By Miles Shuper
The Rev. Richard James, pastor of St. Paul's Anglican Church, said the Fresno law firm of Penner, Bradley and Simonian has been hired to represent the St. Paul's congregation in court.
“This move was necessitated by legal action taken against St. Paul's by the Episcopal Church and the Rev. Jerry Lamb Bishop of the newly formed Episcopal Diocese of San Joaquin. .Lamb is seeking claim to St. Paul's property for a small group which broke away from the congregation after it voted by a large majority to remain a part of the original Diocese of the San Joaquin, said James.
The breakaway group, which kept the St. Paul's Episcopal Church of Visalia name, has about 70 members and meets at the B'ai David synagogue at 1039 S. Chinowth. It is led by Pastor Suzy Ward, the first woman ordained in the San Joaquin Diocese. She said the legal action involves the Episcopal Church and the Anglican Church and, “It is not our congregation and their congregation.”
There has been an internal battle brewing inside the Episcopal Church for about 20 years which led to the split in 2007. Among several theological issues was the question of female ordination.
James, who has been at the Hall Street church for 20 years, said the Episcopal Church has never owned the facilities nor paid for their upkeep, maintenance and repair. “We are hopeful that the whole truth will be revealed in court and that we will be able to keep what is rightfully ours.”
James points out that the break away group chose to leave and isn't entitled to the property. “They left. We're still here.”
In early February the Episcopal Diocese of the San Joaquin began a new round of litigation to return a number of parish church facilities which are currently occupied by former members of the Episcopal Church who have affiliated with other denominations, most of them the Anglican Church.
Lamb's group has taken legal action against at least three churches in the original San Joaquin Diocese - St. Michael's in Ridgecrest, St. Coloma in Fresno and St. Francis in Turlock. All suits involve church properties, according to church sources.
A church communicate quotes Lamb as stating, “The Diocese remains committed to working with any parties to facilitate the return of the properties so that we can all be about the work that Christ has called us to undertake in His name.”
The new round of litigation is in addition to a pending ruling by the Fifth District Court of Appeal that Lamb is the bishop of the Diocese of the San Joaquin for the Episcopal Church.
Meanwhile, St Paul's Episcopal Church of Visalia is seeking ownership of a $100,000 gift made through a trust to the downtown church prior to the split. Tulare County Judge Patrick O'Hara has said he will not rule on that issue until the church facility ownership suits are resolved, according to James.
A key issue in that case, according Kashy Rowland Smith, a St. Paul's church lay leader, is that donor's trust document includes the term “Episcopal.” She says it is clear that reference was to St. Paul's Episcopal Church on Hall Street. The donor's family belongs to and regularly attends St. Paul's Anglican Church, she said.
Smith said, “Even in the midst of this difficulty, we remain committed to our belief in Jesus Christ. He never promised that following Him would be easy and we are determined to continue in His teachings and fellowship. Our church is more than the building but it is home to our spiritual and worth defending.”
James says it isn't right for the group which left to claim the church facilities and the property. “They can't take the property with them, it's still there. We didn't take anything any place.” He also said the group which withdrew from the original Diocese of the San Joaquin led by Lamb in his role as bishop of the new Episcopal Diocese of the San Joaquin. “They took our name” and want to take all the property with it,” James said.
The Diocese of the Anglican Church in North America, of which Visalia's St. Paul's Anglican Church is part, is led by Bishop John-David Schofield.
James said his church and congregation “are under attack,” adding that the Episcopal Church has resources to wage a legal battle and “is trying to make it hard on us.”
James described the actions by the Visalia St. Paul's Episcopal Church as 'rather un-Christian like.
By Miles Shuper
Today's release of the more than 430-page document is a major step in a process which has stymied county leaders and others for years in addition to fueling an often fiery debate and sometimes bitter exchange of charges between the county and it's eight incorporated cities.
Over the last year in particular, cities and the county have been attempting to iron out guidelines over development in and around urban boundaries, one of several major policy considerations for the report.
The report's release triggers a 60-day public review period, about two weeks longer than the required 45-day period, before the plan goes to the Board of Supervisors for consideration and hearings. Threats of lawsuits have been made, county officials confirm, but no actions can be taken until the document is formally adopted.
Electronic versions of the plan and accompanying Environmental Impact Report and other documents have been posted online at www.co.tulare.ca.us.
In addition to the 430-page General Plan Update, there is a 900-page EIR, a 632-page background report and a 172-page climate report.
