I had an unexpected visitor this weekend, maybe I shouldn’t have been to surprised (heh). More on that later…
But first let’s see what happened over the Veterans’ Day Weekend out in Delta Bravo Sierra Land: courtesy of Damon Shackelford: furious scribbler of military cartoons.
Matt’s been out of the picture for at least a year or so. So what happened to Matt in the first place?…Well…It’s kind of a long story that began back in 2009 when he had too close of an encounter with an IED. Next thing he knew, he was in Germany. After being heavily sedated for the flight to Walter Reed, it looked like he might have been facing a long lonely road to recovery. Until he got a visit from a very special “angel” and another by Laughing Wolf from Black Five. At first, his prognosis seemed a bit grim, after all Matt’s injury was the kind many of us would have a hard time dealing with. But the Soldiers Angels, and a voice activated laptop, helped Matt start down the road to recovery. After Matt got a visit from a friend on leave we didn’t hear anything about him until now.
Welcome back Matt.
And God Bless those Soldiers’ Angels…
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.
Free Senior Breakfast, November 17th
Seniors who are interested in learning how they can save money on their energy bill are encouraged to attend the FREE SENIOR BREAKFAST which will be held at the Livingston Veteran’s Memorial Hall 1605 7th Street, Livingston on Thursday, November 17th , 8-10 am. This event is free for the first 150 Seniors who sign up.
For a full sized copy of the Flyer/Application Form CLICK HERE
This Just in from Joint Hometown News Service
By S.L. Standifird
FORT LEONARD WOOD, Mo. – Before the sun could rise above the peaks of the surrounding Ozarks and the Mark Twain National Forest, the son of a Merced couple was marching through heavy rain, over harsh terrain, while avoiding relentless bugs, and battling fatigue to complete the 2011 Military Police Corps Regiment Worldwide Warfighter Competition.
Army Staff Sgt. Jacob E. Vaughan, son of Phillip and Betty Covert of Merced, is a military policeman with 189th Military Police Company, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who endured the competition with his teammates to finish 16th overall.
The Warfighter Competition is a three-and-a-half-day marathon of military police and Army skills designed to test and train the junior soldiers within the Military Police Corps Regiment. Each military police battalion in the Army is represented, often after having a competition of its own to determine which three soldiers will represent the battalion.
"They wanted the best, so here I am," said Vaughan, a 2002 Newman High School graduate.
The warfighter events included a written exam about military police and Army history, a physical readiness test that included modified army PFT events, night land navigation, battle drill and warrior task stations, various weapons drills and firing scenarios, a combatives tournament, and a 15 mile endurance march to mark the completion.
Going in, it was about more than just winning or finishing for Vaughan. The lessons learned were well worth the pain and effort, he said.
"We had a very short time to train so we just worked on endurance," said Vaughan. "With this experience, I will be able to inform soldiers of what’s expected of them."
All of the 37 teams that participated in the competition finished the entire event, and for Vaughan, it was his first of hopefully many to come.
ACCOMPANYING PHOTOS:
1. Army Staff Sgt. Jacob E. Vaughan is a military policeman with 189th Military Police Company, Joint Task Force Guantanamo Bay, Cuba, who endured the Worldwide Warfighter Competition with his teammates and finished 16th overall. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
2. Teams were often required to run long distances between events, such this six-mile run, during the Worldwide Warfighter Competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
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3. From the top of a 35-foot tower, soldiers repel immediately following firing weapons during the Worldwide Warfighter Competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
4. A team rushes a dummy (simulated casualty) to a specified point during one of the many military police skills tested during the Worldwide Warfighter Competition. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
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5. Military police teams negotiate a series of rooms and react to potential threats by firing upon targets. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
6. A team simulates first aid treatment to a dummy casualty during battle drills, where teams must successfully negotiate a given route and overcome situations and tasks. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
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7. Competitors do as many pull-ups as possible during the physical readiness assessment on the first day of the 2011 Worldwide Warfighter Competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
8. Beginning at the twilight hour and running into the darkness of night, the land navigation event requires teams to successfully navigate through rough, wooded terrain with a compass and map. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
9. Soldiers respond to man-to-man combat skills during the combatives event, as part of a double elimination style tournament, during the 2011 Worldwide Warfighter Competition at Fort Leonard Wood, Mo. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
10. A team carefully enters a building where a suspected shooter is hiding. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
11. A suspected enemy combatant, who was hiding from competitors, is searched during one of many tests that were presented to the three-man teams. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
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12. The firing pin to an M-4 rifle is put back into place during a weapons disassembly-reassembly timed event during the 2011Worldwide Warfighter Competition. (Photo by Michael Tolzmann)
OK…Whose Playing Chicken Now?
