By DAVID ROSS
As a lifelong bodybuilder, Gov. Schwarzenegger knows that there’s no gain without pain.
He’s proposing some major pain for California’s local governments. Among those feeling that pain will be Valley Center’s special districts, including the water and parks districts.
San Diego County will also lose an estimated $55 million in property tax shifts. The County is considering eliminating nearly 1,000 vacant positions and laying off hundreds of employees.
Yet the Board of Supervisors has signed onto the governor’s plan because of its long-term benefits. Supervisor Bill Horn points to the part of the deal that eliminates unfunded mandates from the state.
Horn traveled to Sacramento last week to take part in the historic budget deal with Schwarzenegger.
Water district Gen. Mgr. Gary Arant confirmed Monday that Valley Center’s water district will lose about $500,000 each year from the budget deal.
The governor’s budget takes a hefty chunk of local districts’ property taxes. In return he has pledged to support a constitutional amendment that would make such takings illegal.
The VC fire district will apparently be untouched. According to the deal, fire, police and safety districts that take in under $1 million in property taxes, won’t have to give up any revenues.
Joyce Johnson, general manager of Valley Center Parks & Rec district, is trying to determine just how much it will be hit.
That depends on whether Parks & Rec is considered an “enterprise district” because it charges fees. In that case the district could lose $28,000 per year of its $70,000 in property taxes.
If it’s treated as a special district, the hit would be $17,500, she estimates.
“If it’s forty percent, that’s going to be extremely detrimental,” she said. “If it’s 25% we’re talking $17,500, but still that’s a lot of money. It will have a major impact. We’re not real happy.”
At the end of two years the money will be restored, “but those two years will be pretty important for us to survive,” she said.
Special districts statewide will be reduced $350 million for two years under the governor’s proposal. Counties and cities will also lose $350 million for two years.
Once again it is time for Western Days and as usual, the word on the street is that a gaggle of chaparral coyotes and scorpions knows as the Ranchita Renegades are making their way to town to disrupt and disturb the good citizens during our annual celebrations.
According to Calico Craig from the Marshal’s Posse these individuals are coming in order to bank roll funds to rebuild the gopher hole that they crawled out of after the fire.
According to good information they plan to use the home of this year’s Mayor Donna Jorgensen as their base of operations so they can reach out and rob such fine local businesses on Thursday the 27 and Friday the 28.
On Thursday at 4 p.m. They will hit Papa Bear’s. From there they plan to go to Wallace Lumber at 4:30 p.m. Then it’s down the street to VC Foods. Once they are done having their way at the market it is on to Pepperoni’s at 5:30 p.m.
On Friday they start by robbing Snappy’s at 4 p.m. Next it’s on to Country Junction at about 4:15 p.m. Across the street they go to Town Center Market and Pala Gas. Then for what they think will be their big haul, The California Bank & Trust at 5 p.m. then it’s time for dinner at Casa Reveles at 5:45 before going to the Community Center for the Mayor’s race.
Do not fear good folks of Valley Center, for all of these lower than snake bellies attempts to cause hate and discount will land them in the same situation as last year’s group of no goods (picture) awaiting western justice from Judge Elam (Still the best hang’ in judge west of the Atlantic Ocean) who says that he has a new rope on order and that it will be here in plenty of time.
So do come out and have “ONE HECK OF A GOOD TIME”.
SANDAG is not threatening to withhold funding from VC if it builds a shopping center.
That’s the word from the San Diego Assn. of Governments, an agency with representatives from the County’s 18 cities and the county government.
Many who attended last week’s VC planning group hearing on the shopping center got the impression that SANDAG considered the Weston proposed center as anti-smart growth.
They also got the impression that SANDAG was threatening to withhold funds from VC if the shopping center is approved.
They got that impression from a letter by Leslie Wade read at the meeting for her because she couldn’t attend. In that letter she was described as “a Valley Center resident. Leslie is a former aide to a County Supervisor, and a consultant with SANDAG and other regional public agencies.”
Wade wrote, “By adopting the proposed shopping center plan, the community would not only rob itself of the opportunity to create a truly wonderful town center, it stands to rob itself of the opportunity to fund the infrastructure required to support its current and future needs.”
SANDAG, she said, is “about to adopt the first ever Regional Comprehensive Plan, a sweeping smart growth policy document that will change the way transportation and other infrastructure dollars are allocated throughout the region.
“. . . From my understanding, the proposed shopping center does not meet Valley Center’s Community Plan requirements, let alone those of SANDAG.
“If we proceed with the adoption of this plan, Valley Center will find itself with added, sprawling density and no regional infrastructure to support it.”
Wade called The Roadrunner Monday and clarified that she is not a SANDAG official, despite the impression given by her letter.
She is a consultant who is editing the Regional Comprehensive Plan. “I cannot speak for SANDAG on this. I only know the general themes. I do have a good sense of the overall goals.”
Wade, in addition to not representing SANDAG has, according to the phone book, the same phone number and the same address as John Ruggieri, the landscape architect volunteering with the Villages Subcommittee, who is promoting a “town center.” (See his opinion piece, Page A3).
