By Mark Stechbart & Jim Wagner
After last Monday’s Council meeting confusion over protecting our neighborhoods from ocean flooding, it’s clear we are in for a long year-long slog.
After 5 years and innumerable reports, the California Coastal Commission authorized San Francisco to repair and reinforce the golf course sea wall. SF pays for the work, not Pacifica.
The City of Pacifica will be on the record with a letter to SF expressing the need and urgency to begin work on long deferred Sharp Park sea wall maintenance before the winter storms. All our neighborhoods north and south of the course will benefit from the protection.
The good news is common sense and rational practicality carried the day by a narrow 3-2 vote.
A great deal for Pacifica, right? Well, we have two votes on the Council (and people in the audience) that don't have a concern for or see any urgency in the possibility of winter storms breaching the Sharp Park sea wall.
We actually have folks in this town who want to debate sea wall maintenance that protects our neighborhoods rather than act now to prepare for storms we know are on their way.
This curious wait and debate mentality leads us to raise a caution flag on the underlying process of shoreline protection planning. The devil is always in the details. The cure is complete open government as this very important process unfolds.
City Council has an Ad Hoc Meeting Group to discuss shoreline protection. They last met October 27 with no public notice or public participation. This group discussed a) creating a technical work group; b) frequency and method of project updates to Council and the public; c) discuss community sensitivity regarding scenario/horizon recommendations… (what does that even mean??); d) future meeting schedule.
This Ad Hoc group is thought to be responsible for citizen appointments for a coastal planning advisory group which will meet three times through August 2018.
We raise these issues to mandate complete transparency and full community input. All coastal planning and shoreline protection meetings and advisory groups need to be fully noticed in the Tribune and the city website; videoed by community TV 26; full public testimony opportunities on all items and compete minutes. Just like city council and all affiliated city committee meetings.
Ad Hoc meeting minutes from October 27 are not available. The meeting was behind closed doors.
Let’s open this to the public. The nature of the Ad Hoc discussions are no different than a Council study session.
When citizen advisory applications are reviewed, let’s conduct a normal public interview process to evaluate applicants. The applications need to be posted on the city website.
All documents and committee emails must be a public record, just like Council’s are now.
In all meetings, the public gets 3 minutes to discuss items not specifically on the agenda and also on each discussion item before a decision is made by the committee. Again, copies Council’s practice since 1957.
This is the boring minutia of making government work for everyone in town. Some people may dismiss this as overboard. However, some people in town want to endlessly talk about the present ocean rise danger to our homes, businesses and Hwy 1, without any urgency to act. We think that’s overboard.
But at the end of day, City Council, open the currently closed doors. And please explain what “discuss community sensitivity regarding scenario/horizon recommendations” means. Does not sound good.
( Wagner and Stechbart are long term Pacifica residents active in the Pacifica Business and Community PAC supporting forward looking solutions to Pacifica issues)
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this agenda contains the items I was complaining about in guest column... last item indecipherable, rest significant with no detail...
this is why ad hoc meetings need to be public and recorded...
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Submitted by Mark Stechbart
38 comments:
How can an unadvertised "Ad-Hoc" meeting lead to anything but more distrust of Pacifica's City Council?
well said especially when you consider the sourses of this piece
The sources of this piece are irrelevant. They are governed citizens of our city.
City council is behaving like it always has. Consequently they continue to fuel their well earned reputation as a governing body that is biased, un-democratic and not trustworthy.
Stechbart & Wagner are mistaken. They say "After 5 years and innumerable reports, the California Coastal Commission authorized San Francisco to repair and reinforce the golf course sea wall.” The CCC action was to approve an after-the-fact permit for construction already done. There is no specific plan in the CCC report for future work to "repair and reinforce" the sea wall. Yes, the City Council sent a letter to San Francisco expressing the need and urgency to begin work on Sharp Park sea wall maintenance before the winter storms. But don’t hold your breath waiting for anything to happen. San Francisco isn’t planning on doing anything in particular to maintain the sea wall. Wherever the words “repair” or “maintenance” appear in the permit documents, they refer to work already done, not work to be done in the future. There is a generic authorization of future repair and maintenance but no specifics. Any future repair or maintenance has to be authorized by Coastal Commission staff and must include a detailed description of the maintenance proposed, a construction plan, and other agency authorizations. We’re unlikely to see anything like that this winter and perhaps not for a very long time. The CCC permit application was just a San Francisco game to legalize work already done. It’s not going to result in any repair or maintenance to the sea wall. SF played you like a cheap violin.
