VIDEO - City Council Meeting of Nov 16, 2011

If you watch the end of Video 6 of 6 from last night's meeting, you will see Jim & Kathy strong arm and shoot down Jerry & Elizabeth's desire to even put the "Master Plan Discussion" onto the next agenda.

I am saddened to be a part of a town where the elected officials push their own private agendas over the needs and desires of the town and its citizens. I so look forward to helping ANY opponents of Jim & Kathy when they are up for re-election.

Looks like 100 citizens are going to have to keep calliing Special Meetings of the Town Council.

Kathy, Jim, and Bill refused to support the Park and Rec suggestion to survey the town. The majority of those at the meeting were opposed to building a San Mateo County Library in the Park.

The library could be up to three times the size of the main house, as large as 15,000 square feet. Most of the users will come from outside of Atherton. It will be built with Atherton tax dollars.

Peter, how many signatures to put the library on a ballot?

" how many signatures to put the library on a ballot?"

About 400 - the requirement is 10% of the registered voters.

1. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE

2. ROLL CALL Lewis, Dobbie, Widmer, McKeithen, Carlson

URGENCY ITEM ACTING CITY MANAGER APPOINTMENT
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3. PRESENTATIONS
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4. PUBLIC COMMENTS
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5. REPORT OUT OF CLOSED SESSION
[None]

6. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
Web Link

7. COMMUNITY ORGANIZATION ROUNDTABLE REPORT
[None]

CONSENT CALENDAR (Items 8-16)

9. APPROVAL OF BILLS AND CLAIMS FOR OCTOBER, 2011 IN THE AMOUNT OF $1,258,593
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12. NARROW BANDING PURCHASE
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13. POLICE MOTORCYCLE PURCHASE
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14. POLICE PATROL VEHICLE PURCHASE
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PUBLIC HEARINGS

17. INTRODUCTION OF AN ORDINANCE TO ADOPT REFUSE AND RECYCLING COLLECTION RATES
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REGULAR AGENDA

18. PARK & RECREATION RECOMMENDATION TO CONDUCT A TOWN-WIDE SURVEY OF RESIDENT OPINIONS CONCERNING LOCATION OF A NEW LIBRARY IN HOLBROOK PALMER PARK

Start - Web Link
Public Comments - Web Link
Council Comments - Web Link
Vote - Web Link

19. ATHERTON LIBRARY BUILDING PROJECT: (a) ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACT REPORT, (b) AMENDMENT TO LSA ASSOCIATES PROFESSIONAL SERVICES AGREEMENT

Start - Web Link
Public Comments - Web Link
Council Comments - Web Link
Vote - Web Link

20. CONTINUATION OF EVENT BOOKINGS AT HOLBROOKPALMER PARK THROUGH THE 2012 CALENDAR YEAR/ PARK EVENTS – REVENUE VS. DIRECT COSTS

Start - Web Link
Council Comments - Web Link
Public Comments - Web Link
Vote - Web Link

21. COUNCIL REPORTS
Lewis - Web Link

22. FUTURE AGENDA ITEMS

A. MASTER FACILITIES PLAN
Start - Web Link
Vote - Web Link

B. POLLING TOWN VOTERS
Web Link

APOA

thanks for he service you provide

Yes I second your comment Burl and thank you APOA. It is really interesting to see the Council at work and see the sausage being made. Certainly not pretty but now can do so at my own computer and skip the tedious part without attending the meetings. This is a great public service.
I wonder why the Town cannot do the taping themselves as most of our neighboring communities do so and make the sessions available on their web sites.

Recognize that your watching of the videos of Town Council meetings has ZERO impact on the behavior of the Council unless you either send them an email with your concerns or, better yet, attend the next Council meeting and speak up.

Peter, of course you are right about sending them emails or if you have the stomach for being treated rudely you may speak your mind at the meetings. As for having any impact with at least three members of the Council they will just do their own thing...thus the "in house" survey. If three hundred or so residents have "no impact" then an email or a public comment will do little or nothing with this bunch who ignore the appeal of over 300. Your faith in the process is wonderful but does not apply in broken Atherton. Peter, you are also largely mistaken about the long line of city government employees who have left or retired. This group has left because they could not work or relate to certain members of the town council and not because the council as a group decided to replace them. The problem now is how to get good people as the best would not work here after seeing what has gone on these past years.
The immediate solution will be a ballot measure on the library location and master plan though a citizens referendum (as you suggest) and I think this will likely happen pretty soon. The permanent solution will come next November when we can replace one of the three.

Democracy isn't a hobby. Look at these videos and see how few citizens are in attendance.
Remember how difficult it was to get new people to run for the Town Council.

If the citizens want change then they are going to have to work for it.