World War I – known at the time as “The Great War” – officially ended when the Treaty of Versailles was signed on June 28, 1919, in the Palace of Versailles outside the town of Versailles, France. However, fighting ceased seven months earlier when an armistice, or temporary cessation of hostilities, between the Allied nations and Germany went into effect on the eleventh hour of the eleventh day of the eleventh month. For that reason, November 11, 1918, is generally regarded as the end of “the war to end all wars.” Excerpted from History of Veterans Day – United States Department of Veteran’s Affairs
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1. Conference with Labor Negotiator
(Government Code Section 54957.6)
Agency Negotiator: City Manager Jose Antonio Ramirez
Employee Organizations: All Represented and Unrepresented City Employees.
Excerpted from Closed Session: October 18, 2011 City Council Meeting Agenda (The Closed Session for this Date Was Canceled)
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
NOVEMBER 1, 2011
OPEN SESSION: 7:00 P.M.
Excerpted from the NOVEMBER 01, 2011 Meeting Agenda (Notice What’s Missing? Yep..No Closed Session. No Conference about Labor Negotiations)
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As of the date of this Posting, we are getting ready to enter the 5th month of a New Fiscal Year without a Formally Adopted Budget. But it looks like we finally might be close to actually adopting a Real Budget, sort of – almost – maybe
More on that later..but first let’s check into Delta Bravo Sierra Land
So….whose gonna get the biggest “chewin’”? Guess you’ll have to go to Delta Bravo Sierra Land yourself to find out….
There’s Strange..and then there’s Army Strange: courtesy of Damon Shackelford: furious scribbler of military cartoons. {He’s on Facebook too! and even has his own Comic Book!!!}
VETERANS DAY PARADE This November in Livingston
Mark your calendar! The Livingston/Delhi Veterans of Foreign Wars #8327 and Ladies Auxiliary will be hosting the Annual Veterans Day Parade in the City of Livingston on November 11, 2011, at 11:00 am.
If you wish to have an entry in the parade, for an entry form contact Denis Wells at (209) 394-2059..
And for more on the History of Veteran’s Day CLICK HERE!
Livingston Rotary Crab Feed, November 12, 2011
Our Livingston Rotary Club Winton-Campini Crab Feed will be held Saturday, November 12, 2011, 6 pm. Contact any Livingston Rotarian or Livingston True Value Hardware for tickets. As always, it is all you can eat, family style with a raffle and dessert auction. It’s an opportunity to meet and greet old friends and raise money for local projects like the donations of library books, picnic covers, college scholarships, leadership camps, speech contests and disc golf course.
VFW 
Ladies Auxiliary Rummage Sale
The next Ladies Auxiliary Rummage Sale will be held November 30 and December 1-2 , 2011. If you have anything to donate contact Denis or Sue Wells and let us know where and when you would like someone to pick the items up.
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here’s Still Time to Help Give the Lil Guys and Gals and even better place to play!
In 2006 the city purchased the storm drain basin (4 lots) next to the park and filled it in with the intent of making it a park to service the ball park participants and their families. Since then, Lil Guys and Gals field has been a ball park used for many years by the residents of Livingston.
The Recreation Commission determined in 2011 to take on the park as a project. The commission wanted to involve the community and let them help bring this project to reality. By purchasing a stepping stone the community not only provides the financing for the park, but in turn places a personal monument in the park for years to come.
Stones will be sold until there are enough sales to cover the completion of the park. The Commission’s goal is Summer of 2012.
Once you have purchased a stone you will be called by the Recreation Department for an appointment to make/create your stone.
If you are interested in creating a Memorial Stone and/or participating in one of the many work days that will take place to upgrade the park, call the Recreation Office at 394-8830 for more information.
The 2011-2012 Draft Budget for the City of Livingston has been Published.
And was the subject of a Special City Council Meeting on October 25th . {You can CLICK HERE to see it as originally published}
As you can see (If you chose to click the link above ^) The Draft Minutes really don’t tell you diddly squat about what all was discussed that night (Over 2 hours and 31 minutes worth of discussion took place).
