Dec
30
Where’s Gerri?
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Post Election Analysis, Teamwork | 18 Comments
12/31 update: I plan to post details on this coming Monday’s City Council meeting and the agenda sometime on the first. Enjoy the last hours of 2008, and stay safe!
(by Dave Emerson) Today’s News Enterprise included a pleasant letter to the editor under the headline, “Happy Holidays from the City Council,” as follows:
The Los Alamitos City Council wishes to extend Happy Holidays to our residents and businesses. As we look forward to the challenges of 2009, we encourage our citizens to join with us in opening communications and seeking solutions as we face future economic opportunities.
By working together we can develop a vision and a plan for Los Alamitos into the mid 2020′s. Your input and participation will be greatly appreciated.
Personally, I appreciated the sentiments expressed in the letter:
- A pleasant holiday greeting from the Council to residents and businesses alike.
- An encouragement for citizens to communicate and seek solutions.
- An emphasis on opportunities rather than problems.
- A desire to work together.
- A focus on developing a vision and plan for Los Alamitos together.
- Thinking beyond the next few years into the mid 2020s.
In fact, some of that language could have come right out of some of my earlier posts on this blog. Lots of things to affirm there.
Unfortunately, as one astute poster noted here earlier today, Gerri Mejia’s signature was missing at the bottom of the letter. Read more
Dec
29
(byDave Emerson) In case you were wondering, like I was, here’s the schedule for disposal of your Christmas tree and/or Hanukkah bush this year:
Trees are to be left curbside, next to one of your trash cans, to be picked up this week or next week on your regular trash day.
If your regular trash pickup day is Thursday or Friday, it will be moved back one day this week, just like it was last week. Next week your trash day returns to normal.
In case your kids are tempted to cut it up and burn it in your fireplace, be advised that most fire departments warn against it.
Now you know.
How’s that for a non-controversial post?
Dec
24
Merry Christmas & Happy Hanukkah!
Filed Under About Dave Emerson, Inspiration | 6 Comments
back from left: Tres and Sarah, Nate, Blair and Beth; front: Ivy, Jet, Kate, Emma (click to enlarge)
(by Dave Emerson) Barb, Nate and I just returned earlier this week from a time in Tennessee with our newest grandchild, Ivy Grace, who was born just last week, and her family. We were joined by daughter Beth and her family. A child being born, a long journey, even paying taxes–not all that different from that first Christmas in some ways!
Certainly there’s nothing like the miracle of birth–a miracle we’ve been blessed with four times in the last three years as our four amazing grandkids entered the world. God has blessed us with a wonderful family, which helps put some of the craziness of the current economy and local politics in proper perspective.
The winter holidays help achieve the same thing.
Hanukkah: A celebration of light, freedom, and God’s power
As Christians, Barb and I find inspiration in the story of Hannukkah, and spent some time trying to help our kids understand the significance of the event. In John 10:22 we find Jesus apparently celebrating Hannukah in the temple when his teachings sparked an effort to stone him. While Jesus’ opposition by the religious power structure of his day ultimately resulted in his crucifixion, his appreciation of Hanukkah should motivate Christians of today to at least respect and learn from the events that preceded Christ by about 200 years.
Here is a summary of Hanukkah, or Chanukah, from the orthodox Chabad website: Read more
Dec
19
The new majority’s first Council Meeting: a solid “C?”
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Election Issues, Post Election Analysis, Teamwork | 30 Comments
(by Dave Emerson) Between judging a local Holiday decorating contest and welcoming our newest grandchild into the world, I never got to see all of Monday’s City Council meeting, but I did catch enough to gain some first impressions of the way the new majority started off, some good, some bad.
I also learned a bit from scrolling through the on-line discussion here of that meeting (See “Your comments on the 12/15 Los Alamitos City Council Meeting,” with 34 comments so far.) I’m pleased to see the interaction, some of it actually constructive. Discussion helps us understand each other and find the areas we can work together on.
