San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong at the Oct. 14 regular council meeting.
(SAN RAMON) They actually did it.
San Ramon Mayor Mark Armstrong and the city council passed a law last night that, according to county officials, is illegal.
But before the ordinance passed, which deletes public participation in the voter-approved Measure G -- a law protecting hillside and open space -- some citizens were removed from the podium for exceeding their three-minute allotment. At the same time, the city's former mayor and councilmember, Greg Carr, was allowed to speak for four minutes without any force being taken.
The most disturbing part of the evening was when the mayor and the council members removed themselves from the dais due to the chaos, proving they could not take the pressure. But before they got up, Carr respectfully reamed the current chief and city council out with all due political correctness.
"I hadn't planned to step into what has taken place," Carr said in this video, adding it had been a while since he was in city hall.
Carr was one of several citizens who expressed concerns about public transparency. Brian Swanson began the parade of citizens, who questioned the quiet abolition of a voter-approved measure that promises future open space and citizen input in San Ramon's development.
Swanson, a Twin Creek South resident, said, "I rise tonight to have agenda 5.3, ordinance 534, removed from tonight's agenda and reclassified back to a full agenda item to be further discussed in public hearings at future city council meetings."
Visibly shaken while addressing the mayor and council, Swanson was told to leave the podium after three minutes, as seen in this video. However, Carr spoke for almost four minutes without being publicly intimidated, while Swanson was led away from the podium by a security guard.
Resident Brian Swanson was escorted away from the podium at San Ramon Town Hall on Tuesday, Oct. 14.
The OpGov.ai platform reports the meeting "was largely overshadowed by intense public frustration and perceived lack of transparency, particularly concerning Agenda Item 5.3, Ordinance 534, which proposes significant changes to building codes and, controversially, to the voter-approved Measure G."
The platform points out the exact truth, but with much less drama and political theater than is typically seen in real-time.
"The Council's encouragement for Planning Academy graduates to counter 'misinformation' appeared to fall flat amidst persistent accusations of a lack of clear communication from the city itself regarding the legal and practical implications of the proposed Measure G changes," the OpGov.ai platform reports.
To demonstrate the precision of the OpGov.ai platform, this real-time, human reporter captured the same truths while watching the more than two-hour-long meeting, which OpGov.ai condensed in full to just two minutes.
And yet, this is what Vice Mayor Sridhar Verose charges against the force of nature OpGov.ai is bringing to the community, as seen here.
People are not misinformed; they are neglected by you, Verose.
"Misinformation and dissinformation are being shared left and right within the community, and unfortunately, youth is getting dragged into this," Verose said regarding OpGov.ai high school students who feel passionate about transparent government.
Bottom-line right there: the vice mayor is encouraging youth not to get involved in government.
Among said youth, Olu Odwali got right to the point, telling officials, "I am really here to understand Measure G," he said, adding it has been made known to him that "the council is trying to take that away from us, the voters."
San Ramon resident Olu Odwali shares his concerns over Measure G.
Then he called out Councilmember Robert Jweniat, saying "he voted for it and later on rescinded his vote for the measure to continue."
"I need to understand why," Owali said.
Resident Richard Curry prefaced his three-minute note by stating he has been a San Ramon citizen for 34 years and has raised his three kids here as seen in this video.
"Like others, I request that item 5.3 be removed from the consent calendar to allow for further discussion, public comment, and a more transparent public process to address changes and deletions that are being proposed by the city in relation to ordinance 534," Curry said. "Specifically, the requirements to remove Measure G, voted for by the residents."
Susie Ferris-Inderkum did not need three minutes to share her concern.
Susie Ferris-Inderkum keeps her statements short and sweet.
"It was recently stated that there is a Sunset clause associated with Measure G, and I have been unable to find out, so I would really appreciate it if somebody feels strongly that you have the right to sunset Measure G and remove it from everything that you would make that perfectly clear to the public," Ferris-Inderkum said, among other things in this video.
Anay Gandhi, a sophomore at Dodie Valley High and volunteer with the Open Governance Initiative, stated that Measure G, which protects open spaces, is being "illegally abolished" through the removal of supermajority and public oversight for significant developments.
Resident Karen McNamara emphasized her commitment to principled public policy and transparency. The OpGov.ai platform highlights McNamara's concerns, noting that she questioned the rationale behind changes and asked officials about the specific state laws governing the decision.
"Calling the changing of voter-approved Measure G provisions a 'slippery slope' and an 'affront to a democratic system,'" OpGov.ai platform reports, noting McNamara also added how the council's actions were causing "unnecessary risks to public trust and input."
Ed Sarubbi, a 30-year resident, articulated two sides of the Measure G debate.
"While acknowledging state housing mandates, he urged adherence to Measure G or its change through voters," OpGov.ai platform reports, adding he also "asserted that the city council lacks authority to change voter-approved Measure G without direct voter approval."
Introducing herself only as Aida, the young mother shared her concerns.
A San Ramon mother who only offered her first name when addressing elected officials.
"Similar to my fellow San Ramon residents, I have very serious concerns with Measure G," she said. "My concerns are public safety, but most of all, as a mom with three kids, my concerns are over development."
Aida explained that her family moved to San Ramon 15 years ago to escape overdeveloped cities like Dublin. "We loved seeing the parks and open space," she said. "We are losing the beauty of San Ramon."
Not to mention traffic congestion and the removal of trees, as noted by the resident.
Carr said he suspects "that a lot of the concerns have been because of a lack of information."
Former San Ramon Mayor Greg Carr is visibly upset as he speaks to the San Ramon mayor and council.
"You have all the information and the staff does," Carr said, emphasizing the trick is to convey and educate "as much as you can with really what is going on with Measure G and all the way up to the State of California and the push for housing."
"You need to sit down and tell them some things," Carr added.
That is precisely what Chirag Kathrani asked for when he took to the podium.
"We need to have a public meeting if we are taking on such bigger actions," Kathrani said.
Carr said the mayor and council need to share "the realities about how the state government can try and control what you do and if you thwart them."
"The state DOJ on you will make your lives hell, and you do not want that," Carr said, pointing to his personal experience. "Nobody wants that except maybe Greg Carr in the old days, but I am tired of that."
"I would urge you to hear what they have to say, even if it's not altogether or there are errors among it, but there is a kernel of truth to what each of them says and the concerns," Carr said. "The concerns they have are 'where is this city going and how is it going to be in the future."
The former mayor explained the importance of transmitting information: explaining to the public how directives from the governor "end up on your laps on the dais."
"Offer a public meeting and explain what you know and what is driving your decision that counters what they think or want," Carr said.
Playing devil's advocate, Carr noted that if only 10 people show up, "then that is on them," and then "that is not your fault."
"Do your best to explain to them why your hands are tied; that is your job," Carr said. "I know that all of you have that ability to do that, but it is having the desire to."
Ultimately, Carr warned that if you don't educate and inform them, "some of those concerns may end up at the ballot box."
The one thing Carr was happy to see was concerned citizens questioning elected officials.
After the meeting, Kathrani said he is considering filing for a "Cure and Correct" demand in violation of the Ralph M. Brown Act.
"I hereby demand that the City Council cure and correct this violation by taking the following actions within 30 days,” Kathrani said. “Rescind the approval of the item in question, re-agendize the item as a regular agenda item at the next available public meeting, and allow full public comment and council deliberation prior to any new vote."
OpGov.ai is following Measure G closely, and asks if any resident has concerns to contact me at reporterangelaunderwood@gmail.com.
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