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- Where's Jimmy V?
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- Wavelength Season 3
- City Council Annual Budget Study Session Meeting #1
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- @the corner of fassler/roberts road
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98 comments:
Grrreeaatt! Now let those egos at city hall start doing the job they've been paid to do. Make the tough decisions and don't spend more money than we have. The people have spoken loud and clear.
Was City Attorney Cecilia Quick's photo on any of those cool mailers and doorknob hangers? I ask because the mayor says Quick's job is in danger. No mention of firefighters. I'm shocked and dismayed by this callous treatment of our city attorney...bet she is too. What, no poison pill?
the people spoke loud and clear with the ill advised sales tax, but council did not listen then.
Sometimes you've got to repeat yourself. There's enough voter outrage on tap to fuel "dialogue" for years. Let's hope it results in real change and growth in Pacifica.
Thanks to Lionel for passing along the news I tweeted at 5:45p.m. I just updated Pacifica Patch's story with comment from Councilman Stone and City Manager Rhodes: http://pacifica.patch.com/articles/votes-for-fire-supression-assessment-tax-are-in
Thanks Camden.
I wonder if the city will even go through with the next attempt at a tax increase?
Congratulations! Pacificans are waking up. Enough is enough. Now we need to fight the sewer fee. It is crazy that empty lots have to pay too. When there is nothing "NADA "to dump.
This city is going crazy. It is time that city attorney and city manager get a part time job. Because Pacifica doesn't produce nothing "NADA".
Nadayadayada. Terrific! The empty lot owners can lead the charge against the sewer tax. Beyond the rhetoric the protest has to be in writing. 51% is the magic number I think. Yeah, it's an outrageous process designed to screw the property owner. Go get 'em!
Going to need that city manager to keep council focused and moving as we get leaner and meaner. Growth is not going to come overnite in this economy but we need to be ready and willing from the top. As Rhodes said after the count "We've got our marching orders". Pay off the city attorney's $100,000 plus severance package and try contracting the legal work and see if we can save a few bucks. That's already been looked at so should be able to move ahead unless that severance number has grown into a poison pill.
Given the work load ahead we need all 5 councilmembers on the job. I think job #1 for our city manager is to make that happen and to be open and honest within legal limits with the voters about the situation. Enough of this no show crap!
If senior staff are going to continue to hide behind the Finance Committee as Mayor Mary Ann has been doing during this recent tax season then it's clear we need to replace Steve Rhodes who is not managing our business and also end the experiment started by former interim city manager Bill Norton of combining the Finance Director position with the Human Resources position and let Ann Ritzma go and replace her with a real honest to God qualified Financial Director.
Letting Cecilia go would be a huge mistake bordering on negligence as she has shepherd us through some very nasty law suits brought by very nasty people and firms. If Cecilia is let go I strongly feel we should retain the full time position of City Attorney. We are a small coastal town that needs in house representation, supplemented by outside specialists.
Letting anyone from within the Public Works Department (road crews, sewer crews and tree cutters) go would also be negligent as these folks are the ones who are really doing work, every day compared to say firefighters that service one or two non fire related medical emergencies a day bringing scores of personnel and equipment to a call better serviced by a single EMT crew and a single EMT bus.
If city management is going to start shedding non essential jobs I would suggest they focus on the Fire and Police departments.
Of course The easiest thing to do would be scaled wage cuts. Everyone takes them, no one loses their jobs. However as we have now seen senior staff has no imagination of their own beyond a general CYA routine and our current city council, God love them, are deferring way to much to senior staffs uninspired guidance.
THE PEOPLE HAVE SPOKEN!!!!
Todd, the only thing Cecila, has done is open up the rolodex and call outside council for the city lawsuits
Tax payer, that's how the office of a city attorney works for a city this size with complex legal issues, ie, land use. Sort of like your internist sending you to a neurologist for persistent headaches. Specialists. And not every attorney is a litigator. With or without Ms. Quick on the payroll we'll still need legal advice and representation and it won't be cheap.
