03/09/2010CITY OF GRAND TERRACE
CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
REGULAR MEETING - MARCH 9, 2010
A regular meeting of the City Council of the City of Grand Terrace was called to order in the Council
Chambers, Grand Terrace Civic Center, 22795 Barton Road, Grand Terrace, California, on March
9, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
PRESENT: Maryetta Ferre, Mayor
Lee Ann Garcia, Mayor Pro Tem
Bea Cortes, Councilmember
Jim Miller, CounciImember
Walt Stanckiewitz, Councilmember
Betsy M. Adams, City Manager
Brenda Mesa, City Clerk
Bernard Simon, Finance Director
Joyce Powers, Community & Economic Development Director
Richard Shields, Building & Safety Director
John Harper, City Attorney
Sgt. Joe Palamino, San Bernardino County Sheriff's Department
ABSENT: John Salvate, San Bernardino County Fire Department
CONVENE CITY COUNCIL MEETING
The City Council meeting was opened with Invocation by Mayor Pro Tern Lee Ann Garcia,
followed by the Pledge of Allegiance led by Councilman Walt Stanckiewitz.
Councilmember Jim Miller requested to make a statement prior to item 1 on the Agenda.
Councilmember Jim Miller, it is with a heavy heart that I bring you this message. As of March 10,
2010 I will have tendered my resignation as a Grand Terrace Council Member. Currently my
Attorney is negotiating with the San Bernardino County District Attorney's Office to reach a
successful disposition of that case and we are scheduled to make another court appearance on May
4, 20 1 0. I'm continuing to work for a j ust outcome in order to maintain my unblemished reputation.
Both Margie and I have high standards and expectations of ourselves and we are extremely saddened
by these events that have brought unfavorable attention to our community and to ourselves. Margie
who owns the City News as her sole and separate property have provided a service at the request of
City Staff. I have provided a copy of our prenuptial agreement to the City Attorney we have adhered
to our prenuptial agreement for over 20 years therefore we honestly believed that I had no financial
interest in Margie's newspaper. Trusting what I reasonably believed to be reliable advice and
information I voted to approve several consent calendars that included payments to the newspaper
for legal and other advertising. I now know that I should have been told to abstain from voting on
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those line items on the consent calendar. Had I been told by anyone that this might have been a
potential conflict of interest I would have abstained. Certain legal notices are required by law to be
published in a newspaper of general circulation for the City. There was no indication of any conflict
of interest or wrong doing for more than two years before I was informed of a potential conflict of
interest at which time I stopped voting on the item and Margie stopped doing business with the City.
It should be noted that the City Staff required that pricing for all publications be at the same rate as
all other newspapers in the area. It was apparent to me that the City Staff and Councilmembers knew
that Margie owned the newspaper. Yet no one ever suggested that I had a conflict of interest or
should abstain from voting on that item on the consent calendar. Some people have said that I
should stay on Council but the law is the law and the conflict of interest laws are complicated and
confusing. Its purpose is to protect the public from self dealing. Hopefully many of you know us
well enough to realize that we would never attempt to enrich ourselves or hurt the community in any
way. Unfortunately the responsibility of not fully understanding the conflict of interest laws falls
squarely on my shoulders and I must deal with the consequences that it brings. It has been my
pleasure to serve our community. We hope that you will understand as we begin the healing phase
of this terrible event and you will continue to support as you have in the past. I can't say enough
positive things about the legion of supporters that have written letters, signed petitions and attending
each of the trial dates personally in support of me. Margie has said from the beginning she will pay
the monies back to the City for running the legal ads, that is the type of honorable person she is and
she has been given the green light by our attorney to do so without any further legal reprocutions
being added. Finally, I hope before anything like this ever happens again that whoever brought this
ugliness out would not do so for political gain but rather bring it to the attention of their fellow
Councilmembers before the devastation of public humiliation falls upon them and upon the
community. Thank you for entrusting me with the honor of being a councilman for Grand Terrace
for the past five and a half years and I promise you that I will remain a watch dog for the Community
I love. I want to thank all those who have supported us. Any time that you have good friends and
good friends are those that support you no matter what's going on. They will be there at your darkest
hour and we have had many. Both Margie and I know who they are, we have seen them come
forward. They have been there both at the court and at our home and I love everyone of you that
have helped us in every way that you can. We will continue this fight and we will remember
everyone and we thank you so much for what you have done and the support that you have given us.
