Concerns were raised about the perceived impropriety of the advisor working for a group on a parks plan he previously reviewed for the city; the group opposes the plan.
By Jonathan Friedman / Assistant Editor
Environmental Review Board member Shane Parker has been dismissed from a city advisory panel following last week’s revelation that he was hired to review a project by a stakeholder shortly after looking at the project for the city. Malibu Government officials said Parker did not necessarily do anything illegal or unethical, but the appearance of impropriety was the reason for the city’s action.
“I just didn’t think it was possible for him to continue in that role without people, rightly or wrongly, questioning what his motivations were,” said Planning Manager C.J. Amstrup, who had the final decision on Parker’s fate.
Parker, who works for the environmental planning consultant firm Christopher A. Joseph & Associates, submitted comments to the city on the Santa Monica Mountains Conservancy’s parks plan in July as a member of the ERB. Approximately a week later, he was hired by attorney Steve Amerikaner to look at the plan for the Ramirez Canyon homeowners, who oppose the SMMC plan. Amerikaner told The Malibu Times last week that it is a non-issue since Parker was not hired until after he had completed his comments for the city.
Amerikaner said this week regarding the city’s decision to relieve Parker of his duties, “That’s not based on legal consideration, it’s based on other considerations. And the city has the right to do that. Clearly, we never anticipated this kind of controversy or result.”
Parker did not return calls for comment. However, the president of his firm, Christopher Joseph wrote an e-mail to The Times that he respects the city’s decision. But he specified that Parker only began work for Amerikaner after submitting his ERB comments, and, according to the letter, Parker’s firms severed ties with Amerikaner on the SMMC issue last month after Malibu city staff members voiced their concern about the association.
“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,” Joseph wrote. “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.”
(The full text of Joseph’s e-mail appears in the Letters to the Editor section on page A4.)
SMMC Executive Director Joe Edmiston told The Times last week that Parker’s actions had “contaminated the process.” This week he said the city had responded appropriately.
“The city did the ethical and right thing,” Edmiston said.
The ERB consists of persons with various scientific and environmental backgrounds. The volunteers are asked to review major projects and those that have significant environmental issues. City Attorney Christi Hogin said this week that Parker’s comments on the SMMC project will remain in the record for Planning Commission and City Council review.
“We all know what the situation is,” Hogin said. “Everyone will take that into account and take his comments with a grain of salt. But we don’t have a hopelessly tainted process or anything like that.”
Hogin added she was glad the situation came out in the open so that “nobody feels like they’re being tricked.”
The parks plan was scheduled to go before the Planning Commission for review on Tuesday after The Times went to print. The proposal involves the enhancement of the SMMC’s parks at Ramirez, Escondido and Corral canyons. It also includes development at the city-owned Charmlee Wilderness Park, and the creation of a trail system that connects several national-, state- and Malibu-owned parks.
Look for the story on the Planning Commission meeting later this week at www.malibutimes.com