Depends on what's brewing I guess as to whether contracting that job would save money or cost us more. Might be smarter to replace her with a city attorney with a strong land use background.
Everyone that voted against it should waive their right to fire protection - be a libertarian and buy buckets!
"...some very nasty law suits brought by very nasty people and firms."
Todd most of these lawsuits were caused by this city, and the cost of continuing was driven up by city legal-- at the direction of???
Then, sometimes fire personnel with paramedics are needed, or firefighters get there first. And, firefighters assist in timely, emergency care. Anyhow this is the "reason based" law.
It seems to me Steve Rhodes is doing his job, and Mayor Mary Ann Nihart is carrying more than her share. The other councilmembers, not so much (Stone is still given a pass, he's new).
The ongoing underlying economic problem in this city is not enough money. Your view seems to be to cut further into an already "at risk" city (from my view).
Let's see, the reason the citizens Finance Committee was needed in the first place is because economic development growth did not happen. Therefore, the solution is more taxes and fees. But, most of us do not want to pay additional taxes and fees, so what's the solution? No solution? Then, more city deterioration, and more "at risk" opportunities.
Todd. You are so right about the task force. Those poor people had no idea they would be blamed for so much by so many so often. Run people run. There they go, wave byebye.
A real finance director would be great. The previous one was terrific but too honest and outspoken and maybe a little naive for city hall. Poor girl just couldn't sing the "come on get happy" song so out she went (knife in back) leaving us as the economy crashed with an HR/Finance hybrid who can't seem to do either job well but she has a lovely singing voice. Now would be the right time to undo that mess and move forward with a real finance director. Live without HR or contract it out.
The new Pacifica Braintrust is all over this
Meeh, Sinai and Bray..
Thanks "Braintrust", too bad you seemingly don't have a real name, observation, or opinion-- otherwise you could join the conversation too.
@Steve: "I wonder if the city will even go through with the next attempt at a tax increase?"
It's hard to tell with the utility user tax because that's still 2 years away. This defeat certainly won't bolster the city's confidence, however. I suppose it will depend on how deep it thinks cuts will go at that time without some revenue through taxes.
Todd Bray states we should keep tree trimmers but make cuts in fire and police.I know he would scream if his house was robbed or he had a heart attack and the paramedcs were too slow to save him.Wake up and realize unless something is built in the quarry we are in big trouble. Todd, you are against widening the highway and having things in the quarry.Get real and again doesn't your wife work for the City of San Jose?How much did she cut back on her salary?Police and fire are not going to be cut and the city mgr has already taken a cut.Isn't is possible he knows more than you about city politics?Thank your friends dejarnatt,digre and vreeland for the spot we are in.
"Wake up and realize unless something is built in the quarry we are in big trouble." We are in big trouble NOW. It will take years for anything to be built in the quarry, if ever. Any revenue from that is a looooong time away. Wake up and realize that is not a solution to the current budget problem. Severe cuts must be made now, including layoffs.
"Police and fire are not going to be cut." They HAVE to be cut. They are the biggest portion of the budget. You can't make up the $2 million deficit without cutting police and fire. That means layoffs. Get real. Read a city budget. Figure out where you can cut $2 million.
tree trimmers are important. without them, the tree falls, possibly kills. the death calls for police and firemen on site. coroner, etc.etc.
Public Workers are the first line in defense in cutting down costs. Pacifica has the best.
Top Brass needs to be cut back, cut costs.
When we have our City Managers and Top Brass making more then our Federal Judges, Houston we have a problem.
Don't blame it on the little guy, blame the voters, who elect the big spenders, who encourage the unions to ask for the world. Look in the mirror. Who do you see? The Voter.
Don't blame the little guy.
The fire tax was another excuse to infuse the city "general fund" with cash, same "economic plan" for the past 8 years. It isn't working. Time to try something else.
We also know city council did not support building the quarry 2x in 8+ years (and building the quarry would have fixed our current and ongoing cash problem from 2002). Time to try pro-economy city councilmembers-- way past due on that one!