In this post I’ll focus on item 11, topics B, C, and D, and being the old teacher that I am, grade the Council on each item.
11. B: Purchase of financial hardware and software
The good news is the Council unanimously approved this purchase, despite the high initial cost. To me this was a classic case of needing to spend money now to save lots more money later, and it was gratifying to see the Council agree unanimously. It demonstrated the Council’s willingness to embrace technology and strategic spending, at least in this case. Read more
Dec
15
Your Comments on the 12/15 Los Al City Council Meeting
Filed Under City Council Meetings | 38 Comments
Dave Emerson here. As indicated, I’ve got a Holiday/Christmas Decorating Contest to help judge tonight, so I won’t be at the Council, although I am recording channel 3 on fios.
So, this is your chance to report or comment, even live as it happens. Just keep the language polite and try to keep the tone respectful. All viewpoints are welcome here. If we understand each other better, we can work together better on the things we agree on.
Just use the comment box below. If you can’t find it, you’re still on the home page, so click the headline or the blue “Comment(s)” above & scroll down to the box. If you’ve viewing live at home, feel free to pause your DVR and comment on something that strikes you, or just report on the meeting’s progress. Then I can get filled in on what happened when I get in out of the storm!
For the agenda and some pre-meeting comments, click here.
Whether you comment or not, thanks for stopping by.
Dec
13
Agenda for Monday, 12/15 Los Al Council Meeting
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Los Alamitos Priorities | 14 Comments
(by Dave Emerson) Mon. 6 p.m.: to comment or report on the City Council meeting tonight, just click here.
Monday noon update: The city has now posted the agenda, so I’ve added some detail, like the 6 items under the consent calendar, and some links to additional city documents provided to the Council Members for background.
For whatever reason, Los Alamitos did not get the agenda posted on line before their “dark Friday” 3 day weekend, so I had to drive down to city hall and hand copy it from the posted board.
At least the Council is meeting, although Marilyn Poe has indicated that she’ll be out of town. There are some interesting items scheduled, althought the most interesting takes place in a closed session at 6 p.m.
Here are the highlights. My comments are in italics.
Los Alamitos City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting, December 15, 2008 6:00 p.m.
Highlights
1, Call to Order
2. Roll call
3. Closed Session
A. Employee Appointment: Interim City Manager and City Manager
I”m not clear what this is. Perhaps beginning a search process, finding a way to extend David Rudat, or searching for another interim? If you’ve got any insights, please share them as a comment below.
B. Conference with Labor Negotiators
Agency Negotiators [representing the city]: David Rudat and City Atty. Dean Derlech
Employees [represented by]: Police Officers’ Association and City Employees’ Association
Council Members Poe and Stephens were elected with strong support from the City Employees’ Association, which bought ads supporting them, and had members walking and knocking to support their candidacy. In a time of economic crisis for the city, I certainly hope that the new majority will not repeat the spendthrift patterns towards government employees we’ve seen at the state and county levels. Read more
Dec
12
Lessons for the Holidays from a car wreck
Filed Under Education & Schools, Inspiration, Los Alamitos Priorities, News you can use, Traffic | 2 Comments
Summer Thompson and her mother Sherri in 2007. Summer nearly died in a car wreck in 2006.
(by Dave Emerson) As the dad of a 17-year-old high school senior, I’ve got a story from the state of Washington I’d like to share with you. It’s not a local story, but it’s relevant to our family oriented small town that’s home to Los Alamitos High School.
This started out as a post about one comment from the discussion that took place here in the comments following my December 6th preview of this week’s Planning Commission meeting.
As I searched Google Images for a “bad car wreck” photo to illustrate a post about Steve’s December 10th comment, the above photo stood out from all the photos of mangled cars on the first page of “about 467,000″ images Google located for you and me. I clicked on the photo to find out more, and ended up reading a compelling two year old story from the Seattle Post-Intelligence.
