CRA News February 2005

Selected articles from the newsletter of the Carmel Residents Association

You are invited to the Citizen of the Year Celebration Sunday, February 27, 3:30 p.m. See details below.

Come Cheer the Citizen of the Year at the Celebration

Meet new Sunset Center Director on March 24

The Citizen of the Year Celebration takes the place of a February general meeting.

On March 24, the newly-hired director of Sunset Center, Jack Globenfelt, will speak to us about his vision for Carmel's community and cultural center. The meeting will be followed by "Dines Out."

Mr. Globenfelt gave the City Council on Feb. 1 a preview of the exciting new Sunset Center web site (www.sunsetcenter.org), which should be up and running by Feb. 25. Patrons will be able to see what performances are scheduled, purchase tickets on line and choose seats by first seeing a graphic of how the stage looks from various sections of the theater. We'll hear more about it on March 24.

Sunset Center Events
Taken from calendar dated 1/12/05

For information, call Sunset Center Theater at 620-2040

President's Message
Deliberation

by Sherry Shollenbarger

It seems to me that it is time for open, careful discussion in Carmel. I know that reasonable discourse is attainable in this city. There are members of different interest groups who I know would be willing to attend any meeting that has a very open agenda and the appropriate expectation of civil exchange.

I am speaking of representatives (one or two from each group) of the business community, the city government, property owners and members from community organizations such as Yes! for Carmel, Carmel Residents Association, Kiwanis, Rotary, etc. coming together to address those concerns crucial to the wellbeing of our city.

Why not, as an example, have a committee such as this review ideas brought forth at the City Council's brainstorming meeting? Perhaps if there had been such a committee in place, it would have had a thorough discussion about twinkling lights along the Ocean Avenue median, recommended that the Planning Commission address the issue and avoided the public controversy.

Perhaps such a committee could review the city's need for ongoing revenue and see that years ago the restoration of the Sunset Center was strongly supported by residents and business alike. Residents came forward with incredible donations and the city assumed a financial burden of $9.9 million. The hotel business was eager to support this as it would bring more business. Perhaps this committee would have recommended, as an offset to this major debt, an increase from 10% to 12% in the hotel tax. And, they might have convinced city officials and hotel owners to support this source of ongoing revenue as the cities of Sausalito, St. Helena, Calistoga, Napa and Healdsburg successfully did.

Perhaps this committee would have pointed out that the city wants expensive stores here but appears to doubt that the same people who will shop at Tiffany's, Sur La Table, Cole-Haan, Lush Cosmetics (out of London), Louis Vuitton and other upscale boutiques will pay two dollars more on a hundred dollar-per-night hotel room.

This committee could indeed give intelligent, broadly-represented suggestions and observations to our city government. It could also agree to disagree when that seemed appropriate.

As mentioned in the editorial above, I am pleased to have been asked to be part of the Chamber of Commerce Economic Development Committee. I feel that this is a very well-intentioned group with many good ideas. I feel that open discussion of these ideas will benefit both business and residents and there are indeed changes and activities that many could agree upon, changes and activities that will not tarnish the quality of the village.

We in Carmel come from many diverse and interesting backgrounds. Many of us have been active in our previous communities. I hope that our city government will become more transparent in its action and will look to the community for feedback regarding the necessary steps to make Carmel financially strong, to maintain the services it requires to keep it unique, as it has always been, unique in history, physical beauty, cultural awareness and village atmosphere.

Transient Occupancy Tax and the Facts

On April 5 Carmel voters will decide on whether or not to increase the Transient Occupancy Tax (hotel/TOT) from its current 10% to 12%. Below, for your information, are some basic facts about this issue.

What does this measure do?

• Authorizes an increase in the TOT from 10% to 12%.
  
  
• Was formulated to assist the city during difficult financial times.
  
  
• Provides a long-term, dependable revenue stream, approximately $700,000 annually.
  
  
• Gives the city flexibility to free up budgeted funds for maintaining the health, safety, welfare and quality of life in Carmel.
  
  
• Allows the city to maintain the level of service to which residents and businesses are accustomed.

Why now?

• Carmel needs the money.
  
  
• For years city administrators and councils have acknowledged the need for a new, substantial and ongoing revenue stream. Capital projects are on hold. The fire house needs upgrading. Employees have been laid off. Retired department heads have not been replaced. Library hours have been cut back. There aren't enough forest workers to cut dead trees and maintain the forest. The Forest Theater needs major work. The Scout House sits unused, in need of a major upgrade. The city is servicing a $9.9 million Sunset Center debt as well as subsidizing the non-profit corporation running the facility.

What have other cities done?

• Other cities, with the support of their city councils, including St. Helena, Sausalito, Calistoga, San Pablo, Napa, Healdsburg and Richmond, have raised their TOT from 10% to 12%.

Will this hurt tourism?

• A study by the American Hotel and Lodging Educational Foundation found that taxes begin to have an effect on tourism only when they rise above 15%. In 2003, the average national hotel tax rate was 12.4%. Virtually no one asks about the hotel tax when making a reservation.
  
