Deborah Robertson | rialtonow

Issues over Rialto City Attorney Contract

24 Aug 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in American Water, Barbara A. McGee, Budget, Ca, city attorney, City of Rialto, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Inland Empire, Jimmy Gutierrez, Joe Baca Jr, Mike Story, Rialto, Rialto, Shawn O'Connell, Uncategorized, Water, wwwstoprialtowaterratehikes.com Tags: government

Jimmy Gutierrez is our current city attorney in the city of Rialto. According to reports from City Hall he has operated over the last 5 years on a $600,000 a year for his base salary. What is worse is he nickel and dimes the city for every little thing he does raising the rate we pay him every year more and more.

This year with some fresh blood in the council many contracts have come under review and put back out to bid. The thought process according to Mike Story is to make sure we are getting the best bang for our buck. The city of Rialto has made changes to many contracts saving the city and the community thousands of dollars. From the contract security services, to street sweeping and technology services the fat is being cut and the city is looking to streamline services. City attorney Jimmy Gutierrez’s contract ended in June 2013. So what do we do?

Under the guise of cutting fat city council formed a committee to look at ways of reducing attorney costs for Rialto. What the Sub committee came up with was a temporary extension of City Attorney services with Jimmy Gutierrez. This was done so that the city could develop an RFP and bid out services for Attorney costs for the city. Another task was writing Jimmy Gutierrez’s extension while reducing costs. City staff reported as well as Councilwoman Lynn Hirtz over the phone that it was difficult to get Jimmy Gutierrez to make concessions on his pay to help the city further save money. It wasn’t until right before the July 23rd Council meeting that Jimmy Gutierrez reluctantly agreed to a compensation adjustment.

Joe Baca Jr. said at the July 23rd council meeting that the communities biggest issue was with the city attorney is the cost. Is that really the greatest concern of the community? I remember most recently that Jimmy Gutierrez along with City Clerk McGee gave city council direction to ignore the fact that the Rialto residents received enough signatures to remove the toxic water deal that is already hurting Rialto residents. Or how about the Super Wal-Mart that is set to increase crime and create more business blight that our city can’t or refuses to take action on. Councilman Baca seems to miss the fact that it appears our attorney has been doing his best to rip off the community under the guise of business as usual. Jimmy Gutierrez has also been arrested in suspicion of driving under the influence and was allowed to plead no contest and avoid any real consequences. Also lets not forget Jimmy Gutierrez is also the city attorney for 3 other cites.

We had the opportunity to speak with some of the players involved in this meeting:

I reached out to City Administrator Mike Story and asked who wrote this contract? It was developed by Councilman Joe Baca Jr. & Lynn Hirtz who are the subcommittee of the council looking at the contract along with Jimmy Gutierrez. So Jimmy Gutierrez and the subcommittee wrote it? Jimmy Gutierrez prepared the contract at the direction of the subcommittee. After several attempts by the subcommittee to get Jimmy Gutierrez to make their recommended changes including a reduction in fees, the subcommittee directed me (Mike Story) to make the changes they requested.

I reached out to Lynn Hirtz and she said that she only voted for the temporary contract with Jimmy Gutierrez because she felt obligated to. Councilwoman Hirtz stated over the phone that she felt obligated to vote with Councilman Joe Baca Jr. in reference to an amendment that was brought up by Councilman O’connell. Councilman O’connell brought up a very important “what if” Jimmy Gutierrez does go over the 160 hour limit each month. So mayor Deborah Robertson made a amendment that if Jimmy Gutierrez does go over the 160 limit anything over that would have to be approved by the council PRIOR to going over the limit. So due to the fact that the subcommittee that she was a part of brought this forward Lynn Hirtz & Joe Baca Jr moved and seconded the motion. She never thought of a situation where Jimmy Gutierrez would go over the 160 hours he was allotted by the temporary extension so she wasn’t sure why it was even an issue. Lynn Hirtz said she wasn’t a fan of the extension but went along with Joe Baca Jr. who was the biggest proponent of the city attorney extension. Lynn Hirtz also commented that Jimmy Gutierrez was upset that he would no longer be able to “ITEMIZE” for extra costs the gimmick he has exploited to bump up his compensation over the years.

