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City avoiding defense
I am disappointed that you omitted a very important point from your article concerning the CPRPO lawsuit against the city of Big Bear Lake: that the city clerk (city of Big Bear Lake) laid out, in her own handwriting, what she would require on the ballot initiative petition forms relating to private home rentals in order to certify them. It would have made no sense for us to simply create an initiative that complied with our interpretation of the Election Code only to have it rejected by the city clerk after it was circulated.
We went directly to the city clerk, whose responsibility it is to certify the petitions, and asked, in essence, “What will you need on the petitions in order to certify them?” She met with Jim McLean and me and provided us with a specific list of what she would require.
I personally delivered a letter to her at City Hall on July 26, 2007, along with a copy of the unsigned ballot initiative. I said, “Please confirm that you will accept the substance and form of this document.”
(The letter also said, “Mr. McLean is, of course, still disappointed that no one wishes to accept his offer to sit down and discuss the ordinance prior to the circulation of the petitions.”)
The city clerk called me after she reviewed the forms and said, “The ballot appears to be fine—call to make sure I’m in when you bring it in.”
We are also frustrated that the city will not stand behind its city clerk and citizens by filing a zealous defense. It is my understanding that the city intends only to file an answer and that it expects the real party in interest to do all of the work to defend the actions of its own city clerk.
DIXIE ALLISON
Big Bear Lake
Editor’s note: In the story that appeared Feb. 6 regarding the law suit it was noted that the petitioners followed instructions provided by the city clerk and the Registrar of Voters.
We went directly to the city clerk, whose responsibility it is to certify the petitions, and asked, in essence, “What will you need on the petitions in order to certify them?” She met with Jim McLean and me and provided us with a specific list of what she would require.
I personally delivered a letter to her at City Hall on July 26, 2007, along with a copy of the unsigned ballot initiative. I said, “Please confirm that you will accept the substance and form of this document.”
(The letter also said, “Mr. McLean is, of course, still disappointed that no one wishes to accept his offer to sit down and discuss the ordinance prior to the circulation of the petitions.”)
The city clerk called me after she reviewed the forms and said, “The ballot appears to be fine—call to make sure I’m in when you bring it in.”
We are also frustrated that the city will not stand behind its city clerk and citizens by filing a zealous defense. It is my understanding that the city intends only to file an answer and that it expects the real party in interest to do all of the work to defend the actions of its own city clerk.
DIXIE ALLISON
Big Bear Lake
Editor’s note: In the story that appeared Feb. 6 regarding the law suit it was noted that the petitioners followed instructions provided by the city clerk and the Registrar of Voters.
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The following are comments from the readers. In no way do they represent the view of bigbeargrizzly.net.
Mtn Girl wrote on Feb 28, 2008 10:20 AM:
" It will not cipple BBl, rather it will make the playing grounds more even. Most of these private homes are in residential areas, they are owned by folks that never even come to BBL, they are there for income purpose only. They should have to meet Handicapped requirements, safety requirements, and be monitored by someone in the local communities to insure the "weekenders" that stay there do not intrude upon local parking spots, cause noise etc, damage to the rental home. It is time that the folks that rent and own these private homes have to put some thought, money into it and not just collect the checks at the expense of local folks that live in BBL. "
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John wrote on Feb 22, 2008 8:16 AM:
Grow-up and stop think of yourselves. "