HomeMy WebLinkAbout12/17/2003 - STAFF REPORTS (37) 12- -
Thomas J.Van Ellen Phone: (760)323-4755 C '
Van Etten 1379 rymore Place e-mail:
Palm Springs,CA 92262-4974 thomas-van-etten@dc.rr.com
Wednesday,December 17, 2003
Mayor Ron Oden
Council Member Ginny Foat
Council Member Chris Mills
Council Member Mike McCulloch
Council Member Steve Pougnet
SUBJECT: INDIVIDUAL LISTENING SESSIONS WITH THE PUBLIC
Good Evening Mr. Mayor and Council Members:
I am here this evening in solidarity with the residents in and around the Araby
Wash. I wish to voice my individual concern that this matter be acted upon in a
fair manner to all concerned.
There is an e-mail that was posted to The Palm Springs Village Voice this
morning by Mr. Moret stating that allegedly Ms. Foat would like to hold a
listening session with the residents in and around the Araby Wash. I applaud
Ms. Foat's willingness to address what has long been a problem in dealing with
the City. She clearly sees that the past represented a disconnect between the
people and the City. She ran for office with that kind of message and the people
agreed with her, obviously.
I am asking that the City Clerk place this letter that I am reading, into the public
record for this evenings Council Meeting . I will remind you that Mayor Oden
and Council Member Jeanne Reller-Spurgin led the reprimand to then Mayor
Will Kleindienst when he wanted to hold a listening session with citizens
opposed to the placement of the Homeless Day Care Center on the DAP Campus.
I want to make certain that each and every citizen is treated the same way. If
you wish to change due process then I think we ought to be able to vote on that
issue.
As I have stated in the past to City Council, many citizens watch every move that
you make on our behalf. I am one of those Citizens. I would urge you not to hold
any individual council member listening sessions with any group. If you should
proceed to change this norm without equitable notification to all citizens then
you should expect to hear from us.
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Van Etten Robert Van Etten Phone: (760) 323- 55
1379 Bararrymore Place e-mail:
Palm Springs, CA 92262-4974 rbert-van-etten@dc.rr.com
Wednesday, December 17, 2003
Palm Springs City Council
First of all, let me congratulate the new members and the new makeup of the
City Council. Many of you ran on the basis that a change in city government
was necessary. We are now facing a situation in which you have the opportunity
to demonstrate if you really believed in what you said you did regarding
leadership, accountability, fiscal responsibility, and sensitivity to the electorate.
Usually we have to worry about dirt before an election. This is the first time I
have encountered a situation where dirt is the major topic of discussion after an
election. I see the current situation as spanning two separate categories, moral
and legal. Although I find the bigotry inherent in the comments reputedly made
by the individual involved morally despicable, I do not believe that a
demonstrated lack of character is illegal unless one converts their prejudices into
specific actions.
The actions as reported by The Desert Sun and KMIR, however, appear to be
both immoral and illegal. I hope that the City Council will insist that the City
staff aggressively pursue investigating all aspects of this debacle and make sure
that appropriate criminal charges be filed, if warranted.
I think that I speak for many of your constituents when I emphasize that
appropriate actions be taken. For example, the dirt removed was reportedly sold
for $80,000.00. Last Wednesday on the noon news, I recall Mr. Ready saying that
the contractor would be fined $100.00? Appropriate? I think not!
Figuring just salary and benefits, our City Manager and Assistant City Manager
are costing us over a quarter of a million dollars a year. I don't know if Mr.
Ready has any idea how his performance on Wednesday's interview affected
people's perception of his intellectual acuity, but if this is truly representative of
his day-to-day job performance, it may be time for you to start looking for a new
management team.
Sincerely,
Robert R. Van Etten