Issues with Answers

By David Castaldo

We have to accept the fact that in Beaumont, we are using more water than is being replenished in our aquifer. It is true that the rapid development of our community has increased our water demand, but with development has also come the building of retention ponds and other high-tech methods of capturing rain run-off. I am not being Chicken Little and claim "the sky is falling" or the next drop of water may be our last. We indeed have plenty of water to last several decades and probably more. What we need now is a comprehensive and joint agreement with Beaumont Cherry Valley Water District to solve this problem. And to create such an agreement requires joint public meetings between the Beaumont City Council and the Directors of the Beaumont Cherry Valley Water District. Our city needs to unite as a whole and solve this problem. Only as a whole, will we have a greater opportunity for County, State, and Federal assistance to help capture and store even more rain run-off. And I stress OPEN and PUBLIC meetings, no behind the scenes paper shoveling and finger pointing. It is not about the egos of any one person or group, but "It is all about the People." The People and our children deserve to have an adequate supply of water in the future.

Use of Recycled Water

The City of Beaumont and the Beaumont Cherry Valley Water District have planned and built a vast network of recycled non-potable water infrastructure. The recycled water is planned for irrigation at golf courses and parks, and is hoped to replace precious and expensive drinking water. Unfortunately, our community has not taken advantage of this system. The City and the District need to meet in public and face to face to resolve this problem. It is all about the People.

Water Conservation and Responsible Planning

There are some people in our community that believe and thus advocate a no-growth position to solve our water usage problems. I am compassionate of their need to conserve water. However, I would like to offer some alternative methods to accomplice the same thing. The City staff has done a great, if not fantastic job of creating Community Finance Districts (CFD's). Maybe a CFD may not be the correct tool, but we need to create Landscaping Finance Districts to replace existing high water usage areas into low water usage areas. If we can get 200 water users, that consume over 5,000 gallons of water per month for irrigation, to convert to a zero water usage landscape or lawn, we will have saved over 1,000,000 gallons per month. For new housing developments, the City could require a zero or extremely low water usage landscaping. No longer will Developers be allowed to install sprinkler systems and sod, but must install artificial lawns and drought-tolerant plants instead. The entire Pass area will benefit. It is all about the People.

Planning Commission

Simply stated the Commission needs power and more control. Presently, if the Commissioners find that a project meets the required parameters of the City's development code; they are obligated to vote for approval. They are handcuffed by rules. I say take off these handcuffs and let these Public servants exercise their judgment. I proudly served on the Beaumont Planning Commission for four years during the City's largest growth period. I thought it was my duty to my community to be fully prepared for each meeting. However, I was informed by the City's legal counsel that I could not do research on my own before a meeting. I was told that I am like a courtroom judge, I need to be impartial and only consider the information presented at hearing. I propose changing the rule similar to California Civil Code of Procedure 116.520(c), which allows a judge to investigate on his own without notice to parties. This way Commissioners can personally visit the sites where development is planned, rather than rely on Developers' photographs or presentations. The Commissioners also need more latitude on deciding individual resident's requests.

All of the Planning Commissioners are great people. They want to serve our community; and decide what is best for our City. But they need the tools to do the job right. They need the handcuffs removed.

Another problem that I encountered as a Planning Commissioner is once we approve a project, we were done with it. Things may not get done as the Commission envisioned, or that way of doing something wasn't the best idea. Nobody is perfect, and not all plans are perfect. I propose on large residential and commercial developments, that the Planning Commission should have some control of the project throughout its development; and conduct a public hearing upon completion. Now, the Commission will have authority, and the people will be represented. It is all about the people.

Municipal Swimming Pool Access for All Children

A small inequity exists in our Community Services Department (CSD). Bob Sherwood has done a great job as director. Our children have a great after school program. This summer's Concerts in the Park were a huge success. People came from all over Southern California to attend these events. I attended one myself. Local and Regional newspapers printed great reviews.

