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Salaries to be online

Controller orders cities, counties to provide data
James Rufus Koren, Staff Writer, San Bernardino County Sun
Posted: 08/03/2010 05:38:53 PM PDT

 

As the outrage over city officials' pay in Bell continues to spread around California, the state's top financial manager says he wants to make sure all Californians can easily find out how much their local leaders take home.

 

State Controller John Chiang on Tuesday ordered all California cities and counties to report their employees' and elected officials' salaries. He plans to post that information on his website.

 "The absence of transparency is a breeding ground for waste, fraud and abuse of taxpayer dollars," Chiang said in a statement. "A single website with accessible information will make sure that excessive pay is no longer able to escape public scrutiny and accountability."
 
Local leaders said they support Chiang's order, although some say posting information won't necessarily lead to people using that information or demanding accountability.
City and county governments already report basic financial information to Chiang's office, and the pay of elected officials and city employees are already public record. But Chiang's order - backed by a $5,000 fine for failing to comply - will ensure that information is online, available and updated every year.
 
Last month, the Los Angeles Times reported that Robert Rizzo, then the city manager of Bell, had a salary of more than $787,000, and four members of the part-time City Council were taking home close to $100,000 each.
 
Jim Morris, San Bernardino Mayor Pat Morris' son and chief of staff, said the mayor fully supports Chiang's order.
 
"Frankly, the city of Bell has undermined the people's confidence," he said. "Our salaries for elected officials, at least the mayor and council, are in the (city) charter and we believe there should be complete transparency on that."
 
Hesperia Mayor Thurston "Smitty" Smith said his city - which employed Rizzo as its city manager from 1988 to 1992 - has posted city employee salary information online for years, though not for the city manager or for council members. He said the city has no problem complying with Chiang's order.
 
"The more transparency we can get, the better," he said. "Bell, in their wisdom, has made all city managers and all city officials look terrible. It's like they say: One bad apple ruins them all."
 
But Smith said Chiang's goal of increasing public scrutiny needs more than a state-run website. Scrutiny, he said, comes when city and county residents are active and engaged in local issues.
 
"People don't get involved until there's something that affects them," he said. "People need to be involved. Go to your city and find out what's going on."
 
He noted that plenty of important documents - such as those detailing campaign contributions - are published online by the state and by some cities and counties, but that most Californians don't use them.
 
"We can publish them," he said. "All these forms are out there, but very few people pull them."
 
Even before Chiang's announcement, some local cities were moving in this direction. Redlands Mayor Pat Gilbreath said her city plans to post salary information on its website.
 
The Fontana City Council decided last week to post council members' and the city manager's pay online. The information was posted earlier this week.
 
"We have people who just want to believe the worst," said Fontana Councilwoman Janice Rutherford. "And we need to be as transparent as possible so that people can arm themselves with facts and not succumb to believing the worst."
 
 

Staff writers Jesse B. Gill and Josh Dulaney contributed to this report.
 
  

 

Say NO to Higher Taxes

The San Bernardino city council and the Mayoral majority are attempting to raise taxes on you and me.  Don't let them get away with padding their own pockets on the backs of this community.  Some will say, “That's inflammatory and not true”.  San Bernardino has the highest paid Mayor (as reported in the San Bernardino Sun) in ALL of the inland empire as well as the highest paid city manager.  In a city where 1/2 the residents rent and 1/2 the residents are on some kind of government assistance we should not have the highest paid top level administrators.  For these people to take advantage of the socio-economic population in San Bernardino is an insult to tax payers and we deserve better.

 

We have heard of some time now how San Bernardino faces some of the most serious economic challenges in the Inland Empire yet that hasn't stopped this same leadership from hiring multiple new administrative positions, reclassifying others and handing out raises for the select chosen.  The pattern of tax and spend continues in spite of this economic condition.  Some will say, "We are cut to the bone."  Some will say, "We can't cut our way to solvency."  Some will say, "We don’t have any alternatives."  Either raise taxes or face drastic cuts to public services.  All of this is INACCUARATE!

