Council eyes Internet gambling, early retirement plan

BARSTOW • Renaming city streets, street closures and an interim moratorium on Internet cafes are among the items on tonight’s City Council agenda. 

Internet cafes 

The Barstow City Council will consider imposing a temporary moratorium to stop existing computer gaming and Internet access business from operating and prevent new ones from opening. 

The city is looking to address potential gambling and crime problems resulting from Internet cafes offering sweepstakes games for cash prizes. 

“There is already one such business operating in Barstow,” according to the city agenda. “The city has recently received complaints from adjacent businesses (who have passed along the complaints of their patrons) regarding the clientele frequenting the FuNet Internet Cafe located in the Stater Brothers Shopping Center, and the resulting loitering and littering while the FuNet clientele wait to access one of the computer terminals to play the sweepstakes games offered by that Internet cafe.” 

The maximum 45-day moratorium would prohibit the development, establishment and operation of such businesses. The city staff would study the regulations of such businesses if the moratorium is imposed. 

Early retirement incentive program 

The city will consider approving a resolution for an early retirement incentive program estimated to save the city $169,774 within the first year. 

Professional services agreement 

The Barstow Chamber of Commerce and Visitor’s Bureau agreement with the city expired on June 30. The chamber is requesting a new three-year agreement from Oct. 1, 2012 to June 30, 2015. The city would pay the chamber at least $40,000 a year. 

Mardi Gras Parade 

The Kiwanis Club is requesting to close some city streets for its annual Mardi Gras Parade on Oct. 27. It will cost the city approximately $10,000 to close the streets, provide barricades and police security services for the event. 

Renaming streets 

The council will consider the city Planning and Zoning Commission’s recommendation to rename Roadrunner Driver after Clarence Griego, a former Barstow resident. Griego served in the U.S. Army during the Vietnam War, and died by “friendly fire” in 1968. 

The city will also consider renaming Hallenmar Drive in honor of Harry H. Smith, a Barstow resident who was a prisoner of war during World War II.  

The meeting is scheduled for 7 p.m. Oct. 1 in the City Council Chambers at City Hall, 220 E. Mountain View.