Notice of Public Hearings: December 9 & 10

There are three (3) Public Hearings set for December 9 for the Planning & Transportation (P&T) Commission Meeting.

On November 13, the City announced a Public Hearing for the Morning Star senior living facility on Marguerite near the corner of Avery. To increase the density of the property, the City is allowing “below-grade” parking.

One of the outcomes of the many Civic Core Vision workshops was that the public strongly opposed underground parking. So why is the City going against the wishes of our citizens?

Over the Thanksgiving holiday, the City announced three more Public Hearings - two more are scheduled for the December 9 Planning & Transportation Commission Meeting.

And in a highly unusual move, City staff scheduled the P&T vote on the Saddleback Church high density project for an immediate approval by the City Council on the following day, December 10.

This means that the P&T commission NEEDS TO APPROVE - AND IS EXPECTED TO APPROVE - AS PRESENTED AND WRITTEN, without any changes, amendments or concerns raised by the public, the RECOMMENDATIONS OF STAFF.

The City Council Agenda and the back-up material will be publicly posted on Friday, December 6.

Consequently, the public will not have any opportunity to review any
December 9 changes made by the P&T Commission if there were any changes or amendments, and this will then be followed by the rubber stamp of the City Council on December 10.

As the City has not yet released any data on this high density condo project - are we to assume that the City is concerned about strong public opposition?

Is this another example of manipulation of the agenda, by using the holiday season to pass controversial votes? With this cleverly deceptive agenda management, the public cannot fairly be expected to participate, with back to back public hearings.

Public Hearings are very detailed that include very comprehensive reports. The Planning Commissioners have three of these hearings to study for over the weekend.

Does not seem like a fair or adequate process that respects the needed committed time of the commissioners nor "provide the public an opportunity to offer their thoughts on a policy matter or a specific proposal that is before the agency for decision."

A PUBLIC HEARING is different from a public meeting:

"The public hearing is a common vehicle through which public agencies receive public input on a proposed action. Public hearings typically provide the public an opportunity to offer their thoughts on a policy matter or a specific proposal that is before the agency for decision."

"1. FOR INCLUSIVE PUBLIC HEARINGS Public hearings are often attended by the “vocal few” alone. Many voices in the community are not heard from at these hearings – even when they have interests at stake. Striving for more inclusive participation at public hearings will lead to better decisions and more support for the decisions or policies that are ultimately adopted. It will also add to the democratic skills and practices of residents." (From the GETTING THE MOST OUT OF PUBLIC HEARINGS pamphlet published by the Institute for Local Govt.)

Zone changes affect all of us and with agenda manipulation, the public is denied its right to fundamental fairness.

So there are four (4) public hearings, with three (3) set for the December 9 P&T Commission meeting followed by Council approval on December 10 for high density housing.