A Job Worth Doing ...

Water Rate Increase Coming Next Wednesday for Trinidad, CA

2012-02-01T09:00:00.000-08:00

Please feel free to call me with questions, or if you need
help getting your 'VOTE NO!' submitted by next Wednesday' s
Trinidad, CA City Council Meeting at 7pm, Feb. 8th.

Remember .. if you don't write a note, you vote yes - sneaky huh?!

Online Protest Form

Don’t go with the flow on this one, send it back
to the Council for a more conservative increase.

Mike Morgan, 677-0101 (2-5pm)
Your most conservation oriented Councilmember -
especially when your cash is the resource!

Vote NO! Expensive Rate Increase for Trinidad Water

2012-01-25T09:00:00.000-08:00

Vote NO!
Remember .. if you don't write a note, you vote yes - sneaky huh?!
Deadline: Wed., Feb.8 at 7pm - Public Hearing

Expensive rate increase for Trinidad water on the way unless you join me in protest. Don't let the City impose this increase on you month after month, year after year, without saying a word. Send this issue back to the Trinidad City Council, and ask them for a more conservative increase!

Remember, even if you don't write a note, you vote, but it'll be counted as yes by law.

How to Vote NO!

The notice says: “…you may file a written protest with the City at, or before the time set for the public hearing. A valid protest must contain a description of the property (such as the address or AP number) and the name, address, and phone number of the signer(s). Protests should be mailed to: PO Box 390, Trinidad, CA 95570 or delivered to: City of Trinidad, 409 Trinity Street.”
From Notice of Public Hearing via Trinidad City Manager (citymanager@trinidad.ca.gov)

Deadline: Wed., Feb.8 at 7pm - City Hall Public Hearing

Vote NO! Don’t ‘Go With The Flow’

Why I’m Protesting the Proposed Rate Increase
1. If you don’t write a note, you vote - City counts you as voting YES
2. One vote per parcel - No matter how many ratepayers are impacted
3. Crafted to generate ‘extra’ funds - If you give it, City will spend it

While I’m all for covering the costs of our water system and
paying for approved salary increases,
I expected more of this $20,000 study to reduce costs
and provide for a very conservative increase.

This has not been the case, in my opinion.
While I’m glad it’s more fair between in and out-of-town water users,
it’s more expensive for everyone.

The first proposal was to generate $100,000 extra - outrageous!
Now it’s targeting $50,000! Maybe try $20,000 first - see how it goes.
If we have a crisis, or need to pay for something specific, just ask!

Please feel free to call me with questions, or help getting your
‘NO! Vote’ submitted. Don’t go with the flow on this one, send it
back to the Council for a more conservative increase.

Happy Chinese New Years

2012-01-23T17:12:00.000-08:00

Happy Chinese New Years Day!

I'm celebrating traditionally - reconciling, forgetting all grudges, and wishing peace and happiness for everyone!

Year of the (Water) Dragon starts Feb 4th!

NH Victory Speech - Mitt

2012-01-10T19:05:00.000-08:00

He's finding his footing .. This is the best speech I've heard from him.

Below is the text of his remarks as prepared for delivery.
-Reuters

“Thank you, New Hampshire! Tonight, we made history!

This state has always been a special place for our family. Ann and I made a home here and we’ve filled it with great memories of our children and grandchildren. And this Granite State moment is one we will always remember.

Tonight, we celebrate. Tomorrow, we go back to work.

We remember when Barack Obama came to New Hampshire four years ago.

He promised to bring people together.

He promised to change the broken system in Washington.

He promised to improve our nation.

Those were the days of lofty promises made by a hopeful candidate. Today, we are faced with the disappointing record of a failed President. The last three years have held a lot of change, but they haven’t offered much hope.

The middle class has been crushed. Nearly 24 million of our fellow Americans are still out of work, struggling to find work, or have just stopped looking. The median income has dropped 10% in four years. Soldiers returning from the front lines are waiting in unemployment lines. Our debt is too high and our opportunities too few.

And this President wakes up every morning, looks out across America and is proud to announce, “It could be worse.”

It could be worse? Is that what it means to be an American? It could be worse?

Of course not.

What defines us as Americans is our unwavering conviction that we know it must be better.

That conviction guides our campaign. It has rallied millions of Americans in every corner of this country to our cause.

Over the last six months, I’ve listened to anxious voices in town meetings and visited with students and soldiers. In break rooms and living rooms, I’ve heard stories of families getting by on less, of carefully planned retirements now replaced by jobs at minimum wage. But even now, amidst the worst economy since the Great Depression, I’ve rarely heard a refrain of hopelessness.

Americans know that our future is brighter and better than these troubled times. We still believe in the hope, the promise, and the dream of America. We still believe in that shining city on a hill.

We know that the future of this country is better than 8 or 9% unemployment.

It is better than $15 trillion in debt.

It is better than the misguided policies and broken promises of the last three years – and the failed leadership of one man.

The President has run out of ideas. Now, he’s running out of excuses. And tonight, we are asking the good people of South Carolina to join the citizens of New Hampshire and make 2012 the year he runs out of time.

President Obama wants to put free enterprise on trial. In the last few days, we have seen some desperate Republicans join forces with him. This is such a mistake for our Party and for our nation. This country already has a leader who divides us with the bitter politics of envy. We must offer an alternative vision. I stand ready to lead us down a different path, where we are lifted up by our desire to succeed, not dragged down by a resentment of success. In these difficult times, we cannot abandon the core values that define us as unique -- We are One Nation, Under God.

Make no mistake, in this campaign, I will offer the American ideals of economic freedom a clear and unapologetic defense.

Our campaign is about more than replacing a President; it is about saving the soul of America. This election is a choice between two very different destinies.

President Obama wants to “fundamentally transform” America. We want to restore America to the founding principles that made this country great.

He wants to turn America into a European-style entitlement society. We want to ensure that we remain a free and prosperous land of opportunity.

This President takes his inspiration from the capitals of Europe; we look to the cities and small towns of America.

This President puts his faith in government. We put our faith in the American people.

He is making the federal government bigger, burdensome, and bloated. I will make it simpler, smaller, and smarter.

He raised the national debt. I will cut, cap, and balance the budget.

He enacted job-killing regulations; I’ll eliminate them.

He lost our AAA credit rating; I’ll restore it.

He passed Obamacare; I’ll repeal it.

When it comes to the economy, my highest priority as President will be worrying about your job, not saving my own.

Internationally, President Obama has adopted an appeasement strategy. He believes America’s role as leader in the world is a thing of the past. I believe a strong America must – and will – lead the future.

He doesn’t see the need for overwhelming American military superiority. I will insist on a military so powerful no one would think of challenging it.

He chastises friends like Israel; I’ll stand with our friends.

He apologizes for America; I will never apologize for the greatest nation in the history of the Earth.

Our plans protect freedom and opportunity, and our blueprint is the Constitution of the United States.

The path I lay out is not one paved with ever increasing government checks and cradle-to-grave assurances that government will always be the solution. If this election is a bidding war for who can promise more benefits, then I’m not your President. You have that President today.

But if you want to make this election about restoring American greatness, then I hope you will join us.

If you believe the disappointments of the last few years are a detour, not our destiny, then I am asking for your vote.

I’m asking each of you to remember how special it is to be an American.

I want you to remember what it was like to be hopeful and excited about the future, not to dread each new headline.

I want you to remember when you spent more time dreaming about where to send your kids to college than wondering how to make it to the next paycheck.

I want you to remember when you weren’t afraid to look at your retirement savings or the price at the pump.

I want you to remember when our White House reflected the best of who we are, not the worst of what Europe has become.

That America is still out there. We still believe in that America.

We still believe in the America that is a land of opportunity and a beacon of freedom. We believe in the America that challenges each of us to be better and bigger than ourselves.

This election, let’s fight for the America we love. We believe in America.

Thank you. God bless you. And God bless the United States of America.”

Trinidad Holiday Home Tour - Library Building Fundraiser

2011-12-11T15:22:00.000-08:00

Today, Sunday from 2-6pm

Start at Town Hall and come visit open businesses, homes, the Museum and Churches, craft fair at Trinidad School till 4pm. Caroling and carriage rides and all of us townsfolk wishing you Happy Holidays!

Inspiring Courage Jonah Mowry .. His YouTube Link

2011-12-09T08:53:00.000-08:00

From his update:

"In the last few months everything eventually came out in the open, I felt a huge weight off my shoulders; I'm happy, I'm excepted for who I am, I'm more confident and feel stronger every day.
Thank you all, Love and peace to all who are hurting."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TdkNn3Ei-Lg
That link may not work on some mobile phones.

From GMA this AM:

Jonah Mowry Interview: Discusses 'Whats Goin On' Video - 'You Can Be Happy, You Just Have to Try'
Bullied teen whose Internet video went viral

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vC5TaPzuMKg&feature=youtube_gdata_player

Trinidad Library Post ..

2011-12-03T13:43:00.000-08:00

Trinidad Branch Library, Humboldt County, California

You can donate to the building fund anytime, but if you want to be a "founding father or business" donating to the library, and be listed on the poster that will come out soon, please contact Patti Fleschner by next Tuesday, December 6 at ..

baycity@humboldt1.com

Post from their Facebook announcement. Thanks for supporting our little village's library construction project.

Ned Simmons (1939-2011)

2011-12-01T10:00:00.000-08:00

Ned's Interment was last Saturday at Trinidad Cemetery. He was a dear friend of mine and of many in our community.

In true Ned style, he scripted a fun afternoon for his friends as a celebration of his life. The afternoon started with a nice service at his church, Sts. Martha & Mary Mission. From the church to the cemetery, Ned had his fellow Trinidad Volunteer Firefighters carry his ashes in our rescue basket in a bag pipe led parade - good one Ned!

There was a great reception after at Trinidad Town Hall. Per his bidding, there was 'no open mic'. This was smart because we'd all still be talking about this wonderful man.

Ned's friend and next-door neighbor, Jan West, shared a wonderful slideshow of his paintings with quotes from his writings. Art was a passion for Ned. He even turned his historic home into Trinidad Art - a gallery showcasing local artists.

Ned served with many Trinidad organizations like the Trinidad Museum and the Land Trust. Representatives told moving stories of his exemplary service. The Song Circle, where he loved playing his ukulele, honored him with their voices and led us to join in. We enjoyed tasty soup, bread, and wine throughout the reception.

Though I was missing my friend Ned, this was one of those 'Thank God I found Trinidad!' moments we get to share with each other so frequently. Thanks Ned for planning such a great afternoon, and for living such an inspiring life. I'm so lucky to be a part of such a beautiful place filled with such caring people.

Giving Thanks

2011-11-24T14:39:00.000-08:00

Happy Thanksgiving!

Like most, I always have so much to be thankful for. This Thanksgiving, I have more thank yous to get out than ever before.

I've spent the last six weeks recovering from two bouts of pneumonia and medicine side effects that left me bedridden and dependent on others for my care - two things I avoid at all costs!

Support from family, friends, and caregivers has been rock solid. The kindness of our Trinidad community has overwhelmed me. Food, flowers, cards and calls, friendly visits and lots of loving well-wishes have given me strength and helped me heal.

I'm happy with my health progress and finally feel like I'm myself again. My strength is coming back more everyday, and I'll be back to running round and causing trouble any day now.

Can't think of words to express my deep gratitude, other than these heart-felt two

Thank You!

Ned Simmons

2011-10-30T15:25:00.000-07:00

See you on the other side dear friend

I will miss your Human Nature, and will always honor your Spiritual Nature :)

Love you, Mike

PBS Newshour: Does U.S. Economic Inequality Have a Good Side?

2011-10-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

I enjoyed this viewpoint - on PBS!

A new Congressional Budget Office analysis supports the idea that income inequality has grown considerably over the past few decades. As part of his Making Sen$e series on economic inequality, Paul Solman talks to libertarian law professor Richard Epstein, who argues that wealth inequality acts as a driving force for innovation.

http://www.pbs.org/newshour/bb/business/july-dec11/makingsense_10-26.html

Thank You Steve Jobs - Inspirational Man, Amazing Life 1955-2011

2011-10-05T18:24:00.000-07:00

It's a sad day, when someone who has influenced so much of your life passes. At Apple, Jobs made my Design career not only possible, but also extrordinarily pleasureful. Thank you Steve Jobs, and thank all of the supportive Apple faithful.

Apple has lost a visionary and creative genius, and the world has lost an amazing human being. Those of us who have been fortunate enough to know and work with Steve have lost a dear friend and an inspiring mentor. Steve leaves behind a company that only he could have built, and his spirit will forever be the foundation of Apple.

http://www.apple.com/stevejobs/

DADT Dun! - U.S. soldier comes out to his father

2011-09-21T11:03:00.000-07:00

The SFGate story with a link to his video ... U.S. soldier comes out to his father

http://blog.sfgate.com/hottopics/2011/09/20/us-soldier-comes-out-to-his-father/

Engineering Ground Zero - 9|11 Memorial and WTC1

2011-09-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

PBS - Engineering Ground Zero Link

Ron Paul Ad - link to his site

2011-09-07T12:55:00.000-07:00

I did not know ...

Trust - Reagan endorsement/Gore and Perry

'He’s touted the fact that he was early to endorse Reagan when he ran for President in 1976. But then argues that the government ran away under Reagan and spent too much. Paul left the GOP at the end of Reagan’s presidency and ran himself as a Libertarian.'

8:38 Rep Debate 9/7/11

www.ronpaul2012.com

2011-09-06T20:59:00.000-07:00

I like some of his ideas presented in his summary, and NO, I'm not a registered Republican. I'm an open-minded, independant NP!

Like ...
Reducing the corporate income tax rate to 25 percent
Cutting discretionary spending by 5 percent
Returning authority to the states

TAX POLICY
As president, Romney will hold the line on individual income tax rates and eliminate taxes on interest, dividends, and capital gains for low - and middle- income taxpayers. He will eliminate the estate tax. And he will pursue a conservative overhaul that applies lower and flatter rates to a broader tax base.

CONCLUSION
Mitt Romney will rebuild the foundations of the American economy on the principles of free enterprise, hard work, and innovation. His plan emphasizes critical structural adjustments rather than short-term fixes. It seeks to reduce taxes, spending, regulation, and government programs. It seeks to increase trade, energy production, human capital, and labor flexibility. It relinquishes power to the states instead of claiming to have the solution to every problem.The plan does not increase the size of the federal budget or bureaucracy. To the contrary, it cuts spending and streamlines regulation.

Read more for yourself ...Mitt's Plan Summary

Celebrate America!

2011-07-04T21:32:00.000-07:00

Happy Birthday America!

Trinidad Skatepark Alliance: Meet the skaters of the Alliance

2011-03-25T15:56:00.000-07:00

Trinidad Skatepark Alliance: Meet the skaters of the Alliance: "(Rory on the left, Kyle on the right) Say 'hello' to Rory and Kyle, two ambassadors of the Trinidad Skatepark Alliance. One night, after the big City Council meeting at Town Hall (See two posts back) Rory walked a community member home so she wouldn't have to walk alone, in the dark, late at night. Kyle recently wrote an essay for school. The theme: Why Trinidad should have a skatepark. According to his mom, his teacher referred to his "excellent skateboarding essay" on his progress report. ..."

Trinidad Skatepark Alliance

A grassroots organization founded in 2010. Trinidad is a small fishing village located in northern Humboldt County, CA. Our organization is dedicated to the forward movement of keeping kids outdoors, on their skateboards in a safe environment through the efforts of community organization and mobilization. We serve the town of Trinidad, neighboring communities in the northwest region of Humboldt County, and anyone who wishes to visit and skate in Trinidad.

