聖馬力諾拒絕 710 號高速公路計劃

聖馬力諾拒絕 710 號高速公路計劃

大都會交通局(Metro) 目前正在提議一系列項目，計劃讓地方街道從710 號公路的盡頭修到210 號公路，而不是延長710 號公路，讓它從阿罕布拉山谷大道(Valley Blvd in Alhambra) 一路通車到210 號公路。

大都會交通局將支付 32 萬美元給聖馬力諾，以拓寬橫穿我們城市的亨廷頓大道 (Huntington Drive) ，使交通量增加。這些項目對我們的社區有不利影響：我們孩子的安全、空氣質量，最重要的是影響我們在寧靜的聖馬力諾市的生活質量。

目前通過聖馬力諾時，車輛在亨廷頓大道上的行駛速度一般高達 48 英里/小時，公佈的限速是 40 英里/小時。大都會交通局估計，在交通燈和加寬亨廷頓大道的共同作用下，限速將提高 16%，達到 56 英里/小時。

亨廷頓大道沿線有 6 所學校（ 4 所公立學校、1 所教區附屬學校和 1 所私立學校）。我們想讓汽車在上學和放學期間以每小時 56 英里的速度通過嗎？不！這對步行或騎自行車上學的學生來說太危險了。

隨著越來越多的汽車高速駛過，額外的廢氣污染將影響聖馬力諾及其周圍的空氣。亨廷頓大道沿線增加的噪音以及停車困難問題會影響我們的安全和生活質量。我們喜歡我們安靜、寧靜的城市，並希望保持這種狀態。

還記得 2011年的“Carmageddon”嗎？耗資 10 億美元的西側 405 號高速公路塞浦爾維達通道 (Sepulveda Pass) 拓寬項目。加州交通局已經承認，現在的通行時間比拓寬之前更長，因為在拓寬的 405 路段通過塞浦爾維達通道的汽車更多了。

大都會交通局高級執行官 Abdollah Ansari 說：“這筆錢只用於提高通行能力、改善運行狀況、實現交通同步、使車輛通過，而不是用於交通穩靜措施。”

710 公路計劃及其項目只利於駕車者在聖馬力諾高速通過，對寧靜的聖馬力諾市及其市民沒有任何好處。

本請願書請求市議會不接受任何對我們城市安全和生活質量有不利影響的 710 公路計劃及資金。

我們城市的發展方向應該由納稅公民來決定，而不是由其他任何人來決定。

通過簽署這份請願書，我們要讓市議會知道，我們不希望在聖馬力諾有任何 710 公路計劃，也不希望改變街道以讓更多汽車通過我們的城市。

請訪問此鏈接並簽署請願書：http://chng.it/MsBPcxQpkK

SAN MARINO 91108 REJECTS METRO 710 FREEWAY PLANS AND FUNDING

San Marino Citizens and Parents of Sts Felicitas and Claibourn School Students, ask the San Marino City Council to REJECT the Metro plans that would widen Huntington Drive from Atlantic to Rosemead, synchronize traffic lights that will bring more traffic and increase the average speed to 56mph (by Metro's own estimates). 

These 710 Projects bring more cars, more air pollution, more noise pollution and decrease safety for our children who walk or bike to school.

Go to this link and sign the Petition to say NO 710 Projects in San  Marino  http://chng.it/MsBPcxQpkK

SAN MARINO REJECTS 710 FREEWAY PLAN

Instead of completing the 710 freeway from Valley Blvd in Alhambra all the way to the 210, Metro is now proposing a host of projects for local streets to carry traffic from the end of the 710 to the 210.

Metro is offering San Marino $32 million to widen Huntington Drive through our city that will increase traffic.  These projects have adverse effects on our community: safety of our children, air quality and most importantly our quality of life in our tranquil City of San Marino.

The prevailing speed on Huntington through San Marino is now up to 48 mph with a posted limit of 40 mph.  Metro estimates the speed limit would increase 16% to 56 mph aided by synchronized traffic lights and a widened Huntington Drive.

There are 6 schools (4 public, 1 parochial and 1 private) along Huntington Drive.  Do we want cars speeding through at 56 mph during the start and end of school periods? NO!  This is a danger to students who walk or bike to school.

With that many more cars speeding through, the additional exhaust pollution will affect the air in and around San Marino.  The added noise and more difficult parking along Huntington Drive affect our safety and quality of life.  We like our quiet, tranquil City; and want to keep it that way.

Remember the 2011 “Carmageddon” $1 Billion Westside 405 Sepulveda Pass Widening project?  Caltrans has conceded that commute times are now longer than before the project due to even more cars on the widened 405 section through Sepulveda Pass.

Metro Senior Executive Abdollah Ansari is quoted as saying “This money is only good for capacity enhancements, operational improvements, traffic synchronizations, items that pass the traffic through and not traffic calming measures”

The 710 PLAN and its projects BENEFIT DRIVERS SPEEDING THROUGH San Marino.  NO BENEFITS for the tranquil City of San Marino and its citizens.

This petition is to demand that the City Council DO NOT accept any 710 Plan and funding for our City that adversely affects our safety and quality of life.  

