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And, in case of emergencies, we have new law:
SB 1263 on Initiative Measures, designed to clean-up the
State's famously clumsy system for making sure people are heard. Here is the short form of the changes to existing
law and the long form. Yes, local is different than
State but the basics are the same and newly key is that St. Helena only may
need 88 signatures to trigger public hearings on an issue, prior to the
full Initiative process. It is being tweaked but the Gov has signed
it.
It would have been handy for the Davies issue.
But, a public hearing on event centers, Direct to Consumer (DTC) marketing,
the need for cost/benefit analyses, outdoor music and cumulative impacts
would be nice public hearings to have. Then we could move on to
jobs/housing balance, infrastructure and a Design Review Board to save us
from the Well-Funded Foot-Print Problem. Or, we may need it for the Late
Bomb below.
Hopefully, more of us have Resolved to pay
attention to the Council and Planning meetings in 2015.
Neglecting that means you have to live with the outcome -- forever. Here
are the options:
1. Watch
Channel 28 -- the meetings are broadcast live. See meeting
times below.
2. Go
to the City website and sign up
for the online newsletter. You'll get an agenda of the City meetings; click
on it, scroll down and click on the Item link for the full scoop.
3. Go
to the meetings at 6PM at Vintage Hall every Tuesday -- 1st &
3rd for Planning, 2nd & 4th for Council. Bring your reading, knitting,
cushion, etc. and hang in there -- it pays off.
4. Watch
Video on Demand online.
On the City website, go to Council, then to Video on Demand on the right.
You can click on the Agenda items associated with the video and it will
jump to the discussion.
Please be informed.
It's not how much money you have; it's how much you understand.
Late Bomb: A rumor has
it that the rail depot downtown was just sold and the tenants have been
given a very short time to move out. Wine train? Mega wine tasting? A new
mall for locals? The mind swims.
There are thousands of towns like ours through
this Country, small but full of ordinary people who just want an even
playing field in a real community. But to have it, we must create it. In
recognition of the effort, I offer this short 2015 Robert Reich video in which he charmingly
sums it up. Enjoy!
No meetings this week but there will be another
newsletter on the Davies issue in a day or so.
Sandy
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