(Mod: I am not going to be able to make it to this meeting tonight. I have a school play that I frankly can't miss. Family first. But if somebody could print this post out and read it at public comment tonight I think it would be a good thing. As you know, this is an extremely important issue, and deals with matters at the heart of City Hall's obvious attempts at destroying Measure V.)At their last meeting, the Planning Commission voted unanimously to reject City Staff's recent interpretation of the term "dwelling unit" in Measure V, the 2-30-13 initiative. As the Planning Commissioners recall, City Staff was arguing that the term "dwelling unit" in Measure V did not cover "rooms" or "suites" in the proposed assisted living facility project.
Because these "rooms" or "suites" were not dwelling units -- City Staff argued -- Measure V's density limit of 13 dwelling units per acre did not apply to that project.
Prior to that unanimous vote, the Planning Commissioners, as well as the many residents present in City Council Chambers also heard the Director of Development Services state that the Planning Commission's rejection of the City's proposed interpretation would mean that the rooms in the project would be considered dwelling units -- that is, the project could not exceed 13 rooms per acre without voter approval.
However, after the meeting, Development Services issued a Revised Mitigated Negative Declaration for the project. Shockingly, that Declaration contains an interpretation of Measure V that is still inconsistent with the Planning Commission's unanimous determination. Specifically, City Staff is arguing that Measure V's density limit does not apply to the project because it is "institutional" in nature.
Would Development Services please clarify for me why this interpretation of Measure V appears in this Declaration? Despite the findings of the Planning Commission on this matter?
http://sierramadretattler.blogspot.com
This Buchanan, Moran and Walsh majority along with city staff will insist on violating the people's empowerment law, Measure V.
ReplyDeletePeople must show up at the meeting tonight and speak out against the developer's project, the planning commission ran so late last time, the public did not get a chance to state their many objections. Go down, speak, get on the record.
This is very important.
Rather than tonight 6:50, plan to go on the evening the alfington will be discussed, and that will be in two weeks from tonight.
DeleteWhy not do both? The fact that Danny and the Levinling basically gave the finger to the PC needs to be put into the records as soon as possible.
Deleteif you go to this site
ReplyDeletewww.cityofsierramadre.com/i-want-to/.../12-maps?...zoning-map...
You can see that all of that property in question is zoned commercial and although the planning wants to look at this as an institutional use, you will see that other institutions within the City are schools or churches with schools. The planners are playing with words and trying to avoid coompliance. How does a use change a zone? It can't and doesn't without doing a zone change. It might be permitted but still must comply
They are planning to use an overlay district to get away with this scam.
DeleteSince when can Staff over rule the Commission?
I find it to be personally offensive that those who take our tax money in the form of salaries and benefits would turn around and lie to us about not only Measure V, but the water rate hike and other matters. If I were to lie to my employer I would be fired. In Sierra Madre if you lie to your employer you get to listen to a nice speech from John Buchanan at employee appreciation day.
ReplyDeleteVery little of what City Staff tells us turns out to be true. I know we're supposed to believe that the Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem force them into it, but I have stopped caring about that.
DeleteThere's only one item on the Planning Commission agenda tonight and it's not the ALF... what's going on? Is this a call to discuss at Public Comments or are they trying to schnitzle us?
ReplyDeleteSchnitzle: It is a call to read at public comments. It is what the words say.
DeleteThe Director of Development Services is incompetent, not qualified to run the department he is in charge of running, nor does he have the educational background. Simply put, Danny is a Puppet of our current City Manager. They both need to be Fired immediately. They are self serving, corrupt and have never worked on behalf of the citizens. Elaine considers Sierra Madre her serfdom and the will of the people just get in her way. Like all dictators she thinks she knows what is best for our lives, not the people, to hell with them.
ReplyDeleteI agree with your summation. I have dealt with Danny on a number of issues and he does lack the needed expertise and qualifications. He is a nice guy that is throw to the wolfs because Elaine made him do it. I would say puppet is correct. Not a way to run City Hall.
DeleteApparently for our city hall the law is of secondary importance. The priority being the needs of whatever big developer shows up in their offices.
DeleteGood point. The third priority being the truth.
DeleteTruth does not hit their list of priorities, EVER
DeleteWe should not have people who live in other towns making important decisions for this city. Obviously their loyalties are not with us.
ReplyDeleteVery good point! Why indeed.
DeleteTime to hire a city manager who lives in Sierra Madre.
In this case we don't get what we pay for.
DeleteOur Charter says the City Manager must live in the City of Sierra Madre, Elaine got a pass on that one. She lives in Covina or West Covina.
DeleteRight, hire the defector Michelle Keith? Who demanded the taxpayers of Sierra Madre finance her education then went to work for Bradbury? By the way, MK is paid $140,000 a year to "manage" a city of 963.
DeleteYou sure of that $140,000? I looked at the CA salary site not too long ago and saw $103,000 for Bradbury's city manager. Still ridiculous, either figure.
DeleteGillison didn't liver here, Aquilar doesn't live here. How many city managers have lived here?
Delete+Yup. $103K salary, $24K+ deferred compensation, $18K+ heath benefits.
DeleteI would hire Kurt Zimmerman. He is from here, he is smart, and there are not many people who have worked as hard for this city as he has.
DeleteCity Staff believes that they can overrule volunteer resident committees any time they choose. Making them akin to an occupation government.
DeleteWho in their right mind would want to live in the city they manage? Even bolder than putting a name on snarky comments.
DeleteWho would want to live in a city they manage? Probably someone who cares about the place and the people who live there. I know that the notion of public service is pretty much a lost art in these times, but Sierra Madre is a little different from most others.
DeleteRichard Mays for City Manager!
ReplyDeleteWhat a great idea!
DeleteTonight the Planning Commission will be discussing the proposed martial arts studio at the old Highlander location. The documents are on Koerber's site, and it looks like a great project.
ReplyDeleteGood project, good location, No brainer. Should be a short meeting.
DeleteIf we support the martial arts studio as private enterprise, can we drop the tax payer subsidized "classes" at the YAC?
DeleteYes!
DeleteWritten comments will be on the record, responded to, and can be sent to yamachikag@yahoo.com.
ReplyDeleteDeadline, Feb. 14 by 5:00.
Looking forward to seeing the response cooked up for this.
Can't be there tonight so that said some one will do our side the honor of speaking to this issue...some one always does and thank you in advance!
ReplyDeleteI say hire Eden Slegr for City Manager! He will clean house and nobody would be left!
ReplyDeleteMaybe he would leave a mint on everyone's pillow.
DeleteI attended the Planning Commission meeting two weeks ago. I found a large crocheted button on the floor of the Council Chambers. Has anyone lost this button? I am trying to find its owner.
ReplyDeletePoster 10:04.
ReplyDeleteI second Zimmerman's nomination for City Manager. It's hard to argue that there's anybody still here who care as much about out town, or has done as much for it as Kurt.
Will Zimmerman be at the Planning Commission meeting tonight?
ReplyDeleteAnd don't forget to write in John Crawford!
ReplyDeleteI think very highly of Mr. Crawford and appreciate the time and energy he spends on providing the only free press in Sierra Madre. In a better world, he would be on the council. But don't throw a vote away. This is going to be a dicey election.
DeleteIf elected I will not serve.
Delete@9:19 I hate throwing money away on pre-teens/teens. Latchkey kids are so much better.
ReplyDeletePoint taken 11:48. So since it's the job of the tax payers to provide child care, what do you suggest we cut from the city services menu?
ReplyDeleteCut 35%. Let Elaine figure out where the cuts should be made.
DeleteI'd rather save the money and spend it on graffiti removal.
DeleteThe martial arts business is a great idea. Adolescent and teenage boys and girls are probably the most neglected part of our city's population. Be nice for them to win one once in a while.
ReplyDeleteIs it going to be free?
DeleteOnly the first one. I'm sure you know how that works.
DeleteOkay, all you folks who are thinking young folks in Sierra Madre won't be able to afford the fees at a private Martial Arts dojo, set up a scholarship fund to help with the cost. It'll be loads cheaper than subsidizing YAC activities for all 8 of the tweens who currently show up.
DeleteIf parents can afford thousands a year for private schools - Bethany, St. Rita's, Gooden, Alverno, La Salle, Poly, and all the rest, they can afford fees (and probably already pay) for private instruction.
when city staff is arguing and manipulating interpertations of a voter approved Measure V to suit their own agenda and not what the residents want, it's time we evaluate whether we need these individual city staff members actually working FOR US as our employees in our city - not THEIR city - OUR city.
ReplyDeleteWe need to stop hiring those that want to use the city to pad their resume and move on to the next gig - there are plenty of older experienced candidates that would be happy to "serve" the city instead of the knuckleheads we have now that want to use us, build something out of character and then move on to a new job.
all I know is that these are the same city employees that lied to us about the water tax hike and spread complete fabrications and distortions to hide the truth
ReplyDeletethat will you fired in the real world - but in Sierra Madre it'll get you the editor position at the Mt View News
Martial arts is the greatest for teens. It teachers self control and manners. I would definitely donate $$$ to classes at The Yak and make it mandatory to join the Yak to learn MA.....our spoiled teens are very rude. Many of their parents dump them their cuz they do not want to care for them. Ever notice them at Kersting Ct?
ReplyDeleteIn my day....
You know what is the greatest for teens? Staying at home with their families and doing their homework!
ReplyDeleteWhgat makes you think their families are home?
DeleteI don't know, but families SHOULD be home spending time with each other. Instead of picking up one's spoiled teen at 6:30 at night from the Starbucks up in town who has been wasting time on an i-pad or i-pod simultaneously running around Kersting Court yelling, shouting profanities and getting into trouble because of all the candy bars they've consumed. A teen who was probably raised in day-care since the time they were 6 months old.
Delete