SIERRA MADRE EDITION SATURDAY, OCTOBER 14, 2017 VOLUME 11 NO. 41 Walking Sierra Madre…The Social Side CITY PASSES NEW DEBT ISSUANCE REMEMBERING JOHN DAVIS by Deanne Davis “He has shown you, O mortal, what is good. And AND MANAGEMENT POLICY what does the LORD require of you? To act justly and to love mercy and to walk humbly with your God.” At the last meeting of the Sierra Madre II. POLICY OBJECTIVES Michah 6:8 City Council, City Manager Gabe Engeland The City recognizes that a fiscally responsible That, friends and neighbors, was the life verse and presented the council with a revised debt policy debt policy is required in order to: conduct code of my best friend, my walking buddy, aimed at improving the manner in which the my oatmeal cookie aficionado, my Dancing With city handles its finances, specifically it’s debt. • Maintain the City’s sound financial The Stars critique partner and the one and only The new policy is as follows: (Excerpts from position. love of my life, John Davis. John left us Monday staff reports) • Ensure the City has the flexibility morning, October 9th at about 6:30 a.m. as a result to respond to possible changes in future of complications of pneumonia coupled with a I. PURPOSE service priorities, revenues, and operating virulent lung infection that none of us can figure The purpose of this Debt Issuance and expenses. out how on earth he encountered such a thing. Management Policy (the “Policy”) is to • Protect the City’s creditworthiness. Some years ago when our oldest grandson, provide written guidelines for issuing debt • Ensure the City’s debt is consistent with Michael, was born, I took our Texas daughter, Crissy, and managing outstanding debt and to the City’s planning goals and objectives who was then 8 years old, with me and we flew to provide guidance to policy makers regarding and capital improvement program and/or Connecticut where our daughter, Leah, was living... the timing and purposes for which debt may budget, as applicable. small side trip here... we loved seeing pictures of be issued, types and amounts of permissible The main objectives of this Policy are to pregnant Leah scraping snow off her windshield debt, and method of sale that may be used. establish conditions for the use of debt: while wearing sandals. You can take the girl out Adherence to a debt policy helps ensure the • To ensure debt capacity and of California but you can’t take the California out City’s debt is prudently issued and managed affordability are adequately considered. of the girl! Anyway, I wrote John a note and told in order to maintain a sound financial • To minimize the City’s interest him then, “You are the other half of my heart.” That position and optimal credit ratings. The payments and issuance costs. never changed. We have been married 50 years as policies and procedures herein are subject to • To achieve the highest practical credit of last April 1st and while I am walking and talking and limited by applicable provisions of state ratings, when applicable. and doing all the things that one has to do at this and federal law and commonly accepted • To provide complete financial sort of time, I am doing it with half of my heart. debt management principles. disclosure and reporting. So many people, hundreds actually and that’s not • To ensure the City is in compliance exaggerating, have sent me notes on Facebook and Don’t let the moonlight shine across the lonely This Policy is intended to comply with the with all relevant State and Federal securities other places telling me how John changed their lives hill. requirements of Senate Bill 1029, codified laws and other applicable laws and and loved them unconditionally. He was, literally, Dry all the raindrops, and hold back the sun. as part of Government Code Section 8855 regulations. the kindest, dearest person I’ve ever known. My world has ended, my baby’s gone” (i), effective on January 1, 2017. This Policy John did things like taking my hand, looking deep is applicable to all entities for which the The new policy includes acceptable uses of into my eyes, when I was in my late 30’s and saying, John loved Sierra Madre. When we were going to City Council acts as legislative body. These debt proceeds both Long Term and Short “It’s really important to me that you floss!” “Fine,” I get married in 1967, there was no question about entities include, but are not limited to, the Term, the types of debt, and the structure and said, “I’ll floss.” Now it’s habitual. He did the same where we’d live. Sierra Madre...where you see deer City of Sierra Madre, the Sierra Madre term of debt. thing to our daughter, Patti, made her promise she’d wandering in the street, where people are friendly, Public Financing Authority, the Sierra Engeland pointed out several loopholes, floss for a year. John was a gentle soul who loved where we found the house of our dreams, a 100 Madre Successor Agency, and the City’s shortcomings and problems in the way the city serving breakfast to the homeless of Pasadena at year old beauty on 2/3 of an acre where we raised Community Facilities District. When used has handle debt management in the past and Church in the Park with Pasadena First Church our children, Leah, Patti, John and Crissy. Where in this Policy, the term “City” shall refer to presented a convincing case for adopting the of the Nazarene. He was in charge of grits and of we’ve had hundreds of parties, barbequed tons of each of such entities and “debt” or “bonds” new policy. telling people how happy he was to see them and hamburgers and hot dogs, sat around the pool with refers to all indebtedness and financing lease The council approved the new policy just generally being a sweet and loving guy. so many friends and laughed and talked. obligations of the City. unanimously. You can view the entire policy One of the happiest times of his life, mine too, was When we knew that John’s days were coming at www.cityofsierramadre.com. MVNews when we taught the young singles Sunday school to an end, that’s what we did, the family – which class at church. We started with four girls who were has grown to be quite a few wonderful people, 13 in their early twenties and eventually we had over grandchildren, 5 great-grandchildren - and I, we sat SPERO FOUNDATION HOPS FOR HOPE DINNER 30. The Jabez Group. How we loved them and how and stood around his bed and laughed and talked they loved him. Many marriages and babies have and told stories, and prayed and wept and hugged FUNDRAISER AT SANTA ANITA RACE TRACK come out of that group of young singles. They and so many people came in and read the 23rd speak of him and the advice he gave, always solid, Psalm: “The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not want. Sierra Madre, California - October community’s best from Sierra always loving. He maketh me to lie down in green pastures: he 8, 2017. The Spero Foundation Madre Playhouse, Creative John was born in the California Hospital in Los leadeth me beside the still waters. He restoreth my announced its major fall fund Arts Group, Pasadena Adaptive Angeles on June 16, 1933. His parents, Jay and soul: he leadeth me in the paths of righteousness raising event for 2017 Hops for Arts Program and The Friends Leila, supported him in whatever he needed to for his name’s sake. Yea, though I walk through the Hope, a five course gourmet dinner of The Sierra Madre Library. do, including drilling holes in the walls to rewire valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil: and California Craft beer pairing A member from each group certain areas to work the way he wanted them to. for thou art with me...” John loved God with all his will be held at Santa Anita Race was nominated by their Of course, he also let me paint our kitchen bright heart and soul and prayed frequently to be a better Track in the Mezzanine Sports respective organizations as orange and yellow and our bathroom bright yellow disciple for Him. Lounge on Saturday November 4th ones who give so generously and green without complaining. He attended USC Walking Sierra Madre will not be nearly as much starting at 6:00PM. and make a difference with where he received his Bachelor of Engineering fun without my walking buddy to talk to and laugh This year’s event will recognize their volunteerism in the degree in 1955 and his Master’s in Engineering in with and admire the gardens all over town with, but the accomplishments of some of the community. 1959. He loved the radio business and did technical I will do my best as that’s what he would want. He’s work for so many stations. In fact, he loved radio dancing with the angels! And has heard the words, so much that we built and owned our own radio “Well done, thou good and faithful servant. You City of Sierra Madre station, KROR-FM, The Mighty Roar of the Desert have been faithful over a little; I will set you over from 1988-1994 when we got out by the skin of much. Enter now into the joy of your Master!” Mt.