158 replies to this topic

[ducky]

Ducky: I would encourage you to look at the big picture, and not place so much priority on council members who respond to e-mails. Look at their overall voting records, and judge them based on this. Also, you need to find out which of the current council members have ties to developers, and specifically the ones who own land south of Hwy 50.

These connections have, and will continue to have, grave consequences to our community. Even still today, money is flowing out of city coffers to developers. Some of these council members have made mistakes that have cost this community tens of millions of dollars that ended up in the bank accounts of wealthy developers. And, the council member most guilty of this is the one that you compliment for responding to your e-mails. I would encourage you to look into the following issues and come to your own conclusion:

- The Parkway Development Agreement: Locks in impact fees for the life of the agreement. No other development agreement does this. These fees pay for the infrastruture needed to serve the project. Since costs of infrastucture have gone up over time, the taxpayers are now paying the difference.

- The Aeroject Water Agreement: Provided a guarantee treated water source for a project outside the city. We did this without getting anything of material in return. And, regardless of what this council member has argued on this forum, we were not obligated to serve this area.

- Sales tax sharing agreement for the Palladio project: Despite the project having been delayed by the developer for several years, the council recently extended the agreement to provide him additional years of sales tax sharing from the project. The community received nothing in return for this.

These are just a few examples. There are countless more.

I urge you to dig more and ask questions of the people who know and will tell the truth. Look for the people inside city hall who are not afraid to speak the truth. This is where I get my information. They know the truth, and many are now willing to reveal it. They are probably the most disgusted with the decades of on-going corruption.

Believe me, I take all this into account. I'm just suspicious of someone who apparently only has venom for one council member when it took more votes than hers to accomplish what you've listed.

You've brought up Kowzlowski, an architect. How am I to know there isn't a tie to developers there? Yes, he's apparently coached and been in youth sports. Just because I've sponsored sports teams almost every year over the last 20 years doesn't mean I'd make a good council member. Let's hear specifics of why he'd make a good council member. I've looked at his facebook page and Republican, conservative, Catholic, doesn't really tell me his vision for Folsom.

[JRudi]

Believe me, I take all this into account. I'm just suspicious of someone who apparently only has venom for one council member when it took more votes than hers to accomplish what you've listed.

You've brought up Kowzlowski, an architect. How am I to know there isn't a tie to developers there? Yes, he's apparently coached and been in youth sports. Just because I've sponsored sports teams almost every year over the last 20 years doesn't mean I'd make a good council member. Let's hear specifics of why he'd make a good council member. I've looked at his facebook page and Republican, conservative, Catholic, doesn't really tell me his vision for Folsom.

I'm not necessarily pushing Kozlowski. I don't know much about him. I just know the current council, and I don't like what I know about a couple of them.

I will freely acknowledge that it took at least two more votes than just hers to approve the poor decisions that I listed. But, I know what has occurred behind the scenes, and with her and one other council member in particular it has been very ugly at times. What has occurred is manipulation of the top city managers to accomplish her agenda. This is wrong, but it is what she has resorted to. Again, ask those inside city hall, which is what I've done. They have seen it first-hand.

[ducky]

I'm not necessarily pushing Kozlowski. I don't know much about him. I just know the current council, and I don't like what I know about a couple of them.

I will freely acknowledge that it took at least two more votes than just hers to approve the poor decisions that I listed. But, I know what has occurred behind the scenes, and with her and one other council member in particular it has been very ugly at times. What has occurred is manipulation of the top city managers to accomplish her agenda. This is wrong, but it is what she has resorted to. Again, ask those inside city hall, which is what I've done. They have seen it first-hand.

Well, you seem to be uneasy with council member who are too cozy with developers and you mentioned Kowzlowski specifically. This is all his facebook page says. What does he mean by "expand"?

"Folsom and it's residents have not been immune to the economic downturn, but have been somewhat insulated from the drastic downturn many other areas have experienced.

This is in large part because we have very well run businesses located in Folsom. We need to protect and expand that economic advantage."

[JRudi]

Well, you seem to be uneasy with council member who are too cozy with developers and you mentioned Kowzlowski specifically. This is all his facebook page says. What does he mean by "expand"?

"Folsom and it's residents have not been immune to the economic downturn, but have been somewhat insulated from the drastic downturn many other areas have experienced.

This is in large part because we have very well run businesses located in Folsom. We need to protect and expand that economic advantage."

I interpret this that he supports expanding our economic and employment base. This could mean that he supports completion of the Palladio project and other projects planned for the existing city (i.e. north of Hwy. 50), such as the Kaiser hospital campus. There is still quite a bit of undeveloped and underdeveloped commercial property in the existing city. However, I'm unsure if Mr. Kozlowski supports development south of Hwy. 50, and if this statement is somehow related to that issue. I have not visited his website. Perhaps I should.

Sorry I couldn't be of more help here.

[camay2327]

A long time Folsom resident and reader of this forum, but new to posting.

JRudi, thanks. Welcome aboard...

[camay2327]

Maybe, Mr. Kozlowski, needs to come on here like Kerri does and let us know how he feels about things instead of having others do his work for him.

Kerri is the only one that will stick her neck out and come on this board. I will be voting for her again this time and so will my wife. Other will not get votes, period. Unless I change my mind prior to the vote.

[JRudi]

I would be opposed to it. Private property is private property.

Haven't you voted in support of the city exercising its power of eminent domain to acquire property in the past? How about for the first bridge project? The widening of Blue Ravine Road? And, most recently, for the new bridge project? Do you recall these?

How can you say that you oppose use of eminent domain when you have voted in support of the city using this power in the past?

