tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post9135376080188539581..comments2023-11-28T20:40:14.193-08:00Comments on Fix Pacifica: Regular City council meeting Monday April 25, 2011; Budget workshop #2, Wednesday April 27, 2011Fix Pacificahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/14451072441256706977noreply@blogger.comBlogger54125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-65008652629343849172011-05-06T01:51:32.722-07:002011-05-06T01:51:32.722-07:00OK, thanks for clarifying the situation. I thought...OK, thanks for clarifying the situation. I thought years ago either before or during the construction of the PBR&H he was mentioned, I finally unlazied myself enough to at least do a shallow google search of what I thought was a connection and only came up with what appears to be an ancient blog...but there weren't blogs when this particular article was published. http://news.pacificapier.com/wp/?p=133<br /><br />Only one more definitely off-topic thing to ask about: The amount of pit bulls on the beach running off-leash. <br /><br />Yeah I know there's a whole bunch of people ready to leap to the defense of the breed-and I don't want to hear the endless lectures about 'Oh it's how they are raised, I know this guy and his dog is great..' whatever.<br />Someone makes a choice to have a dog like that, fine, this is America, great-I made a choice to have kids and when they were infants, I didn't bring them to movies and nicer restaurants so as not to infringe on others, which is what I feel is happening- and even if I brought the kids, people might find them a nuisance, but they wouldn't worry about being attacked. We should be able to use the beach without having to deal with breeds of dogs known for aggression roaming around. <br /><br />From what I looked up, dogs are supposed to be on leash except at Esplanade. I'm not going up to the owners, the police can do that. Usually I do like to deal with people directly instead of getting The Man involved, but I don't know these owners, they aren't my meighbors, it's not going improve matters or even change anything for me to talk to the dog owners and I just plain don't want to deal with them. I'm not scared however, to approach an officer and talk to them about this, and I think I am going to the next chance I get.<br /><br />You bet I'm afraid, that's the whole point of this screed. Me and my family trying to enjoy the beach: Losing Pit-bull owners from wherever on beach : winning!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-37289867190601151672011-05-05T14:39:10.408-07:002011-05-05T14:39:10.408-07:00And if the guy is lucky, he won't have any con...And if the guy is lucky, he won't have any connection to Pacifica's infamous quarry.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-85936982685011975162011-05-05T13:48:08.781-07:002011-05-05T13:48:08.781-07:00To Anon @ 12:38
No. The owner/builder of the Pacif...To Anon @ 12:38<br />No. The owner/builder of the Pacifica Beach Resort & Hotel is Paul Chakkapark (spelling?), who previously owned Humphrey's restaurant on Palmetto. Barry Swenson is a San Jose based developer - who once had an interest in the old waste water treatment plant on Palmetto. Other than that tenuous Palmetto Avenue link, I know of no connection.Laurie Fraternoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-77920429425982024362011-05-05T13:45:32.390-07:002011-05-05T13:45:32.390-07:00I believe Swenson has made an offer on the quarry,...I believe Swenson has made an offer on the quarry, but doesn't own it.<br /><br />I've never heard that Swenson had anything to do with the hotel/restaurant on the corner of Crespi and Highway 1.Steve Sinainoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-18341387550171233312011-05-05T12:38:25.460-07:002011-05-05T12:38:25.460-07:00This is a little off-topic but I don't know wh...This is a little off-topic but I don't know where to ask: Is the new owner of the quarry property, Swenson- isn't he the same guy who did the restaurant/hotel on the corner of Crespi and highway 1 ? I'm pretty sure it is.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-9506660400595299612011-04-29T13:32:48.054-07:002011-04-29T13:32:48.054-07:00From my view, Steve's pictures are a clear com...From my view, Steve's pictures are a clear comparison of 1) the Sharp Park golf course support community vs. 2) the Wild Equity plan for Sharp Park, less the tsunami. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.pacificariptide.com/pacifica_riptide/2011/04/opinion-chamber-of-commerce-sharp-park-golf.html?cid=6a00d8341c795b53ef014e88249177970d#comment-6a00d8341c795b53ef014e88249177970d" rel="nofollow">John Bowie's (Wild Equity) Riptide Opinion article</a> compares 1)the Point Reyes regional recreation area to 2) urban Mori Point, located in the heart of the City of Pacifica. <br /><br />Although a regional rural area vs. an in city urban area is not a like kind comparison, Bowie made one solid point: 102 acre GGNRA Mori Point needs a parking lot, rather than impacting local City of Pacifica neighborhoods. (Having proper fire safety roads on GGNRA Mori Point would also be welcome-- the life saved may be yours).<br /><br />The 2009 income comparison between Mori Point and Sharp Park Golf course? 1) There is NO direct consumer income produced at Mori Point, whereas 2) Sharp Park golf course concessions is listed as the top 26th business income producers for Pacifica. The 2009 (1 year only) San Francisco report Bowie referenced if true is likely adjusted accounting for SF Parks and Recreation expenses, including employee salaries and pensions. However, as Bowie also pointed-out Sharp Park Golf course has a (near) "80 history". And, apparently the longer term accounting track record also supports the financial viability of Sharp Park golf course. The 2009 (1 year only) adjusted accounting occurred during the second year of "the worst recession since the great depression".Kathy Meehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14000878422176050692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-47862572119925193022011-04-28T14:42:59.085-07:002011-04-28T14:42:59.085-07:00Anon@ 8:58, man up. Make direct contact.Anon@ 8:58, man up. Make direct contact.todd brayhttp://fixpacifica.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-43130933762138826012011-04-28T14:15:32.000-07:002011-04-28T14:15:32.000-07:00Steve,
