Council May Go for Baroque in Fight Against Loitering, Vandalism

At the end of a session that failed to pass a mid-year budget Tuesday night, the City Council got news that some residents just don’t want to hear: Lemon Grove may be about to go baroque.

Not broke, but baroque—as in the style of classical music. A plan is in the works to wire part of downtown for sound and pipe the music into an area where loitering and vandalism is a problem.

Call it an effort to get a “Handel” on the situation.

“Baroque music has been identified as the most offensive to teenagers,” City Manager Graham Mitchell told the council.

The city is in the preliminary stage of the plan, talking to contractors about what’s necessary for installing speakers and where they would be placed. Palomar Cleaners on Broadway was mentioned as a possible site.

“It’s not that we’re trying to discourage teenagers,” Mitchell said later. “It’s that we’re trying to provide a pleasant experience for everyone.”

That plan was definitely the meeting’s high note, as the bulk of the night was devoted to discussion about an issue tied to Sacramento and Lemon Grove’s mid-year budget.

The council approved an action intended to protect funds for public redevelopment projects should Gov. Jerry Brown eliminate local redevelopment agencies, as he has proposed. They did not, however, come to an agreement on the mid-year budget.

With Mayor Mary Sessom and Councilman George Gastil absent, and Councilman Howard Cook against approval, council members decided to bring the item back to the full council.

Cook expressed concerns about reserve spending and wants to see more cost savings when the item returns.

Councilwoman Mary England acknowledged a need for balance.

“There’s the want list and the can-we-afford-it list,” England said.

Mitchell promised to bring back a budget that reflects targets provided by the City Council.