Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/38320
THURSDAY AUGUST 4, 2011 Breaking news at: www.redbluffdailynews.com Photo class See Page 6A Pastimes RED BLUFF Tritons finale Sports 1B Sunny 92/64 Weather forecast 6B By RICHGREENE DN Staff Writer The City of Red Bluff did not violate its former finance director Margaret Van Warmerdam’s priva- cy when it released a letter from her attorney to the Daily News, ruled Superior Court Judge Richard Scheuler. Scheuler ruled in favor of the city’s anti-SLAPP motion it made in regards to Van Warmerdam’s civil lawsuit seeking damages for her termination. DAILYNEWS TEHAMACOUNTY DAILY 50¢ T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 City did not violate privacy rights The motion focused only on Van Warmerdam’s claim her priva- cy had been violated. Her lawsuit contains nine other causes of action yet to be ruled on. They range from alleged disability dis- crimination to intentional infliction of emotional distress. Van Warmerdam filed suit against the city in February, about five months after she was terminat- ed. After her employment was ter- minated, Van Warmerdam’s attor- ney sent a letter to the city demand- ing significant monetary payment. The letter said Van Warmerdam would seek “all available legal recourses” if her demand was not met. Red Bluff City Attorney Richard Crabtree gave a copy of the letter to the Daily News fol- lowing an interview with one of its reporters. Van Warmerdam’s lawsuit claimed the contents of the letter were private facts and were to be revealed only on a need-to-know basis. The city maintained Crabtree disclosed the letter to the Daily News because it was proper and mandatory under the Public Records Act. In his ruling Scheuler wrote any consideration of Van Warmer- dam’s privacy had to be balanced against the public’s right to know. “...the court repeats that the let- ter was not a personal matter, it was a threatened suit; the demand for payment in lieu of suit is almost always of public interest if for no other reason than the serious finan- cial strain being experienced by the City at the time,” Scheuler wrote. Scheuler also ruled the release of the letter was part of the city and therefore the public’s right to free speech and part of government transparency in regards to taxpay- ers’ dollars. As well as striking down one of Van Warmerdam’s 10 causes listed in her civil lawsuit against the city, the ruling also grants the city to be compensated for reasonable attor- ney fees related to the anti-SLAPP motion. Good luck sluggers Chamber speaks out against city’s TOT cap By TANG LOR Daily News photos by Rich Greene Friends, family, fans and city officials gath- ered Wednesday morn- ing to wish the Red Bluff Little Leaguers farewell as they depart- ed on their trip to San Bernardino to compete in the West Regional. Members of Red Bluff’s historic 1974 team were on hand to share stories with the boys, who received a law enforcement escort through town. Red Bluff opens up pool play at the tournament, Saturday evening. Cowgirls take All-Around honors Special to the DN Several Tehama County residents participated in the Fortuna Jr. Rodeo held in July, including two girls who won All-around hon- ors. Chelsey Bushnell, 15, of Red Bluff took home the Senior Girls All-Around Champion title, which came with a saddle. Bushnell placed first in pole bending and barrel racing, second in goat tying and fourth in breakaway roping to earn her title. Kamish Wagner, 7, of Red Bluff took home the Pee Wee Boy/Girl All- Around Champion title. Wagner took a first place finish in single stake along with a second in dummy roping and goat undecorating to earn her title. Blake Davies of Flournoy was the lone Tehama County represen- tative for senior boys. He took home first for steer stopping. Cara Hencratt of Red Courtesy photo Bluff took home a second place finish in pole bending for the junior girls division 7 5 8 5 5 1 6 9 0 0 1 9 POWER PRODUCTS DOLMAR Red Bluff Outdoor Power Kamish Wagner, 7, and Chelsey Bushnell, 15, both of Red Bluff, show of their saddles won at the Fortuna Jr. Rodeo. and Bailey Bean of Gerber took home a second place finish in goat tying. Bean also took home a third place finish in the pole bending and barrel racing competition. Wyatt Spencer repre- sented Tehama County in the junior boys division taking home a third place finish in goat tying and steer riding. DN Staff Writer Representatives from the Red Bluff-Tehama County Chamber of Commerce spoke against a cap on the cham- ber’s share of transient occupancy tax Tuesday unbeknownst to them that the council had already implemented the cap. As part of the city’s most recent round of budget cuts, the Budget Committee recommended a cap of $70,000 annual- ly on the amount of TOT the city gives to the chamber to pro- mote tourism. The full council adopted the committee’s rec- ommendation at its June 21 meeting, but allowed the com- mittee to meet with the chamber to discuss the cap. There is already a 10-year agreement in place that gives the chamber 16 percent of TOT, which is generated by the chamber’s promotional efforts in the first place, said Kristin Behrens, past chairwoman of the chamber. “We’d like to keep the agreement as it is,” Behrens said. The chamber has taken council advice to be more creative and progressive in finding funding elsewhere by doing a number of things including increasing its membership by 36 percent. Placing a cap is a disincentive for the chamber and its members to do more, as there is no incentive for returns from TOT beyond the cap, she said. City Manager Martin Nichols said Wednesday the cap has already been approved, but no agreement has been signed and it is not necessary. “There’s no agreement in place, but this is not contingent on an agreement as it is the city’s money,” Nichols said. In the past, the two groups have signed off on amend- ments to the 10-year agreement, but in this case the agree- ment does not need to be amended, as the direction of the council is clear. “In my mind, the agreement is not necessary because it is clear in my mind those directions say we advance the 16% until we reach $70,000,” Nichols said. Budget Committee member Wayne Brown said Wednes- day he is unsure why the chamber made the presentation, as the council has already approved the cap. “I’m not sure what they were doing last night because I thought it was a chamber update,” Brown said. “I thought they were we going to be given an update on chamber activ- See TOT, page 5A Daily News photo by Julie Zeeb A Red Bluff firefighter hoses down a pole that caught fire in a vegetation fire between Subur- ban Propane and Rainbo Bread store on Madi- son Street.Red Bluff Fire was dispatched at 3:16 p.m. and had it contained by 3:20 p.m.The fire, which had at least two telephone poles catch fire to the top, was caused by a discarded ciga- rette.The telephone lines did not appear to have been damaged, a Red Bluff Fire spokesman said.The fire burned less than a quarter acre,but was a concern because of the proximity of Sub- urban Propane, directly north of the fire,he said.