Recently in Walnut Category

There seems to be some confusion over Sen. Bob Huff's involvement in a Senate vote on Wednesday.

Huff participated in a procedural vote that helped move an environmental bill to the Senate floor. Problem is, that environmental bill -- which passed 22-14 -- will exempt a proposed NFL stadium in Industry from state environmental laws.

Members of the Citizens for Community Preservation Inc., which has a lawsuit filed against the stadium, said the vote was unethical because of Huff and his wife's involvement with Industry and the stadium's developer.

"(Legislators) didn't have enough votes to move the vote to the floor for, so Huff voted to get it to there," said Howard Wang, first vice president of the citizens group.

"He said he's not going to vote because of his personal interest with the stadium and his relations with Industry. Second of all, his wife is an executive of Pacific Palms Resort.

Obviously, there is a direct conflict of interest. Our view is he should not get involved in voting of any kind."

Pacific Palms is master-leased by Majestic, its CEO Roski and the company's Vice President John Semcken under a partnership called Majestic Industry Hills, LLC.

Wang said the citizens group was consulting with officials at the state's Fair Political Practices Commission to determine if there is a potential conflict of interest.

The group is mulling filling a complaint against Huff.

It's almost official -- almost.

With the larger of two legal challenges against an NFL Stadium in Industry settled, officials are saying that the hope of pro football returning to LA are "that close."

The Industry City Council approved a $9 million settlement agreement with Walnut on Thursday. That leaves only one legal challenge left -- a lawsuit filed by a citizens group in Walnut.

It appears talks to settle that suit have broken down, though I'm sure billionaire developer Ed Roski Jr.'s people aren't giving up that easy.

In the meantime, take our online poll (just scroll down the homepage) to vote for which NFL team you would like to see in LA.

James Wagner reports that Walnut has agreed to drop its lawsuit against Industry over the proposed NFL stadium for $9 million, among other concessions.

The settlement agreement was approved by the Walnut City Council on Tuesday. It's expected to go before the Industry City Council this morning.

According to Wagner's story, "Under the terms of the settlement agreement, Industry will pay Walnut $9 million for traffic improvements. In addition, Industry will pay for all improvements on Valley Boulevard near Fairway Drive and pay a 'fair share' of three other traffic improvement projects.

Industry will also guarantee that Walnut receives an annual payment into a 'community fund.' The amount of that payment will vary year-by-year depending on how many events the stadium hosts. Estimates in the agreement suggest that Walnut would receive $350,000 per year if at least 24 events are held. That amount would go up with the number of events, and can also be raised for inflation."

The most interesting part however is that a provision in the agreement prohibits Walnut officials from helping any opposition to the project -- that includes a pending lawsuit filed by Citizens for Community Preservation Inc.

It seems Walnut Councilman Joaquin Lim may not understand that provision. He told Wagner today that if the Citizens group held a meeting and invited him, he would attend.

It's not easy fighting billionaire developer Ed Roski.

And apparently, it isn't cheap either.

Reporter James Wagner had a story in today's paper about the price tag of Walnut's legal fight against a proposed National Football League stadium in neighboring Industry.

The tab was already at $320,000 since September. That was until Wednesday, when the City Council approved setting aside another $150,000 for additional legal fees.

That brings the total to $470,000.

Councilman Joaquin Lim told Wagner the "expenses are very well justified," especially when you compare it to how much the city stands to lose in the future if the stadium is approved.

Not everyone agrees, however. Some residents argue the city is wasting taxpayer money on a losing battle.

Forgive us.

Thanks to a mishap, we didn't post a copy of a letter pertaining to a story we wrote. Last week, the company hoping to build a National Football League stadium complex in the City of Industry presented this letter to the Walnut City Council, which has sued the developer. The letter refuted, among other things, claims made against the company, Majestic Realty, and its project.

An issue emerged the day following Wednesday's city council meeting. After this newspaper filed a public records request for a copy of the letter Thursday, Walnut said it was consulting its attorney concerning the release of the letter, which included a confidential attachment, because of its pending litigation. (The attachment, according to the letter, documented Walnut's settlement items in the now-terminated negotiations with Majestic.)

Majestic, however, provided this newspaper with a copy. And now, so do you. (See the text of the letter after the jump.)

Walnut has ten days from the public records request to make a decision of the release. So, we'll see what emerges. But here are two facts to consider: The letter was presented at a public meeting and the first page of it was read publicly.

