Romero's Full Response to Waterfront Watch Post

In response to Waterfront Watch blog post, Mayor Dan Romero wrote to the website's editor, Jeffrey Wisniewski:

Jeff, Your presentation of what occurred during council discussion again shows what the media can do to present one opinion, why not add part of the council agenda that shows the protocol for agendas.

 Process for addressing agenda items before city council.

Mayor reads the agenda item, Staff presents their report, Council questions staff, Public comments are heard, Council discusses item, a motion is made, Final Council discussion, Council votes or provides direction to staff.

The resident was asking to speak out of protocol, what good is council protocol if we the council don’t adhere to protocols.

As to your article, I am one vote on a council of five different minds.  I do not control anyone on the council and you and other residents thinking that I or any other council member controls the votes that occur is ludicrous. Hercules council is not governed by a strong mayor but by five independent council members. The votes on these properties were all 5-0 votes, conducted in an open session, no back door deals. The process was an open debate among the five elected council members, exactly what residents of Hercules has been asking and now receiving from their elected officials, open discussion of items. No recommendations from a two person subcommittee and consent calendar vote without discussion.

This council has to pay our debts, which were acknowledged during the last meeting. Ambac bond payment, CALHFA and monies owed to Mr. Oliver, if this council does not do our fiduciary responsibilities then other projects such as ITC/Bayfront could be in jeopardy. This council has to control our debts, no one from the Bayfront area complained when the council was taking funds from DIF’s to keep the possibility of that project continued. This past year with Sycamore North and continuation of ITC/Bayfront what little funds this city had are no gone or very low.

Mr. Conroe with Presidio Development bringing in Mr. Soloman and hearing from Mr. Soloman about the vision was numbing and sobering. Even with Mr. Soloman’s presentation I still hear doubts from the community, even with staff and council explaining to the community our debts that have to be paid certain members of the community still doubt the direction. Yes, these parcels and the plans for them will go before the planning commission, but let us not think that the planning commission will become the tool to turn down these projects. The future for Hercules is keeping the city solvent. We have properties as assets and the council with the community will get this city back on a sound fiscal future.

I ask that you and others support the council and staff with this direction. Hercules cannot wait for the economy to improve, a wait  and see attitude will doom this city and other vital projects that will help Hercules in the future.