How about the city spending money to actually "welcome developers", rather than doing everything possible to skunk them-- rather than buying consultants to further tax (or fee) its citizens, mainly property owners?
Anonymous, safety issues? Yes, Public Works employees are important, so are Police, Firefighers, Teachers, etc. Choosing the right city councilmembers to assure this city stays safe is paramount. That didn't happen.
Putting together a citizen Financial Taskfoce cya flatline committee, rather than urgently moving this city forward is "priceless".
Perhaps if the DPW workers would just go off the clock when they are sleeping in their trucks the City could save millions. Just sayin'...
seems the person who is costing the city the most money these days is vreeland. between ill advised consultants, skipping meetings, and sham development ideas, he has probably cost the city millions of dollars during his time in public office. stop the bleeding, impeach vreeland. and take dejarnatt and his 7 million reserve with him.
Kathy, you must at some point come to terms with the regulatory issues surrounding the quarry and that the voters shot down housing in the quarry, not development, but housing in two separates votes for Measures E and L. The council had nothing to do with either other than the Carr/Gonzalves/Hilton majority approving a program EIR, not a project EIR but a program EIR for Measure E.
You must remember Tim Tosta's report at the Pedro Point Fire House meeting. He said quite clearly that if everyone followed the rules, meaning no political hanky panky at the local, state and federal level, there would be no project in the quarry under current law. Tim Tosta, one of California's supposedly best land use attorney's was paid for by the quarry's former owner to tell you that. You must remember.
I was at Barry Swenson Builders a few weeks ago trying to talk them out of buying the quarry and as it happened Tim Tosta had called a short time before I arrived. I would hate to see an East Coast private hedge fund saddle BSB, a local business, with an undevelopeble property. Having said that I think BSB would be a great company to develop the quarry if anything was ever to be built there. BSB does great work, but the quarry is a 15 year to 25 year permitting journey if you include the various law suits it will no doubt encounter. That's just too long to expect any short term benefits to the city or the RDA.
And as to Steve Rhodes' quarry resolution through the EDC to the council well that is largely moot and will most assuredly land the city in hot water with a large proportion of us residents if the city ever did go to bat for a quarry developer with the CCC or USFWS.
The only short term solution is to get rid of Steve and Ann, have scaled pay cuts throughout all city departments and hire a real Financial Director.
Todd Bray,again doesn't your wife work for the City of San Jose?What was her pay cut?You have some nerve going to Barry Swenson to say not to buy the quarry.You the same person who got kicked off the planning commission for talking out of turn.You the person who does not want to widen the highway?Don't talk out of both sides of your mouth.Get rid of quick,the person who never saw a lawsuit she couldn't farm out to another firm and hire a firm in her place.The city mgr got these people.Let him bring in his own team.
"You must remember Tim Tosta's report at the Pedro Point Fire House meeting. He said quite clearly that if everyone followed the rules, meaning no political hanky panky at the local, state and federal level, there would be no project in the quarry under current law. Tim Tosta, one of California's supposedly best land use attorney's was paid for by the quarry's former owner to tell you that. You must remember."
my good friend mister bray forgot to add my tag line after these comments: "not intended to be a factual statement."
"I was at Barry Swenson Builders a few weeks ago trying to talk them out of buying the quarry.."
Wow Todd, you "no growthers" are rabid. "Nothing for Pacifica", and you don't want to pay-up with taxes either. Truly this is a "lose, lose" for the city. What are you thinking? The quarry property in question is 88 acres (limestone, greenstone, dumped dirt), its a 25 year blighted redevelopment property. Quarry's elsewhere get built. This one can get build too.
Like you, city council 4 (Vreeland, Digre, DeJarnatt, Lancelle) were against developing the quarry 2x, and that had nothing to do with regulations (the process hadn't happened). A case could be made that some of the wetlands on that property were artificially created by the city (potential lawsuit against the city).
You were complaining about Mark Stechbart and Jim Wagner gaming their causes (for which I agree), but I think you are now "scapegoat" the city manager, because he dared to suggest partnering with the quarry property owner, and advancing the regulatory process.
