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Your City Council Report
for
Tuesday April 27, 2010
4/28/10 By Katy (The Aging Disco Queen and Financial Analyst) Miessner
I already was prepared, based on a pre-meeting perusal of the agenda, that several items—Youth Commission and Smoke Shops—would be taken off the consent calendar. It’s perplexing these were even on the consent calendar to begin with. I wonder what the criteria is? Who knows, but everyone should have been aware from prior meetings that council wanted to continue discussions.
Even thought the Youth Commission item (a name and definition change from the old “Youth Activities Commission”) was pulled from the consent calendar and postponed last night yet again. The council now has to schedule a special meeting to discuss Mayor Davis’s changes—changes which could be described as minutiae. When this came up on April 14, Davis wanted the vote delayed so that he could make these changes when it came back last night. It came back and he had not made changes! But on April 14 he vehemently denied that he was slowing down the process by “feet-dragging”…what’s that expression? If it walks like a duck, quacks like a duck, it’s a duck. Feet dragging it is. Now council has to have a SPECIAL meeting, oh the ineptness of it all. All I can say is Davis had better be recommending substantial changes-which warrant a special meeting.
There was some discussion of the timing and how to appoint members—Councilmember Gomes and the community members who have worked on this, want to see it wrapped up and seats filled before school lets out, to not lose momentum over the summer.
Councilmembers Brown and Schivley gave kudos (with audience applause) to all of Gomes’ hard work on this project. Schivley pointed out the only difference between the ordinance in the packet and a second version was the omission of language concerning Vice Mayor Gomes’s recommendation. And rather than chime in with any kudos, Councilmember Hanningan in a particularly small minded manner suggested that council shouldn’t add council members’ names to ordinances. But a policy of omitting councilmembers’ names from ordinances has never been established, as Gomes pointed out. Gomes suggested that she would gladly see Hannigan’s name reflected on any ordinance which may result from Hannigan’s work on the calls for service/ Chronic Nuisance Ordinance. Gomes went on to thank Brown & Schivley for recognizing her work. None of the other councilmembers could bring themselves to do the same. Ruscal Cayangyang, who was instrumental in assisting Gomes with the establishment of the Youth Commission, urged the council during community forum to adopt the ordinance as written.
Several teens spoke about specific support for youth they’d like to see, such as higher standards for schools and teachers, books, smaller classes and fun things for younger kids to do, basketball courts, pools, free days at the movies, after school and Sat/Sun activities, all to keep kids out of trouble. One speaker even suggested uniforms for schools. The idea of building a Community Center was brought up—at a church which personally I don’t think is wise if it requires public funds. Kids need to feel they are simply being supported, not recruited for a church. And if you are at a church, you will be recruited. Just like most groups, (church or secular) they want and need new members.
Suggestions were made that things like school trips, proms and school supplies be cheaper or free. This makes a lot of sense, since so many kids and their families these days have no access to extra funds for these things. All of this costs money however. One of the goals of the Youth Commission is to be self-supporting, with little need for city funds or city staff support.
Really Wacky Tobacco Ordinance Discussion AKA Ground Hog Day! How much longer must the Smoke Shop ordinance be discussed? Councilmember Schivley reminded us that this has been discussed for more than three years. I remember when Officer Bob Sampayan—before he retired—first brought this idea before the council back in 2006. The discussion has been the same over and over and over again. As councilmember Brown aptly described it, it’s like being on a treadmill—she’s been on council only since December and she’s already frustrated by the lack of progress. Gomes compared the process to the movie “Ground Hog Day”—she imagined she could hear that Ground Hog Day “Pennsylvania Polka” music for the 500th time (If only Bill Murray could join in on the discussion, maybe it would be less painful.)