10:08, you said a lot but did you say anything. why are you such an expert? How did you come to these conclusions? This ad hoc committee needs to open up to the public. Sound like they are going about developing policy that will affect this town far into the future.
10:08 How dare you question the expertise of Peter Loeb.
He and his buddies know everything about everything.
The rest of us are all stupid and inferior.
Any committee set up by council to study anything which will affect our town, must be open to the public. We simply can't allow this committee to report only to council without input from the public. This whole discussion of sea level rise and the possible devastating affects to Pacifica, is a subject that can't be properly addressed if the council only, makes any decisions on possible fixes. This is how democracy works!
I've owned a home on the coast for nearly 4 decades. This home represents most of everything my wife and I have worked for in the past decades. We've raised our family here and plan to use the built up equity, to finance our retirement. There are many Pacificans in the same or similar circumstances. I'm still very unsettled about the events leading up to last November's elections. How Martin gained a seat on council is reprehensible. What a big blow to our democratic process! I expect nothing less from our council than going out to bat for this town, including the coastline. So if the berm maintenance and shoring is the responsibility of San Francisco, our council should be urging S.F. to do the work now and in the future. They should even threaten S.F. with legal action and even take legal action if they don't do it in a timely matter. So council, please do your job!! Stop trying to keep putting blinders on the citizens. Do not play games when it comes to people's lives and property. It is so ironic that Martin and Keener are calling the shots for Pacificans. They have lived here for only a few years and have very little clue as to what's been going on here for more than 3 decades. Oh, and where do they live? My guess is not on the affected coastal areas. We have to keep the pressure on council and if necessary, contact our attorneys for their advice. IMHO, this whole coastal protection issue will wind up in a class action legal fight. We all lose. Thanks Stechbart and Wagner for this post.
Keener is on the record as saying he won't vote to spend any money west of the Hwy. What the hell! Martin is a usurper. Digre is asleep most of the time. Our infrastructure, countless rental and residences and Hwy 1 are all in danger and these three are a major part of the problem. They hired Battalio's firm and he's a staunch "managed retreat" advocate. We can guess what the results of his study will confirm as the best way to deal with any changes in sea level and the storms that always appear and batter our coast. Pay attention Pacifica.
Markus... there are many, many people in your situation. Unfortunately you and people like you simply don't matter to the People's Republic of Pacifica propagandists who are poisoning our environment.
For decades these dishonest NOBY's have "trumped" up phony environmental causes to prevent anyone from trespassing on their "entitlement". If you don't agree with their agenda you are name called and accused of being greedy, a developer, a realtor, a capitalist or someone who wants to pave over Pacifica in the pursuit of profit over people. This shtick has worked pretty well but now they have the Holy Grail bumper sticker of Sea Level Rise to rally around.
These cultists are bullies and liars who are desperate to keep their stranglehold on Pacifica. Thank God the demographics of Pacifica are slowly changing. Younger, more educated, more savvy people are beginning to buy homes. They are nearing the $1,000,000 mark for housing and they are paying huge amounts of property tax to live here. They will begin to demand services and accountability from city government.
Deirdre was illegitimately installed just in time to merge with Keener and the addle-minded Digre to steal a majority 3-2 Council. What these three stooges do not understand is that are the expendable surrogates providing cover for the evil NOBY's. Look at all of the stupid, idiotic and socialistic votes Deirdre, Keener and Digre have pushed forward. If they win everyone takes credit. If they lose, the Noby's hide and let their puppets take the blame.
This is an insidious game plan in a desperate attempt to stay relevant.
STOP PAYMENT IMMEDIATELY!!!!!
