Sierra Madre Edition City Council to Vote on New City Manager Contract
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SIERRA MADRE EDITION SATURDAY, JANUARY 21, 2017 VOLUME 11 NO. 3 MUCH NEEDED RAIN PROVES TO BE A CHALLENGE CITY COUNCIL TO VOTE ON NEW Many Trees in Upper Canyon Suffer CITY MANAGER CONTRACT After receiving applications from 75 candidates, 10 of whom had City Management experience, the Sierra Madre City council met in 3 closed sessions last week to find the person whom they believe to be the best fit for Sierra Madre. According to the staff report submitted for the next council meeting, they unanimously agreed upon Gabriel Engeland who last served as City Manager of Trinidad, Colorado. Mr. Engeland will replace outgoing City Manager Elaine Aguilar, who retired after serving over 9 years in the position. Engeland, a graduate of Central Michigan University with a BS in Community Development and a Masters in Public Gabriel Engeland, City Manager Candidate Administration from the University of Mayor Gene Goss says that, “He had the Kansas, has been on what has been described best combination of experience, education as the ‘fast track’ to city management. He and leadership characteristics” of all the most recently served as the City Manager candidates applying for the job. “I am of Trinidad, Colorado (2015 to present), a thrilled that we found him and that he is town of 8,465 residents which is a “Home willing to come and work for us”. Rule Municipality”.1 Prior to that, he served From City Manager's Report as the Assistant to the Town Manager of The decision to offer the position to Gilbert, Arizona from 2012-2015 and also Engeland was unanimous by all members Canyon Crest Drive - Public Works staff was alerted to a fallen mature Coast Live Oak on Thursday, January served as the Interim Parks and Recreation of the council. A formal vote is expected 12th that was completely blocking the one-way section of Canyon Crest Drive. The following Saturday, Manager (9 months) and Development Tuesday evening. Januarys 14th, Public Works staff was informed of an additional mature Coast Live Oak that had fallen and Services Director (5 months) in Gilbert. blocking Fern Lane, a small one-way street just off of Churchill Drive. As Sierra Madre’s City Manager, Engeland 1 Home Rule involves the authority of a local In both cases, the trees were privately owned, as are essentially all trees in the Canyon areas, and the residents will become the administrative head of city government to prevent state government were diligent and had the road blockages cleared in a very timely manner. Staff feels that the failure of the trees government, responsible for the enforce- intervention with its operations. Theextent of its is most likely due to the years of drought and then a sudden persistent rain that probably weighted the outer ment municipal laws, direct daily opera- power, however, is subject to limitations prescribed canopy portions of these trees. tions of the City, making recommendations by state constitutions and statutes. to the Council, preparing and managing the city’s budget, appointing and supervising all 2 General Law: (definition) A general law city The City of Sierra Madre has sandbags available to residents at the City City department heads and employees, and is one which operates under laws and rules Maintenance Yards. The Maintenance Yards are located at 621 Sierra Madre supervising the operation of all City depart- established by the State of California. The Blvd., behind the basketball courts. Please bring your own shovel. ments. Like most cities in California, Sierra council-manager form of government is similar 2 to that of a private compa-ny’s board of directors SAFETY TIPS FOR HEAVY RAINS: Madre is a general law city run under the “council-manager” form of government. and CEO. The council-manager form is the · Clear debris and overgrowth from drainage channels and rain gutters before system of local government that combines the rains. The proposed contract offers Engeland strong political leadership of elected officials in · Be very cautious if holiday lights are still up and being used. When saturated a base salary of $182,000 per year (a the form of a council or other governing body, with water they can cause a short. Surge protectors are recommended. substantial increase over City Manager with the strong managerial experience of an · Keep fuel in your car; power outages might shut down gas pumps. Aguilar’s salary of approximately appointed local government manager. This estab- · Do not use any food, even canned, that has come in contact with rainwater. $156,000) plus a full benefits package and lishes a representative system where all power is · Stay away from storm drain channels and other bodies of water. car allowance. It will also cover $5,000 of · Keep your disaster kit updated with flashlight, extra batteries, portable battery-operated radio, first aid kit and manual, concentrated in the elected council who then