If you’ve got a kid, or a grandkid, especially one who drives, you may find this story by the P-I’s Jim Moore as compelling as I did. Read more
Dec
9
Notes from the Los Al Planning Commission: Land of storage & doctors?
Filed Under Commission Meetings, Development, Teamwork | 4 Comments
(by Dave Emerson) Last night I saw seven volunteer Planning Commissioners conscientiously working together with city staff in a cordial attempt to do what they felt was best for Los Alamitos. The audience was courteous and professional as well, and there were no hoots or boos or applause.
A pleasant change from many recent City Council meetings. Almost made me wonder if we should turn off the TV cameras at City Council–at least during the “Oral Communications” portion in election season.
I left pretty much impressed with the work of all involved. The Commissioners, staff, and Counsel worked together to come up with sound decisions on each of the three matters before them. At the end Los Alamitos’ new Community Development Director Steve Mendoza had high words of praise for the Commission’s ability to think beyond the immediate cases before them to the long range effects and implications.
I think we have a planning commission we can all be proud of. My only negative observation would be that only one of the 7 Commissioners was a woman. Hopefully another lady can be added to Ms. Shloss if a seat becomes open when new commissioners are appointed. Although one can’t draw substantive conclusions from just one meeting, it appears that we have a group that works well together and really shouldn’t be broken up unnecessarily at this important point in the city’s history.
I was also impressed to see Mr. Sean Belk from the Sun present for the meeting. According to the Commission Chair, this is the first time a member of the press was present for quite a while, and Mr. Belk is to be commended. I know for a fact that he not only showed up, but did research on the agenda items in advance. Too bad only Rossmoor Highlands gets the Sun delivered. You can pick it up for free at a number of local businesses, including Hoff’s Hut, the Rossmoor Car Wash, and the News Enterprise office at 11110 Los Alamitos Blvd.
There were only three items on the agenda, one of which was simply for a time extension for a condo development project on 3791 Green Avenue. The other two items, Conditional Use Permits for a storage facility and for a doctor’s office and clinic, took up most of the time. In this post, I’ll focus on the storage facility and my rather creative alternative as to what might be possible there as a springboard to envisioning the Los Alamitos of the future.
“Get this junk out of here!”
Folks in the Los Alamitos area must be hearing that a lot, because Sausalito Partners, LLC wants to build almost two acres of self-storage (86,248 square feet) at Read more
Dec
6
Planning Commission meets this Monday, 12/8
Filed Under Commission Meetings, Development | 42 Comments
Note added 12/7 afternoon: We’ve got an interesting discussion going on between Art Debolt and Lisa in the comments section below. However, you won’t be able to see the comments if you’re on our home page (for example, if you just went to “LetsFixLosAl.com” but never clicked on a specific article. If that’s the case, to see the comments, you have to either click on the headline above (“Planning Commission meets this Monday, 12/8″), or click on the blue “Comments” above. If there’s no blue “Comment(s)” above, the Comments are already here at the end of my post.)
12/8 11 p.m. note: That interesting discussion got a bit redundant as it progressed, and not as polite as I’d like to strive for, but some interesting points were made. Truth is, everybody’s human & nobody’s perfect, so there are good things & bad things to say about most people. That’s why we all need grace and we all need to be gracious (for one pastor’s take on this, see “Sunday sermon: Jonah, the Ninevites, and the CPLA“).
12/9: Wow, the comments keep coming. Quite a discussion. If you’re ready to look forward instead of back, I imagine my comments on what might be possible in our town will stimulate some discussion as well. (See “Notes from the Planning Commission Meeting: I have seen the future, and it’s storage and doctors?”)
(by Dave Emerson) As long as we’ve got this blog running, I’ll try to post upcoming community events to help keep us all informed. Let me know of something you think Los Alamitos residents need to know about by e-mailing or calling me , or just post the info in a comment.
This one was suggested by one of our Planning Commissionars. The Los Alamitos Planning Commission normally meets on the second Monday of each month at 7 p.m. in the Los Alamitos City Council Chambers.
