In The News
Alejo appointed to dropout prevention task force
Thursday October 15, 2009
By Register-Pajaronian
The Watsonville Register Pajaronian, October 15, 2009
Council approves solar project, sale of state debt
Alejo appointed to task force
By JON CHOWN OF THE REGISTER-PAJARONIAN
Published: October 15th, 2009, Register-Pajaronian, Page 1
With a storm raging outside, Tuesday's Watsonville City Council meeting was fairly quiet, with all motions passing by unanimous vote.
The council approved a coastal permit application to install an 8-acre solar power project on a portion of the city's landfill on San Andreas Road, voted to authorize the city to sell the state's impending debt of $872,000 to the city to creditors, and named City Council member Luis Alejo to represent the city in an upcoming countywide task force aimed at reducing high school dropout rates.
The solar power project is expected to provide electricity for an estimated 4,700 homes, while having little or no impact on surrounding farmland, wetlands and wildlife , according to a report written by the City of Watsonville Community Development Department.
The array of 6,600 solar panels will sit on a sloped portion of the landfill that is currently closed and covered.
"I wish we could see more of these types of projects," Alejo said before the vote. "Possibly at the airport as well."
The council also all saw eye-to-eye on the debt issue. The state is looking to "borrow" $872,000 from the City of Watsonville as part of a statewide seizure of funds from local governments so that the state can balance its budget.
However, the state is promising to repay that money at 2 percent interest by 2013. On Tuesday, the council adopted a resolution to sell the state's note for $872,000. If the state fails to pay the money back, the city is in the clear and the state will pay any fees associated with the transaction.
"There's no risk to Watsonville taxpayers and no cost to Watsonville taxpayers," city finance director Marc Pimentel said. "The bottom line is - were really selling an iffy asset for its full face value today. It's a solid solution."
Alejo's appointment to the dropout prevention task force was no surprise either as he had been stumping for such a task force for at least a year. The Intergovernmental Relations Committee - comprised of representatives from the Pajaro Valley Unified School District, the Santa Cruz County Board of Supervisors, the Santa Cruz County Office of Education and the City of Watsonville - has been planning for the task force to hold a dropout prevention summit during the 2009-10 school year.
"All the research shows this is a major crisis," Alejo said. "This is what we need to do to get the community on board and tackle this issue."