True, city council in a "cost saving measure" about 3 years ago got rid of the City Finance Director, who increased a bunch of city fees, and supported city economic development, including development of the quarry. And, without city council pro-economy leadership majority (such as past city councilmembers Carr, Gonsalves, Hinton which you mentioned)-- the "no growth dog and pony" show continues. I do remember the Tim Tosta report at the Pedro Point Firehouse meeting several years ago. He said "Peebles Corporation has obtained permission from the State of CA to resurface their quarry property."
"Something in the quarry". Sure, perhaps a decade from now, if ever. And the multiple regulatory issues guarantee the decision and outcome won't solely be up to Pacifica. And the longterm fiscal impact of our mythical "something in the quarry" is completely unknown. This is not an immediate or even sure-fire fix to insolvency. This city simply spends too much money providing services to the current residents. The majority of us voted for cuts. Get on with it. Blue collar? White collar? No sacred cows. And release the "no show councilmember" pronto as a charitable act.
Oh play nice. Todd got mad at Rhodes when he was given bad info about the fire tax ballot process.
It was obvious in his posts here and on Riptide. He wants him gone. He was momentarily dazzled by one of Ritzma's explanations of something or other (fire dept OT, I think). Then the spell wore off and now he wants her gone. Toddy, Toddy, Toddy. Don't make it personal.
Anon @ 4:08... are we married? You sound just like..... (shiver) advise taken, moving on.
Rhodes is one of the more competent people at City Hall, and it would be a huge mistake to get rid of him. He does come off as pro-economic development, so that may be the underlying reason Todd is unhappy with him.
I also think the DPW workers do a great job. I watched them unclog the sewer in front of my house a while back, and they were very conscientious and detailed. We were talking about city issues, and I got a kick out of their contempt for the local hippies.
We are so thrilled at having Todd Bray, Mr. Pacifica, in our office. We might just hire him.
Such a man of vast knowledge.
You people in Pacifica, are so happy to have him!!!
Yes, actually we are.
get real people! what has changed in pacifica in the last 15 years? whooo boy a walgreens and a fresh and easy! meanwhile 40 other businesses have dried up and blown away (pacifica lumber anyone?), 3 department heads were fired and successfully sued the city, no library, no dog park, no development at the quarry or poop plant . . . and those filthy sewer pipes on the beach say it all.
who has been in charge the whole time? hint, 3 of the ding dongs that keep getting re-elected.
Rhodes gets it. He has to work well with council but he's been around the track enough to know what that's about and how careful he has to be. Couldn't pay me enough for that job.
Let's see what he does with these cuts. One thing he does need to do is handle the Vreeland problem. Maybe he's doing so and is bound by confidentiality rules on a personnel matter but please Steve, just give us a sign that this is being addressed. Public trust involved. Genuine sympathy for Jim and his problem but enough already. Make the move.
I like DPW too but no sacred cows. None.
Vreeland's MIA routine makes the other 4 look good. So little does. Do you think they're enjoying the spotlight?
Anon 521. Re-elected 2 or 3 times. Somebody must be voting for them. Probably half the people complaining on here. 2/3rds.
How low the mighty have fallen. After turning up our noses at development for decades sounds like we'd welcome just about anything built anywhere. Oops, what am I thinkin'? Must be giddy at the prospect of revenue. This is still Pacifica and there's still that hand-picked bunch of process-lovin' old hippies on the planning commission. We'll get back to you about that paint color and porchlight style. And those parking spaces just ain't feng shui
enough.
Kathy, I've known about BSB interest in the quarry for almost a year now. A friend of ours is a key player in the deal and I was voicing my concerns as a friend. BSB are grown ups. If BSB moves forward I've promised not to be involved in any LOCAL battles but I will continue to speak to my friend directly regardless of whatever comes of this. The quarry is a bum deal, as the previous owner found out, and I would not be a very good friend if I didn't show BSB why I think they should walk away.
I'm sorry if you feel I'm short changing you. That not withstanding please reread my post and try to understand the meaning and intent of it through my eyes.
