First in a series

Reverberations still are being heard one week on about the seemingly abrupt decision by Sentinel Peak Resources, operator of the Inglewood Oil Field, to quit a debate with the City Council over new oil field rules.

“We were all disappointed,” said Vice Mayor Thomas Small, “that negotiations between the (City Council) subcommittee and the oil field operator did not have a better result.”

What motivated Sentinel to withdraw on the day of public negotiations?

“That is something of a mystery,” said the vice mayor. “Anybody will say Sentinel is motivated by a desire to make a profit. They don’t pretend to anything different.”

The inexplicable part is:

“They made overtures toward coming up with a compromise,” Mr. Small said. “Why they started along that road and abruptly turned away, I am not really sure.”

The vice mayor wishes it had turned out differently, “and I think most people do. But it makes our course clear from here on in.

“This is a hugely complicated subject. We need to look at it overall.”

Mr. Small suggested that decision-makers “take a step back and look at what we really want.”

His point:

“The only game is not to have to be extracting oil anymore.”

(To be continued)