Council Back To Work After Summer Vacation

The Martinez City Council meets tonight after its summer vacation, and considers a number of issues, though there is nothing particularly controversial on the agenda tonight. Consider this an easing into a new season of policy setting and decision making.

The only item on the Public Hearing portion of the agenda, which is considered the marquee spot – the headliner, if you will – is the consideration of the . This proposal has the backing of the Chamber of Commerce and Main Street Martinez, expands the marketing opportunities for the city, and provides annual revenue of up to $160,000 per year. It is unlikely to generate a lot of council opposition.

There are some interesting items, however, on the Consent Calendar. These are items that are considered by staff to be non-controversial, and do not require public testimony before being approved by the council. Savvy council watchers know to keep their eye on the Consent Calendar; you never know what’s lurking there.

Tonight’s Consent Calendar includes a federal Homeland Security grant for $190,000 for the police department and the Shell Refinery to improve the buffer zone security around the Shell facility, which is considered a potential terrorist target for obvious reasons. Martinez Patch would question what, exactly, the money would be used for, but according to a staff report from Police Chief Gary Peterson, it would be a federal crime to reveal that information. Suffice it to say that the grant will be split – the police department will spend $90,000 on security improvements, and Shell will receive the other $100,000 for improvements.

Another item guaranteed to bring ubiquitous council critic Mike Alford to the podium is a resolution asking the state Department of Boating and Waterways for a $750,000 grant to repair the eastern seawall at the Marina. Watching the city try to get money from the state for the Marina repair is like watching the Giants try and repeat its winning season last year – it’s a long and painful process. While the city waits for the $3.1 million in state money already approved but not dispersed, staff has said a decision was expected by . Then it became . Meanwhile, the grant request will be considered in January.  And another loan request, this one for $2.5 million, won’t even be considered for at least a year.

The council meets tonight beginning at 7 p.m. in the City Hall Council Chambers, 525 Henrietta St.

EVENTS:

TODAY IN HISTORY (from Wikipedia):

1927 - The first fully electronic television system is achieved by Philo Taylor Farnsworth.

1979 - The Entertainment and Sports Programming Network, better known as ESPN, makes its debut.

1979 - The Chrysler Corporation asks the United States government for USD $1.5 billion to avoid bankruptcy.

1996 - American Hip-Hop star Tupac Shakur is fatally shot four times on the Las Vegas strip after leaving the Tyson-Seldon boxing match.

2008 - The US Government takes control of the two largest mortgage financing companies in the US, Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac.