Jul
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(Los Alamitos, 7/5/2010) Important meeting, (click here for details), lots on the agenda. If you catch it on TV3 or live, please let us know what you saw of significance & what you think. Diplomacy & polite language is always appreciated. Click “more” for comments or to comment:Thanks.
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Comments
36 Responses to “Your reporting on tonight’s (7/5/2010) Council Meeting”
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Wow–looks like another marathon. An awful lot of time spent debating acceptance of the May 17 Minutes. Troy felt they should be less detailed, because the details were one sided.
Guess what? Edgar’s motion to strike the details from the public record passed 4 – 1, with Mejia dissenting. Are Zarkos, Edgar, & Poe really necessary, other than to supply a quorum and votes?
Over an hour and a half to just get to the end of the Consent Calendar!
It’s past my bedtime. Somebody please fill us in on what happened after the longer-than-5 minute break. Is the Council intentionally pushing the important items into the midnight hours, with a lengthy break after the consent calendar?
What happened is about 7 people got up and told them they were out of line to even consider removing Brad from the commission .In the end Zarkos talked in circles for about 20 minutes and said nothing of substance .Where the heck did they find this guy anyway ? Is it jus me or does he look like the dad from American Pie?Wow wait till the news gets ahold of this one .They went ahead and removed a guy from the commission for waving a sign . I see a news Circus as big as the Watermelon ordeal in Los Al’s near future.
The meeting ended at 12:20 AM. of course they purposely pushed the “important items” to the end of the meeting.
I think that was done so no one would have to watch Edgar eat crow on the rezone item. He spoke at great length as to how it got to this point and said absolutely nothing, but lies. He said he never wanted to change the zone. What a joke! You’ll have to catch the rerun. They vote to receive and file.
They voted to remove Brad Sheridan from the Traffic Commission. They’re not sure if they will send a letter to the state bar because the city attorney has to research it.
OK Dave, If you can’t stay up to watch the meetings then you better get a good recorder because I have a feeling the meetings are going to continue to run long. It is an election year and the natives are restless.
Ok, there are now only 14 concerned residents who have not been kicked out of the kingdom. Who will be the last man/woman standing?
It will not be Ken Stevens as he can not stand without the assistance from Poe. It will not be Zarkos, as you can imagine, it is difficult for him to stand with Troy’s hand up his backside. Will it be Poe, oh she is standing but everyone can see right past her.
What about Roy? He keeps getting everyone else kicked out with the use of his “hand puppets”.
Not only does the council lash out to concerned residents when they express their 1st amendment rights, now they are using Censorship to strike from the record, what ever it is that you say.
It looks to me that we need divine intervention. The council should take down the “IN God We Trust” and replace it with “Truth or Dare” or something else because they obviously do not.
Did you catch that BS from Troy about the city having less turn over. He keeps it up, people may think he is the “Joker”.
Thank you Mrs. Mejia for fighting for the residents.
Okay, let’s have some fun. Let’s make a list of how many people have left City Hall since Troy was elected. Just names and positions.
So the list would start to look like….
City Manager: Rudat
City Manager / Finance: Nita
Maybe we could add those that were non Commissions that chose to not re-up under Troy as well as those that Troy decided to kick off…
Planning Commission: Jody
Planning Commission: Art
Traffic Commission: Brad
This should be fun. Let’s see just how much instability “Mr. Stability” has brought to City Hall in four very long years.
Oh, was anyone else as surprised as I was to hear that Troy didn’t send the whole Divita/Meting Pot mess back to the Planning Commission to change the zoning? I can’t wait for the youtube of Troy saying over and over again how he wanted to change the zoning and then last night claiming that he never said that. Yahoo! for video.