Shawn O’Connell said July 23rd meeting I approved the contract the way it was written was never vetted by an attorney I instructed our city attorney to spend no more than 160 hours. This contract offers no way to control his ability to charge more and put the citizens at further liability which was what I was trying to convey on July 23rd. Mayor Robertson’s motion which I voted for instructed Jimmy Gutierrez to inform Mike Story before he went over the allotted 160 hours, My fear is this isn’t the way its going to work out.

The second issue is with the time line for releasing the RFP and beginning to look for other options for our city attorney. The proposed timeline for releasing the RFP begins releasing on October 1st. Mayor Pro-tem Ed Palmer asked why were we waiting until the bitter end to release the RFP. Mayor Pro-Tem said that if we run into issues like we did with security contract where there is a bump in the road. The issues was with the original RFP release schedule it would leave us without attorney services the first 14 days of January. Joe Baca Jr. refuses to look at the fact that Jimmy Gutierrez is out as our city attorney. Councilman O’Connell & Mayor Pro-Tem Palmer want to keep us from keeping someone on as our attorney that will act as a disgruntle employee.

What was most frustrating was that even though Lynn Hirtz saw an issue with the late releasing of the RFP she voted for it out of pressure to do so by Mayor Robertson & Councilman Baca Jr. because she was on the subcommittee. When I asked her over the phone about it she said she wanted to vote with Councilman O’Connell and Mayor Pro-Tem Palmer but she felt obligated to vote with her subcommittee co-member. I asked her if she thought Jimmy Gutierrez was going to mail it in these last months and try and collect as much money as possible. She said she never thought about that but since I brought it up she was so worried I was right and she may have made a poor decision.

I spoke to Councilman O’Connell prior to posting this story. Councilman O’Connell stated that the city attorney has yet to sign this contract offering the council and COMMUNITY the unique opportunity to revisit the contract and make the appropriate changes. The ACTIONABLE item is TAB 6 on the upcoming council meeting this Augsut 27th meeting at 6 pm.

So the question is do you agree with Councilman Joe Baca Jr. is the amount of the contract the ONLY issue you have with the city attorney contract? If it is do you believe that Jimmy Gutierrez waiting until the last moment to reluctantly agree to a reduction in fees then not sign the contract after a month does that sound like someone that is willing to work on price? Why does Councilman Joe Baca Jr. appear to run to Jimmy Gutierrez’s defense at every turn? What does that relationship pay the Baca family back? Where is the value for such a vigorous defense? Councilman O’Connell is right we have a unique opportunity here.

Watch the council meeting for yourself these tab items are at the end

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W9QcQ26VvwQ

Jimmy Gutierrez can charge $225 an hour for attorney services and $75 an hour for paralegal services.

Public Comment time reduced from 5 minutes to 3 minutes

09 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Rialto

Item on Tuesdays Consent Calendar in the city of Rialto. Mayor Deborah Robertson wants to limit the amount of time you are allowed to speak. Read the item from the Agenda below.

E.8 Request City Council to Adopt Resolution No. 6302 to Provide Three Minutes for Oral Communications.

What do you think? Should the Mayor be allowed to silence the people?

We placed this question on our facebook page and the comments came pouring in. The interesting part is that it doesn’t matter if your a Deborah Robertson supporter or not no one thinks its ok to limit public speech.

Here are some of the comments:

Jeanne – No not at all….. What’s her reasoning for doing so. Sounds like she is up to her old self…serving herself. For those that can’t show, have residents write their council to say no on her wanting to shorten the minutes to talk. Shawn is only one of the council that serve the city, so we need to write every one of them. I wrote both my hub and i. As my husband said three min is nothing. He feels her intention to shorten min is not just to silence the people. but to hurry the council meeting up. She likes the title of Mayor, but don’t want put the time in to hear the people.

Ed – This is totally wrong on the City’s part while the Mayor can put what ever she wants to on the agenda there are 4 other votes. It seems like the City has gone backward not forward. I urge residents to show up and fight this move.

Matt – Wow, more of the same old politics. Apparently the Mayor thinks that citizens need only a few minutes of speaking time? Maybe they need to limit her speaking time and up hear listening time. Another political who THINKS she’s the queen and the citizens are her subjects. Vote it down.

Lynn – they only want to hear themselves and do things that only benefit themselves. What have they done for the people, really. Rialto is no better and is just getting worse. Look at Foothill Blvd, it looks horrible with all the empty buildings and trash all over the place.

