Editorials to Mojave Desert News

Letters to the Editor and Editorials

Letter to the EditorUpset of Mojave Desert News with councilEditor:For 40-plus years, California City has become home to those with a "live and let live" philosophy. So; what motivation drives the power-hungry group now inhabiting our city hall? Their major accomplishments seem to be, alienating the EDC and causing several taxpaying businesses and developers to leave town. I refer to the attempt by the Mayor and Council at the September 4, 2007 council meeting to force a change in the way our city does business by grabbing control of all check signing. This could severely handicap our city in providing timely business payments, thereby lowering our credit rating. They are looking at the wrong end of the situation. If the $500,000 check was for legitimate goods or services, then the payment was proper and necessary. If the check was not for legitimate purposes, then an investigation, with possible criminal charges, is in order. As every contract specifies, authorization happens at the beginning of a project, not at the end. I could not believe the number of times the Mayor said "I want control" nor the demeaning way that both the Mayor and Councilman Schafer responded to the citizens, especially the women, in attendance. Decorum at meetings goes both ways. We do not elect people to pursue personal agendas. We expect them to conduct the "people's business" and provide an efficient and effective city government. When they do what the electorate expects, we all make progress. Until then, to paraphrase the rock group, Police, "… every move you make, every breath you take, we'll be watching you …" Alan BellCalifornia City
Mixing church and stateEditor:I have concerns about our City Council mixing Church and State. Councilman Schafer, earlier this year, told a woman to go to church, and when she stated she didn't go to church, he said that was the problem.Mayor Evans made the statement (the same evening) that God wouldn't live in this town because of the trash. Statements like the Mayor made, shocked me. I live in this City, believe in God, as I feel most of the good people in California City do, please keep religious remarks from chambers.Councilman Schafer asked what has the EDC done for Cal City? This question alone surprises me; if he had read the newspapers he wouldn't have asked such a foolish question. The prison, Hyundai/Kia, Ellison and a number of small businesses can be directly linked to the EDC.EDC members are all volunteers; they go to conventions, fairs and meet with all levels of government officials on behalf of California City, most of this at their own expense.Councilman Schafer, what businesses have you brought to this community during your three year reign? Where is the grocery store?Bud Burnett, Former California City Citizens Advisory Committee chairman
Thanks RPU teachers, studentsEditor:To the Robert P. Ulrich Elementary School kindergarten teachers andstudents: the California City Republican Women Federated would like to thank each of you for allowing us to come into your classrooms on August 28th and deliver personally a new book to each kindergarten student. We very much enjoyed our time at your school and enjoyed giving the books we collected to all of those eager little faces. It is our hope that each of these children will understand the great importance of reading and make every effort to learn to read the books we gave them. Thank you again for allowing us the opportunity to participate in betterment of our community through the encouragement of literacy.Toni Evans - President, CCRWF
THANKSI want to thank CalCity for the nice looking Pet Clinic. It’s nice outside and inside.Drop in to say, “Hello,” to the Doctors and friendly staff. Also, pet the dog, “Star” that greets you.Thanks to all of you.Grace Davies
Thanks RPU teachers, studentsEditor:To the Robert P. Ulrich Elementary School kindergarten teachers and students: the California City Republican Women Federated would like to thank each of you for allowing us to come into your classrooms on August 28th and deliver personally a new book to each kindergarten student. We very much enjoyed our time at your school and enjoyed giving the books we collected to all of those eager little faces. It is our hope that each of these children will understand the great importance of reading and make every effort to learn to read the books we gave them. Thank you again for allowing us the opportunity to participate in betterment of our community through the encouragement of literacy.Toni Evans - President, CCRWF
EditorialsMakin’ moviesMotion pictures have been filmed in East Kern from the very first days of the industry. The vast and varied desert scenery has formed a scenic backdrop for films whose locations varied from the Old West to ancient Egypt to outer space. Currently, the Mojave Airport/Spaceport earns significant income from filming movies, commercials, and other productions, as do other area locations.In recent years, Russ Michael’s California City Studios has become a popular filming site, attracting outside dollars to a community with no local industries. As the Kern County Board of Trade reminded the California City Council recently, all of this activity pumps a steady source of revenue into the local economy. The great thing about filming is that it is all profit to locations, restaurants, hotels and motels, and other businesses including hardware stores who frequently sell last-minute items to production companies.Considering all this, we are baffled at the recent decision of California City City Manager Bill Way and the city council to require Michael to obtain conditional use permits (CUP) each time a company wants to build a set. Both the Kern and California state film commissions have reminded the city that no local governments in this state require studios to go through the lengthy CUP process to build temporary film sets, and that doing so will drive business to other locations and states.There is a rumor that this decision may have something to do with concerns that what is occasionally filmed at the local studio doesn’t meet someone’s religious beliefs, a situation reminiscent of the flap over an innocuous statue that stirred Medieval fears.The flap over the statue made the city a laughing stock. This one could cost it and its taxpaying businesses some real money.Of carrots, idiots, and roads Last week we ran a story about yet another carrot truck stopping traffic on Tehachapi-Willow Springs Road by overturning and spilling its load. This is becoming a regular occurrence on this busy road and it is due to several factors: the incompetence of low-paid drivers, their desire to avoid the truck scales on Highway 58, and the increasing use of TWS as a commuter route.In our view, the primary responsibility for this problem lies with the people who grow the carrots and onions these trucks carry. (These are the same folks mining water from the Antelope Valley but that’s another issue!)We would like to see these big-business growers, who don’t live here, start taking some responsibility for ensuring that the people they hire to haul their produce learn how to drive and obey the rules the rest of us are required to observe.




