City of Fillmore

FILLMORE CITY COUNCIL
TUESDAY, JANUARY 26, 2010
REGULAR MEETING
CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS
6:30 P.M.
FILLMORE CITY HALL
CENTRAL PARK PLAZA
250 CENTRAL AVENUE
FILLMORE, CALIFORNIA 93015-1907

AGENDA
ITEM
REFERENCE
1.
CALL TO ORDER & PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE
Oral
2.
APPROVAL OF AGENDA CONTINUED »

Since President Barack Obama was sworn into office, the U.S. economy has shed 3.4 million jobs and the unemployment rate has risen to 10%. But not all sectors of the economy have been suffering equally. In fact, the sector of the economy most supportive of President Obama has not only avoided contraction, but has actually managed to grow instead.

According to a report released by the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) last Friday, in 2009 the number of federal, state and local government employees represented by unions actually rose by 64,000. Coupled with union losses in the private sector economy, 2009 became the first year in American history that a majority of American union members work for the government. Specifically, 52% of all union members now work for the federal, state or local government, up from 49% in 2008. Or, to better illustrate these statistics: three times more union members work in the Post Office than in the auto industry.

So what? Why should Americans care if unions are... http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/25/morning-bell-government-unions-win-y...

by Charley Reese

Politicians are the only people in the world who create problems and then campaign against them.

Have you ever wondered why, if both the Democrats and the Republicans are against deficits, we have deficits?

Have you ever wondered why, if all the politicians are against inflation and high taxes, we have inflation and high taxes?

You and I don't propose a federal budget. The president does. You and I don't... http://www.lewrockwell.com/reese/reese494.html

By Patrick J. Buchanan

About the first decade of what was to be the Second American Century, the pessimists have been proven right.

According to the International Monetary Fund, the United States began the century producing 32 percent of the world’s gross domestic product. We ended the decade producing 24 percent. No nation in modern history, save for the late Soviet Union, has seen so precipitous a decline in relative power in a single decade.

The United States began the century with a... http://buchanan.org/blog/a-decade-of-self-delusion-3321

Arnold Schwarzenegger
California State Governor

In response to a series of powerful winter storms moving through California this week, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger today directed his departments and agencies to take action to prepare and respond to the needs of affected Californians. The storms are expected to bring high winds and heavy rain in some areas. Southern California could see three to six inches of rain for coastal and valley areas and as much as 10 inches in some mountain locations. Northern California could see even more rain, with forecasts of 10 to 20 inches of rain for coastal mountains and eight to 15 inches for inland valley and foothills.

"My Administration continues to monitor the situation statewide and they are prepared to support local response efforts and protect the lives and property of Californians," said Governor Schwarzenegger. "We must work together to prepare for and remain safe throughout these storms. I encourage everyone, especially those living around burn areas that have resulted from recent fires, to monitor the latest weather information and follow instructions given by local authorities."

In preparation for the incoming storms, local agencies have taken actions such as prepositioning resources and closing roads ahead of the storms to ensure the safety of residents near the Station Fire burn area in Southern California.

State agencies have also prepared for the potential for weather-related emergencies such as flooding, mudslides and road closures. The following actions have been taken:
• The California Emergency Management Agency (Cal EMA) continues to monitor the weather closely and will continue to hold conference calls with key state agencies as major storm events move through the state. Cal EMA is on 24-hour standby to open their Inland Region, Coastal Region and Southern Region emergency operation centers and the state's main coordination facility in Sacramento if needed. Additionally, 13 Cal EMA supported swift water rescue teams stand ready to deploy.
• The Department of Water Resources has CONTINUED »

It is with great sorrow that Sen. George Runner announced today the passing of his longtime Chief-of-Staff Will Smith.

Smith, 41, was playing his favorite sport of basketball when he collapsed.

He was given immediate CPR followed by a vigorous attempt by paramedics and then all possible efforts by the team at Sutter General.

He died because they couldn't get his heart rhythms under control, according to his wife, Anissa Smith.