"The quarry is a bum deal" . . . wonder who has made it that way . . .
Uh, the State and feds through their various enviro agencies have been in functional control of the quarry since the 70's. Certainly that old pre-crash development model of single dwellings is no longer smart. Home ownership is not everyone's dream anymore. Realtor's dream, yes certainly. Doubtful, but certainly not impossible, that anything of any real economic value will ever be built. What Pacifica , our newly pro-development Pacifica, wants is not going to be the deciding factor. The process would take the better part of a decade. Opposition will be fierce...In case you haven't noticed the radical enviro movement is in high gear in CA. In any event, the quarry plays an important role in Pacifica. Squabbles over it can be counted on to take the attention off of waste and suicidal fiscal policy at city hall. Why not really improve some of the existing and shabby retail space around town? Pursue the quarry thing but also build on what we have. How about senior housing in the quarry? Lower impact, high demand, subsidies available. No, easier to fight over something largely beyond our control.
Anon @ 6:50, pro business Richard Nixon made it that way.
My hero. Nixon, not you Bray. If Nixon pushed it you know the business opps were rich and crooked. Of course the enviro movement is big business and it attracts big crooks. Nothing but a scam from phony recyclers to sleaze lawyers. An environment rich in bottom-feeders and the starry-eyed fools we have so many of in Pacifica. At least Nixon looked like a crook.
727, sure, fill-in the empty store fronts one at a time, but why stand in the way of a reliable builder developing the quarry? 25 years of lost redevelopment revenue, jobs, services is a luxury this city has never been able to afford-- yet that is what has happened.
Todd, as you have suggested Barry Swenson Builder would be a good, reliable, quality developer for the quarry. If Swenson will build, this is an opportunity this city should take advantage of, so behave. Maybe explain "bum deal" (if you want to).
I'll re-read what you said, but to my knowledge Peebles Corporation did not think developing the quarry was a "bum deal" even after Measure L. City council subcommittee (Vreeland, Lancelle), city legal and the Pacificans for (No) Sustainable Development "plan" overlay, however, were the ultimate forces of turn-off from this city.
Todd, you did not "short change" me, but I am tired of this city being short-changed.
No not one store front at a time. Make a real change. Opening more mom and pops isn't going to help this town other than for variety. Ratty shopping centers are rebuilt and revitalized all the time. Why not here? We've got several. All with hiway 1 frontage. Find a developer, facilitate a deal and really change the look of this dump of a town. Make sure to protect the existing tenants but think bigger than the one store front at a time approach. And again if a smart development is proposed, the real obstacle to developing the quarry isn't going to be from Pacifica. Times have changed. It will be the Feds and State and the radical enviros that want it all. Like Plater and ilk. We can argue over what smart development is but these days it means more big retail and services than houses. Big demand for apartments, too, in our new world.
Wonder what the quarry would look like about now if Peebles had built. It would be half built homes and store fronts and a failed project. Unprofitable and unfinanceable. You can find several in CA that started in the same time period. Beautiful projects with stores, restaurants, and homes. Pffft when the bottom fell out.
935, now you're working the proposed City "general plan". That's good too. And develop the quarry.
946, thanks for the negative, nightmare scenario, but the single family homes were planned to be build last. If the project was fully through the regulatory process and building now: highway 1 traffic would be low (as it is now), construction workers would be working, the city would have a better economy. So half built would be good. Eventually the village would be complete, and we would all have another neat place to hang-out.
Then, when the housing units were completed (apartments, condos, and single family residential) the city would comply with its ABAG requirement to build 311 housing units. Don't you feel better now?
537, maybe you think you're on Riptide, but I don't think 2/3rds of people who post comments here on Fix Pacifica are voting to re-elect Vreeland, DeJarnatt or Digre.
Kathy. You're a dreamer. That nightmare scenario could very well have been ours. Peebles is too savvy a developer to have got stuck in this mess. He would have cut his losses (that's us) and sailed off to DC for power breakfast at the White House. Don't take this as being against building in the quarry 'cause I'm not but we dodged a bullet there. The next project has to be right for the times we're living in and the city. Not worth a few temp construction jobs and real estate commissions to rush into a bad plan.
