| >> Gary Andre |
 |
Editor.W
Wildomar, CA
United States
Joined:
11/01/2006
|
 Thursday, November 15, 2007 |
Post #15 |
|
Click on Below Links to View
Video Clips
November 27, 2007 WCC Meeting
December 2, 2007 WCC Meeting
|
GARY
ANDRE
CANDIDATE FOR WILDOMAR CITY COUNCIL I've lived in Wildomar for eighteen years. I've
volunteered thirty plus hours a week, for the last five years, toward the
betterment of Wildomar.
Qualifications
- Retired, Masonry Contractor
- Disabled, building inspector with eight certifications used daily,
when dealing with the county on development and trail issues within
Wildomar.
- Certified in CAD design, (Masters Vocational College)
- Member, Riverside County Trail Committee
- Chairman, Butterfield Multi-Use Trails Inc.
- Co-Chair, Wildomar Land Development Review Committee
Vision for Wildomar
- A well developed, well balanced city, which will be an asset to the
citizens of Wildomar.
- Opposed to an increase in taxes.
- Uphold Wildomar's general plan.
- Preservation of the Ranch community and hillsides.
- Enhancement of our urban communities, by creative use of
greenbelt buffers and conformance grading throughout the urban and ranch
communities.
- Increase roadside easements allowing the use of landscaped
earthen berms, rather than traditional ugly block walls.
- Provide protective greenbelts between urban and ranch
communities.
- Installation of multiuse trails throughout Wildomar, for safe
passage and recreational use.
- Community centers for youth and seniors.
- City council and citizens working cooperatively together
building a successful city. Well planned ranch and urban communities in
balance with income producing commercial and business park developments
equals success!
|
|
|
|
|
Editor.W
Wildomar, CA
United States
Joined:
11/01/2006
|
 Wednesday, December 12, 2007 |
Post #16 |
|
| Trail Network Would Bind Area, Boost Home Values |
|
By: AARON CLAVERIE - Staff
Writer - The Californian
Andre spent years mapping and planning trail
system
WILDOMAR -- Gary Andre envisions a 70-mile network of trails
connecting the residents of Wildomar. People would be able to ride a horse to
visit a neighbor, walk the trail or ride their bikes on it.
The
52-year-old retired masonry contractor has worked to make this vision a reality
by mapping where the trails could go and how they would all connect.
It's
a passion that dovetails with the reason Andre moved to this area almost two
decades ago.
"I love being a part of a ranch community, the mountains and
the miles and miles of places to ride," he said.
Area voters will decide
in February whether to incorporate and, if so, which of the 14 candidates should
serve on the inaugural five-person council. Voters also will be asked to decide
if the council members should be elected on an at-large or a district basis. The
other 13 candidates on the ballot are Sheryl Ade, Steve Beutz, Martha Bridges,
Bob Cashman, Harv Dykstra, Scott Farnam, Roger Le Clerc, Bridgette Moore,
Darrell Ruff, Marsha Swanson, Michael Tierney, Tim Underdown and Paul
Williams.
If elected to the city council, Andre would work to integrate
his trail network with the development goals of the residents.
"Having
trails increases house values 9 percent and sales tax by 19 percent," he said.
"We could bring in tourists to use the trails."
To handle maintenance and
the associated costs, Andre said he would spur the community to get involved
with an extensive adopt-a-trail program.
Some of Andre's other civic
experience includes serving as chairman of the Butterfield Multi-Use Trails
committee, serving on the Riverside County Trail Committee and serving as the
co-chair of the Wildomar Land Development Review Committee.
Andre has
drawn from his professional experience as a contractor and a building inspector
when inspecting development plans on the review committee and he feels his
experience would be an asset on the council.
"I'd like to help the city
move forward. I'm all about helping the community and I have tons of experience
in the construction industry. I know the codes, I can read plans. That's me," he
said.
As a councilman, Andre said he would be responsive to the
community.
