Gary, Katrina and Allan R. did a great job last week when they went to Sacramento to present the
Governor's aides with the City's proposal to purchase the Fairgrounds. Actually, I was prepared for the worst since rumors circulated last week that other interests were competing with us. But our team brought back good news that we have thirty days to finish the entire plan.
The City will not take on ANY debt. Meetings with interested parties who will commit to generate the revenue to purchase the Fair, are expected to take place this week.
I am not dismayed by Councilman Bever's decision to not go forward. That is his choice. If it looks like it won't be in the City's best interest to structure a deal, then I believe the Council will have the good sense to not move forward. The door is still open and we will go through it. If the door closes--the Governor's people may not like the City's proposal---- we know we have done our very best to try to preserve our beloved OC Fairgrounds and we can go on with our lives knowing we tried.
Sunday, April 25, 2010
Thursday, April 15, 2010
What can I say about the Fair?
Not much. For those who have never been elected to public office, it is difficult to understand that the BROWN ACT is written on my forehead with invisible ink. When I was on the school board, I was careful not to break it and now, more than ever, on the City Council, I am conscious of every word I speak about the City's work to purchase the Fairgrounds.
I am forced to speak in generalities and hesitate to say anything lest I be in violation of the sacred Ralph M Brown Act--the holy writ of public officials who must keep confidential all things done in closed session and not talk to more than one other council person about an upcoming vote.
Thus, at this point, I can only say that our city manager Allan Roeder, Becky Bailey-Findley, a top numbers cruncher from Los Angeles, our city attorney and Gary and Katrina continue to work overtime to meet the April 21 deadline imposed on us by the Governor on which we have to present a substantial agreement. I can't talk about the agreement of course, or what is in it, or anything else.
I can only say we continue to move forward, and for those who have labored with us for months, I hope this is encouraging news. The county supervisors, and my dear friend Supervisor John M. W. Moorlach, have opted for a different approach because they don't want to pay the Governor the $96,000,000 he wants to be paid. Stay tuned. At least I said something, but I admit, it isn't much. You can thank Ralph Brown. Keep praying.
I am forced to speak in generalities and hesitate to say anything lest I be in violation of the sacred Ralph M Brown Act--the holy writ of public officials who must keep confidential all things done in closed session and not talk to more than one other council person about an upcoming vote.
Thus, at this point, I can only say that our city manager Allan Roeder, Becky Bailey-Findley, a top numbers cruncher from Los Angeles, our city attorney and Gary and Katrina continue to work overtime to meet the April 21 deadline imposed on us by the Governor on which we have to present a substantial agreement. I can't talk about the agreement of course, or what is in it, or anything else.
I can only say we continue to move forward, and for those who have labored with us for months, I hope this is encouraging news. The county supervisors, and my dear friend Supervisor John M. W. Moorlach, have opted for a different approach because they don't want to pay the Governor the $96,000,000 he wants to be paid. Stay tuned. At least I said something, but I admit, it isn't much. You can thank Ralph Brown. Keep praying.
Sunday, April 4, 2010
Saturday, April 3, 2010
Not Fair!
It doesn't seem fair that after all the work we went through to persuade the Governor to stop the sale of the OC Fair that now we have to engage in negotiations with the State. But, as I have said to my kids hundreds of times--"Life's not fair". Now comes the really hard part: putting a deal together.
We have the best negotiating team of Allan Roeder and Becky Bailey-Findley to deal with DGS and other state officials. We will persevere, be patient and prudent, and pray (if you are so inclined). We accept Supervisor John Moorlach's wise words of caution as well. The end result--the deal--has to be a win win for now and the future. The price has to be right. Yes, we are emotionally involved, but we can't let our emotions rule.
We have the best negotiating team of Allan Roeder and Becky Bailey-Findley to deal with DGS and other state officials. We will persevere, be patient and prudent, and pray (if you are so inclined). We accept Supervisor John Moorlach's wise words of caution as well. The end result--the deal--has to be a win win for now and the future. The price has to be right. Yes, we are emotionally involved, but we can't let our emotions rule.
Saturday, March 27, 2010
WOW! You should see the new Tustin Library!
You may have caught the story in the Pilot about Tom Egan and me working together on several projects tied to kids and books. Tom is on the Library Foundation Board. In better times I believe the City would certainly consider helping to fund a new main library and much needed expansion and renovation of the two branch libraries. But in lean times, we need to come up with other revenue sources. And that's what Tom and I have been talking about for months.
Tom and I began meeting to figure out ways to raise the level of interest in our libraries and the need for a central library. We came up with the idea of putting a cart of library books on the City's mobile rec van that went out to different neighborhoods each week. Although it doesn't make sense to me, the city council axed the mobile rec van project so there went our idea!
We have been visiting after school programs-SOY, MIKA, THINK and Tewinkle School--to see how we can get more books into these programs to get kids interested in going to the library. Yesterday Tom, Bob Ooten and I met for a tour of the new Tustin Library--wow! Kind of like if Tustin can build a new library, then we can too! Here is the link: http://www.tustinca.org/Library/index.html
Bob is with the Friends of the Library located on the Mesa Verde site. He read the article about Tom and me and wanted to help too. Bob collects, sells and gives books away. The money from book sales goes to the Costa Mesa libraries.
The three of us had a great conversation afterwards at the coffee shop across the street. We kept looking at the Tustin Library and thinking--this couldn't be too hard!
I am looking forward to the Library Foundation Community Forum on May 15 at the Downtown Commuynity Center. Architectural students from OCC will present their visions for a new central state of the art library and will show their renderings. (Sponsors are The Lab, The Camp, Mesa Consolidated Water District, Newport-Mesa Daily Voice, Friends, Taco Mesa and OCC.)