In the summary of the massive document, it is clear that county officials have given growth in rural areas as well as on the city fringes serious attention. The summary states the General Plan Update “incorporates an unprecedented open-ended invitation to the cities for cooperation in the fringe areas of the county adjacent to city boundaries.”
The point is re-enforced by comments from county supervisors who at times have come face to face with numerous city officials on revenue sharing, building and zoning standards and other matters. A blue ribbon committee comprised of county officials and representatives of the Council of Cities hammered out compromises for the final draft report.
Supervisor Phil Cox, who represents the Visalia area where city officials have been among the most critical of Urban Development Boundary infringement concerns, pitched the document this way: “The County has worked tirelessly hand in hand with the incorporated cities over the past year to provide a comprehensive General Plan that will allow the county to plan its future. This will not impact on city boundaries in a negative way.”
The same approach was taken by Supervisor Pete Vander Poel whose district includes the city of Tulare. “The county worked diligently to take into account all interest, from agricultural to environmental, incorporated city to unincorporated community and ultimately the rights of the individual property owner. As we move forward with this process all interests are encouraged to remain engaged in the process.”
That concern was not lost on Board Chairman Steve Worthley who stressed the efforts to encourage growth in the rural areas as well as the cities. “One of the highlights of the General Plan is that while directing most development toward areas near the incorporated cities, it allows for limited development in the unincorporated communities which have been overlooked for far too long.”
In addition to guidelines to enhance potential development in rural areas, the plan also focuses on standardizing development around city boundaries. It takes aim at protecting prime agricultural land.
Dave Bryant, who has been heading the project for most of its life, points to the reliance on the county's unique Rural Valley Lands Plan which dates to 1975 as a key component in the huge document. The RVLP is highly regarded and is viewed as a model by many other agricultural counties not only in California but in other states.
The RVLP provides a rating system used to determine if a property's development will infringe or deter or harm agricultural uses.
Another feature of the General Plan Update, according to Bryant, is the proposed Planning Framework Element which modernizes the policies of the Urban Boundary Element around cities and unincorporated communities and formulizes Hamlet Development Boundaries as well as the Mountain Service Centers. “This has the effect of standardized land use rules to direct new growth near existing growth,” That, Bryant said, will help make unincorporated areas economically viable.
The summary also takes note of how long the process has taken. A series of 19 workshops, 11 public Board of Supervisors study sessions, 12 technical advisory committee meetings and four joint Board of Supervisors and Planning Commission meetings were held to discuss, review, recommend and provide public comment.
Business Leaders Told Economic Upturn Still Months Away
Tulare County - While the consensus is that the local economy is in a holding pattern – basically at the bottom of the drop – there are several things that could turn it around sooner than what many expect to be still many months away.
That was the message several civic and business leaders took away from the Visalia Economic Development Corporation (VEDC) annual meeting last week where several speakers addressed the local economy and factors that will help it to improve.
On a positive note, Visalia City Manager Steve Salomon said a large industrial user is showing strong interest in the city and officials are cautiously optimistic that company will locate in Visalia and bring with it more than 125 jobs.
Mayor Bob Link said the city has not yet been given the identity of the company that is looking at using as much as 350,000 square feet of industrial space. He said a second company is also eyeing Visalia and he expects both are coming back for more talks with the city.
Link was careful to point out that companies come into the city often testing the waters, but he and other city officials are a little more confident this time around.
Salomon said the city is positioning itself to be ready for economic growth. He reported that 160 acres owned by Russell Doe are in the process of being annexed into the city and several road projects in the near future will improve access to the industrial park.
All agree that jobs will be the key to economic growth. The county's unemployment rate has soared to more than 18 percent – 11.6 percent in Visalia.
Adam Peck, executive director of the Workforce Investment Board, noted that the job market locally began to weaken in December of 2007. Hardest hit was construction where jobs are off nearly 25 percent. “It's about a 50 percent loss (of jobs) when you look at the peak to now,” said Peck.
Industrial and construction jobs are desired because they are generally well paying and come with benefits.
Another economic shot in the arm could come from the Tulare Motorsports Project which has been hanging in the balance for several months now.
Should that estimated $1 billion project come to fruition, then hundreds of construction jobs will be created and all agree that would stimulate the economy countywide.
Minus such developments, then officials feel it will be a slow recovery from the worst economy to hit the state in 80 years.