Final note. Brad was kicked off by a 3-2 vote not a 4-1 vote. “3-2?” you may ask. Yep. Zarkos made the motion. Troy seconded the motion. And then Zarkos, Stephens and Poe voted in Favor and Mejia and Edgar voted against. Now what would have made Troy second the motion and vote against a motion he seconded? Hmmm I really (E) wonder (L) what (E) was (C) going (T) on (I) in (O) his head (N)? If it wasn’t worth voting for, it shouldn’t have been seconded. Poe had already “removed herself” saying that she would vote with the majority (gee, without her vote it would have been 2-2 – and the vote would have died, doesn’t that make her the “deciding vote” in this case? And by what terms did she decide that one of the two was a majority and the other two wasn’t?)
Ahh, Los Al City Hall… more drama than a telenovela on Univision.
Very interesting, JM–Troy seconded a motion he voted against? And Marilyn said she’d vote with the majority. . . which she created with her vote?? Did somebody else catch that?
Were any of our intrepid local media still in the room when this happened?
As for the Melting Pot/DaVita, I was relieved to see the Council didn’t try to reverse the PC on that one. Good for them!
Thanks to all our long suffering meeting observers for filling in those of us who don’t have 5 1/2 hours free today to review our DVR copy of last night/this morning’s Council Meeting.
I could use a little more information on Troy’s “hand puppets” reference? He made it sound like Art DeBolt and Brad Sheridan used hand puppets in addressing the Council during public comments–did that literally happen? Or was there an analogy he made that I missed while I was utilizing my home’s plumbing?
While you’re at it, I’m guessing there’s plenty more you guys could fill us early sleepers in on. For one (& this one was actually early in the meeting), what were the “details” that Troy objected to in the 5/17 minutes? Was it the record of the public comments? Anything else?
Appreciate any additional information our readers might have, regardless of your position on the issues discussed.
Okay, let’s have some fun. Let’s make a list of how many people have left City Hall since Troy was elected. Just names and positions.
So the list would start to look like….
City Manager: Rudat
City Manager / Finance: Nita
Finance: Lori
Community Development: Diane
City Council Dean
Community Development: Lisa
City Manager: Lucy
Maybe we could add those that were non Commissions that chose to not re-up under Troy as well as those that Troy decided to kick off…
Planning Commission: Jody
Planning Commission: Art
Traffic Commission: Brad
Planning Commission: Matt
Three city managers gone in 4 years?
Hmmm, didn’t CPLA hammer Cat and Ken for… having three city managers in four years? And doesn’t Jeff make FOUR for “Mr. Stability”?
Uh-Oh!
Forgot one:
City Attorney: Dean
Another one
Fiance Director: Terrance
Dave said: Very interesting, JM–Troy seconded a motion he voted against? And Marilyn said she’d vote with the majority. . . which she created with her vote?? Did somebody else catch that?
Yes Dave, that is exactly what happened. And Yes our local News Enterprise reporter was there, who knows how it will show up in next weeks paper.
The OC Register wasn’t there, but can request a tape and watch it to report later. She does that often. It was very clear on camera exactly what happened.
Edgar seconded a motion to remove Brad Sheridan from the Traffic Commission and then he voted no on it.
His campaign manager must have told him not to do anything controversial in the next months leading up to the election. Although making the second and then voting no is showing poor judgement or poor decision making skills. They only needed three votes to remove Sheridan. Troy knew that and even though he threw Zarkos under the bus, he probably feels Zarkos could be replaced, look how easily they found the other puppet on the council.
That may be the reason he had a change in his opinion on the rezone, the election is going to dictate how he conducts himself up until the election. Of course after the election, if he is re elected it will be back to business as usual.
Inexplicably, Troy refers to signs which contain messages like, “Trash Contract Stinks,” “Six Million Dollars,” and “We Were Deceived” as hand puppets. Perhaps Troy’s childhood didn’t include any hand puppets, which might explain his many character flaws, and his inability to discern between childish behavior and adults using signs to express political displeasure in a public forum.
The puppets were 3,8×10 sheets of paper each with one word hand written on each. I was wondering how Troy could be offended by the so called hand puppets if, as he stated,”he could not even read what they said”?
