Lets review:
At some time, long long ago before the public new anything about a Plan for an OUTDOOR ADVENTURE CENTER, City Manager Tom Schwab and the City entered into an Exclusive Negotiation Agreement with a group which became known as "Grand Terrace Partners".
Was there an announcement or request for proposals offering competing for an Exclusive negotiation Agreement, making it possible for a series of plans and options being developed? When did the Public have a voice or even informed as to the Contractual Obligations of this Agreement?
How did this Exclusive Negotiation Agreement affect the flexibility to sell and develop private property from then on. Well, it caused the eventual purchase by the city a 1,200,000.00 property. This property was not able to go through escrow or continue to be used as it is currently being used as a result of the ENA.
When was the Public meeting held?
Now, we discover that the property is going to be significantly affected by future freeway development. Why on earth would anyone build any significant investment until the freeway, and roads are done. Business don't build or even lease with the expectation of a 5 or even 20 year occupancy.
We old residents know that much of this property has not been developed because it has several difficulties. First of all sewage will have to be pumped uphill to the sewer lines. Second, the land is often swamped by run off rains. Third, there is also an intermittent spring in the area.
The Grand Terrace Partners due diligence discovered that the Pie in the Sky Outdoor Adventure Center for lakes and Jet Ski's would not work. Did that spell the end of their relationship with the city? Should they have the end of their ERA? They have invested a great deal of time getting to know the territory, the long range state and federal plans. Should have this due diligence have been done by the City Planning Department before going off half cocked? Does Senator Lewis feel he has been mislead by the city?
How on earth can the Grand Terrace Partners recuperate their investment in time and money? Well, they of course propose an extending of their ERA and provide a possible alternative use for the property. This is of course after the Doodson Property has been bought and paid for by the city. Should they recuperate their investment. Perhaps not.
This group of developers has never made an Adventure Center and representing themselves as being able to accommodate the Pie in the Sky desires of the City Manager was their hook. The history of the companies successes are in fact what they are now proposing. Can the City Council get the hook out of the City's Mouth? This is the real question here. Is the City Council going to finally say NO to Tom Schwab, and his Exclusive, preferred, and Non competitive team of cohorts?
What are the new plans? Houses with almost no private yards, restaurants, Hotel, and Retail, with lakes. Right next to a freeway, requiring more traffic onto Grand Terrace's Residential Streets, the demolition of our historical school building, and the likely displacement of existing tax paying businesses.
Here is my first suggestion to the proposed sugessted plans.... NO... go back to the drawing board. If the he freeway development will encroach on the school yard, and hopefully there will be a cement wall built along the border or the school and freeway. HOWEVER Barton Road can be widened by moving the businesses on the south side more... as they are already under the bulldozer anyway. Minimizing the impact on the school property and placing the burden of the road redevelopment on the City's Preferred Developers.
It is clear the existing business under any circumstances are short timers and will have to relocate. The city should see that the construction of the freeway includes relief and assistance for our local businesses being displaced and hopefully relocated in the city. The current businesses should be the PREFERRED people here, second only the the school's preservation.
Use the existing bridge space for west bound traffic and build a east bound bridge to its south.
Perhaps the General Plan of Building a Senior Housing Project, Senior Center, and Public Library with a few small shops and restaurants on Barton Road instead of the Lowes and Mega Staters would be a better plan after all. Of course the General Plan had PUBLIC MEETINGS and the beginnings of the Town Center, and OAC were not PUBLIC until property, and the CRA and City had been Committed to Contractual Relationships without PUBLIC NOTICE or INPUT.
YES, the City Council should eliminate the City Redevelopment Agency, hire a new City Manager, and terminate all contracts and agreements entered into without competitive bidding or proposals being called for. City Manger Tom Schwab all but DARED them to dissolve the CRA, suggesting that he controlled them by controlling their purse strings.
This all is the direct result of the failings and folly and malfeasance of the City Manager Thomas Schwab, and the Planning Department use of the CRA to FUND the City, and back room deals not done in public, or not made public until the check shows up on the City Council's Check Voucher List.
IT IS TIME TO GIVE THE CRUMBS THE CLEAN SWEEP, THAT INCLUDES THE CITY MANAGER TOM SCHWAB AND ALL HIS CONTRACTED FRIENDS IN CITY OFFICES, AND DEVELOPERS. GIVE THE CITY MANAGER THREE MONTHS NOTICE, LET HIM FEEL THE WHEELS OF CHANGE.
