This from reporter Amanda Baumfeld:

The city of Montebello is holding its State of the City Address today at the Chamber of Commerce.

City officals will present information about their achievements and progress, updates on graffiti and crime prevention, issues facing the community and plans for the future.
Tickets are $40 at the door. The event runs from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.

Wow, $40 to know the state of the city? Do cities always charge that much for these things? It’s just a question.

Gosh, this scenario out of Montebello Unified School District sounds oddly familiar…..

By Amanda Baumfeld, Staff Writer
Article Launched: 05/19/2008 10:09:13 PM PDT

Hernandez declined to comment on his situation Monday but did say he will be retiring.

Talk about climbing the corporate ladder…

MONTEBELLO – A former city bus driver and manager at the Metropolitan Transportation Authority has become the city’s newest department head.

The position was open for nearly nine months after Allan Pollock left in June. Jackson, also known as AJ, began the stint in April and says her 15 years of experience will aid her in her new post.

This from reporter Amanda Baumfeld:

Montebello appears to have a pretty full agenda for Wednesday. Here is some of what the City Council will discuss:

-An ordinance to ban medical marijuana dispensaries in the city.

-Possibly adopt Robert’s Rules of Orders. The council had a special study session on this item in March. The only member who verbally disapproved of adopting the rules was Mayor Bill Molinari who does not see the need for “another layer of bureaucracy.”

-They may decide to construct a Fire Department Training Center in the city.

Meeting begins at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall, 1600 Beverly Blvd.

I want to scream. It’s Friday, Rosemead City Hall is closed, and it is impossible for me to get the supplemental information for the agenda. I have to wait until Monday, which means that the stories have to wait until Tuesday.

Almost every other city in the SGV post the staff reports online, although there are other only cities that don’t it, like Industry and Montebello (both of which aren’t exactly pillars of open government ). La Verne also doesn’t post it. I wonder what their excuse is. After all, Rich McKee, champion for open government, is a planning commissioner for the city.

But alas! I can see the light. On Tuesday, Rosemead is starting the steps to getting documents online. I wish I could tell you more, but I can’t get access to the staff report!!

Dan Abendschein reports that Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, is proposing legislation that could permit the seizure of property of those convicted of dogfighting.

Calderon said he got the idea after discussions with local law enfrocement.

It was always curious to me the types of bills and timing of bills that lawmakers choose to propose. The bills seems completely random. But before I pass judgement, I figured I’d take a look at the other bills he’s proposed recently to see if this is a pattern.

Here’s just a snipet what he’s proposed lately:

SB 381, as introduced, Calderon. Campaign contributions.

This bill would extend the time within which contributions must
be reported from 30 to 90 days, and would increase the aggregate
threshold amount which must be reported from $5,000 to $7,000. The
bill would exclude a payment by a local, state, or federal agency
from this reporting requirement.

SB 113, Calderon. Elections: presidential primary elections.

   Existing law specifies that the presidential primary election be
held on the first Tuesday after the first Monday in June in any year
evenly divisible by the number 4. Existing law also specifies that
the statewide direct primary election be held on the first Tuesday
after the first Monday in June of each even-numbered year, and be
consolidated with the presidential primary election in any year in
which the statewide direct primary election is in a year evenly
divisible by the number 4.
   This bill would require that the presidential primary election be
held on the first Tuesday in February in any year evenly divisible by
the number 4. By increasing the duties on county elections officials
due to the presidential primary election in February, this bill
would impose a state-mandated local program.

SB 575, as amended, Calderon. Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional
Facility: sale.

This bill would require the director to sell the former Fred C. Nelles Youth Correctional
Facility in the City of Whittier, Los Angeles County , and would
specify that the net proceeds be deposited into the
continuously appropriated subaccount, thereby making an appropriation.

SB 648, as introduced, Calderon. Rights of foster children.  

Existing law declares that it is the policy of the state that all
children in foster care have prescribed rights.
   This bill would amend this policy to also provide that those
children retain these rights notwithstanding the commission of a
public offense or crime.