This month’s agenda includes proposed final approval for that self-storage facility at Sausalito and Oak, a request for a medical office and clinic in the commercially zoned Los Alamitos Plaza (10900 Los Alamitos Blvd., # 148), and a one year extension to develop a parcel map for 3791 Green, between Reagan and Maple (which I’m guessing must be another condo complex?).
I’m not a big fan of turning commercial space that should produce sales tax revenue into additional medical office space. I still don’t understand how we ended up with the Medical Center bulldozing a city block of small businesses to make a parking lot so they could build a three story medical office building on the former parking lot. If we let them, medical offices will consume what’s left of our messed up “city center,” if not the whole doggone town. More traffic, less sales tax revenue. I say it’s time for Liesure World’s doctors to build an office complex & clinics on some of that Boeing land right by Liesure World! More convenient for everyone. Why not a community hospital, too. Shoot, maybe just move the whole Los Alamitos Medical Center, & offices & let’s redevelop that land.
Anyway, if you’ve got an opinion for the planning commissioners on any of these items, you can post it in the comment setion below, and you can reach the staff advisor, the Community Development Director, at (562) 432-3538, Ext. 300. You can also show up at 7 on Monday & speak.
Click here for the full agenda in pdf form.
Dec
6
4 reasons I love So Cal (& Los Alamitos)
Filed Under About Dave Emerson, About Los Alamitos, Southern California | 1 Comment
(12/6/08) Today I’m writing as a native Southern Californian who’s lived here all of my 58 years, and maybe just a bit as a Los Al Realtor.
Every now and then it hits me what a very special place I’m privileged to live in. Today was one of those days. There are many things to love about Southern California, here are a few that hit me today:
- The weather: December 6th, 2008. Forecast high in Los Alamitos in the mid 70s. Low in the fifties. Crystal clear, warm, sunny day. I took my shirt off when I went outside to jog a couple miles. Try doing that in Chicago! We went to the Seal Beach Christmas parade last night in shirt sleeves. O.K., I’ll admit that we haven’t needed rain gear in years past for that one. But only once.
- The sunshine: Every year I tally in my journal the number of days I don’t see the sun. It averages about five. 360 days of sunshine a year, but with sea breezes! That’s because Los Alamitos is the perfect distance from the ocean–a few miles away, so the coastal clouds almost always burn off by noon, but close enough to keep the climate moderate year round. And close enough we can get to the beach in just a few minutes.
- The geography: Almost all Los Alamitos residents live about 12 minutes from the beach, and just a minute or two from a nice local park. An hour from the San Gabriel Mountains, which include a peak over 10,000 feet high and two major ski resorts. To the east, the San Bernardino Mountains include a peak over 12,000 feet high, several alpine lakes, and three more major ski areas. From the 605 freeway bridge over Coyote Creek I could see both mountain ranges clearly this morning, as well as Mt. San Jacinto, just South of Palm Springs. (Did I mention the deserts?) It’s not all that hard to snowboard (or ski) and surf (or boogie board) on the same day, but I would recommend a wet suit for the Pacific in winter.
The rivalry: Right now, I’m taking a break from the USC – UCLA game, where my Westwood alma mater is doing better than expected. . . so far. USC-UCLA is the only true cross-town rivalry among NCAA Division 1 schools in the country! Both schools are within the Los Angeles city limits, only about 12 miles apart. Many USC students live in Westwood, by UCLA. When I went to UCLA, it wasn’t uncommon for athletes from the rival schools to room together. My best friend in high school went to USC while I went to UCLA.
Rival banners are flying throughout my neighborhood. Three of the sixteen families on my cul-de-sac include UCLA alumni, but we have SC season seat holders anchoring the start of the street. My mother and I both graduated from UCLA, my son’s girlfriend hopes to go there. The managing partner of my real estate office is a USC alumn. Both schools are outstanding institutions with great traditions. And a great, but generally friendly rivalry. As a tribute to the Trojans, let me share the words to USC’s famous Fight Song, at least the way I learned them at UCLA (with apologies to my friends from “Figueroa Tech”):
Fight on! for USC.