Bob Battalio is a slimy for sale stooge for this crooked, illegitimate council. They gave him $185,000 of our tax dollars to write a phony, biased report to justify managed retreat. This immoral act puts thousands of lives, businesses and billions of dollars of property and infrastructure at risk. DO NOT let these puppets for the faux-enviros; Keener, Deirdre and Digre, pull off this crime against Pacifica. Correct the crooked election results and send these carpetbaggers back to where they came from.
(If Digre wants to stay and work at the local 7-11, that's OK I guess)
Just a reminder that application for the Sea
level rise Community Work Group are due by Dec. 13 (Wed.of next week)The city is looking for participants with a variety of interest and concerns. including but not limited to business,environment, real estate, recreation, and resident/neighborhoods.
They are looking for 15-25 people to be on the CWG get your application in and be part of the solution.
Thanks for the preceding comments. Pretty much spot on. Don't necessarily agree with the remark about Sue D. Working @ 7-11. I don't think she can do it.
Thank you Tom, you are always reliable for the truth, so I ask.....has anyone even applied for the CWG? Is it true an extension notice is being prepared for publication by the City Clerk?
Who are the participants of the Ad Hoc meeting group that met on October 27? Who chairs it?
I posted everything I knew about The CWG I would not count on an extension, if you are interested get the form and fill it out before the deadline.
ad hoc meeting run by keener. Email him to ask that mtg be open to the public dec 15. No other info available.
keenerj@ci.pacifica.ca.us
citizens advisory: 3 meetings. No info on how mtg will be run. Might be window dressing... deadline is dec 13.
http://www.cityofpacifica.org/civicax/filebank/blobdload.aspx?BlobID=13570
10:08, yea, who are these people on ad hoc? I read or heard somewhere it was Keener and Vaterlaus. What do they have to say about the process? Be nice if one of them would speak about it Monday night. What's the secret? Who are the applicants for this "committee"? Who picks them, two council members or the whole council? Who are they? Are they going to release the names like they do for Planning and the other city boards? Some answers about the process to develop a new LCP which will have long term ramifications for this town. If the stooges run the process might as well pack up and go. Property values will go in the toilet as soon as property starts getting destroyed in a managed retreat scenario or anything similar.
Since the Sea level rise CWG has not been set up yet I can't speak to how its output or too whom it will be reported. Possibly they will report to both the Planning Commission & City Council.
The Planning Commission will have a hearing on the local coastal plan and make recommendation to the City Council which will then hold it's own hearing. So there will be at least two times that the public can comment on the local coastal plan.
With Keener, Deirdre and Battalio any where near this committee the public could have 20 opportunities to comment but it won't make any difference to these "managed retreaters".
The key to getting an equitable, reasonable and effective consensus on our coastline is to kick these three liars out of the decision making process.
public oughta be informed & comment at every step of the process. these closed meetings & unknown process are a Where's Waldo drill. Keener & our shiny new city manager are up to no good.
Well, 1:06, why shouldn't the public have an opportunity for input before that time? Evidently, they are having three meetings of this committee to iron things out. Perfect time to listen to the public then and at planning and council as well. Planning commission planning sessions are open to the public, open this up.
As the old saying goes about keeping close touch with your friends and even closer with your enemies. The CWG they're asking for application of concerned citizens. I certainly hope some of the applicants will be those favoring doing all possible to shore up our coastal berm and seawalls. We all know what Bob Battalia/ESA/Managed Retreat is all about. So please do apply to lend voice to all home and business owners. Also, the coast has lots of public property and infrastructure. While I'm very concerned about sea level rise, I am even more worried about a major catastrophic storm hitting our coast and breaching the berm and seawalls. I've lived here long enough to have experienced the devastating results. I am fairly certain the 3 council members favoring managed retreat will do all possible delay tactics while they wait for ESA's report advising to go with Managed Retreat. Wow, what a shocker. The council majority of 3 gave them $185,000 of our money, well knowing what they will recommend. Pure and simple theft. I was floored! They can't wait. They need to address this issue now! Again, any of you who have concerns about protecting our coastal neighborhoods, businesses, infrastructure and the iconic golf course, to please apply for the CWG. Applications must be submitted by Dec. 13th.
And Markus, you are leading by example and you have applied?
Yes Superior Cynic, there are hundreds if not thousands who feel like I and I know we're all doing what we can. Are you, or you just want to throw around some meaningless divisive verbage?
