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CC 2019-01-08_10a Supplemental No 3MEMORANDUM TO: CITY COUNCIL FROM: JESSICA MATSON, DEPUTY CITY CLERK SUBJECT: SUPPLEMENTAL INFORMATION AGENDA ITEM 10.a. – JANUARY 8, 2019 CITY COUNCIL MEETING CONSIDERATION OF APPOINTMENT TO FILL CITY COUNCIL VACANCY D ATE: JANUARY 8, 2019 Attached is correspondence received January 8, 2019. cc: City Attorney City Clerk Public Review Binder From: Marv Green < Date: January 8, 2019 at 2:09:28 PM PST To: <crayrussom@arroyogrande.org>, <kbarneich@arroyogrande.org>, <jpaulding@arroyogrande.org>, <kstorton@arroyogrande.org> Subject: Comments on tonight's meetings Dear AG City Council,I am writing to express my support for your process this evening for theselection of the new member to occupy the vacant Council seat, as I will nolonger be able to attend in person.I know from public record that many people have expressed their belief thatthe third-place candidate from the recent election should be automaticallyselected to fill the vacant seat. I would like to respond to these assertions as afellow concerned citizen: ·the extremely-transparent selection process has been in place formany years and utilized previously without issue; there is nothinganomalous about it ·this process also utilizes elected representatives to select an interim council member on behalf of their constituents, rather thanundergoing an expensive and unnecessary special election; there isnothing undemocratic about it ·this process is necessary because the third-place candidate is notautomatically qualified for the job just because she decided to run(and, in this instance, received a tiny fraction of AG’s votes). We donot, after all, award jobs to the third-place applicant just because theyapplied; they must also be qualified, especially for a role as importantas this one. There is nothing unfair about it You are, after all, representatives of your constituents, elected to do theirbidding on their behalf; this is how our representative democracy works. Iwant you to remember this, in order to empower you to pick the candidatethat will best serve all of Arroyo Grande, not just the people who may speakloudly at this meeting.Many thanks for your service, respectfully,Marv From: Sent: To: Cc: Subject: Hello AG City Council, Michele York < Tuesday, January 08, 2019 2:17 PM Kelly Wetmore Jeff York Lan George for City Council Please accept this letter as our recommendation for Lan George for the open City Council seat. We would be so proud to have Lan on our City Council and know that she would be a true asset. She has years of experience on the ARC and has been involved in the community in many other areas. Lan is a very likable person with a good head on her shoulders. We know that she will put much time and effort into this position and give it her all if she was appointed. She is honest and has integrity. She runs her own successful business with commitment and passion and those characteristics will naturally follow her in any role that she has. She has proven herself on the ARC as a good decision maker with her heart in the right place., Lan is a woman of her word and is one of the most hospitable and welcoming individuals I have ever met. The qualities will als9 serve her well as she interacts with community leaders and residents. Thank you for your consideration of this request. We have been out of town, otherwise, I would have had this to you much sooner. Best of luck to you all with this process, Michele and Jeff York 1 January 7th, 2019 Mayor Caren Ray City Councilmember Kristin Barneich City Councilmember Keith Storton City Councilmember Jimmy Paulding Ladies and Gentlemen, RECEIVED JAN o·B 2019 CITY CLERK'S OFFICE CITY OF ARROYO GRANDE It is my great pleasure to recommend Ms. Lan George to the open city council seat in Arroyo Grande, CA. I am sure you have several worthy candidates in mind, but selecting Ms. George would be an outstanding choice! I have know Lan for over ten years. My daughter, Nina and her daughter, Meagan danced together at the Dellos Performing Arts Center in Arroyo Grande. As parents, we went to countless dance competitions and shows. We've traveled up and down the state of California and shared the experience of winning and losing with our kids. Our girls even competed on television for Paula Abdul - a heart- wrenching experience we all learned from. I got to know Lan, her husband Jaime, and their other kids, Julia and Jason and I found them to be a warm and loving family with Lan at the center. She is a super organized Mom who holds them all together. We got to kno)V Julia quite well when she joined the Mock Trial Team with my wife Mja as the coach. Simultaneously, she was playing water polo with Nina. So, if it wasn't dance events, it was now water polo games, tournaments and fund raisers. Again, we were on the road together. I have always enjoyed working with Lan and Jaime. Lan has helped me personally in recent years when I started my own business as a professional photographer. The logo you see on this letter was conceived and designed by her. (It's very popular with the kids as a sticker, t-shirt and sweatshirt!) She is a very talented artist, photographer, and marketing specialist, but most remarkably, she is a good friend to so many, always willing to help and add her skills to whatever group is in need. Her husband, Jaime has also helped me as a volunteer for Operation Surf, a non- profit I worked for that teaches wounded military men and women how to surf. This is a family that loves their community and is always involved. If you've attended a football game at AGHS, you've seen Lan selling AG apparel and spirit gear. Or you've seen Jaime in the snack bar, or you've seen them on the pool deck pulling lane lines. The Georges are a family that cares and participates in this community whenever and wherever they can. Now, their youngest, Jason is playing