The city is already a couple million in the hole in its four-month-old budget and having to once again look at laying off more city employees and cutting even more services, and we're spending all this time on feral cats. Why is more attention not being paid to how to address the budget shortfall and exploring what new revenues might be available to get us back on track? Also, why does the city council majority appear so averse to approving the retail development called for in the General Plan that might help pull us out of this fiscal nosedive? Looks like the city has its priorities askew.

quote:

Originally posted by JohnTrain:
Also, why does the city council majority appear so averse to approving the retail development called for in the General Plan that might help pull us out of this fiscal nosedive?

The majority of people in Petaluma are all asking the same question...

John- You are asking the right question. This Council majority would rather gut services and lay city workers off before they would abandon their no-growth position.

The only answer is to replace them with more moderate people who balance community with business. That is if this group does not bannkrupt the city first.

d2, you asking if someone is lying, ignorant or simply spreading misconceptions is the hypocrital statement of the day. you are the one who gets on here about every two weeks, post a bunch of statements with NO backup at all. you consistently state your opinion and present it as fact when it is nothing other than your wild ideas. lunacy!

as for this council voting down development projects.......that isn't their game plan. their plan is to simply delay projects, put up hurdles and use backdoor strategies to keep projects from getting in front of them so they don't have to hear them and take action. that way they can make the claims as you mention here...it isn't them...so they will say. they are doing it right now with regency...finding ways to keep it from getting to an actually public hearing.

for you to say regency is "barely out of the starting blocks", now that is a truly ingorant statemnt. it is only that way because this city has delayed them to death with red tape. when was there first submittal made? over 3 years ago and yet, here they sit with no progress to show for it and the current majority works its backdoor bullying to continue to string them out.

you are the only weed here. you make your post then run and hide when questioned because you cannot support any of your wild claims.

D2
Is it the growing dissatisfaction with this council majority that has you so upset? You really shouldn't try to back them with such a poor argument. Friedmans is not serious about Petaluma or they would be here. It did provide the anti-business council an opportunity to delay both Regency and Deercreek projects. The Mayor trying to ban a garden center at Target and squeeze in a Friedmans. Perfect for them, delay Regency and allow them to block Lowes cause we now have a potential Friedmans. Come on, listen to yourself d2, your sounding desparate.

Almost sounds like the words of Lady Boop! By the way, where is Boop. Good quote Farmland!

quote:

Originally posted by ptlmafrnd:
d2, you asking if someone is lying, ignorant or simply spreading misconceptions is the hypocrital statement of the day. you are the one who gets on here about every two weeks, post a bunch of statements with NO backup at all. you consistently state your opinion and present it as fact when it is nothing other than your wild ideas. lunacy!

as for this council voting down development projects.......that isn't their game plan. their plan is to simply delay projects, put up hurdles and use backdoor strategies to keep projects from getting in front of them so they don't have to hear them and take action. that way they can make the claims as you mention here...it isn't them...so they will say. they are doing it right now with regency...finding ways to keep it from getting to an actually public hearing.

for you to say regency is "barely out of the starting blocks", now that is a truly ingorant statemnt. it is only that way because this city has delayed them to death with red tape. when was there first submittal made? over 3 years ago and yet, here they sit with no progress to show for it and the current majority works its backdoor bullying to continue to string them out.

you are the only weed here. you make your post then run and hide when questioned because you cannot support any of your wild claims.

On Nov. 2nd the City Council will discuss the $2.2 million shortfall in the City's budget, remove the old planning commissioners to reinstate the new planning commissioners.

Ironically, the Regency Project has been in the planning process for 5 years and would bring in almost $2.2 million in tax benefits. Not to mention the construction and retail jobs it would provide to Petaluma.

City staff and their Union have spoken, Petalumans have spoken, the message is clear. Support the new General Plan and stimulate the local economy. Quality of life must be a priority.

Yes, I am a supporter of the East Washington Project owned by Regency. Check the website and see the various names and organizations, who also support this revenue generator for our City.

Link

In the last five years, I have asked many questions of the Regency developers and made suggestions to their project. Other Petalumans have also had the opportunity to be informed of this project and learned what an asset it will be to our City's future. I don't work for Regency, I am just one of the many supporters. In fact as a Council member, I supported the FEIA, which wasn't supported by the development community.

I want to see a healthy economy and future in Petaluma, support any opportunity to avoid City Staff lay-offs and provide employment opportunities.

d210333 has been against this project and any development in Petaluma since the beginning of time. Read all his posts.

He said he lives in Old East Petaluma and he lives 1/2 mile from the Kenilworth site.

He is quoted as saying "no wonder that the project owner/developer has the initials B*S*." This is in regards to Basin Street.

He is also quoted as saying "I am not on the council but have been asked if I would ever run." My word of advice - don't even try because your no fact, no back-up responses will get you further in the hole. In this next election, I will be analyzing every person that runs for city council to make sure there is no one that has even a tad resemblance to you.

ptlmafrnd - don't waste your breath for this one. He has one HUGE ego and never has an answer to anything. That's why he "writes and runs"!

d210333- While you ask what projects the Council majority has voted down, perhaps the more salient question should be, what projects has the Council majority endorsed, expedited, endorsed, or otherwise championed to get online in order to save our city from financial ruin? It's the insidious water torture of negativity, the well-documented anti-business attitude, and the Machiavellian way of continually obstructing a project's progress by changing the rules midstream and the like. If you make a project's approval process so onerous and so expensive, perhaps they will go away. That, or the group hasn't an idea of working in the private sector or understand the concept of collaboration and cooperation.