Majestic Realty terminates negotiations with Walnut over proposed NFL stadium
By Amanda Baumfeld, Staff Writer
Posted: 05/28/2009 10:00:20 PM PDT

WALNUT - Majestic Realty has terminated negotiations with Walnut over a proposed NFL stadium, saying city officials requested a "wish list of tens of millions of dollars" that had little to do with the project.

As Walnut and Industry parted ways Thursday, San Diego Chargers officials rejected a bid for a new stadium in San Diego. The Chargers are among four teams being courted to move to Industry.

In Walnut, members of the City Council have adamantly opposed Majestic's proposal for a 600-acre, 75,000-seat stadium complex near the 57/60 freeway interchange in Industry. The project was proposed by billionaire developer Ed Roski Jr., who owns Majestic Realty Co. and is close friends with the Spanos family, which owns the

Read the letter from John Semcken regarding the failed negotiations with Walnut. Chargers.
Roski wants to buy part of a team and move it to Industry.

Majestic Vice President John Semcken on Wednesday night presented a letter to the Walnut City Council outlining his complaints.

On Thursday, he said negotiations with Walnut were over.

"They put together an enormous wish list of items that have nothing to do with project or the impact of the project," Semcken said. "As a result, until they come back with realistic negotiations with the impacts we hereby terminate all negotiations."

Some of Walnut's requests included an aquatics center, a banquet facility, citywide landscaping, a 48-acre park and work to make Meadow Pass Road a through street, according to Semcken's letter.

"What was in that letter was the tip of the tip of the tip of the iceberg," Semcken said.

Jan Chatten-Brown, an attorney hired by Walnut to deal with the stadium issue, said Semcken is "mischaracterizing the conversation."

"Walnut in good faith tried to quantify the amenities to offset the adverse impact on the quality of life," Chatten-Brown said.

The city will go to court to challenge the project, she said.

In San Diego on Thursday, Chargers officials turned down developer Perry Dealy's proposal to build a $1 billion stadium as part of a redevelopment of the land surrounding Qualcomm Stadium.

Hours before the project was to be announced, Chargers attorney Mark Fabiani sent the developer a letter saying the team wanted him to stop referring to the Chargers when promoting the project.

The Chargers in January hired a marketing firm to drum up interest for the team in the Los Angeles area.

The Associated Press contributed to this story

The L.A. Times tackles a story about the number of Brown Act violations investigated by the District Attorney's office, which receives dozens of complaints a year from constiuents across Los Angeles county. The Brown Act is the state's open meeting law.

Among the cities mentioned in the story is Walnut, which was threatened with litigation for a closed door meeting in which, "Mayor Joaquin Lim was said to have led a council discussion and polled his colleagues about opposing construction of an NFL stadium in the neighboring city of Industry," according to the Times article.

But as Terry Francke points out in the story, it is very difficult to see criminal charges come from Brown Act violations.

But criminal charges are nearly impossible to bring, said Terry Francke, a lawyer and author of a guide to the state's open meetings law. Prosecutors must show that an official intentionally violated the law, a difficult standard to meet in court, he said.

"The idea of a letter, firing a shot across the offender's bow, is a very good one," Francke said.

As reporters, we frequently receive news tips from people alerting us of a possible Brown Act violation, such as when a majority of council members allegedly make a decision before an item ever appears on the agenda. But even proving that is especially difficult since elected officials can simply say, "No, I did not violate the Brown Act."

Walnut filed NFL stadium.

Hacienda Heights to go out to bid for trash contract. Sorry Athens.

State of City addresses in both Baldwin Park and Montebello.

Covina's Walt Allen is now Mayor.

Glendora Mayor Karen Davis set to lead council again.

Skateboarding parrot has been stolen.

This just in from reproter Bethania Palma Markus:

Walnut City Councilman Joaquin Lim came to a press conference regarding the city filing a lawsuit against Industry over a proposed stadium hung over.

The former mayor told a handful of reporters at the 11 a.m. press conference that he got tanked the night before at a local bar that was closing down.

"You'll have to excuse me," he said. "I am so hung over."

UPDATED INFORMATION:

Round one was tons of backlash from Walnut officials to the proposed NFL stadium project in Industry.

Round two is this:

WALNUT - The City Council on Wednesday night directed its special attorney to move forward with a lawsuit against neighboring Industry over an environmental report for a proposed NFL stadium.

In a closed session, city officials directed attorney Jan Chatten-Brown to move forward with litigation, officials said. The city has taken a formal stance against the project and demanded Industry prepare a new environmental report for the project.

