Friends of No Recall against Sinnott Riboli Ingham

Editor:
I always marvel at how a small city like Point Arena can accomplish so much in terms of improvements to community and public infrastructure. A key factor is that Point Arena has been blessed with progressive leadership and community members who are willing to dedicate their personal time and energy to public service. This has been true at least since the days of Raven B. Earlygrow and the efforts to acquire and restore the Arena Theatre. It was certainly true of Leslie Dahlhoff and the improvements to public infrastructure like the Port Road project.

It is no less true of Mayor Lauren Sinnott and Councilmembers David Ingham and Joe Riboli, all of whom I know, and who are right in line with the exemplary tradition of public service established by their predecessors.

Point Arena is unique in that it has very limited staff and has relied on the Mayor and Councilmembers to take on the roles normally filled by high paid City Managers, Department Directors, grant writers and administrators. Point Arena’s unique management structure may be driven by economic necessity, but it also relies on the good will of the elected officials who receive no additional compensation for the extra hours of service they provide. Over the years some Councilmembers have been better positioned or better qualified or more willing to provide these services than others, but the effective functioning of Point Arena as a municipality has always relied on a core group of elected officials and community members who have been willing to go above and beyond to serve their community.

I previously served on the Mendocino Council of Governments (MCOG) which serves as the local planning body for the distribution of state transportation funding. Every time I go to Point Arena I confess to being a little jealous when I see the public infrastructure improvements funded by MCOG transportation dollars.

Point Arena’s success is directly attributable to Mayor Sinnott (and Mayor Dahlhoff before her) who have taken the time to understand the funding and grant requirements and who have secured millions of dollars to improve bike, pedestrian and traffic safety to make Point Arena more inviting and livable. The Safe Routes to Schools grant written by Mayor Sinnott is the most recent example.

It is curious that the recall proponents say dissatisfaction has been brewing for two years, yet none stepped forward to run for Council during the most recent election. Recall is an extreme (and expensive) remedy that should be reserved for cases where an elected official is clearly incapable of serving in the public interest, not because of personal or political disagreements. I do agree that everyone should get involved, attend the Council meetings and get informed. Even the critics might learn that Point Arena is being well served by the present Council.

John McCowen, 2nd District Supervisor

Please call any of us for more information

or just to talk

* Lauren Sinnott 882-3100 * Joe Riboli 882-4140 *

* David Ingham 882-3503 *

Also visit the pages of

www.artgoddess.com/pointarenapolitics

for supporting documents.

Although we Councilmembers don’t
always agree, we feel that our decisions
have been guided by a common commitment to:

Fiscal responsibility

Creative thinking

Fairness & consistency

Keeping Senior Center in Point Arena

Keeping the Library and Theater alive & well

Enhancing our harbor facility & fishery

Supporting local business & agriculture

Balanced growth, not no-growth

Understanding and seeking outside funding sources

Learning from our sister cities

and not reinventing the wheel...

...unless we have to!

Below see the Tibetan Monks of Gaden Shartse Monestary

Tibetan monks bless Point arena businesses

...blessing Point Arena businesses this summer

monks blessing general store

The Fishermen's Playground in our City Park is ADA-compliant.

ADA compliant park playground

Read Councilmember Riboli's latest letter to the ICO

Major Accomplishments of 2010/2011

Your current Council has accomplished a lot, working with dedicated staff:

• Creation of the Pay Rates and Steps Table so that pay decisions may be made in the context of the whole rather than as isolated requests.

• Strengthened support of staff.

• Approval of City Code of Conduct for elected officials and all staff.

• Major and comprehensive overhaul of the record keeping processes and infrastructure at City Hall.

• ADA-compliant ramp access and new retaining wall for the City Park Playground, which was grant funded.

• Partnered with the Mendocino County Planning Department to produce our mandated Housing Element at a cost savings to the City and benefitting from the expertise of our local Mendocino planners.

• Lauren wrote a successful application to the competitive State-legislated Safe Routes to School Program which awarded Point Arena the maximum amount of $450,000 to reconstruct two of the three main intersections on Highway 1 and fill in sidewalks around the City’s five schools.

