FONT SIZE
Email this
Print this
POST A COMMENT
First City Council meeting of the year
Light agenda (at this point, as always, subject to change) for new council members Jackie Farra and John Lynn’s first working meeting, Monday, Jan. 11, 2010, 6 p.m. at the Convention Center. Highlight: Ken Lanfear, Roundabout projects (the actual roundabout, sidewalks and lighting) update.
This entry was posted
on Thursday, January 7th, 2010 at 1:26 pm and is filed under North Coast News.
You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed.
Both comments and pings are currently closed.
This coming Monday, 6 p.m., Convention Center.
The next city council meeting is when?
Thank you, Gary. Unfortunately, it does look like it will happen, he was given two weeks notice last week. We loved this community and he enjoyed serving it the last three years.
Molly, I am so sorry. Politics SUCK. I don’t know you or your husband, but I think I know who he is. I so hope this does not happen. It’s like WTF. I wish there was something I could do to help.
Yes, they have names. The one being laid off is my husband, Officer Phil High. Up until last Tuesday, I thought we would stay in Ocean Shores forever. This town is losing more than just an officer.
Do these people have names? Then we know which personnel are leaving. The Police web site used to show their names and pictures so you knew who they were. Now we have a group photo without knowing who is still with us or not.
Same with the Fire Department.
Patty, I heard one officer is being laid off and one long time sergeant not being replaced.
Not yet verified.
Hi Gary,
Actually, someone told me about the layoff in the IGA. They didn’t know the other one was retiring, just said he was leaving on his own accord. I don’t know if the one they were referring to is the one retiring, maybe there is another one leaving?
Sorry, rumors only on my part.
Patty
Hey there Patty, how did this get started on the police?
I just heard this morning, and I am related.
It blows me away to think that one officer and a retiring sergeant will not be replaced.
Maybe if we sold some of the property then we could pay the portion of the grant for the roundabout and it would not get put upon the citizens. Then other things could be afforded out of the general fund, such as police officers and firefighters.
“There must be some scheduled capital improvements set for this year.”
I surely hope not. I don’t think the city can stand any more “improvements”.
If it is Utility Expenses, then it comes from the Utility. Just watch the future Ambulance Utility. It will be the thing that will go beyond one year to buy equipment and build the EMS service on the back of the 4000 homeowners here. It will be beyond the voter and similar to the Water and Sewer Utility. Catch that word, Utility. When the legislature allows Road Utilities we will see the same happen for the roads. Separate entities beyond the reach of voters. Only the Council that currently has a “Father knows best” attitude will control it. Past track records show “Father” Councils have gotten us into the mess we are in. Spending like drunken sailors, building grandious buildings beyond the needs, and poor open public discussions when private one by one discussions work just as well. What happened to open government? “Do not confuse me with the facts when our minds are already made up” should be the new city motto. Oh, it already is.
deadin,
There must be some scheduled capital improvments set for this year. Why can’t they sell property, use that money for the capital improvement, and channel the unused general fund money to help the people who have dedicated their lives to helping, protecting and saving ours? Fire and Police…
Patty
Taking away the mayor would give back two cops to the citizens of Ocean Shores.
“I say sell of some of the property”
The problem with this is similar to the “tourist tax”.
State law says that money raised from property sale can only be used for capital improvement. What the city needs is operating money.
They should have sold parts of the Weatherwax before contracting for the new fire station, then that money could have been used to build it. Now it’s too late. Can’t use that kind of money to pay off a debt.
It is not about spending and how they can be paid, for this Mayor. He ran his whole campaign on cutting staff and basically union busting. This is exactly what he is doing now. The people of this city are going to get exactly what they paid for, minimal service. To all of the police, fire and city employees I certainly hope you don’t have to deal with all of the people in this city complaining when they have to wait because of the cuts that this selfish one track minded mayor has done. I agree with Ms. Baker, lets sell off some of that useless property that the city is sitting on.
It’s tough for sure. All I know is non-critical capital spending MUST stop. If it isn’t mandatory, we shouldn’t do it. The city employees (the ones that remain anyway) are paying a very large part of the current bill.
I say sell of some of the property the city owns and is sitting on. There are parts of the “wonderful” weatherwax that are not even close to a natural habitat. Sell that junk off. There are quite a few additional properties that could be sold too.
Just because we get a grant doesn’t mean we have to use it, especially if there is a matching portion. Can anyone say “round-about”? lol
I see your point but if we are going to maintain a larger Police Department we are going to have to give something else up. Any suggestions for what should be next? Keep in mind they’ve already gutted the library and interpretive center. I don’t see higher taxes as even being on the table, especially after the individual cost of the street lid is figured out and billed to the property owners.
It’s easy to say we need this or that, but figuring out how to pay for it is what nobody seems to want to address.
Hi deanin,
I understand and mostly agree. One or two little problems though, 2 of our 10 are administration and don’t do much if any patrol and there is no source for a part time force.
Having the tourist trade pay their share is a wonderful plan but the only revenue possibility that I see is the hotel/motel tax but the state resuses to allow it’s use for anything but advertising for more tourists. (or so I’m told).
Also, almost every weekend is tourist season here, admittedly not a much as summer but still quite a bit of an increase.
It’s very hard to provide 24/7 2 person coverage with 8 officers.
Patty
“To adequately protect us”
That’s an interesting concept. What is adequate?
To some (the really paranoid) it would be a cop in front of their house at all times. To others, not so much. We only have so much money so a happy medium has to be found. If we cut back and the crime rate rises significantly, then maybe we need to add back on.
The national average for police to people is 1 to 500, so 10 would be about right for our population. However, during the tourist season, the population rises significantly, so wouldn’t it be prudent to have a part time force or have those that significantly prosper from the tourist trade foot more of the bill?
I’m surprised they aren’t going to talk about our law enforcement situation. When I moved here there were 14 officers including the chief and deputy chief.
Now there are going to be only 10. This could be a rough ride. If those cops work all the overtime necessary to adequately protect us, they will be the walking dead.
I just don’t see the savings in this process. Maybe there is a little, but if you lay one off it takes 1.5 time that person’s pay to replace him or her on the street. Now they have laid off 3 cops, the animal control officer and a clerk. I also hear one of the guys is leaving on his own, probably because it’s so nice to be appreciated. I guess they save the benefits but they will wear out our cops and someone is going to get hurt.
Since it seems to be open season on cops in washington state anyway, this looks like a disaster waiting to happen.
I think I’m going to pack up and move to the east coast where cops are plentiful and appreciated by the people they serve and protect. You certainly don’t care about them here. I see it in the comments and attitude presented here and elsewhere.
We have a great EMS/Fire group here but who do you think protects them when things go bad?
The next time you need a cop, don’t get angry when it takes a few extra minutes for them to show up. Just like Toyota used to say: “You asked for, you got it!”
Good luck everyone, I’m outa here!