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Regressive Effect of Adhoc Committees One of the benefits of a democratic government is to have public discussion and discourse relative to issues that concern the public. When our council in Mission Viejo or various agencies of any government form ad hoc committees, the purpose is, ostensibly, to resolve certain problems quickly or with less oversight. The resulting effect, however, stifles public comment and results in policies that are, at best, regressive. An example of this practice in Mission Viejo is the Ad Hoc Committee on Affordable Housing Goals established when our council took the issue over from the Planning and Transportation Committee on January 3, 2006. Little public discussion has been held on housing issues, and our city is currently in litigation. The failure of such committees is simply in the track record. Our city for many years had its best-ever Planning and Transportation Commissioner. A plan was in the works to meet all state and local requirements for affordable housing, but our new council members in 2005 dismissed the commissioners and appointed new ones. The process began all over again. Failing to support their own appointed commissioners, certain council members formed an ad hoc committee to get results quickly. The vote was 3-2 with MacLean, Kelly and Ury in favor of the ad hoc committee and Reavis and Ledesma against. As with all issues, the council majority’s failure to involve the public and communicate with their own appointees created a disjointed result. James Edward Woodin |
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