I have never thought that Edgar was a really technically smart man, but I don’t think he is stupid either. So how is it that he can’t tell the difference between words on pieces of paper and hand puppets?
If he was smart he might ask to see a play back of the meeting where you can clearly see what was going on.
Three people held up signs in protest, with words on them, that can be read from the camera angle. The signs were only held up when a speaker was speaking in opposition to the trash contract. They were NOT held up during any other speaker. It is the right of anyone to bring a sign to a city council meeting. They broke no laws.
I think Edgar was probably more upset by the video camera filming him, which you can also see from the camera angle on the tape. It was necessary to do this because he and Zarkos at the previous meeting were not paying attention to the residents during oral communication. They were acting childish.
The three other council members listened to every speaker. Since Poe had a problem with the “behavior “of Sheridan when she removed him from the Traffic Commission , I wonder why she didn’t have a problem with the “behavior” of the two 3rd graders sitting next to her?
Brad was the above comment you just made on behalf of you a citizen of Los Al , former commissioner or Lawyer? You might want to let it be known in all future comments made about our fragile City Council.
BTW Now that you have all this extra free time you need to run for Council in November !
Thank you for your kind words. My last comment was made on behalf of those imaginary hand puppets who mysteriously enter the Council Chambers and annoy Troy.
If Los Alamitos needs any additional “hand puppets”, I would be willing to audition for the next filming. As you can imagine, there is not much work out there for hand puppets once you leave Seasame Street.
Wait a minute!
What is this about imaginary hand puppets? Troy must be confusing a hand puppet with whatever else he holds in his hand.
this is warren:
To the above bloggers: Let’s please stop any further humorous attacks on the Councilmembers; their decision was made and won’t be undone by insults and barbs.
I feel that the decision by the four (yes, there were FOUR) Council Members to send a message to the citizens that they represent and the community in which they serve, that Freedom of Speech and Due Process of the Law does not apply to the formal proceedings within the Chamber of the City Council of City of Los Alamitos.
Regardless of their stated reasons, beliefs, and interpretations, the action by the Council Members sends a clear message.
To Mayor Poe – out of one side of your mouth, you stated that you felt threatened by the words spoken by one of the Citizens that you represent. And out of the other side of your mouth, you claimed that you have nothing to hide. So if you have nothing to hide, then why should you feel threatened by spoken words?
To Mr. Zarkos – you said a lot of words about meanings and interpretations, yet, in my opinion, you did not clarify your position about your prior direction to the City Attorney to send a letter to the California Bar regarding possible ‘ethical violations’ by a member of the court. Based on your reasoning and rationalization, your compound motion to (1) Remove a sitting Commissioner from their appointed position; and (2) Authorize the City Attorney to research the previous statements made by a Citizen for possible ethics violations is puzzling. However, I’m a simple-minded person and I don’t pretend to understand these types of issues. I certainly expect that our Council Members do understand.
To Council Member Edgar – without your Seconding of Mr. Zarkos’ Motion, the Motion would have died. Since you in fact Seconded the Motion, it was put to a vote and it passed with the following votes (from left to right from the audience’s viewpoint): Council Member Mejia – No; Mayor Pro Tem Stephens – Yes; Mayor Poe – Yes; Council Member Edgar – NO; Mr. Zarkos – Yes.
Perhaps at the future City Council meeting where the Minutes of this Meeting will be on the Agenda for Approval, you will be able and willing to explain your reasons for voting against a Motion that you Seconded.
To the City Council – I thank you for not selecting me as one of the Planning Commissioners earlier this year; if you had selected me, either you would have removed me from the Commission for exercising my First Amendment Rights or I would be sending my resignation letter to you this week.
I find it tragically ironic that your action was taken this month, on the first business day right after “We the People” celebrated our 4th of July Independence Day, where our founding fathers declared our independence from a British government that surpressed free speech and punished its Citizens without cause. You made your decision within a week after the remains of hero Marine Cpl. Claudio Patino IV arrived at the Los Alamitos Joint Forces Training Base on his final trip to his home from Afghanistan, where he died defending our freedom and our Constitution. I am sad that your actions would deny this freedom from a Citizen that you were elected or appointed to represent.
