Dear Editor,
As a 24-year Cypress resident, I have observed the city change through responsible and effective development of homes, retail establishments, parks, restaurants, and hotels. In fact, the most recent development, The Square, received a Housing Innovation Award. There are two city council candidates who believe Cypress needs a Planning Commission even though the city has successfully developed since 1978 without one.
In 1998, Cypress voted to codify the delegation of planning and development to the city council by passing Measure C. The city charter was updated to reflect this delegation and requires any future proposed planning commission be subject to voter approval.
It makes sense that the important role of city planning and development is overseen by elected city council members instead of unelected city representatives.
If Cypress residents have concerns with development activities, they can make their voice heard directly to the individual city council members through email and phone, at city council meetings, and at the ballot box every two and four years.
Additionally, a Planning Commission adds another layer to the important process of city development, which also means additional costs associated with city staff oversight of the commission. Cypress residents are fortunate to have a low sales tax and no utility taxes due to effective use of city revenues.
In summary, why change something that isn’t broken, and in fact works well. Proposals to make major changes in how a city operates should not be done without including important historical facts. Cypress’s history with planning and development is strong and the past and current use of the City Council as the overseers has worked. As a Cypress resident, I directly benefit from the hard work of these elected city council members who brought Dairy City to where Cypress is today. Now is not the time to change a working model.
Pearl Boelter
Cypress Resident
Data Sources:
Cypress Award
https://www.cypressca.org/home/showpublisheddocument/12755/638632844484430000
Dissolution of Planning Commission 1978
City of Cypress online public records center, city council minutes 9/11/78
Measure C Vote
https://ocvote.gov/data/election-results-archives
Measure C Description
https://elections.cdn.sos.ca.gov/ballot-measures/pdf/municipal-initiative-97-98.pdf
Cypress City Charter https://www.cypressca.org/home/showpublisheddocument/126/637594432647230000