You pay a fee; you get a degree!
You’ll be smarter than me, because I went to USC!
I went to USC! I went to USC!
Just kidding. Really. Not trying to alienate 2/3 of the city. Seriously, I think they’re both great schools, one public, one private, Just two of several dozen outstanding colleges and Universities that ring Los Alamitos, ranging from Cal Tech to Biola to CSULB to UCI.
I could go on and on. Diversity. Opportunity. Culture. Great churches and museums nearby. Great beaches. Great mountain biking. Outstanding schools, both public and private. A small town feel where local kids help sell Christmas trees to raise money for the youth center on land donated by Ganahl Lumber, and where you might just find the Mayor’s the volunteer helping you pick out your tree. That’s happened to me here in Los Al–I doubt many Los Angeles residents can say that.
Sure, we’ve got too much traffic, but locals figure out ways to deal with a lot of it. And hopefully our City Council will eventually make it enought of an ongoing high priority to eventually make some progress.
For me. Los Alamitos is a great place to live year round. If you live someplace else and want to move here, I just happen to know two good Los Alamitos Realtors.
Happy Holidays from Los Alamitos, Southern California’s “sweet spot!”
Dec
5
Los Al Christmas Trees, Christmas Lights, and Christmas Spirit
Filed Under Community News, Inspiration, News you can use | Leave a Comment
(by Dave Emerson) Tuesday afternoon Barb & I stopped by the Youth Center tree lot at Ganahl Lumber to get our Christmas tree. I love it for lots of reasons:
- It’s convenient.
- They always have a wide variety of excellent trees.
- Lots of friendly local youth and adult volunteers.
- The money goes to a great cause: the local Youth Center
- You can have $5 donated to your kids’ or grandkids’ school, public or private.
- The sales tax stays in our town.
- It’s only a few blocks to drive with the tree to get home. Can’t beat it!
They’re open 12 – 9 on weekdays and 9 – 9 on Fridays and Saturdays and 12-9 the rest of the week. I believe they’ve got 20% off their longest lasting tree through this weekend, too.
If you know of some other local non-proftis raising money by selling trees please share the info with us as a comment at the end of this post.
Christmas Lights
Enjoying our neighbors holiday decorations is especially fun here in Los Alamitos where you can walk around in shirt sleeves even at night. Thanks to some very dedicated neighbors, our street has been going “all out” for years. In fact, when I sell a home on Linda Way, I always advise the buyers that this isn’t a good street for Grinches. So far, nobody’s objected, and our newer residents all enjoy participating. For one month every year our street’s lit up almost like Disneyland at Christmas, & I love it.
Linda Way is the middle cul de sac of Suburbia Estates, between Old Dutch Haven and Cottonwood Park on the south side of Farquhar, if you want to cruise by. If you notice some other outstanding Christmas lights in Los Alamitos or nearby, please share the info as a comment below. I’ll also try to add to the list here as I note others as well.
Interestingly, my neighbor just stopped by to tell me that Channel 3′s coming by to shoot some video. John Underwood told her that Linda Way is “ground zero for Christmas spirit in Los Alamitos.” (At the Council meeting this week, John told me he was just focusing on holiday things this month, giving “Backstory” a rest from all the politics.
I’d love to see more investigative print reporting from John, and we’re planning on getting together soon. Hopefully we can all turn the page and focus on moving the city forward, although that’s not easy for a lot of us. As I said during my debut as the “human torch” on Backstory a couple months ago, “It’s hard to move ahead when you’re looking back.”
Christmas Spirit
Which brings me to my final Holiday thought for this post. Sadly our planet seems to actually be much more in need of “peace on earth” this year than it was 2,000 years ago. While that’s certainly true from Iraq and Afganistan to India, Somalia, Sudan, and South Central Los Angeles, it’s also true in our quaint little town of Los Alamitos.
