INSIDE JOB

Ruston Town Council meeting January 20, 2009 at 7pm:

Sorry for being late. It takes time to hash these meetings and and come up with the true meanings, disguised intended consequences. The Tacoma duo, Dan and Wayne, are relentless in voting against agenda items that are pro Point Ruston and their attacks against council (cabal) members who stray from their destructive course. But they wisely refrain from attacking the single elected as Ruston person on the council.

Thus their unrelenting attacks and undermining of the COMMENCEMENT and POINT RUSTON and the RUSTON VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT. Even their former cabal pals whose votes stray from the duo line come under snide attacks more belittling to those who make them than the intended targets.

Wayne, Lil Wayne, three years as a flunky first to Bob and now to Dan. Wayne who manages to always be in the right place to report on activities of his supposed enemies. Who looked out his window and observed an empty driveway and proposed in a council meeting to strip the emergency fireman's residence out of the budget. Wayne who happened to be parked observing the Commencement workers departing and "speeding on Shirley street". How he managed to time them on the one block to the stop sign at 51st street was not disclosed. Wayne it's the Commencement you don't like. What do you have against working men and women?

The same Wayne who can say second in a split second to any motion ever made by Bob or Dan, of course, the matter was never discussed outside of public meeting. The same Wayne who routinely ABSTAINed to paying the town's bills and once not showing up to vote on the bills in an emergency session nearly causing the town to shut down and all the town employees to be laid off. The outcry on that one made sure they never tried it again. Wayne who in the middle of discussions on the $700,000 town budget wanted a study session to remove $261 dollars from the VOLUNTEER FIRE DEPARTMENT budget. Don't ever run against Wayne in an election!

The duo of the moment routinely vote against or try to stall all progress on STACK HILL, THE COMMENCEMENT, POINT RUSTON and anything else that is beneficial to the town and would aid in it's survival. Their droning is so patently predictable we could get by with cardboard cutouts and play the recording from the previous meetings. The code words are used every meeting: appropriate, review, study session, fair to the people of the town, fair market value, return on value, fiduciary duty, reasonable rent, on and on on everything they are against.

If they are for something I guarantee it will provide benefit to the duo and the cabal. Such as paving an alley, sewers, street lights; etc., their vocabulary is limited to one word: GRANTS.
If that doesn't pass muster their is always dipping into the Commencement fund, at one time $4.2 million dollars. Down probably a million plus in just the last year. Where did it go?

.Running a $500,000 deficit, no new or increased taxes on citizens allowed.
. Losing $150,000 gambling tax five years (see SCROOGE TOWN Ruston Insider Dec. 7, 2008). . Losing $100,000 not imposing utility taxes on residents. (BALANCING ACT TWO Ruston Insider Dec. 3, 2008).
. Losing $90,000 on a ill advised lawsuit vs. the Commencement to kick them out of their sales room on which they had a 500 year lease so ballet classes could be held there.
. Losing $125,000 town's half of chief Reinhold lawsuit settlement.
. Spending $350,000 (will be $420,000 with budget amendment to follow) on Salaries and 1,500 hours overtime for the Police department which used to get by with one employee now probable could get by with two in this time of budget crisis..
. An unknown amount in hourly legal fees to the Special Legal Counsel/Town Attorney (take your pick).

TOTAL in 2008: $1,385,000 this year (remember the deficit is $500,000)

Still in the offing $950,000 lawsuit with the POINT DEFIANCE CAFE AND CASINO whose legal gambling business was taxed out of existence because they didn't like their sign. A settlement offer so far neglected but they will cave like the POLICE CHIEF lawsuit because their illegal actions and corruption will be exposed at trial. Remember they will be on the witness stand under oath against an attorney undefeated vs. Ruston and the cabal.

Why are all the additional police officers stationed in the parking lots of local business not favored by the cabal, checking license numbers? Is this what they were hired for? One business owner who had the temerity to question why Ruston was doing this when Tacoma did not was told to go inside for his own safety.

The only logic I can apply to this is the cabal antics are intended to bankrupt the town. Why else would the applaud POINT RUSTON as the town saviour and then obstruct or vote against it at every opportunity? Why else harass legitimate businesses whose taxes support the town?

Leasing space in the school to Point Ruston was the main agenda item with a big to do over how much they should charge. A public comment pointed out to them that such an important project should command a lease of one dollar per year as the potential benefit to the town greatly outweighs the meager lease payment they can come up with. The other agenda item engineering services for Wayne's sewer project.