Are you as passionate about reading, books and libraries as we are? I hope so! Why build a new central library and update and expand our branch libraries in this computer age? Well, you would have to see the people using the Tustin library on a Friday afternoon to become a believer too: teens (they have their own room plus a homework center for tutoring), little guys with their own computers and rows of computers for adults. Others had their own computers on WiFi. And there were a few reading books!
I believe working on this worthwhile project will unite our community. We need a common goal to improve our public libraries for all residents. Libraries bring people together. If ever there was a time we need to come together, it is now. If Tustin can do it--so can we!
Tom and I began meeting to figure out ways to raise the level of interest in our libraries and the need for a central library. We came up with the idea of putting a cart of library books on the City's mobile rec van that went out to different neighborhoods each week. Although it doesn't make sense to me, the city council axed the mobile rec van project so there went our idea!
We have been visiting after school programs-SOY, MIKA, THINK and Tewinkle School--to see how we can get more books into these programs to get kids interested in going to the library. Yesterday Tom, Bob Ooten and I met for a tour of the new Tustin Library--wow! Kind of like if Tustin can build a new library, then we can too! Here is the link: http://www.tustinca.org/Library/index.html
Bob is with the Friends of the Library located on the Mesa Verde site. He read the article about Tom and me and wanted to help too. Bob collects, sells and gives books away. The money from book sales goes to the Costa Mesa libraries.
The three of us had a great conversation afterwards at the coffee shop across the street. We kept looking at the Tustin Library and thinking--this couldn't be too hard!
I am looking forward to the Library Foundation Community Forum on May 15 at the Downtown Commuynity Center. Architectural students from OCC will present their visions for a new central state of the art library and will show their renderings. (Sponsors are The Lab, The Camp, Mesa Consolidated Water District, Newport-Mesa Daily Voice, Friends, Taco Mesa and OCC.)
Are you as passionate about reading, books and libraries as we are? I hope so! Why build a new central library and update and expand our branch libraries in this computer age? Well, you would have to see the people using the Tustin library on a Friday afternoon to become a believer too: teens (they have their own room plus a homework center for tutoring), little guys with their own computers and rows of computers for adults. Others had their own computers on WiFi. And there were a few reading books!
I believe working on this worthwhile project will unite our community. We need a common goal to improve our public libraries for all residents. Libraries bring people together. If ever there was a time we need to come together, it is now. If Tustin can do it--so can we!
Sunday, March 21, 2010
Good News for Costa Mesa Kids!
It is finally starting to sink in that recently announced changes in the leadership of Costa Mesa High School and Estancia High School will definitely make a BIG difference in our city. For parents who care about the quality of their kids' educations the best is yet to come. This summer current principal Phil D'Agostino will be going to CMHS and current Tewinkle principal Kirk Bauermeister will be going to Estancia. Both have done wonderful jobs at their schools to improve student learning. Both connect well with parents to keep them involved in their kids' educations.
Yesterday when I got my car washed at Harbor Trinity Baptist church (where tons of parents and students were washing cars for the family of CM Middle School student Eric Valdez who passed away last week) I shared my excitement with former school board trustee Linda Sneen and current PTA president Vanessa Hatch and we all agreed that the best is yet to come. Linda represented the zone that includes Costa Mesa High School and has been passionate about improving the quality of education at CMHS for many years. Vanessa is the wife of our awesome assistant city manager Tom Hatch.
Yesterday when I got my car washed at Harbor Trinity Baptist church (where tons of parents and students were washing cars for the family of CM Middle School student Eric Valdez who passed away last week) I shared my excitement with former school board trustee Linda Sneen and current PTA president Vanessa Hatch and we all agreed that the best is yet to come. Linda represented the zone that includes Costa Mesa High School and has been passionate about improving the quality of education at CMHS for many years. Vanessa is the wife of our awesome assistant city manager Tom Hatch.
Wednesday, March 17, 2010
Daily Pilot - Serving Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, California
Daily Pilot - Serving Newport Beach & Costa Mesa, California
We are pleased the State has decided to reject all bids to buy the Orange County Fairgrounds. Many residents of our great city, including our former Mayor Sandra Genis, and her team, put a lot of pressure on the Governor's office and on DGS to have them stop the sale. Other cities joined in as did many legislators. We are thankful for everyone's hard work!
We are pleased the State has decided to reject all bids to buy the Orange County Fairgrounds. Many residents of our great city, including our former Mayor Sandra Genis, and her team, put a lot of pressure on the Governor's office and on DGS to have them stop the sale. Other cities joined in as did many legislators. We are thankful for everyone's hard work!
Monday, March 15, 2010
Friday, March 12, 2010
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Where have I been?
I'm back! Being a city councilwoman and mayor pro tem and a substitute teacher keeps me more than occupied every day. Not to mention that I still have five kids although thankfully the youngest turned 21 this past week which means I graduate into the empty nest or something. I enjoy everything about my life except the fact that there are not enough hours in the day to accomplish everything that I THINK needs to be done. I will start posting local, state and national news of interest to conservatives. Uploading articles is easy with Google and is a tremendous opportunity to highlight conservative articles. Stay tuned.
Saturday, December 19, 2009
Thursday, December 17, 2009
Sex Education and the Left
American Thinker: The Left's Corruption of Youth
Barbara--this is for you.
Barbara--this is for you.
Sunday, December 13, 2009
Saturday, December 12, 2009
Plan B--put in a bid with the County of Orange
At our City Council meeting on Tuesday we will meet in Closed Session first to discuss an MOU with the County of Orange to join together to put in a bid for the Orange County Fairgrounds. Katrina took this picture on Monday when we were in Sacramento asking State officials to stop the sale.
Friday, December 11, 2009
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