Take it a step furthur. Don't get mad a...Steve,<br />Take it a step furthur. Don't get mad at the city workers or the no-growthers.<br />It's Council who hires and fires city heads and hand picks the Planning Commission and other no growth committees. <br />Get mad at Vreeland, deJarnatt and Digre.mike bellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-50721044013146873082011-04-28T12:36:15.034-07:002011-04-28T12:36:15.034-07:00"To compare compensation to other municipalit..."To compare compensation to other municipalities is nothing short of malfeasance"<br /><br />To not do so is either naïveté or ignorance, for the reasons that I've stated repeatedly -- primarily because that's what any right-thinking worker will do. These are jobs, not volunteer positions.Scottynoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-21012429224475448092011-04-28T10:17:34.398-07:002011-04-28T10:17:34.398-07:00"...empty space and no-growth would be Pacifi..."...empty space and no-growth would be Pacifica's economic salvation."<br /><br />The propaganda is "it brings in so many dollars per square foot." Maybe somewhere, not here, not in Pacifica in the metropolitan Bay Area. Just makes Paifica have to deal with the deficiencies (or not) as a substandard city. <br /><br />Sharing the bottom of the economic/financial pile is one way to deal with it. Most people work out of town for that reason.Kathy Meehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14000878422176050692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-56745165308995996682011-04-28T09:38:17.563-07:002011-04-28T09:38:17.563-07:00Don't get mad at city workers.
Get mad at the...Don't get mad at city workers.<br /><br />Get mad at the people who promised that empty space and no-growth would be Pacifica's economic salvation.Steve Sinainoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-62211780576419831402011-04-28T08:58:43.196-07:002011-04-28T08:58:43.196-07:00Todd, your dislike for Rhodes and Ritzma colors yo...Todd, your dislike for Rhodes and Ritzma colors your ideas and statements. Your plan is ludicrous and would only prolong the pain. The unions are going to do what unions do...hang on to negotiated wages, benefits, work rules and seniority rights for their members. With all due respect for our city workers, council represents a much larger community which has clearly told them to do their job and get the budget under control. There is going to be pain in that process now and it may last years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-64317582215088704522011-04-28T07:48:47.016-07:002011-04-28T07:48:47.016-07:00Anon@ 7:22, 9 unions, 10 unions, a million unions...Anon@ 7:22, 9 unions, 10 unions, a million unions makes no difference. Pacifica's pie is only so big. Compensation needs to ebb and flow with revenues. To compare compensation to other municipalities is nothing short of malfeasance if that information is used to knowingly justify salaries that are not affordable. <br /><br />If our staff and employees want to cannibalize each other in order to survive that's between them, but I feel that foolishness is coming from the folks that wont lose their jobs like department heads and Union Reps. <br /><br />If senior staff are incapable of or in the case or Rhodes "too embarrassed" to even talk about scaling salaries and wages to fit within Pacifica's revenue with the unions then it's way past time for him to move on. Steve's apparent ego not with standing to state that the boss is too timid to talk to his employees about shared pain to keep everyone employed is beneath contempt, and quite simply laughable. <br /><br />Anon@ 7:22, man up and contact me personally. I'm in the phone book.todd brayhttp://fixpacifica.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-22566956234918350202011-04-28T07:22:57.982-07:002011-04-28T07:22:57.982-07:00Todd - you are the one not listening. There are n...Todd - you are the one not listening. There are nine unions covering all but four people in this town. None of the unions wanted your cuts. They already took major cuts, so they seem ready to lose staff and did not respond to your brother/sister plea. Until recently Rhodes was the lowest paid city manager in the county. Now, Half Moon Bay is less. Next year we will be there too. As for Ms. Ritzma, since you came late, you probably did not realize they started 15 minutes late because the staff were still putting together numbers from the negotiations for dispatch which they said had just concluded. How do you know that all of them were not still working with the numbers? Mary Ann caught an error at first glance. I think your comments are bad suppositions as usual.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-20697867114055931362011-04-28T05:08:26.662-07:002011-04-28T05:08:26.662-07:00Anon @ 11:54, Rhodes and Ritzma were too preoccupi...Anon @ 11:54, Rhodes and Ritzma were too preoccupied with their fountain pens to bother tuning in last night. It didn't seem to matter if a council person was talking, a department head or a member of the public. If Ann was not speaking she was doodling. Steve took up the practice early on also. Beyond the obvious rudeness to the employees, elected officials and the public that pays their salaries that were present last night Steve and Ann were not paying attention to how they were participating, or not participating in last nights study session. <br /><br />The city is receiving plenty of revenue to pay for everyone but city management instead of rationing compensation to revenues continues to compare their salaries to much wealthier communities. At what point does this wanna be practice become criminal? Pacifica is not as wealthy as any of the cities senior staff uses to falsely justify their salaries. There is just a gigantic over-riding denial by staff regarding their compensation that to me is criminally negligent at some level. Like a classic long con from a Hollywood movie.todd brayhttp://fixpacifica.