I obviously don’t think the best person won in the election I just lost, and I have very strong feelings about some of the tactics used by the CPLA and LATA, but the voters have spoken and it’s time for us to move on. I say let’s all–winners and losere–do our part to reach out to the other side. Give the new majority a chance to do what’s best for our town, give them our support, but watch them and hold them accountable.
Just like I say with the comments on this blog, let’s try do disagree agreeably, winners and losers alike. Let’s try to better understand at least most of those we disagree with, let’s hold out olive branches even when they’re initially pushed back in our face, and let’s try to work together on the things we can agree on, for the good of our town. Every elected official deserves a honeymoon period with the benefit of the doubt, even when we strongly disagree with their supporters tactics.
I’d like to find common ground issues that 90% of the Los Alamitos residents can all agree is a priority. Let’s at least try to work together on things we can all agree on. A friend of mine who’s served as a Council Member in a nearby Los Angeles County city told me that almost everyone can agree on many of the best ideas. I’ll be suggesting a few ideas and priorities that might fit that category over the next few days for your feedback. I’m just one person, however. Even more important are your thoughts on positive things you think are important to us all. That’s part of what this blog is all about–brainstorming great ideas in cyberspace to make Los Alamitos better. (If there’s not a comment box below, scroll to the top and click the headline or the blue “Comment(s).” )
Unfortunately, so soon after a bitter election even the thought of trying to work together is controversial. It’s too early for some, but harboring bitterness just isn’t productive. Eventually there comes a time to reach out, even to enemies.
Whether you’re celebrating the birth of the Prince of Peace or the Festival of Lights and God’s miraculous provision, that’s part of what the season’s all about.
Dec
1
12/1/08 Council “Reorganization:” Short & bittersweet
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Teamwork | 11 Comments
(by Dave Emerson) A lot of people said the right things, we got a new Mayor & Mayor Pro Tem, and a surprising number of items passed quickly and unanimously.
For now I’ll just list a few key items and some impressions. Then it’s your turn to add your thoughts.
The meeting started with several presentations to some very worthy citizens (for agenda, please refer to my 11/28 post and scroll down to the quote box).
Photo by Sean Belk courtesy of The Sun
That was followed by a series of commendations for two very worthy and dedicated outgoing Council Members and former Mayors. In addition to the traditional plaques of appreciation from the city, Mayor Pro Tem Gerri Mejia went all out to obtain unprecedented proclamations of appreciation from our State Senate, State Assembly, and the County of Orange for both Ken and Cat. A kind and thoughtful tribute.
The only oral communication was from J.M. Ivlar on behalf of NAC LosAl (The Neighborhood Action Committee of Los Alamitos). JM presented two additional beautiful plaques of appreciation to Cat and Ken. J.M. knew both Ken and Cat as community activists, and he bemoaned their being replaced on the Council, thanking them for their dedicated service. A touching moment of shared tears between friends.
After that we moved at lightning speed. At 7:23 item 7, Register of Major Expenditures, came up, and it was approved by unanimous roll call vote within twenty seconds! It took another 25 seconds to unanimously approve the four items on the Consent Calendar, including switching Nita McKay from Administrative Services Director to Assistant City Manager at the same salary.
Then it was time for some farewell remarks by Cat and Ken, recounting their achievements and thanking their family, friends, the voters, the staff, and others. Classy remarks by two people I came to know and appreciate over the past four months.
Finally it was time for the Certification of the Election results. Cat explained that she was going to vote against it after some deep thought because she felt the two candidates who won should have spoken out against the tactics used against Cat and Ken. She quoted from item 6 of the California Code of Fair Campaign Practices, which all five of the candidates signed:
I shall immediately and publicly repudiate support deriving from any individual or group which resorts, on gehalf of my candidacy or in opposition to that of my opponent, to the methods and tactics which I condemn.