"The next project has to be right for the times we're living in and the city."
Of course nothing that ever gets proposed will meet your criteria for "right for the times we're living in and the city," will it?
Just like the Pacificans for Sustainable Development. Nothing proposed ever seems to be "sustainable" enough for their liking.
"..nothing that ever gets proposed will meet your criteria..."
How does that go Steve? "We like the project, just not this project, in this location, in this city."
And besides Anon 10:42pm says its a "bad plan"? What plan would that be Anon? Then comes the possibility someone could make a profit for the work they do? Eh gad, the rubbish begins before the sale. Just wondering if you would like to pay the overhead for this city Anon?
Hey! There's no need for name calling. "My criteria", is it? You wanna ignore the realities, you go right ahead. But I have no problem with carefully considered decisions meant to maximize the return on investment for Pacifica. I'd like to see a few around here.
Not in the quarry. Not in your lifetime.
Anon, something about the limestone you love and want to keep pristine? What's your complaint?
Personally I hate rocks, trees and grass. And large open spaces make me itch. Seriously, I'm not saying the quarry shouldn't be developed.Quite the contrary. I wish it could be, with nice big retail and family restaurants and I liked the earlier idea of senior housing a lot. A lot of people would come, spend their money, tell others, etc. I'm just saying what a few others have rightfully pointed out. It probably cannot be developed in a meaningful way because of the multiple agency oversight, Fed and State. Don't mean to rain on anybody's parade but that's reality. Not negativity. Certainly keep on trying but don't pin all our hopes on it.
"Hey! There's no need for name calling."
I'm sorry, Anon. It was pretty low of me to associate you with Pacificans for Sustainable Development.
Yes, it certainly was. You really know how to hurt a poster. Apology accepted but, oh, the horror of it all.
I talked to Steve Rhodes this morning. I called to ask what was his favorite donut as I wanted to drop off a post results no hard feelings gift of a dozen of Mazzetti's best. He simply said he doesn't eat donuts. I asked if there was a consensus among City Hall staff and he again said no. I asked if I should bother bringing anything over at all and he again said no.
Who says no to free donuts and who says no to free donuts for his crew?
He certainly doesn't mind taking home $197,000 a year of public money, why stop at a few dollars worth of donuts offered as a goodwill gesture from a member of the public? He could have accepted the donuts in the spirit in which they were offered and just left them out on the counter for his staff or the public. What's it to him?
Is Steve that petty? Or did he think I was mocking him? In any event I feel I made a good faith gesture.
OMG Todd. You think a dozen donuts is going to get rid of the hard feelings? NO -- Steve Rhodes is not petty.
But you are socially BLIND to say the least.
You have spent weeks publicly harassing Mr. Rhodes online -- I think you said he was incompetent and should be fired. You think donuts are enough. How about a sincere apology AND a mea culpa (e.g. "I was wrong")?
And then your response to his declining your offer of donuts is what is petty. I think you should seek professional help.
"I wanted to drop off a post results no hard feelings gift of a dozen of Mazzetti's best."
Todd, Mazzetti's or not, its still you (the opponent) handing the offender (the city) the "no sale tax booby prize", while not offering "the olive branch" to support economic development in this city.
The reason Steve Rhodes makes the "big bucks" is that his practical "mission impossible" is to do what he can to Fix Pacifica. This effort is not made easy by those who support our neglected city economic history.
Steve Rhodes may be the perfect "common sense" referee/decision maker for ol' dysfunctional/broke Pacifica. And, I'm still wondering how the city council that appointed him got that one right. If he were a charity, rather than overseeing a charity, I'd consider sending him a contribution (LOL).
You are a bad boy Todd, but I still have belief that the good angel that sits on your other shoulder will prevail-- and this city will get fixed.
Anon 10:23, I totally agree. Mr. Bray, I recommend you stay away from donuts!
