This e-mail letter contains our comments on the City’s decision that Mr. Shane Parker’s volunteer services are no longer needed on the ERB (Environmental Review Board). Although we would have preferred a different outcome, we understand and respect the City’s decision concerning Shane, which was made to avoid any appearance of impropriety.
We regret any public perception that may have occurred when our professional work and Mr. Parker’s public paths intersected concerning the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy parks enhancement plan. While serving on the ERB, Mr. Parker has at all times provided his honest and thoughtful input concerning matters he was asked to review. I’m sure you will find that City staff and other ERB members will agree with that assessment.
Mr. Parker disclosed our firm’s intended evaluation of the SMMC proposal for Mr. Amerikaner (work we were first contacted to perform only after Mr. Parker had already completed his ERB comments) to the City’s chair of the ERB on August 22. When concerns were later raised of Mr. Parker’s involvement in this matter by City of Malibu staff, we decided it was best to simply discontinue any further professional work on the matter, which we did as of September 21, 2007.
Chris Joseph