NC Media Watch

Grass Valley January Temperatures have declined for last four years.

Russ Steele

 

As many readers know,  since 2005 I have been tracking the monthly temperature changes at the Grass Valley surface station, located at the Sewer Plant.  Today Linda Quinn, who records the temperatures and sends them to the National Weather Service sent me the latest readings for January 2008. The average January temperature from 1971 to 2000 was 42.85.  In 2005 the Average was 44.2 about 1.35 above average. In 2006 42.18, about about 0.67 below average. In 2007 the average was 40.4 or about 2.45 below the multi-year average. Now in 2008 the average is 39.64, or about 3.21 degrees below the multi-year average. I check the 1961 to 1990 average and there was not much difference, with an average of 42.6.

These figures indicate a weather trend, not global climate change. We would need 30 years of data for a global climate change trend. However, I find it interesting that each January for last four years has been progressively cooler, then the year before. Any bets on 2009?

UPDATE:  Here is a picture of the Grass Valley Surface Station at the sewer plant.

The Union is high on their perch this morning

Russ Steele

The Union Editorial Staff writes this morning that Question authority: It's a good thing

One of the problems with political office, particularly in a small town, is that officeholders can forget those they are serving. Over time, they tend to become part of the institution they were put in office to bird dog for taxpayers - or at least they can be perceived as such.

We guess part of the problem is due to the physical nature of a typical government meeting, where five or so elected officials sit high above the floor, staring down at the people they are supposed to be serving. Anyone who has ever tiptoed to a public-meeting podium can tell you how intimidating that can be. It's kind of like the lion walking to speak with Oz. "Who dares to speak before the mighty Oz!" booms a voice over a loudspeaker.

Has the Union editorial staff noticed that the Press sits at the same level as the Supervisors and look down on the citizens as well in the Board Chamber. Maybe they should get down off their high perch and mingle with the constituents as well, sit with the rest of us. The BOS held a Workshop/Retreat at the Holiday Inn where constituents were more than welcome to come and observe, mingle and ask questions at the breaks. We only saw a Union reporter at the Workshop the morning of the first day. 

At the Workshop/Retreat last year one of the Supervisors recommended that the Press box be moved to the back of the chamber, giving their high perch to key staff members.

The Union is no longer the only voice in the community, and that is good because the Union only tells readers part of the story, and the current DA office flap is a good example.  There will always be those "rest of the story" moments that readers can find here, here, here and here. Especially on the current flap over the DA office move.   There will be more opportunities  in the coming months, so book mark your local blogger and get "the rest of the story."

Nevada County BOS Workshop/Retreat follow up - Day two

Russ Steele

This morning here are four citizen visitors, Yubanet, two bloggers and one observer at the BOS Workshop.  A big improvement over last year, when I was the only observer.  No Union reporter today. The room was much larger this morning, set in large C shape, as the BOS had invited several Department Heads and Sheriff Keith Royal to join the discussion. Keith explained where he is focusing his staff to solve problems in North San Juan, Greehhorn Creek, and the town of Washington. Compared to other County's we have a very low crime rate in Nevada County, with 70% of the crime drug related. In the past year the jail population has dropped from about 200 to 90 County law breakers. As a result Sheriff Royal is renting space to the Federal Marshals Office to hold nonviolent prisoners for periods of 30 to 60 days, making some extra money for the County in these rough budget times.

More BOS Retreat today

Russ Steele

I will be back at the BOS Retreat today. They are going to set some goal priorities. They will also be discussing economic development and how to address the recommendations in the Seifel Report on economic development in Western Nevada County.   I find the interaction between board members very interesting, they have different points of view, but have figured out how to work with each other to produce the best results for people of Nevada County.  No I am not a hack for the BOS, just an observer.

Finally someone is taking AB-32's economic impact seriously

Russ Steele

This afternoon the Board of Supervisors discussed the new items which should be put on their list of issue to focus on in the coming budget year. They have not completed the list yet, as there are still some priorities to assign, A, B or C for each issue. However, one of item that caught my attention was the development of a policy on sustainability to address the greenhouse gas reduction mandates that will be coming from the State. One Supervisor has a four page list of things the County is already doing to reduce energy consumption, which in turn reduces the amount of greenhouse gases generated. How to get recognition for these actions was part of discussion. Another item of discussion was that all future sustainable initiatives should include a cost benefits analysis. None of the Supervisors were interested in green building mandates, or mandates of any kind that will negatively impact the local economy. 

This discussion on the economic impact of AB-32's, Global Warming Solutions Act, which mandates reductions in greenhouse gases is more than timely, it is vital. We have an shaky economy now and new mandates can only make it worse. The Supervisors will be discussing economic development again on Wednesday, and setting some priorities on their issues list. I hope that developing a sustainability policy with a cost benefits analysis is on the A list.   

Follow up to the BOS Retreat

Russ Steele

On the  the Union's web site Dave Moller, the Union reporter at the meeting today writes: 

Almost all of the county’s $61 million general fund pays for public safety, social and general government services. That is where cuts could come if Gov. Schwarzenegger’s 10 percent across-the-board budge cut proposal stays intact, Haffey said.

