Dear Editor,
Two weeks ago, 3 council members, Peat, Minikus, and Medrano, expressed support for squandering $585,000 redecorating a small, little-used conference room.
AND NOW COUNCIL MEMBERS MEDRANO, PEAT, AND MINIKUS HAVE GIVEN UP THEIR CONTRACTING POWERS TO THE CITY MANAGER, PETER GRANT. That means he can write checks without supervision. At the last meeting, the City Council passed a 7-year $98-million capital improvement program. This isn’t chump change! Public Works Director Nick Mangkalakiri said this “pilot program” applies to projects ranging from $50,000 to $2.4 million. And, it appears that there is NO CAP whatsoever on the expenditures Peter Grant can approve!
This change also means there will be no opportunity for citizen input on these items. The City Council would only receive quarterly updates on contract approvals after the contracts are already signed.
To make matters worse, Peter Grant was accused of “unlawful acts of misconduct.” by ex-head of public works, Doug Dancs. Council members Peat and Minikus, voted against the city attorney providing the council with any information pertaining to Dancs’s allegations and any investigation.
As mayor last year, Minikus signed off $183,000 or our money for a Non-Disclosure Agreement, plus $100,000 for outside council. For big money, I think it has to be a big deal, and since it is taxpayers’ money, I think we are entitled to see what we bought. Councilmember Medrano wasn’t sufficiently concerned about the $283,000 expenditure to attend the special meeting. Yet, now, Minikus, Peat, and Medrano want to give Grant more power over the department where the ex-head accused him of unlawful acts!
Are you concerned enough to do more than Medrano did, spend a few minutes, and write our council members or call them at 714-229-6699 and express your views?
Bonnie Peat -bpeat@cypressca.org
Scott Minikus – sminikus@cypressca.org
Leo Medrano – lmedrano@cypressca.org
Dr. Kyle Chang – kchang@cypressca.org
David Burke – dburke@cypressca.org
You can also attend the July 14th Council Meeting and comment in person or via computer in the comfort of your own home, or via email to cityclerk@cypressca.org. But DO SOMETHING!
I appreciate that Councilman Chang expressed worries about this process, and did Mayor Burke, and both of them voted against giving up their powers. They also expressed grave concern about the amount of money being spent to redecorate the conference room. If only our other council members were equally dedicated to spending our tax dollars wisely!
Citizens of Cypress elected Council members Peat, Minikus, and Medrano to represent them. If they don’t have the time, interest, or energy to fulfill their city council responsibilities, they should consider another line of work.
Linda Stock
Cypress