For my take on that, you can check out “Have you no decency. . . .“ and “Memo to the CPLA.” I still wish the new majority had distanced themselves from the more onerous tactics of the CPLA and LATA’s campaign consultants. Hopefully they will some day. I think Cat said some things she felt needed to be said, after much consideration on her part. As always, I appreciate her integrity.
Ken Parker remained his smiling, positive self. I didn’t always agree with him, or Cat, but I’m sure going to miss them on the Council!
Photo by Sean Belk courtesy of The Sun
With that, the vote was certified, Marilyn Poe and Ken Parker were sworn in, and a five minute break lasted about ten minutes.
Our new Mayor and Mayor Pro Tem
The new Council reconvened with the old Mayor Pro Tem wielding the gavel. When she called for nominations for Mayor, there was an extended silence. It is generally customary for the Mayor Pro Tem to become the Mayor. That action would have spoken volumes about the new majority’s desire to put the bitter election and party spirit into the past, as I indicated in my last post. Unfortunately, that didn’t happen.
Instead, after a long silence, Ken Stephens nominated Dean Grose, and was seconded by Marilyn Poe. After more silence, a roll call vote was taken. Mayor Pro Tem Mejia graciously indicated that, althought she disagreed with the choice, she would go along with it in the interest of unanimity. A CPLA supporter behind me grumbled loudly.
Mayor Grose took the gavel and asked for nominations for Mayor Pro Tem. Council Member Edgar nominated Marilyn Poe, who was also elected unanimously, with Council Member Mejia giving the same caveat, while the same CPLA supporter grumbled even louder.
Then it was time for remarks from each Council Member. Everyone said mostly the right things, and I’m hoping and praying that their actions will follow their remarks.
Marilyn Poe emphasized her desire to represent everyone, especially those who opposed her.
Ken Stephens spoke about working together and being a proactive council. I almost shouted “Amen!”
Gerri Mejia pointed out that the votes wouldn’t always be 5-0 and quoted [her new mentor?] Troy Edgar that “It’s OK to disagree.” She then mentioned, over some murmering, that the public’s perception of the last Council was skewed, bemoaning losing Cat to physical illness resluting from the smear campaing against her. To that the CPLA supporter behind me rudely called out “It’s over!”
Troy Edgar proclaimed it “a great day” and said he wants to reach out to Gerri, noting “Gerri and I have provided a lot of entertainment.” Actually, I could have done without the “entertainment” which took place after 11 p.m., but I appreciated the spirit of Troy’s remarks. He concluded proclaiming his “tremendous respect for Gerri” and his desire for “a Council where no one gets left behind.” Good words, Troy!
The meeting was adjourned, with the next meeting still scheduled for 12/15, in two weeks. (Good!)
After the meeting was adjourned, one diligent journalist was overheard asking, “What just happened? Isn’t the Mayor Pro Tem supposed to be elected Mayor?” A battle hardened veteran of many political wars responded, “Welcome to small town politics!”
He then added some real words of wisdom: “Watch what happens with the committee assignments at the next meeting.”
We’ll be watching. And hoping the words of outreach result in concrete actions.
That’s what I thought–but this blog is about your reactions and thoughts. Just try to be relatively respectful and polite. . . but not to the point of boredom! If you don’t find a comment box or any comments below, scroll up to the headline & click it or the blue “Comment(s)” under it.
Dec
1
New Council slated to elect Mayor tonight
Filed Under City Council Meetings, Decency, Teamwork | 3 Comments
5:15 update: Just checked in with our Assistant City Clerk, and she hasn’t yet heard if the election results have been certified or not. I’ve got an e-mail out on it, & will update this if I find out before I get to the meeting tonight.
In a little while I also plan to put up a new post where you can comment on the meeting as it takes place. Just try to maintain a respectful tone.
by Dave Emerson) Today’s word from Kay Cotton at the Orange County Registrar of Voters Office is that they are “targeting” certifying the election results for Los Alamitos by 5 today, and that Los Alamitos is “on the top of our list,” due to tonight’s scheduled Council meeting.