water polo and their legacy continues. I cannot think of a more caring and dedicated person to join the Arroyo Grande City Council than Lan George. I thoroughly recommend her for this position and hope you consider her a top candidate! Kind regards, Spike Thiesmeyer Erik Spike Thiesmeyer From: Sandman, John < Sent: Tuesday, January 8, 2019 4:18 PM To: Paulding, Jimmy < Cc: plhsandman < Subject: Bruce Berlin Hi Jimmy- Hope the holidays were great for you and yours! This past Friday, Penny and I ran into the Berlin Family at the Cal Poly basketball game. After talking with Bruce, he said he was going to throw his hat into the ring for consideration of the remaining City Counsel seat. Both Penny and I have known the Berlin family for many years, through sporting events and school site councils and events. Their children attend renowned East Coast schools. They are a great family, and very bright, and even though we reside in Grover Beach, we believe Bruce would be an outstanding addition to the City, as he is articulate, has a good ear and a deep compassion for his community. We totally support Bruce and hope the City of A.G. gives him proper consideration. Note: Penny was going to send Keith an e-mail also regarding Bruce. Much thanks and talk to you soon. John Sandman I Construction Manager San Luis Obispo, CA 93401 Connect with us! www arcadis com [ I. inked In I Tuill!.fil I facP.book Be green, leave it on the screen. This email and any files transmitted with it are the property of Arcadis and its affiliates. All rights, including without limitation copyright, are reserved. This email contains information that may be confidential and may also be privileged. It is for the exclusive use of the intended recipient(s). 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From: " Date: January 8, 2019 at 5:48:33 PM PST To: <crayrussom@arroyogrande.org>, "kbameich@arroyogrande.org <kbarneich@arroyogrande.org>" <kbarneich@arroyogrande.org>, <jpaulding@arroyogrande.org>, <kstorton@arroyogrande.org> Subject: Urgent read prior to January 8th meeting: A concerned Citizen Mrs. Mayor Ray and Council, I want to first congratulate each of you on a successful campaign and Council Member Bameich on her recent successes with her non-profits. I contemplated writing this email as I feel that everyone deserves a fair chance. However, with that being said, I find myself feeling troubled and find an area of potential weakness. I recently saw that Council Member Candidate Colleen Kubel has put in her application for the vacant council seat and has proceeded through with the initial screening and is being considered as a candidate to be appointed by the City Council and City Manager. I find this very troubling. Along with Former Mayor Hill, Ms. Kubel ran a very dirty and brash campaign. Ms. Kubel has consistently spoken negatively against Mrs. Ray and Mrs. Bameich not only in and during her campaign but also in city council meetings in the past. During her campaign, she spoke negatively against Council Members Paulding and Storton. Running a campaign is one thing, but . to now be applying for a seat that requires her to work with the very people she thinks negatively of is absurd and presents the opportunity for a negative voice on the council. In Ms. Kubel's posts on Facebook, a public forum, she strongly disagrees with the very process she has chosen to be a part of. She as1 asked her followers, in a post from December 13th, 2018 to approach the council during tonights meeting informing the council that their choice to interview the candidates for the vacant seat is unfair and that the third runner up should be appointed. Obviously a biased approach; or perhaps the request of an individual who may feel that their actions during their campaign has caused a negative taste in the recent council members. She also stated in during an open forum at a recent council meeting that if she was offered that position, she would not accept it because she does not feel that the process is correct. While being 3rd on a list of candidates, I would hardly call the 16% voter percentage a runner up when the two candidates who won by fair vote, were in the 30th and above percentile. Now she has applied? Either way, my questions for Candidate Kubel are as follows: If you were appointed that seat, what will you do to prove to the citizens of Arroyo Grande that your wishy-washy negative attitude toward the council members and the city actions will not carry on to your appointment? 1 How can you assure that you will vote on items brought to city council without bias and in a bi- partisan approach? If you are so bitter by the process in which you would be chosen as the newest city council member, how can we be assured that your negativity toward the processes chosen by the city will be laid to rest and you will learn to support the workings of our city. How will you be sure to set aside your emotion and not let individuals guide your thoughts that may negatively affect the city? Can you speak to how you will work with the current city council to bring the community and not attempt to divide it like you attempted to in your campaign? - In closing, we the people of Arroyo Grande, are looking for someone who will help the city, not hurt it. We are not looking for someone who will consistently be a nay-sayer simply because its not in their own personal benefits or belief, but rather in the best interest of Arroyo Grande; We do not need another Tony Ferrara or Jim Hill. We need a council that acts in everyone's best interest, not just their own. It is my belief and opinion that we have that currently. Mayor Ray, Council Members: Storton, Barneich, Paulding, you are here because we voted for you and we felt then and feel now, that you are the best for our council. Thank you for hearing my voice and may you have a prosperous year and term. Best, JR Garcia Arroyo Grande Citizen of 30 years. 2