Something doesn’t add up…

I know it’s not necessarily city-hall related, but none the less, reporter Amanda Baumfeld’s story about school textbooks filled with errors will likely pick up speed in the coming days.

I wouldn’t be surprised if our local representatives get involved.

Here’s a snippet:

Newly purchased, state-approved K-5 math books are flooded with errors that include typos, answer-key mistakes and changes in terminology, officials said.

Azusa Unified School District received Texas editions of a teacher reference guide and have error- filled tests from publisher Macmillan/McGraw-Hill.

Covina-Valley Unified School District has to replace all its fifth-grade books after receiving a draft version from publisher Houghton Mifflin Harcourt.

****

Reports of publisher error are as widespread as Riverside County, but officials at the California Department of Education said they are unaware of the problem.

Considering the fact that API test scores are such a big deal for schools, you would think the state would be more concerned with this problem. How are students supposed to succesfully learn California’s state math standards with error-filled textbooks from Texas???

 

 

And then there were four….

19880-melaniejuarez.jpgWe’ve just received news Covina Councilwoman Meline D. Juarez is resigning to move to the Great Lakes area of Minnesota.

At the next City Council meeting, the remaining council members will have to decide whether to appoint someone to Juarez’ seat or wait until the March 2009 election to fill the empty spot.

It seems a special election may be out of the question considering budget concerns.

Anybody have any suggestions for who should take the spot?

Better late than never

Most budgets — except for our State budget — were approved at the beginning of July, the start of the fiscal year.

In Covina, the city didn’t have a finance director and the final approval of the budget has been on hold. But as now that the city has an interim finance director and the state’s preliminary budget was approved, Covina’s budget got the final approval Tuesday night.

The city council adopted the 2008-09 budget, and it also got an update from its interim City Manager Cynthia Kurtz on the state of the city’s finances. Like many cities, times are tough in Covina. The city has seen a $1 million decline in sales tax revenue. Much of this revenue is largely attributed to the auto industry, which we’ve all seen in recent weeks has got significant problems.

Also this week, Covina received a letter from the State that it would be tapping into Covina’s redevelopment funds by taking $522,000.

Give me my penny

The Covina City Council agreed to increase its trash fees by 6 percent on Tuesday, and officials said that water rate increases will follow next month.

The water rates won’t be nearly as high as those proposed at a study session in August, when rates were projected to increase as much as 35 percent. Because of the economic times, officials said, they are going to consider how to slightly increase the costs without over-burdening the residents.

Hey, at least Covina is trying to be sensitive, unlike the city of South Attleboro, MA. There, city officials threatened to put a lien on the home of a blind woman because she had an outstanding sewer and water bill of….drum roll please…. one penny! Read more.

 

Water, trash rates could increase in Covina

Covina residents will be asked to grab for their pocketbooks as the Covina City Council considers on Tuesday approving increases to water and trash rates.

The public hearing will take place at 7:30 p.m. on Tuesday in Covina City Hall.

According to city documents, the current residential monthly water rate for 30 units of water is $44.62. If the rate adjustment is approved, the new rate will be $55.90. That comes out to $135 a year.

The city says that the increases are needed because of increased costs for purchasing water, facilities and maintenance and capital projects and financing.

And these are not taxes, said Public Information Officer Bobbi Kemp, these are fees.

Trash services are provided by Athens, and those increases are being proposed because environmental mandates and fuel costs, officials said.

The Covina agenda has not yet been posted online.

This story appeared in August.

Trash, water fees may increase

San Gabriel Valley Tribune (West Covina , CA) – Sunday, August 10, 2008
Author/Byline: Amanda Baumfeld , Staff Writer
Section: News
 
COVINA – Residents may soon have to pay more to enjoy a glass of water and have their trash picked up, if proposed fee increases are approved.

At a special study session on Tuesday, the City Council was presented with possible trash and water rate increases.

Water fees are proposed to increase by 25 percent while trash fees are proposed to rise by 8 percent.

“These are ordinary increases that we have to do to be in compliance with the law as it changes and modifies,” said Mayor Kevin Stapleton. “We don’t control the water ; we have to pay for it or we don’t get it.”

If the proposal is approved, water rates for a 3/ 4 inch meter will rise

to $55.90 per month, from $44.62.

Part of the increase is because of recovering lost consumer price index fees over the past five years, according to Public Works Director Steve Henley.

The last water fee plan was approved in 2003.

Trash fees are proposed to increase to $24.84 a month from $22.89 per month for residential. Commercial fees are proposed to increase to $139.98 from $130.37 a month.

The trash proposal is a combination of CPI increases as well as an increase in fuel costs.

Some council members said this is only the start of high trash costs.

“When the Puente Hills landfill shuts down we are going to be back with some major increases,” said Councilwoman Meline Juarez at the study session. “This is just the beginning.”

Covinans have already seen other tax hikes.

In July, a sewer tax increase was approved, raising the $7 yearly fee to $28.56 for 2008-09. The fee will continue to increase by $18.72 annually through 2013, when residents will be paying $103.44.

In June, voters approved a 10-year extension on a utility users tax but rejected proposed tax increases for lighting and landscaping districts.

“It comes across as though we are increasing every fee on earth. I get that,” Stapleton said. “But we are not doing that. Everything is hitting us at the same time, especially with the high cost of fuel.”

 
Already getting heat from residents, city officials want to make it clear that these proposed increases are fees for service, not taxes.

“No general fund money is used to provide these services,” said City Spokeswoman Bobbi Kemp. “Just like with gas and electricity, the people who use the services are the ones who pay.”

But residents will have the option of opposing the fees.

A notice for a protest hearing detailing the increases will be mailed to the community prior to the Oct. 21 hearing.

Covina interim selected

That’s right, reporter Amanda Baumfeld said the Covina City Council appointed an interim city manager at their meeting last night. You might be surprised as to who it is:

Cynthia Kurtz, retired Pasadena City Manager, will take the top spot. She was awarded a contract for $12,900 a month with a car allowance. She will start on Oct. 1.

Apparently, the contract covers 30 hours of work a week, according to Baumfeld. But if Kurtz works more, “she will be compensated.” Baumfeld is going to find out how….

 

Search on in Covina

13961-philips.jpgThe search continues in Covina for an interim city manager to take over for former City Manager Paul Philips, who was fired in August.

Two people were interviewed on Saturday for the iterim position. In the meantime, the assistant city manager is running the show.

But once they find an interim, the search for a permanent city manager will begin.