Janet Fairbanks, senior regional planner for SANDAG, further clarified Wade’s connection with the regional agency:
“Wade is under contract right now to provide editing services for the Regional Comprehensive Plan, and in the past she provided outreach services to SANDAG. She helped prepare materials, and set up work shops. She’s an editor. We’ve utilized her now several times to provide editing services.”
Fairbanks added, “She does not speak for SANDAG. She’s not a SANDAG employee. She’s a consultant. She’s under contract to provide editing services. She’s not under contract to speak for SANDAG.”
The Roadrunner Faxed a copy of Wade’s letter to Fairbanks, who commented:
“I read her letter. The Regional Comprehensive Plan is a regional policy document that is under review right now. We hope it will be adopted by board at the end of June. It provides a policy framework. SANDAG does not have land use authority. That rests with our agencies.”
Asked if SANDAG would ever deny a community, such as Valley Center, development funds as a result of a particular shopping center, Fairbanks answered, “No. The Regional Comprehensive Plan includes policy language where we identify an incentive program where we would provide funds as an incentive to build smart growth projects. Right now it is a policy under consideration. If it’s developed we need to develop the policy and provide a framework for the implementation of that policy.”
She added, “The decision on the shopping rests with the County. They will decide what happens. The Regional Comprehensive Plan does not address specific projects. It’s designed to set up a framework. It’s a big picture document,” she said.
The Working Cowboy Band will return to Western Days on Saturday night, May 29, 7-Midnight.
The Working Cowboy Band is dedicated to the preservation of traditional country music. The band was formed in 1995 by Rick Robledo.
Its influences were firmly rooted in Texas Swing, and traditional Honky Tonk. Rick’s smooth, pure singing voice fit the style perfectly. Quickly the band began opening shows for major artists and was in constant demand for large corporate sponsored parties and local civic events.
They were always in constant demand on the local club scene.
Since relocating to California, Rick started his new band, bringing to it years of experience and the formula for success.
The Working Cowboy Band is on fire with a true passion for this music, and its shows ear to ear when they cut loose.
Rick’s first album, Lost in the Shuffle, produced two, top ten hits in Europe, and earned him the coveted “Rising Star 2001 Award.” from the Nashville Independent Recording Association. The follow up album, Back in the Swing of Things, is well on its way.
Band members include: Jim Allen (Drums/Vocals), who is one of the most sought after drummers in town; Dave Preston (Bass) with 30 years of honky-tonkin’ under his belt, including many of those spent on the road with various national tours; Gerry “Dog” Walker (Pedal Steel/Vocals), who is far and away the hottest steel player in Southern California; Alex Watts (Lead Guitar/Vocals), who has so many touring credits to his name that it would be impossible to list them here; and Rick Robledo (Acoustic Guitar/Lead Vocalist). His silky, pure baritone is the foundation of the band.
Fun just for kids will return to Western Days.
Country Kids Corral is being sponsored by VC Wellness Spa and Bear Valley Farm Supply.
Activities will run from 1-6 p.m. on Saturday on a roped off area near the ballfields. Unlike last year, this event has no connection with the rodeo.
Activities will begin as soon as the parade is over.
Each of the many fun activities provided in this safe environment for kids and their families will cost one ticket. The cost for 12 tickets is $5.
Money raised will be used to put on the event again next year.
Jana Limon, who, along with Kim Laventure, is organizing the event, promised that it will be larger than last year.
It was Limon’s idea to start the kids corral last year because up until that time, “there wasn’t anything for little kids at Western Days. When I was growing up in the Midwest I used to do these things. I thought, ‘Why not have these old-fashioned, fun games that would go with Western Days.
Planned activities include apple bobbing, stick horses, dummy roping, tug of war, sack races, pin the tail on the horsey, pig and rooster calling, horse shoe throwing and a Best Western Outfit contest.
The appropriate age to participate in these activities is 15 and under.
Kids will be able to go around and take part in as many activities as they want.
Also attending will be balloon sculptor and animal hat maker Mark Paul.
“With everything that’s going on with the world today it’s a good thing for families to do things together,” said Mrs. Laventure. “That’s what Jana and I are after, to promote something that’s family oriented.”
By CASEY ANDERSON
A small wildfire blazed through 20 acres of brush on the Rincon Indian Reservation across from the casino on Friday afternoon, narrowly missing multiple homes.
At about 12:30 p.m., an individual who had been clearing dry brush in a field with a tractor mower hit a rock.
The rock sparked and set fire to surrounding vegetation. Ironically, they had been clearing the area to protect it from possible fires.
This is the second time in recent weeks that a fire was started this way. A fire on the La Jolla Indian Reservation on May 5 was caused by a mower striking a rock.
Aided by the extreme dryness of the vegetation, the fire burned for about five hours and consumed about 20 acres. Firefighters were able to control the blaze however, and used two air tankers, one helicopter, and a total of ten fire engines to get it under control. An air attack supervisor was there coordinating the tankers and helicopters and their drops.
Four hand crews and a bulldozer were also deployed to contain the fire. Four additional engines were on hand to guard nearby homes and buildings. The fire was completely out by 5:30 p.m. No buildings or property burned.
According to Capt. Brian H. Beresford of the VC Fire Department, local field moisture is nearing an extreme low.
What little rain that has fallen recently has had little effect on the vegetation. These dry conditions are dangerous. People need to be very careful in their use of flammable materials.
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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