The direction of OUR City should be decided by its taxpaying citizens and not by anyone else.  

By signing this petition, we are letting  the City Council know that we DO NOT want any 710 Plan in San Marino or changes to our streets to accommodate more cars passing through our City.

PLEASE GO TO THIS LINK TO SIGN THE PETITION   http://chng.it/MsBPcxQpkK

San Marino City Council must provide leadership and oversight

To: San Marino City Council

From: Concerned Citizens of San Marino

Subject: The City Council must provide leadership and oversight. 

the undersign believe that our City suffers from lack of control over our expense budget leading to wasteful spending of taxpayer dollars.  The functions performed by City departments are inconsistent and of poor quality.

In 2016, the City Council formed an Ad Hoc Committee supported by five San Marino residents. The goal of the Committee was to review the operations of the Administrative, Finance and Public Works Departments and make recommendations for improvement. The final Report was submitted and approved by the Council on January 3, 2017. The Report included 47 recommendations which the Committee highlighted that would reduce operating costs and improve service quality.

As an example, the Committee pointed out that the Public Works monthly personnel costs of $150,000 could not be justified by the work performed. In addition, the work of the Department was of poor quality and resulted in the taxpayers now being burdened by $50 million of deferred or neglected maintenance. Almost three years later, very few of the recommendations have been implemented and the City continues to waste taxpayer dollars and provide poor service. Where is the City Council leadership and oversight?

We ask the Council to direct the Staff to adopt the recommendations of the Committee and incorporate them in the 2019/2020 City budget which is now under review.

For 2 years, the current Mayor has called for a goal of reducing the City budget by 10%. It appears that the proposed budget is now up 10%.  Implementation of the Ad Hoc recommendations would assist in reaching the Mayor’s goal. If the City Manager is incapable of submitting a budget with a 10% reduction, the City Council needs to do a “Top Down” budget reduction for the City Manager.  Then it is the assigned task and responsibility for the City Manager and Departments to meet the reduced budget numbers.

Inconsistencies and poor quality in City services are due to lack of a Quality Management System.  In order to improve the City’s operations going forward, we Concerned Citizens of San Marino, ask the City Council to study and implement a Quality Management System for the City of San Marino and all City departments.  Specifically, implementation of International Standards Organization “ISO9001:2015” and “ISO 18091:2019” for local governments. 

By signing this petition, we are asking the City Council to do what is right for the citizens of San Marino. Verify legitimate spending, eliminate unnecessary spending and improve the quality of service in our City.

Go to this link to sign the petition:  https://www.change.org/p/concerned-citizens-of-san-marino-san-marino-city-council-must-provide-leadership-and-oversight

Why did SMUSD Superintendent Alex Cherniss contradict 6 of his principals on the state of school facilities???

Six (6) San Marino School Principals over 4 years wrote and published high praises for the conditions of our school facilities and systems.

San Marino High School: “San Marino HS facilities are comfortable, spacious, air-conditioned, and well designed for instruction.  Sports facilities are have been significantly upgraded.  School facilities are a source of pride for our district.  They are well maintained, clean, safe, and functional.  No complaints have been filed.” 

Carver Elementary: “Carver school facilities are well maintained in a manner that is clean, safe and functional.  The academic facilities are comfortable, spacious, air-conditioned, and well designed for instruction”

Valentine Elementary echoed the same as Carver Elementary plus added:  “We take pride in our beautiful gardens and large grass playfield.  Inspections show NO areas of deficiency.  No complaints have been filed.”

Carver, Valentine and Huntington Middle School gave the “State of Repair” of its facilities and systems the highest grade of “Good” and Overall Rating of “Exemplary.”

The same or similar reports of exceptional facilities and ratings have been recorded over 4 consecutive school years by 6 principals.  

San Marino High School did rate its Mechanical / Heating Ventilation Air Conditioning systems (“HVAC”) as “Fair” but above the lowest grade of “Poor” (for 2017-2018) and an Overall Rating of “Good.” 

A new HVAC system for SMHS does not need $148 million of tag-along projects.  The new HVAC system can be self-funded by SMUSD with some salary and non-teaching position hiring freezes, e.g. not backfilling the assistant principal or retirees returning as consultants.  Try doing more with less.

And the schools are in a “Good” state of repair, “Exemplary” Overall Rating, safe and functional, spacious, air-conditioned and well designed for instruction.” The “spacious” facilities at the High School and both elementary schools should not need additional or new facilities in 2 years when the ballot measure might be floated again for more classrooms, and sports facilities that have already undergone extensive upgrades.

If 6 principals say facilities and systems are Good with no complaints filed, spacious and well designed for instruction, why does the Superintendent say otherwise and contradict his own “managers ?”

The under-construction Barth Athletic Complex requires $12 million dollars for modernization.  Who approved the antiquated design for the new complex that now needs $12 million of modernization before it is even completed?

This is what you do when you didn't have enough funding to complete the Barth and pushed construction into the future to be funded by part of the Alex Cherniss proposed $148 million bond.

