Significant Differences Were Mismissed as "edits", by Eric

From: eschaefe
Date: Thu, Jul 30, 2015 at 10:48 AM
Subject: Rescind "Community Vision 2040" or Suffer the Consequences

Liang,
Thank you for publishing the information on the BC blog.  Writing to the city is so much easier when I can point to the data.
I responded at cupertinogpa.org:

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On July 29 and July 30, the Better Cupertino blog (http://bettercupertino.blogspot.com/) published some explicit examples of significant differences between the new general plan ("Community Vision 2040") and the previous general plan.  If these differences were even noted in the comparison tables at cupertinogpa.org, they were dismissed as "edits".  In fact, the comparison tables at cupertinogpa.org indicate that there were no significant changes between the new general plan and the old, only splits, joins, and edits.

Thank goodness that some residents have the time and inclination to watch what the city is doing; and what a pity that the city is muddling the process.

I understand that recently some city staff met with some residents to analyze the differences between the old plan and the new ... and I wonder why that hasn't been published on cupertinogpa.org

The city does not appear forthcoming about publishing the changes to such an important document as the general plan.  The process suggests an incompetence or a lack of transparency in our municipal government.

The CV2040 was approved by the city council at a meeting that had a full agenda, by a council with two new members.  There was significant public participation at the meeting.  The changes between the old plan and the new were not published before the meeting, and there was very little deliberation among council members.  I am not confident that the full extent of the changes are known even now.  I wonder that the council members (and residents) were aware of the full implications of resolution 14-211.

I urge the city council to take the following actions:
1. Rescind resolution 14-211 (general plan "Community Vision 2040", and general plan map amendments).
2. Postpone any action that is predicated on 14-211.
3. Request the city staff to publish an accurate analysis of the differences between the old plan and the new plan.
4. After the differences are published, let the residents provide feedback, and let the council members consider the changes and diligently deliberate in a transparent council action.

Thank you for your consideration.
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