They love comments .. so stop by, read their posts, and say hello

Council Response to Recent National Youth Suicides - Protecting our LGBTQQ and Straight Youth

2010-10-14T15:42:00.000-07:00

All youth should feel safe and be able to live openly with the support they need to reach their full potential.

At our Council meeting last night, I asked for consensus to work-up a response for our Trinidad City Council to the recent national stories of anti-gay bullying and tragic suicides of perceived and self-identified gay youth. I'm gathering information and would appreciate any suggestions you have.

Our LGBTQQ youth (Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer, and Questioning) are specially protected in school by California Legislation which prohibits their denigration on the basis of sexual orientation and gender identity - the California Student Safety and Violence Prevention Act (AB 537), the Safe Place to Learn Act (AB 394), and the Student Civil Rights Act (SB 777).

LGBTQQ foster youth are protected here by Foster Youth School Safety Education (AB 3015) and the California Foster Care Non-discrimination Act (AB 458). The California Juvenile Justice Safety and Protection Act (SB 518) protects all youth from discrimination in state Department of Juvenile Justice facilities.

Recently, our governor signed the The Mental Health Services for At-Risk Youth Act (SB 543). It permits California youth ages 12-17 to obtain services without parental permission. LGBTQQ youth no longer face coming out to their parents prematurely and without support to get help. Without such support, some would face emotionally damaging and sometimes physically threatening situations at home.

Young bullies often identify with a parent or other adults who are bullies. Adults expressing negative views of LGBTQQ people send a dangerous message that leads directly to harassment, bullying, and violence against LGBTQQ youth. We need to unequivocally condemn the expression of negative views of LGBTQQ people as biased, unacceptable, and wrong.

Supportive residents, please be the best example for our youth - watch what you say and don't say, get involved, and help protect youth nationwide by urging Congress to pass the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act.

As for me, I respectfully offer that if someone is being bullied or is a bully, I will help. I want the best for all our youth and I’m going to do what I need to do to give them the best possible future.

Please also see my previous post on this issue " Getting Better ... Bullies Are Sad and Weak " for more of my POV, additional information and resources.

Getting Better ... Bullies Are Sad and Weak

2010-10-07T09:12:00.000-07:00

Being young is challenging. Being young and different can be overwhelming. Being young and gay can be deadly.

Nothing's Wrong!

Being different means being special. Discovering you are different may at first feel like a burden. Out of fear and inexperience, you may want to avoid or hide your difference. Out of fear and inexperience, others may want you to do the same. Some may even try to control you because they feel and fear similar feelings themselves.

Bullies are ashamed of their feelings. They immaturely "act out" their shame and pain by abusing others and themselves. There's hope! As we grow up, we learn the ability to express our fears, release our shame and solve our conflicts more constructively. There is nothing wrong with being different and being who you are. There is something very wrong with abusing others for being different.

What can you do?

If you're hurt and ashamed of being different, what can you do? Embrace your difference, reach out and find your support, and when it's safe, share yourself. You are all right and there is nothing wrong with you. When you discover that, any pain or fear you have will turn into joy.

If you're being bullied, what can you do? Bullies turn their fear and hurt into anger. Being bullied, you may impulsively get angry. Stop. If you turn your hurt feelings into anger, you'll be just like them. How can you stop getting angry? Have compassion. Remember bullies have been hurt by themselves or others. Remember they haven't learned the ability to express themselves appropriately. If compassion doesn't help, take another look at them. They are probably foolishly funny, so go ahead and laugh at them. Laugh to yourself if they are bigger though - haha. It's hard to get angry when you're laughing.

Like feeling strong? Have you ever stood up for someone who is different and being bullied? How did that feel? How did everyone react? Sometimes it takes just a few kind words to remind ourselves, and each other, that no one deserves to be hurt for who they are. A bully needs an audience or they have no power. Do not be that audience. Hold them accountable for their behavior and use compassion to help.

How can you help?

Whether you are bullying someone or bullying yourself, we all innately know that it is wrong. But why is bullying also stupid? Bullying only makes you feel worse. Help the bullies! By denying bullies an audience and some fast, false relief, you can help them. They will have to learn healthier behaviors to deal with their feelings. If people are in so much pain that they hurt others or themselves, they need your help!

To kids out there who sometimes feel alone and overwhelmed and desperate, you are not alone. As a young person, I experienced all sides of bullying. Bullying, whether it is physical or psychological, has to always be unacceptable. If you are being bullied, there are good people who care and want to help. I am one of them.

Show your support for those who fear it might get worse. For teens, check out the Make It Better site and start now! Watch some of my favorite It Gets Better Project video links and share your favorites. Visit and promote important resources for anyone who is afraid or would like to learn more and be supportive. Please send me links to sites and resources that you'd like to share or promote.

You Win!

Remember, if you turn your hurt feelings into anger, you'll be just like them. Transform your hurt, shame, and anger into joy and guess what? You win!

Some It Gets Better Project Videos

Tyler Oakley: Who am I to say your life is going to improve ... it gets better but only if we make it get better ...

Chris Colfer A world full of acceptance and love just waiting for you to find it ...

Michael Urie: Bullies aren't bullies forever ...
Jake Shears: No matter how hard your life feels ...
Zach: Humiliation in public and at home ...
Ty: Bullies aren't tuff they're ignorant ...
Jewel: Nobody should feel bad about themselves for how they are born

Resources- Sites:

The Trevor Project
http://www.thetrevorproject.org

Make It Better Project
http://makeitbetterproject.org/

It Gets Better
http://itgetsbetter.org/

Give A Damn
http://www.wegiveadamn.org

Bullies to Buddies
http://www.bullies2buddies.com/

Matthew Shepard Foundation
http://www.matthewshepard.org/

Resources- Pages:

Judy Shepard, We Must All Protect Youth from Suicide

PBS Kids, It's My Life, Bullies: What is Bullying? Page

PFLAG, Claim Your Rights Video

ABC News: Tyler Clementi's death brings attention to rise in suicides among gay youths

Towleroad Tragedy of Gay Teen Suicide: A Roundup Page

Fox59 Report, Indiana Teen Suicide After Antigay Bullying

examiner.com LA report: "Oklahoma gay teen takes his own life" and the Norman Transcript report, "North Grad Took Own Life After Week of 'Toxic' Comments".

Facebook (need to be logged in): R.I.P. ;; In memory of the recent suicides due to gay abuse, wear purple. On October 20th, 2010, we will wear purple in honor of the 6 gay boys who committed suicide in recent weeks/months due to homophobic abuse in their homes and at their schools. Purple represents Spirit on the LGBTQ flag and that’s exactly what we’d like all of you to have with you: spirit. Please know that times will get better and that you will meet people who will love you and respect you for who you are, no matter your sexuality. Please wear purple on October 20th. Tell your friends, family, co-workers, neighbors and schools. RIP Tyler Clementi, Asher Brown, Seth Walsh, Justin Aaberg, Raymond Chase and Billy Lucas. You are loved.

My Inspiration:

Judy Shepard from We Must All Protect Youth from Suicide

... we are calling one more time for all Americans to stand up and speak out against taunting, invasion of privacy, violence and discrimination against these youth by their peers, and asking everyone in a position of authority in their schools and communities to step forward and provide safe spaces and support services for LGBT youth or those who are simply targeted for discrimination because others assume they are gay.

TBIDs -Tourism Business Improvement Districts and the "Humboldt Lodging Symposium" on Wednesday, June 23

2010-06-05T10:58:00.000-07:00

If you're involved with tourism in Humboldt County, you know Tony Smithers. Tony works tirelessly for our industry's support and responsible growth at the Humboldt County Convention & Visitors Bureau, HCCVB. His passion for our area and its marketing seems boundless.

At the April, 2009 HCCVB board meeting, the board directed Tony to continue researching Tourism Business Improvement Districts and provide more information including any downsides to forming a TBID in Humboldt County. Please read his TBID Report online at the Humboldt Lodging Alliance's website.

Thank you Tony for all your hard work.

Please also see the Humboldt Lodging Alliance Tourism Districts FAQ for more information and their answers to questions like these:

What is a TBID?
Tourism Business Improvement Districts are a self-assessment by the lodging industry for the purposes of promoting the destination ...

Doesn't TOT pay for tourism promotion?
Even as destination marketing becomes more competitive and our neighbors have increased their budgets with TBIDs, Humboldt County’s marketing budget has decreased. While we will always lobby vigorously for government to invest TOT in tourism promotion, we need another funding source if we are to remain competitive.

Announcing the
Humboldt Lodging Symposium!

Wednesday, June 23, 10 am to 2 pm at the Red Lion Hotel, Eureka.
LUNCH IS FREE!

Come and learn about Tourism Business Improvement Districts (TBIDs) from John Lambeth, the leading expert in California. Hear from lodging operators Jeff Stanford from Mendocino and Bert Meyer from Redding on how TBIDs have worked for them.

The Humboldt CVB board of directors will be looking for YOUR direction on whether to recommend formation of a tourism district. Make sure your voice is heard!

Please RSVP to Charlotte Cerny, 707-444-6641
Questions? Contact Tony Smithers, 707-444-6635

Humboldt Lodging Alliance Website: http://humboldtlodging.com/
Humboldt Lodging Alliance Tourism Districts: FAQ
Tony Smithers, Humboldt County CVB: Tourism Business Improvement Districts Report

Tsunami & Earthquake Preparedness Event Monday June 14, 2010

2010-06-04T18:04:00.000-07:00

Monday, June 14, 2010 at the Cher-Ae Heights Casino Bingo Hall.
See the poster or the TVFD Blog for more information -
hope to see you!

State Tsunami Information:
California Department of Conservation

Trinidad Volunteer Fire Blog:
The Station Call

Trinidad Library Benefit Concert, Sunday June 6 at 3

2010-06-04T12:39:00.000-07:00

Chamber Music Concert to Benefit Trinidad Library Trinidad Town Hall June 6th

Chamber Players of the Redwoods, an association of residents who play chamber music, will present works by Beethoven, Praetorius, Josquin des Pres, Thomas Morely and others in a benefit concert for the Friends of the Trinidad Library Building Fund.

The concert is free but donations for the Library Building Fund are very welcome.

Humboldt Arts Festival - This Sat and Sun

2010-05-14T11:09:00.000-07:00

Be sure to check out the 1st Humboldt Arts Festival - "A Celebration of Humboldt County Art and Culture" this HSU Graduation Weekend the 15th and 16th in Arcata. Visit Robert Goodman Wines new tasting room at 937 10th Street, Arcata - great new space!

Humboldt Arts Festival: http://humboldtartsfestival.com/

LumberJack Online Article: Humboldt Arts Festival Spices Up Graduation Weekend

Trinidad 10 for '10 - Has It Only Been A Year?

2010-01-01T15:05:00.000-08:00

Has It Only Been A Year? Sometimes it feels like four already (lol). So, one down and four to go as a Trinidad's newest city councilmember.

New Year's Post-2010:

What a great holiday season we had in Trinidad! Lots of fun events with neighbors and family and new friends! See our Trinidad Chamber of Commerce Jan'10 Blog for some highlights. Hope everyone had a great time celebrating their holidays. Assessing last year, I'm not only grateful for the many blessings received, but also for the challenging opportunities I've been given. Looking forward to 2010 with the same personal guides as last year

Feel Good

Be Kind

Share Joy

Happy New Year!

For The Council It's Mostly the Same As '09. Finishing a list is fun. Honoring progress with patience and determined focus is important to finishing. We made some good progress on a few of these last year. Added more than subtracted to it for this year, but I'm looking forward to marking several off by next. Wish us luck!

2010
No Particular Order - They're All Important

1) Water: Quality, Rates, Supply, Infrastructure, Waste, Environmental Impacts, Fire Protection

2) Coast Guard/BLM: Transfer of Trinidad Head Property & Development

3) Local Business and Trinidad Rancheria: Even More Trinidad Support for Projects

4) Trinidad's Conserved 12.5 Acres Management: Review & Implement From City's Perspective

5) Planning: Complete General Plan Update, Ordinance Review & Codification, ADU Ordinance, Sustainability, Simplify Requirements & Procedures

6) Trinidad Beautification: Gateway Oversight, Support Trinidad Community Organizations, Signage, Trails, Beautify City Easements, Fight "Urabanization" -Find Alternatives to More Sidewalks, Signs, Painted Curbs, and Proposed Speed Bumps.

7) View Preservation & Restoration - Continue to Explore 12.5 Acres View Easements and Address Sovereignty Issues With Conveyance, New Sign Ordinance, Replace & Upgrade Street Lights, Utilities Under-grounding, Trail Mapping/Access/View Restoration

8) Encourage Participation in Government: Build Trust by Council Policy and Procedure Reviews, Structure Meetings Better.

9) Neighborhood Conservation & Business Incentives

10) Communications & Infrastructure: Relocate Cell Towers - Accelerate Process & Increase Revenue, Free Wi-Fi for Trinidad - Explore and Implement, Storm Water Treatment, Roads & Parks Completion

Veterans Day

2009-11-11T19:21:00.000-08:00

Haven't heard much about this, yet, but there is little else that I am so sure of: If someone who is 21 years old or older wants to go to war for the United States, I will whole-heartedly and very gratefully support their decision till my very end. Anyone, and I mean ANYONE who thinks it is okay to send someone under the age of 21 into war, should in my opinion have their head checked. I don't mean to imply youngsters who want that career track cannot train and prepare for the day, but these boys and girls I see reported as dead overseas, under 21, are breaking my heart.

Thank you all Vets, over and under 21, for your commitment, honor, and personal sacrifice.

We Made It! NatGeo's Traveller, "50 Places of a Lifetime"

2009-09-18T11:18:00.000-07:00

We made it!
Check out the list: 50 Places of a Lifetime - "WILD PLACES": Coast Redwoods, California

Our special neighbors are featured in October's National Geographic Magazine too. It's a fascinating article - "Redwoods - The Super Trees".
NGM Blog: Redwood Stories

"Long before The Bucket List and 1,000 Places to See Before You Die, we sought to showcase those treasured destinations that every curious traveler should visit in a lifetime.

Now, in Traveler's 25th-anniversary year, we recognize the first 50 places and offer another 50 that speak to the transformation of travel since 1999--how we travel, where we travel, why we travel. Ten years ago, we could see the emerging signs of a new kind of journeying--one that puts a premium on sense of place, authenticity, culture, sustainability, and experience rather than mere sightseeing."

Social Networking Butterflies

2009-07-07T08:35:00.000-07:00

Social Networking Butterflies: Cities Enhance Government 2.0 Efforts

Written by Lance Howland
July 7, 2009

Some excerpts:

"This spring, Newsom got together with Twitter co-founder Biz Stone to announce the new capability for residents to tweet to the city’s 3-1-1 city service line about, for example, potholes, overflowing garbage or an abandoned truck in a back alleyway."

...

“He’s a huge proponent of using new media,” said Julie Wong, a senior adviser to Garcetti. “City government should be more efficient about both getting the word out about services that are available and actually delivering the service.”

...

"The Los Angeles Fire Department is on Twitter, posting quick items telling the public about calls they’re rolling on, for example this entry on July 1: “*Cliff Rescue* 4100 S. Gaffey St.; MAP 854-B2; FS 48; one person over the side near point fermin; unknown condition;nfd; Ch:7,13 @7:57 PM”

PublicCEO.com Article [link]

Let It Ring!