 

The fact of the matter is... if the Mayor and his majority would stop spending on new government jobs and programs, frivolous studies and attempts to change the charter to consolidate power at the top and seriously look at the alternatives, presented many times by others... if these ideas were fully vetted in a public forum so the tax payers had true and honest choices when it comes to voting we wouldn't be in this mess.

 

Some will say, "We are in this mess because of the housing meltdown, it was out of our control."  I would say to any public leader…if you really think that, then you shouldn’t hold office. 

 

ALL SPENDING IS UNDER YOUR CONTROL.  Simply spend less!  And next time the housing market swings positive, property values rise and the good times are here again – Put some money in reserve this time.

 

Call you councilman and tell them – NO TO NEW/HIGHER TAXES on this community.

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Task of Building a Better Community

Point of View: Task of building a better community

At the "Building a Better Community" San Bernardino City Council workshop, keynote speaker Dr. Nalbandian lectured about many different governmental concepts ranging from political representation to social equity and individual rights. His lecture covered community values, personal values and identity and how all of these things impact government structures, decision-making, potential conflict and its resolution.


Toward the end of Dr. Nalbandian's discussion, I realized one unarguable truth - all of this discussion is for the purpose of serving the people, our families, our friends, neighbors and strangers, so that we can all live together in peace and prosperity. A point that was exemplified in the story he closed with about flood survivors.

As I reviewed the event's 264-page document, I noticed at the top of each organizational chart the words to describe you and me - citizens, residents, and the people.

During the breakout session, questions were asked. "In an ideal scenario, what does the governing body expect from city staff; conversely, what will the governing body contribute back to the process? What does city staff expect from the governing body and conversely what will city staff give back or contribute to the process?" Not surprisingly, there was a lot of commonality.

It was then suggested that changes to the City Charter would enable the city to streamline services, make operations more efficient and maximize the role of a professional city manager, his office and staff.

OK, but wait at the workshop, a very simple question was asked multiple times: What is the total cost for this workshop, including speaker fees, staff time, room rental, technical support, food, etc.? As I sat and listened for the better part of three days I never heard a satisfactory answer. A reasonable person would agree that if the city staff can't or doesn't provide taxpayers answers to the easy questions, what happens when the questions are more difficult?

More to the point, what obstacles does the charter present relative to streamlining services, making operations more efficient and maximizing the role of a professional city manager? Exactly where are Charles McNeely's hands being tied? Stated another way, what improvements, efficiencies or cost reductions is he not able to effectuate because of the current government structure?

Whatever your position on charter reform, there should be substantial public, documented evidence that makes the case to the taxpayers. If the basis for charter reform is ambiguous, lacking specific, in-depth financial detail and timelines or comes with the same kind of knee-jerk finger-pointing and scoffs as did the question about the cost of the workshop itself, then a cautious approach is advised.

It should be incumbent upon the city manager to show exactly what barriers exist, what savings will be achieved, what and when the outcomes are to be expected, costs associated with all of it, and why these improvements are not possible under the current charter system.

Additionally, ask yourself, what do the people expect from their governing body and city staff and conversely what will the people contribute?

Contributions from the people:

1) For starters, our tax money.

2) Civilized behavior and to abide by our laws.

3) Neighborhood association involvement, neighborhood watch partnerships and other public and non-profit partnerships.

4) A spirit of volunteerism and civic pride.

Expectations from the people:

1) Public safety: Adequate yet aggressive police and fire services given our population and demographics.

2) Ease of doing business, whether resident, visitor, or business owner. Customer service!

3) Complete governmental transparency, including full disclosure of all public financial information, to keep spending under control and hold leadership accountable.

4) Adherence to the rules, regulations and responsibilities relative to the Brown Act, and applicable sunshine laws.

5) Lastly, leaders who keep their promises.

I suggest that the governing body and city staff give careful attention to the contributions and expectations from the people. Residents should hold their leaders accountable to present quantifiable, evidenced-based information, if we are going to build a better community and tackle the pros and cons of charter reform.