However, with the help of my own handy dandy hand held recorder and some previous Facebook Posts..I can give you a few tidbits to chew over before the Official Budget Adoption Meeting: which is supposed to be before this month is over.
*The Fire Department’s budget will be increased by $2,000 (taking it from another department if need by)so they can have “educational Fire Prevention materials” to take to the schools.
*The City will “donate” $5,000 to the July 4th Committee. There was also a discussion about using Reserve Officers for the Fourth of July Celebration.
*The Council talked about starting up a brand new Fire Inspection Program whereby the Fire Department would go into every Multi-Unit Apartment Complex and every Business on an Annual Basis
*Staffing at Public Works is a bit too low to get everything everyone wants done exactly when everyone wants it done. So the City Manager talked about the possibility of starting up a program in which a Public Works person goes to the (prison?) and pick up Low Risk Offenders to do stuff like Weed Abatement & such.
*The Building Inspector is only at City Hall Monday-Thursday. As far as “code enforcement” goes, the focus is on “Health and Safety” and “weed abatement”.
*There are projected Surpluses in the Enterprise Operating Funds: which will be used to offset previous Operating deficits.
*The Senior Center may not continue in it’s present location: there are some “changes” coming. Mayor Espinoza talked about moving the Senior Center to the building next door to City Hall."
*And the Planning Department got an additional $500 to cover additional costs of additional “Public Noticing” of the additional “Public Hearings” for all the additions/subtractions and Changes Being Made to the Zoning Code.
Look for a reworked version of the Budget to be available just before the November 15th City Council Meeting.
While We’re On The Subject of the Budget
Last year, Extensions of MOU’s (Memorandum of Understandings) with the vast majority of Employee Bargaining Units was adopted by a 5-0 vote of the City Council at the July 6, 2010 Council Meeting. This year, the Closed Session discussion about Negotiations with the Employee Organizations has been canceled at least twice already.
And there’s nothing on this Tuesday’s Agenda about “Conference with the Labor Negotiator” either.
Maybe its just me. But doesn’t it make sense to finish up Negotiations and Adopt the Memorandums of Understanding with the Employee Organizations at least a meeting or two before adopting The Budget?
So what’s the hold up? I mean, it’s not like the City Council didn’t know “Labor Negotiations” needed to get done some time this year.
I did notice one thing though…according to the City Council Draft Minutes I have, the Assistant City Manager: Vicky Lewis, was included in the Closed Session Discussions about Labor Negotiation last year.
This year, however, Meeting Minutes seems to indicate the Assistant City Manager has been excluded from these discussions..
You know the old expression about “keeping all your eggs in one basket”? I wonder if all the “discussions” are being kept in one pocket..
I’m also wondering When-Will-These-Discussions-Finally-Get-DONE!?!
Changes Coming to the Planning Commission?
See Agenda Item Below
It will be interesting to see if the City Council “opens it up” to anyone who might be interested, or if they will take the position of “why bother, he’s doing a good job anyway”.
And Now on to the
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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
NOVEMBER 1, 2011
OPEN SESSION: 7:00 P.M.
Notice is hereby given that the City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on November 1, 2011, at the City Council Chambers, 1416 C Street, Livingston, California. Persons with disabilities who may need assistance should contact the Deputy City Clerk at least 24 hours prior to this meeting at (209) 394-8041, Ext. 121. Any writings or documents pertaining to an Open Session item provided to a majority of the members of the legislative body less than 72 hours prior to the meeting shall be made available for public inspection at Livingston City Hall, 1416 C Street. The Open Session will begin at 7:00 p.m. The agenda shall be as follows:
Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER Next Resolution Number: 2011-69
Next Ordinance Number: 598
Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call.
Changes to the Agenda.
AWARDS, PRESENTATIONS, APPOINTMENTS AND PROCLAMATIONS
GRANT ANNOUNCEMENTS
ANNOUNCEMENTS AND REPORTS
Supervisor John Pedrozo Announcements and Reports.
City Staff Announcements and Reports.
City Manager Announcements and Reports.
City Council Members’ Announcements and Reports.