Paul – Too much government not enough FREEDOM!!!

Diaz – It’s freedom of speech, not freedom of speech for 3 minutes! Vote No!

Ken – I think Robertson is getting too full of herself. She is just like the old mayor when it comes to responding to our concerns….She doesn’t!!! There is already to little time to speak now. Let’s limit the council’s reports to 1 minute since they do so little to report on. Is it too late to change my vote??

Fred – Policy at the Councils I attend as a citizen are 3 minutes per person… so I take friends and they give me their minutes when I need more time!

Join us in fighting this abuse of power by showing up Tuesday July 9th at 6:00pm at city hall. Fill out a request to speak form and voice your concerns to our council on this dangerous abuse of power. If you can’t attend the meeting call and email our elected leaders.

Abuse of Power or Assisting The Community

03 Jul 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Bad Commerce, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Crime, Currupt, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Flores Park, Inland Empire, Mike Story, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Parks, Rialto Police Department, Shawn O'Connell Tags: politics

When can you call an abuse of power simply that an abuse?

Normally it’s when someone in a position of power uses that power to influence a process to benefit one side over the other. Wikipedia describes it in this way, “Abuse of power, in the form of “malfeasance in office” or “official misconduct,” is the commission of an unlawful act, done in an official capacity, which affects the performance of official duties. Malfeasance in office is often grounds for a for cause removal of an elected official by statute or recall election.”

So for example lets use the City Council Meeting on June 25th 2013. The final tab item delt with the issue of replacing the current Security Contractor for the City of Rialto. Marcus Fuller and City Staff used a very clear set of guidelines to qualify companies for the approval of working with our city and obtaining the Security Contract. After all the bids were in and evaluated Contact Security Inc. (CSI) was found to be the best fit in accordance with the guidelines set forward by city staff.

For the last 18 years General Security Services (GSS) has worked here in Rialto. They have covered our parks, metro link, city offices & downtown area. Their last contact the city paid them $240,000. I became aware we had security Services last year when I witnessed one of their security guards walk past a group of people in Flores Park after 10pm and did nothing. He didn’t make contact, he didn’t look in their direction or call dispatch he just locked the bathrooms and went on his way. I was blown away that I was the only person calling dispatch to report these people in the park after park hours.

What bothered me even more was back in 2008 when my family moved back into Rialto Flores Park went through a massive rash of gang activity and graffiti. I begged and pleaded with our city and police department for a permanent solution. The only solution was forcing people that had to live here to act as defacto security and patrol our own park. If there has been security in the city since 1995 what was their purpose? Why put residents in danger when we were PAYING security personnel to patrol those parks?

So I began asking around looking for a reason why this company had zero impact on keeping our parks safe. I came across numerous employees that told me a story that is all to common in contract security. The accusation is that General Security Services tells the city that they will do what they ask but tells its employees to drive without seeing the issues because it was to much trouble to get involved. Many security companies scare their employees with the thought of unemployment if they chose to involve themselves in illegal situations even with the simplest action of calling the police.

On Thursday June 20th I sat down with Marcus Fuller the Public Works Director, Mike Story the City Administrator, Lt. Bill Wilson with Rialto PD and Chief Tony Farrar. Mike Story, Bill Wilson & Marcus Fuller all admitted that monitoring the company that worked in the city had never really happened they were waiting for complaints. So they don’t tell you that they pay a company $240,000 a year to secure our public facilities and then expect you to complain about something that in your mind doesn’t exist.

So Councilman Shawn O’Connell asks Mike Story to evaluate any company that has had a long term contract with the city that has received numerous extensions. Thus the security contract was put out to bid and a strict set of guidelines was created to remove companies that didn’t conform to the guidelines set forth in the RFP. General Security Services did not conform to those guidelines and should have been removed from the process. Marcus Fuller made a decision to allow them to remain and complete the process, no other company was given this right.

Even though General was given the right to remain in the process they did not finish on the top and Contact Security Services was chosen by the committee to receive the contract. I was unhappy with this and not only placed calls to Mayor Robertson, Mike Story & Councilman O’Connell I went to council that night and spoke out about the $302,000 contract the city was handing out to a company that was no different than General if not worse. What Mayor Robertson did after that blew me away she instructed Marcus Fuller to go back to General and allow them to change their proposal to fit the RFP guidelines and come in $19,000 under Contact Security Inc. No other company was given this right only the company that was accused by city staff to be trolling council looking for an ear to bend.