Well not exactly what I heard today. The only place were 10% cuts are going to be is in State funded health and welfare programs managed by the County. None, let me repeat none, of the Nevada County General Fund programs are going to be cut by 10%. The above is a very misleading statement. The Budget committee will decide if the County will back fill any of the Governor's cuts, if in fact they take place. As Sue Horne explained, there are lot of people knocking on the Governor door and it is not clear the 10% across the board cuts are going to hold up, especially in the social services.

Live blogging the BOS Retreat

Russ Steele

The quote of the days so far is by Supervisor John Spencer, "We actually do stuff here" following a review of the County Staff accomplishments in 2007. With hand outs this year, so I will have more later. We are now in the budget discussions. We will provide details in future posts.

UPDATE: The Fiscal Report to the BOS by Joe Christoffel, the County CFO, indicates that County expenditures are not exceeding revenues as has been suggested in other media outlets.  According to the CFO presentation revenue has exceeded expenditures over the last 3 years.  Planning for expected and unexpected events has reduced the roller coaster effect seen in other County and State Budgets, by putting funds aside for rainy day events. The State mandated budget reductions of 10% will present some challenges, but nothing that cannot be handled according to the County CFO. It will mainly impact state funded programs in the Health Department.

The morning session had six visitors. Two reporters, one from YubaNet and one from The Union, plus four citizen observers, including two bloggers. As one of the bloggers, I will post more highlight when I have had time to study my notes and listen to my iPod recording. This afternoon the reporters are gone and only two citizens remain to observe the development of budget priorities for the coming budget year of FY 08/09.  Be sure and read the YubaNet and The Union reports on events this morning. 

UPDATE #2:  In reference to renting the DA a new office. It turns out that the County charges LAFCO $1.55 dollars a square foot. This kind of puts the "high end rent" for the DA new office in perspective, with the below market increase of 2% reported to be about $1.53 sq foot.

Reality is seeing for yourself

Russ Steele

The Board of Supervisors has been taking a drubbing in the Union over fiscal management. Last year when I attended the Supervisors Retreat, I came away with a different perspective on how the County is managing its assets. I thought some of the back slapping in the accomplishments review was a little over the top. Too much chest thumping minor accomplishments which were mixed in with the significant ones. I hope the focus this year is on the top ten or the top five, but I guess every department wants it's accomplishment, no matter how small on the list for all to see.

On the other hand, the budget discussions were most illuminating. I came away from the two day meeting with better understanding of the challenges facing the BOS, and how they were preparing for a potential slow down. It was already evident in the reduced number of building permits. the other surprise was the strong show of leadership on the BOS which I blogged on here and here.

I have been accused of becoming a hack for the BOS. I was only reporting what I saw and my assessment of the local political and economic scene. All citizens will have an opportunity tomorrow and Wednesday when the BOS holds their retreat at the Holiday Inn to see for themselves if the BOS are doing a good job. You can down load the Tuesday Agenda Download 080129.pdf and the Wednesday Agenda Download 080130.pdf Come and see for yourself if the local news papers are factually reporting the County's fiscal management.

Several of the Bastiat Triangle Alliance blogger will be attending and reporting on the retreat. I will link to all the blog posts on the meeting, you can get several points of view, including those in the newspapers. 

Where are all the low carbon foot print 6,000 square foot facilities?

Russ Steele

Below is a post in the comment section of Jeff Pelline Column on Saturday the 27th Union, by the Publisher Jeff Ackerman.

Retreat
    Russ:
 
. . . As to the issue of the DA's new digs...Jeff P. raised a good question...in a "buyer's market" for both real estate and office space, why did the county have to pay so much per square foot? I'd bet they could have waited a few months, leaving it empty for a bit, and the price would have dropped. There is a TON of empty office space on the market today. Unfortunately, there is no incentive for government to negotiate price. It's not their money...it's "ours."
 
        Jeff
 
       by publisher on Sun, 27 Jan 2008 14:17:52 PST

OK Jeff, if there are a "TON of empty office space on the market today," I wonder if they meet the County specifications?  Tell me where they are and let's see how many meet the County specifications and have a lower carbon foot print than the current Union Street building.

We know the minimum requirement was 6,000 sq feet.  I just checked and there are no commercial buildings that have 6,000 square feet or more listed in the 84 commercial properties on the ERC Business ReLocator. With no other 6,000 sq foot buildings/spaces listed, there does not see to be much advantage in the County waiting. If there is only one 6,000 sq foot building available, the owner can charge the market price plus if he desires.

If you did find a facility with 6,000 square at a lower price we would need one with a lower carbon foot print than the current Union Street building. Remembers that right now having a low carbon foot print is more important than the economy. The current building which is in walking distance, has solar power, well insulated and well orientated. Strong indicators of a low carbon foot print.   

More on the DA Office Flap

Russ Steele

Martin Light over at Light on Nevada County has some thought on the DA office rental flap. I have added some comments in the comment section here.