• Mayor Sinnott acheived allocation of the remainder of the total project cost of $571,000 from Mendocino Coucil of Government’s 2% Bike and Pedestrian money and other sources. Click here to see design diagrams and read press release

• Partnered with George Williamson of PlanWest to create an improved Subdivision Ordinance, drawing on the work that went into creating the 1999 document and benefitting from newer approaches to clearly defining the subdivision process, large or small, and identifying the responsibilities of subdivider and developer

• Contracted with the Mendocino County Planning Department to prepare staff report dealing with the complex issues faced by the South Coast Senior Center and their proposal to develop a Senior Center and the proposal of their partner to develop Senior Housing.

• Mayor Sinnott wrote and Council approved the detailed Response to the Grand Jury Report concerning the City of Point Arena’s staffing and over-all structure entitled “Who’s in charge?” The Response drew from Minutes, studies, the Municipal Code and LCP and the record of approved actions to paint a clear picture of the City past and present.

Click here to see the whole City Response in amusingly indexed form

• Council hosted a large group of visitors from Yawatahama, Ehime Prefecture, Japan, coming to honor the 1913 voyage in a fishing vessel across the Pacific Ocean. (Mayor of Yawatahama, right)

• Attendance at PARSAC Academy in 2011, benefiting from their hands-on legal guidance.

• First steps towards review and redrafting of City Personnel Policy.

• Creation of Finance Committee consisting of four Department heads and two Councilmembers, meeting quarterly, at which City staff may work together on annual operating budget.

• Approval of change in Functional Classification of Iversen/Port Rd., Windy Hollow Rd and Riverside Drive from Minor Collector to Major Collector (routes with a clear public destination) which will allow us greater access to transportation grant funding.

• Speed studies on Riverside and Windy Hollow to become aware of potential changes in traffic patterns due to the opening of the casino and to assist local residents of Windy Hollow in making the roadway safer and more inviting for pedestrian and bike access

• Continuing work on the Wastewater Improvement Project, seeking grant/low interest loan funding from the USDA in order to make necessary long-term capital improvements, deal with long-term maintenance issues and achieve plant and system health while allowing for the growth that is possible within the scope of our General Plan/Local Coastal Program and constrained by environment and terrain. Meanwhile City staff have made improvements to the day-to-day operations of the facility.

• The acquisition of 4 acres of prime scenic cove property adjacent to Arena Creek (“Rock Wall Property”), for $100,000 from the federal government (IRS Asset Seizure Department), allowing us to preserve, appropriately use and protect this important location.

• Major improvements to the Pier, the boat hoist (now rated for 6 tons, seen at left) and to Arena Creek at its mouth. The removal of some of the pilings embedded in the creek will allow for a healthier salmon spawn. We are also removing the ruined trailer at the mouth of the creek.

At right, the crowds start to gather before the

Independence Day fireworks

• Partnered with the South Coast Senior Center, which is now housed temporarily in the VFW Hall with us.

At right, before the Independence Day Parade

• Spearheaded by Vice-Mayor Ingham: successful, on-schedule expenditure of time sensitive $400,000 Prop 1B funds on city streets, making enormous improvement to Scott Place and Mill Street, especially at the entrance to the Point Arena Medical Center and along sites of poor drainage.

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Open Space column by 2nd District Supervisor John McCowen

List of values and commitments

Major Council Accomplishments of 2010/2011

Personnel

Safe Routes to School project

Mill Street and other Prop1b construction

OK but what about this recall??

Expensive, self-interested abuse of process

Recall candidates:

How a former councilmember whistleblew on himself and now is running in the recall which was called because of that infraction, of which the other members were unaware.

The Brown Act forbids communication even when you totally disagree and call each other names.

Crazy gold-plated sewer system

CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

El Alcalde Lauren Sinnott

El Vice-Alcalde David Ingham

Comisionado de Obras Publicas Joe Riboli

What others say....

RECOMMENDATIONS from the Bodhi Report

A letter from our Supervisor

A letter from a friend

A letter from 3rd District Supervisor

A letter from 2nd District Supervisor

COMMUNITY SURVEY

We feel that this recall is based on personal animosity and misrepresentation of facts.

