Your City Council Report

for June 26, 2012

 VALLEJO CITY COUNCIL WEIGHS IN ON THE 2012-13 BUDGET, AMONG OTHER THINGS.

7/3/12

By Hatfield McCoy

The Vallejo Yacht Club turned 113 this year, and the City of Vallejo acknowledged that with a grand proclamation. The General Manager was on hand to accept the award and was exuberant about not only the yacht club, but about Vallejo as well. “My wife, Deborah, and I just love Vallejo, and we love the yacht club,” he said. The Vallejo Yacht club is highly respected among boaters, and it enjoys one of the highest visitations compared to other clubs nearby. And we are looking forward to many visitors during the America’s Cup race which will take place next summer. It should be wonderful not only for the club, but for Vallejo as well,” he boasted.

The next topic was the budget. The relatively new city manager, Dan Keen, had this to say. “I have listened to the feedback of the council and the citizens and I have responded. We have added five new police officers, two new code enforcement officers, and we shall augment the Economic Development department,” he said. $1 million will fund five officers, and ultimately we will have fully allocated money for them over the long term. As to Code Enforcement, he wants to see a more “reactive” approach in future in that department. He wants to see “more rapid response to complaints,” and have the code enforcement establish a “core team approach, a smart team where departments will work together as a team.” He also spoke about the ‘Neighborhood Law Program’ as the city will hire two more entry level lawyers to work with prosecuting, fining, and other issues with code enforcement. As to Economic Development, he said he has allocated added funds of $50k for marketing. “A city must market itself to become successful. We must tell our great story of recovery, in conjunction with the Convention & Visitors Bureau ,” he said. “We also must ultimately work on our general plan, and work to get some of the structural unsafe Mare Island buildings out in order to make Mare Island more attractive to investors. Understand that our structural deficit will increase from $3.8 million to $4.5 million, but the good news is that we are going to be paying down the Pers debt, and we are putting 5% of our general fund in reserve funds,” Keen said.

David Corbett weighed in stating: “We need to try to turn around the public perception of Vallejo. We need not to just focus on public safety, but code enforcement as well. We do need to incorporate code enforcement with other agencies to make it more effective. The overall change in the budget is good,” Corbett said. Vallejo activist and CPA, J.D. Miller said this: “I know that every single one of you (city council members) want to make a difference in Vallejo. But will hiring new employees make Vallejo better? What are you going to do when the money runs out in ten years?” he questioned. He was alluding to the fact that Measure B tax money will only be in place for ten years. Joe Nickelson came back to the podium with these comments: “Stimulate my cranium. Full compensation including ‘full compensations and benefits,’ that means nothing to me. You should always break these figures down for us,” he demanded. Natasha Clark came back also asking for “more video cameras that work” and requested that the police and code enforcement should both be working to identify the rampant and “aggressive prostitutes” who hang around her building. “When I ask them to move they tell me that they are waiting for relatives. Well, they have many relatives because these relatives drop them off and pick them up all night,” Clark said.

With respect to the budget, Mayor Davis was first to speak. He stated that he would still like to see pension reform. He mentioned that he, along with Councilmembers Gomes and Sampayan, visited the Governor recently regarding pension reform. He claimed that it is critical to soon have such reforms in place in order for cities to remain within sustainable budgets. “I do not want to hire any new police officers under the old formula,” Davis said. It should be remembered, however, that he happily gave the police a 6.29% pay raise in 2010 which was to last until this year, until one of his friends in the Human Resources department did not inform the police of upcoming budget reviews in timely fashion. And now the city is stuck with that very same police pay raise for yet another year. Some people have calculated that the cost of this will be around $5.6million. Councilmember Hannigan was quick to point the mistake out too, but note that she had also voted for the 2010 police pay raise. Davis further stated that he asked public works how much money it would take to fix our streets. Answer: $50million to get them in tip top shape, and about $9million to get them in somewhat better shape. “With this budget of $1.7million going toward improving the infrastructure of our streets, we are at least making a dent,” Davis said. “I also like the fact that this budget addresses quality of life, street maintenance, marketing through Economic Development, and that we are putting money back into our community as we promised the voters,” he continued.

