainly representative 6f why the National Fire Protection Association has worked to ban cOnsumer fireworks since 1910 ... people die because of legally obtained and misused fireworks. Monthly call volume (per 1st week) 2003 900 813 8OO 7OO 575 500 = 480 476 487 495 482 432 · 410 400 388 374 367 300 ~ , JJ , , , , , , , , , 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 ~ Months American Planning Association California Chapter- Central Section June 26, 2004 RECEIVED 'p ler._~ ~ Development Services Planning Division CITY MANAGER'S OF ' : City of Bakersfield 1715 Chester Avenue Bakersfield CA 93301 Dear Mr. MoviuS: Subject: CCAPA Central Section - 2004 Planning Awards Program Congratulations! Your CCAPA Central Section Award Program candidate is a winner. The Northeast Bakersfield Specific Trails and Parks Plan will be honored with an Award of Merit at a July 16th, 2004 Awards Dinner. A reservation sheet is attached. At the Awards Dinner a short slide show with jury comments about your project will be presented. We would also like to hear from you and other project participants to be recognized. We will'be in touch with you soon to discuss the presentation. Sincerely, Deborah Amshoff 2004 CC-APA Central Section Awards Coordinator On behalf of_the 2004_CC-APA Central Section Jury: Michael Cooke, Director, City of Turlock Planning Department Steve Hallam, Director, City of Oakdale Community Development Department Rod Simpson, Director, City of Patterson Planning Department Julie Sterling, Planner, City of Merced Planning Department Central Section - California Chapter American Planning Association 2004 Planning Awards Dinner You are cordially invited to attend a dinner honoring the Central Section's 2004 Award Recipients to be held on Friday, July 16, 2004 - 6:00 pm at the Radisson Hotel (2233 Ventura Street, Downtown Fresno) 2004 Award Recipients: · Kern County Airport Land Use Compatibility Plan: Mojave Airport and Mojave Specific Plan - First Place Award · Northeast Turlock Master Plan- First Place Award · Downtown Design Guidelines/Zoning Regulations, City of Turlock - First Place Award · Northeast Bakersfield Specific Trails and Parks Plan - Award of Merit Reservations due by Tuesday, July 13, 2004 Name: Address: Phone & Email: Dinner Entr6e Choices: Grilted 'Chicken Breast ..... ~ $25 = $ Roast Prime Rib ~ ~ $25 = $ Vegetarian __ ~ $25 = $ TOtal Enclosed $ Dinners include salad or vegetable, potato or pilaf, coffee or tea, and dessert. No- host cocktails will begin at 6:00 pm with dinner at 7:00 pm. Please mail your check, payable to CCAPA Central Section, to: Bruce O'Neal, AICP, 286 W. Cromwell Avenue, Fresno, CA 93711 Phone 559/256-4250 Fax 559/449-2715 boneal~pesc.com ~ \ 't ~ JtJL- 6 Kern Council ~'~ ' of Governments ~ ~ . Notice of Availability Public Notice of Availability of the Draft Destination 2030 Regional Transportation Plan for Kern County June 25, 2004 Kern Council of Governments 1401 19th' Street, Suite 300 Bakersfield, CA 93301 Kern Council of Governments has prepared a Draft Destination 2030 Regional Transportation Plan. The RTP is a long-range regional transportation plan that provides a blueprint to help achieve a coordinated and balanced regional transportation system in the Kern region. A public hearing for this document will be held. July 15 at the Kern Council of Governments' monthly meeting, starting at 7 p.m. In addition, public workshops will be held throughout the County over the next six weeks. Kern COG anticipates adoption of this document at its August 15 monthly meeting. The document