Residents denied chance to talk storm out of Cottonwood Shores meeting
COTTONWOOD SHORES — Residents who signed up to speak on a proposed city park instead left a City Council meeting in disgust Thursday after a councilwoman’s procedural sleight-of-hand cut them off.
“You just don’t want to hear any input,” said Donald Orr, just prior to a vote by the council. “We signed up to talk.”
The by-the-numbers special meeting exploded into outrage after Councilwoman Janet Taylor-Carusi “called the question” — that is, called for the vote — before residents who were signed up to speak on the issue could voice their views.
Taylor-Carusi said comments made by residents Orr and Roger Wayson against the new park at an earlier meeting were “erroneous,” adding she was unable to attend that session due to health reasons.
Orr, a former councilman who is running again, has been a frequent critic of city leaders.
In the wake of Taylor-Carusi’s action, which effectively stopped discussion on the issue, the council voted unanimously to combine three city-held lots off Lakeview Drive and dedicate them for use as the proposed Aspen Athletic Park.
In earlier meetings, some residents voiced concerns that turning the land over for use as a park would hurt the city’s chances of obtaining government grants in the future.
The park issue dominated debate at the March 18 council meeting, where Councilman William Plumley’s motion to dedicate the parkland died for lack of a second.
“Being absent last Thursday night from the council meeting, thankfully I wasn’t able to hear all the same tired, erroneous statements, unsubstantiated accusations, felonious arguments and acrimonious carrying-on that have accompanied any discussion of this,” Carusi-Taylor said Thursday. “So in answer to all those statements numerous times and the accusations of spending money by one council or another and the argument made as to why we should or should not secure (the park lots) … I think it is time to consider the citizens of this community.”
Taylor-Carusi said earlier protests by Orr and Wayson represented only a small portion of Cottonwood Shores’ residents, adding the dedication of the parkland would serve voters and nonvoters alike.
“Just because people aren’t registered to vote doesn’t mean their voice shouldn’t be heard or taken seriously,” she said. “But unfortunately, we are led by a small number of voters from one particular area of this town, and most of those don’t really have any idea of the issues or the leadership they have put in place. In a voice that cannot and will not be denied, I will call the question.”
Mayor Bentley Martin recognized Taylor-Carusi’s motion, allowing Plumley to second. A vote was held seconds later.
Some residents tried to speak before the unanimous vote was cast, but Martin said parliamentary rules prohibited further discussion.
In many cases, residents are permitted to speak before a governing body’s final vote on an issue. However, under parliamentary rules, a vote must be taken immediately once a council member calls the question, provided that motion is recognized by the chair.
Orr, Wayson and resident Keith Patschke, who had signed up to speak, left the council chambers in disgust.
Orr said the park property represented the city’s last real-estate asset, adding the value of the property could have been used as emergency collateral for future loans.
Because the property has been dedicated for use as a park, the land’s value is essentially off the table when it comes to future grants and loans, he said.
“Are you trying to imitate the irresponsibility of our federal Congress by mortgaging our grandchildren?” he asked in a written statement turned over to The Daily Tribune. “The only difference between you and the federal Congress is that by law you cannot deficit finance and you can’t print money.”
Wayson also opposed the vote.
“We cannot give our largest liquid asset away without getting something in return,” he said in a statement intended for the council. “Remember, it is almost impossible to go back once dedicated. We have no other matches to offer.”
Wayson said other environmental issues tied to burning by the city on the park site also warranted concern.
“Is there lead, (chemicals) or asbestos left over from the home-material burning and dumping? We don’t know,” Wayson said.
Plans for the new park call for a soccer practice field, picnic tables and an open area for playing, hiking and more, according to city officials.
City Public Works Director George Perry said earlier his department is planning on creating street-side parking for the new park, adding he expects to spend no more than $1,000 to upgrade the space.
Also on Thursday, the council discussed possible water-rate increases tied to recent efforts to negotiate a new water contract with the Lower Colorado River Authority. No action was taken.
The next council meeting is 6 p.m. April 1 at the Cottonwood Shores Public Library, 4111 Cottonwood Drive.