Letters to the Editor 10-16-14

Time to make changes
Editor:   
As we move into the elections in November, perhaps it would be worthwhile to take a stroll around town. Take a look at the empty store fronts. We may also want to think about the dismal financial condition of our little town and the quickly deteriorating condition of city equipment and infrastructure. Think as well of the proposed utility user’s tax (Measure O). Also, look at the plethora of signs pleading for re-election. Then take some time to consider who is responsible for putting our town in this condition. Perhaps it’s time to make some changes. We know what doesn’t work so why keep repeating the same mistakes?
The city manager has made a plea for us all to vote yes on Measure O. The plea flyer was long on how disastrous our conditions are and how the bad old state of California has removed its discretionary funding and caused us these awful problems. How we must have local funding to balance the budget and pull the city out of this dismal condition. Frankly, I think local funding is a good idea and of course living on discretionary funding was never a good idea. It’s like budgeting your house payment based on your overtime pay. Overtime could go away at any time leaving you high and dry.
But it isn’t the city manager that holds the purse strings. It’s the city council and they are the ones who will be spending the Measure O money should that pass. Ask yourself if the old guard should have the checkbook. Isn’t it time to look to a fresh approach?
Leonard Von Hoogenstyn, Cloverdale
Self direction will shape Cloverdale’s future
Editor:   
A community’s “progress” is subjective, and can have about 8,000 separate definitions in a small town like ours. While each of us has our own wish for Cloverdale’s future, one thing is certain—change is inevitable and it must be shaped with care. It requires creative leadership, citizen support, and many discussions along the way to shape a compatible result.   
As a “free-standing” town—and not a suburb of a larger city—Cloverdale shapes its future through self-direction, and that unique control needs protecting on the way to a more attractive economic status. For years, we have all held the town together in a variety of methods. Some citizens invest in the community with capital to open or maintain a business. Others bring value to the community by donating time in a non-profit organization in order to keep the social fabric in place. Many do both. While some folks are happy with things “just the way they are,” other folks want to see Cloverdale evolve with residential and commercial advancement. Talking about the path ahead costs nothing but time and can be productive. You are welcome to join several civic meetings each month. If that is your best way to contribute, I encourage you to get involved.
As communities closer to San Francisco become saturated and prohibitively expensive for home-ownership, rentals, and commercial projects, Cloverdale is getting more notice. We in the real estate field observe the situation daily. As short supply elevates home values, our town offers a great value for those who are willing to venture north. This opportunity could be squashed if the city’s financial condition is frail.
With Measure O, resuming a relatively small taxing format is available to shore up the city’s balance sheet that was side-lined by a surprising claw-back of state revenues. The utility tax was abandoned when things were flush, and now it’s the best option to keep Cloverdale in the black.  
While city administrators and leaders took appropriate steps to cut spending when the state stopped funding, the remaining annual shortfall would compound quickly over time into a financial hole that could become a crisis. I encourage local citizens to approve Measure O.
Ken Knight, Cloverdale
Supporting Measure O
Editor:   
The City Council Candidate Forum on September 18 featured five good candidates ready to work hard for our community. And while there were differences in their approaches to some of our most pressing problems, every one of them supported Measure O, the ballot measure which would bring back a 3 percent Utility Users Tax. Our small city is in dire financial straits and every candidate agreed that bringing back this tax is essential to our well-being. The crucial feature of this tax is that every penny will stay in Cloverdale with no funneling off of funds to state or county coffers.
By contrast, of every dollar of state income taxes, local property taxes and local sales taxes paid by Cloverdalians, the state receives 84 cents, the county 9 cents, and the city of Cloverdale a mere 7 cents! We can do little to alter this tax structure but we can make every effort to shop locally. Every dollar we spend on food or goods in other cities is money lost to Cloverdale. Support your Cloverdale businesses and keep our city a safe and lovely place to live.
Dobie Edmunds, Cloverdale
Over-regulation
Editor:   
My family moved to Cloverdale in 1956 so I have a lot of history. I have been on horseback everywhere you can see from the top of Bergie Flats (Vista View). I have been gone some time but Cloverdale was my home until 2002 when I moved to Oregon.  Upon the death of my mother, I inherited the building at 1215 S. Cloverdale Blvd. The property was purchased by my parents and the building was built in 1974. It has been rented to Tillet Tool (drilling tools for the Geysers), a lumber yard, a dental supply and a doggy day care as well as several other businesses. 
Cloverdale has an approved General Plan from 2009 and a proposed population of just over 10,000. Then the economy tanked. I expect the population is more like 7,500. The general plan states it “encourages development opportunities and land sites for employers, retailers and mixed use.” What a crock!  Cloverdale has put in place such an overkill of regulations and zoning that makes it almost impossible to do business. Thanks to your previous planner (and you wonder why Cloverdale never grows). And to wade through all the financial and over-regulatory hoops is disgusting and obscene. For a small town like Cloverdale, because of the abhorrent and ridiculous zoning and regulations, I am going to incur a loss of between $7,500 and $12,500 of economic harm plus an additional $1,850 to obtain an overkill regulation of a conditional use permit for an antique business in my building. Conditional Use permit? Oh for pity sake, Cloverdale is a small town and you treat it like it is San Francisco. I know Karen Massey is working on fixing things and deserves a big thank you. But it cannot happen soon enough.   This delay in excess of three months for me with all these regulations is ludicrous. I am continually appalled by the grind of bureaucratic nonsense to get things done. I ask you tonight to do something about this situation and shortcut all the crappy red tape. Streamline the screwy zoning and permitting process. Give Karen Carte Blanche to repair the zoning and get on with it. Thanks for listening and I would hope you would get off the dime and approve things tonight. As I always say, It ain’t complicated, just do it!
Ann Hathaway, Oregon
Keeping it in Cloverdale
Editor:   
Since I am not usually one to favor tax increases of any kind, I wanted all my friends, neighbors and other residents of Cloverdale to know why I have changed my mind. Unlike the huge state or federal budget, Cloverdale has been struggling along with drastic reductions to their income stream. Back in 2006 when times were better, they let the utility tax go. They felt that this was the right and responsible thing to do. Then along came the state raids; another drastic hit to revenue.
For the past few years, Cloverdale city employees have not received any cost of living raises. The town’s vehicles have suffered. All possible cuts have been made, yet there is no emergency fund left.
With a 20 percent reduction in employees, the belt tightening has been done.
So, considering that our little town has cut the number of police officers, reduced the number of FTE employees, and frozen employee salaries for six years, it is time to give a little for a guaranteed result. None of this money can be stolen by Sacramento. It will all be spent locally for our benefit.
Please vote yes on Measure O.
Wayne Diggs, Cloverdale