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-28132566667420420062011-04-27T23:54:47.357-07:002011-04-27T23:54:47.357-07:00Where's your insight, Bray? It's just hum...Where's your insight, Bray? It's just human nature to hold on to what you've got, particularly during uncertain times. And an argument could be made that anyone who turns down a raise they are entitled to has taken a cut. And what is it you expect them to do? Write the city a check? Many are part of a contract and that contract is binding on all parties for its term.<br />Next year will be even tougher and some of them will not have jobs.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-25838384643420368032011-04-27T23:45:17.705-07:002011-04-27T23:45:17.705-07:00The level of denial from our highest paid employee...The level of denial from our highest paid employees tonight was beyond my capacity to understand. There is no empathy toward us the public, that was made clear during the fire tax ballot process but their willingness to ensure their compensation at the expense of everything else in the budgets was, well, awful. <br /><br />Rhodes compared his voluntary pay freeze to a pay cut and did not offer up his $500 a month car allowance as a cut. Ann like wise said she could not lower her salary any further. A firefighter asked me to look at the cuts they've taken which he claims are more than 10%. I gave him my email and phone number. <br /><br />The denial coming from these folks is deafeningtodd brayhttp://fixpacifica.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-25955303012457346622011-04-27T22:38:27.838-07:002011-04-27T22:38:27.838-07:00As several people mentioned on the budget telecast...As several people mentioned on the budget telecast this year's cuts are only the start.<br />Next year they'll need to come up with 2 million in cuts. We can expect a lot of consolidation and outsourcing of services. This may be the end of council's spendthrift ways. They can check back with the voters about new taxes after they balance the budget and show a new and improved attitude towards development. Someday there will again be an opportunity for real economic growth in Pacifica.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-83951313556797403982011-04-27T22:20:50.591-07:002011-04-27T22:20:50.591-07:00I might be in the minority here, but I don't l...I might be in the minority here, but I don't like having Vreeland back and heavily involved in budget, again. He's one of the main architects of our current financial catastrophe<br />and here he is in a starring role doing his old shape-shifting, "special" fund juggling routine.<br />The guy is just too slick.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-50875714211481450712011-04-27T22:15:06.840-07:002011-04-27T22:15:06.840-07:00It's about time they cut out their cafeteria c...It's about time they cut out their cafeteria cash. Might give them some credibility as they work their way thru employee contracts to cut this unbelievably expensive "gift/theft" of public funds from all city paychecks. Could be as much as $800,000 per year! City finance person just couldn't come up with a current number. Do the math folks. Talk about generous<br />benefits.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-28295334078824839982011-04-27T22:12:00.025-07:002011-04-27T22:12:00.025-07:00I love dog poop parks. Recology doesn't need t...I love dog poop parks. Recology doesn't need to recycle fecal matter.<br /> Why ruin a good thing???Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-60409046583256418372011-04-27T21:57:43.371-07:002011-04-27T21:57:43.371-07:00City council plans to get rid of Cafeteria Plan ca...City council plans to get rid of Cafeteria Plan cash in lieu of benefits. DeJarnatt was not there, others all agreed. <br /><br /><a href="http://www.cityofpacifica.org/depts/finance/default.asp" rel="nofollow">City budget workshop meeting documents, 4/27/11.</a> <br /><br />City is running a $2 million annual structural deficit (as I understand it), and jobs to staff the city are at minimum now, with further cuts coming. <br /><br />Solutions? 1) tax/raise fees, 2) outsource/more JPA's, 3) cut benefits. <br /><br />And, the future? Oh yeah, let's not develop the (pristine) 25 year redevelopment quarry. Huh?Kathy Meehhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/14000878422176050692noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-86612340565046172532011-04-27T19:47:41.798-07:002011-04-27T19:47:41.798-07:00RECALL !!!!! It would be cheaper than having the 3...RECALL !!!!! It would be cheaper than having the 3 on Council for the next 2-4 years.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-11213266395795734372011-04-27T18:43:56.729-07:002011-04-27T18:43:56.729-07:00The people who are counting on Vreeland, deJarnatt...The people who are counting on Vreeland, deJarnatt and Digre to approve a $90,000 Plover corral are also counting on their puppets to block revenue generating development and to raise taxes and fees to subsidize their lifestyles.<br />Enough already. Throw the bums out.mike bellnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7481238059942383326.post-24631962722679514632011-04-27T17:01:08.158-07:002011-04-27T17:01:08.158-07:00Between their ears.Between their ears.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com