Just a little bit to the left of the stage of the concerts is our Plunge pool. And during the day if little Mary or Johnny want to go swimming, she or he will have to pay $1.50 to swim, if under age 10. A $1.50 may not seem like a lot to pay, but to families that don't have that $1.50 to spend, it is a lot. This may probably be the same Mary or Johnny that gets a free lunch at school, because their family has hit tough times. If our City has the ability to provide FREE concerts for people that don't live in our community, then surely we can figure a way to provide a handful of kids a free swim. It is the right thing to do. It is all about the children.

Door to Door Leaflet Control

Three days cannot pass without someone leaving a leaflet stuck on my door, or a business card with 5 small rocks in a plastic baggy on my driveway. It irks me to no end knowing that some strange person that I do not know has visited my home purposely knowing that I am not present. At the very least, I am compelled to pick up and dispose of this litter. I do look at each piece of advertisement, and it is almost always a business from another area with the only contact by cell phone. If it is a real and established business, I almost guarantee they don't have a Beaumont City business license. Except for non-profits, churches, service clubs, political advertisements, etc., these businesses should have a City issued permit and business license or be cited and fined. The permit should list the identity of the people going door to door to our homes when we are not present. At least now we will know who is visiting our homes.

And, Beaumont's finest will have cause and reason to request identification from these uninvited guests roaming our neighborhoods and "casing-out" our homes. It is all about protecting our neighborhoods.

Help Local Businesses

Our local businesses, the mom and pop stores, and sole proprietorships need help. In fact, in these tough economic times they need a lot of help. Being a business owner myself, I know how hard it is to get a customer. Our local businesses need help attracting customers. Customers need to get to our local businesses. I propose that we re-examine the need for bicycle lanes in commercial areas. I agree that bicycle lanes are good and needed, but I do not believe they are in the best interest to our local businesses. Maybe they can be re-routed. Many businesses lost their on-street parking when the bicycle lanes were established. Many businesses rely on the availability of on-street parking. Drive throughout Beaumont, and you will notice bicycle lanes throughout our commercial districts. And take notice, when you drive on 6th Street in front of our City Offices, there is no bicycle lane. It just seems wrong that many local businesses cannot have on-street parking, but the government can. It is all about the People.

Stimulate Established Beaumont Businesses

A while back when new construction in Beaumont dropped like a ten pound sledgehammer, the Council created a policy of reducing some fees for contractors and developers. Their desire was to create at least some new construction. And it probably did.

The backbone of our City is the established small mom and pop operations that exist in our Community. The ones the Joe and Jill and Mike and Jose and Karen own. These people have been through the tough times and the good times and now the tough times again. Small business owners are plagued with rules, regulations, codes, ordinances and many other types of government controls. I think that during these tough times, many of these owners need some relief, and that the City can assist. The city can allow extra time for curb and gutter requirements, or block walls. Small business owners need to concentrate on running their business so that can generate needed cash to pay for these improvements. It is not my intention to forgo certain requirements, but to work with local small business owners to nourish a successful business district. It is all about helping our city's businesses.

Improve Downtown District

Many other cities such as Redlands, Yucaipa, San Jacinto, and Temecula have revitalized their downtown areas. Beaumont needs to join that list. The City has created a Downtown plan to put life back into this area. However, because of some unfortunate bickering, the plan was not formally adopted and put in to action. We need to take another look at this plan, resolve our differences, and move forward. The citizens of Beaumont deserve a great downtown district. It is all about the People.

Promote Our Police Department

We have the best Police Department in California. We owe our thanks to the present City Council Members and those of the past. They have provided our community with one of the officer per resident ratios in California. The average Beaumont citizen does not know of that fact; and neither does the bad guys. The freeways surrounding Beaumont are covered with billboards. We need to create an advertising program that lets the bad guys realize "more cops, higher chance of getting caught". I say "Stop crime before it gets here". Remember, the best defense is a great offense. Just maybe the bad guys will stay on the freeway and just keep going down the road, to a place like Arizona. I understand that Maricopa County Sheriff Joe Arpaio has some job openings. It is all about protecting the People.

