VoSD Train Stop at Fairgrounds Lurches Closer to Reality, Again
Reestablishing a rail platform at the rear of the fairground’s west parking lot, from which fairground event attendees can easily walk from Amtrak and Coaster trains directly into the grandstands has been in the fairground’s master plan since 1985, but has received no action.
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Jerome Stocks from Encinitas was one of several committee members quick to endorse the "phased" approach citing the minimum cost of phase one which still achieves the train stop objective.
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The staff was instructed to return with budget costs and planning estimates for the phased approach as soon as possible.

This was sent to me by Encinitas Council Member Teresa Barth. It is about about the CIty of Orland and first appeared on PublicCEO.com.

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.

UT County to Make Big Cuts
In one fell swoop this week, county supervisors are expected to eliminate more than 770 positions.

VoSD Historic Property Tax Dip
The county expects the overall assessed value on properties in the county -- and thus the taxes assessed on them -- to dip negative in fiscal year 2009-2010 compared to the current year, said Dave Butler, San Diego County Assessor, earlier this afternoon.

Encinitas city staff have taken the position that negative property tax growth is not a possibility for the City of Encinitas.

UT City looks at tackling deficit from 3 angles
When Phillips was asked whether the layoffs could include uniformed personnel, he said: “I'm not going to say there won't be people cuts (in public safety). I cannot be more specific.”

The second part of the plan involves employee compensation cuts that could save $1.3 million.

EDITORIAL: Local entities need to act on pensions
OUR VIEW: Pension costs crimping government revenues
Getting angry at news reports that nearly 5,000 retired public employees are receiving six-figure pensions, largely paid with taxpayers' dollars, is not a solution. Nor is stewing about the possibility of paying higher taxes in part to fund basic government services strapped by rising pension and other costs. Action is the answer.