Editorial from August 31, 22007

“Speak, but will they listen?”

   Having watched the Big Bear Valley Recreation and Park District for almost five years now, it looks like a small step will be taken in allowing the public to speak. For nine years, the Park Advisory Commission’s agenda presented the public forum before the items that will be discussed and would not allow most people to speak on items on the agenda. When it comes to their workshops, there has been no place where the people could ask questions, present ideas, or comments. The public was to be seen, but not heard.

   At a workshop in April the public demanded to speak and refused to be shut up. The people who came to the workshop from Fawnskin couldn’t stay in their seats and were definitely angered when Commissioner Don Allen informed the public that they don’t allow the public to speak at workshops, “because they are there to do work.” Similar disgust was mumbled at the pool committee meetings and a definite pattern has been established.

   Recently, at their July 17th meeting, Bob Ybarra during the public forum, asking the park commission to put the public forum after the discussion/action items on their agenda. This sentiment was repeated at their Aug 21st meeting, when someone from the Historical Society wanted to speak about the problems at Big Bear City Park. Neil Nickel asked how he could comment on something that hadn’t been reported on by the staff. He was told by Commissioner Cassy Benson that, the public forum was the only place for public comment allowed and that he should make his statement then, which he did. When another Historical Society member, Tim Sweet asked to speak again, it was allowed. When Ybarra asked to speak again, he was told that he was “out of order” by Benson.

   Then further down in the agenda was the issue brought up by Ybarra in the July’s meeting to move the public forum at the end of the agenda. Reese Troublefield, general manager of the Park District, stated that his boss, Jeff Rigney didn’t want to change the agenda order. However, consultation with the County’s attorney told him to run the meeting the same way the County’s Supervisors meetings; public forum is for items not on the agenda and each item for discussion and/or action should be opened to the public after the staff has made their report and before the commissioners discuss and/or take action on the item. On Aug. 29th, it became a formal press release that this is how all future Park District meetings will be held.

   Wow, what a concept! Run a meeting where the public is allowed to speak in an orderly fashion. Image, if the public had been allowed to speak and participate in the pool committee and if the committee had been run in full view of the public. That failed project, that cost so much of the taxpayer’s money, time and frustration, might have had a chance. I say might, as I am not sure that the powers behind the project’s leader, wanted to listen. When the ballots came out, several people stated to me that they believed that there was only minimal opposition. I can only presume that these people were only listening to the 24% that voted for the pool.

   We applaud the Park District’s decision to run their meetings in accordance to the wishes of the people and the Brown Act. When the Park District’s commissioners discussed this issue in their August meeting and a complete turn around was seen by the public, they did make comments that opening up the items for public discussion would make their meetings longer. If they want shorten their meetings then use the Supervisor’s format for an agenda and create a consent calendar for the informational items; just like the big boys do.

   No matter what the press release states that the Park Commissioners are in favor of this change, we believe that it is all just spin doctoring and they were forced to change their procedures. They really don’t want people to speak, especially if the speaker has any objections to the way they want to run the Park District. The irony of the Park Advisory Commission is just that; advisory only and the County can override whatever they decide. They have no power and serve on the board at the pleasure of San Bernardino County Supervisor Dennis Hansberger, who chooses the appointees to his liking.

   The Park Commission needs to be overhauled with people who listen and take the information gained to adjust their position. Inclusive organizations and government get more done, with less time and money. Exclusive groups lose support of the public and are looked upon as little dictators. In this era of distrust that any government can do something effectively for the people, it would make sense to clean house and start fresh with new people. The current Park Commission has left Supervisor Hansberger with a black eye and in an election year, that doesn’t go well for the supervisor. Many people are still angry about the pool project, lack of maintenance on Parks outside of Big Bear Lake, and the zoo. Supervisor Hansberger can kiss all the ‘powerful’ babies in the West end and still lose the election.

   The horse has been forced to the water, but you can’t make it drink - Well in this case, listen. There is a reason why so many people who have joined the Park Commission and have left so quickly. Listening is not a strong character among several of the core commissioners. The turnover and lack of participation from members of the commission has been going on for years now. In the last two years there have been at least five or six commissioners who have quit, sometimes abruptly. People, who apply for a voluntary position, do so to do something for the public at large. After they join, they find out that no one will listen to them either. Jerry Boone was appointed as the Sugarloaf representative. She asked questions last year, walked her park area, and tried to get answers to her questions – she did not and she quit abruptly from the Park Commission within one year of her appointment. This tells anyone with management skills that something is wrong with the organization from within.

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