Over the weekend, I had an unexpected “visitor”: one of the chickens that have been “free ranging” on the corner of Hammatt and Park decided to try taking up temporary residence in my back yard.
At first I was a bit startled when I went out to add to my compost pile and was suddenly nose to beak with the big brown hen. But she didn’t seem to seem to get her feathers all too ruffled about it.
Now, I’ve already seen the occasional escaped parrot, parakeet, and cockatoo in addition to the “more usual”, sparrows, starlings, crows, magpie, owl, and crane.
And than, there is that humming bird who clearly seems to have claimed parts of my yard as “his” territory. (Ever seen humming birds fight by the way? For a bird so small, they have a huge attitude)
So…..there are many different species of birds that I would expect to see around the ole homestead. But not chickens. (No…I’m not talking about the occasional escapee from Foster Farms. I’m talking about the kind you would normally see running around the yards and/or kept in pens out in the country side.)
Because…..people are not supposed to have chickens within the City Limits.
Chickens and “what should we do about chickens” has been a topic of conversation at City Council Meetings on more than one occasion. Because, even though it is against the Municipal Code to have chickens and other farm animals within the City limits, some people still keep chickens.
It’s not unusual to see chickens “free ranging” around town and it’s also not too terribly unusual to hear roosters crowing in the wee hours of the morning: something which has also been brought to the Council’s attention a time or two. (or three, or more. I’m starting to lose count)
So…what will the City Council eventually do about chickens? Wellllllll….
It’s pretty clear (those who attend council meetings on a regular basis) that Some council members don’t have a problem with chickens in the city, so long as they stay in the back yard (So if Roosters wake you up at 5 in the morning – Guess you’re just out of luck). Other Council Members seem to feel chickens don’t belong inside the City Limits period! (Which is why that there “no chickens allowed” thing is in the Municipal Code in the first place doncha know)
I heard there is supposed to be a Joint Planning Commission/City Council meeting on December 3rd: to “develop a vision” and “work out goals and objectives”: stuff like that
Maybe they could add “What are we really going to do about chickens?” to the list…..
Oh…that Temporary Resident Chicken? It “flew the coop”. I think.
(Although my hubby did make chicken soup Monday….do you think? Nah!….. heh)
One More Thing Before We Change Gears
If I am remembering correctly, the Recruitment Period for the Chief of Police Position closed the end of October. Means we should be hearing something about the number of applications the City received pretty soon. Right?
Right?
And now on to the
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CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING AGENDA
NOVEMBER 15, 2011
CLOSED SESSION: 6:00 P.M.
OPEN SESSION: 7:00 P.M.
Notice is hereby given that the City Council will hold a Regular Meeting on November 15, 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 Closed Session will be held in accordance with state law prior to the Open Session beginning at 6:00 p.m. The Closed Session will be held in the City of Livingston City Hall Conference Room located at 1416 C Street. The agenda shall be as follows:
Closed Session
1. Call to Order.
2. Roll Call.
CLOSED SESSION
A “Closed” or “Executive” Session of the City Council or the Livingston Redevelopment Agency may be held in accordance with state law which may include, but is not limited to, the following types of items: personnel matters, labor negotiations, security matters, providing instructions to real property negotiators, conference with legal counsel regarding pending litigation. The Closed Session will be held in the City Hall Conference Room located at 1416 C Street, Livingston, California. Any public comment on Closed Session items will be taken before the Closed Session. Any required announcements or discussion of Closed Session items or actions following the Closed Session will be made in the City Council Chambers, 1416 C Street, Livingston, California.
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.
Regular Meeting
CALL TO ORDER Next Resolution Number: 2011-69
Next Ordinance Number: 598
Pledge of Allegiance.
Roll Call.
Closed Session Announcements.
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
1. Resolution Setting the City of Livingston’s Gann Appropriation Limit for the Fiscal Year 2011-2012.
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.
4. Resolution Authorizing Investment of Monies in the Local Agency Investment Fund.
5. Resolution Designating Certain Signatures for City Bank Accounts with WestAmerica Bank.
6. Approval of Warrant Register Dated November 9, 2011.
DISCUSSION AND POTENTIAL ACTION ITEMS
8. Resolution Reappointing Luis Enrique Flores to the Planning Commission.
9. Appointment of Alternate Member to San Joaquin Valley Special City Selection Committee.
ADJOURNMENT
And Don’t Forget the following
A Few Form 700’s About Who Owns What and Where in Livingston
2011 CITY COUNCIL Agendas and Meeting Minutes (Although I haven’t had the time to link up every single Agenda Item to supporting documentation, it will give you a fairly good ideas of “where we’ve been” over the last few months)
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