is available for review at Kern GOG's website, www. kernco.q.or,q and copies are available by contacting Kern COG staff at 661/861-2191. Please direct written comments to Marilyn Beardslee, Senior Planner, at the above address or by e-mail to 2030rtp~.kernco,q.or,q'. Please include a return address and the name of a contact person in your agency, if appropriate. Marilyn J. Beardslee Destination 2030 RTP Project Manager Kern Council of Governments 1401 19th Street, Suite 300, Bakersfield, California 93301 (66 l) 861-2191 Facsimile (661 ) 324-8215 T~Y (661 ) 832-7433 www. kerncog.org ALAN TANDY MANAGER BAKERSFIELD B A K E R S F I. E L D OFFICE OF THE CITY MANAGER MEMORANDUM July 8, 2004 TO: Honorable Mayor and City Council FROM: (~~a Sm~il~ffice Administrator - Public Relations SUBJECT: Employee Incentive Program The Employee Incentive Committee is happy to provide the list of High Five Award recipients for the second quarter of 2004. The winners of the random drawing are noted in bold. All of these individuals were recognized by their peers, supervisors, or members of the public for exceptional work and/or customer service. Each recipient is automatically inducted into the "High Five Club" for the fiscal year, and is also recognized monthly on each department's communication board and on the City's intranet page. We applaud these individuals for a job well done! Attachments 2004 HIGH FIVE AWARD April Nominee Title Dept Date Nominator Comments 1 Berrigan',"Kim Buyer II Finance 04/13/04 Sharon Yraynor Always happy to accommodate a fellow employee. 2 Blair, Coleen Clerk Typist II Rec & Parks 04/08/04 Sandra Fors~he Pleasant; hard-working; always available for extra duties. 3 Bowers, Guy Craftworker Public Wks 04/07/04 Steve Chavez Rec'd letter of appreciation from citizens for graffiti work. 4 Cacal, Sean Comm Rel Spc Public Wks 04/26/04 Sheena Parrish Great job coordinating Great American Clean-up. 5 Cardoza, Robert Craftworker Public Wks 04/07/04 Steve Chavez Rec'd letter of appreciation from citizens for graffiti work. 6 Duey, Kade Dev Assoc EDCD 04/27/04 Coleen Blair Took time out from his busy schedule to help someone in another department. 7 Findley, Kevin Officer PD 04/20/04 Mary DeGeare Rec'd letter of appreciation from citizen. 8 Frausto, Deanna Clerk Typist PD 04/29/04 Patti Taylor Goes the extra mile to help several details in any way she can. 9 Gholston, Kellie Dispatcher PD 04/19/04 Jodi Kieke-Martine~ Came in on day off and pitched in to help; true team player. 10 lacopetti, Robert Craftworker Public Wks 04/07/04 Steve Chavez Rec'd letter of appreciation from citizens for graffiti work. 11 Jamison, Rebecca BUS. Mgr. Rec & Parks 04/08/04 Sandra Forsythe Continually provides assistance to front staff even when busy with other tasks. 12 Jones, Richard An. Ctrl. Officer PD 04/11/04 Ruth Jones Always goes above and beyond. 13 Kitchen, Paula Clerk Typist PD 04/26/04 Melissa Cejka Assisted with recent audit; very thorough; can always be relied on. 14 Larson, Holly Rec. Supr. Rec & Parks 04/09/04 Sandra Forsythe Awesome team player; always finds the time to help front office staff. 15 Lawrence, Pam Dep. Clerk Clerk 04/23/04 Roberta Gafford Provided additional assistance during Easter week while office was short-staffed. 16 L~/nn, Bryan Captain PD 04/29/04 Mary DeGeare Rec'd letter of appreciation from the Chamber of Commerce. 17 McCormick, Terry Supervisor Rec & Parks 04/27/04 Terri Elison Went the extra mile and shared expertise for aquatic fundraiser. 18 Meeks, Tom Officer PD 04/21/04 Mary DeGeare Rec'd letter of appreciation from citizen. 