Issue link: https://imageup.uberflip.com/i/1119001
FOUR SEASONS BREEZE | JUNE 2019 13 Anita Worthen, Community Ambassador, with Todd Parton, City Manager Two Easter rabbits welcome guests to the Coffee with the City Manager Lieutenant Jeffrey Dorrough, Mike Corbett, Sgt. Chris Ramos, dispatch supervisor Gretchen Nyman, Scott Britton, Kaye Harvey, Jerry Monahan, and Anita Worthen By Laurie Larson The sign and some fliers were set up on the table in The Lodge Lobby. The Ballroom chairs were lined up, and the coffee was ready and waiting, as promised. Even at 8:30 in the morning, almost all of the chairs were occupied. Four Seasons Beaumont homeowners were being given the chance to meet with Todd Parton, the City Manager, and they were curious about what was happening in Beaumont, now that the other guys were gone and the new guys were making changes. Anita Worthen, our Community Ambassador, and the person who invited Todd to have "Coffee with," made the introduction and Mr. Parton began his presentation to the inquisitive crowd. First, he mentioned the city's finances, with assurances that the coffers had been replenished and that there is $35 million in the General Fund. Public Safety is being addressed, as the Beaumont Police Department is adding one more police officer to its ranks. Knowing that everyone was curious about all the new construction taking place, he discussed the new development: Center Pointe Shopping Center. There are two entities already secured: Grocery Outlet, a discount grocer, and Planet Fitness. And there are negotiations taking place for a movie theater. That engendered excitement! Other building is taking place near the 60 freeway interchange which will affect jobs and traffic. Amazon has a target completion date of August 2019 for its new facility. It is estimated that this will add 1,500 - 2,000 new jobs to the area. C.J. Foods, a Korean food manufacturing company whose number one product is seaweed snacks, is located near Amazon and should be open by the end of 2019. This facility will offer up to 500 new jobs. And pursuant to a regional water quality mandate, a new sewer plant is in the works. Next on everyone's mind: traffic. A road study was completed in 2017 and $10 million has been allocated for street maintenance and road improvements. A Highland Springs interchange upgrade is planned, but it is acknowledged that this project will take years to complete. Signalization syncing will be a joint effort, with a Memorandum of Understanding between Beaumont, Banning, and Caltrans. The necessity of ameliorating traffic on Pennsylvania from 1st to 6th Street is being addressed by widening Pennsylvania and adding a traffic signal at 1st St. This work should be completed by early 2020. Additionally, the railroad crossings at Pennsylvania and then at California will be improved. When Todd finished his informative speech, he opened the floor to questions, and after he had been peppered with them for about 15 minutes, Anita drew it all to a close. And she put before everyone her own question. What should be the topic of the next "Coffee with," and who should she invite? Coffee With City Manager