Boydston will not be happy:
I skimmed through the boring HR legalese in the staff report. It looks like Boydston isn't going to get the same compensation his fellow councilmembers get because, by law and a recent court-case, he's an employee hired after changes were made to the City's compensation package. The same thing happens to elected judges:
-----------------
Boydston Compensation, Lyons Railroad cross & Bike lanes coming at you
VII. Councilmember Boydston and future newly elected Councilmembers
With regard to the reduction of the cash in lieu benefit and its application to Councilmember Boydston and any newly elected councilpersons (i.e., those not serving successive terms), the previously quoted excerpt is important for two reasons. First, it recognizes that there may be periods of time when benefit levels for sitting boardmembers/councilmembers will be different. Second, the AG recognized that a reduction in or elimination of a benefit can be imposed upon a future new boardmember/councilmember.
The AG based its conclusion with regard to newly elected councilpersons on the case of Olson v. Cory, in which the California Supreme Court interpreted the application of a statute that limited state judge salaries and pension benefits. The Court held that the salary reduction and pension benefit reduction could not be applied to sitting judges—it could only be applied to those elected or re-elected after the change in salary and benefits was made. The Court held that the judges had a vested right to their salary and benefit levels protected by the Contracts clause of the California Constitution.
Thus, based upon the above authorities, Councilmember Boydston and other newly elected councilpersons would be subject to the new benefit level put in place as of January 1, 2011.
Speaking of folks with outsized personalities, there's reason to expect we'll hear from the Placerita Canyon Property Owners Association, or the Placerita Power Posse as they sometimes refer to themselves. Why? Dockweiler-Lyons Extension is on the agenda baby with staff recommending we hire an engineering firm to complete a preliminary engineering study and apply to the CPUC for the critical railroad crossing. The cost will be $422,454.
The purpose of the Dockweiler Drive Alignment Project is to provide the preliminary engineering and environmental documents necessary to ascertain the feasibility of the General Plan alignment for Dockweiler Drive, which identifies the connection of Dockweiler Drive to Lyons Avenue at Railroad Avenue. The project would extend Lyons Avenue from its existing terminus at Railroad Avenue, eastward to the westerly property line of The Master’s College, along the General Plan alignment, and consistent with the Council-approved Compass Blueprint Concept Plan. This project would include the consideration of a new at-grade rail crossing at Lyons Avenue and Railroad Avenue, which is expected to result in the closure of the 13th Street rail crossing.
But if cars and trains aren't your thing and bicycles are, celebrate, because we're getting more Class II on-road bike lanes on many city streets that should have had them long ago. This is part of the Consent Calendar so unless someone pulls it, we'll see lanes painted on Orchard Village, Tourney, Golden Triangle, Decoro and Centre Pointe Parkway soon:
Cost for the project is $178,900 but the project is nearly fully grant-funded.