“This is the best budget I have ever seen since 2005 when I came here to the council, and I am very happy to see that we are paying attention in this budget to public safety and to code enforcement,” she said. “In future,” she continued, “we must vote to hire no officers unless it is under the second tier plan. There is no way I want to give future councils what was left to me,” Councilmember Gomes said vehemently.

Hanningan stated that with this budget “We will have a lot more sunshine next year.” She also applauded the ‘Smart Team’ idea, and informed the public why the city is so short this year “We are in a greater deficit because of an employee who did not do what she was supposed to do,” she lamented.

The public should know that this mishap took place three months before the new city manager arrived, and it happened between the lapse Phil Batchelor’s leave, and during Craig Whittom’s watch as the then interim city manager.

Councilmember Brown said that she liked the idea of the ‘Smart Team’ concept wherein the police, fire department, code enforcement, and the city attorneys’ office will all work together to solve problems. “I think this budget covers all bases, as it puts all things into perspective. Now we will have eleven months to plan for next year, and will be able to carefully plan for future Measure B monies,” Brown said. Councilman Sampayan had this to say “It all boils down to quality of life. I like the new neighborhood law program (two attorneys hired to help code enforcement), we have more code enforcement, more cops, and all of that will make Vallejo better,” he said. “I would like to see us move away from dependency on Measure B money, and become more self sufficient. And the retirement issues must be addressed,” he said.

McConnell weighed in stating: “With five more police officers, there is an implied promise that things will get better in Vallejo. I just hope that come budget time next year, all of these promises have been kept,” he said. McConnell also expressed concern that the elderly should be approached and handled properly when it came to fines and fees from Code Enforcement violations. He also stated that some of the poorer, less educated citizens who might not understand, should be treated fairly and humanely. Lastly, he asked that the city manager look into the Temple Arts project more carefully, and monitor the Housing Authority to remind them that the council voted to place artists, and artists only in that program/project (corner of Marin and Virginia streets). “That was the promise that was made to the Planning Commission as well. I hope you’ll see to it that it’s not broken,” McConnell urged.

Hermie Sunga applauded the city manager on the aspect of ‘no deferrals, and no program cuts, and no fire station closures as we have had in the past’. “In fact, we are opening up another fire station, so I am happy about that,” he said. “And what is best is that we have five new police officers, with two tier pension plans, that is the best part,” he said. Note also that Sunga voted to give the police a 6.29% raise in 2010 along with the others stated above.

In other matters a public hearing was held for assessments in such neighborhoods as Somerset Highlands, Glen Cove, Cimarron Hills etc. for the purpose of landscape maintenance. A second public hearing was held for the same landscape assessments for Marine World/Fairgrounds, Sandpiper Point, South Vallejo Business Park, etc. Both such assessments are for fiscal year 2012 and 2013. A separate public hearing was held for collection of assessments within the Hiddenbrooke Maintenance District for the same fiscal year. The Blue Rock Springs Golf Course fee & charges schedule was also discussed at public hearing. Upon conclusion, a final resolution for fiscal year budget 2012-13 will be adopted. The dilemma of unpaid garbage bills was brought before a public hearing. Ultimately there will be a resolution to levy assessments against property owners for unpaid garbage bills. The tenants are ultimately not responsible for these bills, but all owners are “100% responsible”; and are given ample notices to pay before a levy is issued. “Recology cannot place liens, the city must do it,” staff members said. A few people in the audience expressed concerns that they recently purchased homes and were charged for bills of previous owner. Mayor Davis asked the public works director to help them privately.