For instance, do they REALLY know where Friedman's wants to be located?? Are they even championing the correct site for that company to be successful in Petaluma? I think they haven't an idea....

And Costco... which Council Members have indicated Costco would not be a good fit in Petaluma and why? The answers might surprise you....

I could go on and on.... but I assure you, it's the attitude and the unknowing, wavering, anti-business at all costs attitude that keeps companies from Petaluma, that makes their process a six year nightmare, that alleviates no anxiety and gives no assurance to those who want to invest millions in the community, provide desired goods, provide sales and property tax revenues to a beleaguered city.

Karen's correct, next week we try to fix a $2.2 million shortfall in our mid-year budget review. About the same amount of money the Kenilworth site would add to the city's coffers. I guarantee you you'll hear statements such as "approving this project wouldn't do anything to help this budget now since it is years away from occupancy" (true, except the project has been in the approval process for close to six years!); or, how this community is no different than any other community in this 'global' economic collapse- except that we have up to four viable development options that other cities would die for... four projects that could bring in millions of dollars and help balance out budget and keep us from layoffs....

And by the way, isn't D210333, Dave Libchitz, a former employee of the mayor's father?

D2 - Great news! Friedmans is already here you say? Wonderful. I am planning a bathroom remodel and need tile, vanity, lights, sink, etc. We have about $1,500 budgeted for materials. I am so totally happy that I can spend that money in Petaluma.

So now if you will be so kind as to post the address I will run down there this weekend to do my shopping.

John Train, if you really knew about how the city has been dealing with feral cats, perhaps you'd have more of an interest. YOU and I have been paying to have these cats trapped and killed (up 41% over the past five years) all at the leasure of a couple of "special" groups. How much? More than enough to keep a city employee (or two) employed for a year. Yet, the wisdom of the city council says that they can afford to keep on doing that.

Now, David can't see the forest for the trees when it comes to the feral cats, but he does see the big picture on development, as does Karen Nau. Perhaps when we get some revenue generating business in Petaluma then we can afford to keep killing cats.

I've been in contact with some relatives in Cincinati, OH....that city is thinking about allowing a casino in their city to generate jobs. Actually its been on the ballot four times before and has been shot down....now, however its gaining support. The point is that all across the United States many cities and towns are having problems with revenue sources. Some are going off the deep end. Regency is NOT going off the deep end....how many of your children or freind's children are being educated at the new Middle School...which would NOT have been possible had the old site been bought and paid for?

Can the majority on the council be changed? Don't underestimate the Mayor....after all she got a person elected to the council that just two years earlier ran and failed (last place) and all that individual had to do was grow some hair (on her head), nothing else was different! Oh, I beg your pardon, that individual now is not suggesting us compost our fecal matter in our back yard. What? You don't remember that? How easy one forgets...............

There is one program that the City Council has effectively shut down -- the Visitors Program, and any marketing of Petaluma. The result will be lower TOT tax and sales tax revenues, worsening the budget crisis, and also hurting many local businesses who benefit from visitors, resulting in lost jobs, higher vacancy rates, etc. The Quality Inn has already filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy.

If the City Council wants to help existing local businesses, they should be willing to market Petaluma and all of its wonderful businesses and other attractive elements to potential visitors.

quote:

Originally posted by food4all:
There is one program that the City Council has effectively shut down -- the Visitors Program, and any marketing of Petaluma. The result will be lower TOT tax and sales tax revenues, worsening the budget crisis, and also hurting many local businesses who benefit from visitors, resulting in lost jobs, higher vacancy rates, etc. The Quality Inn has already filed for Ch. 11 bankruptcy.

If the City Council wants to help existing local businesses, they should be willing to market Petaluma and all of its wonderful businesses and other attractive elements to potential visitors.

The Petaluma Visitor's Center is still up and running. I know they have at least one paid employee and the rest are volunteers.

After getting stuck in the commute from Marin to Petaluma yesterday I only have good thoughts towards the folks everyone's bashing. They are finally getting the East Washington Improvement Project built and helping reduce traffic at the WORST Intersection in this City. It should have and could have been done 4 years ago but the majority at the time priority was Rainier, not the working class sitting in gridlock everyday. For 10 years every time Mike O'Brien ran, he sounded like a broken record "Build Rainier and Build it now." Well it never got built, and neither did the East Washington or Old Red Highway improvements. Coming from Marin it’s still the same gridlock at the Novato Narrows but had to slam on my brakes at the East Wash turnoff, because cars were backed up onto the freeway for 1/2 mile. Not only is the traffic worse but it’s not safe. Sorry, can’t be a hater today towards any of the current 7. THEY ARE FINALLY GETTING SOMETHING DONE, no thanks to the ones that are gone, that worked on improving our Quality of life. The current 7 are going to help that mess of an intersection, not only at 5pm but during the day driving across town. That is until the Target shopping center goes in then it will be just like it is now. On a positive note, if they approve the Deer Creek shopping center as proposed it won't affect the freeway traffic, since none of us that live on the eastside will be able to get to the freeway. That should ramp up the the Daily Hate.