"I've been to council meetings in other cities and after
someone speaks, the council has no response to the person. We can't run a city
that way. The city isn't ours. I'm not electing me. We have to listen to the
community and hear the community's concerns," he said.
Andre is not
running on a slate with other candidates but he did team up with candidate
Sheryl Ade on a flier.
"We have many of the same ideas and we've worked
very well together. Sheryl's a good friend and the most intelligent person I've
ever met," he said.
The most important issue facing the area is planning,
he said.
The council needs to make sure developers build something that
visually flows, he said, something that fits with the natural
surroundings.
Specifically, Andre said the council could promote the use
of wider easements and greenbelts that provide buffers separating higher-density
areas from lower-density areas.
"We're very concerned that when you put
in development you don't encroach on other people's rights," he
said.
Regarding commercial development, Andre said big box stores, such
as a proposed Wal-Mart, also can be required to design their buildings to fit
into a unified development plan.
"When you have cheap planning and
planners that don't know what they're doing you have garbage," he
said.
Another important issue for Andre is zoning.
Incorporation
will allow a city council to protect the ranch areas of Wildomar from
development by strictly enforcing low-density zoning there, he said.
The
high-density housing and commercial development can be placed where the
resulting traffic can be handled, he added.
"You can't overwhelm a
community with commercial. There has to be a correct balance," he
said.
Another issue Andre is concerned about is the aesthetic nature of
future development.
He wants to see new buildings that are designed with
high-quality materials, colors that blend and developments that feature a flow
of trees.
"There needs to be one major theme that ties development
together," he said.
That theme should be related to the ranch heritage of
the area and the surrounding landscape.
He also favors old-fashioned
street lighting that protects the area's starry skies from light
pollution.
If a developer tells a city council featuring Andre that it is
going to take a project to another city without such specific requirements,
Andre has his answer ready.
"Hate to see ya go but we have a vision of
quality for this community. This isn't an area where you are going to make quick
money," he said. "What we need is something that fits the community."
--
Contact Aaron Claverie at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2624, or e-mail
aclaverie@californian.com. Comment at www.californian.com.
Editor's note:
This is the second in a series of profiles on the 14 candidates seeking a
council seat should Wildomar residents decide on Feb. 5 that the community
should become a city.
Source:
http://www.nctimes.com/articles/2007/12/12/news/californian/wildomar/18_21_2812_11_07.txt
|
|
|
|
Editor.W
Wildomar, CA
United States
Joined:
11/01/2006
|
| Saturday, December 08, 2007 |
Post #17 |
|
| It's Time To Put Up Or Shut Up |
|
It has now been many weeks of
listening to the bogus claims of Steve Beutz and Martha Bridges, who are bashing
the good names of people from Wildomar and who are running for city council.
Calling them money grabbers.
At the WCC candidate forum on Nov. 27, I
confronted Steve Beutz and asked him if he thought that I was a money grabber,
since I'm a candidate for city council. Steve replied: "Oh no, Mr. Andre, we
don't consider you a money grabber. Just so you know, it's more of a general
term."
I'm sorry Mr. Beutz, defaming someone's name is not a general
term. To be honest with you, Steve, it's called an attack on somebody's good
name, character and reputation. The people you are defaming with your
tittle-tattle is just wrong. These are good quality people I've known for
years.
Martha, Steve: It's time to put up or shut up. Let's look into the
horse's mouth and put the teeth on the table. Please provide the supposed names
of the city council candidates who you know are money grabbers. If you would,
please provide factual and supporting evidence to back up your claim. Please
don't bore us any more with the idle talk we've all heard for weeks, we want the
facts.
I will give you one week from the date of this letter to respond.
When you respond without any factual supporting evidence, we will all know, at
that time, who is all smoke and no fire.