Finally I want to thank my wife who has been a rock. It has been very difficult because there is so
much collateral damage that comes with this. When I made the mistake of not abstaining or recusing
myself I didn't know what was going to be brought upon her at that time and she has been beside me
all this time and in the future and I know that we will come out of this, we always do, we have been
fighters all our life and I hate that we are not fighting harder but just know that we are there and we
will always remember everyone of you. Thank you again for letting me be a councilman and serve
you all. Thank you.
Mayor Maryetta Ferre, stated that she is sorry that it has come to this.
Mayor Pro Tern Lee Ann Garcia, stated that she is shocked and is at a loss for wards. She has
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enjoyed working with Mr. Miller and will greatly miss him. She prays for the best for Jim and
Margie and their family.
Councilmember Bea Cortes, expressed her surprise at this statement. She stated that he has done a
tremendous job for the City and that he has been a good Councilmember. She expressed her respect
for him.
Councilmember Walt Stanckiewitz, stated that he was hoping that he would never have to read this.
This evening has been extremely sad and full of anguish for me. I'm watching a fellow City
Councilmember being forced to resign to the underground politics in this City. I am very
disappointed in my contemporaries tonight. You share responsibility for this tragedy. When citizens
of this community asked you to show your support for Jim you three thumbed your noses at them
and refused to take a stand publicly for one of your own in passing a non binding resolution to
support Jim. Shame on all of you. I hope I am never in a situation that I might need your help or
support. Some of you share the same risk and you should be very careful in future with your actions
and votes on items and resolutions. Conflict of Interest Laws have been around for a long time and
our residents have now had a first hand personal lesson on these laws, they will be watching all of
you, all of us. Our political system also has a mechanism for remedying ill advised actions on our
part, they are called elections. Mr. Harper, our City Attorney, your hands are soiled in this case also.
One of your responsibilities to this City and the Council is to advise and protect us from possible
wrong doings, questionable actions and perceived improprieties. We are not full time politicians
with personal staffs to advise us. In the future I would suggest that you do your homework on these
types of issues before you render an opinion. Know what each Councilmember is all about, there
are only five of us. We will all be better off if you do. Lastly to District Attorney Ramos, I ask that
you and your organization, your public integrity unit, vow, commit, promise to apply the law
consistently to every politician and not fulfill political favors for friends and or supporters of your
political future. The voters of Grand Terrace have been awakened through these events and they will
be watching you to see if you apply these conflict of interest laws consistently. You and your staff
have a lot of work to do in restoring the confidence of our residents in your organization. Lastly to
Jim and Margie, I am so sorry that this has happened.
Mayor Maryetta Ferre, knows that this has been very hard for you and your family for your wife and
for the City. I want to thank you personally for all the contributions you have made to this City
Council. You and I have had a good working relationship and I am going to miss that relationship
on the Council. You have done an excellent job. I wish you and your family only the best from this
point on. I am sorry that it has come to this.
ITEMS TO ADD/DELETE - None
SPECIAL PRESENTATIONS
A. Proclamation - Boys Scouts of America 100" Anniversary
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Mayor Pro Tern Lee Ann Garcia read a Proclamation recognizing the impact of the Boys
Scouts of America and the importance of its 100 years of service to the citizens of Grand
Terrace and the communities across America.
CONSENT CALENDAR
CC•2010-21 MOTION BY MAYOR PRO TEM GARCIA, SECOND BY COUNCILMEMBER
CORTES, CARRIED 5-0, to approve the following Consent Calendar Items:
3A. Approve Check Register Dated 03-09-2010
3B. Waive Full Reading of Ordinances on Agenda
3C. Approval of 02-23-2010 Minutes
3D. City Annual Financial Statement - FY 2008-09
3E. Fiscal Year 2009-10 Quarterly Financial Update - December 31, 2009
3F. Fiscal Year 2009-10 Grand Terrace CERT Grant Funds
3G. FY 2008 Homeland Security Grant Program Funds
PUBLIC COMMENT
Laura Austin, 12356 Michigan, Jim we are going to miss you. Grand Terrace, this is a very
very sad night. We're losing one of the best Councilmembers we have ever had and why?