"We are devastated but we rejoice knowing that Will is home with Jesus at this very moment," Anissa Smith said in an email. "He lived his life on earth for Christ and now he will spend his eternity with Him. They don't know why this happened and hopefully the autopsy will help to give us some answers, we only know the Lord called him home. The kids and I greatly appreciate your prayers."

Smith was a longtime Capitol staffer, beginning his career as a CONTINUED »

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

The best and worst legislation of 2009

Dear Friends:

Happy New Years! I hope this note finds you and your family blessed and doing well.

The past year was one of the toughest in recent memory thanks to a battered economy and record unemployment leading the news. Let’s hope 2010 is the start of better economic times (my prescription for healing the financial health is to remove government as an obstacle to entrepreneurs and small business owners, both of whom create jobs and opportunities for our communities).

Looking at 2009 in the rearview mirror, we saw legislation here in Sacramento that increased taxes on California families and small business, another one that intruded on our 2nd Amendment rights, and a bill that gave a ‘70s San Francisco activist – who is obscure to most Californians – a day of remembrance ala Harvey Milk Day.

Of course, there were a host of other bills – good and bad – that were introduced, including some that became law last week. We listed a few of them here for your reading enjoyment.

The New Year also saw Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger giving his CONTINUED »

The labour force contracted by 661,000. This did not show up in the headline jobless rate because so many Americans dropped out of the system. The broad U6 category of unemployment rose to 17.3pc. That is the one that matters.

Wall Street rallied. Bulls hope that weak jobs data will... http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/comment/ambroseevans_pritchard/696263...

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today issued the following statements in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s annual State of the State address:

On Job creation:
“The Governor hit the nail on the head when he said job creation is California’s number one priority. Unfortunately, he rests too much hope on creating ‘green’ jobs, which do nothing to help the majority of employers or the unemployed. He should focus more on removing the burdensome hurdles created by government.

“The Governor must keep in mind that government does not create jobs; small business owners and entrepreneurs do.”

On Prison spending

“When the Governor compared prison spending to higher education spending, he fudged the numbers. California budgeted $9.8 billion on prisons this year, while budgeting $13 billion on higher education – a figure that does not include private grant funds. Furthermore, if we really want to significantly reduce prison spending, removing the federal receiver is the first step we should take.”

On seeking federal aide:
“It’s no secret that California taxpayers receive a poor return on investment from the billions of dollars we send to Washington DC. So we are not asking for a federal handout as much as we are seeking a more equitable redistribution of taxpayers’ dollars.”

“I would be encouraged to see an easing of federal payroll tax rules to encourage job growth in California.”

On the Governor’s Tax Commission:

“The Legislature needs to examine the tax structure, but creating a hidden tax on businesses is not the answer. In fact, creating more hurdles for California business and entrepreneurs would be a death knell to our already ailing economy. Whatever we do, we must avoid creating more obstacles for job creation.”

On pension reform:

“We should honor the pension programs we have in place but we should reform the plans of future state employees – keeping in mind that people live and work longer. If we don’t work together now, California is going to be in a world of hurt in the next decade."

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R- Antelope Valley) today issued the following statements in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s 2010-11 budget plan:

“The Governor is on the right track by looking inward for solutions to California’s budget problems instead of going after the wallets of already-burdened taxpayers.

“I especially support the Governor’s proposal to remove the federal receiver – whose presence in state affairs is unconstitutional – from our prison system to help lower prison costs.

“These internal decisions will be difficult to put into play, but with the state facing a $20 billion deficit living within our means is critical and every program deserves scrutiny.

“It’s time for the Legislature and the Governor to roll up our sleeves and make sure taxpayers are receiving the best value for the money they send to Sacramento.”

(Thousand Oaks, CA) - “I am encouraged to see the Governor’s 2010-11 budget proposal includes no new taxes on California’s working families and struggling businesses. With the state facing a $20 billion deficit in the next 18 months the Governor and Legislature must take action now. There are no easy choices, but waiting will only make it more painful for the people we serve. We must focus on bringing jobs to California to grow our economy and lead us out of our perpetual budget deficit.”