Maybe you should have tried asking him to the Sadie Hawkins dance.
Oh cry me a river folks.
I'm not sure that you understand what that phrase means... We should actually be saying that to you.
Scotty, dude, be a man and step out of the anonymous closet.
Todd, you have called the City Manager a liar and said that he should be fired. You're lucky he even spoke to you on the phone. Are you that dense that you expect him to welcome you with open arms because you offered him a donut? His staff that you want to give donuts to might have their hours cut or be layed off and Ann Ritzma is right next door and you want her fired to. What the hell is wrong with you? Are you socially retarded? Steve makes $197,000 a year to run this City. You continually write or blog how inept he is but are upset he won't share a donut with you. Get a life or maybe get a job so you can get out in the real world of self sufficiency and stop interferring in matters you think you know everything about.
I like Steve Rhodes and I think he does a good job.
The sick thing is, that vindictive little freaks like Vreeland and deJarnatt can fire him if he doesn't hold the party line.
Hurry get this Council straightened out.
Fire the deadbeat no show.
Elect a replacement who has some common sense.
Turn the screws way up on deJarnatt and Digre.
End our dependance on welfare.
Take back Pacifica.
11:40pm, 12:17pm. "Cry me a river": 1) tears, or 2) whining.
Todd. You blew it. Your criticisms of Steve Rhodes were over the line because they took on a personal edge. Your conscience bothered you.
Remorse. That's good. But Steve doesn't have to help you feel better. Leave it alone. Don't be petulant. Keep it civil and don't make it personal. Let him do the job he's got to do.
And now for a moment of levity, anonymous @ April 13, 2011 8:57 AM said...
"With or without Ms. Quick on the payroll we'll still need legal advice and representation and it won't be cheap.... Might be smarter to replace her with a city attorney with a strong land use background."
I nominate Brent Plater!!!!! Just kidding!!!!
incorrectly posted on where is Vreeland
Well, last night's budget session was a start. Reality is setting in.
Council's salaries and all benefits have to go. Certainly salary and benefits get cut for anyone who doesn't show up.
Councilman DeJarnett was wrong--this tax had nothing to with the fire dept. The fire dept was window dressing--political cover-- for a tax designed to loosen up $1M in the general fund for the council to spend on anything they liked. Net gain to the fire dept. was zero.
Mr. DeJarnett thinks the voters support cutting the fire dept. in the face of this tax defeat. That is wrong headed as well. As one who voted NO, I support keeping the fire dept intact and cutting elsewhere.
After, what, eight years of structural deficits Vreeland, Digre and DeJarnett tolerated without making the tough decisions, newcomer Len Stone is struggling with an actual balanced budget. Good for him. He can count.
The solution is a council adopted roadmap for a local economy. Not talking about it, an adopted policy. Again, the council 3 tolerated a vacant hole in the ground old sewer plant. Palmetto has not been revitalized into a town center.
The lesson here is dithering at council gets us into a terrible economic black hole.
Yes almost every other calif town and the state are in the same boat, but in large part Pacifica's mess is one that the council has made much worse.
Cecilia will fight. Smack down!! Plater vs. Quick in the center ring.
Bill it as "The Quick and the Dead" . I'd pay to see that. Hmmm...Pacifica's money woes could be over. Just need a big enough venue for the crowds.
Mike et al, please explain just what it is you think Rhodes is doing, beyond paying your ambitions lip service, that makes him an effective city manager, because I honestly don't see it. I see him hiding behind appointed committees, I see him hiding behind consultants, I see him misrepresenting information, I see him not being open about issues that I know he's familiar with because I know the other parties involved who have told me personally they know him well even though Steve denies knowledge of them. I see him rigging, or more correctly tying, the city's hands when it comes to future land use issues. And that's just a few things.
Just what do you think Steve is doing that makes him worth keeping?
Bray seems to think Rhodes is the manager of City Council. Wasn't he recently criticizing Wagner and Stechbart for "not knowing how things work"?