The end result was Marcus Fuller after much prodding from Councilman Shawn O’Connell Marcus Fuller finally said who directed him to act in such an inappropriate way. Now General Security has a 90 day extension on the security contract and no one knows where things will go from here.

According to the Fair Political Practice Commission what Mayor Robertson and Public Works Director Marcus Fuller did looks illegal

‘ 18702. Making, Participating in Making, or Using or Attempting to Use Official Position

to Influence a Government Decision,

Defined.

(a) To determine if a public official is making, participating in making, or using or

attempting to use his/her official position to influence a government decision, apply 2 Cal. Code Regs. sections 18702.1 through 18702.4, respectively.

(b) Notwithstanding subdivision (a) of this regulation, to determine if a public official who holds an office specified in Government Code section 87200 is making, participating in making, or using or attempting to use his or her official position to influence a governmental decision relating to an agenda item which is noticed for a meeting subject to the provisions of the Bagley-Keene Act Government Code section 11120 et seq.) or the Brown Act (Government Code section 54950 et seq.) apply 2 Cal. Code Regs. sections 18702.1(a)(1)-(a)(4), 8702.2, 18702.3, 18702.4, and 18702.5. Note: Authority cited: Section 83112, Government Code. Reference: Sections 81002, 81003,

87100, 87101, 87105 and 87200, Government Code

Mayor Robertson claims that Downtown businesses that she spoke to like General Security Services. Luckily Councilman Ed Palmer owns a business in our Downtown and tells a different story. He speaks to Security staff either unwilling or unable to fulfill the post they were assigned. There is a massive disconnect between the people supervising the contract and the contract itself. For 18 years no one has monitored what WE have paid MILLIONS for.

Below is the link where you can see the meeting unfold for yourself if you want to skip straight to the Security Contract it is TAB 12.

http://rialto.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=355

Coffee with the Chief June

09 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Chief Mat Fratus, City of Rialto, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Flores Park, Inland Empire, Mike Story, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Police Department, SCAT, Shawn O'Connell, SWAT, youth

Coffee With the Chief is back after a one month break.

Coffee With Cheif June 2013001 Coffee with the Chief is a unique opportunity to speak to our cities top cop and his support staff about issues important to you.

This isn’t a political event it is a way to hear what our police have been up to, any new ideas or programs coming down the pipe and a forum to ask question or bring up your concerns.

Chief Fararr is normally joined by Captain De Anda, Lt Karol and Cpl Nelson the Community Policing officer.

Coco’s Resturant 1683 S. Riverside Ave

Please come out and join us this month at the Coco’s Resturant on the Corner of Riverside Ave and Valley Blvd.

June Events In Rialto

04 Jun 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Barbara A. McGee, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Mike Story, Omar Menjivar, Rialto, Rialto, Shawn O'Connell, youth Tags: budget, Car Show, cars, Coffee Nutz, entertainment, event, food, Run Whatcha Brung

Rialto has filled this summer with so many events and opportunities to get involved in will make your head spin. So lets not miss out lets see whatJune has to offer.

For the Rialto Post I would like to thank Councilman Shawn O’Connell and City Administrator Mike Story for helping me with this information. Also Councilwoman Lynn Hirtz for the work on bringing back the cruise night to Run Whatcha Brung.

Also Andy Carrizales on his 10th anniversary of his Coffee Shop and Ice Cream parlor.

The Rialto Community Coalition meeting will be held on June 5, 2013 from 9am -10am at the Johnson Community Center located at 214 N. Palm Ave. Room 101 Rialto, CA 92376. The purpose of the coalition meeting is to discuss local solutions to alcohol and other drug issues effecting our youth in Rialto. We hope you can attend. If you have any questions please feel free to contact Michael A. Townsend at (909)423-0312 or by email at mtownsend@mhsinc.org

Rialto PD Community outreach:

AREA COMMAND 3 MEETING @ 7:00 PM AT BLOOMINGTON CHRISTIAN SCHOOL.

955 S. BLOOMINGTON AVE. LT. WILSON & CODE ENFORCEMENT OFFICER SHEPHERD.

The NFL Play 60 is coming.

WE NEED KIDS!! WE NEED KIDS!! FREE FOR KIDS 5-11 YEARS OLD. PASS THE WORD.

Where: California State University of San Bernardino 5500 University Parkway, San Bernardino, CA

Date & Time: Sunday, June 23, 2013 9a.m.-11:30a.m. For Registration call the following number.

For Information 909-816-8801
Healthy Rialto Collaborative Meeting MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN YOUR COMMUNITY AND ATTEND THIS MEETING

June 6th at 6:00 PM at City Hall Council Chambers.
The city of Rialto is on the move to better the quality of life for it’s community and will would like to know what can we do to better our city for everyone. In order to accomplish this goal we truly need to know the ideas, concerns, wants and needs of our community. So come on over and share with us what can we do for you and your family’s quality of life.
Conversational Topics.
– Healthy Rialto Updates – Senior Nutrition Program – Farmer Bucks for Affordable Housing Residents – United State Tennis Association (USTA) Grant – Tennis 10 and Under Program (Coming Soon this July 2013) – First 5 Healthy Communities Initiative – Healthy Rialto Bike Rodeo – August 17, 2013 – Family Festival – Fitness Day in the Park – September 21, 2013
J. Omar Menjivar 858-380-8339

We start with Rialto, they have a lot on tap for this summer and it all looks super fun. Here is a list of the hot items:

Contact the Chamber of Commerce for more information, 909-875-5364.

Taste of Rialto is an opportunity to explore what the city has to offer in regards to food and drink a hidden gem of an event always brings out the local Rialto political players as well as dedicated people in the community.

June 7th – Foothill Blvd. between Sycamore & Riverside Ave., Rialto – 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM; June 8, 2013 – Downtown Rialto – 7:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Come out and enjoy all the fun!

Run Whatcha Brung is the opening event for the major car shows in the Inland Empire. This event has brought out awesome cars and interesting vendors. A special treat is the return of the Cruise Night the night before the car show. Come out June 7th and listen to music and cruise Route 66, then June 8th is the car Show and Shine in Downtown Rialto.

Come celebrate with us our 10 year anniversary!

RSVP @ www.homefair.eventbrite.com or call 909-988-5979

RSVP @ http://www.homefair.eventbrite.com or call 909-988-5979

Home Buyer Fair gives you:

The Facts of home ownership, Down Payment assistance, Affordable Homes for sale, Pre Approved for a home loan & Real Estate Services Provided.

Every Wednesday, from 10:00 am – 2:00 pm, Rialto City Hall, 150 S. Palm Ave. (Grass Area off South Parking Lot). For more info, please contact the Rialto City Clerk’s Office at (909) 820-2519 or cityclerk@rialtoca.gov.

Lets also not forget the city of Rialto’s Farmers Market every Wednesday.

City of Rialto

Public Works Department

Park Clean—Up Days 8am—12 pm

June 8, 2013 Jerry Eaves Park 1485 N. Ayala Ave.

City of Rialto’s 11th Annual Memorial Day Tribute

24 May 2013 Leave a comment

Image by rialto-now

Good neighbor property pride award -Post your home and or nominate your neighbor!

16 May 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Andy Carrizales, beautification comittee, Ca, City of Rialto, Coffee Nutz, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Inland Empire, Rialto, Shawn O'Connell Tags: Andy Carrizales

http://www.rialtoca.gov/
https://www.facebook.com/CityOfRialtoCommissionerAndyCarrizales

Also Check out Andy Carrizales new page https://www.facebook.com/CityOfRialtoCommissionerAndyCarrizales

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown to Honor Women From the 47th District

23 Apr 2013 1 Comment

by rialto-now in and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy, Assemblymember-Elect Cheryl Brown, Ca, City of Rialto, Colton, davidsMarketing, Deborah Robertson, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Inland Empire, Rialto, San Bernardino Tags: Councilmember Darcy McNaboe, current-events, deputy district director, government, Mayor Sarah Zamora, Mrs. Lisha Smith, politics, south coast air quality management district

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown to Honor Women From the 47^th District

SAN BERNARDINO – Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown (D-San Bernardino) will host her 1^st Annual Breaking the Glass Ceiling Awards Reception on Friday, April 26 at the Vanir Tower in San Bernardino. During the event, Assemblymember Brown will honor a number of key women leaders throughout the 47^th Assembly District who have broken down barriers to help create opportunities for other women.

