INSIDE CITY HALL Here are some...

INSIDE CITY HALL

Here are some of the decisions coming out of the City Council

meeting on Monday.

PANEL APPOINTMENTS

The City Council will hold off on any formal appointments to the

Human Relations Committee because the general appointment time for

new members arrives in October.

The council considered the applications of alternate members Russ

Ramirez and Judy Stone to fill seats vacated by regular members Cindy

Brenneman and Karen Sager, but said it was too close to October to

make permanent appointments.

Both Ramirez and Stone were at recent committee meetings that

included emotional, turbulent and heartfelt discussions about three

members accused of intolerance on a local Web site. Although both

were alternate members, they were invited to join in the discussion

and offered opinions about the allegedly racist and homophobic

postings.

The council said the two alternates would have full voting powers

even though they were not formally deemed full-time members.

WHAT IT MEANS

Ramirez and Stone will complete the Human Relations Committee by

filling in for Brenneman and Sager, but the council will make its

official appointments in October.

RESIDENT PARKING

The council approved “resident-only” parking for two small

cul-de-sacs in the Mesa del Mar neighborhood to help resolve parking

problems caused by the popularity of youth sports events at nearby

schools.

The residents of Utah and Texas circles were concerned that

parking is problematic during events at TeWinkle Middle and

California Elementary schools. Eight speakers, representing owners of

the four houses on Utah Circle, were at the meeting to explain their

problems to the council.

Neighbors complained of the dangers of having a constant stream of

cars circling their small street and the inconvenience of having

nowhere to park. Five of six residents of Texas Circle also wrote

letters to the city regarding the parking intrusions, according to a

staff report.

Resident-only parking has been placed in neighborhoods around the

fairgrounds and adjacent to large apartments complexes, which have

overflowing tenant parking.

WHAT IT MEANS

Owners of the affected homes will receive parking stickers for

their cars -- and guest placards for visitors -- to distinguish legal

parking from individuals using the sports fields.

TOWING CONTRACT

The council renewed its contract with two local towing companies

that have worked for several years with the Police Department to

remove violating vehicles and store impounded cars.

Both G&W; Towing and MetroPro Road Services, formerly known as

Harbor Towing, have provided service to the city for several years, a

staff report shows. Police officials asked to continue the long-term

relationship with the companies because they work well with them and

are the only companies that meet the city’s requirements, the report

shows.

The towing companies would be responsible for towing cars that

have been involved in accidents, impede traffic flow, and other

reasons, according to the proposed contract. The city would be

charged the standard rate, the report shows.

WHAT IT MEANS

G&W; Towing and MetroPro Road Services will continue to provide

towing services.

-- Compiled by Lolita Harper