City Council Gets Chance to Reshape Boards and Commissions

By Jorge Casuso and Lookout Staff

In what would likely be an unprecedented move, the City Council Tuesday night is expected to dump two planning commissioners - Kathy Weremiuk and Frank Gruber --who are seeking to have their terms renewed.

And, in what could be another first, two former council members - Kelly Olsen and Herb Katz -- are among the 15 candidates vying for three empty seats on the powerful commission, which oversees development in the city. (A third commissioner, Bert Bradley, is not seeking reappointment.)

The unusual scenario is the result of Santa Monicans for Renters Rights new-found super majority, which will have its first chance to reshape a number of city boards and commissions Tuesday night. And their first targets could be Weremiuk and Gruber, who are viewed as too developer-friendly for the tenants' groups liking.

"If I'm reading the tea leaves, they probably won't be re-appointed," said Councilman Michael Feinstein. "There were a significant number of cases where what they were doing was so in contrast with what this council is doing that it doesn't make sense to have them give decisions that will be appealed or overturned."

"It may be time for fresh voices," said Mayor Pam O'Connor, who said a combination of factors -- including the commissioners' position on issues such as housing, as well as Weremiuk's six years on the commission -- make her reluctant to re-appoint them. "These things are not a reflection personally on them."

Supporters of Weremiuk and Gruber contend that the council is replacing experienced commissioners with political appointments that amount to little more than a rubber stamp.

"That's basically saying that they want 'yes' people, that they're not interested in the voice of experience or other points of view," said Planning Commissioner Eric Parlee. "If they want a rubber stamp planning commission that gives them the imprimatur on their previous decisions, that's the kind of commission they'll get.

"They need to have a commission that will back up whatever they want to do and that's not good public process," Parlee said. "But that's politics and that's all this is."

The front runners vying to fill the empty seat are:

· Olsen, who is said to be positioning himself to recapture the council seat he vacated in 1994 after failing to win the SMRR endorsement for re-election.
· North of Montana Neighborhood Association leader Darrell Clarke, who impressed council members in the fight to stop "monster mansions."
· Former city planner and current Green Party member Susan White, who sits on the Architectural Review Board.

"All of them bring a different set of skills," O'Connor said.

Like Olsen, Katz, an architect who has sat on numerous boards and commissions, is said to be preparing to recapture a seat on the council. But unlike Olsen, he is expected to run as a SMRR opponent and likely lacks the four votes necessary to win a seat on the planning commission.

The removal of Weremiuk and Gruber -- who supported anti-SMRR candidate Susan Cloke in the April election for an open council seat - may have to do with personalities as well as politics.

Weremiuk -- and fellow commissioner Parlee -- lambasted council members Ken Genser and Michael Feinstein in the press two years ago, arguing that the two had attacked her when she spoke during a council meeting about her position on a development project that subsequently went to the council for final approval.

Council members point to positions taken by Gruber and Weremiuk on several development projects, as well as their support for longer hours for the Pacific Park, the "fun zone on the pier." The commissioners also backed lower fees than SMRR wanted for developers who choose not to build affordable housing on site.

But colleagues on the commission say Weremiuk and Gruber have done a good job and should be re-appointed.

"One of the nicest things is that we're consensus oriented, we work together and I think that era is ending," said commission Jon Zinner. "We're for appropriate development. We don't say no just to say no."

In addition to the three open seats on the planning commission, the council is expected to fill vacancies on the following boards and commissions:

Airport (2), Architectural Review Board (2), Arts (4), Commission on Older Americans (2), Commission on the Status of Women (2), Housing (2), L.A. County West Vector Control Board (1), Library (1), Personnel (1), Recreation and Parks (1) and Social Services (3).