By DAVID ROSS
The VC Parks & Rec (formerly CSD) board June 27 will vote on whether to go forward with a funding bond to create an independent revenue source for the district.
At their May 23 meeting the board tabled consideration of resolutions to initiate proceedings to form a community facilities district that could levy taxes.
They wanted more details on the proposal, and need to hammer out things such as how much money the district wants to ask for.
“We’re not ready yet,” VCP&R Gen. Mgr. Joyce Johnson told The Roadrunner Friday.
Directors will take up the issue at the June meeting, with the aim of putting the issue to the voters in November. Two thirds vote would be required to set up the district.
The taxing district would be used to fund:
• acquisition / construction of parks, recreation and open space lands and facilities.
• recreation program services.
• maintenance of parks and open spaces.
At previous meetings the board has met with legal counsel Warren Diven of Best, Best & Kreiger and tax consultant Andrea Roess of David Tausig & Associates to discuss what would be involved in setting up a taxing district.
Until 1993, when the state confiscated a percentage of the property taxes collected by special districts and gave it to education, the parks district brought in about $80,000 annually. This was supplemented by user fees from the district’s various parks.
Today the district collects about $60,000 in property taxes annually, and with the current budget crisis in Sacramento, directors fear that their share of taxes will be cut again.
The district recently changed its name from VC Community Services District to VC Parks & Recreation District in order to make it easier for the average person to understand its mission.
The VC Fire Protection District is considering charging a fee for services provided to non-residents.
At the district’s May 16 board meeting the district’s finance committee chairman, Dan Thornton, said he plans to bring up a new idea on revenue enhancement at every meeting.
Fees for service to non-residents of the district may be an area where we can pull in some funding,” he said.
“It’s my intention not to leave a stone unturned. I can’t stress enough that we need to keep looking,” said Thornton.
This is not a new idea and many other communities charge non-residents when a fire engine shows up to give medical aid, he said.
Such fees might be charged to someone driving through the area who gets in a car accident, and requires a district fire engine or ambulance. Or they might be charged to someone visiting a resident.
“It’s always been interesting to me that a tow truck sends a bill and the ambulance sends a bill, and we pack up and don’t send a bill. Is it unreasonable that our fire trucks, who cost the taxpayer, should be the only one not sending a bill?” said Thornton.
Board Pres. Mel Schuler said that unless a large amount of money is billed, administrative costs might outweigh potential gains.
“I would not recommend that this agency get into the collection agency business,” said Thornton.
Mike McDonald, member of the audience at Thursday’s meeting added, “I think it’s a good idea, particularly with all of the casino traffic going through.”
“If you’ve several income streams, those pennies add up to dollars,” said Thornton.
That brings up the question of whether residents of the surrounding Indian reservations would be considered “residents” for purposes of collecting fees. Residents of reservations don’t pay property taxes or benefit fees that support the district.
O’Leary said that if they are outside of the fire protection district, they are not residents.
This idea was referred back to the budget committee for further review.
CDF Contract
At the May 16 meeting the board got its first look at the new three year contract with California Dept. of Forestry. The contract will be voted on next month.
One new thing about the contract is the use of the so-called “Amador Plan,” named after Amador County in Northern California where it was first tried.
This plan allows the district to pay CDF to keep open its station on Cole Grade Road during non-fire season months. VCFPD would only pay for the months when the station would ordinarily not be open.
Additionally, fire engines based there could not be pulled away to fight fires outside of the district without being replaced.
“It’s amazing that we haven’t addressed this before. It makes so much more sense over building and staffing a new building,” said Thornton.
CDF will someday close its station on Cole Grade (next to the school complex) and build a new station on Vesper. This probably won’t occur during the three year life of the contract. Construction has been delayed a year and probably won’t commence until a year from this November, said Chief Kevin O’Leary.
“It makes sense to have the Amador plan as long as the station is there. I don’t know if there would be an advantage once the station moves to Vesper,” said Thornton.
Valley Center has kissed another Western Days goodbye, one that boasted the event’s first rodeo and the largest parade in history.
The parade started with a fine coating of mist, but ended in the full blare of sunlight. With over 140 entries, the parade lasted two and a half hours, a record.
There were also record numbers of people lining Valley Center Road watching the parade too, according to veteran observers.
After the parade, residents made their way to the Community Center to visit the booths for live music, food, games and fun.
This year’s family day on Sunday (where no alcohol was served) was also very popular.
Figures were not available for rodeo attendance for the two nights, but we do know that the organizers of the event brought in extra bleachers and sold out both performances.
Parade Winners
Top winners of the parade this year were California State Firefighters Assn. 1902 Steam Engine, which won the President’s Trophy and Powerland Equipment, which won the Sweepstakes Award.
Winners of the parade in various categories were as follows:
Novelty (other), First, Ray Juarez-Historical Era.
Mounted Group Era, First, Townfolk of Tumbleweed Junction; second, Escondido Mounted Posse.
Mounted Color Guard, First, Escondido Mounted Police.
Multiple Hitch, First, California State Firefighters Assn.; second, Rancho Verano (Coldwell Banker).
Working Western Lady, first, Christine Borle; second, Kendra Harrold and third, Vickee Songer.
