Tonight the City Council meeting is sort of boring, lots of consent calendar items, not so much red meat true agenda-y type items.
What is interesting is the listing of all the outstanding debts owed by the Community Improvement Commission (aka Redevelopment Agency). Because of the Supreme Court’s decision on the Redevelopment agencies across the state, one of the components of the upheld legislation is to provide a listing of all the enforceable obligations owed by the CIC. This list is super important because only the obligation itemized on the list can be repaid, and this list has been created to provide a buffer between the time that the successor agency itemized obligation list, the Recognized Obligation Payment Schedule (ROPS) needs to be created.
I’m not even going to post the grand total of eligible obligations, because I nearly had a heart attack when I saw it. It appears that the City has added a bunch of additional stuff that they may have to fund, or will eventually have to fund as a way to ensure that they keep as much money as possible.
The other interesting agenda item is the appointment of not one, but two Planning Board members. The Planning Board seems to one of the only Boards that folks are most interested in serving in and generally has a long list of potential candidates for appointment. This time is no different, with no less than 17 applicants. At first there was only one vacancy that has been left unfilled since the end of last year, but last week’s Planning Board meeting was the last for Rebecca Kohlstrand.
Of course the resignation of Rebecca Kohlstrand leaves the the Planning Board without a transportation expert. The resignation of two architects last year — one seat was filled with another architect — leaves the Planning Board with only one architect. If I were filling the seats I’d fill it out with one transportation expert and the other seat with another architect. Given the big projects moving forward, it will be important to have folks with some level of expertise in critical Planning Board type issues.
Rebecca Kohlstrand has ben a vital member of the PB and has caught endless shortcomings in developers’ proposals, from inadequate bike facilities to poorly planned parking lots to unsafe store loading docks. She has contributed in many other ways as well, such as pointing out the inadequate noticing of the proposed removal of two Park Street trees at the last PB meeting.
Rebecca Kohlstrand has been one of the main reasons I have trusted our Planning Board to make wise and careful decisions on our community’s behalf and her record will be a hard act to follow. Thanks, Rebecca!
Comment by Jon Spangler — January 17, 2012 @ 6:52 am
I agree Rebecca K. has been great board member, bringing strong professional knowledge that broadened the board conversation, we were lucky to have her serve.
Comment by JKW — January 17, 2012 @ 7:19 am
“…because I nearly had a heart attack when I saw it.”
This city must really be rich if it owes that much.
Comment by Jack Richard — January 17, 2012 @ 5:12 pm
Can anybody guess who I want on the planning board as an Traffic expert. Can you say JKW. I’ll be very happy to see you serve John.
Comment by John P. — January 17, 2012 @ 6:21 pm
“I’m not even going to post the grand total of eligible obligations, because I nearly had a heart attack when I saw it. It appears that the City has added a bunch of additional stuff that they may have to fund, or will eventually have to fund as a way to ensure that they keep as much money as possible.”
So are we trying to pad the books or do we actually owe that money?
Comment by John — January 17, 2012 @ 6:48 pm
Five comments by five different johns. Slow night on SP?
Comment by Jack Richard — January 17, 2012 @ 8:21 pm
Yep, slow night — aside from news that JKW got the nod along with Kristoffer Koster for planning board.
Comment by Regular John — January 17, 2012 @ 9:08 pm
A geotechnical or structural engineer would be a nice addition. Architects are good but don’t really do the work that relates the building to the land. From previous comments here, I think the board could use someone well versed in soil and water and/or someone who knows how to turn design into reality.
Comment by Li_ — January 17, 2012 @ 10:30 pm
Li – “building to the land” and turning “designs into reality” is exactly what architects (or at least good ones) do; perhaps you should get to know a few (I can recommend at least one). That’s not to denigrate the talents of geotechnical or structural engineers – I enjoy working with them and value their contributions tremendously. Congratulations to JKW and Kristoffer Koster; assuming they are confirmed I look forward to serving with both of them on the board.,
Comment by david burton — January 17, 2012 @ 10:55 pm