Recalls should be reserved for serious malfeasance.

Recall supporters who claim to simply “want an election” have been hoodwinked. Several recallers were asked to run in 2010, but declined. All may run in the regular election next year. This is an expensive, self-interested abuse of process at your expense.

And now the “Schwindt & Riehl Show” has hit a new low. In case you’ve just tuned in, Point Arena resident Patricia Schwindt lies at the source of this mass effort to recall four City Councilmembers. She has devoted countless hours making calls from Elk to the Sea Ranch, going door to door and organizing meetings. Should anyone doubt this, think back to who first contacted you about getting rid of the Mayor or Councilmembers, and it will likely be Schwindt. Brian Riehl was involved even before the recall existed, his efforts to tear down the current Council taking shape when Council voted against granting the $50,000 loan request from the Arena Market Co-Op, who offered used restaurant equipment as collateral.

Why a new low? The recall candidates tell the story:

Lloyd Cross (married to Schwindt) formerly served on the Council for one term, during which he – along with the rest of the council, including Mayor Sinnott, as well as recallers Laura Smith and Brian Riehl – worked on some of the projects about which opponents are now complaining, namely Wastewater Improvement. After spearheading a raise in pay for the position of Treasurer, Cross himself ran for the office (unopposed), was appointed in-lieu-of-election, but then resigned four months after taking his seat. As Treasurer he was faced with Councilmember David Ingham’s numerous questions regarding the city’s finances. Now he seeks to replace Ingham in the recall. Ingham does not deserve to be ousted by the person who would not respond to his research and findings.

Doug Burkey seeks Lauren Sinnott’s seat. Unlike most recallers, he does attend meetings and has been active in City committees. At the same time, he was asked to come forward during the last election, when we had no candidates, and he declined. What's different now? He offers no clear distinction to warrant replacing a councilmember who has many real achievements under her belt and has devoted herself to this job. Sinnott does not deserve this as “thanks” for her length of service and excellence as Mayor, in addition to the half million dollars in grant money.

Trevor Sanders has admitted to being motivated by personal vendetta, perhaps developed when bartending with Brian Riehl. He has virtually no experience with the City Council, having attending only once or twice. He has never served on City subcommittees and did not bother with the trainings for candidates offered by the City Administrator. At a recent Special Meeting devoted to the City budget for the current year, neither he nor any recaller was in attendance. Wouldn’t this seem to be an important topic for someone putting themselves forward for the job of spending your taxpayer dollars? Sanders wants to unseat Joe Riboli. Riboli does not deserve this recall after the devotion, hours and construction knowledge he has brought to his position.

Brian Riehl, aka Hoolis C. Nation (“hallucination”), is running as the replacement for Eloisa Oropeza. Please note that although Oropeza resigned in order to remove herself from recall attacks, you may – and should – vote against recalling her. She was the first member of both the Hispanic and Pomo communities to serve on our board and brought a welcome diversity as well as experience. She does not deserve this recall. Her seat will go to a fair election if the recall fails.

Her opponent, Riehl, served nearly one term on Council after getting in as a Write-In Candidate with 23 votes. He began to very actively undermine Mayor Sinnott personally and then Ingham and Riboli as well, after they were unenthusiastic about loaning the new Arena Market $50,000 with used restaurant equipment as collateral. When Council offered the loan with personal guarantees instead of the equipment as collateral, the applicants declined. Subsequently Riehl tried to oust Sinnott as Mayor. He resigned in October 2010. He formed the third member of an unwitting triangle of email communication that ended up constituting a Brown Act violation despite complete disagreement among the parties and the fact that he then whistleblew on himself to the ICO.

Now Riehl has chosen the recall seat that before he tossed his hat in the ring might have been the easiest to gain, due to Oropeza’s resignation. On his own admission, Riehl’s fellow recallers did not want him to run, since his behavior is confrontational and unprofessional. He employs sexually explicit, threatening talk, often targeting female Councilmembers. This is not what Point Arena deserves in its elected body.