This year’s honorees are all women who have broken the proverbial ceiling; they include Mayor Deborah Robertson, City of Rialto; Mayor Sarah Zamora, City of Colton; Councilmember Darcy McNaboe, City of Grand Terrace; and Mrs. Lisha Smith, deputy executive officer of the Legislative and Public Affairs Office at the South Coast Air Quality Management District (AQMD).

Our Mayor is being honored at this event

Mayor Deborah Robertson broke the glass ceiling when she was elected as the first African American and woman mayor of Rialto on November 4, 2012. Prior to her successful election, Mayor Robertson served on the Rialto City Council for twelve years. She’s active in various community organizations and is the past deputy district director of external affairs for the California Department of Transportation, Los Angeles and Ventura counties. She retired from the State of California after 20 years, where she oversaw a budget of nearly $4 million.

Mayor of the City of Colton

Mayor Sarah Zamora broke the glass ceiling when she was appointed in August 2011 to serve as mayor for the remaining term vacated by her late husband and former mayor, David R. Zamora. Mayor Zamora represents the City of Colton as a member on several local and regional agencies, boards and committees, and is an avid supporter of business retention; community programs and events that benefit families and the elderly. Prior to her appointment, she was elected in 2000 to serve as a Colton City Councilmember.

Councilmember city of Grand Terrace

Councilmember Darcy McNaboe was elected to the Grand Terrace City Council in 2010 and re-elected in 2012. Councilmember McNaboe broke the glass ceiling when she spearheaded an inclusive veterans memorial called the “Veterans Wall of Freedom” in Grand Terrace. As principal and founder of Village Enterprises, she provides assistance to business owners as they manage development and growth. She also works with clients to design and implement action plans. Prior to her consulting firm, she spent over 20 years working for small technology and manufacturing companies. She was founder and principal of a small product design and manufacturing business in Riverside.

Mrs. Lisha Smith initially broke the glass ceiling when she became the deputy chief of staff to San Bernardino County Supervisor Josie Gonzales, 5^th District. She shattered the glass ceiling once again when she became the deputy executive officer (DEO) of the Legislative and Public Affairs Office at AQMD in October 2012. As DEO, Mrs. Smith directs the agency’s public outreach and education programs, small business assistance, local government and environmental justice programs, as well as its state and federal legislative activities.

For more information, contact (909) 381-3238.

Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown represents the 47th Assembly District, which includes Colton, Fontana, Grand Terrace, Rialto, San Bernardino, and the unincorporated communities of Bloomington and Muscoy.

Website of Assemblymember Cheryl R. Brown: http://www.asmdc.org/members/a47/.

City Council Meeting Tonight

09 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Budget, Ca, Chief Mat Fratus, City of Rialto, Crime, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Flores Park Neighborhood Watch, In & Out, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Lazy, Nieghborhood Watch, paramedic ambulances, Public Safety, Rialto, Rialto, Rialto Fire, Shawn O'Connell, youth Tags: government

Tonight is the City of Rialto’s Council Meeting. Below I have highlighted some of the items that will be on the Agenda Tonight.

We have 3 proclomations ranging from Public Safety to Earth Day.

PRESENTATIONS AND PROCLAMATIONS

Proclamation – National Public Safety Telecommunications Week.

Proclamation – Jazz Appreciation Month.

Proclamation – Earth Day.

This is on the Consent Calendar under Miscellaneous:

D.3 is spending another $5 Thousand to use full time referees verses part time referees becuase of a shortage of the part time staff. With unemployment still at all time highs why are we finding it hard to pay part time refs? Are we looking at all or are we simply taking the easy way out? www.facebook.com/InlandEmpireJobSeekers has about 10 job fairs listed in the Inland Empire I’m sure Rialto can find some part time refs there.

D.3

Request City Council to increase KCALS Officials Purchase Order 2013-0212

amount from $14,900.00 to $20,400.00 for KCALS Officials.

Looks like we will see some more work on how Elected Officals are paid for travel that always sounds good.

D.8

Request City Council to adopt Resolution No. 6247 revising Policy on

Reimbursement of Expenses of Elected Officials.