Tony Strickland represents California Senate District 19, which includes portions of Los Angeles, Ventura, and Santa Barbara counties.

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

State Senator George Runner (R- Antelope Valley) and Cameron Smyth (R- Santa Clarita) announced that they will host a legislative hearing on the impact of regulations on local businesses.

In the wake of a study released last year that concluded that the cost of regulation on California businesses is nearly $500 billion annually, and with unemployment at record high levels, the overregulation of businesses is likely one primary cause of the state’s lagging economy and high unemployment rates.

Printable Flyer: http://cssrc.us/web/17/pubs/100115_flyer.pdf

When:
8am-9am on Friday, January 15, 2010

Where:
Santa Clarita City Council Chambers
Santa Clarita City Hall
23920 Valencia Blvd.
Santa Clarita, CA 91355

For more information call: (661) 286-1471

The Democratic Party was shaken to its core on Tuesday when Sen. Chris Dodd (D-CT), Sen. Byron Dorgan (D-ND) and Gov. Bill Ritter (D-CO) announced they would not run for re-election in 2010, all on the same day. The source of these Democrats’ fears in facing the American people at the polls is no secret: the American people believe the state of the economy is poor and getting worse. Responding to this dismal environment, Sen. Ben Nelson (D-NE) told the Fremont Tribune on Tuesday: “I think it was a mistake to take health care on as opposed to continuing to spend the time on the economy.” While we agree with Nelson that President Barack Obama’s health care priorities have been grossly misplaced, we shudder to think what more “time on the economy” would have meant from this White House.

Just last month in a speech to The Brookings Institution, President Obama outlined... http://blog.heritage.org/2010/01/07/morning-bell-why-the-stimulus-failed...

For the past several years, STRATFOR has published an annual forecast on al Qaeda and the jihadist movement. Since our first jihadist forecast in January 2006, we have focused heavily on the devolution of jihadism from a phenomenon primarily involving the core al Qaeda group to one based mainly on the wider jihadist movement and the devolving, decentralized threat it poses.

The central theme of last year’s forecast was that al Qaeda was an important force on the ideological battlefield, but that the efforts of the United States and its allies had marginalized the group on the physical battlefield and kept it bottled up in a limited geographic area. Because of this, we forecast that the most significant threat in terms of physical attacks stemmed from regional jihadist franchises and grassroots operatives and not the al Qaeda core. We also wrote that we believed the threat posed by such attacks would remain tactical and not rise to the level of a strategic threat. To reflect this reality, we even dropped al Qaeda from the title of our annual forecast and simply named it Jihadism in 2009: The Trends Continue.

The past year proved to be very busy in terms of attacks and... http://www.stratfor.com/weekly/20100106_jihadism_2010_threat_continues?u...

Senator George Runner
Serving the 17th District which incorporates portions of the Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Ventura and Kern counties.

SACRAMENTO – Sen. George Runner (R-Antelope Valley) today issued the following statements in response to Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger’s annual State of the State address:

On Job creation:
“The Governor hit the nail on the head when he said job creation is California’s number one priority. Unfortunately, he rests too much hope on creating ‘green’ jobs, which do nothing to help the majority of employers or the unemployed. He should focus more on removing the burdensome hurdles created by government.

“The Governor must keep in mind that government does not create jobs; small business owners and entrepreneurs do.”

On Prison spending: CONTINUED »

We were in Chicago on Thurs. for a trade show and were leaving town just as B.O. was arriving and got into a terrible traffic jam. I haven't seen this on the nightly news on any of the networks. Right in Obama's back yard!! I'm more proud of the folks in the windy city than I thought was ever possible! By the way, I didn't see ABC, CBS, NBC, CNN, MSNBC covering this - did you? Wonder why... http://americangrandjury.org/obama-visits-chicago-the-home-crowd-wasnt-i...