2009-07-04T09:04:00.000-07:00

Independence Forever! - John Adams
Adams' final toast to the Fourth of July was "Independence Forever!" He died on July 4, 1826.

Not Forgotten ... Memorial Day

2009-05-24T18:42:00.000-07:00

Thank you for your service ... you are honored and remembered.

"Let no neglect, no ravages of time, testify to the present or to the coming generations that we have forgotten as a people the cost of a free and undivided republic."

LATimes give Humboldt Beaches an A - 100% score

2009-05-22T08:58:00.000-07:00

"With the summer coming, the state has made assurances that it will start restoring funding to beach monitoring programs, but there is no firm date," said Mark Gold, president of Heal the Bay. "Until then, swimmers in many locations in greater Southern California are truly swimming at their own risk."

Marin, Mendocino and Humboldt counties went to the head of the class, with their beaches scoring perfect 100% summer grades.
To see the complete report, visit Heal the Bay's website.

Santa Monica Pier, Surfrider, Doheny earn 'Beach Bummer' status from Heal the Bay
10:30 AM | May 20, 2009

Health Care Talk Participants - Thanks Again

2009-05-21T14:47:00.000-07:00

Thanks for particiapting, you 7 people know who you are. Your stories were inspirational, and this new venue is still a part of the administration. Stay involved. People do care. Here's an email I received today ...

Congratulations! Today, www.HealthReform.gov was recognized as an Innovation in Government, as part of the White House’s new Open Government Initiative.
...
As part of the materials we submitted to the White House in order to be considered for the Gallery, we put together a short video about the site and about health reform, which you can watch by clicking here.
...
Thank you again for your commitment to health reform and we hope you will continue to visit www.HealthReform.gov for the latest news and updates on health reform.

Best,
Jenny Backus
U.S. Department of Heath and Human Services

San Francisco Butt Tax

2009-05-21T09:20:00.000-07:00

partial repost PublicCEO.com
Andrew Carico
May 21, 2009
at Public CEO.com

... Recently, Newsom indicated proposing a new tax on cigarette purchases throughout San Francisco to the city’s Board of Supervisors. This move is not just an attempt to make San Francisco a healthier city but a more lucrative one as well.

This tax stands out as the first municipal fee of its kind in the country—making San Francisco a national guinea pig for such a tax.

The purpose of the tax exists to offset the ever-growing cost of cleanup that it takes to keep the streets clean of cigarette butts. It would add 33 cents to every pack of cigarettes sold.

Complete Post: NEWSOM'S PROPOSED CIGARETTE TAX A PAIN IN THE BUTT FOR SMOKERS (link)

"High" Time For CA ( and Trinidad ) Taxes?

2009-05-21T09:03:00.000-07:00

partial repost PublicCEO.com
James Spencer
May 21, 2009
at Public CEO.com

Weeks ago, when Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger mentioned it may be time for California to “open the debate” on allowing the recreational use of marijuana, he lit up the eyes of legalization advocates everywhere.

He also peaked the interest of those who keep a watchful eye on the state’s budget issues.

The Office of Assemblyman Tom Ammiano, a Democrat from San Francisco, claims an initial estimate of $1.3 billion in new revenue to the state if his AB390 legalization bill passed. A share of that would go to local governments, said Quintin Mecke, communications director for Ammiano.

“All sales tax would still be applicable, that’s not including local fees,” Mecke said. “Municipalities could certainly take advantage of that.”

Complete Post: BUDGET DEFICIT HITS HIGH TIMES (link)

Congratulations Graduates!

2009-05-15T11:26:00.000-07:00

Good work! Best of luck, and have a summer full of fun!
Then, "Go out and save the world!" -HSU Commencement

"Painful" Brown Act Violation Discussion

2009-05-14T09:41:00.000-07:00

Reposting - PublicCEO Editorial May 14, 2009

The City of Orland had a discussion in an open City Council meeting last week that easily could have sent City Attorney Tom Andrews and City Manager Paul Poczobut crawling under the table.

According to the Chico Enterprise Record, two councilors at an Orland City meeting answered publicly to allegations of discussions with another councilor that violated Ralph M. Brown Act public meeting and conflict of interest laws.

Although it had to be painful for the city manager, we want to commend the Orland City Council for having the discussion in the open, where state law requires.

Not hiding under the desk.

The Brown Act is probably one of the most misunderstood and ignored local government laws in the state.

It is our experience that some local governments would have tried to hide this discussion.

Orland did not.

They had it in an open and public way – which is the best way to handle it.

The reality is that Brown Act violations happen. They happen all the time. The real question is what to do about it.

We like what Orland did. They may have an issue with a Councilmember or two but they will be well served by an open and honest process to address it.

PublicCEO.com is dedicated to serving the public administrators in California. However, one of our foundation principles is compliance with open meeting laws in both letter and spirit.

Ref: PublicCEO.com

"The Hits Just Keep on Coming" - Prop 1A

2009-05-12T07:03:00.000-07:00

(partial repost PublicCEO.com)

"County officials were stunned on Monday when Governor Schwarzenegger revealed that the black hole in the state budget for the 2009-10 fiscal year had grown to $15.4 billion; or $21.3 billion if the May ballot measures fail to pass. The figures were revealed in a letter to the Legislative Leadership and reported by KQED. CSAC is attempting to obtain a copy of the letter.

This revelation comes as the Administration is preparing to release the summaries of two approaches to the May Revision; one if the ballot measures pass and one if they do not."

Can't vouch for these sites, they just send me interesting stuff ...

Ref:
Sacbee.com: Governor lays out budget cuts this week - before May 19 vote
(http://sacbee.com/latest/story/1852059.html)

CSAC.counties.org: May 8/09
(http://www.csac.counties.org/)

PublicCEO.com: 'SUSPENSION OF PROPOSITION 1A REAL OPTION'

Prop 1A-1E Failing Could Trigger State Money "Grab"

2009-05-11T10:50:00.000-07:00

Don't get too excited - yet. Do get informed, vote, and be prepared for alternatives if you vote against our administration's recommendations.

As an apparent "vote yes or else" tactic, our state administration has indicated the option of borrowing property tax revenues under 2004's Prop 1A. This would apparently be a consideration if the proposed 1A-1E fail. Given the mood of people I've spoken with, there'd better be a new push at explaining why we need 1A-1E, and not just the specter of what may happen if they fail.

It's my current understanding that essentially the state is depending on these initiatives passing, and looking to what options are if they don't. This is the responsible thing to do. They are "planning for the worst" and communicating that to voters in advance. As a scare tactic, it may work for some, and just be amusing to others.

Major Announcement - US Department HHS

2009-05-11T10:46:00.000-07:00

Via U.S. Department of Health and Human Services:

Friends,

This afternoon, President Obama will be making a major announcement: health care industry leaders are agreeing to take steps that could save the country $2 trillion over the next 10 years.

The coalition taking this action represents union members, insurance companies, doctors, hospitals and pharmaceutical companies, and they have agreed to reduce the annual health care spending growth rate by 1.5 percentage points for the next 10 years.

This is big news for our country and for families who are struggling with the high cost of health care. The steps these organizations have agreed to take, combined with comprehensive health care reform, could result in savings of roughly $2,500 for American families.

The President will be speaking today about this important step forward, and you can watch his remarks live at 12:30 PM EDT on www.HealthReform.gov. While you’re there, be sure to sign the statement of support for comprehensive reform and encourage your friends and colleagues to visit the site.

Today’s announcement is another big step toward comprehensive reform and with your help we will make reform a reality.

Sincerely,

Jenny Backus
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services

Happy Day Mothers!

2009-05-10T13:43:00.000-07:00

Happy day to you all ... relax, enjoy, and thank you for your special help :)

Earth Day - Patrick's Point Park Cleanup

2009-04-18T10:19:00.000-07:00

Celebrate Earth Day at Patrick's Point Park with the California State Parks Foundation. This year is the 40th anniversary for CSPF - congratulations! Thank you all for your hard work and dedication to our State Parks.

Earth Day Cleanup and Restoration

CalParks.org/40/

Trinidad Property Transfer

2009-04-07T22:00:00.000-07:00

That post title sounds a bit cold, and doesn't begin to hint at the strong emotions surrounding this proposal. Maybe that's helpful?

Recently, I've had some good talks with some good people of polar opposite views on this issue.

If we are finished with public input on compromise and solutions, and instead are relying on our elected Council to make representative decisions for our residents, this has been a waste of my time. I don't think that is the case, and I think there is definitely some room for improvement in our current, publicly presented course.

As leaders, we need to watch out even more for the minority

On Voting:

This decision effects so many more people than just our residents in Trinidad. Even with a city-wide vote, the vote itself is not enough. It is a tall order to fill. A tall, tough, and unsavory order, but not an impossible one.

Right-fighting and "my morality is better than yours", set aside, Steve, our City Manager, and Paul, our City Attorney, have done well casting this in a more apolitical and less emotional view-point. By looking at this action in a somewhat colder light, as a legal property transfer with open-space protection, trail access easements, cultural and natural resource protection, and possibly view and vegetation restoration and protection, they are leading us to a stronger solution we can all get behind. One which cares less about how we feel about the past, and more about what will work best in the future for us as a City. As a City elected official, I believe putting our "final" decision and direction to transfer any property to a vote is still the best step we haven't taken.

Right, wrong, or indifferent, including the current property owners in the decision to transfer their ownership and responsibility for protecting this asset is best accomplished by such a vote.

On Not Voting:

The reason to not have a City-wide vote on this, is because we as a Council, and our fellow residents, feel we have enough clear, fairly researched and proven information before us. We have an easy decision that insures all parties have been heard, their concerns have been addressed, and that the best compromise and plan for insuring the protected future of the land has been reached. I don't feel like the presented public "solution" is quite there yet. Closer than ever, but not comfortably there. After listening to people's concerns again, I think we can still do a bit better.

The simple fact that there is a minority of people that still have a strong reaction against the current presentation, still feel left out of the process, and some that may not yet even be a vocal part of the process, is the reason to reach out and engage them in the next scheduled Trinidad general election.

Yes, several public opportunities for comment have been presented. Talk I've heard like, "if they cared, they'd show up to public meetings", talk saying people should send in more letters, etc., is just that - talk. It is selfish reassurance that those of us who enjoy public meetings, debate, and dialogue are doing the right thing, and they are wrong for not participating the way we happen to enjoy participating. In my opinion, as leaders, we need to watch out even more for the minority. The more "quiet" views. We need to make absolutely sure they are represented and addressed. A city-wide vote is the answer to this elected responsibility. When we have a great solution, it will be an easy vote that we will confidently present to our fellow residents.

I don't buy the argument that this issue is too complex, too important, and needs to be completed yesterday because it's been x-number of years since the City of Trinidad has done anything. Nor do I pay any respect to fears that we need to transfer everything before the current Council make-up changes, and we might end up with a more politically divided group again. The adoption of the Tsurai Management Plan, financial expenditure by the City at the Sebring property to begin addressing bluff hydrology, and new trail signage attempts are representative of a new direction and a new commitment to honor City obligations.

One could arguably state that the City has already met it's agreed to obligations since signing on to the Final Tsurai Management Plan two years ago. By Sue's statements the other night ( I'm guessing for the moment), it appears that the City has already revised "the language of access and conservation easement held by Coastal Conservancy to more specifically address permitted and prohibited activities on the property ... " ^[1]

If we haven't revised any Conservancy language, we definitely need a review of what it is now, and what, if any, expanded role we would like to give the Conservancy in any future property transfer.

1. See final TMP, Implementation section 12.5 Ownership, page 78. Also note arguably meeting the requirement to take "steps to transfer allowable portions of the TSA to the Yurok Tribe and put that land into trust status through the Department of the Interior, Bureau of Indian Affairs." From what was said at the last meeting, I don't think we can put any land with an easement, open-space, access, view or otherwise, into trust status with our Federal Government.

Summary:

We will do well building on our current progress of coming together and publicly reaching consensus. This will create even more common ground. Retreating to our old arguments and fears will get us, at best, no-where.

The decision from a vote like this can be one of Trinidad's most healing and trust rebuilding actions ever. We have the opportunity to build faith in each other, and show our commitment to an environmentally sound direction that respects everyones culture and beliefs equally. Or, it can be bitterly forced down on some of our fellow residents by a 4/5 or better vote of our current Council - See final TMP section 10.6 Ownership, page 67: Government Code Section 37351 citation.

I want to pause and review everyone's concerns and solutions. If it hasn't been done, it'd be great to list all of these, and see where we address them with our current direction. Of course some people will be offended and feel left out right? Wrong. I believe there is a way to mitigate even that fear. I'll present my attempt at a better solution to vote on in my next post. If we as a Council are willing to celebrate all of our common ground, and work just a little harder to create just a little more, we will have a solution that works better for everyone involved.

When we have a great solution, it will be an easy vote that we will confidently present to our fellow residents.

Trinidad Top 10 Focus: Fits in several of these items

Fear, Blame, Guilt and Targeted Punishment? How About Rewarding Being Responsible with Our Resources?

2009-02-26T08:21:00.000-08:00

Let's start by finding out what it would cost each user to flatten the base water rate for in and out of Town users. Let's include our necessary use, maintenance, and future capital improvement costs, and factor in all the current and new conservation that our responsible residents will employ with this focus and see where we are.

"Water, water, everywhere, nor any drop to drink (link)"
As with trying to conserve our way out of our oil and natural gas resource limitations, conservation of our water resources is only part of the responsible solution to managing our needs.

The ideal of conservation should not be appropriated to punish neighbors who choose to water their lawns in the rain or have different views than we do. Hanging an albatross around their neck is as silly as it sounds. Using the nobel, responsible practice of conservation to prop up our egos and make us feel better than our neighbors, or worse, work out some insecurity with those who have more financial resources and different views conform to our ways, is the wrong way to go. It's unnecessarily divisive, embarrassingly immature, and won't be nearly as effective as honest suggestions and truthful, fair conservation incentives.

We had an encouraging Council meeting last night. Most of our Councilmembers, me included, have very strong speaking personalities, and don't have a problem getting their twenty-five cents in - whenever they want. Last night our seats were moved around, and it produced a change. A few times, we went from one Councilmember to the the next in line from one side to the other - right down the line. It felt more organized and more fair somehow. A little structure goes a long way. Stan, our Mayor, did a great job of keeping our verbose speakers to their fair time-frames. This also helped. I think we would benefit from a little more structure at our Council table. Not so much the three minute rule (though some of us do go on), but maybe just a left to right or right to left order for speaking. It worked nicely last night anyway.

Water, water everywhere and not drop to drink.
I whole-heartedly agree that those "who loveth well both man and bird and beast (link)" are on the right tract. Even if that man/woman is your neighbor and his/her porch-light is brighter than you'd like, or s/he keeps her/his lawn greener than you would like, s/he is as worthy of your love and respect as our other bird and beast residents. Hopefully, we don't need to dislike our fellow neighbors, or their chosen ways of living, to encourage us to do the responsible thing. I suppose some may think the way Stan suggested last night - that because a water allotment was given, they should use it up because they paid for it. I never looked at it that way. I see how he and others do though. I'm glad he's responsible and doesn't follow his thinking - I doubt that anyone in Town actually follows that line of thinking. Water "wasters" can afford it finiacially, and will not be motivated to conserve more by saving 20 bucks on an already really low base rate. People who will be motivated at the low end, already are conserving - that's why they are at the low end. We need to park our emotions and practically look at our goals for water use and conservation.

