Canyon News
SANTA MONICA On Thursday, December 17, conflict broke out during a Santa Monica Malibu School District Board Meeting. City Councilmember Oscar De la Torre refused to step down as a member of the board.
The district believes that per Government Code Section 1099, which prohibits elected officials from holding “incompatible offices,” De la Torre forfeited his board position when he assumed a seat on City Council on December 8.
During the meeting De la Torre made multiple attempts to speak, which were halted by Board President Jon Kean. At one point, the board agreed to move the meeting into a closed session midway through the meeting to avoid further conflict.
At least, thatâs how one McKinney resident felt.
Julie Luton, addressing council members during a Dec. 1 meeting, said she saw the City Council as a group of people trying to move forward and advance the cityâs interests. However, she also saw something else.
âI also see a council that does not have a representative from 50% of this community,â she said. âI donât see our wives, our daughters, our sisters, our aunts, our mothers.â
The McKinney City Council, comprising six men as of Dec. 19, hasnât seen a female member since former councilwoman Tracy Rath ended her term in the spring of 2019. According to Collin County election result records, since 2009, 42 men have run for McKinney City Council Seats while eight women have run. In that time span, two women have won their bid for a spot on the City Council.Â
City eyeing next step in TIRZ #2 revision
Officials said the Tax Increment Reinvestment Zone #2 revised project and financing plan related to the zone s boundary expansion is moving into the next phase.
During Thursday s virtual regular TIRZ #2 Board of Directors meeting, Economic Development Neighborhood Revitalization Manager Emily Koller provided the panel with a revision update. We wanted to let everyone know that the amended project and financing plan with the boundary extension was approved by City Council on Dec. 8, Koller said. So our goal is to have that completed by the end of the calendar year and we ve done that. The next step would be working with the different taxing entities on the participation agreement. We ll start building that calendar in early 2021.
City Council member de la Torre refuses to step down from School Board
Dec. 18, 2020 at 1:34 pm
Oscar de la Torre
Conflict broke out in a Dec. 17 School Board meeting when City Council member Oscar de la Torre attempted to continue serving as a Board member and was told he could only speak as a member of the public.
The District believes that per Government Code Section 1099, which prohibits elected officials from holding “incompatible offices”, de la Torre forfeited his Board position when he assumed a seat on City Council on Dec. 8. De la Torre disagrees and said it is up to a judge and not the District to decide whether the positions are incompatible.
NewsSportsEntertainmentLifestyleOpinionUSA TODAYObituariesE-EditionLegals
Ken Lahmers, Correspondent
MACEDONIA – City Council on Dec. 10 approved 2021 appropriations, which show $13.42 million plus $2.46 million in transfers and advances in the general fund and $24.02 million plus $4.1 million in transfers and advances in all funds.
Finance Director told Council when the ordinance was introduced in November, that the city is expected to start 2021 with a $2.7 million balance, and receive $8.9 million from income taxes, $1.78 million from property taxes and $180,000 in Local Government Funds, among other revenue sources.
Appropriations for other categories are as follows: street construction/repair, $1.83 million; parks/rec, $5.72 million including $305,000 in transfers/advances; debt service, $2.01 million; capital projects, $3.7 million including $1.34 million in transfers/advances; and non-budgetary, $458,000.