Mounted Group, first, Valley Center Vaqueros; second, Valley Center Marshall’s Posse.
Plain Western Lady, first, Nancy Thorne; second, Gracie Randolph, third, Dorothy Stock.
Fancy Western Lady, first, Anny Salazar.
Plain Western Man, first, Gordon Liebscher.
Mounted Group Novelty, first, Mail Order Brides.
Baton Twirlers, first, Vista Twirlers.
Bands (high school), first VCHS Roaring Jaguar Marching Band.
Bands (Junior High), first, VC Middle School Thunder Jazz Band.
Drill Teams (special), first, Dos Valles Garden Club, March of Tines.
Color Guards (Military), first, Orange Glen NROTC Color Guard.
Walking Group (open), first VC Pop Warner; second, Valley Roadrunner; third St. Francis Church.
Walking Group (three or more), first, American Red Cross; second, Friends of Hellhole Canyon.
Floats (commercial), first, Valley View Casino; second, Coldwell Banker; third, Sun Coast Natural Features Float.
Floats (clubs and civic organizations), first, VC Republic Women’s Club; second, Valley Center High School ASB; third, Dos Valles Garden Club.
Floats (civic), first, Valley Center Marshall’s Posse.
Floats (religious), first, Light of the Valley Lutheran Church; second, St. Francis Church Float.
Miscellaneous (clowns), first, Eddie Hatzakis.
Miscellaneous (llamas), first, Beacon Hill Farms/Mt. Oaks Farm Llamas.
Miscellaneous (other), first, Black Sheep HOFC Motorcycles; second, Cub Scout Pack 619; third, Paladin Motorcycle Club.
Antique Cars, first, Eisenbeisz Bus; second, Chris Walmsley; third, Bell Gardens Antique Fire Engine.
Classic Cars, first, Dennis Lutz; second, Ian Barnes; third, Ron McCowan.
Custom Cars, first, Dick Newcomb; second, Autogate Repair.
Specialty Cars, first, Lake Wohlford Cafe; second Bud Miller.
Off Road Vehicles, first, Mike & Jeanette Stevens, tractor (1935 John Deere B); second, Mike & Jeanette Stevens, tractor (1945 HD John Deere); third, Mike & Jeanette Stevens, tractor (1936 John Deere).
Emergency Vehicles, first, Western Heavy Equipment, 1952 85-LS; second, Western Heavy Equipment 1953 REO Speedwagon; third, Vista Fire Department.
Rodeo Winners
Not all results were available for rodeo winners, but this is what we’ve got so far:
Bull Riders, Average Winners:
Tommy Hernandez, first place, $600, Montabello.
James Miyaqishima, second, $400, from Fallbrook.
Humberto Sanez, third, $250, from El Cajon.
Jeff Fisher, fourth, $150, from Coalinga.
Barrels
Sue Rogers of Temecula won first place in the barrels contest.
Calf Dressing
Calf Dressing was won by Guy White and family of Pauma Valley.
Other rodeo results will be available next week.
The Roadrunner invites you, our readers to join us in supporting the building of the VC High School performing arts theater.
We are calling this fund-raising effort: Roadrunner Readers’ Theater Matching Fund.
Dale & Shirley Good, owners and publishers of the newspaper, will match donations, up to cumulative amount of $10,000 from residents of the community.
If you write a check for $5, $25 or more, The Roadrunner will match it up to a cumulative total of $10,000.
The goal is to encourage small and medium-size donations from our readers and to help create a broad-based foundation for what promises to be the gem in the crown of our town’s cultural life.
The Goods explain: “Our reason for doing this is two fold. One, we think this is a wonderful potential addition for our community. Not only will it be something that the children can enjoy, whether elementary, middle or high school, whether band, drama, speech, or chorus—Beyond that, it promises to be a wonderful facility for the community at large.”
We see many seedlings growing from this fertile new ground: Community theater could be revived, because the biggest obstacle against it, a lack of a good place to perform, will be gone.
There will be other educational and enrichment opportunities that will bloom, whether local concerts or dance. They will occur because there will be a place for them.
“We think our community will be as supportive of this theater as they have been of other activities such as sports.”
The Roadrunner is also structuring this fund-raising effort to complement the efforts to get large donors to contribute to the theater.
Large donors of the type that the district is approaching are often very interested in seeing that a broad range of support exists for a particular cause.
“We hope to encourage more donations, whether for $5, $10 or $100 from community members who will know that their contribution will not only be matched but will also help hopefully in acquiring larger donations,” say the Goods.
If you read The Roadrunner and decide to make a donation, just write Roadrunner anywhere on your check, send it to the school and the paper will match it up to a cumulative total of $10,000.
Send donations to: Performing Arts Theater Fund, 28751 Cole Grade Road, Valley Center CA 92082, Attn.. Olivia Leschick.
All donors to the theater (whether through this fund or any other donation directed towards the theater), will be mentioned on the front page of the paper.
“We’d also like to encourage other businesses in our area to consider setting up matching funds as well. We would be delighted to provide them with publicity for their efforts as well,” said the Goods.
The Valley Roadrunner
P.O.B. 1529, Valley Center, CA 92082
Tel. 760.749.1112 Fax 760.749.1688
Website: www.valleycenter.com
Email: editor@valleycenter.com
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