My business manager, Jason, is one of the most environmentally conscious and resource conserving humans I know. I think an honest assessment of what impact this change will have on our dozen or so businesses needs to happen. Most businesses are not being wasteful. A business base rate needs to be fairly allocated just as a resident's is. Then, people who want more water to use the way they want, can pay more for it with a new progressive rate structure. Fair enough.

We shouldn't need to make other people feel guilty about watering their lawns in the summer, or hurting our fellow fish residents with wasteful water uses. We should look at ourselves, and our motivations, and approach this honorable endeavor with fairness, reconciliation and intelligent, imaginative solutions. Let's start by finding out what it would cost each user to flatten the base water rate for in and out of Town users. Let's include our necessary use, maintenance, and future capital improvement costs, and factor in all the current and new conservation that our responsible residents will employ with this focus and see where we are.

Reference:
Post: Efficiency and Goofiness - Out of Towners Speak-Up!
See the email on out-of-town water rates - we can do better. "About ten years ago, we became aware that we were paying over 50% more on our monthly base water rate than those that live in town. When Janine asked Mr. Lin why, he said "because we can"

Nice Read:
The Rime of the Ancient Mariner

McK News Gets Town Riled Up - If You're Not Part of the Solution ...

2009-01-26T14:20:00.000-08:00

One of my favorite sayings - "Trinidad is a small Town with big personalities and even bigger opinions." Another one is from the last Council meeting - "Keep It Simple Stupid" (KISS).

I hear you.

Really Simple Solution:
Councilmembers who were involved in these email discussions, between a majority of the Council, should accept that what they did was poor judgement at best, apologize to our Townspeople for breaking their trust, and commit to not do it again. Dun.

McK News Gets Town Riled Up

Story: Uproar Over Trinidad Councilman's Blog. People are definitely reading the local paper and their Blog. Mostly, I think it was a fair article. As far as violations of trust go - that is what this is all about. But it's not about my violating the 4 individual Councilmember's trust to keep this away from the public. The violation of our Townspeople's trust by the Council having discussions like these, and apparently making decisions out of public scrutiny, is what's important here.

It should be clarified that these emails were not "private" nor should they have been. When a majority of the Council is communicating about subject matter jurisdiction items, like these, those discussions should be public and decisions to act should be made in and with the public's interest in mind - not just the interest of the individual Councilmembers who are participating. These emails were circulated within a majority of the Council at the time, and with Staff, and they were sent to me by Councilmembers.

If You're Not Part of the Solution ...
Before you get lost in He Said/She Said Land, I suggest you see my Report: Encouraging Controversy and Eroding Trust? - Previous Council's Email "Discussions" (link) for background, or at least read the emails sent to me and why I posted them (link). Then you'll make a more informed choice when you choose to be part of the solution, or part of continuing the problem. Getting informed, from the emails themselves, will help you avoid being trapped in the sometimes side-show like appearance of our town's politics.

Inauguration-I Don't Want to Miss a Thing Post

2009-01-26T10:03:00.000-08:00

Cool post picture - click it for a larger view at Bill's blog. He found it from a Guy Kawasaki Tweet referencing this satellite image of the crowd at last week's inauguration.

Reference:
See Bill Geist's I Don't Want to Miss a Thing Post.

With Friends Like These ... Council Rants

2009-01-15T05:09:00.000-08:00

"If you stare at this for more than 10 seconds,
your head will explode."

Wish we had video tape of our Council Meetings. I could submit one of last night's performances to the "Gadfly Hall of Fame"

[note: all underlined text in this post is a link to an external Web page]

As a favor to a mutual friend of Kim and I think Pat's, I suspended this post. I agree that they were getting all lost in their emotions and the focus was muddled in all sorts of amusing accusations. My attempt to jokingly point out these women's "little-girl-like" behavior in the audience that night was just that. They were completely behaved during the following meeting, and except for Pat, I think this is behind us. Stan is responsible for keeping order, and he did a fine job. The post is back up to now to answer their incorrect criticisms and the Press article. -MM2/25

I modified this post because someone, whose respect I value completely, told me I went too far with calling these women the Bobbsey Twin "Girls". This post is about Kim and Pat's child-like behavior (snickering, gesturing and interrupting) in the audience of the City Council meeting, and Pat's seemingly uncontrolled and unchecked rant. MM1/16

Even the best intentioned person can seem rude, foolish, or worse with such immature behavior (including me of course). That's hoping that she (Pat) had good intentions with her "rant" though. If Pat's intention was to help me learn something, or see that my words could have been expressed in a less hurtful way, I suppose she was successful. But at what an unnecessarily, extravagant waste of my personal respect for her. If her intention was to hurt or shame me, she failed totally. I'm guessing by her finger pointing and finger wagging, and her seemingly enraged, about-to-pop-a-carotid-artery facial expressions, that she was attempting the latter. Again, she failed, miserably. She did give me lots to blog about though (lol).

I did not leverage the responsibility for allowing their behavior to continue unchecked during our meeting, but I will now. That responsibility rests with our Mayor, Stan. He is chair of our meetings. He is responsible for keeping order in the audience as well as monitoring and helping speakers with their sometimes seemingly inappropriate, some may even consider them abusive, comments. Our Mayor is Kim's husband and he is a good man. I have no doubt he will improve his leadership with each meetings experience. I hope he, like I'm told his predecessor did, will find a way to help Kim conduct herself more appropriately in future meetings, and help Pat with her comments, if she starts "crossing the line" -MM 1/21

Ok, Back to Work now ...

Trinidad Top 10 - Where Do We Go From Here?

Encouraging Controversy and Eroding Trust? - Previous Council's Email "Discussions"

Just Shoot Me - Our Mayor Election Process

News in a Small Town - Flipflopping ... Openly, Proudly

Call of the Regular City Council Metting

2009-01-14T08:03:00.000-08:00

From Gabe:

Posted: Friday, January 09, 2009

NOTICE AND CALL OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
TRINIDAD CITY COUNCIL

The Trinidad City Council will hold its first monthly meeting on
WEDNESDAY, JANUARY 14, 2009 at 7:00 PM
In the Town Hall at 409 Trinity Street
Note: Council Members need to meet at 6:00 PM for the Closed Session

I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. CLOSED SESSION: Two (2) Items
1. Personnel Issue: Section 54957(b), City Manager
2. Real Property Negotiations: Section 54956.8, Lease/Sale of City Property
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• December 10, 2008
VI. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
VII. ORAL STAFF REPORTS
• City Manager
• Specific Department Reports
VIII. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
(Three (3) minute limit per Speaker unless Council approves request for extended time.)
IX. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Staff Activities Report through December, 2008
2. Financial Status Reports for October and November, 2008
3. Resolution 2009-01 Accepting an Easement from the North Coast Land Trust
4. Resolution 2009-02 Amending the City of Trinidad Personnel Rules and Procedures
5. Resolution 2009-03 Authorizing the Destruction of Archived City Records
6. Progress Report on Amending the FY2009 Budget
X. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
1. Appointments to the Trinidad Planning Commission
2. Selection of Council Member Representatives to Boards and Committees
3. Council Policy on Communications among Council Members/Staff
4. Discussion on Options for Trinidad Water Supply
5. Authorization to Proceed with Analysis of Membrane Treatment of Trinidad Water System
6. Discussion on Regulations for 215 Dispensaries in Trinidad
XI. COUNCIL or STAFF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
XII. ADJOURNMENT

Reference:

Regular Council Meeting Agenda 01-14-09 .pdf

Suspected Parking Lot Burglars Arrested

2009-01-14T06:56:00.000-08:00

News From Our City Manager:
Sean Garmire/The Times-Standard / Posted: 01/10/2009 01:19:41 AM PST

A California State Park ranger arrested three people suspected of burglarizing vehicles in the Trinidad area.

According to Greg Hall, a ranger with the California Department of Parks and Recreation, the alleged victim of an auto burglary stopped him while he was driving through Trinidad on Thursday, and reported that he had witnessed three people breaking into a vehicle in the College Cove parking lot.

Hall said the victim who reported the crime had allegedly witnessed the same three people -- two males and a female driving a 1980s white GMC pickup -- breaking into his own vehicle the day before. Authorities had been on the lookout for suspects matching that description since Tuesday.

The victim told Hall that after witnessing the burglary, he chased the three suspects northbound on Patrick's Point Drive. The man reported the suspects were driving too fast to follow, and he gave up the chase.

Hall issued a lookout for the suspect vehicle, and it was located after a short time by a ranger about 10 miles south of Crescent City.

According to Hall, Harley Hammers, 33, Shavonne Hammers, 31, and Jeffrey Brooks, 36, were arrested and booked into the Humboldt County jail on suspicion of possession of stolen property, burglary, possession of burglary tools and possession of marijuana.

Inside the vehicle were several items that had been reported stolen from a truck parked in the Trinidad parking lot. Hall said he believes the three had spent three days in Trinidad, and may have burglarized several vehicles.
The high number of auto burglaries on Trinidad's Scenic Drive and in nearby state park parking lots has been an ongoing issue for authorities. Hall said rangers are asking anyone who has had their vehicle burglarized in the Trinidad area within the last month to contact him at 845-5784.

Trinidad Top 10 - Where Do We Go From Here?

2008-12-30T08:47:00.000-08:00

No Particular Order - I think they're all important

1) Water: Quality, Supply, Infrastructure, Waste, Environmental Impacts, Fire Protection

2) Coast Guard/BLM: Transfer of Trinidad Head Property & Development

3) Trinidad Rancheria: Trinidad Support for Increased Participation & Projects

4) Trinidad's Conserved 12.5 Acres Management: Review & Implement from City's Perspective

5) Planning: Complete General Plan Update, Ordinance Review & Codification, ADU Ordinance, Sustainability, Simplify Requirements & Procedures

6) Trinidad Beautification: Gateway Oversight, Support Trinidad Community Organizations, Signage, Trails, Beautify City Easements, Fight "Urabanization" by finding alternatives to sidewalks, speed bumps, more traffic signs, painted curbs, etc.

7) View Preservation & Restoration - 12.5 Acres View Easments, New Sign Ordinance, Replace & Upgrade Street Lights, Utilities Under-grounding, Trail Access/View Restoration

8) Encourage Participation in Government: Build Trust by Council Policy and Procedure Review and Implementation with Public Committee Oversight, Streamline Meetings, Sales-Tax Committee Oversight, Budget Process Committee Oversight, Grants - Review Options & Increase Effectiveness

9) Neighborhood Conservation & Business Incentives

10) Communications & Infrastructure: Relocate Cell Towers - Accelerate Process & Increase Revenue, Free Wi-Fi for Trinidad - Explore and Implement, Storm Water Treatment, Roads & Parks Completion

New Year's Post:

The Bay is blue again! We are so lucky in Trinidad. Sometimes it rains and rains, and then you wake up, and the sun is piercing through the fog, lighting the Bay, and WOW! It is a wonderful way to start another day in the best place on Earth.

Wonderful New Day and New Year. New Years is a time of reflection and planning for many. What's working in our lives, what do we want to do better next year. People like to make lists, and countdowns are popular this time of year. I've been gathering friend's top 10's for Trinidad - a list of things they'd like to see the Council focus on and accomplish in the New Year '09. It'd be fun to know people's favorite top 10 things that got accomplished in '08 too.

I've heard there's a list of Trinidad things to-do somewhere - Julie provided an "unofficial [?]" list which I posted here in the comments. I'd like us to set up a system (Richard, help?) that tracks our projects online for everyone to follow our progress. Then people can remind us to stay on track, and git'rdun.

So shoot me an email ... let's make some plans, and enjoy our accomplishments. My list is below - I've been blogging about some of them for a while.

Feel Good

Be Kind

Share Joy

Happy New Year!

Report: Encouraging Controversy and Eroding Trust? - Previous Council's Email "Discussions"

Rant: Just Shoot Me - Our Mayor Election Process

Rant: News in a Small Town - Flipflopping ... Openly, Proudly

Who Owns The Head?

2008-12-25T09:30:00.000-08:00

I'm referring to another issue important to me - the potential transfer of the USCG property (BLM property?) on Trinidad Head to Trinidad. I recently heard it was already transfered to the BLM. Who owns it now? Who should own it, and who will be the stakeholders in managing it?

I spoke with Steve and he's working on getting some background information. He has tons of experience in transferring and surplussing (is that a word?) government property. Lucky us. Richard and Stan worked on this for the City. I'll pull together their current info and post it here too.

more to come ...

Pachelbel - Taco Bell

2008-12-24T18:12:00.000-08:00

Who Knew? Haha

Pachelbel's Canon in D Rant by Rob Paravonian. Rob is funny!

Ok, so my favorite classical pop song is Pachelbel's Canon in D. Whenever I hear it, lots around Christmas, I get a smile, and sometimes chills, and I know it's cheesy, but it makes me happy. I don't even know how I came across this video, but it is damn enlightening and entertaining. Enjoy ... Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays.

see all 11,000+ comments

News in a Small Town - Flipflopping ... Openly, Proudly

2008-12-24T17:47:00.000-08:00

News travels fast in a small town -- Trinidad is a tiny town.

That's a nice thing about blogging in a tiny town. Travels fast. Sometimes, people know more about you, than you know yourself. You get the unique opportunity to know yourself from their perspective, faster, in a tiny town.

Of course sometimes people think they know better for you. I'm guilty of that. Thinking I know better. Talking about what I think may be done better, while remaining open to being wrong, makes me a good leader. I may be wrong at the start, but I'm gonna say it, and then I'm gonna listen, and if you have a better idea, I'll change like the wind. Some people call that flip-flopping. Like it's a "bad" thing.

I like flip-flops. I mostly like ridiculously expensive but amazing Ruehl flip-flops. Ruehl is a cool brand. I know it's not really cool to say cool anymore, or maybe it is again? Online it's sometimes written kewl, but that's even more lame. When you get older, you don't care as much about whether saying tight, chill, awesome, rad, sexy, wild, foxy, groovy, or far-out is cool or not, and younger people get to snicker at your lameness. Snickering is fun. Did you know snickering means the same thing as rambling now? Like "Yo, i wish that mo'fugger Mike would quit his snickering." I'm getting old. Ruehl's totally made up marketing history is amusing. Its products are top drawer. I like that the brand isn't well known up here -- so people don't know how much I overpaid for my destroyed polos (lol). I'm flashy enough without wearing flashy brands. I wear my Ruehl flip-flops all summer, lots in winter too. They're good, even on the Playa. A g ood foot massage after flip-flopping around the Playa is always nice. It's fun to stream consciousness. Rambling is a fun way to get to a point. Rambling is sometimes fashioned into a rant.

Here comes my rant on stuck, close-minded, B/W thinking. It's #2 in my Booklet of Frustrations -- right after #1 Poor Customer Service.

Sometimes, after all my ranting, all I hear out there is the buoy bell. Hmmmm. Sometimes, that is really nice. Mostly, I'd rather hear someone settin' me straight, or sharing the other side of the story I'm missing.

Did you ever hear Paul Harvey's "The Rest of the Story" segments? Used to listen to them in North Carolina ... we didn't get too many stations out in the country, where I lived, but I did get Paul Harvey. He tells some good stories.

I am an open-minded, dynamic individual

Are you still reading this? Where's the beef? It's in here somewhere. Recently someone told me they can't control what I put in my Blog, or what I believe, and this gave me a little shock. Why would you want to? Why do you care? Anyway, why is irrelevant here, and it's frequently an unimaginative criticism that's boring. Anyway, it's an incorrect statement. I told them, "I am an open-minded, dynamic individual" ... well that's what I like to think, so stop giggling.

