The online Comment window has expired

Agenda Item

b. REPORT 21-0412 CHECK REGISTERS (Finance Director Viki Copeland)

  • 10157206684668378
    Matt McCool over 2 years ago

    This item needs to be pulled from the consent calendar and addressed to the public. At the very least, this $950k settlement to Ring Bender LLP, needs to be addressed in the City Manager Report. https://www.facebook.com/photo?fbid=10161219677128378

    Attachments: Check_Register.jpg
  • Default_avatar
    Carolyn Petty over 2 years ago

    It is shocking and the worst governance I have seen in Hermosa Beach that you would settle out a lawsuit for $950k and hide it in a check register on consent. You have spent most likely $1.5M on this lawsuit with ZERO disclosure to our community. I am incredulous that you think this is okay. It is reflective of the new approach brought by Suja - one in which the community does not matter, and the city council does whatever it pleases. There needs to be full disclosure of what happened, disclosure as to which councilmember orchestrated the illegal closure of Cross Fit (you all know who that is), why you decided to settle, how much you spent defending the actions of that councilmember, and what you plan to change to ensure this NEVER happens again. I see none of that happening when you bury this in consent. In other cities, councilmembers would resign when they cost the city $1M. Why is there not at least a discussion of censure for that councilmember? We all know that there were hundreds of emails found during the discovery process that showed how this was orchestrated behind the scenes by one councilmember. What makes this even worse is you are now trying the same failed approach with our downtown - declaring our entire downtown to be a public nuisance, as you did with CrossFit. There must be acknowledgement that this "public nuisance" approach is inappropriate and illegal, as you have come to learn based upon what happened with CrossFit. Are you contrite at all? You need to pull this item and have a full discussion so the public finally understands what happened. The idea that you would put our city in legal jeopardy by declaring our entire downtown to be a public nuisance is reckless and irrational. If you do not pull this from consent and have a full discussion, you are telling our community that you do not care what they think, you will do whatever you want whenever you want. This is how corruption begins, and everyone in our community should be very concerned.