Consider, if you will, that a Brown Act error is a major reason for turning out four hard-working Councilmembers.

It started with events leading up to the 2010 open seats and centered on disagreement among councilmembers as to what our options were in the face of an election with no candidates. Mayor Sinnott researched CA Election Code and sought help from the Registrar of Voters and the staff of sister cities. She emailed Councilmember Eloisa Oropeza outlining what she had found and countering former Councilmember Riehl’s disagreement with the process. Oropeza communicated the email and additional comments to Riehl in a cordial effort to reach out. Riehl replied to her, continuing to disagree. Sinnott remained unaware of the forwarded email. This was the inadvertent “communication” between three councilmembers.

In August of 2010 the ICO made a Public Records Act (PRA) Request for documents relating to the election. These were sent to the ICO and did not appear to contain anything problematic.

Then at the Council Meeting of 8-24-2010, the ICO submitted a letter alleging a Brown Act violation with emails it had already seen from Aug. 12– 6, 2010 and making a new PRA request, whereupon City Attorney Brecher directed Councilmembers to submit emails from their personal computers.

Two days later, the Aug. 27, 2010 ICO revealed that the emails had been provided to the paper by Councilmember Riehl (who had NOT as yet furnished them to the City) which demonstrated the “serial meeting” between Sinnott, Oropeza and Riehl (the emails described above.)

When the documentation had been submitted by all parties to the City, it became clear that the email communication had indeed occurred (and that the parties involved were in complete disagreement.)

Prior to 2009, this lack of agreement would have meant that the communication was not a violation.

However, the law has changed. Now it is a violation to merely communicate even if the parties disagree or are unaware of the “serial” nature of the communication. As was appropriate, the City Council acknowledged the violation at the next meeting and thanked the ICO for bringing it to light. The Brown Act is intended to prevent "back room" deal-making. Errors like ours are easy to commit and the use of email especially must be carefully monitered, as we now do.

But what would be funny if it weren’t so serious is that the violation was committed by one of the recallers who then enthusiastically went to the press with it even before informing his own Council and who may have cynically done so in part because he disagreed with the decision in question.

And now he is a candidate for Oropeza's seat.

What is the reason claimed by recallers that Oropeza should be thrown out?

What is the terrible thing she (& Sinnott) did?

She "admittedly violated the Brown Act" etc. etc. (See below)

And so did recaller Riehl.

NOI

Above, a part of one of the four recall petitions

He did it when he actually held the seat he now seeks, from which he resigned, after participating in the action that is bad enough to recall the other two members.

These are murky waters indeed.

Recall supporters also have said that this Council does the bidding of a particular local land-owner. This argument is fueled by old resentments. We have tried our best to be fair to all applicants and none of us was party to the old feuds. We respect the struggles that former Councils have faced, but we want a fresh slate.

Another argument recallers have used to create fear goes like this: that this Council wants a crazy, gold-plated sewer system and we want you (as well as ourselves) to pay for it. The truth is that we Councilmembers are far less wealthy than many recallers and we are very aware of the extreme difficulty these days just staying ahead of the mortgage payment.

The Point Arena Wastewater Treatment Facility is a small, simple system that can run efficiently again after 30 years of accumulated sludge is removed. It also must plan for those wet winters when extra inflow of water leads to the bluff-top disposal of treated water. This had been done under a 10-year agreement, which has now expired.
Sludge removal and wet winter water disposal must be addressed.

As mentioned, aging laterals (the sewer line running from your house out to the mainline) – some of which are 80 years old – allow fresh groundwater to enter and overburden the system. Laterals are privately property and the owner is responsible for their repair. We know that many owners in Point Arena cannot afford this.

But Wastewater can’t afford it either. Past Councils have been reluctant to raise rates enough to save money for major capital improvement projects like this, which are recommended by our sewer studies. The Wastewater plant is breaking even, but it has nothing in its “savings account.”

These critical needs have led your City Council to pursue grant and low-interest loan funding from the USDA. We feel that it is wise to try to leverage our own dollars with matching money from outside.

