Billy Folsom Announces His Retirement

CHEERS BY "THE BOYS"
There will likely be cheers and toasts all around as the male members of the Costa Mesa City Council and their sycophants belly-up to the bar at Skosh Monahan's when they hear the news that Billy Folsom has decided to retire.  Folsom, who has put more than three decades into serving the residents of this city, will retire after more than 31 years on March 4, 2013.

MORE THAN JUST A "JIFFY LUBE" GUY

Although described pejoratively by one councilman not too long ago as a "Jiffy Lube Guy", Folsom, in addition to spending long years keeping the city fleet - including the police cars and fire fighting equipment - on the road to help our public safety folks keep us safe, has performed duties not normally associated with the title "Equipment Mechanic III".  While he was qualified to maintain virtually every piece of rolling stock in the city inventory, his skills and experience created opportunities for him to provide expert testimony at court relative to crime scenes, for example.

AN ADVOCATE FOR EMPLOYEES AND THE CITY
He also has been active in the Costa Mesa City Employees Association (CMCEA), including a tour as that organization's president.  He has been part of the negotiating team that met with city officials on contract issues.  He's been described by folks on both sides of the table as a reasonable negotiator who always represented the employees well but also never lost sight of the bigger picture.  When it was clear that the City needed help from the association he was there to help craft ways for that to happen.

HELEN'S STRONG RIGHT ARM

Helen Nenadal, current president of the CMCEA, said she will be sorry to see him go because he was always at her shoulder helping her through the tough times - especially the past couple years.  She told me he always represented the employees with class and tenacity and they trusted him to present their side of issues with courtesy and clarity.  She emphasized that he always put the employees first.

 
WENDY LEECE'S VIEW
When asked about her reaction to Billy retiring councilwoman Wendy Leece said, "Billy's passion for his job, his city and the people of Costa Mesa inspires all of us to be true to ourselves and to stand on principle no matter the cost.  Thank you Billy for serving the good people of Costa Mesa for more than 30 years and maintaining all our vehicles. As a resident, I hope you will continue to stay involved in city politics."

KATRINA FOLEY'S OPINION

Former council woman Katrina Foley offered her observation of Billy Folsom:
“As a Costa Mesa City Council member I knew that we could always depend on Billy as a top notch mechanic to extend the life of our city vehicles, and ensure that city patrol vehicles and motor bikes were always safe and running well.  He saved us a lot of money over the years in vehicle maintenance and purchase costs. I’m appreciative of his community involvement and I’m sure it’s not the last we will see of Billy. I wish him well in retirement... He earned it.”

NO COMMENT FROM "THE BOYS"

I did not solicit comments from other members of the council for very obvious reasons.  Maybe the best one is this photograph, taken the evening last year when Billy received his 30 year service award.  As he stood with the other recipients for the obligatory group photograph he opened his sweat shirt to reveal his t-shirt with the clear statement of how he felt about how that council was doing business.  Chuckles throughout the auditorium could be heard and, even though the message sent was accurate, it did get him reprimanded.  Such is life in the trenches among Costa Mesa city employees lately.


Q & A WITH FOLSOM
I corresponded with Billy Folsom today after I learned of his pending retirement and asked him a few questions.  Here's how that Q&A went:

Cauldron - How many years with the City?  I think it's 31, right?
Folsom - 31 years as of Dec 14 2012

Cauldron - What was your progression - first job, etc.?
Folsom - I started out as a Mechanic l after a year Mechanic ll after another year Mechanic lll spent 18 months as a Supervisor though they stiffed me on that.

Cauldron - Best part of your experience as an employee?
Folsom - The best part other than having the honor to serve the people of Costa Mesa was the fact that as a shop we were asked to do a whole host of projects that no other vehicle shops would normally do. An example would be fabrication of a number of things like roof ladders, trailers, camera systems for the jail.I built many "bait cars" and "bait bikes" that were remotely controlled some of which are still in use. I also built our armored SWAT vehicle  from a Brinks armored truck. It was always fun working with people from the DEA to help them find dope in drug runner's cars and I assisted in somewhere near 300 accident investigations as a mechanical analyst which included many high profile cases. I had to testify in court against my friend Sid Soffer and had to give many depositions in relation to many fatal traffic accidents. Of course other than the variety of duties which always kept things fresh and challenging were the great people I worked with, to many to mention and I would forget someone if I made a list.