You made a big mistake Jim, you shouldn't have relied on the City Attorney and Steve Berry
and you should have known that you were going to be stabbed in the back by another
Councilmember who has her own agenda. We all in the City know who that person is and
that person has done more than Jim's little mistake that he didn't do deliberately. That
persons mistake was not a mistake it was done on purpose. This Council should ask for that
persons resignation. That person should not be on the City Council. Until DA Ramos grows
his back bone and does something about the complaints that have gone into his office, that
Councilperson who says she loves this City should think more of the City and resign and do
it immediately.
Francine Sandoval, 22950 De Berry, one of the heaviest things that we can carry in life is a
guilty conscious. It's the thing that we have to go to sleep with at night and the thing that we
have to wake up with every morning. It comes as a result of compromise, compromising the
things that are right that we know to do are right internally and because of political gain,
money or power prestige or any of these things it comes and deteriorates the fabric of our
families, our cities, our society our Country. I am glad for you Jim that you get to walk into
the future of light not heavy, not with a heavy guilty conscious because you've stood and
done what's right. I want you to know how much that is appreciated and that that legacy is
what is important. It is what is building our cities, our families and our countries and even
though the injustices seem to be the things that are externally rewarded. I want you to know
that what's really impacting the next generation, people like me that want to see the right
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things done are people like you who even with their own personal loss refuse to act without
integrity. I want you to know how much I appreciate you standing in the leadership of our
City and putting yourself in that place and I hope other people will take an example from you
and the kind of leadership that we as the next generation are looking for. We are not looking
for crookedness and for people that are looking for their own personal gain. We are looking
for people that are going to stand for what is right and do what is right for our families, for
our children and for our Country. Thank you Jim.
Debra Hurst, 22950 Orangewood Court, I have known Jim Miller for over 20 years. I believe
him to be a honorable person and full of integrity. Jim Miller is a fine man with a perfect
record who upon the advice of the City Attorney voted to pay bills to City News on a check
register consent calendar. He never voted to send business to Margie's paper. There is no
contract. Jim Miller does not seek to earn a living by sitting on committees and voting for
things that do not benefit the people who elected him. This is not true of some other
councilpersons. The citizens of Grand Terrace know what really happened and that is why
we demanded the termination of Steve Berry and we the citizens will deal with Bea Cortes
at the next election. Jim Miller has been punished for serving his community. He and his
wife Margie are good people and do not deserve the devastation that this has caused to their
lives. It will be hard to get good people like Jim Miller to run for offices if this is what they
can expect just because you don't agree with a fellow Councilmember. Bea Cartes has been
overheard making the statement that she will make sure that Jim Miller will have to step
down from the Council. This is the Miller's integrity and I know that they will continue to
fight for their integrity till the end. It is a shame that they have to spend their time, money
and energy on this. For the first time since I moved to Grand Terrace, 25 years ago, I `m
ashamed to say that I am from this City.
Margie Miller, 22996 Palm Avenue, tonight for the first time ever you put your needs in front
of the community. You have served this community well. I am so very very proud of you
in everything that you have ever done in your whole life. I love you with all my heart. I
think, with all due respect to the other council and past council people here in the audience,
that you are the best councilman this community has ever had and I thank you.
Terrilee Robb, 12168 Mt. Vernon Avenue #28, I use to feel good about living in Grand
Terrace. The community was cohesive, it's leading citizens were respected. Once one felt
there was transparency about its activities and openness. No one had anything to hide
because no one was doing anything to be ashamed of. Those days are gone. Like many
others, I now feel nothing but disdain for our city leaders. This City and its Council have
lately watched the destruction of a man, Jim Miller, and his family and for what reason?
Petty, malicious motives, enabled by a corrupt and vicious system have allowed ludicrous
charges to be made against a man whose integrity you have all seen during his years of
participation in the betterment of his community. The charges are bogus in my opinion and
this City Council is tainted by its inaction in the face of this ongoing prosecution. I can not
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adequately express my dismay. Before this tragic fiasco I naively believed that at least my
local elected officials would not turn their backs on injustice. I expected honor. I expected
outrage. Your silence in this case destroys your credibility as trustworthly public figures and
respectable private citizens. The charges are bogus in my opinion and this City Council is
tainted by its inaction in the face of this ongoing persecution. It aligns you with the petty,
malicious and corrupt, if you're silent you are on the other side. I look to you to redeem
yourselves in the eyes of your electorate by climbing off the political fence and declaring
publicly your support for one who emanately deserves it. I ask you to take a stand.
