Here are my comments for the City Council today:
Good afternoon,
In the email I received from our Parks Dept. on June 13th I was told that according to RMFI the section of the Barr Trail that the City owns only needs $40,000 worth of maintenance each year.
This implies that there is no need for a drainage study, and no need for drainage work. There is no erosion damage on the hillside. There is no need for obstacle removal, or a new fence.
This is simply not true. The question is did RMFI lie to the City, or did the City lie about what they have been told? I seriously doubt that RMFI lied to the City.
The City has to tell the public the truth about the cost of the needed repairs on this land. The City may not cover up the fact that the value of that land, and the liabilities we acquired with it, were misrepresented during the public comment process.
The land swap was controversial, and many people were opposed to this exchange of land. Many people today are still displeased. Now that the City is aware of the flaw in the deal, you have to disclose the facts to the public.
The fact that the City provided me with false information leads us to believe that there is an effort to cover up the mistake. I care about my City, and I wish no harm to any City Officials, but disseminating false information would constitute a crime. The email I received was copied to both Karen Palus and Kurt Schroeder. I have not received any sort of retraction from them, am I to assume that they wish to publicly stand by those claims?
I understand that this Council does not have the power to reverse the land swap, but the City Attorney does. She was in the room two weeks ago and heard me accuse our Parks Dept. of lying in that email. She also heard me raise concerns that the City acted criminally during the public comment process.
Is she now investigating my claims, or is she willfully trying to cover up the problems with the land swap?
The City Attorney is held to a higher standard of accountability than any other City Official. It is her job to deal with misconduct in the ranks of City employees, so that things never go too far.
America is the greatest nation on earth in part because our government has so many checks and balances. If members of the City Council are aware of problems with the performance or character of our City Attorney you must hold her accountable. She is paid well by the citizens of our city, and each of you must carry out oversight of the City Attorney on behalf of the people of our City.