The City of San Ramon is formally betraying the public trust.
Before the regularly scheduled Sept. 23 city council meeting, council members and Mayor Mark Armstrong are holding a special session to abolish Measure G, voted on in 1999, which mandates a Supermajority, 4 out of 5, of Planning Commission and City Council members needed to alter General Plan Amendments.
Why?
So that a Zoning Administrator can hold all the power needed to lend special favor to the Sunset Development Company, proposing a 20-year-long development of mixed-use and multi-family dwellings among retail and entertainment establishments.
Chirag Kathrani, founder of OpGov.ai is one of dozens of citizens protesting Sunset Development Company's request to have specific projects approved directly by the Zoning Administrator, without public oversight or hearings.
"The Planning Commission voted 4-1 to recommend approval of Resolution No. 11-25 to the City Council, despite a commissioner's objection to the process of the commission recommending changes to its own duties," Kathrani said.
Councilman Robert Jweinat addressed the public as a whole September 9. Holding up a pack of papers, the councilman assured citizens he did read all the comments.
San Ramon Councilman Robert Jweniat admits elected officials' actions could cause legal repercussions. (Photo: OpGov.ai)
“Some of the comments from the public are emotionally charged and I get it,” Jweinat said.
Oversight is not eliminated according to the councilman, saying Ordinance 532 does not abolish planning commission or city council oversight. It does allow the Zoning Administrator to have the final say, and can be appealed by any citizen.
What Jweinat did not mention was the cost of appeal.
Kathrani had to tell the public it will cost up to $4,500 to appeal the Zoning Administrator, saying “removing public oversight is not the right thing to do.”
Chirag Kathrani, OpGov.ai founder and San Ramon citizen, addresses city council members. (Photo: OpGov.ai)
Most of all, “Measure G also mandates minimum three meetings at before the city council and planning commission, and the text amendment proposed changes it a one-meeting minimum,” Kathrani added.
“The council swore to people of San Ramon not Sunset Development,” Kathrani said.
Ultimately, the councilman said said Measure G and Ordinance 532 are not linked, confusing and already complicated legal process. Bottom-line, if the council passes Ordiance 531 and 532, citizens will no longer have a say in city development.
Local Brian Swanson told officials, "The spirit" of Measure G, which prioritizes public participation, will die. Ursula Sexton said passing Measure G’s, "power to a corporation," is unacceptable." Other citizen concerns include affordable housing,parking, traffic, and the impact on local businesses.
"Sunset Development is ruining our city," Carol Gilbert said.
All public comments made are available on the OpGov.ai, a non-profit initiative that streams public meetings, provides a full transcript of the sessions, among other key takeaways from city council meetings.
Since the recent launch of OpGov.ai, 1,800 active users rely on the website for crucial government information.
The councilman said the amendents are to keep the city in line with state law, and there is no favortism given on the City Walk Agreement to Sunest Development as citizens charge.
After noting the layers of “transparency,” in the process, Jweinat has noted he does not feel it's legally correct to amend a voter approved measure.
“The city does risk inconsisties and potential legal exposure,” Jweinat said.
Kathrani, among other citizens, will continue their protest on Tuesday at 7 p.m. at City Hall, 7000 Bollinger Canyon Rd.
"I began Open Governance for such a time as this," Kathrani said. "San Ramon's history of public participation is about to end if citizens' voices are not uncovered and amplified."
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