Summmer 2012
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Community Connections Meetings A MESSAGE FROM Meetings are in City Hall Elected THE CITY TREASURER and the Community Center OffMiacyoir als The City of Carson has established a Fraud unless otherwise noted, and are open to the public. Jim Dear Hotline to fight fraud and protect Mayor Pro Tem taxpayer’s dollars. The Hotline is an Police & Fire Jobs City Council/Redevelopment option for anyone wishing to anonymously Emergencies 911 Job Clearinghouse Agency 6 p.m., Julie Ruiz-Raber (310) 233-4888 1st and 3rd Tuesdays report illegal or unethical activity on the Animal Control Councilmember part of the City, its officials, employees, Carson Animal Shelter Libraries Citywide Advisory Commission Elito M. Santarina (310) 523-9566 Carson Regional 7 p.m., 2nd Thursday contractors or vendors. The Hotline is (Only when necessary) Birth, Death, (310) 830-0901 Councilmember open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week and Marriage Records Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Economic Development Commission Mike A. Gipson interpreters are available in 20 different County Registrar-Recorder (310) 327-4830 8 a.m., 1st Thursday, (562) 462-2137 Community Center Councilmember languages. Parking Lula Davis-Holmes Building Permits Enforcement Environmental Commission Calls placed to the Hotline are confidential (800) 654-7275 Building & Safety, 6:30 p.m., 1st Wednesday City Clerk and handled by a third party vendor. You (310) 952-1766 Parks & Recreation Cultural Arts Commission Donesia Gause do not have to give your name and your (310) 847-3570 6 p.m., 1st Monday Public Transit and City Treasurer call is not recorded through the use of Dial-A-Ride (only when necessary) Post Office Karen Avilla recording devices, caller identification (310) 952-1779 Main No., (800) 275-8777 Human Relations Commission Hearing Impaired 6:00 p.m., 3rd Wednesday City Manager equipment or any other means. (800) 252-9040 Sandbags David C. Biggs Street Maintenance Parks and Recreation Commission The City of Carson has taken a pro-active Cable Television (310) 952-1700, ext. 3520 6:30 p.m., last Thursday _________________ Time Warner Cable Editor: step against fraud by establishing the (888) 892-2253 Sewer Clean-up Planning Commission Margie Revilla-Garcia Hotline. In the event that you become (626) 458-4357 6:30 p.m., 2nd and 4th Tuesday aware of unethical, illegal or irresponsible Chamber of Public Relations Commission Commerce Senior Services Graphic Designer: activity, don’t ignore it. Call the Fraud (310) 952-1775 12:00 p.m., 4th Tuesday (310) 217-4590 (310) 835-0212 Victor Gastelum Hotline toll-free telephone number at Public Safety Commission _________________ 1-877-7 HOT TIP or 1-877-746-8847. City Hall Sidewalk Repair 6:30 p.m., 3rd Thursday (310) 830-7600 Street Maintenance Public Works Commission Code Enforcement (310) 952-1700, ext. 3520 6:30 p.m., 2nd Monday The Carson Report (310) 952-1700, ext. 1786 CITY OF CARSON POSITION Sheriff’s Station Senior Citizen Advisory Commission is publishe d by (310) 830-1123 Community Center 4 p.m., 2nd Monday the City of Carson STATEMENT (310) 835-0212 Street Sweeping Veterans Affairs Commission Carson is a vibrant city with a sm all town atmosphere Street Maintenance 6 p.m., 3rd Monday to provide those who live and where relationships are important. This is clearly Crime Prevention (310) 952-1700, ext. 3520 work here with information visible throughout the community, from the stable Neighborhood Watch Women’s Issues Commission single family neighborhoods, which make up nearly (310) 847-7481 Telephone 6 p.m., 4th Monday about the city’s programs, AT&T eighty percent of the city's residences, to the partnership Disaster (310) 515-7979 Youth Commission services, and issues. between businesses and volunteer driven agencies Preparedness 7 p.m., 2nd Wednesday which strengthen the city's remarkable social fabric. (310) 952-1700, ext.1603 Trash Collection All questions, comments, Historical Committee Waste Management and contributing information The social composition of Carson is California in Dump 952-1700, ext. 3508 6:30 p.m, 4th Wednesday miniature. It is a city with a balanced ethnic and cultural Transfer Station or (310) 830-7100 Beautification Committee should be directed to the mix living together in harmony and prosperity. (310) 217-6300 6:30 p.m., 2nd Tuesday Tree Trimming/ City of Carson’s Public The community takes pride in the large percentage of Electricity Street Maintenance Utilities Users Tax Oversight Information Office. Carson students who attend college, many to Southern California (310) 847-3520 Committee Edison Co., (800) 950-2356 California State University, Dominguez Hills, a valuable Water (only when necessary) asset to the city. Gas California Water Service Address: 701 E. Carson St., Mobilehome Park Rental