City staff must answer our questions on special events and planned unit developments

City Attorney ISABELLE LOPEZ and City Planning and Building Director DAVID BIRCHIM are attempting to avoid and evade questions about special events and planned unit developments.
Ms. LOPEZ interrupted Virginia Whetstone at today's Planning and Zoning Board workshop when Ms. Whetstone asked about the exemption of Historic Preservation Zone HP-1 from the proposed ordinance on special events like weddings.
Ms. LOPEZ patronizingly said that PZB members and staff would "take notes" and (perhaps) answer questions later. This procedure is unsatisfactory -- too often, citizens ask questions that are NEVER answered, even after ten (10) years!
Ms. LOPEZ's interruption of Ms. Whetstone was disrespectful.
Mr. BIRCHIM has refused to provide me with a list of all planned unit developments in the City of St. Augustine, Florida, requested nine (9) days ago. See below.
How disrespectful, disdainful and rude.
Ask questions. Demand answers. Expect democracy.


----Original Message-----
From: easlavin
To: dbirchim
Sent: Thu, Mar 12, 2015 5:01 pm
Subject: Re: Request No. 2015-57: List of All Existing PUDs in City of St. Augustine

How on Earth do City Hall managers expect citizens and public officials to have an informed, intelligent discussion on PUDs without providing us with a list? Please provide tomorrow.


From: Ed Slavin
To: David Birchim
Sent: Thu, Mar 12, 2015 4:39 pm
Subject: Re: Request No. 2015-57: List of All Existing PUDs in City of St. Augustine

Requested last week! Why no list?


On Mar 12, 2015, at 4:37 PM, David Birchim < dbirchim@citystaug.com> wrote:

Mr. Slavin,
I do not have an up to date list of PUD’s. If the PZB chair requests the staff to create this list of PUD’s I will be happy to do it for her. I received your phone message, but the meeting is in 24 minutes, I will see you at the meeting.
Best Regards,
David Birchim

From: easlavin@aol.com [mailto:easlavin@aol.com]
Sent: Thursday, March 12, 2015 1:15 PM
To: David Birchim; sagresta@comcast.net
Subject: Request No. 2015-57: List of All Existing PUDs in City of St. Augustine

Dear David and Sue:
1. I asked at the last PZB meeting that the PZB Chair request the City staff kindly provide a list of all existing PUDs in the City for tonight's PZB workshop meeting.
2. Please send.
3. Please arrange to hand out copies of the list of all existing PUDs in the City to all PZB members and attendees at tonight's meeting.
Thank you for all that you do.
With kindest regards, I am,
Sincerely yours,
Ed
Ed Slavin
Box 3084
St. Augustine, Florida 32085-3084
904-377-4998
www.cleanupcityofstaugustine.blogspot.com
www.fourowls.blogspot.com
www.staugustgreen.com


DAVID BIRCHIM
(HCN)


ISABELLE LOPEZ
(Twitter)