Tehachapi News

Christmas present for businesses

larger view larger view larger view larger view

The Tehachapi Council voted 4-0 on 13 items in a row, agreeing on everything from a moratorium on enforcement of the banner ordinance to giving the final go-ahead to six capital improvement projects.

At the Nov. 2 meeting at the BeeKay Theatre, with Councilman Ed Grimes absent, the Council also reviewed the proposed design for Centennial Plaza, the paseo that will link Robinson and Green streets.

Police chief Jeff Kermode asked the Council to suspend enforcement of the city's banner ordinance during the holiday season.

“There's been an increase in banner signs,” he said. “We recently attempted to gain control but the city's action prompted a reaction. Some businesses removed their signs. Some businesses ignored enforcement requests.”

Although the code specifically spells out when and where banners can be placed and how big they can be, it applies only to the downtown area. Banners and temporary signs are prohibited everywhere else, including in the Tucker commercial corridor.

Outside downtown, City Manager Greg Garrett said, “It's a free-for-all.”

Kermode said that a moratorium on enforcement would give the city time to develop a fair and consistent code enforcement policy that balances the needs of local hard-pressed businesses with the community's aesthetic desires.

Public speaker Michelle Vance, executive director of Main Street Tehachapi, asked the city to utilize that organization's design committee so banners would not be ugly.

Public speaker Richard Tripp advocated for the use of banners.

“We need to stimulate taxes,” Tripp said. “If it works temporarily, it would work in the long run.”

Garrett said the goal is a “nice, clean, organized community.”

He said that Tehachapi can control its appearance.

“We could choose to look like Avenue I in Lancaster or like a city in Orange County,” Garrett said.

Kermode had asked that the moratorium on enforcement end on Jan. 11, but Mayor Linda Vernon proposed that banners and signs be allowed to stay up longer.

“Could we extend it to the end of January? I love shopping after Christmas. It's a good time to find some little jewels out there.”

Capital improvements
The council members agreed to authorize a supplemental agreement that will allow the city to proceed on the Mill and H Street Rehabilitation Project and the Curry Street Rehabilitation Project.

The action followed a green light from Caltrans for the projects.

The three construction companies that won contracts for capital improvements will be required to coordinate their work so the traffic situation does not become onerous.

Low bidder Maverick Asphalt Inc. won the contract for the Mill and H Street Rehabilitation Project, with a bid of $361,877.

The Griffith Company, with its low bid of $284,421, will build the Curry Street Rehabilitation Project.

The Council decided not to build the entire Valley Boulevard Rehabilitation Project at once. It awarded a $173,559 contract to Burtch Construction and authorized city staff “to increase the scope of the project up to 24 percent of $216,948.75 and authorize city manager to administratively approve necessary contract change orders up to a maximum of 5 percent of the awarded contract amount.”

The Council agreed to a cost-sharing deal with Kern County to construct the traffic signal at Valley Boulevard and Mountain View Avenue.

Centennial Park -- a paseo!
Assistant to the City Manager Chris Kirk reviewed the plans for Centennial Park.
The renovation will increase parking spaces from 62 to 67 and will create a pedestrian-friendly paseo that links Robinson and Green streets.

Kirk said staffers felt the original plan was too angular, and showed the Council revised sketches that softened the lines, adding vertical features and enhancements, including a lighted walkway.

In other business, the Council approved a renewal of the city's investment policy. City Finance Director Hannah Chung said the investments are in safe securities and most are in LAIF (Local Agency Investment Fund), a pool that agencies throughout the state of California use.

“I do investments strictly within the investment guide,” she said.

Council member comments
During the council member comments that end each session, Councilman Stan Beckham read a lengthy statement responding to comments made at the last meeting by fellow Councilman Shane Reed regarding expenses at a League of California Cities conference and a comment by Councilman Phil Smith, who said Beckham had by innuendo impugned the integrity of the city staff.

Beckham said that Reed “is only out to try and defame me any way possible…”

Beckham said Reed had stalked him and tried to attack him, assertions that were thrown out of Kern County court Jan. 21 after Reed produced records showing he was working and out of Tehachapi on the dates Beckham alleged the incident occurred.

Beckham said he feared for his life from Reed.

Reed declined to comment on Beckham’s statement for the Tehachapi News.

Kermode said the Tehachapi Police Department has no documented incident on file involving Beckham and Reed.

Posted Nov. 5, 2009; Print edition Vol. 110, No. 31, publication date Nov. 11, 2009.