“It's been a hard road to hoe the last two years (in real estate),” began Steve Peck, vice-president with Mangano Company as he gave an overview of the economy, both nationally and locally.
He said real estate
values are hitting 10-year lows and while they appear to
be stabilizing, it could be another 12 months before they
begin to rebound significantly.
Vacancy rates for residential, industrial and commercial
appear to be running at about 8 to 13 percent – highest
for retail properties.
Peck said economists expect the economy will ride along at the bottom for 12-18 months, and then begin to recover.
“We're probably right in the middle of that,” he said, adding it will not be a classic recovery and that jobs will hold the key.
Most expect, he said, for the recovery to begin in the fourth quarter of this year, with a good 2011 and then a more robust economy in 2012.
Another positive was reported by Visalia Unified Superintendent of Schools Stan Carrizosa who told of a unique partnership between the schools and Groppetti Automotive Group.
Through that partnership students are exposed to the real world of working for a dealership, with two students given a summer internship.
Carrizosa said he was
proud that the school system can be a part of the economic
recovery in that he helps better prepare young people to
succeed in the job market.
He said, “If kids perform better in school, statistics
show their lives are better.”
Tulare County Supervisor Phil Cox said the county will be providing a shot in the arm to downtown when it moves its probation department into the old TulareWorks building on Center Street at the end of this year. Remodeling of that building is going on now.
Cox said the county is also studying how the four-story building can be utilized, saying studies have found it may not require a lot of modification.
Probably the best news Cox had for the gathering, the county is going to soon demolish the health department building along Main Street and reconfigure the parking lot, adding about 160 spaces to the parking-starved courthouse and government center.
Advisory Committee Balks at Picking a Plan
By Rick Elkins
Visalia - It appears wrapping ones arms around a local stimulus plan is more difficult than anyone ever imagined.
After nearly three hours of discussion Monday night the city of Visalia's Citizens Advisory Committee voted to not make any recommendation other than have city staff and the Visalia Chamber of Commerce work together to come up with a plan they can both agree upon.
Mayor Bob Link suggested during the council's annual retreat in February that the city come up with plan to stimulate the local economy. At the March 15 city council meeting, after it was obvious there was no consensus among the staff and council as to what form the stimulus plan should take, the matter was put before the 15-member Citizens Advisory Committee.
Both city staff and the chamber have made suggestions as to how the city can help stimulate the local economy. By admission, the city's staff plan is much more conservative than what Chamber CEO Glenn Morris calls the chamber's “bold plan.”
Basically, city staff is proposing changes to the permitting process to make it easier and quicker for builders to get their plans checked, but not much more.
The chamber has suggested a three-pronged approached of waiving or reducing many impact fees charged builders, a Buy Visalia gift card plan and a Drive Visalia plan that would reward those who purchase a new vehicle in town.
The issue is how to pay for any plan. Visalia Administrative Services Director Eric Frost estimated the city's proposal would cost approximately $150,000, while the estimate for the chamber's proposal went from $850,000 last week to more than $11 million that he told the advisory committee Monday night. The new figure takes into account the revenue the city might lose if it was to waive most impact fees.
Impact fees are those charged developers and builders. They are assessed for a variety of reasons – from keeping up capacity at the wastewater treatment plant to providing public safety personnel and facilities, as well as providing funds for new parks.
Several members of the advisory committee not only questioned the cost, but the effectiveness of any stimulus program.
“It there's no buy-in, I don't seek how lower impact fees will have much of an effect,” said committee member Sylvia Baggs. “Is the risk worth the investment?” she asked.
Diane Biehle questioned helping to build more houses when they are so many vacant homes now.
“We've got a flood of houses. Maybe we need to look at it on the commercial side rather than residential side,” she said.
Member Alan Powers agreed, saying lower fees could possibly add to the glut of homes on the market.
Frost said waiving the fees would lower the mortgage on a 2,000 square foot home approximately $65 a month – “not that much” – he said.
Baggs questioned if the city could afford any type of program. “Seems like a lot of people are asking help me, help me. The city needs help too.”
Morris said that job losses have been greatest in construction and the service sector. He said it is home construction that has the greatest impact on the local economy, with estimates that buyers of new homes spend up to $8,000 for new furniture and other items in the first year after purchasing a home.
“It's the one industry that has tremendous spillover,” explained Morris. He said the chamber was looking for a plan that was simple, immediate and would have the greatest impact.
Councilman Mike Lane remained silent for much of the meeting, saying he did not want to influence any decision by the committee, but later spoke, apologizing for putting them under the pressure of trying to pick a plan.