Mayor’s Announcements and Reports.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
CITIZEN COMMENTS – NOTE: Public Comment/Speaker Cards are now available on the back table of the City Council Chambers. Please fill out the appropriate card and submit to Meeting Recorder.
This section of the agenda allows members of the public to address the City Council on any item NOT otherwise on the agenda. Members of the public, when recognized by the Mayor, should come forward to the lectern, and identify themselves. Comments are normally limited to three (3) minutes. In accordance with State Open Meeting Laws, no action will be taken by the City Council this evening. For items which are on the agenda this evening members of the public will be provided an opportunity to address the City Council as each item is brought up for discussion.
CONSENT CALENDAR
Items on the Consent Calendar are considered routine or non-controversial and will be enacted by one vote, unless separate action is requested by the City Manager or City Council Member. There will be no separate discussion of these items unless members of the City Council or City Manager request that specific items be removed.
1. Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held on October 4, 2011 (Amended).
2. Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held on October 18, 2011.
3. Approval of Minutes of Meeting Held on October 25, 2011.
4. Approval of Warrant Register Dated October 26, 2011.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
7. City Council to Provide Staff Direction for Appointment to the Planning Commission.
ADJOURNMENT
And there is also
A Few Form 700’s About Who Owns What and Where in Livingston
2011 CITY COUNCIL Agendas and Meeting Minutes
Police Chief Recruitment City of Livingston
The “Mission of the Utility Rate Stakeholders Committee” Series
- February 15, 2011 Discussion: Utility Rate Stakeholders Committee
- In Which the idea was first proposed for a Stakeholders Committee in which members would work with City Staff and Consultants
- April 05, 2011: Discussion of Utility Rate Stakeholder Committee Member Appointments
- In which the people who would be working with City Staff and Consultants were chosen
- June 07, 2011 Discussion of Utility Rate Committee Meeting
- In which it was revealed that the people who would be working with City Staff and Consultants already had their first “get together”. But the public was not invited.
The “Brief History of How We Got Into This Mess” Series
- A Brief History of Time (Spent on “Fixing” Water, Waste Water, and Garbage Rates-and other related issues) Part 1—1995 through 2002
- A Brief History of Time (Spent on “Fixing” Water, Waste Water, and Garbage Rates-and other related issues) Part 2—2003 through 2007
- A Brief History of Time (Spent on “Fixing” Water, Waste Water, and Garbage Rates-and other related issues) Part 3—January 2007 through February 2008
- A Brief History of Time (Spent on “Fixing” Water, Waste Water, and Garbage Rates-and other related issues) Part 4— January 2008 through October 2008
- A Brief History of Time (Spent on “Fixing” Water, Waste Water, and Garbage Rates-and other related issues) Part 5— October,2008 through June 2009
- A Brief History of Time (Spent on “Fixing” Water, Waste Water, and Garbage Rates-and other related issues) Part 6— Some Background Information and a Brief Recap of What Happened Between 1995 and June 2009
- A Brief History of Time (Spent on “Fixing” Water, Waste Water, and Garbage Rates-and other related issues) Part 7: Some Enterprise Funds Basics, Meeting Highlights: July 7, 2009 through December 01, and a City Council Agenda
- Who knows, I may actually get around to writing Part 8
A Few Letters, Sun-Star & and Mike McGuire Articles about Livingston Politics (and a few other things Worthy of Note) (The links here go all the way back to the 2008 Election Cycle)
The 1995 Water Rate Resolution (Do you see anything in there that says “Industrial”?)
California Department of Health Sept. 2010 Letter on Water System Funding
Well #15 Enforcement Letter & Staff Report
Well #15 Manganese Enforcement Letter Discussions
How They Voted in 2011 (Granted, it’s a Work in Process, but there are links to things there you might be interested in.)
City Council Draft Meeting Minutes for 2010
City Council Draft Meeting Minutes for 2009
City Council Draft Meeting Minutes for 2008
City Council Meeting Minutes for 2007
City Council Meeting Minutes for 2004
2010-2011 Merced County Grand Jury Final Report
2009-2010 Merced County Grand Jury Final Report