Why didn't any of the SMUSD School Board members like Shelly Ryan, Lisa Link, Chris Norgaard, Nam Jack and C Joseph Chang ask questions? Or Read the statements from the 6 principals? Or Do their homework to understand why a yet to be built athletic complex requires upgrade?  

REMEMBER the new $10,000 cap on tax deductibility of property and state income taxes that will add to your taxable income.  Any San Marino homeowner who bought his home in the last 15 years will very likely have a property tax bill of $10,000 or more.  Now all your state income tax deductibility will go away and the amount will be added to your Federal taxable income line on your IRS 1040.

United Citizens For Responsible Government Newsletter #2

UCFGR Newsletter #2

United Citizens for Responsible Government Newsletter #1

UCFRG Newsletter #1

FACT CHECK: San Marino Mayor Steve Talt's statement regarding Outsourcing Building Dept to Los Angeles County

Statements were made by Mayor Steve Talt and another attendee at a Tues meeting regarding outsourcing our building dept to the LA County Dept of Public Works.

Steve said something like "we are not going to hand it over to a bureaucrat" and "if you have a problem today, you can go see the City Manager to ask to see Aldo"

Another attendee was concerned we would end up with lots of "McMansions." 

The following is a "Fact Check" on the statements made. 

I attach the LAC DPW presentation on outsourcing.   LA County DPW Presentation on Outsourcing 

Our City will be supervised by a licensed "Senior Civil Engineer"  who is considered the Office Manager, like Aldo.   NO "bureaucrat" involved.   And a Plan Check engineer is availble to answer questions and review plan check changes ON THE SPOT.  Seems even faster as you don't have to go through the City Manager to get to the Plan Check Engineer.  Not sure if Aldo is a licensed engineer or not.

I spoke with Mr. Alameddine from LAC DPW this morning to get answers to my questions.  Here is what he said:

1) The Senior Civil Engineer is a licensed engineer assigned to San Marino as the Manager.  He will be at the DPW office on Baldwin across from the mall.
2) This Sr Engineer will supervise licensed Plan Check engineers and licensed Inspectors.
3) If we want staffing in our City Hall say for 3 days a week, that can be arranged.  Outside of the 3 days, homeowners, architects, contractors etc can take their changes and questions to the Baldwin office or the Fremont office (both within 10-15 min of San Marino) to have their change requests and questions handled.
4) As for "McMansions" the LAC DPW does not get involved with the City's planning decisions or approvals for a project.  LAC DPW only enforces what the City has approved for a project along with State and Federal regulations.  There are County amendments to certain codes but it is up to San Marino whether to accept or not accept.
5) LAC DPW will enforce San Marino municpal codes.  Our DRC, Planning Commision, and codes do not allow for "McMansions."  Plans are submitted to DRC and Planning Commission for approval so if the approved plans do not show a "McMansion" then a "McMansion" will not be allowed in Plan Check and inspections.  DPW will enforce that.
6) Also from an earlier communication, if a homeowner reports what looks like un-permitted construction activity, a LAC DPW inspector would be dispatched to investigate.  If there is an emergency after regular business hours, like a fire, an inspector would be available to inspect the structure for safety concerns.

We pay for the time that is used by our homeowners and their projects.  Today, we pay for full-time staffing even if there is not enough work or planchecks that uses 40 hrs a week.  With LAC DPW, if we want a staff at City Hall 4 hours a day, 3 days a week, we pay for 12 hours.  Same for inspectors; we pay for the hours the inspector is inspecting.  If we don't want City Hall staffing, we pay for the hours spent by plan check engineers and inspectors at DPW office and field inspections.  All can be part of the charge the homeowner pays for the permit.

I hope this clarifies what Steve said.  There is no "bureaucrat" involved if we outsource our Bldg Dept to LA County.  Not sure where Steve got his information from regarding a "bureaucrat."  The attached document has more details on the process.

Councilmember Dr. Huang had suggested a City budget that is 10% less than last year's, but the City Manager was not capable of even delivering a flat budget with no increase.  Outsourcing the Bldg Dept is a great way to reduce our expenses and also provide an opportunity for revenue generation that will benefit the City.  It will save the City money by not having fulltime staffing and growing pension liabilities. 

A paragigm shift in how our City is run is not "a trim around the ears and neck line" (at a barber shop).  Mayor Talt, we need a complete crew cut to take our City back from the employees who are holding tax payers hostage.

Finally,  it was said during our meeting that our City cannot be run like a private enterprise/business because of union complexities.  How do Boeing, General Motors, US Steel, UPS and many others manage to run their businesses that involve multiple unions?  I am sure the United Auto Workers and United Steel Workers unions are more militant than our fire and police unions.  Maybe we need more  experience on the Council who have run businesses with more than 50 employees to deal with the complexities.  

(When it is time to discuss an Admissions Tax to help pay for our fire and police expenses, I hope elected officials will do their homework and only make statements that are factual.  Pasadena has an Admissions Tax (Municipal Code 4.48.040).  There are no 1st Amendment rights issues and there are exemptions for schools, health clubs, fraternal and social organizations , etc. etc. that are clearly documented in both the Pacific Grove ordinance and the Pasadena ordinance.  San Marino does not have to re-invent the wheel.)