Well said Warren.
We all deserve the government we elect. I say we, because we (those who vote) are all part of the process. Good government or bad government it is elected by the informed and the uninformed alike.
The informed must do a better job of educating the uninformed in the next election.
To everyone:
If you are passionate about doing what is RIGHT (deep down we all know what is right and wrong) and you care about what is happening in our city, then consider running for office.
If you are too busy with your job and seem to have no time, then you are the one who should be sitting on the Council or on a commission. It has been said and it is true,”If you want something done, give it to a busy person”.
Zarkos and Edgar are up for re-election in Nov. Rumor is Dean Grose, will be running again. The national embarrassment for Los Alamitos will be re-ignited if he does.
It is time for those who care and don’t have the time to step up and throw your hat in the ring.
There’s been some confusion as to the final vote to remove Commissioner Sheridan, so I checked with Council Member Edgar and he confirmed that he did vote to remove Sheridan, so Warren is correct, it was 4 to 1 to remove Brad, with Gerri voting against Dean Zarkos motion.
Dave, if you have any question to how Troy voted on this, just watch the replay. It is clear as day that Troy voted NO!
Dave;
I did not mean to imply that the final vote was 4-1; The final vote (as I heard it) was 3-2.
My intent was to note that there were 4 Council Members that made a decision to send out a message that freedom of speech was not allowed in the City Council Chambers and to draw attention to the final vote, which I heard as I identified in my prior post: 3-yes votes to 2-no votes to approve the motion made by Mr. Zarkos, with Council Member Mejia and Council Member Edgar casting the two ‘no’ votes.
The inconsistency between the 3-to-2 vote and the “the 4 decision makers” is because Council Member Edgar ‘Seconded’ the motion made by Mr. Zarkos, so “the 4 decision makers” were: Mayor Pro Tem Stephens (Yes Vote); Mayor Poe (Yes Vote); Council Member Edgar (No Vote, however, he Seconded the Motion); Mr. Zarkos (Yes Vote, and made compound Motion to (1) Remove a sitting Commissioner and (2) direct the City Attorney to research statements made at previous meetings and determine if an ethical violation occured that warrants that a formal letter be prepared and sent to the California Bar). So there were “the 4 decision makers” despite the fact that the final vote was 3-yes to 2-no votes to approve the compound motion.
I’m sure that interested Citizens who had the foresight to record the City Council meeting will replay the casting of votes segment over and over to draw their own conclusions. Regardless, it is the responsibility of the City Clerk to prepare the official meeting minutes, and a majority of the City Council will have to (1) review the draft Minutes; (2) direct the City Clerk to make changes/corrections; and (3) approve the Minutes, which become “the sole official record of the council meetings.”
It is unfortunate that Mayor Poe did not invoke a ‘roll call’ vote for this important and serious Agenda Item.
I have no doubt that this will become another controversial topic that will take up far too much time during a future City Council Meeting.
From City Code:
2.04.070 Preparation of minutes— Retention of tapes.
A. The city clerk shall have exclusive responsibility for preparation of the minutes, and any directions for change in the minutes shall be made only by majority action of the city council.
B. The city clerk shall prepare an audio tape recording of the public portion of each city council meeting.
C. The approved minutes of the city council meetings shall be the sole official record of the council meetings. The purpose of tape recordings is for facilitating preparation of minutes and general public interest. The audio tapes may be destroyed or erased by the city clerk at any time after one year has elapsed from the date of the meeting.
D. If a city council meeting is recorded on video tape, the city clerk shall retain the recording for one year from the date of the meeting, at which time it may be destroyed or erased. (Ord. 632 § 1, 2000; Ord. 598 § 1 (part), 1996: Ord. 419 § 3, 1981; Ord. 293 § 2 (part), 1974)
I was there and heard Edgar vote “No.”on a motion he seconded. Now, you can debate a number of things, but what you can’t do is change a vote after it has been cast and recorded. Even if you think you are King of Los Alamitos there are some limits to power, and creating alternate realities is one of them.
