86'd - Elk Grove Blvd. Bel Air Store Gone

A vestige of Elk Grove's pre-incorporation days days - Bel Air's original store on Elk Grove Blvd. is gone. That was word coming out of Wednesday night's city council meeting.

Although the fate of the store was not on the Elk Grove City Council's agenda Wednesday night, the matter was brought up by Elk Grove resident Tom Waltman during the public comment on non-agenda items. In his comments Waltman wanted to know if the city had been able to do anything to keep the store from closing and expressed concern about the effect the closure will have on the neighborhood.

"That store is the rock that neighborhood is centered on," Waltman said. "This is going to cause a hardship on the individuals who live in that area."

Responding to those comment, Council Member Pat Hume said that he and city staff have been in contact with Raley's (the owner of Bel Air) and they are determined to close the store. "They [the landlord] are trying to backfill that space," Hume added.

Hume also noted that when the nearby Bel Air store on Elk Grove Blvd. and Waterman Road was approved several years ago, one of the conditions was that the older store would stay open for at least five more years. "I think that was about eight years ago," Hume noted.

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Old Transit Wounds Surface at Elk Grove City Council Meeting

Cheaper, lower rated tires to be used on etran buses

Perhaps it was the memories of constituents complaining about standing-room-only commuter routes, frequent mechanical breakdowns of hybrid buses along Highway 99 or the malfunctioning air conditioning units in the heat of summer. Whatever was the case, Elk Grove Mayor Jim Cooper voiced many concerns about the city's privately-owned transit provider, MV Transportation at last night's city council meeting.

Cooper expressed his concerns about the provider of Elk Grove's e-tran bus service while hearing a request by MV to modify their contract with the city. The request was based on a rate reduction of dead-heading buses returning to Elk Grove after dropping commuters downtown.

With the relocation of the California Prison Healthcare administrative offices, it is anticipated empty buses returning from downtown Sacramento could be used to to shuttle employees back to Elk Grove. As a result the city had sought to reduce the rate it pays for the so-called dead-head trips (no passengers).

While MV agreed to charge a lower rate in anticipation of fares on the dead-head trips, it also sought other concessions from the city. It was during the discussion of these concessions that Cooper expressed his concerns.

One concession involved tires. Under the current agreement the city pays for top-of-the-line tires and MV said they would now pay for tire, but a lower grade. Cooper noted that when the city bought tires they were top of the line, but now that MV would be responsible, a lower grade would be used.

Cooper noted the importance tires play in passenger safety. "We want them to be safe," he said of passengers riding etran buses.

MV representative Jay Jeter countered that the lower grade tires were just as safe as the current ones and said the difference is the high quality tires were not as readily available, thus they are more expensive.

"We are putting tires on the vehicles that are not necessary for the service," Jeter said.

"Your recommendation was to have the tire when the city paid for it," Cooper countered.

Cooper also expressed concern of the turnover in management at at MV saying there have been up to 30 different managers and supervisors that have cycled through their ranks.

"That is a red flag, something is going on," Cooper said.

Coming to Jeter's aid was MV's public relations and political consultant Michelle Smira who countered Cooper's assessment of turnover. "We are not in agreement on that," Smira said.

Cooper persisted and asked Smira if she could provide an actual number, but she declined to give one.

The other point of contention for Cooper was the request to modify when arbitration of disputes between the two parties. MV had sought to loosen the arbitration process over how assessments (fines) are levied but Cooper strenuously objected.
 
In the end council members Steve Detrick and and Pat Hume (Gary Davis and Sophia Scherman were absent) agreed with Cooper that the city could accept the contract modifications with the exception of the arbitration change.

"Assessments are the city's tool," Copper noted.

MV Transportation’s contract will expire on June 30, 2014.

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Elk Grove Man Stabbed in Front Yard

An Elk Grove man was stabbed in his front yard late yesterday afternoon.

According to Elk Grove Police reports, the 26-year-old man was in his front yard on the 8800 block of Kelsey Drive with family members when they were approached by several individuals. Three suspects approached the man and a verbal argument ensured.

The argument escalated into physical fight and during the confrontation the victim was stabbed in the stomach and the three suspects fled on foot. The victim sustained non-life threatening wounds.

During the course of the investigation, officers developed information that 18-year old John Damian of Elk Grove and two juveniles Elk Grove male juveniles ages 15 and 16 were suspected of the stabbing.

Later in the evening officers located the three suspects. The two juveniles were taken into custody and transported to juvenile hall and Damian was arrested and transferred to the county jail.

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Elk Grove Community Connection to Host Joint Public Safety Forum

One of the peculiarities of Elk Grove is that the primary public safety agencies, police and fire, are run by two different government entities, in this case the City of Elk Grove and the Cosumnes Community Services District (CCSD) respectively.

In an effort to provide better information to the public and to seek their input, the Elk Grove Community Connection will host a joint public safety forum on Thursday, March 8 at the Elk Grove City Hall. Along with police officers and firefighters, Elk Grove City council members Gary Davis and Steve Detrick and Mayor Jim Cooper and the entire CCSD board will be in attendance. (Elk Grove city council members Pat Hume and Sophia Scherman declined to attend the event.)

In addition to a presentation on prevention techniques, the forum will also seek ideas and listen to concerns. A reception will start at 6:30 and the forum will be held from 7:00 to 8:30 p.m.

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EGCC to Mull Reduction of Fees Paid to Bus Provider

Among the items to be considered tomorrow night by the Elk Grove City Council, are a reduction in fees paid to the city's transit provider, MV Transportation.

The fee reduction, which MV is requesting, would lower the so-called dead-head rate from to $25 an hour from the current $53.09. In return for the lower rate, the city waive future responsibility for liquidate damages incurred on reverse commutes, allow use of standard lease tires instead of Michelin XVR tires and clarify the contract on repairs greater than $2,500.

According to the staff analysis, the changes will be revenue-neutral for the city. Tomorrow's regular is scheduled to start at 6:00 p.m.

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Elk Grove's Run 4 Independence Announces Open Registration

The Elk Grove Food Bank services is happy to announce that open registration will be available beginning February 1 for the Ninth Annual Run 4 Independence, which will take place on Saturday, June 30.

The 10KRun and 5K Run/Walk course is a flat, fast course starting and finishing under the majestic old oak trees in beautiful Elk Grove Regional Park, and is suitable for participants of all ages and abilities. The event also includes a quarter-mile and half-mile kids run.

All proceeds will support the Elk Grove Food Bank Services and its many programs. For registration details, please visit www.run4independence.com.

“We are thrilled to have Wells Fargo as our presenting sponsor and the City of Elk Grove as our premiere sponsor for this great event,” Marie Jachino, Executive Director of the Food Bank said. Tisha Shaffer, who served on the committee, last year is the 2012 event chairperson.

Stay up to date on the Elk Grove Food Bank Services. For more information, please visit www.elkgrovefoodbank.org, or become an Elk Grove Food Bank Services fan on Facebook.

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