Gene Carlstrom, 12034 La Crosse, former Councilman, I have agonized over this for quite
some time, lost a lot of sleep thinking about what has happened. For Jim Miller's sake, I
would hope that the Council would not accept his resignation, I don't believe that he
deserves that. Around 1997, a member of the Lion's Club resigned, the letter was read in the
board meeting and the board elected not to accept the resignation and this gentleman went
on to be the president of the club in the year 2000. I think we better take a look at this.
Bernardo Sandoval, 22950 DeBerry, in 1978 a group of men stood and saw a piece of land
that could be a City. Courageous individuals in the face of adversity, circumstances,
situations, they fought and established the City of Grand Terrace. Men that fought against
overwhelming odds and circumstances. Jim your courageousness has deeply touched me and
it has affected me because in the landscape of politics there are very few who stand for what
is right and just. Very few who act on behalf of what is right for the people in an
environment where we see laws that are made and created and moved by campaign donors
in a County that does not respect the rule of law. And in a County where the District
Attorney uses the rule of law to intimidate individuals and create campaign slogans because
he is up in a tough election in June and destroys good men and then proclaims he is
protecting the people of Grand Terrace from corruption. Jim you have stood for what is right
and I can not tell you or put into words how much I appreciate and respect you. Bea Cortes
I want to understand if you were the one that reported to the District Attorney this conflict
of interest along with Steve Berry. That is what I have read, it is what I understand. I want
to know if it is true. I am asking to know. I believe that the people of Grand Terrace have
the right to know if it was you or if it was not you. If it was not you I will be the first to
apologize to you. If it was you that is criminal because the appearance is not to protect
Grand Terrace, it appears from the outside that the intent was to marginalize an individual
who was opposed to promoting Steve Berry for the permanent City Manager position. I
believe that we deserve to know what is true and what is not. Walt thank you also for your
courage in this. I didn't know you, Jim, prior to all of this madness. When I saw you at the
court hearing, I thought finally there is an individual that cares more about what is right than
some type of political angle or being on the right side of a vote because leadership and
courageousness is not being on the right side of the vote Maryetta it's being on the side of
what is right and had this Council passed a non binding resolution in support of Jim Miller,
do you have an understanding of what it would have done for Jim's case.
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U Anne C. Wade Hornsby, 22656 Brentwood Street, as someone has mentioned several weeks
ago when this Council met on very important matters, there was no t.v. where other people
could see what was going on here. I think reality t.v. doesn't get better than this. We have
every possible component, matters of illegal deals that have been made, monetary
mismanagement, classless behavior. Council is here to represent their constituency. I have
attended Riverside City Council Meetings for 30 years when I lived there and we went
through a lot but at least I never had the feeling that the Council was ignoring people that
were genuinely interested in what was happening to their city. We have the same people, in
all honesty, come to meeting after meeting, that genuinely want this City to be successful.
We want correct decisions made whether it be the redevelopment agency or the senior center.
We will come up and give our opinions but we need to feel that they are at least listened to.
The truck situation is an illegal thing that never should have happened and it's your court to
make those decisions for us. We can present you with our opinions but you are the people
that have to support them. I always had the feeling that Jim Miller supported that. The thing
is it's as if we are talking to someone who isn't listening and the City Council will be
representing us after the next election. Doing the right thing is the most important thing. Jim
always did that for us.
Raina Baal, 12632 Mirado Avenue, tonight I speak in support of Jim Miller and his wife
Margie. Over the past several years I have had the pleasure to know Jim and Margie and to
have known them as the pillar couple of community service in our City and provide countless
hours of service to our community and involvement within. Be of support of many
organizations not only within our city but in our nearby neighboring cities. You have
supported our local youth, basketball, baseball, and soccer teams by sponsoring them. Over
the years I have seen t-shirts proudly listing you as a sponsor as well as plaques proudly
bearing your name as supporters. Also you have been helping support the cookie sales with
girl scouts just recently with my daughters and their troop. In the recent past you helped to
charter the cub scout pack 242 and supported them in numerous events like their car washes.