Cauldron - Worst experience (s) as an employee?
Folsom - There have been a few grizzly investigations dealing with human remains especially when children were involved but the worst thing has been the systematic dismantling of a great organization, whether by design or default, in the last two years knowing the whole time it could have been avoided with must less heartache and expense. To see so many really good people leave for greener pastures and the sadness of my fellow workers who felt betrayed and confounded. I absolutely hate leaving my co-workers in such a state of uncertainty but I had already put my retirement off a couple of times and a new business and other family matters require most of my time so it was time to pull the plug.

Cauldron -  How will they replace you, with all the varied things you do?
Folsom - No one is irreplaceable and there are others out there with many of the same skills and even more that could pick them up in short order.

Cauldron - You were President of the CMCEA, right?  When, and for how long?
Folsom - I was President of the CMCEA a few times. I think it totaled 18 years or so.

Cauldron - Your take on Mensinger's COIN plan - to have negotiations out in the open?
Folsom - The biggest problem with the two cents ordinance is that it only goes half way. It should have included all contract negotiations with all vendors with all communications between council people, commission people and contractors open to public scrutiny. Failing that it's just a publicity stunt.

Cauldron - Plans for your retirement?
Folsom - I am starting a new business, Dumb Biker Visions which will be essentially a photography business with the core being stock shots and the fruit promoting local bands and small business. I have one son starting a business also who I hope to help get off the ground then I'm planning another business if all goes well but all this pales to the vast Honey Do list that has amassed over the years. I will still be doing the biker thing and posting on Facebook and it will all tie in to the photography thing and maybe get expanded to a little video log ala Huell Howser.

Cauldron - What will you miss, if anything, when you retire?
Folsom - I will miss interacting with my co-workers and getting projects completed knowing it is keeping the city as a whole running. I hope not to miss the people as I plan to hang with them as much as I can.

Cauldron - Anything else you wish to say?
Folsom - It's been a good run, I was "incorporated" the same year as Costa Mesa and hope the city celebrates all it's great citizens and heritage so we don't forget why we live here and in that vein I hope to see some of the new organizations like CM4RG stay active and keep Costa Mesa Costa Mesa. Who knows where I'll pop up. 

Billy later added that he neglected to mention that he met the love of his life eleven years ago, stating that he would not be where he is today without her and that he plans to do more surfing and is building a new skateboard for the park... watch out for that flying beard!

HE WILL BE MISSED

Billy Folsom has served the City of Costa Mesa with dedication and distinction for more than half his life and will be missed.  His creativity, flexibility, dedication and institutional knowledge will be very difficult to replace.  We wish him well and suspect we've not seen the last of him.

Scheafer on Fitzpatrick's Resignation

SANITARY DISTRICT DIRECTOR SPEAKS OUT
Costa Mesa Sanitary District Director Mike Scheafer has signed in with an opinion on Jim Fitzpatrick's decision to resign his seat on that board in a commentary in the Daily Pilot, HERE.

IMPECCABLE CREDENTIALS
Scheafer, a nearly life-long activist in Costa Mesa, is a former member of the City Council and the Parks and Recreation Commission.  Over the years he, among other things, has been the President of the Lions Club and a driving force behind the Fish Fry; President of the Board of the Costa Mesa Senior Center and is currently the Chairman of the 60th Anniversary Celebration Committee.

STRAIGHT TO THE POINT

I'll let you read the commentary and form your own opinion, but he wraps it up with a very important observation when he says, "Fitzpatrick is not a victim of others; he inflicted the problems that surround his resignation from the Sanitary District board on himself."  Yep...

Helicopters At City Hall!

AN OLD FAMILIAR SOUND
Those of you who live near Costa Mesa City Hall will be treated to an old, familiar sound Tuesday through Thursday this week - the sound of helicopters once again landing on the helipad behind the Emergency Operations Center at City Hall.  As you will recall, ever since the City Council decided to abandon the A.B.L.E. helicopter program as a money-saving exercise, the number of helicopters that visited the helipad since then have been few and far between.

