Some items from The Rio Linda Elverta News, December 22, 2005:
Rio Linda-Elverta Community Council
Water Board seeks replacement Director

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Published in Rio Linda Elverta News December 22, 2005 - Scroll for other articles
Rio Linda-Elverta Community Council

It's not your father's Buick

by Jay O'Brien

The Rio Linda-Elverta Community Council, at its meeting December 14, 2005, considered and approved use permits to allow four proposed accessory dwellings to be added to existing parcels. The accessory dwellings are to be added to existing properties at 6708 22nd Street, 2010 Whisper Wind Court, 6219 24th Street, and 8517 El Modena Avenue in Rio Linda Elverta.

The Council was able to make a final determination on these permits, as it is fulfilling the function of  the County Planning Commission. The Council also replaces the Community Planning Advisory Council (CPAC), which was a volunteer, unpaid, advisory body that enjoyed 30 years of history as a community sounding board. Differences from CPAC are apparent.

CPAC was a "free-wheeling" advisory body; the Council that replaces it is constrained by the legalities of being a paid, judicial, body. As County counsel Bill Burke explained to the Council, "You are judges now, you are not advisors."

The ability previously enjoyed by CPAC to entertain extemporaneous, off the record comments and questions from the audience is gone; now, to address the Council, speakers must identify themselves, be sworn in, and be recorded for the County's legal record. CPAC previously heard informal proposals for developments and projects, offering CPAC opinions; such exchanges now seem out of the question, given the judicial nature of the new Council.

Maybe our old familiar CPAC should be re-established, to provide advice to the Community Council? It seems to some that the community contact with CPAC has been stifled, not replaced, by the Community Council.

But wait -- the Community Council is new and taking "baby steps" to find its place in the County hierarchy. County Administrators are aware of the perceived loss of the CPAC accessibility, and say they are addressing the issue. Hopefully they will find a way to allow the 30 years of CPAC good work to continue.

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Published in Rio Linda Elverta News December 22, 2005 - Scroll for other articles
Water Board seeks replacement Director

Applications due by January 17

by Jay O'Brien
The Rio Linda/Elverta Community Water District (RLECWD) decided at its December 19 Board meeting to interview applicants and appoint a replacement for Director James Strutton, who has resigned after serving one year of his four-year term.

RLECWD has decided to advertise for applicants, who must apply by January 17, 2006, to be appointed to serve until the next Election in November 2006.  The appointee may then file for election to a two-year term.

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