19 Miller, Brenda Eng. Aide II Public Wks 04/13/04 Para Lawrence Expedite response to records request. 20 Moiica, Maria HR Clerk Clerk 04/23/04 Roberta Gafford Helps othe departments in need; flexible; great customer service. 21 Pacheco, Patricia Clerk Typist I Rec & Parks 04/06/04 Kimberly Aleman Uses her bilingual skills to help out; great customer service. 22 Rec & Parks 04/13/04 Hayward Cox Even with budget shortfalls, department keeps an upbeat attitude. 23 Riddick, Daron Officer PD 04/30/04 Charmaine G. While on light duty, helped out in Traffic office - did a great job. 24 Romine,~Josh Rec. Spec. Rec & Parks 04/28/04 Richter; Haddad Helped out after hours. 25 Taylor, Beigher .Rec. Spec. Rec & Parks 04/19/04 Sally Ihmels Completed new brochure in short period of time; great attitude. 26 Tucker, Shawn Aq. Crd. - T Rec & Parks 04/28/04 Richter; Haddad Helped out after hours. 27 Turner, Keitha Dep. Clerk Clerk 04/23/04 Roberta Gafford Provided additional assistance during Easter week while office was short-staffed. 28 Wade, Destinie Lab Tech PD 04/15/04 Jeff Cecil Assumed additional duties; good work. 29 Webb, Charles Dev. Assoc. EDCD 04/30/04 Helped out after hours. 2004 HIGH FIVE AWARD MAY Nominee Title Dept Date Nominated by Comments I Agerton, Elizabeth Clerk Typist I PD 05/06/04 Tanya Nousch Always goes above and beyond to help others. 2 Alemao, Wes Trades Asst. Rec & Parks 05/06/04 Lee Ochoa Went the extra mile by providing valuable info that will help others in the future. 3 Amos, Bob GIS Supr IT 05/27/04 Ginn¥ Gennaro On short notice, helped outside counsel with large proiect; ~lood customer service. 4 Ayala, Jess Craftworker I Public Wks 05/07/04 Sam Mercado Put in man)/extra hours to help with Maintenance District work. 5 Bell, Kevin Craftworker I Public Wks 05/11/04 Sam Mercado Recentl)/worked man)/hours on different projects; maintained positive attitude. 6 Blair, Coleen Clerk Typist Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out at One Day Registration event. 7 Bla)/, Rand)/ Svc. Maint. Wrkr Public Wks 05/12/04 Ernst; G)/pson Is always available when called upon for assistance. 05/13/04 Tom Jones Alwa)/s willing to do extra work and make sure qualit)/is there. 8 Brandon, Cynthia Dispatcher PD 05/06/04 Tan)/a Nousch Provided necessar~ info during all day DUI checkpoint; added helpful info. 90 Cegielski, Don Officer PD 05/05/04 Mar~ DeGeare Received letter of appreciation from local attorne)/. Clayborn, Cheryl Clerk Typist Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out at One Da)/Registration event. 1 1 Connor, Mike Supervisor Public Wks 05/19/04 Klm Berrigan Took care of a problem within 24 hours of request. 12 Corder, Crai~l Maint. Crftworker Public Wks 05/07/04 Conchita Walker Showed great customer service by listening and fixing a problem. 05/11/04 Sam Mercado Recently worked many hours on different projects; maintained positive attitude. 13 Damo, And)/ Officer PD 05/05/04 Mar~ DeGeare Received letter of appreciation from citizen. 14 Denny, Mike Laborer Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out at One Da)/Registration event. 1 5 Dossey, Rick Officer PD 05/22/04 Anonymous Incredibly helpful; goes above and be)/ond; has a great attitude. 16 Elison, Terri Supervisor Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holl)/Larson Helped out at One Da)/Registration event. 17 Ennis, Tony Sergeant PD 05/22/04 Anonymous Shows kindness, dedication and hard work on the night shift. 1 8 Faulkenberry, Scott Sergeant PD 05/03/04 Mar~ DeGeare Received note of appreciation from local newspaper. 