TRAINING FOR COSTA MESA FIREFIGHTERS

In a press release today the City announced that a Mercy Air Ambulance will land at the helipad at about 10:00 a.m. Tuesday through Thursday as part of a three-day training exercise for Costa Mesa firefighters.

PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT
According to the release, Mercy Air Ambulance provides air ambulance transport for the critically injured.  The training will include how to work near a helicopter with its blades turning, proper techniques for loading patients, and, in the event of an emergency, how to shut down the helicopter.

SHOULD BE AN INTERESTING SHOW

I don't know how you feel, but that that sounds pretty darn exciting to me, so I might try to find my way over to City Hall late in the morning this week to watch.

Saying Goodbye To My Friend

WAYNE D. STANFIELD 

AUGUST 21, 1928 - JANUARY 26, 2013

A SAD DAY FOR US...
This is a bittersweet weekend for us.  Our great neighbor and friend, Wayne D. Stanfield, passed away peacefully at his home Saturday afternoon following a battle with cancer.  We are deeply saddened at his passing and for the tremendous void it creates in our lives, but know he is now where he wanted to be - with his wonderful wife, Barbara, who pre-deceased him in May of 2010, HERE.

A TRUE FRIEND FOR ALMOST FOUR DECADES
Wayne and Barbara - we say their names like it was one word because it seemed like they were never apart - have been our friends since the very first day we took occupancy of our home more than 39 years ago.  We learned of Wayne's kindness and selflessness that day when he spent three hours helping us unplug our guest shower drain.  That was the beginning of a wonderful friendship - one in which they welcomed us to the neighborhood, into their lives and, eventually, embraced us as members of their family.

AN HONEST, HARDWORKING MAN
Wayne operated a family plumbing business in Costa Mesa for more than a half-century.  He and his son, also Wayne, did the work and Barbara helped with the paperwork.  Wayne was a hardworking, honest man who lived a true Christian life.  In all the years that I've called him my friend I've never known him to say an unkind or harsh word to or about anyone.

MORE THAN SIX DECADES OF SHARED LOVE
He and Barbara were married for more than 63 years, having been childhood sweethearts as they grew up in Banning, California.  Their affection for each other was obvious every day that we knew them.  Barbara's passing two and half years ago was deeply felt by all who knew her, but Wayne was devastated.  He would carry a framed photo of her with him as he drove around town in his 1931 Model A Ford coupe and shared stories of their lives together to all who would listen.

A TRULY KIND MAN
Wayne may have been the kindest man I've ever known.  He spent a lifetime helping others - friends and strangers alike.  For example, for years he and Barbara and their children would gather toys and other gifts for the Hopi Indians in Arizona and would personally transport and distribute them over the Christmas holiday each year.  They sought no thanks or recognition for this tremendous act of kindness - they just saw a need and filled it.  If you needed advice on a project Wayne was your guy.  He not only provided guidance, but would just jump in and help you do it correctly.

FRIEND, NEIGHBOR AND MENTOR
For more than half my life Wayne Stanfield was a friend, neighbor and mentor, selflessly sharing his life experience as a God-loving man by example.  There is simply not enough space here to recount all the stories of the joy we shared with him over these years.  I smile as I recall decades of dune buggy and boating adventures and the wonderful times we spent with him just hanging out or helping with projects.  Age-wise, he was more like an older brother, but everyone called him "Father" - such was the esteem in which he was held by all who knew him.


SURVIVED BY LOVING FAMILY AND FRIENDS
Wayne is survived by his children, Wayne K. Stanfield (Theresa) of Santa Ana and Cathy Binnquist (Bruce) of Costa Mesa, four grand children, eight great grandchildren and hundreds of friends.  A celebration of his life will be held later this week, followed by a private family service at a future date. 

TOGETHER FOREVER AT LAST

Steven White No Longer City Employee

BRIEF ANNOUNCEMENT
In a terse announcement today from Communication Director Bill Lobdell, the City of Costa Mesa announced that Steven White is no longer a city employee.  The full text of that announcement reads as follows: "Effective today, January 25, 2013, Steven White is no longer employed by the City of Costa Mesa." 

