Blog: City Squashes Resident Meetings With Potential Harbor Developers

Each of the developers that responded to the City's call for companies interested in developing the harbor and pier expressed their commitment to meeting with the public. Several councilmen stated that one of their selection criteria would be the developers' process for engaging the public.

A resident reached out to each developer offering to set up a community meeting so that each developer might understand the ideas, desires and concerns of the residents. As evidenced by the response below from Lowe Enterprises, the city squashed the resident meetings. So the developers are shooting in the dark at their visions for the site. Our tax money at work...

"Thanks for the email, I appreciate the follow up.

On Friday, after we spoke, we received an email from the City of Redondo Beach requesting that we do not conduct any meetings outside of the approved developer selection process. Per the email, we have been told that there is a schedule in place and that this process has been approved by the Redondo Beach City Council. Similarly, the selection methodology and associated guidelines provided to us limit our abilities to meet. Consequently, we must respect the process defined by the City and adhere to the schedule and selection guidelines.

I apologize for not being able to provide you with additional information at this time. However, if chosen by the City Council, we look forward to many meetings with the community to receive input, discuss ideas, and furthermore; building a relationship essential in creating a well-conceived waterfront development for the citizens of Redondo Beach.

I hope to meet you soon.

Regards,

Todd Majcher"

The second developer forwarded the same resident the City's direction:

"From: Pete Carmichael
Sent: Monday, October 08, 2012 9:47 AM
To: Allison Rolfe; Colby Young
Subject: Public Contact

Allison and Colby,

Thank you again for you time on Friday. It was a productive afternoon and we greatly appreciate your effort in getting in to see us.

Please see below regarding public contact;

1. Contact from the public. I understand that you may have received emails from the public regarding the project. You are free to respond to the public as you see appropriate so long as you; a) Continue to abide by the process integrity guidelines and b) Do not conduct any meetings outside of the Council approved developer selection process. You can respond to requests for additional meetings by referring the public back to this schedule and informing them that this is the process as voted on and approved by the City Council. I have attached a copy of this schedule for your benefit.

Thank you"

There is nothing in the City's request that precluded any additional meetings with the public. Why would our city be against all three developers meeting with residents as they develop their proposals for the site?