I prefer gray rules. Rules as guidlines or rather guideposts, with lots of room for mistakes and second chances around them. When it comes to black and white thinking, some people call that stinkin'-thinkin', I prefer the black on my cars, and the white on my ice cream. I always have black cars, and I always prefer vanilla ice cream. Everything else is open to discussion.

A better idea will always resonate with me. A better idea will always influence me. There's your control point (hint hint) - a better idea. Flip-flopper? Sure I am. Have a better idea, I'll run with it. Do nothing, and I'll run with mine, 'till I come up with a better one.

UrbanDictionary: snickering

Encouraging Controversy and Eroding Trust? - Previous Council's Email "Discussions"

2008-12-24T14:15:00.000-08:00

Whistle blowing or being one of the gang?
Since it's my intention to lead a change in the way we've been governing here, creating more faith, respect and pride in Trinidad's government, do I really have a choice?

Before assuming this office, I was copied on several emails. I've been struggling with what to do about two email "discussions" - Search Warrant Served on Edwards Street for Marijuana Cultivation, and Construction Site. Struggling, because it may hurt some people's feelings to see them posted. I don't mind calling attention to behavior that needs to change, but I don't like being the "bad guy" here. My intention is to help, not hurt. This is a lot of information, and I hope, my l o n g e s t blog posting ever (lol). You may need a pot of coffee for this one.

I take issue with two major themes here - openness and appearance. First, I'll share how I decided to post these email discussions. Second, I'll post them. In "What Now? - Present Appearance", I'll address how to change this unnecessary and controversial emailing behavior right now. I'll do that by relating what makes me uncomfortable, how I have addressed it personally, and how I will lead us away from it. Then in "What Should We Do? - Future Thinking", I'll talk about ideas which may get us thinking, and lead to ways of fixing any broken trust or removing any misperceptions some residents may have.

DECIDING TO POST - OPENNESS

Asking if I should post these discussions, I'm answered with suggestions like keep the peace so we don't lose focus and momentum, don't give Trinidad another black-eye, don't burn your bridges, and such. While thought provoking, these reasons haven't been compelling enough. As far as getting things done goes, if the means to get it done are unfair, the ends will not bear the full honor and respect that they deserve, no matter how proud we are of achieving them, or how fast they are achieved. Examining a black-eye doesn't cause it. People are ultimately responsible for their words and actions - whether or not they are held accountable for them. I like the burning bridges metaphor, but only if the new bridges are built stronger, safer, and with recycled materials and proper permits.

I'm confident I now have to blow the horn a little louder, and post the two discussions. Before I do, here are some resonating excerpts from sources that influenced my decision.

Comply with both the letter and the spirit of the laws; Be independent, impartial and fair in their judgements and actions; Use their public office for the public good, not for personal gain; and conduct public deliberations and process openly
from Preamble, Trinidad Code of Ethics
"Deliberations be conducted openly; The people, in delegating authority, do not give their public servants the right to decide what is good for the people to know and what is not good for them to know; Writings of public officials and agencies shall be open to public scrutiny
from Open & Public IV: Guide to the Ralph M. Brown Act
"So, it is up to each of us to decide, to chose what is more important-Upheld [Upholding] the principles of fair[ness] and justice or making everybody happy and keeping peace in the community."
Chi Wei, from email B10

These emails are perhaps technically open to the public, but you have to know about them, to request to see them. They are not easily accessible nor easily visible. They also aren't being archived properly to insure public access. Email lists and the resulting serial discussion that develops by using "reply all" may create a dangerous step towards developing a collective concurrence.

EMAIL POSTINGS - PAST

The email discussions are split into two series A and B.
I didn't change or correct any grammar or spelling, editing/my embedded comments indicated by [ ]

The First Series A 1-8
Re: Search Warrant Served on Edwards Street for Marijuana Cultivation
From Nov 25, 2008 [at about 4:20pm lol] to November 26, 2008
- A1) Dear Steve and Council,
  
  I do not have Council Member Mike Morgan's email address so if this email could be forwarded to him I would appreciate it.
  [rest seems confidential ...]
  Chief Thrailkill
- A2) Once again, you are amazing.
  
  I am repeatedly stunned at the brazen behavior of growers. If this is going on on "mainstreet", just imagine what the country roads hold.
  
  Would it be a good idea to give a full report at the next council meeting to explain what the rules are here in Trinidad?
  
  I leave this to your best judgement.
  
  julie
- A3) Hi all,
  
  I would like to write a letter to the McKinleyville Press, with the following information:
  
  Number of grow houses busted in the City during the last 12 months.
  
  Percent of total rental units that represents. (Gabe helped me do a housing survey a while back so we know the approximate number.)
  
  What was found in the houses: # plants, weapons/cash/any other drugs.
  
  Condition of grow house: how many were damaged?
  
  Movement of drug cartels and the Mexican Mafia into the marijuana industry in Humboldt County.
  
  How people can spot a grow house (shades pulled, etc.) & recommend they contact police.
  
  Conclusion of letter: WAKE UP, TRINIDAD!!! We (Trinidad) are likely to be taken over as marijuana central if we don't have our own police, due to our distance from the sheriff's substation. Keep your eyes peeled, and fund your local police department, if you want to keep your community.
  
  Is this letter a good idea? I'm often unsure what I can say or do as a council member [I recommend that when you are unsure, ask Staff, not your Council buddies-MM]. I'd also have to get some info from Ken.
  
  Kathy
- A4) Since you asked, my first instinct is to leave this to the Chief. It is his bailiwick. [Yes, yes, yes - just tell Staff -MM]
  
  But you are an independent person and can write anytime/anything you want. There is no Council rule to limit you.
  You can speak your own beliefs. You just cannot say you represent the Council or the City, but I think you know that.
  
  In any case, I think #5 is inflamatory. Unless Ken has given you real evidence that the Mexican Mafia is clearly involved, this will cause mail to be sent in saying you are racist or worse. The other items on the list are factual and educational and seem appropriate.
  
  Thanks for asking what we think [no, no, no! Don't encourage this behavior, "asking what we think", on issues which are likely to come before the Council].
  
  julie
- A5) Thanks, Julie, As usual, two or more heads are better than one [2, but not all 5 of the Council + Staff!].
  
  #5 is probably inaccurate as well as inflammatory. Mexican nationals were arrested at Humboldt grows, but on forest land, not houses.
  
  I will probably just leave it alone. I do, however, have an urge to shake the citizenry and say, " WAKE UP! Notice what is happening around you!" I am worried about our little town. Should we be doing anything to educate residents? If so, what?
  
  Kathy
- A6) Yes. I think if Ken gives a full-on report just as you outlined, citizens will begin to get the message. Then we/you can make statements like you suggest. Those statements will be quoted.
  
  julie
- A7) I would like for Ken to make a report to the Council detailing all the pot grow busts that have occurred in Trinidad during the past year. I am not sure how much contact he or anyone else has had with the guilty parties, but it would be interesting to know why they thought Trinidad would be a good location for a pot grow house. I would think the media would print this information in the local papers--maybe that would be a better or alternative way to get the information out rather than a letter to the papers. Obviously some people in town are seeing that something is not right at these houses. Ken has to be getting his information from someplace. My compliments to those citizens who have reported such suspicions.
  
  Stan
- A8) A report to the Council from Ken sounds like a good idea, but we need to make sure it gets into the papers. Jessie Faulkner isn't paid to come to meetings any more [she is paid, but she told me that staffing allows them to "only attend meetings that cover particularly important or controversial issues. The decision as to which meetings to cover is a reached through conversations with editors". -MM].
  
  I suspect Trinidad isn't any worse than the rest of Humboldt. My realtor says grow houses are all over, including fancy neighborhoods, and that in most areas aren't a priority for enforcement.
  
  The difference is that we are small. We don't have enough housing stock to accommodate agri-business instead of people. And we can keep an eye on our few houses. The growers can always go elsewhere in the County.
  
  [from Kathy]
A8 is the last one in this series

The Second Series B 1-12[ Oops I found another 5, so it's now B-15! (Yes, 15! And that's -1 of Paul's 2 emails which seemed too confidential). I missed the extra 5 the first time 'round and inserted/appended them. These guys were busy over Thanksgiving -MM]
Re: Construction Site
From Nov 22, 2008 to November 26, 2008
- B1) Hi all,
  Have you all observed the construction taking place on the Saunders' property, behind the horse pasture & next to the Cemetery? A steamroller was tamping down a large gravel pad yesterday.
  
  Dennis (who frequently works for Glenn) says that Glenn's son will "operate his business out of there." Rumor has it that the business is construction and that he plans to store equipment on the site.
  
  Gabe says that Steve is aware of the project which apparently is being done without permits. I invite you all to look at the site. It is clearly visible from Main St.
  
  Kathy
- B2) Kathy,
  
  This should be stopped immediately IF it is being constructed without permits. It is called a "stop work order" and is not uncommon. I believe Reinman was a recent recipient. Everyone must be treated equally. If there are no permits in place (ie. building, grading, other?), this could be a violation of the law. Our staff, City Building inspector, engineer or manager must have the authority. I hope City staff is already on this. A permit process for something of this nature should not be routine, We should all have been informed.
  
  Do you know if staff is involved?
  
  julie
- B3) Hi all,
  
  Gabe reported that Steve said there should probably have been a permit for the grading. That's all I know.
  
  The project site is visible from a larger area than I realized. As you drive down Trinity toward Main, you look DIRECTLY at the site.
  
  I am directly affected by this project which will most likely spoil my view and depress my property values. Therefore, I hesitate to do anything as an official [except contact all your buddies on the Council about a matter which you just described as a conflict-of-interest for yourself?! -MM].
  
  IF you are concerned about this projects legal status or its effect on Trinidad, please ask questions; don't wait for me. YOU would be a more neutral advocate.
  
  Kathy
- B4) Unfortunately, it is Saturday. "Should probably have a permit" is too unclear. I am not a planner, but know that these issues are very serious in other towns and in the county. If we have any ordinances or zoning issues that fit with this activity, the City has to take action. I can only assume that since we have heard nothing, that Saunders has a permit or has found out that he does not need one. If staff knows a permit is required, then I hope that has been communicated and that all work is stopped.
  
  We all live in this small neighborhood. This is not about your view. It is about community values. If there are no ordinances preventing his work, than we are sadder for it. In any case it sounds sticky. That does not mean we have to avoid the situation.
  
  julie
- B5) It's me again. [Paul sent a previous email that seemed more "confidential" to me, at the time, because he instructed direction to the Council. He did not include me in the Cc. I believe the other Council Members "released" this confidentiality to me by Cc:ing me, but I didn't include it anyway -MM]
  
  [This 2nd email didn't seem too "confidential" at the time, but in retrospect, and in light of my new understanding of confidentiality with Paul, maybe I shouldn't have included it either -MM] What are we all doing monitoring our e-mail on a Saturday afternoon? Perhaps we should form a group therapy group.
  
  The best you can do right now is
  [ rest too confidential ...]
  
  Paul
- B6) It seems to me we should consult with our planner about this as well. I am forwarding this correspondence to Mike Morgan as I feel he should be in the loop [Thanks a lot Stan. Though I do think and hope your intentions were to include me as a future member of the Council, the burden of being involved in this questionable emailing was heavy for me -MM].
  
  Stan
- B7) From Kathy: One thing that may have delayed any City action is that there is frequently activity on the site. Horses are added and taken away; hay is brought; a temporary barn was added, then taken down. Not until I saw the steamroller did I realize that something bigger was going on.
  
  Thank you all for following up and Paul for suggesting a therapy group. Anyone who works here for very long needs one.
- B8) Hello all:
  
  I am even worse...monitoring the email at 9:45 on Saturday night!
  
  We ALL saw something going on last week, I recall talking about it briefly with one of the Council members on Wednesday or Thursday. I should have contacted Glenn directly, but he was out-of-town for medical reasons. I saw him at the Joint Library/Museum Meeting late Thursday afternoon but did not get a chance to talk with him. Trever left town Friday and will not be back until December 1. I know that Gabe had several conversations about it, but it all sounded like rumor or speculation. Certainly the Saunders were not trying to "hide" anything, considering how visible this site is.
  
  It was clear that Glenn is doing more this time than just levelling the site for loading/unloading horses. Depending on what plans he has beyond the level gravel area, I suspect at the minimum a grading permit should have been required. In addition, would this be the appropriate time to bring up the wood-cutting lot behind the market, which I have heard is a much larger public nuisance and has been overlooked for MANY years?
  
  I will talk with him on Monday or Tuesday and see what is going on.
  
  Once or twice a day I take the dog for walks, and I see many activites that should have some kind of permit. However, I do not hurry back to City Hall to see if John Doe or Mary Jones has a permit. For instance, the property owner who is replacing the septic system on Trinity Street SHOULD probably have had an encroachment permit for dumping dirt and then gravel in the street. Perhaps this "code enforcement" or "permit enforcement" should be a Council agenda discussion. Between myself and the other staff members, I suspect we could recognize some kind of violation on a weekly or even daily basis. I guess we just need to use good judgement as to what is and what is not important enough to pursue.
  
  Enjoy the rest of your weekend.
  
  Steve
- B9) I am even WORSE-- It's Sunday morning! Anyway, I drove up to the cemetery yesterday to observe the "pad." The corner of the graveled area is no more that 30 feet from the cemetery boundary--It is definitely within 100 feet which I believe is the distance requiring a permit in our ordinance. Another interesting fact is that the underground varmits have already pushed up from below the fill and gravel and piled up soil onto the surface. Good for them!
  Regarding the pile of gravel on Trinity Street--not only did it take up parking space for the Eatery, it must have added runoff pollution into the Bay when it rained. The drain is at the end of the street. At a minimum they should have covered it with a tarp to prevent runoff.
  Stan
- B9a [missed #1-insertion]
  Hi all,
  
  The new construction appears to be a worse nuisance than the wood yard.
  
  It is more visible. The wood yard affects View and Parker Creek Rd, the new pad affects Main and Trinity.
  
  It disturbed the ground. When the wood yard is removed, there will still be a green field; nothing will grow on the gravel pad.
  
  It is close to the cemetery, triggering special protections in the ordinance.
  
  It is NEW and occurred on "our watch;" it will be hard to enforce the ordinance if we ignore a large, very visible, current violation.
  
  It will be difficult to regulate future uses. It is essentially a parking lot subject to a variety of potential uses. The wood lot IS what it IS; it won't change.
  
  Residents buy wood from the wood lot; it is of some use to the town.
  
  The wood yard creates noise impacts; the pad may or may not, depending on the use. If construction equipment leaves in the AM & is returned in the PM, there may well be noise impacts.
  
  The Marquettes hate the wood lot, and so would I. In response to Steve's question, I'm not sure if we should go after it or not.
  
  It might be interesting to survey the immediate neighbors. In the past, there was an effort to get rid of the billboards on the bluff. Residents turned out to SAVE the billboards! You never know what will make people circle the wagons!
  
  Kathy
- B9b [missed #2-insertion]
  
  Good homework, Kathy...and on a Sunday.
  
  All citizens need to be treated the same under "our watch". I feel the wood lot is a completely different situation, at least at the moment. The gravel pad is current and clearly not appropriate. Seems like a job for the building inspector. Isn't that his job? to make sure that we all build within the codes and ordinances?
  
  julie
- B10) It took me a little bit longer to respond because I am older and slower. But here I am.
  