Gary A. Andre
Candidate
for Wildomar City Council
Source: The Californian Letters To The Editor
|
|
|
|
Gary.A
Wildomar, CA
United States
Joined:
11/29/2007
|
| Saturday, December 01, 2007 |
Post #18 |
|
| Gary Andre’s Candidate Statement On 12-2-2007 |
|
Gary Andre’s Candidate Statement on 12-2-2007
Good afternoon, my name is Gary Andre I’m running for Wildomar City council.
I had the opportunity, recently, to speak with City Councilman Daryl Hickman from Lake Elsinore, I asked him, what he thought was the most important element of his job. His answer was short and sweet, “IT’S THE GIVING OF MY TIME,
Gary, I never would have believed, when I was first elected to the city council, that it would require so much time. Gary it’s definitely a full time job.”
The candidates running for city council will need to determine how much of their twenty four hours a day, will be dedicated toward the building of our future City of Wildomar. How much time am I willing to devote as a city councilman? What ever time is necessary to build a strong, well developed, self-sufficient city. My full time, five year volunteer work record within Wildomar, clearly speaks for it’s self.
The first ten years of Wildomar becoming a City, Planning, Development and zoning issues will be at the forefront of our council meetings. We will need city council members, that understand the planning process and development issues that we will encounter on a daily basis. We will need council members who have a proven track record in dealing with planning and development issues. Their community service record would be a valuable asset too. In becoming a City, the greatest asset of all is the much valued help of our past, present and future dedicated volunteers within Wildomar. Here’s an example, the Multi-use trails that are being installed throughout our community today, would not be a reality with out the continued support and help of many dedicated past and present volunteers within Wildomar. We thank all you for your help, dedication and community support.
Please vote yes for Wildomar City-hood on 2-5-2008
Please vote yes for Gary A. Andre for Wildomar City council.
Qualifications
1. 27+ years in the construction industry.
2. Retired: Masonry contractor
3. 8 certifications as a building inspector which I’m in the process of renewing.
4. Graduate Masters Vocational college in Cad Design and mapping in 2005.
5. Chairman Butterfield Multi-use trails Inc.
6. Co-Chair Wildomar Land Development Review for the last five years
7. Member Riverside County trail committee.
|
|
|
|
Gary.A
Wildomar, CA
United States
Joined:
11/29/2007
|
| Thursday, November 29, 2007 |
Post #19 |
|
| Right To Vote On Taxes Act |
|
PROPOSITION 218
RIGHT TO VOTE ON TAXES ACT
SECTION 1. TITLE. This act shall be known and may be cited as the ''''Right to Vote on Taxes Act."
SECTION 2. FINDINGS AND DECLARATIONS. The people of the State of California hereby find and declare that Proposition 13 was intended to provide effective tax relief and to require voter approval of tax increases. However, local governments have subjected taxpayers to excessive tax, assessment, fee and charge increases that not only frustrate the purposes of voter approval for tax increases, but also threaten the economic security of all Californians and the California economy itself. This measure protects taxpayers by limiting the methods by which local governments exact revenue from taxpayers without their consent.
SECTION 3. VOTER APPROVAL FOR LOCAL TAX LEVIES.
Article XIII C is added to the California Constitution to read:
ARTICLE XIII C
SECTION 1. Definitions. As used in this article:
(a) ''''General tax" means any tax imposed for general governmental purposes.
(b) ''''Local government" means any county, city, city and county, including a charter city or county, any special district, or any other local or regional governmental entity.
(c) ''''Special district" means an agency of the state, formed pursuant to general law or a special act, for the local performance of governmental or proprietary functions with limited geographic boundaries including, but not limited to, school districts and redevelopment agencies.
(d) ''''Special tax" means any tax imposed for specific purposes, including a tax imposed for specific purposes, which is placed into a general fund.
SEC. 2. Local Government Tax Limitation. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution:
(a) All taxes imposed by any local government shall be deemed to be either general taxes or special taxes. Special purpose districts or agencies, including school districts, shall have no power to levy general taxes.