Joe Arnett lives in San Bernardino. He was a candidate for the City Council's 4th Ward seat in November 2009.

Arnett, Joe. "Task of building a better community." Sun Newspaper [San Bernardino and the Inland Empire] 2 Apr. 2010, A6.
Arnett, Joe. "Task of building a better community." The Sun. Posted: 04/01/2010 05:21:55 PM PDT. April 2, 2010 http://www.sbsun.com/pointofview/ci_14803478.

 

   

Firefighters rally for ailing wife

Jesse B. Gill, Staff Writer

Posted: 11/10/2009 01:29:58 PM PST

 
REDLANDS - Firefighter/ paramedic Mike Leinen spends his days saving the lives of area residents. Now he needs them to return the favor. Leinen's wife, Annie, 28, was diagnosed Oct. 29 with Stage 4 malignant melanoma that has spread to her lungs. Annie gave birth to the couple's third son Oct. 28 - more than 12 weeks early - because of the advancement of her disease and is undergoing chemotherapy at Stanford University Medical Center.
 
The Redlands Fire Department family wants to help the Leinens through their ordeal. "The biggest request from the family is prayer," said firefighter/paramedic Kelwyn Wild. The Fire Department is also launching an effort to help ease the Leinen family's financial burden. Between 25 and 30 people crowded into firefighter/paramedic Chad Meketarian's Yucaipa home on Sunday to support Annie and the Leinen family. "We made awareness ribbons personalized for Annie," said Meketarian's wife, Shannon. The group made more than 1,400 ribbons that will be kept at Redlands' four fire stations. Residents can get a ribbon or a button for a $2 donation, Meketarian said. "And every single penny goes straight to the Leinen family," she saidBut donations gathered from the ribbons and buttons will only scratch the surface, Wild said.
 
Because Annie Leinen's fight with cancer will likely not end tomorrow, neither will the Redlands firefighters' efforts to help her family. "We are looking for support over a long period of time," Wild said. "The family is going to need a ton of support." The Redlands Professional Firefighters' Association - the labor union representing Redlands firefighters - is scheduled to meet Thursday to discuss more ways to raise tax-free money for the Leinen family. "It's family," said fire Capt. Dave Denman. "Mike's family is our family. There's no difference. When something happens to them, you take it as personal as your own blood." Listening to members of the community speak, a single word pops up over and over - family. "This profession is so family-oriented," Wild said. "I'm so proud to be involved in something like this. It's hard to explain the dynamic we have." The firefighter "family" rallies together when its members encounter tragedy, Meketarian said.
 
"Firefighters, firefighter wives, their kids - we spend holidays together, birthdays, we're at home, we're at the station, we are around each other all the time," she said. "This is family. This is just what we do."

 

 

Campaign Update

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Written by Joe Arnett Monday, 09 November 2009 19:52

Dear San Bernardino Residents,
 
A sincere and heartfelt thank you goes out to all of my family, friends, volunteers’ supporters and voters!  The efforts you made to close an almost insurmountable deficit from the special election, a margin some would say, “Isn’t worth trying.” – to come so close is very disappointing yet, very much worth trying and we finished much closer than the opposition expected.
 
When you consider how far the “Go With JOE” campaign has come, netting 19.8% of the vote last March in the special election to 47.5% now – and that we came within 5% of the Mayor's chosen candidate with congressional support, we simply had time expire.
 
I feel confident we would have won based on momentum had there been a few more weeks.
 
The political status quo managed to dodge a bullet and got a bit lucky libeling me the weekend before election with last minute mailers and an early endorsement from fire management all worked to confuse just enough voters. That I suppose is the game of politics and the will of the people.
 
I'll continue in some manner to represent issues important to us 4th warders and the city and I will continue to work for transparent, honest and accountable public service representation focused on fixing the problems facing our community.
 
Again, thank you to everyone.
 
Best Regards, Joe Arnett

Galatians 6:9

9 And let us not be weary in well-doing: for in due season we shall reap, if we faint not. 

   

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