[JRudi]

Maybe, Mr. Kozlowski, needs to come on here like Kerri does and let us know how he feels about things instead of having others do his work for him.

Kerri is the only one that will stick her neck out and come on this board. I will be voting for her again this time and so will my wife. Other will not get votes, period. Unless I change my mind prior to the vote.

You're determining your vote solely on whether someone posts on this forum or not? Don't you care about their views on issues, and whether they are honest and trustworthy? I certainly do.

Also, I have not indicated in any of my posts who I support for city council. I have only indicated who I have the most concern with and why. I do have concerns with other candidates, by the way.

[The Average Joe]

However, I'm unsure if Mr. Kozlowski supports development south of Hwy. 50, and if this statement is somehow related to that issue. I have not visited his website. Perhaps I should.

I spoke with him at some length awhile back, and expressed my concern that Folsom promote "smart growth." We discussed several specific issues, and I felt like he wasn't the type that would just roll over for developers ( but he did seem to support growth).
It would be nice if he could post here and clearly state his specific position, concerns and hopes.

[JRudi]

We also sometimes do annual or seasonal contracts for things like chip sealing of pavement. The same process applies, we advertise, then accept bids and award the contract to the lowest responsible bidder. These types of projects are not typically renegotiated. The City runs these projects and pays for them (in some cases with Measure A money that comes from sales tax in the region, and is distributed throughout the region by the Sacamento Transportation Authority). Caltrans and the County do not step in on projects within the City.

Just a few corrections:

1. To my knowledge, the city has not done chip seals for quite some time. They do overlays and slurry seals. Chip seals are typically done on rural roads.

2. Sacramento County has performed projects within the city. Recall the sewer trunk main projects installed along Iron Point Road and Folsom Blvd. several years back? These were done by the Sacramento Regional County Sanitation District.

By the way, don't you sit on the Regional San. Board? I'm surprised you didn't recall this.

[Robert Giacometti]

Who is JRudi? A new person on the block or a regular with a new user name?

I definetly know who they aren't!

Its rather obvious they are educated and informed, trying to shed some insight into issues to help those who want what is best for Folsom make a better informed choice.

It just amazes me the number of really good people on this forum who love their community of Folsom the way the do, yet keep supporting putting the Fox in charge of the chicken coop, at the detriment of the very community they love!

Its mind boggling to me?

[Robert Giacometti]

The Landowners in the SOI are billed quarterly for all staff time incurred in planning and for all consultants invoices related to planning. The invoices are also paid quarterly. There have been quarters where the total invoice exceeded $300,000. The values shown in a previous post are incorrect. The public records requested was only just received by the City and the time frame for responding has not yet run its course.

Hey JRudi, Do you believe that the landowners are being billed for ALL the staff time in regards to planning for S50, if they have only been billed for $252,550 since 12/05? I'm only asking about staff time. Not the billing for the consultants.

I want to know are we the citizens of Folsom subsidizing the development of S50 by NOT charging for all our costs to the landowners/developers?

[JRudi]

Hey JRudi, Do you believe that the landowners are being billed for ALL the staff time in regards to planning for S50, if they have only been billed for $252,550 since 12/05? I'm only asking about staff time. Not the billing for the consultants.

I want to know are we the citizens of Folsom subsidizing the development of S50 by NOT charging for all our costs to the landowners/developers?

RG: I'm far more inclined to believe your numbers than those presented in a recent post by the Ol' Feisty One. My understanding is that the landowners are controlling city staff through their close ties with at least three of the council members. (The only reason why the project is even moving forward at this time is because of pressure from the developers - otherwise, what benefit is it to the city now to absorb these staff costs and time? Think about it - it makes no sense.)

This is an election year, and the three up for re-election (two of which have the close ties with the south of 50 landowners) want the big campaign contributions to roll in for them. They have to give some favors in return for receiving the contributions, and waiving staff costs is minor in comparison to what has been done in the past for the big money developers. Unless we change at least one of the two who have the close ties and are up for re-election, we won't be able to break a three-vote majority on the council in support of the development. This is very unlikely given the lack of name recognition among the challengers and the developer money behind two of the three incumbants. I'm afraid it just isn't going to get any better for a while.

[camay2327]

JRudi, I really do not believe in eminent domain, but this is not black and white.

Some times it really needs to be done. I think in the case of widening Blue Ravine Road out North of East Bidwell, it should be done. If the land owner will not sell the land needed to widen that short area of Blue Ravine then I think in that case it should be acquired. That is the area out between Oak and Natomas. That area of Blue Ravine should be widened.

That is my thinking anyway. If Kerri voted for that then I agree with her. I think the other city council members did too.

[JRudi]

JRudi, I really do not believe in eminent domain, but this is not black and white.

Some times it really needs to be done. I think in the case of widening Blue Ravine Road out North of East Bidwell, it should be done. If the land owner will not sell the land needed to widen that short area of Blue Ravine then I think in that case it should be acquired. That is the area out between Oak and Natomas. That area of Blue Ravine should be widened.

That is my thinking anyway. If Kerri voted for that then I agree with her. I think the other city council members did too.

camay: I do think that public agencies need to exercise their power of eminent domain on occasion, specifically when it is for the overall public good. And, I believe this authority is guaranteed under the U.S. Constituiton (if I'm not mistaken).

However, the purpose of my post was to point out that Kerri was being hypocritical. She said in her post that she opposed the concept of eminent domain, but she had voted for it as a council member on at least several occasions in the past. My sense was she was trying to appease a reader who expressed opposition to it. It's campaign season, and she's trying to secure all the votes she can. Evidently, it doesn't matter to her if she contradicts herself in the process.