(b) No local government may impose, extend, or increase any general tax unless and until that tax is submitted to the electorate and approved by a majority vote. A general tax shall not be deemed to have been increased if it is imposed at a rate not higher than the maximum rate so approved. The election required by this subdivision shall be consolidated with a regularly scheduled general election for members of the governing body of the local government, except in cases of emergency declared by a unanimous vote of the governing body.
(c) Any general tax imposed, extended, or increased, without voter approval, by any local government on or after January 1, 1995, and prior to the effective date of this article, shall continue to be imposed only if approved by a majority vote of the voters voting in an election on the issue of the imposition, which election shall be held within two years of the effective date of this article and in compliance with subdivision (b).
(d) No local government may impose, extend, or increase any special tax unless and until that tax is submitted to the electorate and approved by a two-thirds vote. A special tax shall not be deemed to have been increased if it is imposed at a rate not higher than the maximum rate so approved.
SEC. 3. Initiative Power for Local Taxes, Assessments, Fees and Charges. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Constitution, including, but not limited to, Sections 8 and 9 of Article II, the initiative power shall not be prohibited or otherwise limited in matters of reducing or repealing any local tax, assessment, fee or charge. The power of initiative to affect local taxes, assessments, fees and charges shall be applicable to all local governments and neither the Legislature nor any local government charter shall impose a signature requirement higher than that applicable to statewide statutory initiatives.
SECTION 4. ASSESSMENT AND PROPERTY RELATED FEE REFORM.
Article XIII D is added to the California Constitution to read:
ARTICLE XIII D
SECTION 1. Application. Notwithstanding any other provision of law, the provisions of this article shall apply to all assessments, fees and charges, whether imposed pursuant to state statute or local government charter authority. Nothing in this article or Article XIII C shall be construed to:
(a) Provide any new authority to any agency to impose a tax, assessment, fee, or charge.
(b) Affect existing laws relating to the imposition of fees or charges as a condition of property development.
(c) Affect existing laws relating to the imposition of timber yield taxes.
SEC. 2. Definitions. As used in this article:
(a) ''''Agency" means any local government as defined in subdivision (b) of Section 1 of Article XIII C.
(b) ''''Assessment" means any levy or charge upon real property by an agency for a special benefit conferred upon the real property. ''''Assessment" includes, but is not limited to, ''''special assessment," ''''benefit assessment," ''''maintenance assessment" and ''''special assessment tax."
(c) ''''Capital cost" means the cost of acquisition, installation, construction, reconstruction, or replacement of a permanent public improvement by an agency.
(d) ''''District" means an area determined by an agency to contain all parcels which will receive a special benefit from a proposed public improvement or property-related service.
(e) ''''Fee" or ''''charge" means any levy other than an ad valorem tax, a special tax, or an assessment, imposed by an agency upon a parcel or upon a person as an incident of property ownership, including a user fee or charge for a property related service.
(f) ''''Maintenance and operation expenses" means the cost of rent, repair, replacement, rehabilitation, fuel, power, electrical current, care, and supervision necessary to properly operate and maintain a permanent public improvement.
(g) ''''Property ownership" shall be deemed to include tenancies of real property where tenants are directly liable to pay the assessment, fee, or charge in question.
(h) ''''Property-related service" means a public service having a direct relationship to property ownership.
(i) ''''Special benefit" means a particular and distinct benefit over and above general benefits conferred on real property located in the district or to the public at large. General enhancement of property value does not constitute ''''special benefit."
SEC. 3. Property Taxes, Assessments, Fees and Charges Limited. (a) No tax, assessment, fee, or charge shall be assessed by any agency upon any parcel of property or upon any person as an incident of property ownership except:
(1) The ad valorem property tax imposed pursuant to Article XIII and Article XIII A.
(2) Any special tax receiving a two-thirds vote pursuant to Section 4 of Article XIII A.
(3) Assessments as provided by this article.