These improvements and mandatory long-term maintenance projects have been addressed at more than 35 public meetings from 2008 through the present. In fact, recall candidates Riehl and Cross were involved in initial stages. Only with the advent of the recall have detractors tried to present the project in a negative light. Public input has been sought and is always valuable.

Please print and fill out the Community Survey that accompanies this booklet and give it to one of us or to City Hall so we know what you think. Regarding the Improvement Project, if we get help from the USDA, other agencies are more likely to get on board when they see we have a coherent plan. The City will be able to apply for Community Development Block Grant funds in order to help citizens with lateral replacement. If the whole project is funded and put in place in several years, we will have wastewater rates equivalent to Gualala.

No matter how this or a future Council acts with respect to the USDA application, the issues must be addressed. Ignoring them will lead at some point to a wet winter, an illegal release of water and fines followed by enforced improvements. We would rather spend money on starting the improvements now than on fines and scrambling to clean up the mess after an emergency.

Another crucial piece of this puzzle is the opportunity that exists for a WIN-WIN agreement with the community–minded owner of the land adjacent to our bluff top percolation ponds. This owner has worked with us through an excellent lease agreement for ten years, which has now expired. The owner has the property on the market and wishes to sell us a small, “in-town” portion of her holdings. This would allow her to more easily sell the larger “in-county” ranch. She wants to work with the City and is very frustrated at the delay. We have been in discussion over this for at least two years. If she sells her ranch, a new owner has no incentive to deal with the City and may well want nothing to do with this project. The owners on the other side of our facility are very cooperative neighbors but have already stated no interest whatsoever in selling land. If you favor moving forward on negotiating a purchase with a willing seller at very good rates, we want to hear from you!

Whatever your position on this, please fill out the Community Survey… We know we don’t have all the answers.
Our approach may be wrong, but let’s at least have an honest discussion.

Councilmembers Candidate Statements in English and Spanish

LAUREN SINNOTT - MAYOR

My eleven years on City Council include several terms as Vice-Mayor and now a second term as Mayor. I have been careful with the City’s budget and worked hard to bring in special funding. My greatest achievement was writing the competitive Safe Routes to School grant and related Local Transportation Fund application that landed over half a million dollars for Point Arena. This major reconstruction of two challenging intersections on Highway 1 will enhance pedestrian and motorist safety and bring construction work to town.
Achievements in management include the Pay Rate Table, developed with Councilmember Oropeza, which provides a systematic analysis of wages, and the creation of our Finance Committee - comprised of all City Department heads - which allows staff to work through budgetary issues together, looking at the big picture.
I have joined fellow councilmembers in supporting employee excellence as well as accountability. I have led the search and interview process resulting in hiring three highly valued new employees.
I support our Seniors in their quest for a permanent Center and Senior Housing. I spearheaded the recent land acquisition of four acres at the cove for an unheard-of low price. I have gone the extra mile for the City, representing her professionally and effectively.

DAVID INGHAM - VICE-MAYOR

We often complain about non-transparency in government. Yet, we often vote for candidates based on opinion, hearsay, and clever rhetoric rather than fact.

The voters of Point Arena are now faced with a decision to either keep the officials they elected or replace them. The people who complained loudest in the press leading up to this recall decision are not running. Instead, for my seat on the Council, you will decide whether to keep me or replace me with a former City official who quit twice and who only occasionally attended Council meetings while in office. You will decide whether the concerns that led me to run for office (adherence to laws and accurate and transparent accounting) are important, or whether these matters are best taken care of in the back room, behind closed doors, with little or no oversight by the public.

The Mendocino County Grand Jury once admonished the voters of Point Arena that they get the government they deserve. I look forward to the voters’ decision whether to move your government back into the shadows or keep it in the daylight where it belongs.

JOE RIBOLI - PUBLIC WORKS COMMISSIONNER

I have served on City Council for nearly three years, during which time I have used my construction experience to assist applicants, and have served effectively on the Design Review Board. I have spent my term making concrete improvements to the community.

I have had the opportunity to work in the office during this last six months assisting new office staff in identifying, re-assembling and organization of many years worth of mishandled documents, during which I have learned a great deal about past practices. I am motivated more than ever to continue to enforce accountability and accuracy in our governing documents and legal responsibilities.