19 Figueroa, Al Pk Svcs Coord. Rec & Parks 05/11/04 Mimi Placencia Offered assistance to help facilitate recruitment. 20 Forsythe, Sandra Secretary Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out at One Da)/Re~listration event. 05/11/04 !Mimi Placencia Level headed attitude during intense hiring for department. 21 Garcia, Rud)/ Laborer Rec & Parks 05/13/04 Tom Jones Took a long time and did a good iob of organizing man)/years of plans. 22 !Garza, Robert Facilit~ Worker Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Lee Ochoa Helped out another crew in Maintenance District. 23 Gonzales, Roy Craftworker I Public Wks 05/07/04 Sam Mercado :Has put in many extra hours on projects; hard worker. 24 Gutierrez, Christine Clerk Typist EDCD 05/04/04 Tricia Richter Efficient; never have to wor~ that she will get the iob done. 25 Haddad, Manar Acct. Clerk EDCD 05/04/04 Tricia Richter Positive attitude; patient; efficient; great to be around. 26 Hall, Roy Dev. Asst. EDCD 05/04/04 Tricia Richter Has guided others through many proiect challenges. 27 Hecht, David Prg / Analyst IT 05/17/04 Cpt. Brown Furthered the goals and productivit7 of PD thru development of a specific web page. 28 Hortter, Tim Prg. Crd. Temp Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out at One Da)/Registration event. 29 Howell, Keith Trades Asst. Public Wks 05/11/04 Sam Mercado Recently worked many hours on different projects; maintained positive attitude. 30 Huddleston, Connie Clerk Typist Public Wks 05/06/04 Terr~ McCormick Consistenly helpful and pleasant. 31 Lawson, Jim Craftworker I Rec & Parks 05/06/04 Lee Ochoa Thorough effort involving repairs of irrigation s)/stem in Maintenance District. 32 Lewis, Irma Clerk Typist PD 05/08/04 24 Hour Desk When help was needed with records duties, she stepped up to help out. 2004 HIGH FIVE AWARD MAY 05/21/04 Lucia Salinas Very helpful; goes the extra mile. 33 Meeks, Tom Officer PD 05/05/04 Mary DeGeare Received letter of appreciation from citizen. 34 Murillo, Henry Laborer Public Wks 05/10/04 Kevin Barnes Noticed a defect that was corrected before it became a problem. 35 Pacheco, Patricia Clerk Typist Rec & Parks 05/11/04 Mimi Placencia Used bilingual skills to help out with recent recuitment. 36 Paggi, Robin HR Analyst. HR 05/11/04 Mimi Placencia Helped out with recruitment process; helped speed thin,Is along. 37 Parks, Jean Secretary CM 05/18/04 John Stinson Team player; used personal time to help out with the bud~let. 38 Pratt, Robert Firefi~lhter .Fire 05/13/04 Dolores Burns Provided invaluable assistance with departmental relocation. 39 Pruett, Kimberly Clerk Typist PD 05/06/04 Tanya Nousch Huge help with 24 hour desk. 05121104 Lucia Salinas Very helpful; goes the extra mile. 40 Racicot, Katherine Prg. Crd. Temp Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out at One Day Registration event. 41 Rawlins, Je$~ica Clerk Typist PD 05/22/04 L. Reitz, T. Nousch Does an outstanding iob; great asset; always has an ea~lerness to learn. 42 Reitz, Linda Clerk Typist PD 05/04/04 Tanya Nousch Always ~loes out of her way to ensure thin,Is work for co-workers. 43 Rene, Kristen Supervisor PD 05/08/04 Anonymous Steps up to the plate to help her employees. 44 Robertson, Mac Prg. Crd. Temp Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out co-workers and public with knowled~le of aquatics. 45 Sawyer, Wily Webmaster IT 05/04/04 Patti Hock Fantastic job on animal control website; easy to work with; wonderful ideas. 05/18/04 Dani Smith Open to helping out; quick to respond. 