(4) Fees or charges for property related services as provided by this article.
(b) For purposes of this article, fees for the provision of electrical or gas service shall not be deemed charges or fees imposed as an incident of property ownership.
SEC. 4. Procedures and Requirements for All Assessments. (a) An agency which proposes to levy an assessment shall identify all parcels which will have a special benefit conferred upon them and upon which an assessment will be imposed. The proportionate special benefit derived by each identified parcel shall be determined in relationship to the entirety of the capital cost of a public improvement, the maintenance and operation expenses of a public improvement, or the cost of the property related service being provided. No assessment shall be imposed on any parcel which exceeds the reasonable cost of the proportional special benefit conferred on that parcel. Only special benefits are assessable, and an agency shall separate the general benefits from the special benefits conferred on a parcel. Parcels within a district that are owned or used by any agency, the State of California or the United States shall not be exempt from assessment unless the agency can demonstrate by clear and convincing evidence that those publicly owned parcels in fact receive no special benefit.
(b) All assessments shall be supported by a detailed engineer''s report prepared by a registered professional engineer certified by the State of California.
(c) The amount of the proposed assessment for each identified parcel shall be calculated and the record owner of each parcel shall be given written notice by mail of the proposed assessment, the total amount thereof chargeable to the entire district, the amount chargeable to the owner''s particular parcel, the duration of the payments, the reason for the assessment and the basis upon which the amount of the proposed assessment was calculated, together with the date, time, and location of a public hearing on the proposed assessment. Each notice shall also include, in a conspicuous place thereon, a summary of the procedures applicable to the completion, return, and tabulation of the ballots required pursuant to subdivision (d), including a disclosure statement that the existence of a majority protest, as defined in subdivision (e), will result in the assessment not being imposed.
(d) Each notice mailed to owners of identified parcels within the district pursuant to subdivision (c) shall contain a ballot which includes the agency''s address for receipt of the ballot once completed by any owner receiving the notice whereby the owner may indicate his or her name, reasonable identification of the parcel, and his or her support or opposition to the proposed assessment.
(e) The agency shall conduct a public hearing upon the proposed assessment not less than 45 days after mailing the notice of the proposed assessment to record owners of each identified parcel. At the public hearing, the agency shall consider all protests against the proposed assessment and tabulate the ballots. The agency shall not impose an assessment if there is a majority protest. A majority protest exists if, upon the conclusion of the hearing, ballots submitted in opposition to the assessment exceed the ballots submitted in favor of the assessment. In tabulating the ballots, the ballots shall be weighted according to the proportional financial obligation of the affected property.
(f) In any legal action contesting the validity of any assessment, the burden shall be on the agency to demonstrate that the property or properties in question receive a special benefit over and above the benefits conferred on the public at large and that the amount of any contested assessment is proportional to, and no greater than, the benefits conferred on the property or properties in question.
(g) Because only special benefits are assessable, electors residing within the district who do not own property within the district shall not be deemed under this Constitution to have been deprived of the right to vote for any assessment. If a court determines that the Constitution of the United States or other federal law requires otherwise, the assessment shall not be imposed unless approved by a two-thirds vote of the electorate in the district in addition to being approved by the property owners as required by subdivision (e).
SEC. 5. Effective Date. Pursuant to subdivision (a) of Section 10 of Article II, the provisions of this article shall become effective the day after the election unless otherwise provided. Beginning July 1, 1997, all existing, new, or increased assessments shall comply with this article. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the following assessments existing on the effective date of this article shall be exempt from the procedures and approval process set forth in Section 4:
(a) Any assessment imposed exclusively to finance the capital costs or maintenance and operation expenses for sidewalks, streets, sewers, water, flood control, drainage systems or vector control. Subsequent increases in such assessments shall be subject to the procedures and approval process set forth in Section 4.
(b) Any assessment imposed pursuant to a petition signed by the persons owning all of the parcels subject to the assessment at the time the assessment is initially imposed. Subsequent increases in such assessments shall be subject to the procedures and approval process set forth in Section 4.