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California City Council to provide financial reports

Council to provide financial reports
This story appeared in the Antelope Valley Press on Tuesday, September 11, 2007.
By ALLISON GATLIN Valley Press Staff Writer
CALIFORNIA CITY - The City Council recently approved a series of financial policies that will guide California City's government and provide reports to the public.
The policies, first discussed during the Aug. 21 council meeting, cover revenues, cost of services, expenditures, reserves, debt and capital improvements.
Monthly summary financial reports will be required under the policies as well as detailed bimonthly financial statements.
The financial policies establish reserve funds of 8% of general fund revenues and 4% of revenues for each enterprise fund, earmarked for specific operations.
Reserve accounts also will be established to cover workers' compensation, liability insurance, retiree medical payments, depreciation and replacement of vehicles and major equipment, major maintenance for public facilities, and replacement of facilities and infrastructure through the capital improvement plan.
Mayor David Evans introduced an additional section to the policies regarding regular audits of the city's books.
These provisions state the city will have an annual audit by an outside party, completed 120 days after the end of the fiscal year on June 30 each year.
The city's special tax funds also will be audited separately to ensure they are being spent in accordance with the special tax provisions.
"These funds have to be audited. There has to be assurance by an independent third party that these were spent properly," Evans said.
Resident Ed Waldheim voiced concern about the council's accountability for the special tax funds - specifically, that special tax funds might be intermingled with other funds.
"I am very concerned with the funding and the way we read financial statements," he said. "We have people in the community who are very, very concerned, and rightly so."
The financial policies, approved Sept. 4 by a 4-0 vote, with Councilman Mike Edmiston absent, will set up an architecture for the city's financial activities, but also may be adjusted to meet changing circumstances.
"All of these things are starting points. They're all (subject) to improvements and massage," Evans said.
agatlin@avpress.com

California City Chamber of Commerce

Cal City chamber elects new officers
Buford Land to lead chamberDESERT NEWS STAFF REPORTCALIFORNIA CITY — Buford Land is the new president of the California City Chamber of Commerce following elections last week. He will be joined by Vice President Mary Ann Storey, Secretary Toni Evans, and Treasurer Roger Ternuzen on the chamber’s executive committee.Directors elected include three year directors Land, past president David Stafford, Marco Lopez, and Mary Ann Storey. Two year directors are Charles Cooper, Toni Evans, Johnathan Stephens, and Alverdia McMillin. One year directors include Roger Ternuzen, Dustin Richards, and Michael Husarek.The chamber is planning a Business Expo to be held at the California City Middle School Middle School on October 13th from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., and an installation dinner on October 27 at Foxy’s Landing at the California City Airport. Chamber mixers are also being planned along with a community cleanup day on Nov. 3rd.The chamber meets at noon on the second Thursday of the month at the Pizza Factory.

