San Bernardino council sacks tow yard proposal, adopts budget on a fake punt
By Andrew Edwards
Staff Writer
SAN BERNARDINO -- The City Council decided to stay out of the vehicle storage business Monday night when members voted to reject a proposal to create a city run-impound yard.
The council voted 6-0 to reject the proposal, which generated strong opposition from San Bernardino towing contractors who expressed fear that the plan would force them to do without revenue sources that they need to survive.
"Certainly, government is the only growth industry in this country," Fourth Ward Councilman Fred Shorett
Audience members who attended Monday's council meeting to oppose a city-run impound yard erupted in applause after the council voted.
The impound yard decision moved City Hall closer to establishing a financial plan for the current fiscal year, but the city is still without a budget for the fiscal year that began July 1.
By a one-vote margin, the council decided to delay a decision on the proposed budget for two weeks. The budget proposal lays out $138.3 million in general fund spending.
The council initially moved to delay a decision after City Attorney James F. Penman said his office did not receive related documents in time to complete a legal analysis. However, Second Ward Councilman Dennis Baxter later reversed his vote, and so the budget passed.
The vote scheduled the next budget discussion for Sept. 7. Penman, however, predicted that his office's questions could be resolved in time for the council to have scheduled a meeting for today
The impound yard vote affects the budget because the plan was proposed as a method for the Police Department to recover expenses relating to towing vehicles.
City officials estimated that during the first six months of 2010, the tow yard could ease pressure on San Bernardino's general fund by about $480,000. Since the proposal was rejected, the council voted to dip into the city's reserves to make up the amount.
Finance Director Barbara Pachon said before the council took its vote that San Bernardino has about $2.8 million left in its savings.
The idea was that the Police Department offset its payroll and other costs by collecting fees for holding cars impounded during criminal investigations or seized from unlicensed drivers.
Police Chief Keith Kilmer, who inherited the proposal when he joined San Bernardino on June 1, also said the plan gave police an operational advantage because all vehicles held as evidence would be under a single location controlled by city cops.
But for the Police Department to collect fees, the city's six contract towing companies would have had to lose their ability to collect those fees.
Although the Police Department's business plan would not have entirely cut local firms out of the vehicle storage business, tow contractors said they would not be able to afford to stay in business if a chunk of their income went to city government.
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Now that the tow yard idea has been trash-canned can Jason be excused from the election Mrs. McCammack?
To: all who appeared on behalf of the towing proposal
Thanks to everyone that sacrificed their time and treasure to appear at the August 17th Council meeting. I am sure that those of us who want our city back by speaking up and by just showing up and taking a seat will be labeled as a “mob” or other choice names that have been thrown at us in our effort to be heard.
Please continue to appear and speak. If you cannot, watch the meetings on channel 3. These are rerun several times during the week. You need to see the Mayor's puppet show to understand why our city is where it is right now.
re: the towing proposal
The elitest attitudes of Brinker and Baxter permeated the August 17th Council chambers like a road kill skunk’s bad smell. These two, as well as Shorett and Johnson cannot be allowed to represent the citizenry of the city. The fact that they never speak up for their Wards and that rarely, if ever, anyone from their Wards comes to speak is reason enough. They are unknown to their constituents. Well, the fact that they parrot everything the Mayor wants to say as he pulls their strings is another reason. Anyone running against these guys has to realize that there are probably only another four Council meetings left in which to stand up and announce yourself to the Channel 3 viewers. Three minutes every two weeks goes a long way versus just a yard sign that will be outnumbered by the Morris political machine wanting to keep these two. Be sure to see what these two attempted to do to circumvent the system regarding the towing defeat.
Did Mrs. McCammack find Mr. Desjardins? How interesting. Is that why Mr. Baxter voted no on the tow yard? How self-serving. The issues are clear with Mr. Baxter's votes and the voters need a choice. Mr. Desjardins looks like the best choice based on the issues of low income apartments, homeless/parolee shelters, operation phoenix cover-up, high priced PR guy, vacant cops and firefighter jobs, last night's vote change after chastised by Brinker and Morris and the list goes on. No independent voice, just bobbleheads, which button do I push. That's not representation.
Andrew:
You missed it! Baxter changed his mind, had the budget recalled and it was adopted. He was like, "DOH! I'm sorry boss. I push da wong button...I fix it, I fix it!"
Didja do the checking on the other story, yet?
Someone please correct me if I am wrong here. It is my belief that the City is NOT in the money making business. There are laws that prevent the City from making money. IF true we need a through investigation into the traffic camera program and this idea of having a towing service / storage (impound) yard. Based on what I have read, the main purpose for the City to even consider a tow business and storage yard was to make money to help offset the new or next budget shortfalls. Please reference “City officials estimated that during the first six months of 2010, the tow yard could ease pressure on San Bernardino's general fund by about $480,000. Since the proposal was rejected, the council voted to dip into the city's reserves to make up the amount." Per the SUN if that is not a confessed money making endeavor just what is it?
The traffic cameras are not enhancing the public safety. The SB SUN should publish the last year accident rate (my month) for each intersection where these camera are installed. This should be followed by the number of accidents after the cameras have been installed per month. This entire scheme should be investigated by the County DA for legality and cost to the taxpayer.
Yeah right, Jason looks like the best choice for felon of the year. The word around town is that Jason first registered to vote as his business address on I street. That would be perjury and a crime.
Jason,ironically, owner of Big Z towing, located at 274 North I street, is campaigning on cleaning up grafitti, blight, and code enforcement violations when it appears his business has several gross and obvious violations.
