Moore, Tania
From: Steven C Shepherd Architect <[email protected]> Sent: Tuesday, August 2, 2022 11:39 AM
To: CITY COUNCIL; [email protected]
Subject: AGENDA ITEM #16 - SUPPORT FOR THE RECOMMENDED ACTION Any objective reader of the report prepared by Mr. Craig Steele of Richards Watson Gershon (RWG) can see the problems: Poor professional practices and procedures by the HB City Attorney's Office and a lack of effective oversight by the HB City Council.
While the accusations of two city employees and the HB City Attorney's Office's participation in the subsequent itigations had always appeared to be troubling, Mr. Steele's report confirms the dysfunction. Even as a layperson, i wasn't difficult to see what seemed to be an overt conflict of interest from a mile away As a competent legal professional, the HB City Attorney should have understood appearances and recused himself and most of his office from this matter. Upon failing to recuse, the HB City Council should have insisted on these recusals and hired independent counsel to represent the interests of Huntington Beach. Unfortunately, neither of these things happens, and this can only be viewed as a failure for our city.
In hindsight, I hope the HB City Council and the City Attorney can agree that this matter could and should have been handled differently and that changes are necessary. In my mind, the best place to begin ensuring that future issues are addressed more appropriately would be the implementation of the recommendations outlined by Mr. Steele in his report.
I strongly support the recommended action in this agenda item, and I sincerely hope this is only the first step in a renewed effort to improve our local government.
Thank you.
Sincerely,
Steve Shepherd
Huntington Beach 92646
SUPPLEMENTAL
COMMUNICATION
Meeting Date:_ 8/2/2022
Aganda Mam No: *ll (22-659).
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