A new and starkly different era was supposed to have dawned for the City Council, starting at 7 this evening in Council Chambers.
Through the encouragement of City Manager Mark Scott — celebrating his 6-month anniversary — it has been tentatively decided that it is not necessary for the Council to meet every week.
And when they do meet, sometimes they will engage in what is creatively known as Study Sessions.
Study, by definition, being a solitary pursuit, the Council’s debuting Study Sessions are designed as private-type meetings where the public may quietly walk in and watch, hopefully noiselessly, over their 10 shoulders.
Maybe not, it turns out.
As of last Saturday, the instrument in Councilman Gary Silbiger’s right hand may be a monkey wrench.
Cranking up his email list, Mr. Silbiger ground an an urgent 206-word message two days ago to FOGs (Friends of Gary), summoning them to tonight’s meeting.
Their duty, to flood Council Chambers, bang their drums and raise a tintinabulous clatter over the current GFCOTM (Gary’s Favorite Cause of the Moment), public notification.
The only Action Item on this evening’s agenda is public notification.
This is a cause Mr. Silbiger has been pursuing for nigh onto 8 years, with the apparent objective of filling all seats in Chambers every Monday. Many Mondays, the audience could arrive in two or three cars, which is colleagues interpret as community satisfaction with their tasks..
Undeterred, Mr. Silbiger fights with the same vigor he did in the old decade.
If the FOGs respond as hoped for, the proposed Study Session may swiftly descend into tatters.
He may be able to influence this meeting but not next week’s. For the first time in eons, a meeting is not scheduled during a regular part of the year next Monday or Tuesday.
Meanwhile, here is Mr. Silbiger’s email to FOGs:
This Monday, January 11, the City Council of Culver City will be starting the New Year by holding its meeting with 7 crucial topics that need your immediate input. These topics include:
1. Public Notification – who, when, and how our City must inform the community of important issues; and Public Involvement – ways of encouraging the community to participate in our City;
2. Sustainability – I believe that Culver City should create a public Sustainability/Environment Committee that meets regularly to listen to public comment and then makes recommendations to the Council. This committee would replace the current secret committee made only of 2 Council members and staff.
3. What types of Committees should exist in Culver City and how should they be structured?
4. Should Culver City pay for its own Federal and State lobbyists?
5. What process should the City use when it is involved in an Environmental Impact Report?
For more information, go to www.culvercity.org and click on the January 11, 2010 City Council agenda.
Then, write, e-mail, call and meet with your 5 Council members. And, this Monday at 7:00 p.m., come to the City Council meeting to participate in these crucial discussions that can greatly improve the quality of life for all of us.
