We have lost three very good planning commissioners in the last week. Planning commissioners Robert Adler and Deirdre Roney were summarily dismissed by councilmembers Andy Stern and Sharon Barovsky over a misstep that happened at the last Planning Commission meeting. And now sadly, Planning Commissioner Richard Carrigan has resigned citing disgust and sadness over the politicization of the Planning Commission by our City Council.
Our planning commissioners made a procedural error in their last regular meeting and may have inadvertently violated the Brown Act. The misstep took place even though a city attorney sat there, watched, and didn’t take any action. After numerous experts have watched the tape of the meeting, there now appears to be great doubt as to whether there was actually any mistake.
City councilmembers Barovsky and Stern chose to dismiss their appointees (which they can do at their discretion) over this misstep, which was blown greatly out
of proportion. It was likely
there would have been other commissioner firings but they do need a quorum to keep the commission going and politically it wouldn’t be smart for the three councilmembers running for reelection to dismiss their appointees. Isn’t it strange that this comes after Councilmember Joan House first fired, then rehired Planning Commissioner John Siebert after she got some political heat?
The irony is that this is the same council that has been questioned and even sued over possible Brown Act violations
with even one councilmember admonished for it. Our City Attorney Christi Hogin also advises and stops our City Council from procedural mistakes as the Brown Act regulations can be difficult to always adhere to. But due process by the councilmembers was not in the cards.
I frankly believe that our council has been looking for an opportunity (excuse) such as this to remove certain appointed planning commissioners. After all, the Planning Commission had serious concerns about the Malibu Bay Company Development Agreement (Measure M) and ultimately voted unanimously against it, recommending that the council not put it on this past November ballot. Some of the planning commissioners even worked (god forbid) to defeat Measure M. Perhaps the rumors that some of these commissioners were contemplating a run against the incumbent city councilmembers in the April 2004 elections was also part of the picture?
It was refreshing to have a Planning Commission that did not make decisions based on council wishes or directive but rather conducted their own fair and thorough evaluation of issues put before them. Commissioner Adler even publicly stated once that Councilmember Stern (who appointed and dismissed him) had made it clear to him that he was to act and evaluate independently as a commissioner. Now he is “fired” for that independence and for one possible misstep. I attended many Planning Commission meetings over the last year and found their attention to detail, thoughtful consideration of issues and overall conduct ethical and admirable. It is a shame to lose these three fair, intelligent, community-contributing citizens over one misstep. Actions like these dismissals further inhibit private citizens from participating in the city’s governmental process.
Our City Council, particularly members Barovsky and Stern have done this city a great disservice and should be held accountable. Regretfully they are not up for re-election this April.
Tami Clark