You both have helped to support other organizations out of the goodness of your hearts. You
have been supporters and members of the Lions, Kiawanis, Margie you have been involved
in the Woman's Club, the Citizen's Volunteer Patrol, the local C.E.R.T. team. You both
have also helped the JDR. During the time that you helped also on the Council, you helped
during the time that the Crest Apartments caught on fire. You helped collect money and
resources for the fire victims. While Kyle Bacon was battling cancer you unselfishly raised
money to help pay for the surgeries and help support his family. For Christmas you have
aided the Woman's Club in collecting toys and food for children and families who could not
afford. While discussing a name for a local high school you were right along side us citizens
to support the naming of the high school and at the school board meeting holding signs and
at the rallies. Every year at Grand Terrace Day, you and Margie print a paper, a paper that
publishes for free a list of the local businesses that get involved and the sponsors for the
event and you showcase our grand day. In addition your paper has seen and has been seen
as a community resource that weekly prints for free of charge obituaries, upcoming
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community events, lost and found pets, public comments and many many more items. While
supporting our community you Jim have managed to have a real job as a real property
manager for San Bernardino County and you go above and beyond. Thank you Jim for your
service.
Donna Zinchuck, 12632 Mirado Avenue, City Council I have been here since 1968. I went
to Terrace View Junior High and I went to Colton High School and graduated from there and
I still wear my class ring. I am so proud of this city, I have seen it grow. For those of you
who have not been here for 40 years plus, GTI, remember that market, that was our market.
We became a city, the City Council has made this into a City that we should all be proud of.
Jim, I did not know the mess you were in when I met you. I met you and Margie and had a
great time, you are down to earth people. I would have never known that there was any
problem. Looking at the City Council, I would say that you are here for our City but are you
here for each other, are you here for each individual person of Grand Terrace or are you here
only to see how you can gain more money? How you can spend more money? How you can
misappropriate? Jim, yes I am in support of you, I don't know how you have voted on
things. So I'm not going sit here and say yeah Jim you've done everything great. Because
I don't know, I don't know any of you but I can tell you that you were elected to do right by
this city and if you can't do that get out. Don't be forced out.
Lindsey Stanckiewitz, 11806 Arliss Way, I'm disappointed and I'm sad but I'm not hereto
point fingers at anyone on the Council for wrong doing because people have already done
that. I'm here to tell Jim that no matter what you've decided or where this goes that you will
have my support. I want to thank you for a great job that you have done. Although I haven't
lived here for very long, the two years that I have you have been really good. Dad thank you
for saying what many people have wanted to say for a very long time.
Paul Chabot, 12223 Highland Avenue, #106-228 Rancho Cucamonga, introduced himself
to the residents and Council. He announced that he is a conservative Republican running for
State Assembly in the 63`d, which is a open Assembly Seat. He will be in the community
introducing himself.
Patricia Farley, 12513 Michigan, I want to first call attention that I read a very important
statement that I wrote and it was printed in the City News but since you didn't put the
meeting over the air I hope everybody reads what I wrote about past conflict of interest in this
City that I read here at the last Council Meeting. I also want to tell you that when I got
involved in trying to find out what was going on because there were red flags all over. I
specifically called Mr. Harper and I begged for somebody to please guide our Council and
address these conflict of interests and the improper processing in blatant violation of the law
of things that the Council was doing. You've really let me down Mr. Harper. I'm sorry, you
treated me light I wanted you to represent me and our City has been seriously damaged with
your services. You would have to be idiot to be on this Council, you have destroyed his life,
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U you've cost him thousands of dollars. Do you know that the law says when you do that to
a innocent person the City Council, the City is obligated to pay the legal fees. The damages
for Jim Miller, I am angry that you have wasted our money but boy do you owe him money.
You need to make him whole. This is not justice. Mr. Ramos, District Attorney, his
integrity unit, I sent documents that should have really opened his eyes and instead he
ignored them. His unit does not have anything to do with integrity and everybody in this City
needs to remember at election time what that District Attorney's office has done to this city.
This is unjust to us because we have three members of this Council that have long time
members that have controlled this city and controlled our Council and we don't want you
assigning someone for Jim Miller's seat we want proper representation and were not getting
it. How dare you ask us for millions of dollars more. I have met one person in this City that
I go to to find out the accurate documents and the accurate information and the integrity and
it's not anyone managing this City and that is a disgrace. You should be embarrassed. I want
to thank Mr. Stanckiewitz, you have the one business in this City that I know people come
to from outside of this City.