Developers want to build a 75,000-seat National Football League stadium on 600 acres northwest of the 57/60 freeway intersection. The project also includes a huge retail component similar to the Universal CityWalk.

A few months after the stadium was proposed, some in Walnut publicly expressed concern about the project's impact on the quiet, affluent community.

Reporter Bethania Palma is working on a story for tomorrow's paper.

Tensions seem to be running high in Walnut, where newly-inducted Mayor Mary Su and Councilwoman Nancy Tragarz (to the left, to the left) have been targeted for a recall effort.

The two, along with councilmen Tom King and Antonio Cartagena, held a press conference Saturday morning disputing claims that Tragarz and Su haven't done enough to oppose the proposed NFL stadium in neighboring Industry.

Reporter Brian Day attended the press conference and said the first thing he got from Tragarz was a written statement, and a typed, two-page list of all the documented action she's taken on the stadium. Gotta give her props for being prepared.

Here's some of things she wrote on her list:

Sept 11: attended presentation at Senior Center until 10:30 to hear residents concerns

Oct 6-7: Receive approx 100-200 emails on stadium including alleged Brown Act violations

Oct 7-8: Researched law on Brown Act

Nov. 2-3: spent over 5 hours interviewing Task Force applicants

Jan: sent out additional 11 letters to Railroad, School Board, etc. enclosing resolution and asking for their support

Jan. 31: I attended Rally against the stadium

One interesting tidbit about Saturday's meeting: Councilman and former Mayor Joaquin Lim wasn't there. He told Day he wasn't invited, and wouldn't really give an opinion on the recall. Do I smell a rift coming on?

What a week in Industry. First, 60 voters approve a $500 million bond, then on Thursday, the City Council paves the way for the NFL stadium by approving a environmental report.

Let's see how Walnut responds. Earlier, Joaquin Lim said that the city would explore legal options if the EIR was approved, and now it looks like other cities and agencies could be following suit. The countdown begins...

It looks like Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim is getting a little tired of out-of-the-area cities throwing in their two cents about the stadium project.

This from Ben Baeder, who attended an Industry City Council meeting this morning:

Walnut Mayor Joaquin Lim said he understands that the NFL project could bring benefits to the region, but he wished politicians could try to look at the project from Walnut's point of view.

"I have always avoided saying anything about other cities," he said. "But I wish some of the other leaders would put themselves in our shoes."

Not only do many of his constituents hate the idea of having a stadium nearby, traffic and air pollution from the project will affect the entire region, he said. "We're all in this together."

The Industry City Council on Thursday approved an environmental report regarding the stadium.

At the council meeting, Monterey Park Mayor Frank Venti, La Puente Councilman Dan Holloway and Claremont Councilman Sam Pedroza all spoke in favor of the project.

The city is asking its 82 registered voters to give the city permission to borrow $500 million.
On Jan. 20 - the same day Barack Obama will be inaugurated - the city will hold a special election in which voters will decide whether to let the city sell bonds, which would be repaid by property taxes.
Mayor Dave Perez said most of the money would probably go toward widening Grand Avenue and doing other infrastructure around the proposed NFL stadium/retail center project.
In a story about the project, experts said the loan amount sought is uncommonly large.
Voters will also vote on five other amendments to the city charter, including one that would limit who can vote and another that would give the City Council complete discretion over who gets city public works contracts.

Six are competiting for two seats on the Temple City Council amid accusations that two council members solicited bribes. Read more.

Walnut prepares for legal battle against city of Industry for the proposed NFL stadium. Read more.

West Covina community activists move forward in effort to get council districts in city. Read more. Read more.

La Puente files claim against county for missing $500,000. Read more.

Leftovers from City Hall column.

 "Who throws a shoe? Honestly."

Stimulus package may benefit local infrastructure projects. Read more.

Today's top links in and around in SGV:

El Monte's Community Policing program serves as model across the country. Read more.

Eight Cafe in Monterey Park sues city over redevelopment. Read more.

The City of Walnut wants more Asian-American cops. Read more.

Trash fees will go up once Puente Hills Landfill closes; officials fear some cities will withdrawl from support of waste-to-rail project. Read more.

The Tribune Co., which owns the Los Angeles Times, could be filing bankruptcy. Read more.

Think your city is hot stuff?