More on PRR lawsuits to follow next blog but a council comment: "Our long (national ) nightmare is over". For RUSTON our four year nightmare has ten months to go unless a group of town's people will go with me to visit the PIERCE COUNTY PROSECUTOR and present a case for an investigation into the activities going on here and the misuse of the Commencement trust fund for private lawsuits.

• Town of Ruston officials:
• Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
• Council, Bradley Huson, Jim Hedrick, Wayne Stebner, Dan Albertson, Jane Hunt
• Attorney, David Britton
• Planner, Rob White

OLD RUSTON HIDEOUS HOTEL

Copied this from EXIT133 commenting on "Will Ruston survive":

There is old Ruston with millions of dollars of infrastructure needed, many millions. Then there is Point Ruston a brand new state of the art commercial/residential development.

Separating them is a 105 foot bluff, one will not change the other physically but Point Ruston will definitely be beneficial to Old Ruston taxwise.

The Point Ruston land mass (100 acres) was split off from Tacoma to save the W.R. Rust Smelter operations from being taxed by Tacoma. The Smelter was responsible for RUSTon, get it, and now may again save the town from bankruptcy resurrecting itself as Point Ruston.

Given the choice Tacoma will welcome Point Ruston (boundary review commission) but they could not afford Old Ruston.

Old Ruston is living in a dream world where the RUST, later ASARCO, smelter paid all of the bills. Without them the higher taxes, assessments and LIDs will force most of old Ruston to sell out and move. At the present rate of squandering the Commencement trust fund it won’t be long.

Posted by Ruston34 Jan 9, 01:27 PM

Did anyone notice the "hideous building" comment referring to the Silver Cloud Hotel was deleted from the mintues of the Dec. 15th Ruston town council meeting? It will be an uphill, constant struggle for Point Ruston with that attitude residing on the town council.
Refer to: RUSTON UNBALANCED 12/15/08 and BUDGETLOO 12/16/08.

SILVER LINING

Ordinance No. 1275 SILVER CLOUD HOTEL substantial development permit:

PASSED council vote 2-2 with one abstention Mayor Bruce Hopkins voting YES to break tie in council. Jim Hedrick, Bradley Huson voting affirmative, voting no Dan Albertson, Wayne Stebner, abstaining Jane Hunt.

Congratulations RUSTON, nothing's gonna stop us now.

Brief summary of one hour study session.

Rob White, Town Planner gives presentation
Dan - usual litany, 35 feet height limitation, obstruct views of substantial number of residents, statutes, slope, natural level of land not after buildup causes higher elevation, grade of slope 2.75 percent, 56 findings of fact, problems with drafting language, Weiss report, council last line of defense, critical obligation, stair stepping, make our own finding of fact, need more review and finally each council person needs to read every finding of fact, lawsuits may result, we haven't taken testimony, make our own finding of fact, need more review, is it appropriate to accept? (it amounts to micro managing already fully managed project)
Gary Pedersen for Point Ruston top of rap wall, permit shows finished grade 21 feet or down to sea level, in zoning code, remediated land referring to natural level of land not pertinent in this case, same as Tacoma, state statute, no forests or vegetation on site.
Bill Lynn lawyer for Point Ruston below natural state of land, contaminated soil removed to OFC (offsite containment) , designated exception, you have planning commission document and recommendations, more clear, Weiss report spent a lot of time, provided professional judgment
Dan Is it appropriate to accept? three questions:
. making findings when we did not
.reliance on Weiss report
.language conclusion to finding of fact

Finally, some sound reasoning Bradley has had enough. Not appropriate to criticize other council members. We have been through Planning commission, taken public testimony, no need for micro managing, have done work on our own, clearly no views are blocked, testimony closed.
David Britton, Town attorney Planning Commission does Finding of Fact, up to Council to approve or reject. Council last line of review. Has gone through Planning Commission for Findings of Fact, we are OK.
Wayne, oh Wayne back to promenade. Must be completed prior to occupancy? No possibility, no way around?
Rob now part of master Development Plan. Whole site completed prior to occupancy.
Wayne requirement for fire protection?
Rob not part of Shoreline Development Plan, was part of SEPA approval, we have blank check on this.
Jim Washington State rating and services bureau will be here Wednesday for fire services. Law enforcement will come later.
Jane comes to us as staff recommendation, planning commission, finding of fact. Is confused on height and distance from shoreline.
Bruce Hopkins, Mayor, hard pressed to find fault with this.
Dan need different approach, massive scale violation.

