Beaumont's Mayor, Council Seek to Provide Public With Monthly Summary on 'Significant Actions'

BEAUMONT, CA – Beaumont residents now have another resource available to keep up-to-date with what is happening in local government. With the goal of being more transparent at city hall, Beaumont's mayor has requested a "council update" be provided to the public following the second meeting of each month.

"Each month after our second council meeting we plan to release a summary of the significant actions the council has taken over the month and release these updates as press releases," Mayor Lloyd White tells Patch.

Here's more from White about why he'd like to connect with the public:

Two years ago, with the Help of Nancy Carroll as Treasurer and Julio Martinez in his role as City Clerk, Mr. Lara, Mr. Orozco and I made transparency a primary focus. I believe we have succeeded in becoming more transparent than anyone expected Beaumont would become and more transparent than most other government bodies. With this new level of transparency, came more scrutiny by the press and social media.

The awakening of the press and citizenry, as a result of the events over the last two years, is a positive thing. In the past, I have been critical of the local press for not listening to citizens who were questioning the actions and decisions of their elected representatives concerning the financial condition of the City. I understand the limitations of today’s news reporting resources but I believe with a more informed public, it might not have taken so long for active citizens to bring about the change we needed.

A lot has happened over the last two years but there wasn’t much positive news to report. This year we will be turning the corner on a number of significant issues. I hope, but don’t expect, everything will be positive but we will address each new problem the best we can. Some of the issues we, the Council and staff, feel are important to the community may, in our opinion, be under-reported and overshadowed by other issues judged ... in the press to be more news worthy.

I believe we have a duty to continue to be very transparent and to be responsive to inquiries and requests from the press and citizens but I believe we also have an obligation to present to the press, and our citizens, a summary on all the significant actions taken by the Council that we believe will have an impact on the City’s recovery and future.

Here is the latest report, January 2017:

Potrero Interchange

The Potrero Interchange Project was front and center during a January 3rd City Council Workshop. The Council approved moving forward with the project with the condition that the City would not contribute any additional funds toward the construction of the first phase of the project. Direction was given to staff to make a presentation at the February 21stcouncil meeting as to how the development community will provide the remaining funds needed to complete the construction. The council will review and determine the validity of the developers’ financial plan and consider the immediate future of the project.

Takeaways:

• $13 million dollars has already been contributed by residents
• The City will NOT contribute any additional funds

San Gorgonio Crossing

During the January 3rd City Council Meeting direction was given to staff to prepare a comprehensive letter in response to the Draft Environmental Impact Report (EIR) for the San Gorgonio Crossing project, formally known as the Gateway Warehouse. The completed letter was presented to council and unanimously approved at the January 17th City Council Meeting. The Council felt it adequately addressed the concerns of the City regarding the developer’s plans to mitigate traffic and other environmental issues outlined in the draft EIR. The letter has been delivered to the County.

Takeaways:

• A 1.8 million square foot warehouse complex is planned for the unincorporated area of the county in the Cherry Valley sphere of influence.
• Beaumont’s concerns as stated in the EIR letter approved by the City Council include:
  
  • Traffic/Transportation
  • Greenhouse gasses
  • Aesthetics
  • Hydrology/Water Quality

General Plan Task Force

During the January 17th City Council Meeting the council unanimously appointed Mayor Lloyd White and Council Member Julio Martinez to the General Plan Update Sub Committee and approved a selection process for the General Plan Task force, a committee of 15 stake holders including the two council members, two planning commissioners, and representatives of the area’s other boards and agencies. There will be 8 community members selected from those who have submitted applications by the deadline. The General Plan Update will be a two year long process which will fully engage the community in determining the future look of Beaumont.

Takeaways:

• Task Force applications are available on the City’s website
• Deadline to apply is 5:00 p.m. on February 7th