FOREfront--Working for the People of Roseville

Volume 02, Issue 5, September 1999

FINAL 1998 CITY COUNCIL CAMPAIGN CONTRIBUTIONS?

We reported contributions city council candidates received in the 1998 campaign in previous FOREfront newsletters. Since then new financial reports have been made on that race. WILL THERE BE MORE CONTRIBUTIONS?

To keep contributions in perspective, you can compare who got and spent what.

Candidate	Jan 99	June 99	Received	Spent
Goodhall*	103,096	15,005	119,101	93,256
Rush*	93,068	6,335	99,403	94,660
Gray	64,528	-0-	64,528	64,528
Gamar*	63,003	-0-	63,003	51,528
Atteberry	28,047	-0-	28,047	26,886
Saracini	3,389	-0-	3,389	2,623
Cantlay	100	-0-	100	100

*Winner in the election

We were surprised by the wide difference in "war chests" candidates had to run their campaigns. We were also stunned by the many very large ($1,500 to $7,000) contributions. Most of the big contributions going into the larger campaign coffers, as we reported in our FOREfronts, came from special interest groups.

See our article on campaign reform, "Districts essential to governing in Roseville," which points out the need for election by districts as the "linchpin" in the city’s proposal for campaign reform.

SUIT AGAINST CITY GOES TO COURT MARCH 2000

As we have reported over the past nine months, the Howard Jarvis Association is suing the city over its 4% In Lieu Franchise Fee charged on your water, sewer and trash bills which is illegal under Proposition 218 because the charges exceed the cost of providing those services.

Law cases normally proceed in laboriously technical lengthy steps. If a step cannot be reached, there are delays before cases can be heard for judgment. The discovery step in the Jarvis Group’s suit against the city has not been completed. The reason is has not been completed is that the city, rather than provide forthright answers to Jarvis’ discovery requests, filed a frivolous motion for judgment on the pleadings, arguing that Proposition 218 does not apply to utility rate overcharges. Although the court denied the city’s motion, enough time was consumed in the process that discovery could not be completed before the scheduled date of trail. Therefore, the court has ordered a new trial date of March 14, 2000. We believe the city is stonewalling in an attempt to frustrate our efforts to lower your utility bills by eliminating what we consider to be an unnecessary tax. It is going to take longer than we had anticipated to remove the fee (tax), but we believe it will be removed.

DISTRICTS ESSENTIAL TO GOVERNING IN ROSEVILLE

Webster defines the word district as "a division of territory, state, county, etc., marked off for administrative electoral or other purposes." The word is also derived from the Medieval Latin word "districtus," meaning exercise of justice, (area of) jurisdiction.

With the population of Roseville fast approaching 100,000 we must look at the exercise of justice and judgment being dispensed by the city council in each of the neighborhoods or districts of the town. If some of the council members live in the same upper class neighborhood, can we expect that they will relate to the challenges and conditions that exist and need immediate attention in our neighborhood across town? As a citizen in another neighborhood, how do you choose who to address your concerns to. And, since council members don’t live in your area of town, can they truly understand how to deal with the elements of your part of the city, without the experience of living there?

It is definitely time for the citizens of Roseville to embark on a task to bring districting into reality. There are more advantages to this action than the present arrangement of five council members suggesting that they have the ability to serve the entire population regardless of where they reside.

First of all, if Roseville were divided into districts, it would discourage special interests from funneling huge contributions to the campaigns of candidates from areas of town where there are no development interests or financial benefits, and candidates receiving funds from special interests would be disclosing those contributions in the reporting procedure for all to see. Secondly, a candidate living within their district would have first-hand knowledge of the needs and environmental items that must be addressed, and would be responsible to personally represent the people of his or her district in voting on agenda items brought before the council. Thirdly, it would provide for more input by the residents of a specific district by having access to their own representative who lives within the area of concern and must address those issues and answer to the voters in their districts.

The response by current council members that they were against districts because they "represent the whole City of Roseville" is admirable, but defies reason when you examine who is on the current city council and where the funds came from to assist them in getting elected! Did the needs and desires of your neighborhood directly benefit from the last election of council members that raised over $300,000 to take a position that pays $150 a month? We must ask ourselves if we want to continue to receive "blanket administration" or be "individually administration" or be "individually represented" in legislation that affects the life style of our neighborhood.

The City of Sacramento has been divided into districts so that the issues of importance to the residents in those districts have access to one person who will act on their behalf on measures that impact their neighborhood. Placer County has been divided into districts so that citizens can relate to one representative their ideas and concerns of that district. Districts have been proven to be successful in many cities throughout the United States, and must become an essential ingredient of governing in the City of Roseville.

"He who is being carried does not realize how far the town is." Nigerian proverb

RAILROAD SAFETY AND HORN NOISE SOUNDED

FORE members have been seeking ways to improve railroad safety while reducing train horn noise. Cities can obtain approval for "quiet zones" along railroad tracks if safety improvements, such as "four quadrant gates," are installed at crossings. At the improved crossings, train operators would not be required to sound horns. The council declined to fund those improvements. However, one member, concerned about safety, expressed interest in improving the crossings in the future.

An automated horn system is another promising method to reduce train horn noise. In June, the city conducted a test of the automated horn system at our at-grade crossings. Many residents attended the horn demonstration and several of them preferred the automated horn over the train horn. The city council will review results of the automated warning horn demonstration at a future meeting. State and Federal regulators must also approve the system for use at Roseville’s crossings.

FORE MEMBERSHIP VALUED NIGHT WAS GREAT

Our August 10^th Downtown Tuesday Night was a smashing success. We hosted so many of you—our esteemed members—that we lost count. The evening was a two event night—honoring our members with a free meal and raising money by serving the public.

How wonderful of each of you to pitch in and help serve the public. That made the evening even more memorable. The evening capped 11 Downtown Tuesday Night events. Thanks to the more than 150 members who gave their time those evenings. The fund raising committee is commended for their hard work in putting the program of member appreciation and sales night together.

BILLIARD PARLOR BECOMES A ROCK MUSIC CENTER

For several years, Big Shot Billiards operated in the Melody Lane Center with relatively few problems. Then, in about April 1998, the owner began bringing in "Rock" bands several nights a week. This establishment is situated in a shopping center that backs up to a residental area which predates the shopping center. The neighbors began calling the city police and filing complaints on the noise from the bands, fights, drinking and talking in the parking lot until 2:00 am, vehicles parking behind the building with engines running, and other incidences of disturbing the peace. The police responded and over 100 complaints were filed.

The police no longer respond because city staff maintains Big Shot Billiards has the authority, by right of their initial use permit, to bring in "Rock" bands. Lunacy—nothing less. It again shows the city favors business over residents.

This issue of administrative decisions favoring Big Shot Billiards’ right to do whatever they please is being appealed to the city council. Let’s see if the council follows common sense for residents, or for business. Recall Arbor View and the northeast Cirby-Riverside projects that favored business, not common sense.

"Beware of the Id." Freud

Copyright 1999 FORE, Roseville, CA

WORKING FOR THE PEOPLE OF ROSEVILLE

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