Protect Our Children

As I stated before the City of Beaumont has the best Police force. I would like to see a greater police presence at and around our schools as our children travel to and from school. More police officers means automobile drivers will be more careful, and maybe a child abductor will think twice before kidnapping a child. We have a strong police force; we need to take advantage of our resources. It is all about protecting our children.

Anthony Martinez Memorial

On a very sad day of April 4, 1997 a 10 year Beaumont boy was abducted, tortured, and murdered by a monster named Joseph Duncan. Anthony was found 16 days later. For 16 days, everyone in Beaumont had just one mission: find Anthony. Our community came together and acted as a whole. Later, the City Council created an afternoon program for school age children to create a safe haven and fun atmosphere for the children of working parents. This fine program still exists today. The days following Anthony's abduction, parents and children were warned of the dangers posed by strangers. Since that sad day, there have been several attempted abductions, but with the good grace of God, none of our children have been abducted.

Several years ago, when they City Council reviewed plans for the new community center, I spoke to the council in open forum, of the possibly of naming the new center in honor of Anthony Martinez. Unfortunately, the City Council chose a different name. As our community grows and more families make Beaumont their new home, the memory of Anthony Martinez is slowing fading into history.

I feel that we need to honor Anthony by the naming of a park or public building, or an actual memorial. We all need to be reminded of how precious the lives of children are, and the horrible people that can change the life of a child in a second. We need a dedicated memorial in honor of Anthony, to help remind us of the circumstances of his passing. And then just maybe, his unfortunate death just may save someone's child. It is all about the People.

Promote Family Oriented Businesses

I congratulate the present City Council for finally dismissing the issue of Medical Marijuana dispensaries in our City. I am glad to see that Beaumont will not sell its dignity for a mere $1000.00 per day. I do not want to debate the medical uses of marijuana. But if marijuana is to be treated as a medical drug, then it should be dispensed like all medical drugs -- by a pharmacist. And if "medical" marijuana dispensaries need to exist, I feel that they should exist somewhere else, but not in Beaumont. It is very sad that the present City Council even considered and debated this issue. The next time the City Council discusses medical marijuana dispensaries, it should be to prohibit them in our City entirely. It is all about our families.

Allow Council Meetings to be Video Taped or Broadcasted

Council meetings are not visually recorded or broadcasted. Several years ago, a small group wanted to visually record all Council meetings and then post on the internet. The then City Council prohibited the visual recording, citing that it may disrupt the meetings from speakers "grandstanding" on certain matters. Presently, all meetings are orally recorded on discs. These oral recordings are public record and are readily available for listening. I think that the matter is worth a second look. I feel that citizens should be able to see our City Council at work if they are not able to attend meetings. Depending on the cost to taxpayers, as a Council member it would not bother me if the meetings were visually recorded. It is all about the People.

Promote Increased After School Activities and

Good Citizenship for Our Children

Today, many children are growing up not knowing and understanding the value of good citizenship. The City of Beaumont has and supports an excellent after school program at the Community Center. It is one of the best programs that I know of. However, not all children travel to the Community Center after school. The Beaumont Cherry Valley Rotary Club through the leadership of member Steve Leach, sponsors an after school program called Earlyact at several elementary schools. The Earlyact Clubs meet one day every other week. Earlyactors are taught Rotary International's five avenues of service: community service, international service, club service, vocational service, and new generation service (previously known as youth service). It has been proven that children, who develop good citizenship skills early in life, grow up to become assets to their community.

I feel that if the City can provide several free concerts every summer, maybe we can find a way to support our youngsters that want to be good little citizens. Although I am a member of the Beaumont Cherry Valley Rotary Club, the club has very limited resources, and even more limited personal. The support would go directly to help the kids. The Earlyact programs involve several hundred children and benefits countless others in the City. I could live with one less summer concert if it meant supporting these great kids. The kids need our support. It is all about the children.