HomeMy WebLinkAbout04-15-2014 pc brooksLea Brooks
1130 Islay St.
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
April 15, 2014
SLO City Councilman Dan Carpenter
990 Palm St.
San Luis Obispo CA 93401
APR 16 2014
N� COUNCIL MEETING: Oct i 5 I Zo I L1
ITEM NO,: --%�WV c ,, yv
Re: Your April 1 Comments Against Majority of Local Revenue Measure Advisory
Committee Members
Dear Councilman Carpenter:
As a member of the Local Revenue Measure Advisory Committee ( LRMAC), I was
disturbed and offended by your tirade against committee members who volunteered
their time to prepare a report with which you disagree. You owe us an apology.
I moved back to my hometown of San Luis Obispo in January 2013 after spending 25
years in Sacramento as a volunteer advocate for better bicycling conditions and
protecting and preserving the American River Parkway bicycle trail, a 32 -mile greenway
and bicycle trail from downtown Sacramento to Folsom Dam. During that time, I served
on a number of committees and task forces and often testified before the Sacramento
City Council, Board of Supervisors, Council of Governments and numerous advisory
boards.
Never once was I or other volunteers officially appointed to an advisory body or task
force publicly insulted by an elected or appointed official. In fact, we were treated with
respect and thanked for our service even if our recommendations were not fully
embraced.
While you insulted committee members with whom you disagree, you lavished praise on
committee member John Fowler. What I found most offensive was your implication that
Mr. Fowler, as a CPA, was the only committee member qualified to serve because the
rest of us couldn't possibly understand a budget.
Other committee members respectfully listened to and thoroughly discussed Mr.
Fowler's position, and disagreed with him. Mr. Fowler had such disrespect for LRMAC
members that he didn't copy us on his March 28, 2014, letter to Mayor Marx and
Council members. I'm won't speculate why he chose not to share his letter with LRMAC,
but note that our surprise over the letter's existence as you cited it during the April 1 City
Council meeting added drama to your harangue.
I assure you that the committee carefully and thoughtfully reviewed the budget and
other data, and concluded that San Luis Obispo would benefit by an extension of the
half -cent sales tax measure. The LRMAC majority (8 -2) believes that city voters should
have the opportunity to decide if Measure Y dollars have been spent appropriately and
trust the City Council to continue to do so, or prefer a more limited budget.
-3-
cc: LRMAC members
Katie Lichtig, City Manager
Michael Codron, Assistant City Manager
Dale Magee, LRMAC Facilitator