“We really wanted
your input,” he said, adding that the discussion had
been helpful.
Morris agreed with committee member's Phil Mirwald's suggestion
that the matter go back to the staff and chamber to find
a compromise. Frost said after the meeting that the dialogue
had been good and he was encouraged a plan can be drawn
up in time to be presented to the council April 5.
By Rick Elkins
San Joaquin Valley - Ag interests are pleased with the results of a new scientific report that concluded that pumping is not all to blame for the deaths of certain fish species in the San Joaquin Delta.
U.S. Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.) used the new findings to call on the Obama Administration to implement the biological opinions with greater flexibility and to use real-time monitoring and assessment to determine opportunities for supplying more water to south of Delta users.
The study by the National Research Council of the National Academy of Sciences found that most of the actions proposed by two federal agencies to reduce water diversions in the California Bay-Delta in order to protect endangered and threatened fish species are "scientifically justified," but the basis for the specific environmental triggers that would indicate when water diversions should be reduced is less well-supported by scientific analyses.
Reduction in pumping water out of the Delta to southern users is blamed for the fallowing of hundreds of thousands of farmland on the Valley's west side and the unemployment of thousands of farm workers. Even with average rainfall and snowpack this year, the feds have so far guaranteed only 35 percent of normal water deliveries to Westside farmers, one of the lowest allotments on record.
California Farm Bureau Federation President Paul Wenger said the report provides insight into actions intended to benefit delta smelt and salmon in the delta.
“This report is an important step toward balanced management of the California water system,” Wenger said, noting that federal agencies have addressed fish problems chiefly by reducing water pumping from the delta.
Westlands Water District general manager Thomas Birmingham was also pleased with the report.
“We agree as well that high levels of pumping can affect the mortality of fish. But as the panel points out, there is still 'substantial uncertainty' of how much pumping is safe and whether the mortality of the fish at the pumps really has any effect on their overall abundance. The report points out, for example, that the evidence suggests the smelt have moved to the north, where they now reside in Cache Slough, far away from the pumps. The loss of the few smelt that do find their way into the pumps, therefore, may have nothing to do with that larger population,” he said.
Feinstein, who chairs the Senate Appropriations Subcommittee on the Interior, the Environment and Related Agencies, secured $750,000 for the study.
“The report provides a useful assessment of the current biological opinions and provides opportunities for federal agencies to lessen water export restrictions by implementing the opinions with additional flexibility.”
According to Feinstein, the report concludes that:
· The 'adverse effects of all the other stressors on the listed fishes are potentially large.' These other stressors include pesticides, ammonia discharge, predators, and structures on rivers that block access to fish spawning habitat.
· Rigorous monitoring should be implemented to establish a robust adaptive management system, so that the actions can be fine-tuned based on real-time analysis to provide more water for human use with minimal impacts to species.
· The effectiveness of the annual water export restrictions in April and May prescribed by the biological opinion issued by the National Marine Fisheries Service is 'less certain' than maintaining flows in the San Joaquin River and that the existing adaptive management practices are insufficient and should be improved.
· The report raised questions about the management of the salinity gradient in the Delta required by the biological opinion issued by the Fish and Wildlife Service.
· Integration of the two Biological Opinions, which between them contain 78 distinct actions to protect the Delta smelt, salmon, steelhead and green sturgeon, 'is necessary to provide an objective determination of the net effect of all their actions on the listed species and on water users.
“Finally, I'd like to note that nothing in this report indicates that there is a need to enforce more rigorous pumping restrictions,” stressed Feinstein.
Wenger noted the scientific panel concluded that a number of other factors — such as sewage treatment plants and non-native fish — present a “potentially large” threat to protected native fish.
“We know that other factors affect the fish,” he said. “We look forward to the follow-up report from the Research Council that will explore those factors in detail and offer recommendations on potential, long-term solutions.”
Birmingham said that federal agencies need to consider more carefully the timing and the needs of the state in relation to the reductions in water supplies, but added that more analysis is needed.
“This should be a top priority for state and federal authorities alike in addition to the attention this panel plans to devote to the topic.
“Finally, as the panel concludes, the Federal agencies must do much more to evaluate the effects of their actions, whether they are providing any benefit to the fish, and how they can develop the fully integrated approach to these issues that the National Research Council considers essential. The best forum for accomplishing those objectives will be through the Bay Delta Conservation Plan,” said Birmingham.
