Tracy Press

Let's plan for our community first and leave the RGA debate for later.

Amid all the talk about infrastructure master plans, growth management ordinance guidelines and sequencing of processing development applications in urban reserve areas, we wonder if it’s possible to peel away the jargon and see some progress in the planning of Tracy’s future?

During this week’s initial staff presentation of the city’s revised growth plan, we saw a glimmer of what we’ve opined about for the better part of 16 years. The proposed plan requires a hierarchy of steps to be taken before new residential development can take place. It asks the city to earmark future roads, parks, water and sewer lines and other foundations before it grows. And it asks developers to meet certain priorities before they take out building permits.

The council seems clear about some of its priorities: It wants an aquatic center. It doesn’t want to ignore the downtown and “infill” properties. And it wants to negotiate deals with developers of two proposed housing projects — Tracy Hills and Ellis.

The community, of course, has had its priorities defined in the ballot box when it passed the slow-growth Measure A in 2000, when it defeated two measures in 2004 that would have given housing permits to Tracy Hills and Ellis despite Measure A, and when it handed defeat to a ticket of slow-growth candidates in 2006.

But is 2008 the time for decisions about developer agreements and endless debates over RGAs? A residential growth allotment, which is equivalent to what’s required to get a building permit, has never created long-term jobs or a transportation plan that addresses the needs of the community far into the future. The fight over the holy RGA and “who gets to develop first” has been a useless conversation for the last eight years, preventing us from having a real discussion about the important challenges and opportunities that confront our future.

Our elected officials are getting ready to vote in June on a new growth management plan that will set the city’s process of growth for the next 10 to 30 years. But are we really ready to vote on anything? 

Our view is unchanged: Tracy needs a far-reaching vision, with an expansive master plan for growth. The plan should start with a clear understanding of how the movement of goods, services and people occurs in, out and around the community. The plan for where jobs will be created could grow in tandem with the transportation plan, and common areas for the common good would become part of the equation.

Then, and only then, do we figure out our housing balance and where it is most appropriate.

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written by bob blinker , April 05, 2008

http://tracypress.com/content/view/14118/2242/
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WHERE DO WE WANT TO GROW by 2022?
********************
3542 Measure A permits available over 10 years, 2012-2022

5500 Tracy Hills total buildout (16,000 additional cars)

3850 Ellis: 2250 total buildout, 1600 bonus permits for trade/sale (12,000 cars)

2559 Bow Tie, downtown and other infill, not contiguous areas (6000 cars)
**********************

http://tracypress.com/content/view/3245/2/

"An environmental impact report found the general plan would grow Tracy's population to 1Ø9,ØØØ in 2025, and to 221,ØØØ in 2075."


vote accountability, vote garamendi

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written by bob blinker , April 05, 2008

http://findarticles.com/p/arti..._n17198065
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Oakland Tribune, Feb 6, 2007 by Mike Martinez

!və$ defeated Garamendi by 1,6ØØ votes, slightly more than 1Ø percent...Irregularities on the [!və$] campaign repØrts elicited some questiØns.

Garamendi, who spent a little less than $18,000 on her campaign, said HAT PAC paid to get their candidate into Øffice. ...
"They spent $2ØØ,ØØØ to ensure that they maintain their cØntrØl of the City CØuncil because they want peØple that will vØte for their prØjects. ... That's the mØre impØrtant message to the city of Tracy: Their electiØn was bØught by special interests."


vote change, vote garamendi

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written by bob blinker , April 06, 2008

http://www.garamendiformayor.org/blog/?page_id=4

Issues
Meeting the Tracy’s needs today and the challenges and opportunities of tomorrow with Vision Leadership and Independence

Real Priorities
* Providing common sense leadership to address the real priorities of Tracy residents:
*Jobs and Economic Development
*Police, Speeding and Public Safety
*Streets, Traffic and Transportation
*Schools
*Downtown/Bowtie
*Youth Sports Fields, Pools and Parks
*Affordable HousingGreen Development

* Fiscal Responsibility
Cutting deficit spending, waste and the bloated city government, so available tax dollars can be spent on our real priorities

* Open Honest Government
Restoring trust and confidence in city government eroded by violations of Measure A, destroying and trying to keep public documents secret, ‘institutional cronyism’, and dirty campaigns funded by developer special interests

vote garamendi

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written by bob blinker , April 06, 2008

http://tracypress.com/content/view/8839/2/
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vØtəd agaiИst əthic$ ØrdiИaИcə:
tØlbəяt

vØtəd agaiИst əthic$ ØrdiИaИcə:
!və$


need change, vote garamendi http://www.garamendiformayor.org/blog/

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written by bob blinker , April 07, 2008

http://www.valleyair.org/recen...gs/2007/In The News 03-19-07.pdf
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"ucker is the only member of the council to support the proposed Department of Homeland Security bio-lab

"Tracy Tomorrow and Beyond Committee recommended in January that the council take no action

"TTBC was ignored by a majority of the council members

"ucker also supports lab plans to increase the size and power of explosions at the lab

"the San Joaquin Valley Air Pollution Control District demanded the lab analyze health impacts from radioactive dust from the test explosions

"Councilman Steve Abercrombie and Councilwoman Evelyn Tolbert joined Tucker in voting to support the blasts.

