2006-10-03 5-C SubmittalLara Weisiger - Vote on the Beltline tonight
Page 1
From: Ani Dimusheva <antzv @earthlink.net>
To: don Roberts < donroberts @alamedadailynews.com>
Date: 10/3/2006 12:56:15 PM
Subject: Vote on the Beltline tonight
Editor,
Jean Sweeney's letter this morning prompted me to go online and look up
the two measures passed by voters in 2002, relating to the Beltline
property. They can be found at
http://wvvw.srnartvoter.org/2002/11/05/ca/alm/rneas/E/ and
http://wvvw.srnartvoter.org/2002/11/05/ca/alrn/rneas/D/.
Measure D specifically reads:
"Measure D delays when Measure E goes into effect until the City
Council takes two steps:
a) This Measure D requires the City Council to file a court action by
March 1, 2003, to determine whether the City of Alameda shall be
required to pay the owners of the private property are amount up to the
current appraised value of the property. This property has been
recently appraised at a value of between $20 -$25 million.
b) If the court determines that the Measure E means that the City must
pay compensation to the private property owner, then this Measure D
requires the City Council to ask the voters at a future election to
approve new or increased taxes, fees, or assessments to provide money
for the required payment.
This means that the Measure E land use changes will not take effect
until there is a final court decision and voter approval of the new
source of funds, if payment to the properly owner is required."
(emphasis added)
Here is the disturbing part: The City Council will vote tonight on
appropriating funds for the Beltline property. While I'm glad the city
has the funds to purchase the property without going to the taxpayers,
this action automatically invalidates Measure E (open space rezoning)
as per the highlighted text above.
Questions: Are the Council, City manager and City attorney aware that
the item appearing on the agenda tonight places enacting the
voter- approved open space initiative in jeopardy? What will guarantee
that the lard will indeed be used as an open space if the voter
approved zoning is invalidated? Why doesn't the City rezone the
property before appropriating the funds? What do the voters think about
that?
I've been accused of hatching conspiratorial theories. This isn't one.
This is a gross procedural mistake that could put a lot of effort by
Jean Sweeney and those who helped her in reverse and erase the will of
the people with a single council vote. It must be somebody's job in the
city to look into problems like that. The Beltline item needs to be
pulled out of the City Council agenda tonight until it can be legally
guaranteed to the voters that Measure E will be enacted.
Thank you,
Ani Dimusheva
Re: Agenda Item #5 -C
10 -03 -06 Council Meeting
Lara Weisiger - Vote on the Beltline tonight
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