Reprinted from the Record Gazette by Julie Farren
For what could be a first in the city’s history, the decision to appoint a mayor for Beaumont was postponed at the first meeting of the year Tuesday until Jan. 20.
Mayor Pro Tem Jeff Fox motioned to delay the appointment without an explanation during the city council meeting. The council unanimously voted to appoint the mayor at the next meeting.
During a short break, Fox explained why he made the decision, saying the atmosphere “wasn’t right” and there was no rush to appoint a mayor.
Fox was referring to tense interactions between audience members, the council and Mayor Brenda Knight during an action item on a Clean Water State Revolving Fund reimbursement. The item was regarding low-income areas that would be changed from septic to sewer systems. Discussions became heated when Councilman Lloyd White questioned Knight about why she received a letter in December from an organization, called California River Watch, and the council only learned of the letter just before Tuesday night’s meeting.
City Attorney David Wysocki said that nothing was being withheld from the council members. He said he was investigating allegations contained in the letter and that the issue would be brought to the council in closed session on Jan. 20.
White asked Knight if she had received the letter and she said yes. White asked to go into closed session to discuss the issue but Wysocki said that would not be necessary because the letter was not an agenda item.
Knight said she was more comfortable following the advice of the city attorney.
Management analyst Kelsey Gormley gave a staff report on the fund that would allow the city to change an area of Sixth Street, between Xenia and Palm Avenues, from septic to sewer system.
Families living in three trailer parks and in 11 single-family residences considered low-income housing on Maple Avenue are affected, said Gormley.
Councilmember Mark Orozco said he had done his research on this subject and had been following it for several years. He asked when the application for the grant had been submitted.
Gormley said the environmental portion was done in 2013 and the financial in 2015.
The engineering portion was submitted in December 2014.
Councilmember Mike Lara said that if modifications were made to the engineering plans, it would be like starting the project all over again.
Gormley said the package was complex and that the original report was given to the council in December 2012.
She said the city missed a funding deadline and now the city won’t know if it will receive the grant until July 1, 2015.
What delayed the application was work on the technical package and receiving surveys from the families on their median household income, said Gormley.
Orozco said that there are other areas in Beaumont that are affected as well and wondered why they weren’t included in the plans.
Knight said she toured the affected areas, especially the trailer parks, and said that they are an “embarrassment” and need help.
Gormley pointed out that the families can’t do laundry because there is no clean water.
Orozco said he toured the area recently and said the smell was “horrendous.”
Gormley said the city will need $3 million to change to a sewer system. Originally, the city thought they would need less than $2 million, she said.
Most families can’t afford to pay the hook-up fee, which is $4,000 per unit.
Gormley said she took full responsibility for the delay in the application, stating that she had been on maternity leave for four months in 2014.
White suggested that the consultant for the Clean Water State Revolving Fund project be brought back to talk to the council and Gormley agreed. The item will be continued until Jan. 20.