"ucker is mayor when the council discusses Lab issues because "Mayor" Bent Ives works for the Lab."

!v3$ is required to step down because of conflict-of-interest laws. otherwise he might not.


vote no conflict, vote garamendi http://www.garamendiformayor.org/blog/

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written by Julie S , April 07, 2008

I'm new to Tracy but I have been able to piece together some of the growth debate. I don't understand the assertion that Measure A is SLOW growth. Under 2% is slow growth, cities like Livermore and Lodi. Tracy's rate under Measure A is around 3%.

How can you say voters rejected Celeste when there was a $200,000 of special interested money on negative ads to make sure she didn't win... The election was bought for Ives. He did not win it fair and square.

Seems like there's a demonizing of TRAQC going on and they are the group responsible for smart growth not slow growth. Why don't you ever describe Ives as RAPID growth candidate?

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written by d , April 07, 2008

It is called the Propoganda Police! They are out in force on the Tracy Press blogs. This group will justify every bad move the city hall and Ives, and Tucker has made for the past and present.

If they can force feed us their agenda they are happy. Anyone who calls attention to the way the city hall does business and they are on you! You will be called "Obstructionist or a Garimendi supporter"

People of Tracy are SICK of Ives and underlings at the city of Tracy!

The future belongs to all of us, not just AKT and Ellis(which is not even in Tracy)

Vote out the business as usual Council, fire some department heads and give the new city Manager a chance to make some positive changes (Legal ones!)

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written by Susan Geftar , April 09, 2008

I just moved to tracy. We really love this wonderful place where the people are friendly. But I am wondering why there are a few hateful, like Blinker? Looks like Garymandir keeps good company!!!

Can't say I would vote for someone like bob blinker/garamendi. All that trash talk is just a cover for politicians and lobbyists who don't have much to offer.

Looking at the reality of our city you will find that Tracy actually ranks prety high on the list of Kalifornia cities, in terms of crime. TPD is doing a good job fighting gangs. It is a tough and thankless job. I hope more people will call them and say thanks! And stop by to ask or visit them at Starbucks on Saturday mornings. They are out there answering questions.

If you go looking. The answers are out there.

Thanks.

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written by Susan Geftar , April 09, 2008

D,

Sounds like our city council did a great job on the new hire of a City Manager. Thanks for validating that!

The City of Tracy is a general law city with a City Manager form of government. The City Council appoints the City Manager and the City Attorney. The City Manager is the chief administrative officer for the City and is accountable to the City Council. The City Manager appoints the Deputy City Manager and the department heads of the six operating departments. The City Manager is also responsible for assuring City services are performed in accordance with the City Council's policies and within the City's resources.

The City Manager advises the City Council on policy options concerning the organization and activities of the departments. The City Manager is also responsible for the submission of the City's budget and Capital Improvement Plan and for their administration after Council adoption. The City Manager keeps Council advised of the City's financial condition and the future needs of the City.

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written by DT , April 09, 2008

For those who are interested Richard Pombo's PAC gave Ives 50,000 to run for Mayor last time. He is in with the big developers. We need infrastructure as well as Shopping areas build in the South of Tracy. Garamendi will get my vote. We need someone who is looking out for our interest.

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written by Lessons Learned , April 09, 2008

Julie,

Only if it makes sense for Garimandi / Blinker / Connoly to waste taxpayers money on housing with little or no return. Not in my backyard! Not in this economy! Its just plain "smarter" to vote NO on garimander!
Vote for economic sense. And keep the demons out of it!
In an economich tail spin, spend the money where it makes sense. Not on TRAQC apartments please. CRAQC apartment, are going to be overpriced. Apartment rents are already too high now because of all the foreclosures. How is that affordable for anyone? Tracy could do better than moving people from bankrupt homes to TRAQC apartments.

The truth is Garamendi has no plan and doesn't know what to do. So, given the lack of a Garamendi plan. Anyone else besides garimendi would be a "smarter" vote!

Demonizing? Nope! Just showing the lack of "smarts" on her part to let blinker be here spokeswoman. Demonizing? Nope! Just exposing her to the "sunshine" so that people will see the dark and dreary future we are in store for. Unless we find another Democrat to run for mayor!

Because the they are out to "demonize" the city council, for sure! Don't believe it? Just look at blinker go!!!

I'm tired of all the Pombo/Conolly feud. Aren't you too? I thought so. Then find another Democrat for Mayor!