BY ALEX CANTATORE
The Turlock City Council has another busy agenda for Tuesday night’s meeting, with a request to approve a formal investigation into Councilwoman Mary Jackson’s alleged leaking of Roy Wasden’s candidacy for City Manager, a discussion of a new Planned Development to establish guidelines for fences in an east Turlock neighborhood, and the adoption of the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year Budget for the Turlock Redevelopment Agency, including funding for the Carnegie Arts Center reconstruction.
The potential investigation of Jackson comes at the request of Vice Mayor Ted Howze, who was disappointed with Mayor John Lazar’s own, independent investigation. Lazar found there to be “no legitimacy to the contention that (Jackson) leaked information as to the identity of the candidates for city manager.”
According to Howze, the Elected Officials Code of Conduct - by which the councilmembers are bound - does not provide for such an investigation to be conducted by the mayor and instead requires the city manager and/or city attorney to investigate any alleged transgressions. Lazar stated during the June 9 council meeting that a formal investigation could open the door to further investigations of past council misconduct, and sought to put the matter behind the council at that point in time.
The proposed $8.3 million 2009-2010 Fiscal Year Budget for the Redevelopment Agency includes funding for Westside Industrial Specific Plan infrastructure, the Public Safety Facility, and Columbia Park improvements including work on the Marty Yerby Center, pool, and a new water feature. A proposed $3 million of the RDA budget would go toward the reconstruction of the Carnegie Arts Center.
Also to be funded is a new downtown parking lot, which would cost at least $365,000 for a 33-space lot. That cost does not include an additional $140,000 to $280,000 in demolition costs, as well as the expense of purchasing four buildings, two of which are listed for sale at $1.2 million.
This year’s RDA budget eliminates funding for a proposed downtown second floor use study, but continues funding all or part of five employees’ salaries, including a graffiti abatement worker and a code enforcement officer.
Two items on Tuesday’s agenda pertain to fences in an east Turlock neighborhood.
In 2008, the residents of 1000 N. Johnson Rd. constructed a new fence that extends far beyond where the previous fence stood. While they believed that their fence was in keeping with city code - and the character of the neighborhood - while building the fence, a neighbor’s complaint led the city to investigate and determine that the fence was indeed too near the property line.
The code enforcement ruling was appealed to the City Council on Aug. 26, 2008, and the council at that time sought a comprehensive change to fencing rules in the neighborhood surrounding the new fence, which they also believed to be in keeping with similar nearby fences. At the Nov. 18, 2008, council meeting staff was directed to explore a Planed Development that would alter fencing standards in the region.
The Planning Commission voted to deny the Planned Development, in keeping with city staff recommendation, on May 7. The City Council is recommended to deny the Planned Development as well, which would put an end to the discussion and would require the residents of 1000 N. Johnson Rd. to reconstruct their fence.
Also on Tuesday evening’s agenda is a presentation from Court Appointed Special Advocates, appointments to the Arts Commission, and an update from the Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. Additionally, the council will consider adopting the Annual Action Plan for Community Development Block Grants, approving the proposed $15 parking ticket increase, and purchasing land needed to build the new Public Safety Facility,
The Turlock City Council will meet at 7 p.m. on Tuesday in the Yosemite Room of Turlock City Hall, located at 156 S. Broadway.
To contact Alex Cantatore, e-mail acantatore@turlockjournal.com or call 634-9141 ext. 2005.
Originally published in the Turlock Journal 6/19/2009.
Retrieved from the Turlock Journal Web site.