WAS HE FIRED?
Although it was not specifically stated in the announcement, it is logical to assume that White was fired by The City as a result of the decision by the District Attorney to charge him in this case and the city's own internal personnel investigation.

DISTRICT ATTORNEY CHARGED HIM

You will recall that earlier this week the Orange County District Attorney announced that White will be charged with various crimes in connection with supposed vandalism of political signs during the run-up to the November election.  You can read the Daily Pilot coverage of that story HERE.

COSTA MESA TAXPAYER'S ASSOCIATION VIDEO
White had been on paid administrative leave ever since he was identified on a very grainy video shown on the Costa Mesa Taxpayer's Association account on YouTube.  You can view it HERE.  The photo above is enhanced from that video.

A VERY, STUPID, COSTLY ACT

It is highly unlikely that any other sign vandals will be apprehended since most trails will have gone cold - if any existed in the first place.  If White did perform these acts of vandalism it was a very foolish act on his part.  According to the Daily Pilot account of the charges being filed, if convicted White faces the possibility of a year in jail, $1,000 fine and restitution.  The charge was misdemeanor vandalism.

Another "Fitzy" Echo

LIKE GUM STUCK ON YOUR SHOE...

As if his self-aggrandizing commentary in the Daily Pilot earlier this week wasn't enough, de-frocked Costa Mesa Sanitary District Director Jim Fitzpatrick produced another whiney rant in The Current, the weekly supplement in the Orange County Register today.  It's hard to find online, but if you really want to read it, click HERE, then maneuver to page 7, where his little bit of drivel is tucked down below important, worthwhile commentaries by Wendy Leece and Becks Heyhoe.  There you will find his "guest column".  Check your gag reflex at the door.

NEGLECTS THE TRUTH 
Once again Fitzpatrick paints one side of the story and assumes the readers will buy into it.  Once again he conveniently neglects to tell the readers that he's no longer on the Sanitary District Board because he violated the law by holding that seat and an incompatible seat on the Costa Mesa Planning Commission simultaneously.  Once again he fails to mention that he was paid for both jobs simultaneously.

DOUBLE STANDARD
Once again he rants about saving money, but has cost the rate payers of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District tens of thousands of dollars in unnecessary legal fees.  Selective memory is a wonderful thing.

 

EVERY PULPIT!

So, I guess this is how it's going to be.  Fitzpatrick will jump up onto any and every pulpit or soap box he sees to pontificate about how oppressed he is.  One can only hope he will eventually grow up and begin acting like an adult, not like some spoiled kid looking for someone besides himself to blame for his misfortune.  Look in the mirror, Jimbo.

I'M TIRED OF IT, TOO
I know you're getting tired of reading about this - I'm getting tired of writing about it, too.  However, as long as he whines and moans about how abused he has been we'll set the record straight.
 

REPLACEMENT TO BE NAMED NEXT MONTH

The Sanitary District Board discussed Fitzpatrick's vacancy at their regular meeting last night.  Specifications for the job and the process by which interested individuals may apply will be finalized within a few days.  Apparently they hope to announce a replacement next month.

Fitzy's Sour Grapes

TIRESOME, BOGUS WHINING

In a commentary in the Daily Pilot former Costa Mesa Sanitary District Director and former and current Costa Mesa Planning Commission Jim Fitzpatrick keeps picking at the scab off his bogus complaints about the way the directors of the Sanitary District Board operate the business.  His non-stop harping about long term trash contracts has gotten very tiresome over the past couple years, especially so since the philosophy behind those contracts has been explained more than once.

MAKES NO SENSE 

His convoluted commentary, which attempts to somehow equate whether General Manager Scott Carroll will get a raise or not to his view about the current trash hauling contract, is so nonsensical that it almost defies description - almost.  You can read his drivel HERE and form your own opinion.

IGNORING LEGAL OPINION

Fitzpatrick, who despite solid legal opinions to the contrary, chose to violate the law by holding incompatible positions as both a Costa Mesa Planning Commissioner and an elected member of the Costa Mesa Sanitary District Board, has demonstrated a petulant disregard for those decisions and forced the Sanitary District Board to take the only position they could - to pursue legal remedies for his transgression.  That was resolved when Fitzpatrick, after racking up significant legal costs for the District and himself, finally resigned his seat on the Board.  He had previously resigned his seat on the Planning Commission last year.  His pals on the City Council re-appointed him to a brand new four year term on the Planning Commission last week - a true demonstration of the value of boot licking.