Lastly there was a public hearing to discuss the Code Text Amendment & Downtown Specific Plan Amendment regarding ‘brewpubs’ and ‘tasting rooms.’ An ordinance amendment will exempt tasting rooms located in the Downtown Arts & Entertainment District from the current 1,000 foot distance restriction. This ordinance will allow beer and wine manufacturers with on-site tasting rooms to be exempted from the 1,000-foot distance restriction which is now city-wide. “We would limit the number of these types of businesses to six,” acting Planning Director, Michelle Hightower said. According to planning staff, this ordinance change is necessary to help enhance business opportunities downtown. They were quick to add the disclaimer that no minors will be allowed in these businesses for any reason according to VATC (Vallejo Alcohol Tobacco Coalition). “We are also doing an ‘arts in the windows’ project and have had several business owners agree to allowing this. We will ask Vallejo artists to exhibit their works. Also in the planning (for this summer) is a mid-week ‘Farmer’s Market’ and a Friday night added celebration with mobile food trucks, dancers, music, and more. We are planning to do this in the Empress Theatre parking lot beginning mid-July from 5pm to 8pm, in hopes of bringing more people downtown,” Hightower said. “We are looking to do four events over the summer on every other Friday,” Hightower continued. Councilmember Hannigan expressed concern that food trucks might interfere with existing brick & mortar restaurants downtown, but planning staff said that they did not anticipate a problem. Councilmember McConnell asked that the “Arts & Entertainment District” be expanded over to Florida St. Nobody seemed to object to that request.

The budget as it stands was adopted July 1^st. It is available on-line at the city’s website. Councilmember McConnell had previously asked the city manager to break down salaries a little more definitively which he subsequently did. Hopefully the reader will be able to see the breakdown of base employee salaries, benefits, etc. a little more clearly with this improvement. And as for the upcoming downtown Wednesday night farmer’s market, and the four fun Fridays, we hope to see you there.

Comments

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Looking for more change.   |July.05.2012 Not everyone knows about your website, we need to get word out. Excellent report, it is as though I was there. I wasn't, so good insight into meeting. For all who might see this comment, please tell people: ibvallejo.com It's that simple! No need to say more.Just tell 'em to log in and see.

Firebug   |July.05.2012 Excellent work Marc! And to all the technically challenged, the video is an imbedded link to the City of Vallejos website which uses Microsoft Silverlite as the engine to view and play its videos. If you have issues you might want to express your concern to the City of Vallejo.

Jim Davis   |July.04.2012 P.S. No video.

Jim Davis   |July.04.2012 Really nice reporting, Marc. You have taken over where Katy left off. Well done. Love, Jim

Silverlite????   |July.04.2012 What is with this Silverlite crap?? Videos were viewable on this site for years without this proprietary, Internet Explorer requiring plug-in.

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 Erin is so bad as representitive of the community that I don't even know where to begin. Her continued deferral of responsibility, by providing innuendo that this is all the responsibility of someone yet to be named, only confirms my suspicion that this woman, Erin Hannigan, is unfit for public office at any level. If she ever takes responsibility for anything it may be the first time. The woman is a complete fraud and only has her current position based on her daddy

wharf rat   |July.03.2012 @ Erin to blame too Ya hit the nail on the head !!! if this wanabee Pollitition ever thinks She will prevail in a local election She needs to go to a shrink. With all Her contacts and Daddy She barely won second place! Katy kicked her butt , if they ever ran together again Katy would WHIPE Her out! So Erin if you ever wish to sell out the good people of Vallejo again to your special interest groups don't even think about it you will be DESTROYED .. and please defend your vote for the VPOA raise that now compromises our exit from bankruptcy..Thousands are watching defend your vote or just word-smith it Yours the Peeps ..

Erin to blame too   |July.03.2012 Erin likes to plan some unnamed employee "We are in a greater deficit because of an employee who did not do what she was supposed to do" The contract that rolled over had a raise (and created a deficit) in part because YOU approved raises in BK. Can we fire both of you???

Video Time Line   |July.03.2012 There was no video for quite a while because the meeting was not started yet. Click on the time line and see if you can see the video or not. I can.