Wow, that’s interesting.
I asked Troy, and I’d swear he told me he voted “yes” on the motion to remove, which made sense to me because it was consistent with what I heard of his remarks during the discussion.
It’s also consistent with his position that the Council had been patient enough with Brad.
Maybe I misunderstood him, or perhaps he misunderstood me, but I got the distinct impression that Council Member Edgar felt that he had voted in favor of removing Brad Sheridan from the Traffic Commission.
Anybody else want to review their tape?
True, but the “sole official record” is the written meeting minutes, and they can be “corrected and changed” by verbal direction to the City Clerk and a “majority action” by the City Council.
Since there is a 4-to-1 majority on almost all of the contentious and controversial issues, there is no doubt that it will be a very interesting City Council Meeting when these Minutes are on the Agenda for approval.
I think I can predict the outcome, but it might be me just stating the obvious.
There seems to be some confusion as to how each member of the council voted on the vote to remove Sheridan. To clarify this in your mind, just do the following. Make a recording of the meeting when it is replayed on Channel 3. Then replay the recording and watch the council member’s lips when the yes and no votes are cast. That will help you decide how each council member voted. Simple, isn’t it?
to confused:
Don’t need to. When Poe said opposed, Mejia said NO and Edgar said NO, both of their lips moved and both had sound coming out of their mouths. It was loud and clear.
Or better yet, call the city clerk and she what she has to say. She sits right next to Edgar.
The agenda for the next Traffic Commission Meeting is out and you can find it here:
http://www.ci.los-alamitos.ca.us/pdf/TrafficAgenda.pdf
It is interesting that an item is left off of the agenda: The appointment of the next Chairperson, which according to City Code needs to be done at this Traffic Commission Meeting.
from City Code:
2.48.050 Officers.
The officers of the commission shall consist of a chairperson, a vice chairperson and a secretary. The chairperson and vice chairperson shall be elected annually at the first regular meeting in the month of January, and shall hold office for a term of one year or until a successor is duly elected and qualified. Election shall be by a majority vote cast by those commissioners present and voting at the meeting at which the election is held. Officers shall assume office immediately. Any vacancy in office shall be filed at the next regular meeting. (Ord. 555 § 1 (part), 1992: Ord. 486 § 2 (part), 1986)</i?
I also watched the tape of the meeting and saw Edgar’s mouth move when the Aye vote was cast. You couldn’t see that? It was very prominent.
Did you hear any voice coming out of his mouth on the Aye?
did you hear him say No on the opposed as his mouth was moving?
It was very proinent
Everyone always says Edgar and Poe speak out of both sides of their mouth, now you can see and hear Edgar do just that on camera.
If what you say is true, did he not understand what he was seconding? Was he dazed and confused when he said NO?
He did act very strangely during the next item…he apologized to the building owner at 4141 Ketella for being so stupid. He “humbled” himself, so I am begining to think that maybe all the fireworks over the weekend may have rendered him into a Gomer Pyle stupor.
Whatever the case I’m looking forward to the next meeting where he can once again speak out of both sides of his mouth explaining this away.
Yes, I did hear his voice on the Aye vote, and I heard a second no vote, but couldn’t tell you said it.
It is my understanding any councilmember can change their vote prior to the end of the meeting at which the vote was taken. Once the meeting is over you cannot change your vote.
As the News Enterprise reported it, the vote was 4-1! What is the problem?
the News Enterprise also reported there were hand puppets, that was a not true. If Brian Smith had watched the tape of the meeting he would have been able to report accurately.
There were three pieces of paper, no hand puppets. He also said Larry Andre was on the traffic commission, that was also not true.
It’s on the tape Edgar voted NO. It was 3-2
Brian should stick to reporting on food and sports.