PETULANT SOUR GRAPES

His commentary is clearly a mouthful of sour grapes from Fitzpatrick.  Even though he fancies himself - in addition to being the final word on "green" technology - some kind of a management guru, he was unable to build consensus on many issues during his tour on the Sanitary District Board.  Rumors abound about his heavy-handed management "style" - just ask members of the Sanitary District staff, or the city staff, too, for that matter.

WHAT'S HIS GOAL?

It's unclear what Fitzpatrick had hoped to accomplish with his venom-filled tirade in the Daily Pilot - perhaps some level of self-aggrandizement.  It certainly isn't going to convince even the most casual reader of the validity of his position.


WHINEY LAWYER, TOO
You may also notice that the very first comment appended to Fitzpatrick's commentary is by the newest planning commissioner, whiney Auto Club lawyer, Timothy Sesler.  Timmy has become a regular presence in the Daily Pilot lately, as he attempts to carry the water for the power elite on the City Council.  It's going to be very interesting to watch him in action with Fitzpatrick.

BACK ON THE BULLY PULPIT

So, with his new position on the Planning Commission, Fitzpatrick will be able to use that bully pulpit to, again, demonstrate to us all just what a pitiful, pathetic, fanny-smooching caricature he has become.  How sad for us all.  
 

HOW TO REPLACE FITZPATRICK?
Tonight the Directors of the Sanitary District 
will discuss the methodology of replacing Fitzpatrick on the Board.  It's unlikely they will select a special election, especially after Fitzpatrick forced them to spend so much on legal fees.  I suspect they will craft a process that will invite interested applicants, then select one of them to complete Fitzpatrick's term.  We'll know later tonight or tomorrow morning.

Estancia Thespians Soar!

THERE'S MORE TO LIFE THAN FOOTBALL
Remember these kids?  The Estancia High School Drama group was honored by the City of Costa Mesa at a recent meeting for their outstanding accomplishments.  This is how they looked that night.

THEY "KICKED IT"...
Well, that amazing group of young people - to use the words of one especially proud parent - "kicked  it" at the California Educational Theatre Association (CETA) festival this weekend.  You can read about CETA HERE.  This is how the group looked after their smashing performance of "A Midsummer Nights Dream"

AWARDS
According to reports from those in attendance, a coveted "Mainstage Award", special California State acknowledgement for Tech to Alexey Bonca and Director Pauline Maranian. The Special Flip Reade Award to Jermaine Sanders for outstanding theatrical movement and top festival honors to Sterling Gates for Best Supporting Actor and Danielle Ridge for Best Actress.

KUDOS TO ALL
Congratulations to Pauline Maranian and the entire Estancia High School Drama group, including all those hard-working parents who volunteer to help create these wonderful programs.  You all make the entire city very proud.

Fairgrounds Sale Scab Ripped Off Again

RE-OPENING AN OLD WOUND
At the meeting of the Fair Board last Thursday morning the panel charged by the Board to investigate the proposed scheme to purchase the Fair Grounds property a couple years ago on the cheap presented their findings.  You will recall that the effort, in which several members of the Fair Board at the time formed a foundation to purchase the 150 acre Fairgrounds site, was quashed due, in great part, to the efforts of now-councilwoman Sandra Genis in her then-role as President of the Orange County Fairgrounds Preservation Society, HERE.

MEDIA ALL OVER IT
Norberto Santana, Jr., Managing Editor of the Voice of OC, first announced this move in an entry on January 17th, early in the morning, HERE.  He followed up after the meeting with another one, HERE.  Mike Reicher of the Orange County Register covered the event HERE and Bradley Zint covered it for the Daily Pilot HERE.  Read all those articles and you'll get a pretty good feel for what transpired on Thursday.

ELLIS' LIST

As you will read, calls were made for a forensic audit of the process of attempting to sell the Fairgrounds.  Major players were former state legislator Dick Ackerman and then-Fair Board President David Ellis, among many others.  When this first came up back in 2009 Ellis presented a long list to the Fair Board of individuals he insisted MUST be interviewed if the Board was to have a clear idea of what transpired in this drama.  That list in below.

