From: [email protected] on behalf of eSCRIBE.Admin To: Tonya Hussain
Subject: Public Comment Received
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 12:38:46 PM
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User Juan Andrade has enter the following comment(s):
I work in National City and it is important that local representatives act in favor of the community and not for special interest. Transparency is extremely important, especially at this time when the Nation is in turmoil.
for City Council Expenditure Report: July 2024 through January 2025 in Regular City Council Meeting 3/18/2025 6:00:00 PM
Please log into eSCRIBE to review the submitted comment(s).
Item 11.2
From: [email protected] on behalf of eSCRIBE.Admin To: Tonya Hussain
Subject: Public Comment Received
Date: Monday, March 17, 2025 1:43:06 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
User Ted Godshalk has enter the following comment(s):
The public does not know that your city department has an annual budget of almost 1 million dollars; $1,000,000. You are all in this together. To see your department expenditures to this point in the fiscal year only emphasizes the fact that you have driven the public to see you all as “employees.” The point of this report is not that the council is "on track” with its spending, but that it is clear that it should be about the one million dollars that you could save. for City Council Expenditure Report: July 2024 through January 2025 in Regular City Council Meeting 3/18/2025 6:00:00 PM
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From: [email protected] on behalf of eSCRIBE.Admin To: Tonya Hussain
Subject: Public Comment Received
Date: Monday, March 17, 2025 1:43:15 PM
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User Ted Godshalk has enter the following comment(s):
With Rodriguez, most of his actions are vengefully politically motivated. This is another example that he is unable to concentrate on doing the business of the Council. He wants to:
"Establish an Oversight Committee to investigate..." but the Council has no authority to investigate. The City Attorney can give his opinion on this matter. "Although the project ... [was denied ] at the Planning commission... ", the matter was slated for review. Rodriguez has a history of wasting city money.
for POLICY 105 REQUEST - Establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Facts and Circumstances of the Sweetwater Road Gas Station Project - Requested by Councilmember Rodriguez in Regular City Council Meeting 3/18/2025 6:00:00 PM Please log into eSCRIBE to review the submitted comment(s).
Item 12.1
From: Maria Severson
Sent: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 12:30 PM
To: Shelley Chapel <[email protected]>
Cc: Michael Aguirre Alexander Gutterud
Subject: National City Council meeting March 18, 2025 - public comment CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
Ms. Chapel:
Please see attached to be provided to the City Council as part of the public record for this evening’s City Council meeting.
Kindly confirm receipt.
Thank you.
Maria (Mia) Severson, Esq.
AGUIRRE & SEVERSON, LLP
Item 12.1
6 AGENDA
Consolidated Regular Meeting
Tuesday, March 18, 2025, 6:00 p.m.
Location:
Civic Center Council Chambers
1243 National City Blvd
National City, California 91950
7 PUBLIC COMMENT
In accordance with State law, Speakers will have
up to three (3) minutes.
8 12. CITY MANAGER’S REPORT
12.1 POLICY 105 REQUEST - Establish an Ad-Hoc
Committee to Investigate the Facts and
Circumstances of the Sweetwater Road Gas Station
Project -Requested by Councilmember Rodriguez
9 Tonight, I ask for your support on Policy 105:
Establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the
Facts and Circumstances of the Sweetwater Road
Gas Station Project. This is about ensuring our
city's planning processes are transparent,
accountable, and trustworthy.
10 A YES vote on Policy 105
Establishing an Ad-Hoc Committee will enable
an independent review to restore public trust by
thoroughly investigating the handling of this
project.
11 1. Why did the staff recommend a defective project
that was rejected by the Planning Commission?
A) Why did Planning Staff recommend approval,
despite major unresolved deficiencies in the project?
B) Who convinced the planning staff, who initially
identified major deficiencies, to shift to considering
these as minor adjustments and subsequently
recommend approval with a CEQA exemption?
12 1. Granting the permit would constitute a
nuisance or be injurious or detrimental to the
public interest, health, safety, convenience, or
welfare, or materially injurious to persons.
13 2. Granting the permit would be injurious to
persons, property, or improvements in the vicinity
and zone in which the property is located.
14 3. Granting the project may produce excessive
noise, general nuisances related to overconsumption of alcohol as mentioned above, and the potential for noxious odors related to the sale
of gasoline.
15 4. Based on the above findings, public
convenience and necessity will not be served by
the off-site sale of alcoholic beverages pursuant to
law.
16 2. Was Undue Influence Used Against National City
Planning Staff?
Communications between the developer and highranking city officials during the project's review process raise concerns about undue influence.
17 Our Supreme Court requires “impartiality of
the adjudicators." There is a right to “impartial
adjudicators.”
(Applebaum v. Board of Directors (1980) 104
Cal.App.3d 648, 657-658;
18 Courts have recognized that "an individual has the
right to a tribunal 'which meets . . . standards of
impartiality.' . . .even the probability of unfairness
is to be avoided.”
19 Undue influence defined
Taking an unfair advantage of another’s weakness of
mind. Civ Code § 1575
20 21
4/19/2024
22 3. How did the project get on City Council
consent agenda even after Planning Commission
found it to be a public health nuisance and
denied it, in the face of massive community
opposition?
23 A “consent calendar” is a list of routine, noncontroversial items that are grouped together and approved with a single motion and vote, saving
time and streamlining meeting procedures
24 25
26 A City Council Ad-Hoc Committee can help answer
the many unanswered questions regarding the
Sweetwater Road Gas Station project.
27 • I urge you to vote YES on establishing an AdHoc Committee through Policy 105 to investigate these serious concerns.
• Your affirmative vote is crucial for ensuring
that our land-use decisions are fair and
transparent.
28 Conclusion:
• Thank you for your attention. Your decision
tonight will demonstrate your commitment to
accountability and the integrity of our city’s
planning process. Let's ensure that our
community's concerns are addressed
thoroughly and transparently.
From: [email protected] on behalf of eSCRIBE.Admin To: Tonya Hussain
Subject: Public Comment Received
Date: Tuesday, March 18, 2025 5:04:21 PM
CAUTION: This email originated from outside your organization. Exercise caution when opening attachments or clicking links, especially from unknown senders.
User Ashley Morrison has enter the following comment(s):
As a resident on the street where the project was proposed, I am all for a committee to be formed to look into why staff all of a sudden recommended approval and to ensure that the purpose of the agenda item (13.1 at December 10th meeting) was indeed only to notify council of the decision FOR DENIAL of the project.
for POLICY 105 REQUEST - Establish an Ad-Hoc Committee to Investigate the Facts and Circumstances of the Sweetwater Road Gas Station Project - Requested by Councilmember Rodriguez in Regular City Council Meeting 3/18/2025 6:00:00 PM Please log into eSCRIBE to review the submitted comment(s).
Item 12.2