Liat Meitzenheimer from the Alcohol and Tobacco Coalition cautioned council that certain neighborhoods have been over-saturated with alcohol and tobacco outlets, but the deemed approved ordinance is “just words in a book” and these neighborhoods need a mechanism to resolve issues with problem businesses. AKA enforcement with police action. 10 years have gone by and no real solutions. She stated that residents have given up because it seems the city doesn’t care. Maybe Mayor Davis doesn’t care? I’m not sure why he—the only one of the seven council members—has such a problem with the ordinance. He went on ad nauseum about how the council hasn’t decided this is a priority (not true, it was listed at one of the goal setting meetings) and so he can’t support it.
This is one of the most preposterous arguments I’ve heard. Revenues and public safety are priorities. An ordinance that keeps businesses—that tend to attract crime—in check, supports the public safety priority. In our current situation of no funding for new activities, creating annual license fees for these businesses to pay for police enforcement supports the revenue priority. A smokeshop/alcohol ordinance with enforcement is a creative way to generate new revenue and curb problem businesses. And the annual fee—$1800 annually that the Police Chief Nichelini suggested, (that many thought was too high) could be structured so that it impacts problem businesses more than the ones which don’t cause problems. Liat Meitzenheimer and the Vallejo Alcohol Tobbacco Policy Coalition have already done much research on how other cities have addressed this issue and she has shared their findings with the City.
I am not sure what motivates Davis, but as someone who “doesn’t smoke or drink” you think he would support efforts to curb the sale of tobacco and alcohol to minors, and curb those businesses that negatively impact the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Gomes reminded him that the 2006 presentation revealed the drug paraphernalia and even weapons available for purchase at many smokeshops, and Meitzenheimer pointed out that many Vallejo retailers have been caught selling tobacco and alcohol to minors, from small corner stores to supermarkets such as Safeway.
Either Mayor Davis doesn‘t care? Or maybe he just wants to be a contrarian? Maybe he likes businesses that prey on poorer neighborhoods? He stated that he didn’t want to support the ordinance without understanding the incidence rates were, but even after Meitzenheimer rattled off statistics—statistics that have been presented before, he still refused to support it. I don’t buy this “priorities” B-S. If that’s the case, why does the council do anything?
Councilmember Brown suggested that what’s happening with this ordinance at the staff level is that so many departments are involved in crafting it—the City Attorney, Planning Department and Police Department—and that none of these departments feel comfortable taking the lead. Our Interim City Manager doesn’t seem to be taking a lead either although naturally it would fall on his office. Gomes and Brown volunteered to help finalize the ordinance, and so hopefully this will come back again and finally be approved and adopted.
At the end, Davis again went on about why he doesn’t support the ordinance. My notes from the evening: “OD: I can’t support the resolution, not because I don’t support it blah blah blah blah…………………..” Notice the oxymoron “I can’t support it not because I don’t support it.”
But the resolution of intent to adopt the ordinance did pass: 6-1 with Davis a very clear NO.
Save the Dream Mayor Davis (even though it wasn’t named as a council priority) asked the council to approve a sponsorship of a “save the dream” foreclosure event on May 22. He wants the organizers to use the city logo and allocate a small amount of funding for mailing costs. Funny that foreclosures have been happening for years and now the urgency? I wonder if it has anything to do with his own NOD. The resolution made reference to “The Mayor” which no one seemed to have a problem with. It passed unanimously. Participants who want to attend the Save the Dream event can register in advance to get an appointment with a HUD-approved counselor. For information on how to register, contact EastBay NHS at (510) 237-6459 or Vallejo NHS at (707) 552-4663.
Intimidation of the Day The council was asked to approve an agreement between Medic Ambulance Service and Benicia, Dixon Fairfield, and Vallejo. This would also allow Vallejo to receive revenue from this agreement and allows for the cities to be first responders (fire departments) with Medic Ambulance as back-up.
Councilmember Schivley asked why Suisun and Vacaville weren’t included. Answers from Fire Chief Russ Sherman:
Both Gomes and Schivley asked what would happen if we had to close an additional fire station—if we have to guarantee a certain response time as first responders, what would happen if we signed an agreement we couldn’t fulfill?