Anon II   |July.03.2012 In-depth report on council meeting, but the video at the top only has voices on it. No video. What's up with that?

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 Church is not ideal but we all know it could be worse. Let us be thankful for them... If we have good eateries downtown, they can eat and drink there.

Video Time Line   |July.03.2012 VYC 38:36 Public Forum: Marietta 49:44 Morgan 51:30 Diane 550 Burky 56:30 Natasha 599 If you can add, it will be great.

Clarke Johnston   |July.03.2012 Thanks for the in-depth reporting on local events.

ANON   |July.03.2012 The transformation I have witnessed is the commercial properties becoming Churches many of the congregations from out of town come to Vallejo to take advantage of lower property values. This transformation has led to lost jobs and since Churches pay no property tax much lost tax revenue. Of course they could pay taxes if they wished to contribute to the positive transformation of our fair City emerging from bankruptsey and struggling with numerous social problems what would Jesus say?

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 I think there are several people likely to share the blame, Whittom definitely being one of them. He and that awful Sandy Salerno (Erin's bff) negotiated that contract so he should have known it inside and out.

know vallejo   |July.03.2012 whittom was at the negotiating table, not the worker bee.

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 I agree with Worker Bee. Whittom is responsible for the oversight.

Worker Bee   |July.03.2012 Blame the contract oversite on a worker bee when Whittom was present at the time of it's signing and was acting City Manager at the time it clocked out. just as predicted it has been blamed on a Worker bee,contracts over 1 million do not get managed by Worker bee's they are the responsibility of Management.This is a prime example of throwing a peon under the bus to avoid responsibility. The PD did not show well either they sat on this loophole waiting for it to kick in knowing they would profit from it who the hell do these people work for ? I think we know the answer to that and I think it will backfire someday .

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 Put the food trucks in the old Safeway parking lot across from the new downtown bus transit center. Lots of foot traffic from transit center and 201 Maine will keep it lively.

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 Thanks for the report, if it is not too much to ask, including the link to video of the meeting will be great.

Restaurant Incubator   |July.03.2012 I agree with Mousy, if anything, food will be the thing that will save downtown. Art and entertainment is cool but you do not need it everyday. You NEED to eat everyday. Downtown Mountain View is a good example, I think 85% of the shop are food related, restaurants, pubs, bakeries, grocery store.. (they do have 3 bookstores - one independent, one used book, one alternative.). A restaurant incubator will be a good thing, make it less expensive/risky to try out food ideas in downtown and the ones successful will stay. A restaurant incubator can have shared kitchen, freezer, and flexible leasing term so the start up cost is low and it is not expensive to try out people's ideas.

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 Thanks for the report. One litte request: can you break up the huge paragraphs into more smaller ones? It's very hard to read this way!

Mousy   |July.03.2012 Food trucks would actually benefit local restaurants downtown. Get enough places to eat and foot traffic will increase. Hands down it is food that will revitalize downtown. More food = more people. Yes, people will come down to eat at the trucks. But people will also come down to eat and decide to eat at a local restaurant instead. Once you get three restaurants on a block things will become self sustaining. People will have a reason to come down. Virginia St is almost there. Anything that increases foot traffic in the evening is a good thing. You can kill a business by trying to over protect it.

Salty Dog   |July.03.2012 Yipee!!!!!! City of God, part II.

Anonymous   |July.03.2012 Good Job on the reporting. Vallejo has a long way to go but there are positive steps being taken.

IM PEACHy   |July.03.2012 North American Conference on Transformation. better known as Dominionism Central. Don't remember who Ed Silvoso is? Well, he's the man who came to Vallejo to wage "Spiritual Warfare" against the demons he claims are the cause for Vallejo's problems as well as the root cause for people's homosexuality. Invited by Osby and the Vallejo Faith Organization, he also led a prayer circle in the mayor's office and preached on the steps of City Hall. This is a transformation and a bona fide grifter that Vallejo can do without.

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