I am open, fair and forthcoming in the issues that plague our community and if you vote that I remain in office, I will continue to serve the entire community without personal agenda or outside influence. Together, the community and the council will have to work hard and strong to restore our city's infrastructure, beauty and community spirit.

Together we can do this.

Los declaracions de los candidatos en Espanol

La declaracion de la candidata en Espanol
LAUREN SINNOTT - ALCALDE

Mis once años en el Ayuntamiento incluyen varios términos como Vice-Alcalde y ahora un segundo término como Alcalde. Yo he sido sumamente cuidadosa con el presupuesto de la Ciudad y he trabajado con todas mis fuerzas para obtener fondos especiales. Mi mayor logro fue pedir los fondos para "Las Rutas Seguras a la Escuela" y la aplicación para el fondo relacionado con "La Transportación Local." Esto le trajo a la ciudad de Point Arena más de medio millón de dólares. Esta mayor reconstrucción de dos peligrosas intersecciones en la Carretera 1 mejorará la seguridad de los peatones y motoristas y le traerá oportunidades de trabajo a la Ciudad.

Mis éxitos en Accesoria y Dirección incluyen la "Tabla de Pagos," desarrollada con la cooperación del Consejero Oropeza. Esta tabla de pagos ofrece un análisis sistemático de los sueldos y ha creado nuestro Comité de Finanzas -- compuesto de todos los líderes de los Departamentos de la Ciudad. Esta tabla le permite a nuestro personal trabajar unidos y juntos para solucionar los asuntos del presupuesto.

Yo me he unido con los compañeros Miembros del Consejo para asegurarnos de la excelencia de nuestros empleados y también para que los empleados asuman la responsabilidad esperada de ellos. Yo he dirigido la búsqueda y el proceso de entrevistas para estas posiciones, lo cual ha resultado en el empleo de tres nuevos trabajadores que son sumamente valiosos.

Yo ayudo a nuestras personas de La Segunda Edad en su búsqueda para tener un centro permanente para la vivienda y estancia de las personas de La Segundad Edad, lo cual ellos merecen sin duda alguna. Yo dirigí la reciente adquisición de cuatro acres en la ensenada, lo cual conseguimos por un precio increíblemente bajo. Yo he ido y caminado, camino y caminaré la extra milla por nuestra Ciudad. Yo les prometo representarlos y ampararlos a todos en una forma bondadosa, efectiva y profesional.

La declaracion del candidato en Espanol
DAVID INGHAM - VICE ALCALDE

Nosotros a menudo nos quejamos de la poca transparencia del gobierno. Sin embargo, muchas veces votamos por candidatos basados en opiniones, habladurías, y otras retóricas en vez de los hechos actuales.

Los votantes de Point Arena ahora se enfrentan con la decisión de escoger entre mantener a los oficiales electos o reemplazarlos. Las personas que más y más alto se quejan en la prensa, y los que han suscitado este nuevo voto, ni siquiera desean postularse para estas posiciones. Ahora, para mi puesto en el Ayuntamiento, ustedes van a decidir si me mantienen en dicha posición o si me reemplazan por un antiguo Consejero que renunció a su trabajo dos veces y que mientras ocupó su posición, solamente en ocasiones asistía a las reuniones del Consejo. Ustedes decidirán si las circunstancias que me hicieron aplicar a esta posición (adherencia a las leyes y el llevar una contabilidad clara y exacta) son factores importantes, o si estos asuntos han de ser llevados a cabo detrás de puertas cerradas con poca transparencia para el público.

El Gran Jurado del Condado de Mendocino una vez dijo que los votantes de Point Arena tenían el gobierno que se merecían, indicando que votaban sin conocer bien a sus candidatos. Yo espero que la decisión de los votantes sea la de no mantener el gobierno en las sombras sino mantenerlo en la luz clara del día, donde yo creo y espero que la mayoría crea, que es donde todo gobierno debe de permanecer y pertenecer.