SECOND FRONT PAGE
What's New
Fourth quarter of 2009 taxable sales were up 1% over the same period of 2008 – a good sign said City of Visalia Administrative Services Director Eric Frost. He had projected the city's deficit growing by another $500,000 because of an expected drop in taxable sales, but said the figures mean that deficit will not grow by as much. He is now projecting a $2.25 million deficit next year. Encouraging is that the sales comparison were apples to apples since Gottschalks was still open during the last quarter of 2008.
It's melting. With the lack of storms and higher than average temperatures, the snowpack in the Sierra is shrinking. Since the last storm on March 13, the snowpack at Farewell Gap, 9,500 feet above Visalia, has gone from 124 inches of depth to 104 as of Monday. At Quaking Aspen above Porterville the snowpack has dropped more than 15 inches in the past 10 days.
The Visalia Unified School board has refinanced its General Obligation Bonds. The move is expected to save the district approximately $1.25 million in interest costs over the next seven years without extending the life of the bonds. The Measure G Bonds approved by the voters in April 1999 have been used for many projects in the district, including the construction of El Diamante High School.
The U.S. Department of Labor has made available an $8,197,664 Regional Economic Impact National Emergency Grant to assist dislocated workers in California's San Joaquin Valley, including the counties of Tulare and Kings. The grant will provide the California Central Valley Workforce Collaborative with the flexibility to serve workers affected by projected layoffs occurring within the region during the grant's 12-month period of performance. An estimated 1,439 workers in central California will be served through this grant. Locally, the grant will be operated by the Kings County Job Training Office and Tulare County Workforce Investment Board.
Adventist Health Community Care is opening a clinic in Kettleman City. The health clinic arm of Adventist Health Central Valley Network recently received its state accreditation, with the Kettlemen site becoming the 17th Community Care clinic in the Valley. The clinic, which provides general medical services, is open 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., Monday, Wednesday and Friday at 304 Becky Pease Street.
Bids for the COS Tulare College Center Phase 1 project came in approximately $14 million under the estimate, reported COS President Dr. Bill Scroggins. The state appropriation for Phase 1 is $59,663,000 and the local funding from Measure J for onsite improvements and local match for Phase 1 is approximately $10 million.
New salon opens. Studio West 300 hair salon has opened at 300 West Caldwell. The salon has been opened by sisters Christine Martens, Deborah Verissimo and Roxanne Beayrd.
Mooney paving a ways off. Shelley Maggard of Caltrans told the Mooney Boulevard Business Association that paving is not expected to begin until the end of April. Work on landscaping will continue until then with another two-three weeks of median work expected. Adam Ennis with the city said he anticipates the Walnut and Whitendale intersections on Mooney going out to bid early next month with that work still a couple of months away. Plans are to have the project finally completed by the holiday season.
California Dairies Inc. in Visalia is expanding again, but the next project is an offshoot of the major expansion the dairy facility recently underwent. CDI is planning on constructing a 5,400 s.f. warehouse for all its repair parts for the large plant. Plans were submitted to the city last week.
COS varsity teams may be facing new competition next season. The Commission on Athletics of CCC Athletic Association will be realigning colleges in Southern California conferences at its meeting March 30 to April 2 in Ontario. The proposal being considered will remove three colleges from existing So Cal leagues: Bakersfield College, Cuesta College in San Luis Obispo, and Allan Hancock College in Santa Maria into the Central Valley Conference that includes COS, West Hills, Reedley and Fresno City.
Macy's reported total sales were up 4 percent over February of last year. Online sales (macys.com and bloomingdales.com combined) were up 38 percent in February. Online sales are included in the same-store sales calculation for Macy's, Inc. Target reported that its net retail sales for the four weeks ended Feb. 27 were $4,637 million, an increase of 6 percent from $4,373 million for the four weeks ended Feb. 28, 2009. On this same basis, February comparable-store sales increased 2.4 percent.
The COS Foundation board is giving up to $250,000 to construct dugouts and team room facilities for our Women's Softball program at COS. BJ Perch will be the construction manager.
Economic activity in West appeared to increase modestly during the reporting period of early January through late February, reported the Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco. The fed reported upward pressures on prices and wages remained limited and sales of retail items and services both showed some improvement late last year. Manufacturing activity was mixed but appeared to pick up further on balance, it added.
Ennis Homes, headquartered in Porterville, is expected to exit bankruptcy protection next month once again begin building homes in the county, including projects in Visalia and Tulare.