hires Engeland’s moving expenses. The contract a professionally trained manager to oversee the emergency food and water for your family and pets, non-electric can opener, essential medications, sturdy shoes and comfort does call for a commitment from Engeland items for children. delivery of public services. · Allow extra time and caution for travel. of at least 5 years of employment with the City of Sierra Madre. S. Henderson/MVNews GROUP LIVING FACILITIES ORDINANCE ON COUNCIL AGENDA The Sierra Madre City Council will conduct a public hearing on Tuesday, January 24, 2017 to consider amending applicable chapters in the Zoning Code to include regulations of “group living facilities” in the Zoning Code. The objective of the amendments are to: • Provide a framework for the inclusion of housing and care facilities for people with disabilities in the City. • Provide some protection to a vulnerable population in the absence of State or Federal licensing or other regulatory oversight. • Update the definitions section of the Zoning code to conform to current Health and Safety Code definitions. • Establish procedures and operational requirements for unlicensed group living facilities and licensed group living facilities with seven (7) persons or greater. • Identify zoning districts where such uses can be located subject to a conditional use permit. • Establish conditional use permit requirements, application procedures, and operational requirements in a new Chapter 17.94 – Group Living Facilities Subject to a Conditional Use Permit. 2 Mountain View News Saturday, January 21, 2017 COMMUNITY CALENDAR Sierra Madre 6-Day Weather Forecast Sierra Wise Madre, Ca. Woman’s Clu b Sun Rain Hi 50s Lows 40s 550 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Mon: Rain Hi 50s Lows 30s Founded February 23, 1907 – “Living the Volunteer Life” in Friendship Tues: Rain (20%) Hi 50s Lows 30s Member of General Federation of Women’s Clubs cfwc.org & gfwc.org Wed: Sunny Hi 60s Lows 40s Thur: Sunny Hi 60s Lows 40s Fri: Sunny Hi 60s Lows 0s Forecasts courtesy of the National Weather Service 1:00 – 4:00 Card Games? Board Games? Mahjong? Qwirkle?!? CITY OF SIERRA MADRE Prizes, Lavish Tea Buffet CALENDAR OF EVENTS Tickets $12 at Wistaria Thrift Shop 355-8977 5 25 Unless otherwise noted, all meetings listed below are held at City $15 as of 1/26 & at Door Hall 232 W. Sierra Madre Blvd. Sierra Madre, Ca. 626-355-7135 Explore Opportunities & Membership with Us NEXT REGULAR JANUARY 24, 2017 Join us for Member-Only Yoga w/ Paul Tuesdays, 10 am 6:30 pm GFWCSierraMadreWomansClub.org Facebook/SierraMadreWomansClub 355-4379 Rent the 1914 Historic Essick House 310-200-1004 Shop Award-Winning Wistaria Thrift Shop 355-7739 1630 AM EMERGENCY RADIO & Donations Accepted Weekdays to 3 pm Free on-air publicity for local events Sierra Madre’s EMERGENCY radio station is now accepting scripts for Public Service Announcements (PSAs) about community events. PSAs SCHOLARSHIP OPPORTUNITY will be broadcast on the air at no charge. The station operates 24/7 and Each year Edison International, parent company of Southern can be heard at 1630 on the AM dial. California Edison (SCE), gives $1.2 million in scholarships to Any local non-profit or non-commercial organization can have their high school seniors in the SCE service territory. This year, Edison event information broadcast to the public on Sierra Madre Community Information Radio. The station covers the city of Sierra Madre, plus International will provide a $40,000 scholarship to 30 students surrounding areas of Pasadena, Arcadia, and Monrovia. interested in science, technology, engineering and mathematics Your event must: (STEM). Last year, three students from the San Gabriel Valley • Benefit a non-commercial or non-profit entity become Edison Scholars. • Be open to the public To be eligible, students must be a current high school senior • Be of general interest to local citizens with a 3.0 GPA or higher and living in or attending school in an Just write a Public Service Announcement that describes your event and e-mail it to [email protected]. area serviced by SCE or in the vicinity of the San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station. Students must plan to attend an accredited four-year college or university in the U.S and major in one of the following STEM fields: mathematics, engineering, computer and SIERRA MADRE CITY information services, management information systems, natural resources and conservation and physical sciences. Students who can MEETINGS demonstrate financial need are preferred, especially first-generation college students who have overcome significant challenges. The Regular City Council Meeting application deadline is February 1, 2017. Tuesday, JANUARY 24, 2017, More information about the scholarship and our past winners can 6:30 pm be found at www.insideedison.com. You can also search the hashtag Can’t make it to the meeting, but still want to share your thoughts? #EdisonScholars on Twitter and Facebook.