Find out this weekend. Reporter Daniel Tedford is working on a story about the top cities in the San Gabriel Valley. Tedford is using a CNN/Money Magazine formula to rank the cities based on housing affordability, job growth, marriage and divorce rates, commutes, school test scores, and crime rates.

Just a heads up, you'll likely be VERY surprised to see whose at the top and bottom of the list.

This email appeared in my inbox over the weekend. It's from Rich McKee, a La Verne planning commissioner and open government advocate who has sued several cities in the name of the Brown Act. He also cc'd the email to the District Attorney's office and Walnut city officials. He is alleging that some Walnut residents, who are in support of the NFL stadium, are victims of harassment at recent city council meetings:

Walnut City Officials:

I believe it is my responsibility to make you aware of my receipt of allegations of harassment and intimidation from four Walnut residents in regard to treatment they received both outside the recent city council meetings and within. All claim to be stadium supporters and all of the claims have been essentially the same, citing physical intimidation outside the meetings and continued harassment within.

How were they identified - - they were not wearing buttons in opposition to the stadium. I share these concerns with you, because all four allege that city officials did little or nothing to protect the First Amendment rights of those there to express their support for the stadium project, and allowed an atmosphere that made some fear for their safety.

It is my opinion that the city, without reasonable efforts to protect the rights of those coming to a limited public forum to express themselves directly to the city council on matters within its jurisdiction, when the city is aware of the harassment and intimidation, places itself not only in legal jeopardy, but in jeopardy of losing its reputation for fairness in representing all the residents of Walnut - - much as we saw happen a few years ago in places like South Gate.

Sincerely, Rich McKee

Good morning. Here is this week's installment of our column.

Leftovers Column: Valley politics has its winners
By Jennifer McLain and Tania Chatila, Staff Writers
Article Launched: 10/13/2008 12:18:22 AM PDT

If it's not diving stocks or the tanking economy, then it's something in the water at our local city halls.

It seemed like an endless newsweek filled with legal battles, arrests and convictions among San Gabriel Valley politicians last week. Let's take a look at who came out on top:

South El Monte
Political activist Michael Lewis, who received plenty of press a couple of years ago for helping pro-Wal Mart residents in Rosemead, got slapped with a fine by the Fair Political Practices Commission.

He could pay up to $25,000 for failing to report contributions to South El Monte candidates in a 2003 City Council election.

Lewis agreed to pay $12,000.

And the winners are: Mayor Blanca Figueroa and councilmen Hector Delgado and Luis Aguinaga. They don't have to give back the contributions totalling $7,200. Aguinaga and Figueroa did say they would do so gladly if asked. Delgado did not return calls.

West Covina
The former campaign manager for Councilman Roger Hernandez was convicted of one count of voter registration fraud for registering to vote in West Covina but not actually living there.

Paz Oliverez, 32, still believes she was "vindicated" because the case against her was reduced from two felonies to a single misdemeanor.

The whole incident unraveled during the 2007 City Council election when Councilman Mike Touhey spilled the beans on her peculiar living situation.

And the winner is: Hernandez. Oliverez resigned from his campaign, but Hernandez still managed to win a seat on the council.

Walnut
Mayor Joaquin Lim doesn't want a proposed NFL stadium in neighboring Industry because of traffic, pollution and the hit to property values. So he's doing everything he can to stop it.

Among those things: outright opposition to the stadium and a plan to sue Industry if it doesn't give Walnut additional time to review the stadium proposal.

Open meeting expert Rich McKee is calling Walnut out for the above decisions, and a few others, made by the City Council in September.

In a letter to Walnut and the District Attorney, McKee accuses Walnut of breaking the law for making decisions on issues not listed on the agenda.

The DA is looking into it.

Lim said the council did nothing wrong.

And the winner is: Industry.

Whether they get the football stadium or not, it has more businesses than it does residents and always will be making money.

Azusa
In America, life revolves around hamburgers, and it's no different in Azusa.

Angry residents presented two councilmen with recall papers for their opposition to a 24-hour drive-through at T-Burgers.

Their hearts may have been in the right place, but their paperwork wasn't. They got the 35 signatures they needed, but didn't realize they had to submit the papers to the city clerk before giving them to Councilman Angel Carrillo and Uriel Macias.

And the winner is: Carrillo and Macias, at least for now. As of Friday, the city clerk had not received new paperwork.

jennifer.mclain@sgvn.com

tania.chatila@sgvn.com

(626) 962-8811, Ext. 2477, 2109 www.insidesocal.com/sgvgov