More information about the requirements of these positions and application forms may be obtained from the Clerk of the Board of Supervisors by calling (925) 335-1900 or by visiting the County webpage at www.co.contra-costa.ca.us. Applications must be postmarked no later than April 25, 2008.

The issue is, some Commissioners can’t get beyond the crocodile tears of some abusers that claim they’d be driven out of business with Draconian rules that prohibit: auto repairs, non-resident employees, gaudy business signage, large trucks, and the like from crushing the life out of a neighborhood.

An example given is a “home business” that has four trucks used for delivering home appliances. These trucks are parked on the street of an otherwise quiet neighborhood. Employees or contractors come each morning in their cars and take off for the day in the delivery trucks. The trucks and paper work return in the evening. The business owner claims insurance won’t let employees take the trucks home at night, and the proposed rules prohibiting non-resident employees coming to the house would ruin the business.

This sounds like nothing more than a cheapskate who is willing to dump on his neighbors for the sake of one’s so-called absolute right to “free enterprise.”

But this isn’t a case of local government limiting “free enterprise.” Not even close. It’s more a matter of cutting corners and making your neighbors pay for your greed and business sloth. Not even Chevron gets away with that kind of blowback in a neighborhood, let alone someone too cheap to rent a dispatch yard, or pay the extra premuim to cover the insurance.

This example of abuse and many others around Concord and Central County neighborhoods is way past the implied use of residential zoning that neighbors and municipalities tacitly accept.

Don’t tell him, but I agree with Brumley. Concord’s Planning Commissioners and Council should get off the dime and get this Home Business code on the books.

Why did you not vote for Ron Leone in the first ballot?

I like Carolina Salazar’s energy and knowledge of housing and planning.

Why did you switch to Ron Leone on the second ballot and not join Shinn and Hoffmeister for Harmon West?

Despite our past differences I decided to give him a chance. It’s only a one year term. Plus I was not sure where the other votes were going…Hoag, West? Both of them are also good candidates I may decide to support in February.

Having now participated in this process from up on the dais I don’t like the “tradition” of Council members not discussing the applicants before the actual vote. I think it would be a more transparent and responsible process if we did and I intend to make that my practice in the future.

I am also concerned that nobody took the opportunity to come to the podium and give us their advice or recommendation.

Will Leone have to recuse himself on CNWS matters because he lives on the border?

He may. He will need to consult with the City Attorney on matters where a conflict of interest might exist and act accordingly.

Planning Commission appointments deserve the utmost public scrutiny; especially with billions of dollars at stake from development opportunities including the Concord Naval Weapons property and infill projects in and around an expanded Redevelopment District and Downtown Concord that will create thousands of homes, jobs, and potential tax revenue.

Unfortunately, the public knows very little about the process or the applicants including their economic or political interests. And the public can only guess about the unseen backers—the usual suspects—who provide not a little arm twisting of council members to make sure their man gets the job that may hasten some project’s approval by Council.

And let’s not forget that the Planning Commission’s got juice, and once established as a player, such an appointment is a safe sinecure from which to solidify connections and rev up for a run for a council seat.

For instance, this bunch of applicants includes Robert Hoag, a retired Account Manager for IBM and recent unsuccessful applicant for the recent vacant city council seat the CNWS Community Advisory Committee (ed. mistake). Harmon West, is a five year member of Concord’s Community Services Commission who has run twice for City Council unsuccessfully. Along with some other candidates, there is also Ron Leone, who works for Antioch School District, and serves as a director on the Mt Diablo Hospital Board.

Interestingly, in the past city council election, Leone’s unsuccessful campaign benefitted from an (apx) $22,000 donation in the form of a mailer sponsored by an independent expenditure funded by the East Bay Business Coalition.

So is this a fair fight or what? Do you believe this is an open and honest application process? Or is it so corrupt it’s not even worth talking about? Should a sitting council member who has received campaign donations from the East Bay Business Coalition recuse themselves from such a vote? What can be done to make Planning Commission appointments more transparent and invite more public input than what we have now? Hell…should there even be a Planning Commission the way it’s organized now?

In addition to the usual statements of Economic Interest, perhaps the City could require and make available to the public, applicant statements concerning past campaign contributions they have received. And, in addition to regular filings required by the State of California, City Council members could voluntarily republish for distribution on the City website their own campaign contribution list with name of donor, date, and amount of donation.

This way the public might have a chance to connect the dots, figure out what’s what, and raise a ruckus sooner than later after the fix is in.