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<br />Mr. Seth Armstead, 11857 Mt. Vernon Avenue, stated he is a representative of the County Service Area No. 70,
<br />who are working with the City on this regional sewer project, and he can sympathize with the Council in having
<br />to face these fiscal responsibilities to run the City.
<br />Mr. Armstead continued, however, that he is also very concerned about these utility rate increases and he is
<br />hopeful that when Grand Terrace does connect to the sewer line, the funds received will be properly directed
<br />so that everyone, both Grand Terrace and the City of Colton, will share equally in the responsibilities for
<br />these services. Mr. Armstead concluded they are asking for an outside audit on the sewer rates and system.
<br />Mrs. Esther Parkison, 1005 Florence Avenue, stated she has received reliable information that the average
<br />monthly income in the City of Colton is $550, and this would make it very difficult for these people to get by
<br />with this increase in the utility rates.
<br />Mrs. Parkison suggested that the City consider having only one refuse pick up per week.
<br />Mr. E. H. Robinson, 145 East G Street, spoke in opposition to the utility rate increases, and suggested the City
<br />tighten their belts a little bit more and trim the budget.
<br />Mr. Mel Linn, 11798 Kingston, stated there was a similar problem in his neighborhood in Grand Terrace in reducing
<br />the refuse pick up to only once per week, however, it has worked out very well, everyone seems to be happy, and
<br />there have been no problems involved with the service.
<br />Mr. Joseph Lopez, 192 West K Street, spoke against the increase in the utility rates and stated that the budget for
<br />the City of Colton is way too high for a city of our size, compared to other cities in the surrounding areas. Mr.
<br />Lopez said that Colton has become top-heavy, and he felt that the budget should be modified. Mr. Lopez concluded
<br />that the older people and those on a fixed income are the ones that will suffer from this utility rate increase.
<br />Mayor Beltran addressed the audience with regard to the City's utility operations, including the Electric Utility,
<br />the functions and services of the Police Department and the Paramedics with the Fire Department, and other services
<br />that are offered to the citizens of the community.
<br />Mayor Beltran reiterated that if the City is to continue functioning as they have in the past, to be able to offer
<br />and provide our citizens with these same services, the Council has no choice but to raise the utility rates or it
<br />will not be too long and the City will be operating in the red.
<br />Mayor Beltran discussed the Budget Sessions that the Council members and Staff have been going through, both the
<br />Preliminary and Final, and stated they are still holding Budget Sessions and have not yet approved the Final Budget.
<br />Mayor Beltran stated the Council members and Staff have taken a long, hard look at the Budget and it has been
<br />trimmed and cut wherever possible and necessary, and the City is well aware of the cost for services that are
<br />provided, however, at this point something has to be done if the City is going to continue functioning at all.
<br />Councilman Gonzales stated that he understands very well how the citizens feel as he is a taxpayer also, however,
<br />the City is now in a position where we have no choice but to increase these utility rates to keep going.
<br />Mayor Beltran asked if anyone had additional comments to make.
<br />Moved by Councilman Gonzales, seconded by Councilman Hayes, to approve Resolution No. 3608. Motion carried, with
<br />Councilman Rehrer voting NO.
<br />RESOLUTION NO. 3608 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLTON, ADOPTING
<br />WATER RATES AND CHARGES.
<br />Moved by Councilman Gonzales, seconded by Councilwoman Cisneros, to approve Resolution No. 3609. Motion carried,
<br />with Councilman Rehrer voting NO.
<br />RESOLUTION NO. 3609 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLTON, AMENDING
<br />RESOLUTION NO. 31195 AMENDING SCHEDULE FOR SEWER SERVICE.
<br />Councilman Gonzales moved that in lieu of a refuse collection rate increase, the service be reduced to once a week
<br />pick up, one man operation with no alley pick ups.
<br />Motion died for lack of a second.
<br />Moved by Councilman Gonzales, seconded by Mayor Beltran, to approve Resolution No. 3610. Motion carried, with
<br />Councilman Rehrer voting NO.
<br />RESOLUTION NO. 3610 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF COLTON, AMENDING
<br />RESOLUTION NO. 3436, AMENDING SCHEDULE FOR REFUSE COLLECTION RATES.
<br />Transportation
<br />SB 325 Claim
<br />Mr. Huffaker reported from his memorandum regarding the funding to be provided for bus service in the City of
<br />Colton for the 1976-77 fiscal year through SB 325 monies.
<br />Mr. Huffaker advised that Colton's total entitlement of funds amounts to $154,707, with OMNITRANS receiving $108,707;
<br />SCAG, $464; and SANBAG, $3,686, which will leave $41,669 for local street and road construction by the City.
<br />Mr. Huffaker recommended that the proposed Resolution, allocating these monies for transit services for the City of
<br />Colton for the 1976-77 fiscal year, be approved.
<br />Moved by Councilwoman Cisneros, seconded by Councilman Gonzales, to approve Resolution No. 3616. Vote was unanimous.
<br />RESOLUTION NO.
<br />3616 - A RESOLUTION OF THE CITY OF COLTON OF THE SAN BERNARDINO COUNTY;
<br />STATE OF CALIFORNIA, AUTHORIZING THE SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSOCIA-
<br />TION OF GOVERNMENTS (SCAG) TO ALLOCATE SB -325 FUNDS TO OMNITRANS
<br />FOR TRANSIT SERVICES.
<br />Police
<br />Animal Control
<br />Mr. Huffaker reviewed his memorandum regarding an agreement between the City of San Bernardino and the City of
<br />Colton for animal shelter services and use of the facility, which indicates an increase in costs for these services.
<br />Mr. Huffaker also referred to a memorandum dated July 2, 1976, from Police Chief Phil Elliott, outlining the fees
<br />charged by the San Bernardino Pound for services rendered showing the increase in the fees for 1976.
<br />JUL 61976
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