  I think if a government does not have the will or means to enforce its laws and ordinance, there is not much a government.
  A city like ours, with limited means and unclear decision making authority, the ability to govern is constantly tested and challenged. Lack of proper response to these challenges diminishes further the ability of the CIty to enforce laws in the future and the legitimacy of our government. When there is no law, the ones with more resources dominate and the ones with less suffer. This is un-equality and un-justice. We have seen this before and we are seeing it right now. It is the responsibility the government and those who are elected to run it to make things equal and fair. The ones with resources will think that there are victimized by the government and challenge it. They think government should ONLY serve the people, and particularly THEM.
  
  Do we have the will and means to enforce the City Ordinance? I think we are much butter equipped to do so. The capable city manager and city attorney and handle this and other cases with clear violations. The city's financial resource, although limited, still will be able to afford to defend the city's legal action.
  
  The real question is do we have the WILL? There will be complains (why the city did not enforce other violations?), even out cries, threats of legal actions, and at least making life unpleasant for us. So, it is up to each of us to decide, to chose what is more important--Upheld the principles of fair and justice or making everybody happy and keeping peace in the community. As far as I am concern, it is a no brainer.
  
  Chi-Wei
- B11) You took longer, because you articulately pulled all the threads together. You stated, eloquently, exactly what I was saying in an abbreviated form. All citizens need to be treated equally regardless of money and perceived power.
  
  The council's role is to support our staff in their efforts to handle these situations [Bravo! - Julie is right here. Kathy should have contacted Steve FIRST and not a majority of her Council buddies by email -MM].
  
  julie
- B12) Amen
  Stan
- B13) On Nov 26, 2008, at 12:07 PM, Kathy Bhardwaj wrote:
  
  Thanks, Chi-Wei, for your clear statement of the issues involved. Gabe said he expects an earful when Glenn gets back from San Francisco, and I suppose we can all expect the same.
  
  This appears to be a provocation to test if there is still a two tier system of regulation in Trinidad. Steve/Trever will examine the ordinance to see if that is indeed the case. If it is, Glenn's serious medical issues will create sympathy for him and make the whole code enforcement thing even more difficult, but we still have to do it [In my opinion, this is completely over-the-top! I still hope Kathy apologizes for this unsympathetic thought process regarding Glen's private medical issues. It's my understanding she apologized for all this becoming public, but not for doing it in the first place. She could have called him directly and avoided all this email mess -MM].
- B14)
  I was in Steve's office this morning when he was on the phone with Glenn regarding the pasture project. I will leave it up to Steve to relate the contents of that conversation with everybody. [I was in this meeting too. I questioned Stan about these emails. I heard him say that the previous Council attorney told them not to email like this. I wish they would have listened better, and kept me out of it -MM]
  
  Stan
- B15)
  This is excellent staff work. Thank you so much! This is exactly the kind of staff response that is needed in a situation like this . . . professional, unemotional and simply the truth. [Again, I say Staff is who Kathy should have contacted FIRST - this would be a great procedure to avoid this mess in the future -MM]
  
  It should make it absolutely clear what the next steps are.
  
  Thanks again!!!!
  
  julie
  
  On Nov 26, 2008, at 1:26 PM, Trinidad City Manager wrote:
B15 is the last one in this series

WHAT NOW? - PRESENT APPEARANCE

Leading by example, I'll show how we can both
avoid controversy and encourage trust

I doubt any Acts or Laws were intentionally or unintentionally violated. But legal or not, these kinds of communications can encourage controversy and can erode trust. They make me uncomfortable. Are these just a few cases of poor judgement showing a lack of experience, or perhaps a comfortable or perceived lack of accountability in the past? I don't know. I haven't requested any other past communications like these between Councilmembers themselves and Staff.

That being said, "the Brown Act is a floor and not a ceiling for conduct of public officials." We, as elected officials, need to be way above the floor and set higher standards for ourselves and each other. We are given the honorable responsibility of legislating our constituents and being their elected voice in their chair. This honor demands more respect. We need to be above the appearance of comfortable, business-like meetings, whether it's in public at the coffee-house, or through group email lists discussions. Discussing or deliberating upon any item that is within the subject matter jurisdiction of our Council, whether or not any action is taken, is a precarious step in the wrong direction.

To avoid controversy, rebuild trust, and instill public confidence that we are independently, impartially making our decisions at meetings, we should create new policies which go beyond the minimum requirements of law. These should address communications between the Councilmembers and between the Council and Staff. They should provide for fully open, transparent and publicly accessible and archived communications. The night I was sworn in, I asked for a future discussion of this, and it's on our next Agenda. Let's make policies that do away with even an appearance of moving towards a collective deliberation process in group email discussions like these. Let's work towards creating more faith in our process.

What can we do now?

I've been straight-forward with expressing my discomfort with both the method of these communications as well as the spirit and appropriateness of their content. I've posted about it, hoping people involved in the discussion would do something. I guess nothing is something, but it's not enough. I have implemented communication solutions for myself that I feel shield me from what I see as a less honorable, less trustworthy, way of approaching issues which are within our subject matter jurisdiction.

Regarding City communications, I've asked to be removed from any non-public lists and prefer to be on email lists which are not only accessible, but also easily visible to the public. Ones which get all information archived and not deleted. By default, I make all of my non-confidential communications with the Council and City Staff automatically public and easily retrievable, with no deleted communications. The emails stopped after I brought all this up, or rather they stopped coming to me.

Things like archiving can also be done by Councilmembers and Staff until we create policies.

WHAT SHOULD WE DO? - FUTURE THINKING

What can we do before the next Council meeting?

What else can we do as a Council? Our City Attorney, Paul, is on vacation, but I have about a dozen questions I'm waiting for him to respond to. They may help us with creating policies which will build confidence and trust.

We should independently come up with and solicit policy and operational ideas which may combat controversy, instill confidence, and rebuild trust, and then present them for discussion at our next meeting. We can independently continue working with our City Manager and tap into his experience and suggestions.

Clear, simple policies incorporating ideas like these may help us.

Communications. Councilmembers should ( or shall ) first communicate directly with the City Manager on perceived violations, positions they may be interested in, questions about conduct, etc. - not have email discussions with each other. The City Manager could then take action to contact Councilmembers, and by their recommendation, hold a special meeting or schedule it on our next Agenda. We have to watch for "hub and spoke" communications here, but that's easy to catch.
Appointments. Another might be that we have public discussions before we approve, appoint or elect people to committees, commissions, or office. We are kind of doing this already for Committees, and our Planning Commission, but we didn't for electing Mayor ( yes, I still have some hurt, but certainly not hard, feelings about not discussing it before nominations ).
Speaking of Mayors. I heard an idea that may help de-politicize our Weak Mayor position, assuming everyone agrees that our Mayor should strive to be apolitical as well as unbiased. It would certainly help remove the appearance of a power blocking monolith voting up there - if it looks like a duck, and quacks like a duck, and votes like a duck ... ( my attempt at some humor here ). The idea is this, we rotate the Mayor position between Councilmembers who want the experience and responsibility.
For Agenda Items. Staff should provide an ordinance being used, like the one directing us on appointing Planning Commissioners, with the Agenda item. Also stating how things were done traditionally may help. Seeing any suggestions Staff may have at that time about improving our ordinance based on their experience and any research or public input might also help. Having draft motions presented in our packs to approve legislation, possible amendments, and general information like Planning Staff provides in their packs may be another helpful idea.
Running Meetings. The Mayor has our elected responsibility for this. Some suggestions that work well for Trinidad could be put into a policy. It could include suggestions about our public discussion process for each of our Agenda items.

An Example of a Process for Each Agenda Item
- Staff will introduce the item with background.
- Councilmembers will ask questions (only questions) and each Councilmember has 3 mins, but an unlimited number of turns after other Councilmembers.
- Public may ask questions (only questions) and each has 3 mins, but a reasonable number of turns after others.
- Public may comment and each has 3 mins, but a reasonable number of turns after others.
- Council may comment
- Motions, Seconds, Discussion, Amendments, Votes, etc.
Council may interrupt to ask brief clairifying questions throughout the discussion process, but should not engage in debate with the audience.

Not sure where these would go, but I liked our Attorney's suggestion of straw polls. Seems they would help us move things along in the comment phase(?), when everyone is apparently in agreement. I need some education on this still.

Bet there is some kind of on-line, public, project tracking system that shows where we are on our list of Trinidad to-do's, what the next step is, and where we came from. That would probably help keep us on track, and it would help people keep us on track too. I'm using my Blog to organize myself, but I'd like to see some City solution that is both collaborative and efficient.

A friend suggested something that sounds great. He thinks a field trip of our Council to a County meeting and maybe to a Rio Dell, Fortuna, and/or a Blue Lake Council meeting would serve us well as we review our policies and procedures - refining but not reinventing the wheel. Sounds fun!

You know ... it's no fun being the bad guy or the odd man out. It's no fun blowing the horn if it hurts people's ears or feelings either.

Together, we can acknowledge room for improvement. We can apologize for hurt feelings. We can be more inclusive of differences of opinion and share power. We can build on and share our individual strengths. We can let our common devotion to Trinidad prompt us to honor not only this job, but also all the people we are up there for. Whether or not they agree with us. Whether or not they put us there with their votes.

Wish us luck at our next meeting.

Just Shoot Me - Our Mayor Election Process

2008-12-22T12:29:00.000-08:00

Well they didn't give me a shot, and they didn't shoot me. Tho shooting me may have been less painfully embarrassing. It felt like a public castration (just having a laugh here). And in front of my friends and neighbors I care so much about -- btw, thank you guys for your warm condolences.

That vote came very fast. There was no discussion before it about who wanted to be Mayor and why. That's really the source of any hurt feelings I'm still nursing. I don't mind the Council didn't elect me to be Trinidad's Mayor. Sure I feel qualified and I want to be Mayor, but if members who have served longer want the position and feel more qualified, I can support them. If however, some of them are politically acting to "block" me because they disagree with my positions, that could be a different story.

I was digesting all the pride I swallowed that night for a couple of days. Some friends noticed me gritting my teeth, rolling my eyes, and literally holding my mouth shut. I will get better up there. Some friend's suggested I may have shot myself with all of my blogging bravado - perhaps.

I'm wary that some Councilmember's actions that night may have served to reinforce suspicions and fears that I've been Blogging about. Yet again, an opportunity to build constituent trust was missed. It appears to some of our constituates that a few Councilmember's minds appeared to have been made up before we even discussed the issue.

So what now? I will continue to be honest and upfront about my intentions and feelings. I will continue to lead a change in the way we've been governing here - creating more faith, respect and pride in Trinidad's government. I'm committed to bringing our Town together on difficult issues by remaining fair. Playing "devil's advocate" to give voice and promote thought about all facets of issues may be a fun and productive role for me.

I know that together we will be a terrific Trinidad Council. I am honored to be in such good company up there. Even tho I don't and won't always agree with some of my fellow Councilmember's chosen behavior, I will still respect the position and both their commitment and service to Trinidad.

Thank You and Good Luck to Trinidad and Our New Council

T-S Roast: Confidence to Lead is Bad News?

Transparency and Efficiency in our City Government - Mike for Mayor

Ocean Energy - Powering Trinidad's Grid and Economy With the Motion of the Ocean

2008-12-16T09:01:00.000-08:00

There's lots of great discussion going on locally about ocean energy, and particularly wave energy. I had the pleasure of meeting some locals who are excitedly beginning to research current technology and look at developing systems right here in Trinidad. We would demonstrate both our commitment and our responsibility to sustainability by using local talent to explore this exciting potential from fishing and economic impacts, to environmental impacts, all the way to welding prototypes with local artisans.

Our Town's commitment to our fishing industries, and to our scenic and environmental protection, with sustainability as a keystone, is documented in our Planning Commission's draft Vision Statement for Trinidad's General Plan Update.

Mega-what?

While everyone's wrangling around figuring out how to make this economically feasible and all, what if we look at our tiny City, and how much energy it takes to run all our homes. So what really is a megawatt (MW) and how many homes can one MW serve? Watts (W) measure power. Ok pay attention, a 100W lightbulb uses 100W when it is turned on, then you measure the number of hours it's on to get the watt-hour (Wh) of energy -- 5 hours = 500Wh. Watts measure instantaneous power, while watt-hours measure the total over time. Got that?

When looking at MW ratings, it's important to remember the average power production over time due to maintenance and downtime, and you need a backup generation source that can "follow" changes in load. I'm not going into capacity factors or average and peak load factors (google it if you're curious) - let's just characterize this as demand. For West Coast consumers I've seen consumption numbers around 650 kWh/month. Up here we have natural, healthy, environmentally friendly air-conditioning in our fog. Bet we are lots less than that.

Who knows our monthly household average kWh consumption in Trinidad, or how to find it?

A common "myth" is 1 MW of generation equates to 1,000 homes. It depends on where those homes are. In southern areas, energy consumption can be twice as high. Here it may be even lower. So how much will we need to harvest from the ocean each month?

While I search for those answers, here's more wave energy info.

There's an interesting state-commissioned white paper that was co-authored by Humboldt State experts exploring our current knowledge. Perhaps it will provide such R&D groups like the one forming in Trinidad with goals toward producing and situating mechanisms in the most environmentally positive situations, while also protecting or possibly enhancing our fishing industries.

As I receive information on using the motion of our Ocean, I'll post it here.
CleanTechnica Blog Article By Gavin Newsom 2/09 - Wave Energy to Bring Power and Jobs to San Francisco

References:

Trinidad General Plan Update: Draft Vision Statement

HSU Info: Wave Energy Deemed Feasible, But Gnarly

White Paper

Times-Standard Report: Wave Energy Begins in Rough Waters

Resource and Information Links:

Wave Dragon - '07 Wave Dragon Environment Impact Assessment

WaveEnergyToday.com

e! Science News - Your Daily Dose of Eureka! - Catch the Wave

ABC.Net.AU - Science Show: CETO in Australia; 35% of AU Energy Needs ...

LOCE Wind and Wave Energy Weblog Archive: '05 Renewable Energy Insider: The Promise of Ocean Energy and more ...

BBC News: '05 Wave Power Plan for Welsh Coast -The Wave Dragon

Health Care Community Discussion - Transparency and Involvement

2008-12-16T07:49:00.000-08:00

In case you missed the discussion, and would still like to participate, you'll have the chance. I will be emailing the list of questions and quick survey to complete the online portion of our meeting. If enough people want another face-to-face meeting, I'd be happy to do another one Monday the 29th - just call or email me and I'll set it up.

" Over the coming weeks, thousands of Americans will be leading Health Care Community Discussions -- small local gatherings in which Americans are sharing thoughts and ideas about reforming health care. President-elect Obama and Health and Human Services Secretary-designate Tom Daschle are counting on Americans from every walk of life to help identify what's broken and provide ideas for how to fix it. "

"No transition has tried something like this before, and your participation is essential to our success."

From John D. Podesta Co-Chair The Obama-Biden Transition Project
Regarding President-elect Obama and Secretary-designate for Health and Human Services (HHS) Health Care Community Discussion Project via email.

I'm excited by what I'm hearing here ... that transparency is the "essence of good legislating" - including and involving the people, through as many different ways of communicating as can be thought of.

Secretary-designate Daschle recorded a short message about these important discussions. Watch the video.