La declaracion del candidato en Espanol
JOE RIBOLI - COMISIONADO DE OBRAS PUBLICAS

Yo he servido en el Consejo de la Ciudad durante casi tres años, en los cuales he usado mi experiencia en formación y creación para ayudar a los solicitantes. También he servido en forma efectiva en la Junta de Revisión del Diseño (DRB)
Yo he utilizado mi tiempo de servicio para proporcionarle mejoras a la comunidad. He tenido la oportunidad de trabajar en la oficina durante estos últimos seis meses ayudando al nuevo personal a identificar, reunir y organizar los documentos que habían sido totalmente descuidados en años anteriores. Esto me ha enseñado mucho acerca de las prácticas pasadas y, por ello, me he sentido mas motivada que nunca para hacer cumplir e imponer la contabilidad, claridad y veracidad de nuestros documentos gubernamentales y nuestras responsabilidades legales.

Yo soy abierta, justa y comunicativa. Yo conozco los problemas que plagan nuestra comunidad. Si ustedes votan para que yo permanezca en el puesto, yo continuaré sirviendo a la comunidad entera, sin el arrastro de agendas personales o influencias de afuera.

Unidos, la Comunidad y el Consejo, trabajaremos duro y con tenacidad para restaurar la estructura de la ciudad, su belleza y su espíritu de comunidad.

¡Unidos podemos lograrlo!

What other people write...

A letter from our Supervisor

Letter to Point Arena City Council:

1/23/11

I support the work of the current City Council, including Mayor Lauren Sinnott.

Point Arena has long benefitted from the selfless work of individuals who step forward and stand up to the controversy that is an inevitable part of local politics. Mayor Sinnott has proven her commitment and her savvy as an elected official, most recently through her lead role in securing a Safe Routes to Schools grant for Point Arena.

I am saddened that a recall effort has been launched against members of the current Council. In my opinion, this is a misuse of the recall process, which should be reserved for situations of misconduct in office.

Dan Hamburg

Fifth District Supervisor, Mendocino County

From an independent blogger...

Point Arena recall journal 18: surprisingly weak team seeks to replace current city council....
bodhireports | June 6, 2011 at 4:25 pm | Categories: News: Mendocino County, Point Arena (General), Point Arena recall series | URL: http://wp.me/pVB7w-tM

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… In a soon to be posted report and analysis, there will be a close examination of Brian Riehl's angry and obsessive personal crusade against Lauren Sinnott.

In addition, the voter now has a right to know about at least some of the discord existing between next door neighbors Trevor Sanders and Lauren Sinnott. Trevor seems to have sculpted a concrete statue of Lauren that bears an uncanny resemblance to the one that has taken shape in his friend Hoolis's head. Of course I am going to have to do this in a manner completely different than the way Bruce McEwan writes on court cases for the AVA (Anderson Valley Advertiser).

Everyone involved has families and you could say Trevor also is responsible for a really big family, changing every year to some degree. By the time everyone mails in their ballots, everyone will have heard some VERSION of the discord on that part of Main Street (which basically involve normal sources of neighborly discord, dogs and accidentally broken windows that take too long to be fixed).

Lloyd Cross is a former city councilman and for four months served as Treasurer. Of course Hoolis is also a former city councilman but was largely AWOL, especially after assuming responsibilities with the Oddfellows.
Overall, this looks like a weak team at first glance, especially given what seems to be the motivating force for two of those running to replace incumbents as well as the overall lack of preparation and experience by ALL running to step in at this time in particular. More later.... Add a comment to this post

Now I just sit.....
bodhireports | July 27, 2011 at 5:56 pm | Categories: News: Mendocino County, Point Arena (General), Point Arena recall series | URL: http://wp.me/pVB7w-Au

Please do NOT recall the three now sitting on the council.

This council has done an awesome job with important movements happening on several fronts.

Based on many conversations, the voters may not have a good and precise picture of some of the key issues.

A lot of impressions have been systematically conveyed through town, ranging from Billy Hay's designs to boost Republican strength with a housing project to notions that the current council is corrupt and will get rich from the USDA grant. I know exactly who and where this talk originates from. And, I know that many, many people do not have even the basic facts on some key matters.

