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Dear Mr. Crawford,
First of all I am a huge fan of the Sierra Madre Tattler. I introduced myself to you at the last city council meeting. I hope I expressed adequately how much I appreciate what you do to preserve the precious unique quality of our city.
Late Saturday night I sent e-mails to all five city council members urging them to pass both a building and a water moratorium.
To my pleasant surprise, early this morning, I received a reply from Council Member Delmar.
Here is my e-mail to her.
Dear Council Member Delmar,
Concerning the Building/Water moratorium, the city's water shortage, and the fact that the residents of Sierra Madre do not want the three proposed housing developments, I urge you to support both a building and a water meter moratorium.
The developments would irrevocable destroy our 107 year tradition of preserving our unique beauty as a small town rural village. For generations the residents and all past City Councils have prohibited this kind of inappropriate growth.
The suggestion to impose Phase 3 of the water conservation plan, as a solution to both the water and the building issues, is not adequate and is punitive as well. First it will not stop developments that already have water provisions, which I think exist. Thus a building moratorium is needed to stop those that do have water in place.
Also, the fines in Phase 3, coupled with the addition reduction in our permitted water usage is particularly punitive to those of us who have diligently cut back on our water usage. My family has been under our City established water usage target every month since the conservation program began.
The plan to impose Phase 3 will be a slap in the face to all of us who have been doing our share and then some unless initially the fines are restricted to those who don't at least meet the Phase 1 level to start.
We really do need both the water and the building moratoriums. Both problems are attended to that way.
No one wants to deny a person the right to build a home here. We all love living her because of our city's unique quality. It is no wonder others would want to live here too. We just want their homes to blend in and compliment our rural uniqueness, and we need to wait until our water supply justifies additional homes here in Sierra Madre before issuing any new building permits.
Council Member Delmar, I believe you support the preservation of our community's uniqueness and I believe the best way to do that is by passing both moratoriums.
As conditions change in the future so can the provisions of the moratoriums change. At this time we need to stop all new building, assess our status, and plan our future wisely. Please support both moratoriums.
Respectfully,
Barry Gold
Here is her reply.
Mr. Gold,
Thank you for your email. Sierra Madre must impose an ordinance or regulations prohibiting new water connections until our own water supply is replenished. The proposed General Plan addresses new development or growth must be contingent on the supply of Sierra Madre's natural resources. It is in my opinion, imperative all new building be halted until our water supply is replenished and the proposed General Plan is adopted as written.
Denise
I replied as follows:
Dear Council Member Delmar,
First I thank you for your quick reply to my e-mail. Secondly I am so relieved to hear that you so strongly support the immediate halt to all new building and the adoption of the General Plan as written.
The halt to new buildings eases the pressure on the water issue and the General Plan addresses the issue of future homes being compatible and in harmony with our existing unique neighborhoods.
My wife and I would like to know if there is anything we can do to help you with these issues.
Again thank you for your reply and your commitment to preserving our precious community's identity.
With best regards,
Barry Gold
Her next reply. I have highlighted the part that troubles me.
Mr and Mrs. Gold,
As with any issue, sending an email or calling all the City Council Members with your concerns and informing them you support all means to halt for the time being any new building is the best thing you can do.To date, I have only heard from two residents.
I know there are many others yet they haven't reached out to me and I would assume haven't reached out to the others. You might encourage others to do as you have
done.
I plan on reading portions of the emails I receive at the meeting and request your permission to read part of the email you sent me.
To you and your wife, my sincere gratitude to your support on this matter.
Denise
My final reply to her:
Dear Council Member Delmar,
Again thank you for your quick response. I will urge everyone I can to e-mail all of the Council Members urging them to support you in your effort to halt, for now, any new building and adopt the General Plan which will preserve our community's uniqueness.
Also, you have my permission to read any part of my e-mails I sent to you and use them in any way you see fit.
Barry and Judy Gold
As you can see with Denise Delmar on the City Council there is hope that we can win this uphill battle to protect our city from the well financed outside forces that see only dollar signs and do not care in the least about us. Her support for the adoption of the General Plan is also a great thing.
Many have said that it is vital that we fill the council chambers to overflowing at the July 8 council meeting. Delmar tells us that it is equally important to flood the council member's e-mail in boxes with our feeling as well.
Is there a way you could help with the e-mail project?
Here are the e-mail addresses of the five council members.
COUNCIL MEMBERS E-MAIL ADDRESSES:
JHarabedian@cityofsierramadre.com
JCapoccia@cityofsierramadre.com
rarizmendi@cityofsierramadre.com
ddelmar@cityofsierramadre.com
ggoss@cityofsierramadre.com
I know you have a lot to read so I apologize for being so long winded but I thought you would be interested in my e-mail exchanges with Council Member Delmar.
Respectfully,
Barry Gold
Mod: When the Founding Fathers set this rather successful experiment in Democracy up, the assumption was that the people would care enough about their own lives to participate, thus assuring that the will of the people would inform each and every decision their elected representatives made. When you read that a Councilmember has only received two constituent e-mails regarding what is perhaps the most important issue to face this community since the DSP and Measure V, you really do have to wonder what is going on here. The 4th of July is this Friday. Let's practice a little Democracy.
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