Thelma Winkler Beach, 12570 Mt. Vernon Avenue, words can't express what I feel for Jim
and Margie Miller. If we're losing Jim Miller, our best councilperson, because of his actions
based on the advice he received from our City Attorney, then we need a new Attorney. I
would suggest that the new Council and the Manger take this suggestion seriously and begin
a search for an attorney made knowledgeable of the real law and one who doesn't consider
himself or herself above the law and indispensable. I'd like to share a letter that I wrote to
Mr. Ramos: The measure of a man is in his ability to admit you made a mistake. I urge you,
Mr. Ramos, to add your stature and admit that you made a mistake when you filed charges
of conflict of interest by Jim Miller. If Jim was the only person serving on the Grand Terrace
Council I wouldn't be writing this letter. But the fact is there were five sitting on the dias
that night and if Jim Miller is guilty then all five of the Council should be charge with the
violation. They all knew Jim's wife was the owner of the Grand Terrace News and any one
of the five could have requested that the issue be pulled from the calendar to be discussed.
No one did. Mr. Ramos, you aren't the guardian of justice, you have perverted your position,
you need to resign. Of course he did not answer that. I am hereto say we're losing a good
man and one of our best Councilmembers.
Tony Fetta, 11875 Eton Drive, Mayor Ferrd I want to join you in thanking Jim Miller for his
contribution to the City Council. I followed Councilmembers from day one and we have had
great councils all the way down the line. This is no exception. I have known Jim better as
a Lion. I worked with you shoulder to shoulder in the Lions Club. I know you as a
humanitarian as so I want to commend you for that. You are a tremendous individual and
you always take the side of the under dog and that is what made you an outstanding
Councilmember.
Maria Fraser, 7252 Taege Ranch Road, obviously I don't live in the City any longer but I'm
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an active community member and I also have a business here. I've become active in the
community because of Jim and Margie who I think are pillars to this community. I'm really
sorry Jim, that it has come to this. I hope that they don't accept your resignation. I'd like to
see you continue on. Walt I give you kuddos for saying things that the rest of us have been
thinking but don't have the guts to say. I wish you luck Jim, I will support you. I think that
you and Margie are great pillars to this community and an example and inspiration to the rest
of us.
Jewlie Movers, 22805 Kentfield Street, Jim I know that this was hard for you tonight. One
of the things that I can't understand is why Ramos had it in the deal that you had to step
down, which leads me to believe that someone wants your position or there is some other
kind of retaliation going on. Walt, I loved what you had to say. I don't understand why you
three didn't support him and sign a simple petition. He is a good man and he and his family
did not deserve to go through this. I think anyone that knows the Millers they know that they
are good people and they know their standards are high. Walt, one of the things I do want
to ask you is what was said by Bea Cartes on your anniversary about her relationship with
Ramos? There was a relationship with Ramos and then I see the things in the paper about
conflict of interest and Bea Cortes. Jim should have never had to go through this. I don't
wish it on anyone but turn about is fair play. We're going to miss you Jim and I wish they
wouldn't accept your resignation.
City Manager Betsy M. Adams, we have a contract employee who televises the programming
of the Council Meetings. Last week he was unable to attend and did not advise Staff that he
would not be able to fulfill that responsibility prior to the start of the Council Meeting. At
that point in time we did not have City Employees fully trained to operated the equipment,
we have since made arrangements and are starting to train city employees so that we have a
backup if the contract person is not able to fulfill the requirement of filming a meeting in the
future.
COUNCIL REPORTS
Mayor Pro Tem Garcia, stated that Jim did not share with her, however, it would appear that
Councilman Stanckiewitz probably had an inkling that this was coming. I have spoke with
Jim personally and he never shared this information with her and she was caught off guard.
She respects the decision that he makes. She requested that the Director of Building and
Safety/Public Works Richard Shields talk about the power outages that are scheduled by
Southern California Edison on March 15, 2010 so that the residents can be prepared for that.
Building and Safety/Public Works Director Richard Shields, responded that Edison is
planning on installing numerous remote control type devices on telephone poles and also in
the street vaults. These devices will help isolate outages so that it doesn't take two or three
hours to find out where the problem is. It's a real benefit for the City. It is suppose to only
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take about three minutes to isolate a problem. The power should only be off for about five
minutes if they have to take the power down.
Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, requested that any information be placed on the website so that the
residents are aware. Tuesday March 16, 2010 the Colton Joint Unified School District will
be the guest speaker at the Chamber of Commerce Monthly luncheon. She thanked Stephen
Wall for doing a nice article on the Route 25. On Tuesday March 16, 2010 at noon there will
be a transit meeting for seniors to identify the needs for public transportation and at 1:30 they
will be discussing Route 25 at the Senior Center. Market Night will be back on May 3, 2010.
The Art Show will be held on May 2, 2010.
Councilmember Bea Cortes, questioned if the members of Omnitrans will be able to vote on
whether the route through Grand Terrace will be eliminated.
Mayor Pro Tern Garcia, responded that she is in conversation with the CEO, Milo Victoria,
and they are having conversations with RTA. Eventually she believes that they will,
however, they are still trying to determine where they are. It is important for residents to call
and let them know that we want to keep the route.
Councilmember Cortes, reported that the City received a check from MHET (Manufacturing
Housing Educational Trust) which is one of the organizations that she attends meetings that
will go to the community gardens at the Senior Center.
Councilmember Jim Miller, thanked everyone that came and spoke in support of him.
Councilmember Walt Stanckiewitz, also thanked everyone for their comments and support
for Jim Miller. Grand Terrace High School has a mascot, they are going to be called the
Titans and their colors will be turquoise and black. Both of which were chosen by the 7`h and
8" graders.
PUBLIC HEARINGS - None
UNFINISHED BUSINESS - None
NEW BUSINESS
8A. Resolution Accepting the City of Grand Terrace Community Redevelopment
Agency's Report to City Council for Amendment No. 6 to the Redevelopment Plan
for the Grand Terrace Community Redevelopment Project and Consenting to a Joint
Public Hearing
Patricia Farley, 12513 Michigan, pointed out to everyone that this Amendment is the same
Council Minutes
03;`09i'2010
Page 12
thing that was used to take care of blighted properties for which people working in this City
that shouldn't have qualified got homes. Including our former City Manager. This money
has not been used properly, it has been misused for years and it also takes away all of the
requirements of the General Plan. She feels that it gives the Council too much power and the
citizens none. Your meetings on these items are at times when citizens can't come. Nothing
is discussed, maps aren't proven. They have proved and researched and the Council does not
respect them enough to show documents that prove otherwise. All of the General Plan and
a lot of other plans in this City are based on this type of false information that has been given
out. Properties have been trashed and business development has been interfered with. She
wants people to use common sense. Actual business development has been interfered with
by playing favorites and wasting money. She feels that the money has been wasted to
undermine our City and other businesses. This can not go on and we need to put a stop to
it. She urged the people of Grand Terrace to look at the documents, get out and vote against
the people that have been mismanaging the City for years and the District Attorney office.
CC-2010-22 MOTION BY COUNCILMEMBER CORTES, SECOND BY MAYOR PRO TEM
GARCIA, CARRIED 4-0-0-1 (COUNCILMEMBER MILLER ABSTAINED), to
approve a Resolution Accepting the City of Grand Terrace Community
Redevelopment Agency's Report to City Council for Amendment No. 6 to the
Redevelopment Plan for the Grand Terrace Community Redevelopment Project and
Consenting to a Joint Public Hearing. 0
CLOSED SESSION
9A. Closed Session - Labor Negotiations (GC 54957.6) Conference with Labor
Negotiator - Betsy M. Adams Representing Unrepresented Employees
9B. Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation CG 54956.9 (a) - Michael
Grove dba California Exteriors v. City of Grand Terrace (Case€809432)
Mayor Ferrd announced that the Council met in Closed Session to discuss Labor Negotiations (GC
54957.6) Conference with Labor Negotiator - Betsy M. Adams Representing Unrepresented
Employees and a Conference with Legal Counsel - Existing Litigation CG 54956.9 (a) - Michael
Grove dba California Exteriors v. City of Grand Terrace (Case #809432) and there was no reportable
action taken.
Mayor Ferrd adjourned the meeting at 8:05 p.m., until the next City Council Meeting which is
scheduled to be held on Tuesday, March 23, 2010 at 6:00 p.m.
CITY CLERK of the City of Grand Terrace
Council Minutes
03/09/2010
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