City Commission Meeting , January 28, 2008

Last night’s City Commission Meeting is worthy of a viewing.
For those that missed it live, please watch it on the City’s web site, the link is highlighted above. View: January 28, 2008.

It was 5 hours long, so I am going give a "reader’s digest’ version, with highlights, and attention given later to public comment, (which most agreed was the best part).

Before I begin, I wish to clarify something that happened to me when I spoke to the issue of the REVISED construction services resolution.
I opened my statement (minute marker 48:00) with the acknowledgment that at Agenda Review (held on the Thursday before City Commission), I noticed this particular item was NOT on the agenda.. Upon stating my observation, most on the dais quickly stated that it had been on the agenda and discussed.

(Okay, I arrived a tiny bit late, so maybe they did talk about it:
but I distinctly remember not seeing it on the DRAFT agenda being reviewed on Thursday.)

So I was surprised when the City’s Attorney and Assistant Administratoras as well as some Commissioners, were so quick to make me wrong.

In my defense I present the public with these facts:
The DRAFT agenda is posted on the City’s web site, please look at it yourselves and tell me if there is something I missed.
(I have the original DRAFT so if it changed I have the original for others to see.)
When compared to the ACTUAL agenda present at this meeting, there seems to have been a few changes.
I consider myself very observant and hate when I am told I didn’t see or hear something I am sure I heard or saw.
There was a lot of that going on last night!
Alas, we have the recorded playback for honest verification!

So, here is the condensed version of last night’s meeting:

Construction Services (Item 20): revised the resolution with a time line which had been determined by a "task force" of three. Its important to know that these are NOT the recommendations of staff. I got the distinct impression that staff did not support these changes. Mayor Frankel rightly warned that there is a consultant who will be coming in to advise us as to whether these time lines are attainable, so perhaps they (the Commission) should wait. Commissioner Douglas though is on a mission!
Get this through NOW!
Let’s remember, she has an election coming up and as she stated at a previous meeting she "wrote" this report.

Changes to the Type III overlay of the original Northwood Mixed Used District (N-MUD): Requested by the CRA,, this yet again alters the predictability which the N-MUD (originally crafted by residents who live in the area) was intended to provide.
Moved by Comm. Douglas for approval.
So much for predictability...

So now for the most interesting portions of the meeting...Public Comment...
(Minute Marker 156)