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| Steve Burrell's Retirement Party Two Months Ago April 5, 2012 |
Here is a letter to the City Council regarding this consulting agreement from long time resident Barbara Guild who beat oil drilling in 1957. Barbara Guild has also done an extensive review on the agreement signed by Hermosa Beach and suggest that you read her oil agreement comments here.
Barbara Guild's Letter to City Council of Hermosa Beach
Dear Mayor Duclos, Councilman Fishman, Councilman Tucker, Councilman DiVirgilio, Councilman Bobko,
STOP and THINK before you go forward tonight and inappropriately approve not one, but two of the following items: “Agreements for Consulting Services to Augment Staff in processing Land Use Entitlements and an Environmental Impact Report in Connection with an Oil Drilling Project.” DO NOT VOTE FOR THESE TWO AGREEMENTS!!!
I have lived in Hermosa Beach for 64 years, and I am very interested in maintaining the flavor as well as the environment of our city. I actively defeated the Shell Oil Co. in their proposal to drill for oil in our tidelands in 1957. And I spoke to the Council, March13th, following the signing of the current agreement with E & B, where I stated that we are now starting with a clean slate and must realize this fact.
The people of Hermosa Beach should be allowed to know which firms are bidding for the opportunity of preparing the necessary Environmental Impact Report. It should not be given to the first group that comes along. Allow those of us who are most interested in protecting our environment to come up with suggestions of who to engage. We have many environmental issues that need addressing, and a two-man group from Orange County, with no office on record, only a P. O. Box, should not be signed up without further consideration and public input.
The Settlement Agreement you signed, March 2, 2012, limits, to $50,000, the amount of money E & B will provide to reimburse the City for only these THREE items from (Paragraph 4.4 a):
1) The EIR,
2) The CEQA
3) The Election to rescind the Oil Drilling Ban.
Former City Manager, Steve Burrell could earn $168,000 for each fiscal year (plus expenses), and the preliminary estimate for Almanza & Associates is $138,000. This would leave nothing to pay for the election, if it’s ever called. Do you really think that E & B is going to pay for the contracts you might sign tonight? Please seriously consider your vote!We would like to hear some details on why these people were chosen and what their qualifications and expectations are. This comes from City Officials like Michael Divirgilio who is sounding the horn on more public transparency which I think is good. Some questions I have for these individuals:
Yours sincerely, Barbara Guild
P.S. Here is Paragraph 4.4 of the March 2, 2012 Agreement the City made with E & B:
4.4 a. E & B’s Obligations Following Closing a. Reimburse City for the cost of preparation of an environmental impact report or supplemental environmental impact report (EIR) pursuant to the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) based on a Project description provided by E & B, should such an EIR be prepared and the cost of conducting a special election NOT TO EXCEED $50,000 as provided in Paragraph 4.6 (a). (Emphasis added). We are concerned why the city staff would need "assistance with processing the development application and other necessary entitlements" since this is a technical and straightforward procedure that shouldn't require a specialist consultant to accomplish. Unfortunately, Mr. Burrell placed a political cloud over his head by choosing to retire when he did. Had he stayed on longer, this contract would not be necessary. Although the city is not paying for his services, it has the appearance of double-dipping. Those opposing oil development will make hay of this which may very well distract from the serious issues of determining the safety of this project and proposed financial return to the city.
1) What are the details of this consulting agreement?
2) How much are they getting paid and by Hermosa Beach?
3) What is their history with the project, E&B, oil or lawsuit?
4) What is their professional experience managing processes like this?
5) Do Steve Burrell or Ed Almanza have any conflicts of interest?
6) How will this facilitate the promise from City Council about making the EIR process public?
7) Are any city residents involved in the EIR process?
8) Why are the we, the citizens, paying for this? Why isn't this cost being underwritten by the oil company? Or are we concerned that if they pay for it we won't get legitimate answers?
Please add your comments here.