  
• Visitors should pay their fair share. Without the population increase caused by the influx of thousands of visitors each day, Carmel would need far smaller police, fire and public works departments.

How stable will this money be?

• The state cannot take away TOT revenues, as it does with property and sales taxes. The entire amount remains in the city's coffers to use for needed projects.
  
  
• There is no sunset clause on this measure because there has never been a sunset clause on the city's TOT.
  

DID YOU KNOW?

... That lighting from within private property is one of the ways in which Carmel's traditional village character is maintained. For this reason, in the residential area, exterior lighting attached to a building can be no higher than 10 feet above the ground and should not exceed 25 watts in power per fixture.

Landscape lighting can not be more than 18 inches above the ground, no more than 15 watts per fixture and spaced at least 10 feet apart. In addition, landscape lighting can not be used to accent trees, walls or fences of any type. The purpose of landscape lighting is to safely illuminate walkways and entrances to private property.

Flood-type lighting is prohibited, although an exception can be granted after a written request is given to the Planning or Building Official if the light is used for the sole purpose of security and if each fixture is connected to a motion sensor. Each fixture is limited to 50 watts.

Springtime Fire and Safety Tips
Downloaded from "News Now" on the
Carmel Fire Department website

Although we are still getting some rain as we enter into spring, it is not too early to start thinking about the things that shout Watch Out! when it comes to fire and safety.

This time of year is when a lot of people plan or coordinate major cleanup around the house, both inside and out. Trash that accumulated in the house, attic and/or basement during the year is gathered and disposed of. Now is a good time to check furnaces, water heaters and other heat producing appliances to make sure no combustibles have ended up dangerously close to them. Please do not allow paper, wood and other combustibles to come within a minimum three-foot radius of these appliances. While cleaning, inspect electrical outlets and light switches for damage and make necessary repairs if able to, or contact a licensed electrician to do so.

April showers bring May flowers, and also bring weeds and tall grass that will soon be dry and vulnerable to fire. It is a standard recommendation to cut or clear all dry vegetation within a minimum 30-foot radius of any building. If this is done with power mowers or similar tools and equipment, a functional fire extinguisher or charged water hose with adjustable nozzle should be readily available and quickly attainable. It is safer to cut grass and weeds using powered equipment when the vegetation is still green, or at least not completely dry, still containing some moisture. It is always safest to fuel gasoline-powered equipment when they are cold, but on big jobs it is not always possible. Keep a fire extinguisher close by when fueling a hot piece of equipment, and try to do this away from dry vegetation and other combustibles.

In this area it is common for our roofs and rain gutters to accumulate pine needles, oak leaves and other debris. In the springtime, when things are drying out, it is a good practice to clean roofs and gutters, maintain 10 feet of combustible clearance around the tops of chimneys, and to secure spark arresters to them, if not done so already.

Those with swimming pools and hot tubs should make sure that gates are secure and locks are functioning properly.

If you have a dry chemical fire extinguisher, inspect it to insure that all the parts are intact, the pin is secure and the gauge shows it is fully charged with air. You can find out if the powder is still loose and functional by holding the extinguisher to your ear, turning it upside down and listening and feeling for movement of the powder. If you are not sure if your extinguisher is operable, contact a licensed fire extinguisher company. They are located in the yellow pages of the phone book under Fire Extinguishers or Fire Protection Equipment and Supplies. The Fire Department offers free training to the public in the use of fire extinguishers, including actually fighting a substantial liquid fuel fire. Those interested please call 620-2030 and ask for Mitch Kastros.

Are scams done to the other guy or could it happen it you?

We are aware that Carmel Residents Association members are a sophisticated bunch and that some of the information below might seem simplistic. However, when your CRA News editor saw, halfway through filling out an e-mailed request for updated information from PayPal (an ebay-related web site), that they were asking for her password and credit card number, she realized that this just might not be legitimate. And, sure enough, it wasn't--it was a scam, called phishing! So, it seems that reminding ourselves of all the people out there trying to separate us from our hard-earned money can't hurt.

According to the March 2005 Money Magazine, "Every year an estimated 25 million people, or one out of every 10 Americans, are the victims of consumer fraud." The FBI warns senior citizens that they are the ones most often tapped by scam artists because they are most likely to own their own homes, have substantial savings and good credit. In addition, many of us who grew up in the 1930s, 1940s and 1950s were taught to be polite and trusting, exactly what a con man wants--someone who might have trouble hanging up the phone or saying "no."

When asked how often the Carmel Police Department is notified of scams, Detective Jessie Juarez of the Carmel Police Department says, "It is common for victims to be too embarrassed to report these crimes to police." He added, "The best defense is to be aware. Stop your friends from getting involved in unsafe scams. There are people out there who want to take your life savings."