Carson's strategic position in the heart of the powerful Southern California Gas Co. Company, (310) 257-1400 Review Board Carson, CA 90745 (800) 427-2200 Golden State Water 6:30 p.m., 2nd and 4th Wednesdays economic engine that is Southern California attracts Company (800) 999-4033 Tel: (310) 952-1740 international corporations which recognize the city's Graffiti Removal Relocation Appeals Board bright future. The city's proximity to the West Coast's Landscape & Buildings Fax: (310) 549-1466 Youth Services (only when necessary) two major ports, as well as its intersection by four (310) 952-1700, ext. 3500 (310) 952-1788 Community Civic Engagement Board E-mail: [email protected] Southland freeways, makes it a major gateway to the Hospital 6:30 p.m., 2nd Tuesday Website/E- newsletter Pacific Rim. Harbor General UCLA Sister Cities Association subscription: We, the people who live and work in Carson, take pride Medical Center 6:30 p.m., 4th Wednesday http://ci.carson.ca.us (310) 222-2345 in our city and will continue to build relationships which ensure that future. page two THE CARSON REPORT City Budget Impacted by the Loss of Redevelopment nfortunately, the State of Califor - 13 was approved by the voters in Since the City has been prudent and nia has once again reached into 1978. Another way to describe the built up some healthy reserves, some the City’s pockets to balance its blow to the community is to compare it non-recurring costs may be funded Ubudget which means the City faces to two trees which have grown next to from these reserves. some red ink starting July 1st. Effec - each other for more than 40 years, tive February 1, 2012, the Carson Re - with one suddenly pulled out by the Rebuilding from this new lower base development Agency was dissolved by roots, the remaining tree is damaged will take some time, but the future is State action. This impact from the loss and needs time to recover. And, Carson bright for Carson. The City benefits of redevelopment alone accounts for will recover. from a very diverse tax base and there approximately $4.5 million of the esti - is some new sales tax generating de - mated $5.4 million deficit the City However, in the meantime the City will velopment on the horizon. City em - faces for the 2012/13 fiscal year in the have to balance the 2012/13 General ployees are very dedicated and $65 million General Fund. Fund budget through a variety of committed to providing outstanding means. While the City has seen some services and have helped get us The City’s General Fund is our main improvement in revenues after the big through tough times in the past. Most budget and the one through which we downturn during the great recession, importantly, the Mayor and City Coun - provide most services including law these increases are not enough to ad - cil have made decisions in the past to enforcement, parks and recreation dress higher costs in some areas and conserve the City’s resources so there programs, public works activities like the elimination of redevelopment. is a healthy reserve which can help tree trimming and parks maintenance, ease the transition to the post-redev- and senior services, just to name a The proposed budget being developed elopment world. few. All of these services are impor - for the City Council’s consideration will tant to our residents and adapting to have to be balanced with reductions in During the month of June, and per - this “new normal” will take some new expenditures which may impact serv - haps into early July, there will be op - thinking and new ways of doing busi - ices and programs and result in the portunities for community input into the ness. elimination of some vacant and filled budget. The City welcomes your par - staff positions. There may be opportu - ticipation and ideas. By working to - The elimination of redevelopment is nities to increase some revenues, gether, Carson can get through this perhaps the greatest change in local especially in fee for service programs, latest challenge to our fiscal well-being government finance since Proposition in order to partially mitigate the cuts. and health. I Pet Owners Cautioned Against Coyotes oyote sightings have recently been coyotes are tan-brown in color with streaks reported in Carson, according to the of gray. In the more mountainous or humid City’s Public Safety Department. areas, the color is darker with less brown. CWhile no damage or attack has been re - The voice of the coyote is quite distinctive, ported, the City is taking a pro-active ap - consisting of various howls, high-pitched proach by providing its residents with yaps and occasional dog-like barks. useful information on these animals, which are found throughout most of California. Coyotes are proficient predators. Its diet consists mainly of mice, rats, ground squir - Coyotes are medium-sized animals that rels, gophers, rabbits and carrion.