46 $canlan, Debbie Secretary EDCD 05/04/04 Tricia Richter Goes the extra mile to help fellow employees in a crunch; takes on extra work. 47 Stringer, Aaron PST PD 05/07/04 PD Comm Center Helped out in Comm Center; learned quickly; was a ~lreat asset. 48 Tucker, Shawn Pr~l. Crd. Temp Rec & Parks 05/03/04 Holly Larson Helped out at One Day Registration event. 2004 HIGH FIVE AWARD June Nominee Title Dept Date Nominated by Comments 1 Alemao, Gilbert Supervisor Public Wks 06/03/04 Holly Larson Did a wonderful job preparing the new signs for the McMurtrey Center. 2 Ayala, Jess Maint. Crftwrkr I Public Wks 06/21/04 Rhonda Smiley Great job setting up/taking down of equipment for event openings. 3 Bailey, Lero¥ nhorer (Tempi Rec & Parks 06/24/04 Rec & Parks Volunteered assistance with McMurtrey fundraiser. 4 Bell, Kevin Maint. Crftwrkr I Public Wks 06/21/04 Rhonda Smiley Great job setting up/taking down of equipment for event openings. 5 Coates, John PST PD 06/28/04 Amber Lawrence Rec'd commendation from Division Commander. 6 Connor, Mike Supervisor Public Wks 06/13/04 A. Afflague, K. Hays Always helpful to citizens and fellow employees. 7 Corder, Craig Maint. Crffwrkr I Public Wks 06/21/04 Rhonda Smiley Great job setting up/taking down of equipment for event openings. 8 Crawford, Craig Captain Fire 06/09/04 Tyler Hartley Worked to assist Training Division with construction of a training prop. 9 Darrow, Ron Engineer Fire 06/09/04 Tyler Hartley Worked to assist Training Division with construction of a training prop. 10 Fick, Kelly Secretary II Garden 06/10/04 Rhonda Smiley Is a take charge problem solver; resolved a dilemma in short time. 11 Gonzales, Roy Maint. Crftwrkr I Public Wks 06/21/04 Rhonda Smiley Great job setting up/taking down of equipment for event openings. 12 Haslebacher~ Martha Supervisor Public Wks 06/24/04 Rec & Parks Volunteered assistance with McMurtrey fundraiser. 13 Hock, Patti Secretary PD 06/25/04 David Lyman Cooperative and welcome attitude; left an outstanding impression. 14 Koerner, Chance Officer PD 06/02/04 Patti Hock Helped another employee on his day off. 15 Lencioni~ Mike Firefighter Fire 06/09/04 Tyler Hartley Worked to assist Training Division with construction of a training prop. 16 Lewis, Irma Clerk Typist PD 06/11/04 DMV Reco~lnized for intra-agency cooperation. 17 Lynch, Tim Captain Fire 06/09/04 Tyler Hartley Worked to assist Training Division with construction of a training prop. 18 McCormick, Terry Supervisor Rec & Parks 06/16/04 Holly Larson Played a major roll in the success of the McMurtrey fundraiser. 19 Mercado, Sam Supervisor Public Wks 06/21/04 Rhonda Smiley Coordinated setting up/taking down of equipment for event openings. 20 Molina, Frank Firefighter Fire 06/09/04 Tyler Hartley Worked to assist Training Division with construction of a training prop. 21 Ortiz, Martin Assoc. Planner Dev. Svcs 06/15/04 Alan Tandy Put forth a lot of time and effort coordinating key actions in annexation. 22 Powers, Amy Clerk Typist PD 06/29/04 Claudia Payne Considerate of others; great exampled of dedicated employee. 23 Silvius, Steve Engineer Fire 05/14/04 Susan C, Kirk B Donates many hours to the Fire Service public education. 24 Sloan, Edgar Engineer Fire 06/09/04 Tyler Hartley Worked to assist Training Division with construction of a training prop. 25 Spina, Jeff Firefighter Fire 06/09/04 Tyler Hartley Worked to assist Training Division with construction of a training prop. 26 West~ Krista Dispatcher PD 05/29/04 Kristie Allison Paid attention to detail, which aided officers' pursuit.