As you can see, it looks like a list of everyone who ever muttered the words "Fairgrounds Sale".  I suspect Ellis knows that his challenge to interview all those people would be virtually impossible, particularly since the committee formed to do it had no subpoena power nor any authority to guarantee truthful responses.

WHAT ABOUT RIGHEIMER?
One thing that's missing in these articles is a mention of the role current Costa Mesa Mayor Jim Righeimer played in this scheme.  We know of his participation in "Save The Fair" web site, HERE.  We also know that his commentary in the Daily Pilot under his "Rigonomics" byline back in June of 2009 may have been one of the first mentions of this scheme, HERE.  Personally, I'd like to know more about his involvement.  I'm curious because it was clear at that time that he was likely participating behind the scenes.  Some will recall that ill-fated mistaken voice mail message left for a local reporter instead of community stalwart Rick Kapko informing Kapko that he was a lock to be a member of the Costa Mesa Financial Evaluation Committee before his appointment had been affirmed.  That kind of stuff makes many of us curious.

AN INVESTIGATION?

It's going to be interesting to see how this plays out.  Certainly, there are many questions left unanswered.  I find myself wondering just how far this Fair Board will wish to pursue it.  It is logical to speculate about potential legal sanctions if, for example, the State Attorney General decides to actually investigate this matter.  There is, of course, the cloud of conflict of interest hanging over that possibility, since the Attorney General is, in fact, the counsel for the Fair Board.  I guess we'll see.

Harlan Calls For Vision

AN EXCELLENT POINT
Daily Pilot Columnist Jeffrey Harlan, in a column that will appear in print this weekend, makes a very prescient point - that the City of Costa Mesa lacks a vision for the next 60 years.  You can read his excellent column HERE.

START WITH THE GENERAL PLAN UPDATE
Harlan's position - that the update of the Costa Mesa General Plan is an excellent place to begin constructing that vision - is right on the money.  Following his lament that we missed an opportunity to develop a community-wide vision prior to the November election, he postulates that "with the dust firmly-settled, we can finally come together and have the conversation in earnest."

NOT CONVINCED THE COUNCIL IS INTERESTED

Unfortunately, I'm not sure that dust has, in fact, firmly-settled.  Based on the behaviors demonstrated by the council majority during the most recent council meetings following the election, I'm not convinced they are ready or willing to reach out to the broader community to help construct that 60-year vision.  It seems to me they are much more concerned about their own, personal short-term goals rather than stepping up to look into the future of this community.

WHAT DO YOU THINK?

I encourage each of you to read Jeff Harlan's column and contemplate how you might participate in the construction of such a vision.  It takes a little work - a little exercise in looking beyond your own small slice of this community - but it will be worth it.

Oops! Costa Mesa Council Takes A Mulligan

UH-OH!

Perhaps anticipating the Costa Mesa Classic Golf Tournament on Monday, the Costa Mesa City Council will, effectively, "take a Mulligan" after it inadvertently voted last Tuesday evening to appoint current Planning Commission Chairman Colin McCarthy to the vacancy created the day before by the abrupt resignation by commissioner Ed Salcedo.

BAD ADVICE

Following the meeting Interim City Clerk Brenda Green further researched the California Government Code - specifically section 54974 (a), which you can read HERE -  and found that, despite contract City Attorney Tom Duarte's assurance to the council that it was appropriate to select a replacement for Salcedo last Tuesday night, the code requires at least 10 days between the official notice by the clerk and the appointment.  You can read the City press release on this issue HERE.

APPLICATION PERIOD EXTENDED

So, even though very few people I've spoken with think McCarthy will not be re-appointed, the application period for persons interested in filling Salcedo's remaining two years on the Planning Commission will be extended until 5:00 p.m Thursday, January 24th.  The council will then select from the applicant pool - all the previous candidates plus those who throw their hats in the ring by Thursday evening - at their next regular council meeting on February 5th.  They will also fill the four open slots on the Parks and Recreation Commission that evening, too.

DON'T BLINK!
Just when you think things can't get any more bizarre.... don't blink!