Council’s community values

<p>Your City Council continues to diligently work to protect the financial interests of Petaluma as well as our quality of life. In the past 13 months, the city has spent about $600,000 on legal fees. This is an increase over the prior 13 months during which the city spent about $550,000.</p><!-- Nothing to do. The paragraph has already been output --><p>Where has the bulk of the difference been? It is more than accounted for by the need to yet again protect our water/sewer ratepayers from a ballot initiative that, if adopted, will bankrupt our city and ultimately increase your water and sewer bills substantially. One of its advocates is a former Petaluma Chamber of Commerce president and past City Council member who was endorsed for his election in 2000 by the Argus-Courier. </p><p>If this ill-conceived measure is adopted, we will be faced with trying to refinance multi-million dollars of loans at much higher interest rates. Currently, Petalumans save millions of dollars per year in interest expense and will for many years to come if this initiative is defeated. In order to save millions, the city has wisely invested $69,021 to date to protect our ratepayers. To do less might seem penny-wise to some, but would certainly be pound-foolish. </p><p>Furthermore, the city has incurred legal fees as a result of a highly controversial asphalt plant proposal that, in the unanimous opinion of the City Council, was unwisely recommended by Supervisor Mike Kerns and his appointed planning commissioner, Argus-Courier columnist Don Bennett. Both the county and city have adopted general plans with which this flawed proposal is inconsistent. </p><p>Correspondence received by me has consistently been about 90 percent against the asphalt plant, which I believe is true for the entire council. Due to our unanimous opposition to this project, we have invested $33,447 to protect our residents and assure that this proposal is properly reviewed by the county. </p><p>To date, review of this proposal has created a dubious record, which in my opinion casts tremendous doubt upon the credibility and judgment of those who have advocated for it. These include the Argus-Courier editorial board, the Petaluma Chamber of Commerce, Kerns and Bennett. This cozy circle is clearly out of touch with the visions, goals and desires of the Petaluma mainstream. Unfortunately, county representatives' wrong-headed, obstinate thinking has forced us to spend funds which could otherwise be available for other uses. However, it is clear Petaluma risks forever losing even more if we heedlessly followed their bidding on behalf of narrow-minded special interests.</p><p>In subtracting these two items from the expenditure list, our legal fees would be under $500,000, or about 10 percent less than what was incurred by the prior council majority. Municipal operations will always generate some legal expenses. However, it is indeed worrisome that there is a strong link between the former majority and the issues before us that have become some of our major legal expenditures. How unfortunate that those who are linked to the special interests that have made these expenditures necessary now choose to use these very issues in an attempt to divide our community with sensational and misleading rhetoric. </p><p>If you are not yet convinced that this council is conscientious about expenditures, please know this. The current council majority approved reducing its own budget by $157,000 less than the prior majority spent during their final year in office. Such savings alone are more than sufficient to offset the required legal expenditures that have unfortunately been forced upon us by the asphalt plant proposal and the water/sewer rate initiative. Every resident can be assured that we will continue to defend the values of our community in the most cost-effective and efficient manner possible. </p><p><i>(David Glass was elected to the City Council in 2008. He served as mayor from 2003 to 2006.)</i></p>