Comment Up
There were four interesting items on the Agenda last night. Two of them gave more authority to the city manager, with the commission voting to take away their own powers. This is a brief synopsis.
1.
Resolution 57-2012
For a commission that says it wants to be more transparent, last night's vote on this issue proved just the opposite. The present commission majority has had a problem with a past commissioner's travel even though it was always approved by the commission and she always gave a report of those meetings, the only one who ever did. Now after much political negativity over the past year regarding the "free lunch" (Scott Maxwell can't stand to be challenged on this point), the Commission last night approved a resolution to change the City's travel regulations and give the power of approval to the city manager. Essentially, if they stay within budget, they can go anywhere domestically they please and never have to tell us or be transparent about it. They were tired of the complaints. In this way, they never have to tell us about the ski trip to Vail. 4/1 vote
with McVoy dissenting
2.
Ordinance 2013-13
Staff re-wrote the City's procurement ordinance for a more effective and efficient purchasing process they say. What this means is, anything over $25,000 must come before the Commission for approval. It used to be $15,000. The Commission voted for less transparency and less hands-on over the purse strings. 5/0 vote
3.
Ordinance 2012-35
Amend the 2013 budget in order to pay Greater Bay. 4/1 vote
with McVoy dissenting.
Commissioner Maxwell insulted some of the public who were there who know exactly why Greater Bay was removed from its Contract when Maxwell said that they (the public and Mr. Timm in particular when Maxwell said that he was listening to the wrong people) didn't have all of the facts. He was grandstanding last night when he asked for a special workshop to determine the facts in this case. The time for this workshop was
BEFORE the settlement, not after. Another waste of time and just more bad politics.
4.
New Business A
This was about the three appeals regarding the HRPB's recommendation to approve the building plans for the vacant property located at 302 N. Lakeside. The Commission denied the appeals on a 4/1 vote
with McVoy dissenting. He said that all those who buy in a neighborhood have certain expectations of protection. No surprise with this vote as all on the Historic Resource Preservation Board approved the plans that fell within the guidelines, not to mention some are friends with the Huletts. No one on staff could adequately define what type of structure is "compatible" or what "adjacent" means according to HRP 23.27.05.09, A(1) which is the minimum standard. Fifty-three people in the area signed a protest sheet against the structure. Tim Hulett made his case in front of the commission and it was his plea that was the most convincing with his implication that it was the City's insistence since February that caused him to re-design, etc...the many hoops and hurdles that he was confronted with to come up with a final plan...all he wanted to do was build a nice house.