Los Alamitos City Clerk Susan Vanderpool essentially confirmed this and filled in some of the details in an e-mail this morning as well:
The County said they will email or fax us the certification for our City as soon as they can today. However, they may not have the letters done until late this afternoon or possibly later. If we do not receive the documents in time, we will not certify and install tonight. If we do,
then we will. No reception will take place during the break this evening. If we certify and swear in tonight, a ceremonial installation (and reception) will take place at a later date.
I posted the agenda for tonight’s (12/1/08) Los Alamitos City Council meeting along with a few remarks last Friday. After the current Council meets and conducts the agendized items, our two new Council Members will be sworn in, provided the County Recorders’ work goes as anticipated.
After a five minute break (no reception), the new Council will elect a Mayor and Mayor pro tem, then adjourn.
Who will be Mayor?
It will be interesting to see who the Council will choose to be Mayor and Mayor pro tem.
I suppose arguments could be made for any of the Council Members to take the position, but I think the strongest candidates would be either the current Mayor pro tem, Gerri Mejia, or the biggest vote getter in the 2006 election, Dean Grose. Any betting person would put their money on Grose, probably followed by Troy Edgar, Marilyn Poe or Ken Stephens, with Gerri handicapped last.
The election of Mayor pro tem Mejia might follow precedent but it would be a bold if not shocking move by the majority to reach out to their opponents and try to build an inclusive team that “leaves no voter behind.” It would also set a precedent for non-partisan rotation of the Mayor’s position between all Council Members. I sure wouldn’t bet on it, but I wouldn’t completely rule it out.
President-elect Obama has shown a statesmanlike stature in reaching out to his former opponents, from Hillary Clinton to Joseph Lierberman to John McCain. Likewise, President Bush has demonstrated a non-partisan spirit in smoothing Obama’s transition. It would be truly inspiring to see our City Council follow in the same tradition.
However, the argument could certainly be made that the people voted for a change, which should start at the top. From the voters I’ve spoken with over the past three months, I think the biggest change most voters want is for the Council to quit fighting each other and find ways to work together. Our City Council working as a team would really be “change we can believe in.” At the least, it’s change I’m hoping for.
If Gerri is skipped over, I do think Dean Grose would be the logical choice. Logically, it should go to one of the three returning Council members, and Dean garnerd the most votes and has the longest history of community service among those three. At the meetings I’ve attended Dean has also been less of a polarizing figure than Mr. Edgar.
If it were up to me, I’d try to devise a way for the three returning Council members to share the Mayoral title over the next two years before they are up for reelection. Possibly Gerri take the next 8 months, then agree to step down so Mayor Pro Tem Grose could step in, with Dean stepping down 8 months later to make way for Troy Edgar, who would move into the Mayor Pro Tem position when Grose becomes Mayor.
There are some logistical challenges with that approach, but I think they could be overcome. It would be a nice first step to healing wounds opened over the last four months, and to having a Council tht does it’s best for all of the people of Los Alamitos.
Sidenote: Next meeting 12/15?
At the last meeting it was mentioned that “traditionally” there has only been one Council meeting in December. It was also mentioned that Marilyn Poe will be out of town on 12/15. (Before I lost the election, I had the 12/15 regular meeting on my calendar, and protected that date, but I know that can be difficult with family holiday events.) With the first Council meeting on the first day of the month, and major budget issues looming, hopefully that 12/15 regular meeting will take place, even if some members will be absent.
That’s what I think–but I lost the election! What do you think? Feel free to express your thoughts in the comment box below. If there’s no box, you’re still on the “Home Page,” & need to scroll up to the top and click on the headline or the blue “Comment(s).” Please try to maintain a polite and respectful tone. Ultimately, the goal here is to work together to Fix Los Al!
