Because Veterans Day is tomorrow, the Claremont City Council has moved its regularly scheduled meeting to tonight at 6:30pm in the council chambers at City Hall, located at 225 W. 2nd St. in the Claremont Village.
You can read the agenda here. If you're so inclined, you can also watch tonight's meeting on the City's website.
Among the items on the council's slate for tonight:
Approval of Claremont Police Chief Paul Cooper's recommendations for the allocation of $100,000 from the state's Citizen Options for Public Safety (COPS) grant.
Chief Cooper wants to use the money to: purchase some new equipment; upgrade some existing equipment; and fund training, additional community outreach, more bike patrols, and more patrols in the Wilderness Park.
Oh, and then there's that $1,200 for a McGruff the Crime Dog costume. Seriously.
Guess we know what Chief Cooper is going as to next year's staff Halloween Party.- Acceptance of the resignation of Human Services Commissioner Anne K. Turner. Turner submitted this resignation letter to the City:
October 28 2008
Dear Members of the Claremont City Council and Members of the Human Services Commission:
It is with great regret that I inform you that I can no longer serve on the Human Services Commission. My schedule can't accommodate the commitment necessary to do a proper job.
I have been extremely honored to work with such a wonderful staff and dedicated volunteers. I count myself fortunate to have had the opportunity to be a part of "the process" and I thank you for that. [Are the scare quotes supposed to indicate sarcasm? - ed.]
I apologize for this mid-year decision, but it could not be avoided I wish you all the very best and again thank you.
Sincerely,
Anne K Turner
Anne K Turner MPA.
VMA Communications
As you can see, Turner is employed by VMA Communications, the public relations firm owned by Preserve Claremonter Valerie Martinez. Martinez is also on the Human Services Commission and reportedly had a hand in the behind-the-scenes machinations that led to the recent resignation of Commission Chair Gwen Carr. You can always count on Martinez to stir the pot.
No word yet on which VMA employee will fill the seat vacated by Turner. - An amendment to the city's agreement with Grand Central Recycling and Transfer Station, Inc., to process solid waste and recycling materials. The current agreement expires on November 14th, and city staff would like to extend the agreement one year.
- An appeal by a group of residents of the Architectural Commission's mitigated negative declaration and site plan approval for the Claremont Commons project at Monte Vista Ave. and Foothill Blvd.
- Adoption of staff recommendations for new procedures for dealing with foreclosed properties. Staff wants trustees taking possession of foreclosed properties to register vacant homes with the city. They also want enforcement of landscaping requirements reduced to 30 days from the current 180 days.
If the recommendations are adopted, staff also wants the city to approve a fee to register vacant homes (also looking for new revenue, this bunch). - Approval of a mitigated negative declaration for the Padua Hills Theatre, as well as a lease agreement between the city of Claremont and the developer, Arteco Partners.
- Approval of a process for appointing members of Claremont's Sustainability Committee. (In English: We get to pick people who rubber stamp the projects we like.)
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