Lindsay Council passes budget

LINDSAY — The City Council unanimously approved the 2012-2013 fiscal budget on Wednesday night and heard a few presentations including a proposed plan for Class II bike lanes within the city.

All five council members were present for the meeting and voted on the budget.

Prior to voting on the budget city Finance Director Tamara Laken went over a few changes to it.

The first was the removal of the Sierra View Extension as it would be finished by this week.

The second change was the $60,000 for the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District grant and an increase to the projected retail sales tax revenue of the $14,768.13.

A third and final change was the added $74,768 to the Capitol Improvement Budget for the purchase of three 2012 Toyota Prius which will replace the antiquated and according to Laken “gas guzzling” Crown Victorias. The old cars will be sold as surplus property.

According to Laken, the new cars will be divided up as follows — one car will go to McDermont Field House, one will go to City Services mainly for the part-time building inspector, and the third is for general use by council and staff.

Once Laken concluded, the public was open to give input on the budget.

Gerard Samulski asked about the Friday Night Market vendor fees, and commented on attorney fees.

Samulski said $70,000 was budgeted last year for attorney fees, and this year it went up to $169,780.

The council did not address his issues, but Laken addressed the Market fees.

“The city rents that space down there, a flat rental fee. We rent it to the Chamber and they give us the same flat rental fee. The vendor fee that is charged is between the Chamber and the vendors. That doesn’t have anything has to do with us. That is their revenue. From that revenue they pay us a flat fee,” said Laken.

City Planner Bill Zigler then gave an update on proposed bike lanes.
Zigler said if approved the city would have 4.12 miles of Class II bicycle lanes which basically means the lanes would share the roads with cars.

The proposed routes included Hermosa to Samoa, Samoa to Honolulu, Honolulu to Apia and part of Gale Hill.

Along each route parking spaces would have to be changed.

For example according to Zigler, Samoa to Honolulu is a residential, government, and public use area that has some off street parking. If the parking was changed to parallel the 34 spaces they have now would be slimmed to 32. Hermosa to Samoa would see a decline of 10 spaces from 48 to 38, and Honolulu to Apia would lose two parking spaces from 29 angled spaces to 27 parallel spaces.

Mayor Ed Murray was concerned.

“I drive on Tulare Road all the time and I don’t see bike lanes,” said Murray.

Mayor Pro Tem Estaban Velasquez was all for it.

“I like the idea. It’s more important to have bike lanes to promote a healthy community,” said Velasquez.

Councilwoman Pam Kimball had reservations.

“I have a problem with Gale Hill. People don’t like to parallel park,” said Kimball.

Council members Padilla and Salinas were both in agreement as to liking the idea.

In other news the council approved
 The use of a fireworks sale by the Lindsay Cultural Arts.
 Approved resolution 12-25, lot line, with adjustments.
 Approved resolutions 12-33 through 12-35, centering on lighting and landscape maintenance, with a public hearing scheduled for July 10, for the latter.