Visalia City Council OK'd the Visalia Police Department's request to add a full-time officer to fill an opening on the Tulare County interagency Narcotics Enforcement Team.
Roadway Inn at Main and Johnson in Downtown Visalia is up for sale and has closed.
California was not selected as one of the finalists for a $4.35-billion competitive school-reform grant program – Race to the Top – according to the U.S. Department of Education. Few local school districts applied for the funding because of uncertainty of how the program would be run and of possible strings attached to the program.
Nearly 1 million people visited Sequoia National Park last year, with another 609,000 visiting Kings Canyon National Park. Both parks saw an increase in visitors, as did most parks in the nation. According to the National Parks Service, 10 million more Americans and foreign tourists visited U.S. national parks last year than in 2008, a 3.9 percent increase that marked the fifth busiest year ever for the National Park System.
State Agrees to Pay CRV
Tulare County - One might not look to garbage to get a feeling of the worldwide economy, but that is definitely one good indicator.
In late 2008, when the worldwide economy tanked, the demand for recycled paper products basically dropped to nothing. China, which had been buying up almost anything in sight, stopped.
Today, nearly 18 months later, China is back and so is the demand for recycled paper projects.
Jim Vagim, director of government relations for Sunset Waste Paper on East Goshen Avenue, said demand today is nearly as good as it was in early 2008. However, the price has not quite recovered to where it was in mid-2008l.
“Chinese are buying again,” said Vagim last week. He said prices are back to where they are sustainable. He added China purchases about 70 percent of the paper products collected by Sunset.
Adolfo Ramirez, manager of BC Recycling in Visalia, agreed demand is up.
“Generally, everything's picked up,” he said. He added prices have picked up after being down the past four to six months.
While China is back taking in paper products, the demand for metals has not recovered, said Vagim.
Vagim said Sunset collects paper and cardboard by the tons and ships it overseas. Vagim said the Chinese recycle it, then use it to package products sent to the U.S.
While the demand is up, Vagim said they are seeing less paper products coming into their facility from local users.
“We're not getting as much as before,” he said, speculating that business is still slow for many local manufacturers and business and that is why they are not created as much waste.
Metal Thefts Down
“The price of metals has not gone back up as much. Fortunately, that's been good for the sheriff's office because people were stealing it,” Vagim said, but the price paid for recycled metals has improved.
When the price for aluminum, gold, silver and copper skyrocketed in the first of half of the past decade, so did the theft of anything metal. Hardest hit were farmers who often would go out in the morning, only to find the wiring and almost everything else missing from their wells.
However, when those prices tanked, it became much less profitable for thieves and that is still the case today.
Tulare County Sheriff's Office Lt. Scott Logue with the ag crimes unit, said that prices have picked up for metals like copper and brass, but new laws that went into effect last year has made it much more difficult for thieves to get paid for their thievery.
The price paid for copper dropped from $3.50 a pound to 42 cents a pound in the matter of a few weeks in 2008, but today is about $3. Brass fell from $1.98 to 37 cents a pound and stainless steel from $1.15 to 15 cents a pound, but they too have rebounded.
Tulare County Undersheriff Dahl Cleek confirmed that metal thefts are still way down. He also credited the new laws that made it more difficult to sell the stolen metal items.
“We were running ourselves ragged at one point,” admitted the undersheriff. Now, however, there no longer is the epidemic of metal thefts, especially those from farmers. Cleek said that was the most disturbing because the value of the metal taken was only a fraction of the value of damage done to ag equipment.
One law requires recyclers to document who is selling the metal, the metal and then the recycler must hold payment until they are checked out. Logue said often the thefts are by drug addicts and they can't way to get paid.
Good News
Recently, companies that collect CRV products, those that consumers pay a recycle fee when they purchase them, such as aluminum cans, plastic containers and glass bottles, were told the state was going to retroactively begin paying companies.
The cash-strapped state had been using the money collected for recycling programs to pay other bills and ran out of money to pay recyclers.
However, Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger signed ABX78 into law and as a result, payments reduced will be reinstated retroactively in full from January 1, 2010 through June 2010.
The lack of funds to pay recyclers was so critical at the end of 2009 there was a rumor that the recycling program would end.
Vagim said they are still getting a lot of CVR recyclables as the economy has people scrounging for every penny they can get.
By Miles Shuper
Woodlake - It's been almost five years since Woodlake Airport has been allowed to operate after dark.
And, officials say, it could likely take up to two more years until night-time operations (night opts) might be permitted, a situation which isn't sitting well with area pilots, plane owners and hanger owners.
Pilots who fly from Woodlake have to return before nightfall or land in Visalia, Tulare, Exeter or Porterville and make arrangements to get to Woodlake or other destinations.
Until the City of Woodlake, which owns the airport, can correct conditions which fail to meet state and federal aviation standards, the runway cannot be lighted. And fixing those problems involves moving at least one large hanger, re-trimming and possibly removing trees and relocating utility pools. Some utility under grounding has been done but some can't be completed until the poles are moved.
Those who use the airport claim the city hasn't been acting fast enough. One critic compared the city's movement on the problem to the pace of “a herd of snails.” Night time operations were suspended after a July 2005 inspection by the Aeronautics Division of Caltrans.
But officials, including City Manager Bill Lewis, along with inspectors from the Aeronautics Division of Caltrans, which oversees airports in accordance with Federal Aviation Administration regulations, say the removal of structures, including hangers which invade the required runway clearances trees, and utility poles and wires takes time. Those issues, coupled with the halt of annual state funded grants to municipal airports through Caltrans, along with stressed city budgets, share the blame for the delays. Grants of $10,000 annually to Woodlake for airport upkeep have vanished and are not likely to be resumed any time soon.
Earlier this month, the Tulare County Board of Supervisors granted an easement to Woodlake allowing Southern California Edison to relocate and/or removed utility poles from county owned flood control property adjacent to the airport. That action is just the latest in a serious of steps needing resolution between SCE and Woodlake regarding the poles. Woodlake and SCE have been negotiating over the pole issue for quite some time.
More than a year ago Bill Delaine, SCE regional manager, confirmed the Woodlake Airport issue was taking much longer than it should. He cited the fact that the issues included in the airports master plan including reconfiguration of runways and other changes, have to be considered before moving and realigning utilities.
Lewis agreed, adding that the still-to-be implemented master plan, which is low on FAA priorities, will impact other Woodlake planning factors.
Lewis said recent action of the utility pole issue is a significant step forward but is just one of the several needed to get the lights back on and night opts approved.
That point was made clear last week during a conference call involving Dan Gargas, Caltrans Aeronautics Division safety officer, and Lewis. Gargas listed some of the most crucial repairs required before a review panel of the Caltrans aviation agency will even consider lifting the suspension. Even if those changes are made, Gargus stressed, there is no automatic guarantee the suspension would be lifted. That would be up to the agency's eight-member review board.
The most significant hurdle the city faces
appears to be moving of at least one or more hangers to
meet clearance standards. There are hangers on both the
north and south edges of the runway. Relocating or tearing
down the largest hanger at the southern edge of the runway
would be the most valuable move in terms of mitigating
other issues, Gargus and Lewis agree. Altering hangers
on the north edge of the runway to improve clearances
and line of sight requirements are among the improvements
suggested. But Gargus said, moving or re-configuring the
large hanger on the south side of the landing strip could
help compensate for having to have the north side hangers
face major remodeling or removal.
Re-trimming trees at both ends of runways is needed and
maintained as needed to ensure proper flight path clearance.
Trees around the airport were trimmed in recent years
but subsequent re-cutting is needed, according to the
most recent inspection.
An indication of how slow the Woodlake Airport problems have and continue to move was that telephone conversation last week involving the city and the state agency.
Gargus said the city likely will not get a written inspection report for at least a month due to having to share one clerk-typist with nearly three dozen other departments.
Lewis confirmed that Woodlake is aware of what general actions are needed but procedural issues sometimes can require having a written document in hand.
Another requirement already being addressed, according to Lewis, is correcting the official length of the airport runway from 3,320 feet to just over 2,200 feet.
The city owns several hangers and others are privately owned. Those owners pay a fee to the city and also pay property taxes.
About 20 airplanes are based at Woodlake at 15 hangers. The Civil Air Patrol and a flying club, the Experimental Aircraft Association, are based at the airport.
But those numbers could soon change as plane owners are losing patience due to restrictions on their flying hours and other concessions they have to make in their flight schedules.
The most outspoken critic of the situation has been Chris Crumly who owns a plane which he often uses for business trips. Crumly, who owns and operates Hal Crumly Refrigeration and Cooling, has attended a number of Woodlake City Council meetings and has numerous meetings with Lewis and dealings with SCE and Caltrans officials.
