The Citizens Parking Initiative was certified by Supervisor of Elections Bob Sweat on Tuesday, August 17, 2010 and signed off by Alice Baird late this afternoon. You can view Mr. Sweat's certification and Baird's acceptance by clicking HERE. Why it took three days to make it from Sweat's office to City Hall is unknown but the clock is now ticking for the City Commission to act on the petition. We discuss the mechanics of that process HERE and will follow its progress closely.
It should be noted that at the recent city commission workshop on Pine Avenue parking Wednesday night, Commissioner Mattick unapologetically discounted the significance of the parking petition and the signatures Mr. Sweat had by then already certified. Further, she made clear her disdain for last November's voter mandate on unchecked development, insinuating that events since the election are an indication that those votes were miscast. We respect her opinion and, because she is unopposed in this election, have little choice but to respect her right to voice it for yet another term in office. But now is the time for each of you to remind her of YOUR opinion and that the signal you sent in last November's election was no fluke. Email her at amcommmattick@cityofannamaria.com and let her know your thoughts.
Understand that in the midst of all of the recall anxiety, late summer doldrums and election anticipation, a parking ordinance drafted by the city planner who is paid by developers and that seeks to dump well over 200 dedicated parking spaces on a few blocks of Pine Avenue is quietly making its way through city hall and will yet again be considered and discussed at City Hall this Thursday August 26th. Do not rely on others to handle the advocacy for you. Speak your mind individually and in numbers. Show up, folks. The forces seeking to shove this down your throat will be there.
Contact the mayor and your commissioners here:
Fran Barford - ammayor@cityofannamaria.com
John Quam - amcommquam@cityofannamaria.com
JoAnn Mattick - amcommmattick@cityofannamaria.com
Harry Stoltzfus - amcommstoltzfus@cityofannamaria.com
Chuck Webb - amcommwebb@cityofannamaria.com
Dale Woodland - amcommwoodland@cityofannamaria.com
Tell them the same thing you told them last November. They will listen. They must listen.
Stay informed.
Bill Yanger
Friday, August 20, 2010
2 comments:
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ReplyDeleteThanks to Mr and Mrs Hospital for taking the time to email Commissioner Mattick:
It is an unacceptable direction which allows any significant increase in retail parking and development along Pine Ave. We own property on Pine and purchased it because we believed that the nature and long standing character of the island would be something we could count on. Unfortunately, over the past two years we have seen development initiatives being pushed which have a very predictable outcome. The incremental chipping away at zoning rules which will ultimately bend Pine Ave towards a more heavily traveled, less safe zone for families and kids. There is clear precedent for this in other like-sized communities, such as Bethany Beach, Delaware. If you truly care about preserving and protecting the character of the island, you’ll talk with Tony McClenny, the mayor of Bethany Beach. Ask him about the “then” and “now” of that small quiet ocean-side resort. Ask him how they could not stop unwanted businesses and businesses which clashed with the look and feel of the town from coming in. Ask him how loud, crowded, and overrun the town and beach are versus just a decade or two ago. I’m a business owner so we are certainly not anti-business and I’m all for measured progress. However, what I see in the PAR plans is neither measured, careful, nor sensitive to what has made the island a desirable place for many. You are charged with the responsibility of preventing our community from reaching the tipping point from which our community can not recover. We are asking you to have the vision for the long term. Most of our neighbors and others can see what the end result will be if development is not controlled and we will do all we can do preserve that legacy. If your commission will not act responsibly, we will exercise our responsibility on our own and vote in people who understand this.
Bev and Joe Hospital
522 Pine Ave.
The above to comments were posted to the blog by "ccami."
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