Telemarketing schemes are very popular. One of the easiest steps to take to avoid this, if you haven't already done so, is to sign up for the National Do Not Call Registry at donotcall.gov or 888-382-1222. This should stop a lot of calls. However, we should all be aware that offers of free vacations, guaranteed loans, anti-aging miracles, grand prizes or lottery winnings, which require up-front payments for handling charges, are too good to be true. Juarez says that no one should divulge personal information to a phone caller.

Phishing, mentioned above, involves a scam artist creating a fraudulent web site, usually an exact replica of the real one, and directing the victim there by e-mail, asking for updated information. Or, it could look like your bank web site, with a message saying there has been suspicious activity on your account and asking for you to verify your credit card number or PIN. Just remember that legitimate institutions never ask for this information by telephone or by e-mail. If you ever suspect you have been swindled in this way, notify the Federal Trade Commission's ID Theft Clearinghouse at consumer.gov/idtheft or 877-438-4338.

All of us are aware of identify theft, often the result of phishing. This crime can make your life absolutely miserable. It is important to review all statements for unauthorized charges and to call if your statement is late. Regular use of a paper shredder to dispose of any documents with personal financial or credit-card information is also a wise move. Shredders are inexpensive and can be purchased from any office-supply store. According to Detective Juarez, "Dumpster diving happens more than we think."

Other popular frauds involve offers of free medical equipment, with a request for your Medicare number, after which the con artist will continue billing Medicare services that are not needed. For this reason, you should carefully review your insurance provider's or Medicare's explanation of benefits. Once in a while you could end up with a counterfeit prescription drug--so if the pills or package look different, call your pharmacy. This is very true of drugs ordered on the Internet. The FBI says that reputable online pharmacies will have a seal of approval called the Verified Internet Pharmacy Practice Site (VIPPS). [But we wonder what is to stop a scam artist from duplicating that seal as phishers do?]

Sadly, another common practice is to prey upon bereaved families making funeral arrangements. Involving a friend or relative is helpful. Although difficult, it is important to call and ask prices before making a decision. It is also fine to ask a funeral home if their lowest priced items are on their list. And, we should all be aware that embalming is not legally required and that a casket is not needed for direct cremations. All plans and purchases should be put in writing.

There are also those who want to burglarize you and pose as local utility company employees or other official employees who need to check inside your home. They often have false photo ids and even uniforms or official-looking vehicles.

After any sort of disaster, home repair or home inspection fraud is endemic, with promises to do work at a low cost that never is done or turns out to be shoddy. This can involve furnaces, chimneys, water heaters, water pressure, electrical wiring, window repair, sealing driveways or cutting trees. Detective Juarez suggests that anyone who approaches you to do work at your home should be asked to show a permit to operate in Carmel-by-the-Sea.

Finally, senior citizens are often targeted by investment schemes. One of these, which your editor often receives, dubbed advanced fee fraud, is an e-mail from a Nigerian who needs to get money out of his country and, in exchange for your help, i.e., giving him your bank number so he can deposit the money into your account, you get to keep a part of the proceeds.

In April, a group of local attorneys, concerned that investment seminars with pressure to buy insurance or other products are increasing, will give a presentation at the Carmel Foundation. We will tell you more about it in the March newsletter. In investing, one of the most tried and true rules is to never put money into an investment you don't understand.

Detective Juarez, who is extremely knowledgeable about the world of scams, asked us to provide our readers with these Internet web sites which have a wealth of helpful and interesting information plus links to other sites:

www.rcmp-grc.gc.ca (Click on English.) This Royal Canadian Mounted Police site has information relevant to Americans.

www.phonebusters.com - also Canadian

www.crimes-of-persuasion.com

Our Favorite Places

Carmel's only bookstore
is Pilgrim's Way Books

For 36 years Paul Fridlund has owned and operated Pilgrim's Way Bookstore on the east side of Dolores between 5th and 6th. The store's focus has been on "alternative books," Paul says, "but our identity is changing because we are the last book store in Carmel."

Pilgrim's Way now carries books from the best-seller list of nationwide independent book stores. "It's a better best-seller list than the New York Times," Paul adds, "because these are 'hand-sold books.' " By that he means that he and other independent book sellers generally have actually read or at least are very familiar with most books in their inventory and can therefore make helpful recommendations.

In addition, Paul will special order any book in print. "We are here to serve the community," he says.

Carmel Engraver has moved

Because many Carmelites, as well as the Carmel Residents Association, have depended for years upon Richard Peterson when they needed to have something engraved, we were disappointed to hear that he was closing his Carmel Engraver business. Fortunately, Richard is still available and, in fact, will be able to provide even more services. He now works at Winners' Awards at 1230 Fremont Street in Seaside. Among the high tec options at Winners' Awards is laser engraving, which, according to Richard, provides far more possibilities and greater detail. In addition, your art can be e-mailed to them. If you have questions or would like to send your art via e-mail, please give Richard a call at 394-5644.

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How well do you know your city?

This sculpture is openly displayed on city property. Where is it?

The answer is in the March CRA News.

Remember that your City Council is on T.V.

City Council meetings are taped and re-broadcast
Sundays, 8 a.m. - 12 noon on
KMST Channel 26