I think Steve Rhodes is one of the best City Managers around. He came into this City trying to cleanup the mess Tanner left behind and has worked well with all the groups in town. He has facilitated free exchange, even if he doesn't agree, and freely speaks his mind. People in town always want to have their say and now that there is a committee for everything, you say Steve is hiding behind them. Relax Todd and let things play out.
Todd, give it a rest. Sounding kind of "Born Again and Pissed".
Anon@2:49. Council loves a committees anytime anything is the least bit controversial or heavy because it gives them scapegoats and partners. It's not leadership and rarely is it even an honest effort at community involvement. Got problems? Tough decisions to be mad? Issues that might cost you votes? Form a committee.
Okay.
Barry Swensons office says they have nothing that you came down there and talking to them about buying the quarry.
I call BS..
You lost what little credibility you had!!!
pager. Did you talk to Todd's pal? I think that is who he claimed to have spoken with. Do you need that name for your quest? I call BS.
Someone posting as PAGING TODD BRAY says I lost credibility? Sweet!
Todd, one difference is that "Paging Todd Bray" has only a fictional name, with a generalized statement, which may or may not carry SOME or NONE credibility and/or validity.
I'm taking YOU at your word. Commenting with a real name is part of the complication in having the courage to stand-up as such, but its worth doing.
Except when you admittedly sometimes post under a fake name.
Except for these bold comments Todd posted under real name, so credit due.
But, if Todd starts attacking his own comments under a fake name, that may be a different issue.
"What do you think Steve is doing that makes him worth keeping?" Well, not taking your donuts was a pretty good move.
He turned down a raise he was entitled to a couple of years ago.
Kathy, calm down, why would I post under a different name to attack my own comments? I don't understand the premise. I thought it extremely funny that an anonymous poster says I have no credibility. Nothing more.
Paul et al on reflection it was an insensitive offer on my part to Rhodes whatever my motivation was this morning.
Yes he did Steve. Anon at 2:49 and 2:54 have offered me solid advise which I will follow. Let the city folk do their job, it is not pretty and they know it.
A Hallmark moment right here on Fierce Pacifica.
It's a beautiful world.
"..if Todd starts attacking his own comments under a fake name, that may be a different issue."
Of course Todd, the statement is ridiculous. That was the only point I was trying to make. Didn't add one of those "LOLs", which I'm not particularly fond of. In the future I'll try to be more clear with other clues.
My version of "a Hallmark moment" Anon 957.
Here's another Hall Mark moment. Camden wrote a great article covering last nights finance meeting. I couldn't make it because of a last minute emergency but I felt I was at the meeting none the less. And Steve Rhodes along with senior staff have done a great job laying out the fixes, painful though they be. Great Job Steve Rhodes et al.
That's the spirit! It's only fair to let them try to do what we've so clearly told them to do.
And really, who else is going to do it? Keep a good thought, watch closely, support their efforts and blow the whistle if they falter in their duty.
Having read through the salary sheets online its clear the city has plenty of money to pay staff if staff want to get realistic and not be selfish or greedy. With over 80 people earning over $100,000 a year it's clear a little give and take between employees would save everyones job.
My apology to Steve was more of a recognition of the job he is doing. I "regret" calling for his head but I am still upset that the community was put through the drama of another tax measure when it's clear there is plenty of money to go around to pay all our employee's and a little give and take is all it will take to keep everyone employed.
I worked side by side for almost 2 years with a city employees and staff on the beach restoration project. The shared sacrifice by our DPW employee's was something I saw every day. It is inspiring. I believe the employee's will come around to the idea of scaled pay cuts to save their co-workers.
Todd, they better do it fast or some will be joining the ranks of all those good people for whom there was no public appeal, no one to champion their cause or speak out about their value.
Nothing but a pink slip.
Amen Anonymous
Interesting article that shows why the "these guys make too much money" argument is overly simplistic and disconnected from the real world (note the two Pacifica transfers):
http://www.baycitizen.org/policing/story/lateral-academies-offer-affordable/
The market always trumps what self-styled experts decide that people should be paid.
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