While Gary Mandell was coasting to victory at last evening’s City Council meeting, environmental activists coasted to an abrupt defeat.
Not necessarily permanent, but a setback nevertheless.
Preparations for designing a sustainable city plan were at stake.
When this topic bobbed up on an agenda last month, it was promptly postponed when it was learned Mayor Mehaul O’Leary would not be present.
Four-fifths approval was required to make a deal – up to $94,000 — with the certifier Arts Earth Partnership. (This company is the official administrator of the Green Business Certification program, so far, for the cities of Los Angeles and Santa Monica.)
Without hesitation, Meghan Sahli Wells, the City Council’s No. 1 progressive, moved to approve and fund the program.
The gentlemen behind her not only were hesitant but strongly skeptical.
Therefore, Ms. Sahli Wells failed to score a second to her motion.
Instead, by unanimous vote, the Council agreed to direct city staffers to open up the process. They are to pursue development of a request-for-proposal document for bidders to create a sustainable program.
As for promoter Gary Mandell’s Summer Concert Series in the cozy Courtyard of City Hall, times have changed so drastically that the financial plan was approved 5-0 without a syllable of discussion.
Name in the News
William Rickards was appointed to serve the balance of Dr. Kelly Kent’s term on the Parks and Recreation Commission after she was elected to the School Board. The unexpired term ends June 30.