A lot of great people posting here. How about applying for the committee? Three meetings come on!
Plus, can we get some attendance at attendance at city council meetings?
ad hoc committee meets tomorrow dec 15. First meeting was Oct 27. Public still in the dark about this closed door meeting. Public NOT invited.
Oct 27 minutes not available
Dec 15 agenda and staff reports not posted.
Time and location not on website.
Unknown if citizen advisory committee (applications closed dec 13) will be discussed or appointed in this closed meeting.
In fact, nothing about this ad hoc planning mtg is on the city website. Taxpayers--hang onto your wallets!
http://www.cityofpacifica.org/depts/planning/sea_level_rise.asp
This is NOT democracy. Keener, Deirdre and Digre most assuredly are behind this deceit.
I have learned that planning did not get sufficient applications for this group, and they are still open to receiving them.
Insufficient applications for this group is hardly a surprise.
The (3-2) majority council decided to abruptly disband the Housing Advisory Committee because Keener, Deirdre and Digre wanted a "Rent Control" outcome.
The (3-2) majority will just as likely disband or ignore this committee if it doesn't lead to a "managed retreat" outcome. They've set the table with Bob Battalio as a paid hack who is friendly to their pre-determined outcome. They support nothing west of Highway One and are dishonestly propagandizing phantom facts about sea level rise to justify their ideology.
In short they have no problem manipulating the public to achieve the goals of their puppet masters and the average Pacifican is sick of their bullshit and tired of being used.
NO CREDIBILITY. NO FAITH. NO ONE TO BLAME BUT THEMSELVES.
Friday mtg 10AM You are not invited
City of Pacifica Planning Dept.
Closed meeting on ocean rise
affecting everything west of Hwy 1
& most property values city wide
Homeowners, businesses, taxpayers
Not Invited
Thank you for your support
5:23, this is the clandestine and bohemian style meeting where they will assemble to accept or reject the applications submitted for the work group. Only those in favor of managed retreat may be accepted. And if any opponents of managed retreat are accepted, they will be in the minority. Managed retreat is our density.
The beginning of this issue of sea level rise and possible fix solutions or non fix managed retreat surrender was clearly spelled out by the council majority of 3 when they voted to award ESA aka Bob Battalio aka Managed Retreat to do a study on sea level rise and possible solutions for coastal management. They knew what ESA will recommend. The only problem with that is most other Pacificans also knew what the recommendation will be, Managed Retreat. In your face! If they were really looking for a consultant with offerings of possible available physical fixes, they would have voted for Revell Coastal, the other firm vying for the job. Now they will waste more time waiting for ESA's report to set up details for Managed Retreat. The CWG they're trying to setup, is only meant to show Pacificans that they are getting the "Community" involved in the process. Really? I think they're desperately scampering to cover their behinds. That ship of having a real debate on solutions sailed when you gave the money to ESA. I don't think it's too late to at least get partial redemption by dealing with a firm hand with the City of S.F. to armor and do any ongoing maintenance on the berm and at the same time, looking at other possible real physical fixes. As stated by the Coastal Commission, Managed Retreat is not a feasible fix for Pacifica's coastal protection.
NO. Managed retreat is their DENSITY. A failed city is our DESTINY.
"Managed retreat"??? Isn't that how history described "Custard's Last Stand"? Does that mean that Pathetica will become the next Little Bighorn? Well, it's probably a step up...
closed door decisions with no public input continue. The friday ad hoc coastal planning mtg ran from 10AM to 1230. No posted agenda. Citizen advisory apps were voted upon. No candidates were interviewed. Review was off paper app. Keener ran the mtg. City is withholding results to monday or tuesday.. Actual applications are not on city website...
citizens advisory--14 appointed out of 40 apps.
I'm sure the committee is an objective cross section of our entire community. NOT!!!
Can you say "Managed Retreat".
Trump fucks up America. The NOBY's fuck up Pacifica. What a wonderful world.
Get ready! The Lancelle-Maykel gang is revving up to support the Keener, Deirdre and Battalio goal to inundate the western edge of Pacifica via "managed retreat".
Gotta protect those froggies and snakes. Fuck the humans.
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