The candidates seeking to replace the current council have not even addressed the issues, or what they would do differently, in any public forum that I know of.

Whereas, back in February and March, current council members opened themselves up at two town hall meetings.

Finally, vote recommendations (to be reposted in each wrap article prior to August 30):

Vote NO on recalling Lauren Sinnott.
(PA’s best Mayor in my 35 years of PA related memories.)

Vote NO on recalling David Ingham.
(Clearly dedicated, serious, and an in depth examiner of the issues. Lloyd Cross resigned as Treasurer after serving only four months. Before that, when serving on the council, he voted to raise the salary of that office. His job as charter school auditor takes him on the road a lot.)

Vote NO on recalling Joe Riboli.
(A decent guy with a healthy perspective of having things getting done related to long unaddressed infrastructure needs. As some of you reading this lol at that, knowing Joe will get some actual work from projects, my response is simply that I believe in a full employment culture and we don’t see enough signs of that. His potential replacement, Trevor Sanders, is closely aligned with Hoolis and so far as I know has not presented his position on things, like the Senior Center project.)

Vote HELL NO on recalling Eloisa Oropeza.
(Though she has resigned, this seat needs to be filled by someone actually ready and able to serve. Hoolis is not there yet. He was absent a lot when previously serving on the council and, according to various sources, often failed to do his homework or follow through on things. Additionally, he needs help in getting disentangled from his self righteous and angry thought stream. To that end, I will ponder sending him a copy of Steven Hayes’ “Get Out of Your Mind and Into Your Life” ACT workbook. The zen style meditation practices and specific cognitive defusion exercises described in that workbook represent the most effective methodologies current in behavior/cognitive strategies, according to more and more studies.)

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Open Space column by 2nd District Supervisor John McCowen

List of values and commitments

Major Council Accomplishments of 2010/2011

Personnel

Safe Routes to School project

Mill Street and other Prop1b construction

OK but what about this recall??

Expensive, self-interested abuse of process

Recall candidates:

How a former councilmember whistleblew on himself and now is running in the recall which was called because of that infraction, of which the other members were unaware.

The Brown Act forbids communication even when you totally disagree and call each other names.

Crazy gold-plated sewer system

CANDIDATE STATEMENTS

Las Declaraciones de los Candidatos en Espanol

El Alcalde Lauren Sinnott

El Vice-Alcalde David Ingham

Comisionado de Obras Publicas Joe Riboli

What others say....

RECOMMENDATIONS from the Bodhi Report

A letter from our Supervisor

A letter from a friend

A letter from 3rd District Supervisor

A letter from 2nd District Supervisor

COMMUNITY SURVEY

A letter from a friend

Honorable Council members,

I have known Lauren Sinnott for about 10 years; we were both on the Governance Council at PCCS and my son spends as much time as he can at her loving home. I even rented a room from her for a while, and consider her one of my closest friends.

I admire Lauren’s ability to intelligently, positively and creatively solve problems and not get mired in negativity or defeated by conflicts that would appear insurmountable by some.

I am impressed by her ever expanding knowledge and capacity to comprehend numerous and varied concepts, from artwork to operations, always inquisitive. Lauren is a fabulous social networker and is comfortable with folks from diverse walks of life, from simple to prestigious, I’ve witnessed her pointing out the shinning attributes of others, finding the good in people and letting them know they are valued.

She is motivated to step beyond the city limits to discern what programs or methods benefit Point Arena.

Lauren exudes confidence in her ability to put her best effort forward. Her decisions are solution oriented and knowledge based, often involving many hours of research. She is not easily intimidated by negativity and criticism. She will acquiesce, however, when opponents can show their way to be superior or if there is a majority consensus.

I also appreciate the time and effort Lauren takes to present herself in an artful way and think she represents Point Arena for the unique, thoughtful, free thinking community we all call home.

Thank you all for the care and energy you put into our City.

Lisa Riboli

a letter from 3rd district supervisor Pinches

Eloisa Oropesa's letter

Community Survey

We want your input! Please print on letter-size paper, fill it out and give it to any one of us.

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