7 pm ADJOURN Study session
Fresh Air break 10 minutes.
One hour! Seems like a rehash waste of time but believe me it was thorough and ready to go to Department of Ecology.

REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING Monday January 5, 2005 at 7:10 pm
Ordinance No. 1275 - Silver Cloud Hotel substantial development permit

After formalities,
Dan problematic to deal with this now, findings of fact none checked to record by council, abdicating our responsibilities, leaving to Town planner, planning commission, we ourselves do not make finding of fact, council has obligation to go through findings, portion of hotel is withing 200 feet of shoreline, how much is within 200 feet?, not right to vote tonight. Subsidiary question, natural condition of land, will exceed 35 foot height limitation. How far will we go beyond? All council members should do what law requires.
Bradley statutes refer to average grade line, no view blocking of substantial number of residents. Point Ruston has overriding value to the public, has been off site for 100 years, gives public access and benefit to public. Has five view corridors, buildings at top additional 45 feet.
Gary only conceptual drawings available at this time.
Bradley findings of fact, planning commission hearing closed.
David record closed no more testimony.
Jane to vote we need clarification, wants to see elevations.
David FCIS addresses these issues.
Bruce no more discussion correct?
Jim calls for question (vote)
Dan aside whispers to Jane

VOTE TAKEN -

Jim Hedrick, Bradley Huson affirmative
Dan Albertson, Wayne Stebner vote NO
Jane Hunt abstains.

TIE BREAKER VOTE:
Bruce Hopkins mayor: No matter the amount of time I take I will vote the same. I am for hotel and the development.

Jane interrupts, told vote only.

Bruce continues, Have been through all this, have done evaluation. I respect the opinion of the Town Planner and the Planning Commission. I am voting affirmative, YES.

Done deal, one of the most significant developments in Northwest history is off the ground and running. Congratulations and one day we will write about the Ruston Three in history books if not erecting a statue. Job well done, resplendent in a huge step forward for the town of Ruston.

Will it save the town? Time will tell but a significant milestone has been passed!

Town of Ruston officials:

Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
Council, Bradley Huson
Council, Jim Hedrick
Council, Wayne Stebner
Council, Dan Albertson
Council, Jane Hunt
Attorney, David Britton
Planner, Rob White

PIGGY BANK BREAKIN

Who does the $4.2 million the town received from the Commencement land sale belong to? Apparently not the town of Ruston at the rate it is being laundered and squandered by the Cabal council. Almost all spent on capricious personal vendettas or whims. When does it stop?

.Running a $500,000 deficit.

.Losing $150,000 gambling tax five years (see SCROOGE TOWN Ruston Insider Dec. 7, 2008)
.Losing $100,000 not imposing utility taxes on residents. (BALANCING ACT TWO Ruston Insider Dec. 3, 2008)
.Losing $90,000 on a ill advised lawsuit vs. the Commencement to kick them out of their sales room on which they had a 500 year lease so ballet classes could be held there.
.Losing $125,000 town's half of chief Reinhold lawsuit settlement.
. Spending $350,000 on Salaries and 1,500 hours overtime for the Police department which used to get by with one employee
. an unknown amount in hourly legal fees to the Special Legal Counsel/Town Attorney (take your pick) because of private vendettas and obsessive secrecy.

.running TOTAL so far: $785,000 per year (remember the deficit is $500,000)

In the pipeline:

$108,000 for a TA, Town Administrator/Manager
$$$$$$$ for a CPA, Certified Public Accountant to assist with budget.
$950,000 lawsuit by Point Defiance Cafe and Casino (they didn't like their sign)
$$$$$$$ enormous legal expenses. Even more enormous if they stop the Silver Cloud hotel (hideous structure) or fail to approve occupancy permit for the Commencement (saved the town BC, before cabal).

Meanwhile back at the town being ignored there are major public projects, namely:

.street lights replaced and underground wiring
.sanitary sewer system replaced
. storm sewers upgraded replaced to EPA standards
.storm sewer outlets to Commencement Bay, eliminate contaminants
.streets rebuilt surface and sub surface
.electrical system, poles and wires replaced, hopefully underground
.Paving alley

They have enough in the Commencement trust fund to fund these programs but choose not to. Why?