Vote Tuesday on future of new CalCity schools

Extends existing school bondsDESERT NEWS STAFF REPORT CALIFORNIA CITY — Voters in this city will go to the polls Tuesday to decide whether two new schools in the city can be completed soon.Measure E on Tuesday’s ballot will ask voters to extend the bonds approved in 2002 for another nine years.When voters approved the original bond measure Mojave Unified School District officials believed it would more than cover the cost of building California City High School and Hacienda Elementary School.But a couple of unforseen factors combined to jack-up the price of building these two vitally-needed schools.First, environmentalists combined with a sluggish state bureaucracy imposed all sorts of delaying tactics.While this was going on, a housing boom doubled and tripled construction costs.This “perfect storm” has left the district some $24 million short of the funds it needs to complete these two schools.If Measure “E” passes, the average homeowner will continue to pay up to $160 for each $100,000 of assessed valuation (as opposed to market value) per year on his or her property tax bill.Schools openBoth schools opened for the Fall term last month, but money is needed for sports fields, a gym at the high school, and other facilities. By using pre-built modules the school district was able to keep costs down and expedite construction. But if the bonds are not extended, students will go without full facilities for several years.The DesertNews supports a “Yes” vote on Measure E. “If you want to see California City continue to grow, vote “yes” on Measure “E” on Sept. 18th,” said Editor/Publisher Bill Deaver.

California City Council Meeting

Tempers flare at CC Council meeting
Check signing and studio debatedBY JILL BARNES NELSONCALIFORNIA CITY — What was supposed to be an item considered "routine and non-controversial" on the consent calendar, turned out to be anything but at the California City Council Meeting. An item that called for a resolution to give the city council the authority to sign checks proved to be very controversial to the public.According to Mayor David Evans, the resolution came about because two checks of a considerable amount were issued without the Council's consent."This assures that every member of the Council sees every check that is issued before it goes out," Mayor Evans said. "The only checks we don't need to approve pertain to payroll and utilities."But many citizens of California City saw it as a loss of control and that the council would have too much power over what they considered, "their money." A few noted that in other cities, the City Council does not sign checks."The Council members are not paid city employees," said resident Judy Smith. "And they shouldn't be signing checks."Mayor Evans pointed out that the Council has always signed the checks, but this would be one more step to assure that the money goes out only for approved bills."People have to know we're looking out for them," Evans said. "And that what has happened before doesn't happen again. One of the checks that wan't approved was for around $500,000."Many in attendance still weren't convinced and it was decided 3-1 (one absent) to put that item on the next agenda. Mayor Evans cast the negative vote."When the first check out went out without our approval, we said that shouldn't happen again," Councilman Kevin Schafer said. "Then it happened a second time. Maybe it's a good idea to put in on the agenda so we can air our dirty laundry and let the public know why we had to do this."Film studio controversyStill a sore point from the previous council meeting was the issue of California City Studios. Originally the Planning Commission had ruled the movie studio didn't need a conditional use permit (CUP) for some outdoor filming activities within the boundaries of the lot. The major issue was the building of a motocross track on the lot. City Manager Bill Way over-ruled the decision and the Council agreed. Former Planning Commissioner Ed Fuller, who recently resigned as head of the commission, said he still had deep concerns over what happened."The City Manager seeks to undermine the authority and ‘quasi legal' decision of a carefully selected and appointed governing city body in which each member swore an oath to “support and defend the Constitution of the United States and the Constitution of California," Fuller said.He noted that the commission carefully deliberated the information called for from city staff, the public and the combined knowledge of the commission. "By a roll call vote, it was voted not to require a conditional use permit. Even the Kern County Film Commission was surprised by this turn of events," Fuller said.Dave Hook, the assistant film commissioner of Kern County, wrote a letter to Russell Michael, owner of the studio, saying "not one film commission within the state of California reported a requirement for a CUP on studio property. It is the opinion of the Kern County Film Commission that the requirement of a CUP would put California City Studios at a distinct disadvantage.""The decision of the Planning Commission should stand," Fuller said.Mayor Evans said the City Attorney will look at the issues.Capital improvementsIn other business, the Council approved the Capital Improvement Program (CIP). "With the approval of this is a vote for the city's future," City Manager Way said. "It's a plan on how the city will move forward. We will have all the heads of the different departments as well as the public, submit projects they deem important. There are 16 different criteria to determine what we do next. And after discussions it then will be decided which ones will go forward."Councilman Schafer said the CIP is a document that is ever-evolving. "A goal not written down is goal not realized," he said.Resident Ed Waldheim said he hopes all of the community will be involved with the planning. "They need to talk and participate," he said. "And there needs to be a lot of communicating to get information out to the public."Schafer noted the public can become informed several ways. "They can read the papers, visit our website, check the local TV news or come to one of our offices. It's all out there for public view."The Council also approved a General Financial Policy which establishes ways to assure the City's finances are managed in a manner that "provides the delivery of quality services and that the City is living within its means."The plan also will provide monthly reports, track major revenue sources and evaluate financial trends. The Council also named Donald Weaver, Cecile Campbell and Gloria Wheeler to its Beautification Commission.