- Art and Culture Review
Last week’s Los Altos City council meeting left a roomful of citizens scratching their heads, looking for even a small resolution of at least two “plots” on stage.
Act I was to consider adjusting speed limits on Fremont Avenue, El Monte and Grant Road. Several citizens stood to make requests for lowered speed limits in most cases. But then after about 20 minutes of nonsensical discussion among council members, it was clear that most had done no homework. The almost full house listened to silly banter about changing speed limits to 25 to 30 to 45 to 30 to 25 miles per hour. Obviously, there was little comprehension of this serious issue and no limits were set on needless discussion.
Act II, to build or not to build a multi-plex movie house on city-owned land, ended with a decision not even all council members can completely explain after the fact.
A plan on the table initiated by the city was to seek offers from theater operators to build a theater. The original model was for six screens in a 40-foot high, 18,000-square-foot building that would cover the parking lot next to Bandara Restaurant. The land would be provided free to the business owner.
At the Dec.10 meeting, a parade of 28 speakers presented their views at the podium: 21 opposed the plan, two local residents and one student from Mountain View favored the plan, and four speakers who favored the plan are involved in the project in some way.
During the process many of the presenters faced a confrontational council. Amy Randazzo, president of the Los Altos Village Association, announced that her board that very morning had unanimously voted to oppose the multi-screen project.
King Lear interrupted with: “Is Bandera a member of LAVA? Is Jocco’s a member? Maltbys? I Fratelli? Are any restaurant owners on the board? Did you poll your restaurants?”
Randazzo responded, “Our members elect us as a board to make decisions … as you do as a city council for the city.”
Julie Rose, president of the Los Altos Chamber of Commerce, said her board likewise voted unanimously to oppose the project, citing several detailed reasons. She too was challenged as to whether her report included opinions of the membership.
Francis La Poll took the floor and badgered the audience with questions as though they were opposing witnesses in a courtroom.
“How many of you here are glad that we lost the theater on Main Street?” After waiting a moment for a show of response, he went on. “I don’t see anybody.” His conclusion was that the audience must favor a large theater.
By the end of the evening, it was obvious that the mayor was not in control of the meeting. Parliamentary procedure was out the window. The mayor asked for a motion to be proposed that had just been passed and somehow lost track of the time which by that time had reached 11 p.m. Only two agenda items had been dealt with.
It is time for all council members to review Robert’s Rules of Order. All are responsible for the decorum of the council. Together they can rein in the intimidating interruptors and grand-standers.
The business leaders and citizens who gave up an evening to watch this amateur show deserve better from elected officials. At least admission was free.