Sherman said Vallejo would then be in breach of the agreement and would have to drop out of the program, and would lose the revenue.
Schivley noted that if another fire station is closed, Vallejo would then have the same number as Fairfield (they have 5 stations) but they apparently, according to Sherman, have more staffing and fewer calls.
In response, Gomes noted that no other cities have cut what we have; there are a lot of differences, such as our rate of pay (higher) than their rate of pay (lower). She didn’t see the wisdom of entering an agreement when in a month Vallejo may be forced through MORE budget cuts to close another station and the Council could be entering a contract the City can’t honor.
Subtle intimidation is always nice: Sherman and Adams explained that they were “guaranteed that any station closure would happen after the proposed sales tax measure [if it didn’t pass]”. Ah, but the problem is, a sales tax measure can’t pass if it isn’t on the November ballot, and it can’t get on the ballot without a unanimous vote for a “fiscal emergency.” Sounds like anyone who doesn’t want to be a part of the unanimous vote for a fiscal emergency is being set up for blame like bowling pins. But don’t expect any “strikes”—maybe gutter balls, because intimidation is no way to approach certain council members. Hint hint.
Since there was a guarantee of “no penalties” for any potential breaches of this contract, it got approval with a unanimous vote.
Flotsam and Jetsam - other items In response to a consent calendar item related to the Farmers Market, Councilmember Sunga wanted to know why Moscetti’s coffee wasn’t allowed at the Farmers Market and Janet Sylvain, president of the Central Core Restoration Committee said she would let the Farmers Market operators know that he wants them to support local business.
Wilson yet again recused himself from a consent calendar item. At least he is trying to “keep his nose clean” but he’s got so many fingers in so many pies, he’s unable to vote on most major developments. In other words: useless.
Bob Adams took a pay cut in order to extend his hours.
Written communications This was the first time I have seen written communications included with staff reports. The item of note was a letter from the department of fish and game regarding the Allied Defense Recycling/California Dry-docks solutions project, dated April 8, 2010. Apparently a certain review that must take place in order to get approvals was completed.
Community Forum - A Vallejo Resident--Katherine Wynn, who is disabled—complained to the Council that her rental is in deplorable condition. Guess who is the landlady? Daisy Villanueva, infamous owner of the slum at 419 Georgia Street.
Wynn told a horrible tale of troubles at her 326 Idora Ave residence. A “dump” when Wynn moved in but she was allegedly assured by Villanueva that all the problems would be taken care of. Hole in side of the kitchen draining gray water, no heater, no stove, no hot water for 18 days in December, a thermostat directly above the heater so when its set for 68 degrees its 29 degrees in the bedroom, crack in the bedroom wall, toilet plumbing exposed in the closet, front door blows open, carpet too close to heater, heater exhaust incorrect, gaps in the door, dry rot in windows, floor sinks in the middle, the back door is an interior door. Ms. Wynn is on section 8 and she was forced to live there until unit was red-tagged and condemned, lest she lose her section 8 voucher and that whoever from the city did the inspection did a ”crappy job.” Wynn indicated that her security deposit is from the Catholic Church and Villanueva has refused to return it. Wynn went on to accuse Villanueva of “stealing from the church.” She requested that the council strip Villanueva of her real estate license.
Davis tried to stop her and argued that the council can only refer her to those who could help. This did not make Ms Wynn happy. Davis finally suggested after a lengthy back and forth that Wynn speak to Bob Adams.
Burky Worel noted the uselessness of the consent calendar. So many items are usually pulled off consent for discussion, it defeats the purpose of having a consent calendar. I guess there is no consensus on consent.
BANG !!!!!!
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0 p.m. on the housing report that suggests that Vallejo needs another 5,500 Section 8 vouchers in addition to the over 4,000 we already have. Daisy and the other "farmers" will be so happy especially when VHA and other paid staff that are supposed to enforce the codes and standards are deaf, dumb and blind. I wonder why?
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