 SB 653, as introduced, Calderon. False or misleading information:
penalties.
   (1) Existing law makes it a felony punishable by imprisonment in
the state prison for 16 months or 2 or 3 years for every person who,
among other things, makes use of or threatens to make use of any
force, violence, or tactic of coercion or intimidation, to induce or
compel any other person to vote or refrain from voting at any
election or to vote or refrain from voting for any particular person
or measure at any election.
   This bill would also make it a felony punishable by imprisonment
in the state prison for 16 months or 2 or 3 years for every person
who acts under color of law and who knowingly or with reckless
disregard for the truth provides, distributes, produces,
disseminates, sponsors, authorizes, or finances the provision,
distribution, or dissemination of any false or misleading information
regarding either the time, place, or manner of any election; or the
qualifications for, or restrictions on, voter eligibility for any
election, as specified. By creating a new crime, this bill would
impose a state-mandated local program.

Our local Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, is proposing legislation that would allow authorities to seize property used for dogfighting, the Sac Bee reports. But Sen. Gloria Romero, D-Los Angeles, along with the ACLU, have serious concerns over the forfeiture power the bill allows. The story does not address, however, what prompted the Calderon to propose the bill.

Legislation that would allow authorities in California to seize property used for dogfighting dissolved Tuesday into a battle pitting canine lovers against the American Civil Liberties Union and defense attorneys.

The Senate Public Safety Committee put off a vote until next week after the ACLU and the California Public Defenders Association expressed concern the bill would elevate punishment for dogfighting to a level not accorded crimes against humans, including murder.

Senate Bill 1775 by Sen. Ron Calderon, D-Montebello, would allow the forfeiture of property used for dogfighting.

“What makes this measure different from past forfeiture measures this committee has seen is that the proceeds go to animal welfare organizations who rescue and rehabilitate fighting dogs,” Calderon said before the hearing.

************

But Francisco Lobaco, legislative director for the ACLU, told the Senate committee his organization “very strongly opposes” SB 1775.

“The Legislature has been extremely cautious in the type of crimes for which it allows asset forfeiture,” Lobaco said.

He cited “serious drug offenses” as a rare example, but noted forfeiture does not apply to “murder, mayhem, kidnapping, and a variety of more serious crimes.”

Amanda Baumfeld reports that Montebello city employees are giving a 10 percent salary increase to all its employees. At a time when there are budget shortfalls reported up and down the state, do you think it is an appropriate time to be handing out raises?

MONTEBELLO – The city has given a 10 percent salary increase to all its employees. Union representatives said they are satisfied with the increase but believe employee pay is still low compared with surrounding cities.

“It’s great, instead of being paid 30 percent under market they are only getting 20 percent under market,” said Robin Nahin, an attorney with the city employees’ association.

The City Council approved the salary increase and an increase in benefits for the Montebello Fire Association, the Montebello Police Officer’s Association and the Montebello Bus Operators Association, among others, last week. Read more

Montebello is one step closer to ensuring that its city and fire departments is kept under city control and not turned over to the county, Amanda Baumfeld reports.

The City Council on Wednesday directed staff to draft an ordinance that will require a vote of residents to transfer the city’s police and fire departments to another entity. The ordinance will be added to the city’s municipal code.

The issue raises an interesting question about cities that have their own fire and police services, and at what cost is it to the residents. There are some cities, such as Irwindale, population 1,600, Covina, population 46,830, and Monterey Park, population 62,150, that have its own police agencies.

But at what cost?

There have been stories, such as out of Vallejo, reporting that cities funding the pensions of fire fighters and police officers is going to break their budgets.

“Meanwhile, Vallejo faces soaring payroll costs for its firefighters and police officers, whose pay and benefits make up nearly 80 percent of the city’s general fund budget.” Read more.

But everyone agrees that we need these services. So how do we deal with it? Is turning to the county the answer?

South El Monte, Diamond Bar and Rosemead, for example, all rely on the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department for their services. Are the cities happy with the services? I’ve heard complaints in the past out of South El Monte. I wonder what the cities pay for county services compared with what cities like Montebello are paying for in-house services, and how the whole pension system works with the county?