And paying their bills? Jane proposing Utility tax increase because we need all the income we can get at several meetings, discussions. According to AWC (Association of Washington Cities) average utility tax is 14.5 percent. We could raise below maximum tax rate and triple our income. Estimated $300 per year, $25 per month per household.

Dan and Wayne were having none of this. Dan, Dec. 1st (BALANCING ACT TWO Ruston Insider) estimated $100,000 per year $1,600 per household. Wayne, Dec. 15th (BUDGETLOO Ruston Insider) estimated $1,500 per year. No statistical background or information supplied.

So was there a compromise? How much did Dan and Wayne and the residents of Ruston pay in utility tax increases? ZERO? Why tax yourself? Just add it to the deficit and take it out of the Commencement trust fund. See how easy it is? Laundering?

At the final Regular council meeting Dec. 22, 2008 this item mysteriously disappeared and the 2009 budget passed 5-0 without council discussion or public involvement. Was there another violation of the Open Meetings Act? Was this discussed and decided at a secret meeting in a private home?

Time for another PRR (Public Records Request). So long for 2008 blogging.

Town of Ruston officials:
Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
Council, Bradley Huson
Council, Jim Hedrick
Council, Wayne Stebner
Council, Dan Albertson
Council, Jane Hunt
Attorney, David Britton

TACOMA OR BUST

POINT RUSTON is our future our hope,
That's why we're playing rope a dope.
We prefer to remain backwards.
Things are getting very awkward.

Launder or squander,
Either way we benefit.
We continue to fill our larder,
Courtesy the COMMENCEMENT.

Taxes are not on our agenda,
Handouts we've come to depend on.
We prefer grants over time,
We're not up to spending a dime.

We're broke and we're spent,
Down to our very last cent.
We're living on the edge,
All our bets are on hedge.

We are the CABAL of Ruston,
For Tacoma we have a glow on.
Once our time here elapses,
We wish the town many successes.

WHOSE IN CHARGE?

Tacoma News Tribune today January 2nd, 2009 page B1 "Casino owner offers to settle".

After four mayors in about four months who is in charge? Who makes decisions on the town's behalf? Under whose direction is the town's $4.2 million trust fund being laundered and squandered?

The new Dan Albertson picked town attorney David Britton appears to operating for his own benefit outside of any town direction? The latest mayor Bruce Hopkins in his short time in office has been totally immersed in the budget. It appears he listens only to Dan Albertson, council person and neighbor, or he is operating on his own and outside of the town's interests?

Refusing to stipulate yes as to a 3-1 council vote on imposing the 12 percent gambling tax on the Point Defiance Cafe and Casino injunction request cost the town about $1,700 legal fees and costs (not including any costs for attorney Dan Albertson who was at the hearing for over an hour). Filing a motion for Summary Judgment cost an additional $1,700 dollars. Not returning calls from the opposing attorney just prolongs the town's lawsuit and keeps adding to the costs. Again with little or no benefit for the town of Ruston, WA.

Going to trial and refusing to settle out of court will greatly increase the town's legal costs. Win or lose David Britton comes out smelling like a rose, with large legal fees incurred. For Ruston the $20,000 a year they received previously from the more reasonable 3 percent floating gambling tax is gone forever. There is absolutely no benefit to the Town of Ruston for not allowing the Casino to operate until the case could be heard on its merits.

This from a town whose only mantra is "cry poor and apply for grants". This from a town running a $500,000 yearly deficit financed through the proceeds of a land sale to the Commencement condominium project. Previous grants have been misused or turned down after being approved.

To summarize:

.Running a $500,000 deficit.
.Losing $100,000 gambling tax five years (see SCROOGE TOWN Ruston Insider Dec. 7, 2008)
.Losing $100,000 not imposing utility taxes on residents. (BALANCING ACT TWO Ruston Insider Dec. 3, 2008)
.Losing $90,000 on a ill advised lawsuit vs. the Commencement to kick them out of their sales room on which they had a 500 year lease so ballet classes could be held there.
.Losing $125,000 town's half of chief Reinhold lawsuit settlement.
.running TOTAL so far: $415,000

Wow, the Tacoma gang has broken open the town Piggy Bank! There is more but you get the idea.

Do you get a feeling that the people currently running the town would rather see it dead and buried, merged into Tacoma or more likely Pierce County?

Town of Ruston officials:

Mayor, Bruce Hopkins
Council, Bradley Huson
Council, Jim Hedrick
Council, Wayne Stebner
Council, Dan Albertson
Council, Jane Hunt
Attorney, David Britton