Election years, for those that can take a slightly different view, can really be interesting. We can look and see odd occurrences just about everywhere.
Take, for example, HMB. Just the other day I received an eight-page, multi-colored (on great paper stock, by the way) glossy "2012 Summer Newsletter" from the City of Half Moon Bay.
Now I've only lived here for well over 30 years, so I most certainly don't know it all, but I can't remember the last time I received anything from the City of this nature. Taking it one step further, and by coincidence I'm sure, this is a City election year and there are two seats open that the two incumbents want to recapture.
The "newsletter," which happened to come out during the campaign for those two seats, sort of reminds me of the 2005 City election when we saw the no-growthers come out with their "Voice of the Coast” "newspapers," which by the way, got them in hot water with regulators.
We see our lovely City Manager on the front cover, with a message from her to us, and signed "Warm Regards" by her. Very nice.
Once inside, we get all sorts of stuff (important and helpful stuff) like:
* contact the City data
* City Staff Profile
* Council members named along with Council meeting days
* talk about the upcoming sales tax measure on the ballot (1/2 cent rise for 3 years)
* HMB featured in "National TV Show"
* the "Field of Dreams" event last April - the City acquired Smith Field(s)
* a handy guide from the City letting us know that they accept credit cards at the front counter for things like business licenses, alarm permits special event permits, Poplar parking permits, planning fees and so much more. From that same slice, we also learn that weekend enforcement of the two hour downtown parking is in effect.
We also learn that the City has mandatory solid waste collection and last, but not least, we are notified that parking on the street is for everyone; so to those that try to block off that space in front of your house...shame, and expect a ticket ("citation.")
And we're only 1/2 way through the eight pager.
* page 5 starts out with "HMB Named One of the Top 15 'Happiest Seaside Towns'” in the United States.
* Then answers to, “Do I Need To Pull A Permit,” followed with the “Recreation Zone”
* page 6 brings us the “Sheriff’s Spotlight” and “Public Works Notes”
* page 7 provides us with “2012-2013 Budget News,” a plea to help fight graffiti and a little blip on the “New Logo for HMB”
* polishing this “newsletter" off, page 8 provides us with “Upcoming Dates in Half Moon Bay” that we might be interested in
Now don’t get me wrong; this is a good thing and something that has been talked about as far back as the 2005 election campaign cycle. If we can afford it, we should be getting something from the City to keep us informed. I appreciate that.
What I don’t appreciate, however, is our tax money being used in a shameless, transparent attempt to campaign for the benefit of the incumbents — as if we wouldn't notice. Nobody likes to be played.
But again, I’m sure it is merely a coincidence; just like Voice of the Coast was in 2005.
This blog post first appeared on Half Moon Bay Review's TalkAbout (TA) Thursday, Aug. 16, 2012.
Next, I'll provide this: Last year, if memory serves, the HMB City Council took a move that addresses your sidewalk concerns. Most missed it, but here's the gist. They motioned, voted on and approved a strategic liability move. They pushed the sidewalks responsibility from themselves (the City) to the public and business owners they serve. They (the Council) seem to be of the opinion that sidewalks provide liability and they don't want that liability; so they voted on and passed an Ordinance that requires we be responsible for the sidewalks in HMB. Neat trick, if you ask me. At some point, I suspect that move will get legally challenged, which of course it should be and further, how ironic will that be? Their efforts to relinquish their liability lands them in court; and yet one more time we get to foot the bill.
To Dee: I called the City and asked them about this "newsletter" I also submitted a public request act to receive the costs. I'm just guessing here, but I'd say we're in the $25K range. I'll provide that data when I get it. Regarding frequency; I was told that this is the first quarterly report going forward; so it appears as though we should see this four times a year. I just find it particularly interesting and coincidental that the first issue of an allegedly quarterly report pops up at the beginning of a City campaign cycle, with the next one due after the election. Again, probably just one of those quirky coincidences, huh? I do agree with the concept of the City reaching out to its residents to keep them informed. That is long overdue. The only point I'd offer from that is that I think it might be helpful to the community if the City would include some of the items that aren't as warm and fuzzy - take the Kehoe Ditch matter as an example. The trial ended a year ago, yet we still have no resolution. Why not? I'd sure like to know if we're on the hook for another $Million penalty. I suspect most would. That's just one example. There are plenty where that came from, but it at least makes the point. Politics is a contact sport. I just wish politicians would use their own money when they are campaigning, as opposed to using ours (while asking for more).
Jimmy Benjamin, a HMB resident, sued the City of HMB after the City cleaned the Kehoe Ditch (02-09). The case went to court. The trial ended one year ago with a decision from the judge that the City should have acquired a CDP for that project and knowingly did not do so. The City, therefor, was in violation of our LCP and the Act. The penalty translated to a $1,000 per day starting from the first day of violation. That could be interpreted to be as little as $4,000, or as much as well over $1,000,000. Yes, that's 6 zeros after the one. This evening Condotti (City attorney) announced that an agreement has been reached between Benjamin and the other interested parties, and that once appropriately signed, copies would be available to the public. He stated all the terms, but the one I heard that suddenly inhibited my hearing abilities was that HMB will pay for Benjamin's legal fees. If I heard right, that number was north of a quarter of a million dollars < $250,000. I apologize to those interested for my sudden hearing failure. You'll have to get it from the press release they are going to provide. I hope my hearing comes back after a night's sleep.