They are seeking your ideas for how we ought to improve our system, from your own experiences and from stories and ideas that others have shared with you. They're putting together a list of ideas and proposals to work on from prevention, to hospital care and chronic care management. I will post links to guides and other materials here, and will poll some of our community leaders as to when and where we can set up a meeting or two. I will share any comments or suggestions you leave here on my Blog at the meeting(s) and include them in our final report.

Thanks for your contribution.

Reference:

Video: Secretary-designate Tom Daschle - Health Care Community Discussion for Grassroots Reform

To download the special Moderator's Guide

To download the Participant Guide

Impartiality While Blogging Or ...

2008-12-13T16:16:00.000-08:00

Avoiding a Reasonable Appearance of an Unacceptable Probability of Actual Bias

Huh? How's that for a confusing directive? Well this one is taking some serious brain-power to wrap my head around. These days I don't seem to have as much of that as I used to, but I'm going to try and understand this to keep myself, and our Council and Commission, out of trouble while I'm blogging.

Does this concept imply that there is a reasonable appearance of an acceptable probability of actual bias that may not need to be avoided? I don't think so. The statement seeks to maintain impartiality of an administrative agency when dealing with 'quasi-legislative' and 'quasi-judicial' actions related to due process principals. If that sounds like I've got a grasp on it, it's tenuous at best.

We deal with both types on our Council and Planning Commission - legislative for the many, judicial for the individual. Quasi-judicial frequently involves permit reviews and appeals relating to an individual case.

Ok, get some coffee and bear with me now.

a) "Procedural due process principals apply to quasi-judicial decision-making." "Quasi-legislative acts are not subject to procedural due process requirements..."

b) "Procedural due process requires a reasonably impartial, noninvolved decision maker."

The "standard of impartiality required at an administrative hearing is less exacting than that required in a judicial proceeding." "[b]ias and prejudice are never implied and must be established by clear avertments (concrete facts)."

So the two, quasi-legislative and quasi-judicial, actions have different standards. I'll avoid or be above even the appearance of impartiality when blogging on quasi-judicial matters. That's an admirable goal for quasi-legislative blogging too, but I bet our lawyer would prefer I just blog about the weather (lol)

I think the goal and spirit of this is that a legislative body member will not advocate for or against a matter pending before the body.

That's a bit easier for me to understand. The Brown Act adds that members not privately discuss matters with each other that are pending, or likely to come before the body. This makes communications more complicated, and hopefully less biased. That's why you won't see Councilmembers blogging with each other - though I'd rather see that public discussion, than be party to private email groups of Councilmembers.

This is why I will use my blog to gather and encourage discussion on all sides of an issue sans Councilmembers and Commissioners - especially on pending quasi-judicial actions. I will come to our public meetings making my decisions there, remaining as impartial and unbiased as I possibly can be, and avoiding the creation of an "unacceptable probability of actual bias" before.

Reference:

Paper on Avoiding "An Unacceptable Probability of Actual Bias" Nasha v. City of Los Angeles

Thank You and Good Luck to Trinidad and Our New Council

2008-12-12T14:44:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone attending our Council meeting Wednesday. It was nice to see the place so full. It was a moving night for me taking the Oath of Office, and for wishing Chi-Wei well as he stepped down from an impressive position full of achievements.

To Our Council,

Thank you for putting up with and assisting me in what might be my steep learning curve ahead. I will work hard to deliver an appropriate return on your investment.

Stan, congratulations on your election as Mayor. I know you will do your best. If there are any meeting-running suggestions I might help with, please don't hesitate to ask.

Kathy, congratulations on your election. Your devotion to public input, not moving forward on a vote until you understand what you are voting for, and detail scrutiny of every word is both inspirational and laudable.

Julie, congratulations on your election. Your experience tempered with your openness to trying new things and righting wrongs will be invaluable.

With all our City Staff's experience, help, and sometimes unbelievable patience and therapeutic support, together we will make a great City of Trinidad Council.

T-S Roast: Confidence to Lead is Bad News?

2008-12-08T16:13:00.000-08:00

Sorry, apparently not everyone reads the Times-Standard Opinion page or knows what this Bad News/Good News - Roast/Toast stuff is. Heck, I never noticed it either, until a friend pointed out that I got "burnt" (lol). So, in the Bad News category that day, I was Roasted by someone. The T-S Editor both nobly and graciously took ultimate ownership, but wouldn't tell me who's idea it was - hmmmm.

Here's what my Roast said: "Just a mild one to Trinidad City Councilman-elect Mike Morgan. While his enthusiasm for his new job is admirable, it might be preferable to spend a little time on the City Council before campaigning to become Trinidad's next mayor." Fair enough, if you don't know me and my relationship to our Town. So I playfully roast the Roaster here, and hopefully shed some knowledge on my qualifications to back up my confidence and healthy, buff ego.

Bad News, Good News

Roast

Time-Standard Roaster for not signing and owning their Roast of me in today's paper, and for placing my responsible efforts to lead in the "bad news" - booo.

Toast

Thanks for the coverage, and your point is misleading - "... spend a little time on the City Council before campaigning ..."

My Time-Standard Roaster thinks I need more time on the Council before I go for Mayor, but likes my enthusiasm. The 4 other Councilmembers who will vote for Trinidad's new Mayor, know my meeting style as Planning Commission Chair, and will remember my experience working with them on our budgets, initiating our narrowly passed new sales tax, safety, and resident committees like the one to reform our Council Meeting procedures.

They also know it is a ceremonial title with no additional powers over fellow Councilmembers. Heck, several of them have personal Council experience removing capable Mayors from power, so I doubt if they are threatened by my "campaigning", if they've even heard about it, and they won't be surprised by my request.

What'll be interesting is will they give me a shot, or take me out back and shoot me?^[1]

Transparency and Efficiency in our City Government - Mike for Mayor

^ 1 Reference:

NCJ - 11/13/03 Weekly Wrap - Corrections: A story in the same issue on political turmoil in Trinidad misinterpreted a remark made by a member of the audience during a public meeting. The statement, "He should be taken out and shot," parodied Councilmember Chi-Wei Lin by suggesting that he was so opposed to Mayor Dean Heyenga that he was calling for Heyenga's execution. (WebCite archive)

Bull in a China Shop - Why? Why? Why?

2008-12-07T16:20:00.000-08:00

I'm not intending to break people here, just what I see as some upsetting habitual political behavior.

I'm being characterized as a bit of a "bull in a china shop" around our Town these days. Ok, I'll own that. I'd prefer sharp elbows and big feet, making room at the table for myself (lol). Advice like "You'll catch more flies with honey" and "Don't you know you're embarrassing people whose votes you need?" are flowing too. I'm not interested in "catching" anyone's vote, nor am I afraid that the best idea won't win out because I embarrassed or pissed someone off. Fear, it's not a great motivator for me.

While I don't for a second think my future fellow Councilmembers are fragile china that I'm breaking with my unsophisticated, stubborn or reckless aggressiveness, I'll admit that I've stepped on some toes I care about with my blogging. That's very easy for me to do, because I care about lots of toes here in Trinidad.

"Why are you blogging?" "Why would you want to be on the Council?" "Why do you live up there?"

I'll start with the easiest one first. "Why do you live up there?" I live up here because I'm lucky. Lucky to have discovered Trinidad. Lucky to have the resources to move here. Lucky that I like everyone I know here - even the people that annoy me sometimes. In Trinidad, we are a lucky bunch.

Why do I want to be on the Council? That's a bit more complicated, but not too. Seems they've already printed my new sign, "Kick Me - I'm a Politician" haha. I'm starting to get a taste of what I've been dishing out. Sometimes, however, kicking some butt can be a good motivator. Back when we (note the sarcasm from disappointed feelings) were deciding whom to promote or hire for City Manager, some residents expressed their frustration over the appearance that the Council had made up its mind before the Public spoke. Never-mind that we got lucky with Steve - ends justifying the means is not acceptable procedure. It seemed like our Council was becoming less representative of our whole Town. Discussions were sounding too one-sided. My voice and some fellow townspeople's voices appeared under-represented.

That's when I decided I had to do something other than complain about it. That's when I decided to seek this position. While I'm pretty good about voicing my own opinions (lol), I chose to be a voice for those who feel under-represented and were loosing faith and trust in the current Council. This is also where my statement last Sunday comes from, "It's my intention to lead a change in the way we've been governing here - creating more faith, respect and pride in Trinidad's government."

Now, how to do that brings me to "Why are you Blogging?" Discussion and statements are attempts to create reality, or at least, to shape it. By blogging, I'm seeking new perspectives, more participation, and more access for people I don't know yet. I'm organizing my information and people's input so I'll be better prepared to make decisions at meetings, without even the appearance of making my mind up before. I'm venting my frustrations and joy on my Blog, so I'll be less emotional and more practical in the meetings. I may be leaning towards support for some issue, but I will always strive to look at the other side, maintain an open mind, probably support the underdog, and do my public work publicly to the highest standards I know.

I've heard some positive and some resistive feedback to my blog. I receive glimmers of encouragement right when I start questioning myself and what I am doing here - online I mean, not here in Humboldt. If we truly are fragile china, I am sorry for the breakage. I'll get some glue and responsibly repair my mistakes. I'm not intending to break people here, just what I see as some upsetting habitual political behavior.

In the Fire Service there's a saying I hear - "Help us help you ..."

Like, in case of an emergency, "help us help you - make sure we can see your (hopefully lit) house number". I don't know if this blogging experiment will help, or if it's entertaining, or inspiring, or boring, or just hurtful - I've never blogged before. Please keep reading and bear with me, comment and help me help you, or just don't participate. Gossip and complaining is a form of participation too. I can only change, if I hear it though. This is a good forum for me to hear it in.

Transparency and Efficiency in our City Government - Mike for Mayor

Efficiency and Goofiness - Out of Towners Speak-Up!

Trinidad City Council - Notice and Call Wed 12/10 7PM

PEBO: Use It or Loose It

2008-12-07T08:42:00.000-08:00

There's much to like in PE Obama's radio address. I support the elected, and wish them the best, even if I don't always agree with them. I treat the position, person, and their service with respect. I feel and am free to point out things I'm encouraged and discouraged about. Good to be American.

I am excited about the opportunities PEBO is presenting in response to the astounding job loss and suffering happening right now. I had a bit of a double take on one sentence - "Will your job or your husband’s job or your daughter’s or son's job be the next one cut?" Ok, is it picky? Yes. Is it interesting to me? Yes. While I've seen some PC writers use his/her, him/her, she/he and just the other day s/he, to be more admirably inclusive, I've never seen a direct statement to married women with children ( or men who are married to men with children ) on such an universal issue. I wonder what would be said about President Bush making the same statement? People are blogging about this, and it's fun to think about both sides huh?

Changing light bulbs to save energy has been joked about, when weighed against he immense inefficiencies in our energy production and usage. Statements like lights are generally used at a time of day when our electricity production remains the same, and consumption is the lowest make me think - use it or loose it. It's a place to start though, and gives some individuals an answer to "What can I do?" I resist those CFCs for their mercury and ugly colored light output and instead use low (40) watt light bulbs on dimers to save energy. I bought one of those new LED clustered bulbs, made without mercury, that is labeled "warm light" for my house on View St. It has a sickly bluish glow - too bad. I'm sure we'll eventually get better bulbs.

PEBO's "use it or loose it'' intention is great. We as citizens, need to look at the other side of this request carefully, and quickly, so we can deliver on the intent. "We’ll invest your precious tax dollars in new and smarter ways, and we’ll set a simple rule – use it or lose it. If a state doesn’t act quickly to invest in roads and bridges in their communities, they’ll lose the money."

Reference:

Weekly Radio Address: President-elect Barack Obama lays out key parts of Economic Recovery Plan

First time both on-air and as a Web video

No Gifts ... Please!

2008-12-06T15:58:00.000-08:00

A timely story I read recently about a Trinidad resident inspired me to change. To celebrate her birthday, she held a Wopila, which is a cultural ceremony of gift-giving where someone gives their things away instead of receiving gifts. Sort of a garage sale where everything is free, but your "shoppers" are your friends and family.

Sounds pretty cool. My mother and I have been round and round about gift-giving, and it has been an occasional and minor annoyance for me. I found some relief in the ancient Chinese system of aesthetics called feng shui. I read that if someone gives you a gift you don't like, you owe it to yourself and that person, to (gracefully) get rid of it.

While I fight the ease of telling "white lies" like my dog ate it, I have left things for my dog Jack to "discover" and then "play" with - unsupervised. Anyone who knows Jack Russell dogs, knows they love destroying, I mean playing with new things. So, back to gift-giving, all the good intentions in the world, of trying to express love with that perfect gift that says I know you, and I know you'll love this, well it's just too heartbreaking of a process. I prefer a card if I can't have the person with me. My mother, who is more stubborn than I am sometimes, gets a list of things to choose from. This makes her gift a "winner" every-time. She doesn't always understand my choices, "Carhartt's again?" she'll ask?, but I always love the gift, and think of her fondly whenever I enjoy it. I wear my Carhartt's lots, thanks Ma.

Jason, my Inn's keeper, likes to give food gifts like preserves, or honey he harvested before his bees died, or gift certificates from his favorite local businesses like Katy's. I think these kinds of gifts are great for obvious reasons. So Ma, no gifts this year please, unless you want me to give them to Jack. Please send those chocolate-covered peanut butter balls though. If it's part of your traditional celebration, good-luck with the gift-giving. Happy Holidays!

Reference:

Times-Standard; Presence, not Presents (WebCite archive)

3AM Strawberry Rock Rescue - Body at the Beach

2008-12-05T20:42:00.000-08:00

Thankfully, this is not a common day for us at Trinidad Volunteer Fire. We had two difficult calls, but fortunately all we lost was sleep - this time.

Along with CAL FIRE, Arcata-Mad River Ambulance, and Westhaven Volunteer Fire, Trinidad Fire Volunteers geared-up, hiked in, located, treated and hauled a young woman who had fallen, back up Strawberry Rock to be airlifted by the US Coastguard they called for. This took hours, and after she was secured in the helicopter, they safely escorted the 6 or 7 other young adults back down the mountain - all while most were sleeping at 3AM.

The dedication of the 12+ responders is admirable and the young adults were grateful. I am happy they are all safe. I wish the young woman a speedy recovery. Hopefully, they learned, and will share, that in their personally irresponsible quest for fun, they put a special group of people at unnecessary risk - most of the dozen rescuers are volunteers with families that depend on them, and jobs to go to today.

Thanks to all those everywhere who put their health and lives on the line, answering the call to service. They are truly going above and beyond.

I'll take a moment to congratulate FF Robin Fraser, and FF Matt Utt on passing their EMT Class and Skills Test - good luck on the National Test. FF Stefan Rheinschmidt Graduated the Fire Academy this year and also earned his EMT certification.