(c) Any assessment the proceeds of which are exclusively used to repay bonded indebtedness of which the failure to pay would violate the Contract Impairment Clause of the Constitution of the United States.
(d) Any assessment which previously received majority voter approval from the voters voting in an election on the issue of the assessment. Subsequent increases in those assessments shall be subject to the procedures and approval process set forth in Section 4.
SEC. 6. Property Related Fees and Charges. (a) Procedures for New or Increased Fees and Charges. An agency shall follow the procedures pursuant to this section in imposing or increasing any fee or charge as defined pursuant to this article, including, but not limited to, the following:
(1) The parcels upon which a fee or charge is proposed for imposition shall be identified. The amount of the fee or charge proposed to be imposed upon each parcel shall be calculated. The agency shall provide written notice by mail of the proposed fee or charge to the record owner of each identified parcel upon which the fee or charge is proposed for imposition, the amount of the fee or charge proposed to be imposed upon each, the basis upon which the amount of the proposed fee or charge was calculated, the reason for the fee or charge, together with the date, time, and location of a public hearing on the proposed fee or charge.
(2) The agency shall conduct a public hearing upon the proposed fee or charge not less than 45 days after mailing the notice of the proposed fee or charge to the record owners of each identified parcel upon which the fee or charge is proposed for imposition. At the public hearing, the agency shall consider all protests against the proposed fee or charge. If written protests against the proposed fee or charge are presented by a majority of owners of the identified parcels, the agency shall not impose the fee or charge.
(b) Requirements for Existing, New or Increased Fees and Charges. A fee or charge shall not be extended, imposed, or increased by any agency unless it meets all of the following requirements:
(1) Revenues derived from the fee or charge shall not exceed the funds required to provide the property related service.
(2) Revenues derived from the fee or charge shall not be used for any purpose other than that for which the fee or charge was imposed.
(3) The amount of a fee or charge imposed upon any parcel or person as an incident of property ownership shall not exceed the proportional cost of the service attributable to the parcel.
(4) No fee or charge may be imposed for a service unless that service is actually used by, or immediately available to, the owner of the property in question. Fees or charges based on potential or future use of a service are not permitted. Standby charges, whether characterized as charges or assessments, shall be classified as assessments and shall not be imposed without compliance with Section 4.
(5) No fee or charge may be imposed for general governmental services including, but not limited to, police, fire, ambulance or library services, where the service is available to the public at large in substantially the same manner as it is to property owners. Reliance by an agency on any parcel map, including, but not limited to, an assessor''s parcel map, may be considered a significant factor in determining whether a fee or charge is imposed as an incident of property ownership for purposes of this article. In any legal action contesting the validity of a fee or charge, the burden shall be on the agency to demonstrate compliance with this article.
(c) Voter Approval for New or Increased Fees and Charges. Except for fees or charges for sewer, water, and refuse collection services, no property related fee or charge shall be imposed or increased unless and until that fee or charge is submitted and approved by a majority vote of the property owners of the property subject to the fee or charge or, at the option of the agency, by a two-thirds vote of the electorate residing in the affected area. The election shall be conducted not less than 45 days after the public hearing. An agency may adopt procedures similar to those for increases in assessments in the conduct of elections under this subdivision.
(d) Beginning July 1, 1997, all fees or charges shall comply with this section.
SECTION 5. LIBERAL CONSTRUCTION. The provisions of this act shall be liberally construed to effectuate its purposes of limiting local government revenue and enhancing taxpayer consent.
SECTION 6. SEVERABILITY. If any provision of this act, or part thereof, is for any reason held to be invalid or unconstitutional, the remaining sections shall not be affected, but shall remain in full force and effect, and to this end the provisions of this act are severable.
|
|
|
|
 |
|
|
|
| >> Wildomar Special Interests |
|
