will respond with a resounding "No!" That certainly is my response!
These three questions are posed on the front page of a four-page
printed piece that was found on the doorstep of some residents in
Fountain Valley on Monday. With curiosity, I turned the page to find a
letter from my fellow Councilman Chuck Conlosh and another letter from a
citizen, Lourdes Peterson. Just as they have exercised their right to
express their thoughts, I am exercising my right as an individual to
speak out and my duty as an elected official to correct misinformation.
Five specific issues are addressed in the handout and each one needs
attention.
In the first place, there is no effort within the council or at the
recommendation of city staff to issue an ordinance that would force
residents to park their vehicles inside their garages. I have been in
attendance at every City Council meeting and study session, and I can
assure that you will not have to give up your freedom to choose where to
park your vehicle, be it in your garage, in your driveway or on the
street.
The second issue of changeable signs for churches and synagogues is
currently being studied. To state that there has been a refusal on the
part of the council to lift the ban on changeable signs is simply wrong.
No decision has been made as of this writing. The council has directed
staff to return to us wording that would, in fact, allow changeable
signs. This council has not flatly denied a proposed change.
In regard to the third issue of the taping of public council meetings,
it is correct that the meetings are taped. But in regard to the
impossibility for citizens to listen to the tapes, I can only refer to
the most recent reference of Lourdes Peterson when she addressed the
council at its last meeting and mentioned that she came to City Hall and
listened to the taped recording of a previous meeting. Rest assured that
every citizen can replicate her experience and access the taped
recordings.
Fourthly, when conducting business as a legislative body, be it at
school board meetings or City Council meetings, it is a meeting in
public, not a public meeting. Comments, questions or specific statements
can all be directed through the chair to either fellow elected officials
or staff. This has been the case since the early 1960s and, for some
reason, had lapsed for a period of time in our city government until,
when attending a meeting of the Orange County Board of Supervisors, a
memory was jogged. No liberty of speech is being taken away by following
