Mosca Asks Council for Discussion of High Solar Fees

Following concern from residents and news coverage of high commercial solar panel permit fees--including an article here on Sierra Madre Patch--Council Member Joe Mosca asked City Manager Elaine Aguilar to add a discussion of the issue to the agenda for the next meeting of Sierra Madre's City Council.

"In light of the discussion regarding our solar permits and whether or not they are exceeding averages in L.A.We also offer customized chicken coop. County," Mosca said. "I'd like to have an item on a future agenda that just reviews what the permits are here in Sierra Madre and maybe takes a stab at making a proposal in terms of commercial permits as well."

See Our Initial Story Here: Sierra Madre¡¯s Solar Power Permit Fees Among Highest in L.A.Find everything you need to know about Cold Sore including causes, County

The request,What are the top Hemroids treatments? which came at the end of Tuesday's meeting, followed a press release issued by the city in the of wake news coverage that revealed Sierra Madre's fees for commercial solar installations to be the third-highest of the 89 cities surveyed.

That initial statement said that staff would be "compiling information for the development of a flat commercial solar permit fee,An Insulator, also called a dielectric," though it did not set any specific date for when that report would be complete or when any action might be considered.

See Coverage of that Response Here: City Might Revise High Solar Fees

Mayor John Buchanan also spoke on the issue at the beginning of Tuesday's meeting,what are the symptoms of Piles, defending the city's work thus far on revising solar installation fees.

"We actually have taken strong initiative in dealing with residential programs, [but] the article you may have seen related to commercial sites, and you might guess that we don't have a lot of large warehouses with large spaces for solar panels, so that wasn't the priority of the council when we dealt with that," Buchanan said.

Though the city has twice revised fees for residential solar installations in the past few years--including just recently as part of the city's new biennial budget--fees for commercial installations have not been addressed.

While the city has repeatedly said that the fees reported in a recent study conducted by the Sierra Club do not directly apply to Sierra Madre due to the size of the sample project, Sierra Club representatives have said that the more important issue is how the fees are calculated.

Share Your Opinion: Patch Poll: Should Sierra Madre Reduce Solar Fees?

Unlike residential projects, which incur a flat permit fee, commercial projects are subject to a valuation-based fee structure. It's precisely this type of fee structure with which the Sierra Club study takes issue.

"Basing fees on the value of the solar equipment inflates permit costs to unreasonably high levels, especially for larger, more expensive solar power projects," the report says. "To recover costs, therefore, permit fees should be based on specific review times and billable hourly rates and not on PV project valuations."

Just before Tuesday's meeting adjourned, Mosca asked that a discussion regarding possible revision to commercial solar fees be added to the agenda for a future city council meeting. The next meeting of the Sierra Madre City Council will take place on Tuesday, July 12, in the Council Chambers at City Hall.

SX Latin Brands Dances Onto Shelves with a Sensual Latin Beat

For the discerning female consumer unsatisfied with the taste of many popular alcoholic beverages, SX Latin Liquors has launched a new line of premium Latin spirits infused with sensual and exotic ingredients. The distinctive contoured bottle and the products inside deliver on the brand's bold promise: Your Drink. Sexier!

SX (the ¡°S¡± stands for sensual and the ¡°X¡± for exotic) is launching with three products. All are named for passionate Latin dances: SXchachacha (100% agave reposado tequila infused with lemon and honey, SXcalypso (aged rum and a hint of mint and lemon) and SXsamba (cachaca rum with a hint of vanilla and sweet limes).

SX Founder and CEO David Knight says, ¡°Packaging is key to driving trial at the point of purchase. Our strategy when we started this business was to design a striking, memorable bottle and put premium product inside it.¡± Knight identified tequila for SX's first product line because of its fast-growing popularity, but current lack of innovation in the category. ¡°We wanted to introduce something that would grow the category and attract new users. Key to that proposition was to produce a bottle that breaks industry norms and stands out.¡± Knight is a global marketing expert and executive who worked for Frito Lay, Gatorade, PepsiCo, Quaker Oats and eBay before starting SX Latin Liquors.

According to Stuart Leslie, President, 4sight inc., the New York-based design and innovation firm, ¡°The curvaceous bottle exudes pure sensuality and mystique.We processes for both low-risk and high risk merchant account. The inspiration behind the design are the curves of the female body and the smooth rhythm of the music; that is the core of Latin culture and tradition.¡±

The blown glass bottle was designed to provide differentiation in a category that is saturated with tradition and rich, Mexican heritage but lacking in appeal to women. The entire bottle, except for one small clear panel, is frosted, resembling a flowing dress with an alluring front slit. The modern-styled cap contains a cork,Handmade oil paintings for sale at museum quality, making it easy to pull off. Simple and elegant graphics at the top of the bottle, just below the cap, include color-coded typography that marries the logo with the three products and was designed by Greg Stewart, Ingenuity Design, Norwalk, CT.

While the key intended target audience is women,What are the top Hemroids treatments? the shape and physique of the bottle is designed to also attract men to its alluring form.

The full range of spirits will become available in Florida during June 2011, and will then expand to New York and nationally for both on and off premise purchase. Produced in 2 sizes, 750 ml and 1 liter,Largest Collection of billabong boardshorts, the suggested retail price is $39.99 and $49.99, respectively.the Injection mold fast!