“I'm waiting as fast as I can,” he quipped last week, after being informed that progress in finally getting the utility pole issue could be underway.
Crumly admits to being totally frustrated with what he calls “foot dragging” and non-action in getting things done. He said he and other plane owners and pilots “are at their mercy,” a reference to all those involved in the airport matter.
Another plane owner and hanger owner, Tim Dickerson, is giving serious consideration to moving his sporty home-made RV-4 single-engine plane to Sequoia Field. Dickerson, who built a home only about two miles from the airport, said he might take his hanger with him. He likes the fact his plane is so close to home but, like Crumly and others, is fed up with having to limit flights to daytime or make arrangements to get home after landing elsewhere after dark.
Hans Steiner, who owns Hans' Boat Works Inc. along Highway 198 near Farmersville, said he uses his Woodlake Airport based plane about 25 percent of the time for business and the no night opts situation has gotten tiresome. Flying out of the local area to have dinner at the coast or elsewhere is hard to plan if return trips have to be completed before dark.
Some repaving of the runways, the addition of card-lock fuel pumps and other improvements have been welcomed by plane owners who point out that having a viable airport in Woodlake is important.
During periods of dense Tule fog, Woodlake often is the only airport in the area clear enough for landings and take-offs. Air parcel companies often divert flights to Woodlake and off-load or pick up freight during those times.
Restrictions on hours of operation can be a factor, local pilots point out.
Bryon Taylor has had a plane at the airport for a number of years and says it is a convenience and would like to see more use at the facility. The return of night operations, he said, would go a long way to that goal.
Visalia - When Fan Fest 2010 rolls into Visalia next month it will be another huge plus for the Visalia Convention and Visitors Bureau.
Fan Fest - April 29-May 1 - will be a three-day gospel music festival at the Visalia Convention Center that is expected to draw as many as 3,000 people a day and put about $800,000 into the local economy, Joe Kuhn told the Visalia City Council last week during a very impressive report on the success of the Visitors Bureau over the past year.
Kuhn reported that the city's investment on the VCVB has been returned five-fold.
“The investment by the city has resulted in more than $1.5 million in direct revenue in convention center, hotel, catering and other revenues that can be specifically attributed to the VCVB sales efforts,” Kuhn told the council. The City funded the bureau with $239,000 that mainly pays for materials and a two-person staff.
VCVB is a non-profit organization to promote the city and region.
The impressive report, while the first for the VCVB, shows the effectiveness the Bureau has had in attracting venues to the city.
“Fan Fest is huge,” said Kuhn. He said it will require 1,800 hotel rooms, create a small RV park at the Visalia Airport and bring thousands of gospel fans to Visalia.
Erin Capuchino, tourism, marking and events coordinator for VCVB, said Fan Fest will be one of the biggest events to come to the Convention Center. She said it is on par with the Order of Eastern Star gathering that brings thousands to the city for a full week.
Even though they don't have figures to compare with, Capuchino said that the use of Visalia for events – big and small – has definitely picked up. She and Kuhn attributed that to the hiring of Aaryn Skaggs, the sales manager headquartered in Sacramento, more than a year ago.
“Aaryn has been phenomenal,” said Capuchino. “She's done such a fantastic job.”
While Capuchino tends to the day-to-day, Skaggs sells Visalia. Located in Sacramento, she is closer to the decision makers for many events held around the state. She helped bring Fan Fest to Visalia.
“It's going to be a great religious concert series,” Skaggs told the council.
Capuchino said they focus on venues that will require at least three hotels, but not always the convention center.
However, landing a venue such as Fan Fest means nearly every hotel in town, and maybe a few out of town, will reap benefits.
The VCVB has been successful in spite of the fact it has not executive director. For the past year, the bureau has been overseen by Kuhn and City Assistant City Manager Leslie Caviglia.
Kuhn gave the council some impressive statistics.
· Overnight delegate sending $2.48
million
· Day trip delegate spending $2.47 million
· Event organizer spending $157,000
· Delegate daily spending $236
· Total annual return to city $5.477 million
“For every dollar you gave us, we brought back $23,” said Kuhn proudly. “That's pretty impressive for a volunteer board.”
Mayor Bob Link credited Kuhn and his board, as well as the staff, for being so successful. “We've come a long way,” he said.
The above stories are the property of The Valley Voice Newspaper and may not be reprinted without explicit permission in writing from the publisher.
March 25, 2010
