CONSULTANT TRYING TO CLEAR STOPPAGE.Byline: Cecilia Chan Staff Writer A city consultant is in Sacramento today, trying to break an impasse im·passe n. 1. A road or passage having no exit; a cul-de-sac. 2. A situation that is so difficult that no progress can be made; a deadlock or a stalemate: reached an impasse in the negotiations. between local officials and state regulators over permits needed to repair a major sewer line Noun 1. sewer line - a main in a sewage system sewer main main - a principal pipe in a system that distributes water or gas or electricity or that collects sewage to the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant. Because the city has yet to fulfill provisions of an agreement made with the Department of Fish and Game on the first phase of repairs to the Unit W pipeline, the state agency imposed stricter conditions on permits needed for additional work. The city is disputing the location and amount of land that Fish and Game wants as compensation for property damaged during initial repairs to the pipeline. It also disagrees with mitigation conditions outlined for the second phase of repairs. ``A consultant with us, who works exclusively on the Fish and Game issue, is meeting with some higher level people,'' city Public Works public works pl.n. Construction projects, such as highways or dams, financed by public funds and constructed by a government for the benefit or use of the general public. Noun 1. Director Don Nelson said Wednesday. ``We have some issues that have escalated on us. There are simply some issues here that require discussion on an elevated level. ``We are not in disagreement that we need agreements,'' he said. ``The city has committed to honoring reasonable conditions. There's no question about that.'' City Attorney Mark Sellers is drafting a letter to Fish and Game, conveying the urgency in repairing the pipeline, which ruptured rup·ture n. 1. a. The process or instance of breaking open or bursting. b. The state of being broken open. 2. A break in friendly relations. 3. Pathology a. in February 1998, dumping 86 million gallons of raw sewage into the Arroyo Conejo. He also is trying to persuade the agency not to prosecute To follow through; to commence and continue an action or judicial proceeding to its ultimate conclusion. To proceed against a defendant by charging that person with a crime and bringing him or her to trial. Thousand Oaks Thousand Oaks, residential city (1990 pop. 104,352), Ventura co., S Calif., in a farm area; inc. 1964. Avocados, citrus, vegetables, strawberries, and nursery products are grown. for violating its agreement. Sellers has sought help from Assemblyman as·sem·bly·man n. A man who is a member of a legislative assembly. assemblyman Noun pl -men a member of a legislative assembly Noun 1. Tony Strickland, R-Camarillo, to help resolve the issues. Officials maintain that Fish and Game is holding other projects hostage to try to force the city to turn over land in rural Hill Canyon. The canyon is the site of a proposed 18-hole, city-owned golf course, and turning the land over would effectively kill the project. ``It's an overall strategy by Fish and Game to just turn up the heat and put pressure on the city to give them the golf course site,'' Sellers said. City Public Works Director Don Nelson said the city has not been able to reach agreement with Fish and Game on the Borchard Road interchange and flood control improvements to the Hill Canyon Treatment Plant. He also is concerned about getting approval for the Rolling Oaks Drive extension and the community transportation facility. During Tuesday's council meeting, Councilman Michael Markey accused Fish and Game of blackmail blackmail, in law, exaction of money from another by threat of exposure of criminal action or of disreputable conduct. The term was originally used for the tribute levied until the 18th cent. and extortion extortion, in law, unlawful demanding or receiving by an officer, in his official capacity, of any property or money not legally due to him. Examples include requesting and accepting fees in excess of those allowed to him by statute or arresting a person and, with in trying withholding the necessary permits. Roger Reese, a captain with Fish and Game in Ventura, denied Markey's allegations. Reese also discounted the city's statements that a conflict of interest exists because an opponent to the golf course has a relative overseeing the permitting process on the pipeline. Reese said that particular employee, whom he would not identify, ``has an advisory role.'' ``I don't see how she has bias anyway,'' he said. ``She is not overseeing it and the person doing the permit is totally disconnected.'' Reese would not say whether other projects are being deliberately held up by Fish and Game. ``Regardless of what projects they are if (the city) is unhappy with our recommendations, they can always go to arbitration,'' he said. |
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