Reference:

Times-Standard - Coast Guard Chopper Rescues Woman (WebCite archive)

Trinidad City Council - Notice and Call Wed 12/10 7pm

2008-12-05T19:29:00.000-08:00

From Gabe:

City of Trinidad: December 10, 2008 CC Agenda
Page 1
TRINIDAD CITY HALL Chi-Wei Lin, Mayor
P.O. Box 390 Gabriel Adams, City Clerk
409 Trinity Street
Trinidad, CA 95570
(707) 677-0223
Posted: Friday, December 05, 2008
NOTICE AND CALL OF THE REGULAR MEETING OF THE
TRINIDAD CITY COUNCIL
The Trinidad City Council will hold its first monthly meeting on
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 10, 2008 at 7:00 PM
In the Town Hall at 409 Trinity Street
I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL
II. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
III. CLOSED SESSION – No Closed Session is Scheduled
IV. APPROVAL OF AGENDA
V. APPROVAL OF MINUTES
• October 22, 2008
• November 12, 2008
VI. COUNCIL MEMBER REPORTS
VII. ORAL STAFF REPORTS
• City Manager
• Specific Department Reports
VIII. ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
(Three (3) minute limit per Speaker unless Council approves request for extended time.)
IX. CONSENT AGENDA
1. Staff Activities Report through November, 2008
2. Financial Status Report through October, 2008
3. Actions to Implement the ¾ Cent Sales Tax
X. DISCUSSION/ACTION AGENDA ITEMS
1. Oath of Office for Councilwoman Julie Fulkerson and New Councilman Mike Morgan
2. Resolution 2008-24 Commending Mayor Chi-Wei Lin for his Service to the City of Trinidad
3. Election of Mayor and the Vice-Mayor
4. Discussion of the Appointment Process for Council Member Responsibilities and New Planning
Commissioners
5. Police Department Report on Marijuana Cultivation Arrests/Seizures in Trinidad
6. Second Reading and Consideration of Ordinance 2008-04 – Onsite Wastewater Treatment System (OWTS)
XI. COUNCIL or STAFF REQUESTS FOR FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS
XII. ADJOURNMENT

Transparency and Efficiency in our City Government - Mike for Mayor

Measure I Certified

Reference:

City of Trinidad Agenda .PDF

Efficiency and Goofiness - Out of Towners Speak-Up!

2008-12-03T09:35:00.000-08:00

I love all the goofiness of Trinidad too. Along with the crashing waves, buoy bells and fog horn, boats bobbing, wildlife and natural beauty, our political scenery is mostly idyllic. Not only do we have a great opportunity to make a difference in our City policies, we also have a great opportunity to create a shining example of self-government we will all be proud of.

Thank you for suggesting this timely topic. I believe we are mostly heading in the right direction. Our City Manger continues to be a huge, professional help moving us along. Our City Clerk is a priceless asset to our Town and lifestyle. Our Asst. City Clerk is showing initiative and a spirit of community volunteer involvement worthy of much praise. The rest of our City Staff continues to go beyond their job tasks and we are lucky to have them and all the volunteers that make Trinidad go. Does that mean there's no room for improvement?Clarification and simplification of Policies - the what-to-do and how-to-do it - along with clear job descriptions would seem to help. More ministerial approval of permits and such would seem to also help.

Whether you're a City resident or not, if you care about Trinidad, it's up to you to keep us on track. If there is a City of Trinidad Resident that doesn't appreciate Greater Area of Trinidad Residents, or anyone else who cares about Trinidad, participating in our government process, I don't know them.

emails:

Mike,
Though not a city resident, I call myself from Trinidad. My favorite city by far.
I've had hours of meetings,conversations,and interactions with both the Clerk and City Manager over the last year and I've run my own business for 25 years. The handwriting is on the wall:
The city clerk and manager need job descriptions and annual or semiannual performance reviews.

With all the goofiness that entails Trinidad (we love it!) the only way there is going to be efficiency in its government is thru instituted policy. Forget the tangents, there is not time!

I have recently seen awful mismanagement of a $230,000 grant occur over a period of three years. If it weren't so wasteful of taxpayer dollars one would have to just laugh. Policy, job descriptions, and performance reviews would have averted this and we'd have access to the building I just completed for the Museum.

Looking forward with hope,

-CN

Hi Mike,
Congratulations on the victory and good luck.
My wife Janine and I live .4 mile up Westhaven Drive. About ten years ago, we became aware that we were paying over 50% more on our monthly base water rate than those that live in town. When Janine asked Mr. Lin why, he said "because we can"
I sent him a letter expressing my view that it was unethical to charge more for a necessity when there is no extra cost involved to deliver the service, and as out-of-town residents, we could not even vote our opposition. I also told him that I understood the political reality of trying to equalize the rates at that time. But I was firm in the proposition that any future rate increases be made with the concept of equalizing the rates for all users rather than an flat increase across the board.. He acknowledged my point and said that he would keep it in mind the next time a water rate increase came into view.
I just wanted to inform you of not only our opposition to the current practice, but just about all of us up Westhaven Drive. The water has to pass our houses in order to get to town, so it is a shorter distance from the creek to here. Maybe we should even pay less. ;-)
Thanks for keeping us in mind even though we couldn't vote for you.
Yours truly,
TB

Thank you for participating and encouraging me - I could use a little of both right now lol. Please know I'm not participating in consensus-building - it doesn't mater if you can vote for me or not. If an idea has merit, it will eventually win anyway, and fairness is a favorable argument. I will begin researching where we are, and what's the current plan.

-Mike

Reference:

Post: Transparency and Efficiency in our City Government - Mike for Mayor

Measure I - Trinidad Sales Tax Certified

2008-12-02T12:36:00.000-08:00

For those of you who voted yes, thanks for your vote and confidence, and for helping us keep Trinidad running. For those of you who voted no, I would very much like to hear your reasons, provide a voice for those reasons to the Council, and work hard to gain your support and trust.

From City of Trinidad Clerk - (Gabe):

CERTIFICATION OF ELECTION
Tuesday, December 02, 2008

At issue was Measure I:
Shall a ¾% increase in the transaction and use tax in the City of Trinidad be approved for four years, starting on April 1, 2009?

THE FINAL RESULTS OF THE VOTES CAST IN PRECINCT 5T-1:

Number of ballots cast at the polls: 128
Yes: 68
No: 60

Total absentee ballots: 96
Yes: 49
No: 47

Number of provisional ballots: 0

TOTAL VOTES COUNTED: 224
YES: 117
NO: 107

I certify, under penalty of perjury, that the above records are a true and accurate accounting
of the election results.
 
Gabriel Adams
Trinidad City Clerk

Measure I has passed.

Economic Downturn - What Can I do?

2008-12-01T13:47:00.001-08:00

It's likely this economic downturn will not end quickly. What can we do to support our residents, friends, businesses, and local economy? The best thing we can do is keep doing what makes Trinidad the unique place it is. I look forward to learning what Federal and State relief may be available to Trinidad. My banker thinks that there is some small city help available.

Things we can do right now, and they're mostly free. Maybe smile a little more, wave a little harder, and look a little deeper for the good in people and opportunities around us. I've been wrestling with this Credit Crunch. I'm sure there are people in much more pain, and my heart goes out to struggling people everywhere. Even though it's financially gloomier than ever this year, I'm going to put a little extra effort into celebrating the holidays.

So continue to enjoy and appreciate all of our beautiful, free area attractions, support our local businesses as much as you can, invite people to Trinidad for the Holidays, volunteer a few extra hours to help less fortunate neighbors, and maybe make it a goal to meet a new Trinidad Resident for the New Year. Need a reason to smile? Look outside and smile knowing we live in the most beautiful place on earth. Best wishes for a prosperous New Year.

Affordable, Safe, Housing Development - Trinidad ADU Ordinance

2008-12-01T11:47:00.000-08:00

Were are we on this? As I remember, the Planning Commission got this over to the Council last January?

Here are links to the two documents sent from Planning.

I've asked our City Manager, Steve, to provide a timeline of where we are and what are the next milestones for this legislation. He agreed to speak with Planning and update the Council in his Staff report next meeting.

Memo

ADU Draft Ordinance

Eureka: "Secondary dwelling units provide housing for family members, students, the elderly, in-home health care providers, the disabled, and others, at below market prices within existing neighborhoods," the proposed amended ordinance reads. "Homeowners who create secondary dwelling units benefit from added income, and an increased sense of security."^[1]

Reference:

^1 Time-Standard, Mother-in-law units, visitors bureau funding on tap for council (WebCite archive)

Regulating Trinidad Vacation Rentals

2008-12-01T11:37:00.000-08:00

At our last Planning Commission Meeting, a resident brought up the fact that she has several vacation rentals she manages herself and only one business license. This perplexed most of us. Since then, I've been talking to our City Manager and our Assistant Clerk about our licensing for Vacation Rentals.

At the moment, seems to me it's should be like having dogs (property) and a dog walker (service). If I have three dogs, I need three licenses if I walk them myself. If I have three dogs and hire a dog walker, I need 3 licenses, and the dog walker needs 1 license for his business service.

Folks'ism aside, each property that is not my personal residence would need a license, a business which manages my properties would need a license. If I'm managing my licensed properties, I do not need a separate business license.

What do you think?

What if I have a room in my personal house that I rent out during the season like a Vacation Rental, do I need a license?

What do you think?

While I agree with Christine (see below) that the rental model for long term rentals is a good model for vacation rentals, vacation rentals have a substantially different impact and business model. Many residents believe they need different accountability. That being said, there is also the issue of having a non-personal residence be both a long-term rental in the off-season, and a vacation rental during the tourist season.

More comments please ...

Pot Grows in Trinidad - Land Use Policy

2008-11-30T22:58:00.001-08:00

Not a grow-house fire in Trinidad, but it could be.

Aracta Fire Department's response to their downtown fire was impressive - look at the size of that hose, and 3 streams too. I don't know the cause of this fire, but it illustrates a common fear here. With all of Chief Thrailkill's recent work, we seem to be catching up on our neighbors with the proportion of grow houses in Trinidad.

I look forward to Ken's reporting on this issue and researching it more myself. It is my understanding that if we don't have specific laws in Trinidad, they default to California State Laws. I'll find out and post the results here. In the mean-time, while I've supported lawful growing of cannabis, like any other lawful act, how do you feel about it? Arcata's Cannabis Standards, and Fortuna's Work seem like reasonable places to start. There is a good article in the November 25th issue of the Arcata Eye - by Kevin L. Hoover Vol. 13 No.8.

Online, I read a post that sums up a nice policy perspective we could implement right now.

"If you want to "save your neighborhood", actually meet up with your neighbors occasionally for a block party or something and organize a neighborhood watch." (anonymous, New York, NY -#21 June 3 2008). That's certainly seems better than suspicion, gossiping, spying on meters, and way better than illegally spray painting homes.

commenter idea:

"Or, landlords could capitalize on the growers. Advterise 215 friendly rentals, allready properly wired and constructed to handle and grow."

Smarter Than You, Redwood City, CA #14Sep 20, 2008^[1]

While we started exploring the dispensary issue here in Trinidad last week, McK had an interesting business proposition. According to the Time-Standard, "The Rose Center would provide growers with an environmentally secure facility that would be run in accordance with Proposition 215, Senate Bill 420 and the Attorney General's 2008 guidelines for medical marijuana cultivation." From the article, it seems this would be a medical marijuana growing collective and "The Rose Center was not designed to be a dispensary and medical marijuana would not be given to patients at the site..." The applicants seem to want to create a facility that allows Proposition 215 card-holding growers to cultivate "... more than they need for their own purposes ..." in a commercial space.

I need more education on this, because I was under the impression that 215 was only for growing / buying what you need for your medical condition. Seems like if you grow more than you need, or want to grow it to help those who cannot, or grow it as a non-profit or for-profit business, it would make sense to allow and regulate that with laws, zoning, licensing and appropriate taxing. I'm leaning more towards simplifying regulation of the industry and generating revenue, than spending money and time on investigation and enforcing complicated use laws. That being said, the laws need to be changed to allow this, and current laws need to be respected.

I continue to explore all sides of this, so please continue to comment ...

Reference:

Arcata Eye- Nov25, Council Adopts Cannibis Standards

^1 Topix.com comment

Times-Standard: McKinleyville 215 collective a no-go from the get-go (WebCite archive)

Transparency and Efficiency in our City Government - Mike for Mayor

2008-11-30T15:00:00.000-08:00

It's my intention to lead a change in the way we've been governing here - creating more faith, respect and pride in Trinidad's government.

As a City of Trinidad Councilmember-Elect, one of the first things I'd like to do is announce my personal Councilmember Blog. Through it, I seek to build new relationships while expanding existing ones. I'd like a new perspective and deeper understanding of Trinidad resident's issues and concerns as I refine my actions around them.

I will be sworn in at our December 10th meeting, at which time I will ask the current Councilmembers to vote for me as Mayor. With our new Council-Manager form of government, I see the primary, and mostly ceremonial, role of our Mayor as a chairman for our Council meetings. What are my qualifications? After serving as Planning Commission Chairman for the past few years, I've learned not only how to run meetings efficiently, but also how to fairly promote compromise in emotionally charged and divisive situations. I've been complimented on my diplomacy by many people on both "sides" of issues, and I would like to bring this leadership to our Council. Whether or not I'm elected, I commit to leading a new openness and transparency in our Council communications - one that is also more reflective of all of Trinidad's residents, not just those who agree with me. Our government works best as a representative team with diverse and sometimes opposing resident's opinions, compromise, and ownership of issues. Our Sales Tax compromise is indicative of this. That being said, it did not pass with a huge majority, which leads me to believe we need to reach out, encourage, and listen even more.

Cronyism can flourish with a lack of openness, transparency and insufficient accountability. While I'm not accusing any specific council member of cronyism, some residents have this perception. I don't want to be part of this perception. I sought out this position because I think it is unnecessary to continue the behind-the-scenes politicking and consensus decision-making that appears to have become such a part of our local government. This develops a clique mentality and its corresponding biased influence does not come close to my new hopes for Trinidad City government. In the past, when gathering signatures for requesting a new sales tax, I participated in this style of government. Working with the City Manager and Clerk about deadlines and requirements, I gathered a supportive group for the issue, and then presented it unbeknownst to most of the Council. What was accomplished by this? A stronger presentation? Maybe, but perhaps unnecessarily so. So how can I lead us away from this? Again, what are my qualifications? I sought this government position and I'm committed to improvement and change for the better. Many residents feel several members on the Council were "recruited" into their positions to promote a shift in power during some of our less proud political days. While I think these members have found stronger, more independent voices, that is the root and some would argue the continuing influence of their service. Of course they can choose to change too, and together we can evolve an even better, more transparent form of government. That being said, I remain grateful for and I respect the service of our Councilmembers, and especially of our Mayor, Chi-Wei Lin.

Where is this coming from? Recently, I've been included in email list circulations which make me uncomfortable. Those, and cautionary emails from our attorney about blogging, prompted me to create my very public Blog and a new commitment to Trinidad residents. Regarding non-confidential City political issues - I only want to correspond with people publicly - especially if those people are fellow Councilmembers or our City Staff. I will use this Blog, and this email address, or talk in public meetings - notwithstanding necessary closed sessions. I will save all correspondence on this blogger.com site and its associated Gmail site, and will maintain its public availability. So, no deleted emails, no exclusive group emails, no serialized emails or meetings, and no other gray area meetings at people's houses. Transparent communication. This concept also means more efficiency in problem-solving by gathering resident's input in a new, more organized and well documented way.

What if you don't want to use these routes? Most likely, I will send you to our City Manager, Steve Albright, first. If unresolved, I'll suggest that you present your issue to the Council. Requests to bend my ear and give advice won't be brushed aside, but I will encourage everyone to write it down, make it public, and to own it. I'm excited to see what happens, and look forward to jumping in with both feet and my whole heart on December 10th. Hope to see you there.

Measure I Certified

Efficency and Goofiness - Out of Towners Speak-up!

References:
Wikipedia.org Council-Manager

Times-Standard.com - "Council Pledges Public Safety First If Sales Tax Passes (webCite version)

Public Blawg - Changes to the Brown Act 7-08

Wikipedia.org - Brown Act