Jason's Big Z business has grafitti on it, broken windows, non-conforming signs, hazardous waste, illegal structures, and a illegal street closure, just to mention a few obvious ones. The Big Z is unreinforced masonary and does not meet earthquake standards. Jason has blocked off Broadway st. with what looks like a spray boot with a power cord to it from the other building.
Wow! When did Mr. Ortiz move to the 2nd ward? Wait! He didn't! So maybe he should stick to 7th ward politics, or writing what Wendy McCammack told him to. The fact that Wendy McCammack is willing to go these lengths of finding a replacement candidate to get rid of Dennis Baxter is absolutely ridiculous. She is showing how bitter she is and it is not flattering.
I live in the 2nd ward and I am represented by Mr. Baxter. I have no complaints. I go to council meetings and so do my friends when there is an issue that concerns us. We work with our council person - just like you do Mr. Ortiz. We don't care if you don't like him - we do!
As for Mr. Desjardins, one word - CARPET-BAGGER!!! Go back to ward 1 or better yet go back to the city you actually live in. Now that the threat to your business is gone, go away!
If you don't live our ward, stay out of our race. Why don't you work on your own ward - there is that nasty little sex shoppe on Arrowhead and Highland - do something about that.
I am not sure exactly what the writer "2nd Ward Resident" means by "what she writes for Mr. ORTIZ". I don't need to write anything for anyone, except for one time when a 4th ward constituent who was very ill and could not write or type, but could speak, called me and told me what she wanted to say in opposition to Mr. Shorett. I wrote it for her and was honored to do so. She has since passed away, I miss you Mrs. O. But to insinuate that I would need to write anything for Mr. Ortiz is an insult to him and an insult to my integrity. Mr. Ortiz is very capable (as is his wife Janet and his girls) of writing and speaking on their own behalf. And truth be further known, I don't always agree with Mr. Ortiz on things. So why would I write something I don't even agree with? You guys are grasping. Mr. Baxter voted for things that will devastate the second ward (like the very low income housing in Arden/Guthrie), but more importantly that will devastate the 7th ward. That IS my job and I am proud to represent the people that make it their business to tell me what they want. If it means disagreeing with the incumbent and supporting another candidate, that is my right and actually in my opinion my responsibility to my constituents. Sorry if you disagree, but facts are facts.
2nd Ward Resident:
You can't POSSIBLY be happy with Baxter. Are you SERIOUSLY claiming that you've no complaints about that two-faced jack? You say you live in his ward, yet you don't have a problem with him blindly voting the way the mayor wants him to vote? That doesn't scare you? When he votes against what the mayor wants and thmayor lets him know, he recalls the issue and changes his vote. OMG! No literate adult can POSSIBLY be that daft.
Another thing: Wendy McCammack does not write comments for others to say. She doesn't need to convince people to agree with her because she's USUALLY CORRECT! Think about it. The main complaint about her from the other counci members is that she dominates the conversations. She couldn't POSSIBLY be dominating ANYTHING if she were incorrect and/or uneducated on the matter. Grow up, Morrisite.
I am not Morrisite....I have voted for and supported Penman. You should grow up - I am capable of making decisions without looking at party lines, unlike you all.
2nd Ward Resident:
Yes, you're a Morrisite. If you back Baxter, then you back Morris because that's ALL Baxter EVER does. Clearly, you are able to make decisions; however, they are clearly not educated ones.
Hey Serena -
why don't you go tape some poor, downtrodden person claiming to be brutalized by Operation Phoenix and SBPD. If you keep taping after the interview maybe you can catch them at their job (dealing drugs).....
I am a resident of the 2nd ward and in the 4 years that Baxter has been our council representative I have never seen him in my neighborhood. Where has he been? Certainly not meeting with me or my neighbors in our area of the 2nd ward. He seems to think that he represents only a few people and not all the residents of the 2nd ward. He also has never led an initiative that has benefited the 2nd ward. I have seen him twice at council meetings vote one way (and making a lot of noise about it)and then at the next meeting completely reverse his vote with no real explanation. Flip flop Baxter!
Oh yeah--a vote for Penman for mayor is a vote for a better San Bernardino!
A vote for Penman is a wasted vote. The voters already decided last time in the Morris vs. Penman debacle. What is this? Someone pushed the reset button?
Aaron---There was no debacle the last time--- its called an election---duh! What is it this time? Its called an election--duh! Don't you know anything? Every 4 years the people of this city have the right to choose its leaders. Four years ago the majority chose Morris. This time around, however, those same people will have to decide if they made the right choice. Believe me, there are many residents who feel that Morris has let them down and this time around they will be voting for Penman.
Aaron: just why is it a wasted vote if someone to decide Morris let them down and casts their ballot for Penman this time? Why exactly would be a waste of time to vote for Penman?
I do not know how Big Z are contracted with SBPD. This company advertises that they are staffed 24/7, however they charged me an extra $100.00 for allowing me to pickup a company vehicle on a sunday. The total fee was $375.00 to tow the car at most 2 miles, from 5th St. and Mt. Vernon to their storage yard on I St. Armada Towing charged $50.00 for towing the same vehicle on a flatbed truck 5 times as far the same day out of their "storage alley". This company should NOT be allowed to tow police impound vehicles within San Bernardino city limits. "Ruthie" the office manager is just flatout rude, she threatened to put a lien on an ambulance that sat in their yard for only 3 hours tops. How do you threaten a public service provider WILLING to pay a king's ransom with a lien? That is just a criminal! Our company vehicle was involved in a felony dui hit and run(not our driver drinking) and we the innocent party are threatened by a ruthless "THUG" like Ruthie. City Hall are you listening? Open the city yard to protect your residents and businesses. We the people serving the people are needing your help!