10. Are the City Council and City Staff looking out for the best interests of the citizens and taxpayers of Redding? NO First, it is the legal and financial responsibility of the boards of both Turtle Bay and the McConnell Foundation to look out for their own best interests, not the public’s best interest. That is understandable. The City of Redding (who owns the property), its Council Members, and its staff have a responsibility to look out for the best interests of the citizens and taxpayers that they represent. Any time a negotiation takes place between the City and outside entity, it is their duty to work hard on behalf of those citizens, not those they are negotiating with. Unfortunately, in this case, the City Management, the City Council, the City Attorney and his staff have been working in complete partnership with Turtle Bay and McConnell Foundation leaders and attorneys to further their interests, not yours. Several emails, such as these (source: Duvernay/Warren/Ashby emails) clearly indicate that our City Attorney has not only bent over backwards to help the tenants in this case, but attempted to keep the public, and concerned Council Members from knowing the truth. Despite withholding from the Planning Commission the fact that deed restrictions existed on the land, writing ballot language (source: Measure B Ballot language) that is extremely biased in favor the land deal, and helping the buyers obtain the land for much less than its worth, the City Attorney withheld information from Council Members that he disagreed with, so that they would not tell anyone about their plan, “If the Council chooses to assume some risks, certain council members may not be able to be trusted not to disclose/sabotage.” –Rick DuvernayThe repeated use of the words “we” and “us” make it very clear that city staff is working for Turtle Bay and the McConnell Foundation. In an email to a McConnell Foundation Attorney, Mike Ashby, the City Attorney states, ”To the extent you can assist or facilitate assisting me with obtaining that analysis so I advise Council hopefully consistent with TB’s position would be helpful.” Does that sound like someone who is working for you? If any other developer had proposed a project and land purchase from the City, and all of the above events had occurred, there would likely be investigations. People would be up in arms about the breakdown of checks and balances in the public process. But since the proponents have mislead the public into thinking that all of this is necessary for the survival of Turtle Bay Museum, people turn their heads and pretend that all of this is okay. It is not.Think of a project or development that you are not, or would not be in support of, and imagine if the developer and city representatives colluded together, mislead the public, and put the citizens interests behind those of the developer. Summary:City Staff, and especially the City Attorney, have been working, sometimes secretly, with Turtle Bay and the McConnell Foundation to further their interests while disregarding the interests of the public.
Posted on: Sun, 12 Oct 2014 22:24:34 +0000