Now onto the Tab Items:

Tab 2 is a Grant that will allow us better staffing within our Fire Department. I am extremly happy with the Public Safety effort in Rialto to protect us while finding other sources of paying for that safety.

TAB 2

Request City Council to adopt Resolution No. 6240, 6241, and 6242,

Ratifying Acceptance of the FY 2012 Staffing for Adequate Fire and

Emergency Response (S.A.F.E. R.) grant from the Department of Homeland

Security (DHS)/Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) in the

amount of $2,856,816.

http://www.ci.rialto.ca.us/documents/downloads/Regulare_Meeting_Agenda_4-9-2013.pdf

I think its vital that we show up to every single council meeting we possibly can. I have been MIA for the last 2 months but I try to watch them at home or on the internet. We must watch what is said and done becuase in the end we are the ones paying for the councils desicions.

One thing that I saw last meeting (via the Web) was how grossly we under estimated the costs of the In & Out Project. That project is now going to cost the city another $$600K+ because they under estimated the cost of the freeway sign and forgot to add in the cost of the Rod Iron Fence and Under Water Catch Basin for the project.

I want an In & Out but not at the cost of the taxpayers. I wish the city would have went to the leaders at the City of Highland Ca and learned how to build a In & Out without draining tax dollars.

City Council and Travel Spending

07 Apr 2013 Leave a comment

by rialto-now in Barbara A. McGee, Budget, Ca, City of Rialto, Deborah Robertson, Ed palmer, Inland Empire, Joe Baca Jr, Rialto, Rialto, Shawn O'Connell Tags: government, politics

Ok first of all I am so glad that I can watch council meetings via the internet that already happened. I was told to watch last week’s council meeting by a few select individuals and I was like ok, whatever the agenda was light a couple issues I wish I could speak on but all in all light.

Then I watched the meeting and boy was I surprised! First of all finally council members are pulling that horrid Consent Calendar apart and showing it for what it is a place to dump crazy spending. I was told to watch for the re-emergence of money being spent on an outside company to bring back Measure “V” that was pulled by Council Member Joe Baca Jr. The item read as follows:

Request City Council to approve a Professional Services Agreement

with USI Consulting for development and implementation of an

alternative strategy to a ballot measure to increase fuel tax revenues

from petroleum storage facilities in the City of Rialto in an amount not to

exceed $47,500.

We will get back to this in a minute.

You see Councilman Shawn O’Connell pulled a warrant for City Clerk Barbara McGee to be paid for her trip to Washington D.C. She apparently went to the Convention of Mayors with Mayor Deborah Robertson a three day event and stayed for the Inauguration of President Obama.

First of all we just gave them another 5 years on the Utility Tax and they all pledged publicly and privately that they would do 2 things:

1. Be Financially responsible with the tax money we give them.

2. Work on a way to break away from the need for this money anymore without reducing the city services.

I think Councilman O’Connell has some good points. He should be able to ask the City Clerk what she did while on this trip and the City Clerk should answer him. What I have learned in life when people act evasive or give you the silent treatment there is an issue there. Apparently Barbara McGee still refuses to tell us the people what she did in Washington.

I will take Councilman O’Connell’s question a step further. What value did her trip have to the city of Rialto and the tax payers that pay those taxes? City Administrator Mike Story made 2 statements. One was that he approved the City Clerk to extend her stay in Washington D.C. beyond the time of the Mayors Conference. Two that he would do it again.

Its my opinion that the Mayors conference is merely a way for mayors to insert themselves into National Policy. Also why would the city pay our elected officials to attend the Inauguration of President Obama? What value did this trip bring for Rialto?

Furthermore any further travel that taxpayers are paying for I think it would be good to report back to us what value there was for the citizens. IE I went to the International Shopping Center Convention and these following businesses were interested in doing business with Rialto.

Now to D4 we are paying a company to use their contacts to get to talk to the operators of the Tank Farms is a waste of money. The city did such a good job with Measure “W” why not use that same hard work and spirit of community to work out something with these operators.

Finally I would call on Mayor Robertson and whoever else goes with her to the International Council of Shopping Centers Convention to report back to us what value the Convention was to the City.

http://rialto.granicus.com/MediaPlayer.php?view_id=2&clip_id=331