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E-mail StoryWeir can't muster up votes to oust Johnson
Vote falls short, 5-2, but issue still isn't finished
| Wednesday, Apr 23 2008 11:23 PM
Last Updated: Friday, Apr 25 2008 8:53 AM
Russell Johnson will apparently get to serve out his term on the planning commission after Bakersfield City Councilman Ken Weir couldn’t muster the votes to remove him Wednesday.
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Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson turns to a supportive crowd and holds up a finger to try and hush them during proceedings at City Council chambers on Wednesday night.
Millie Diffenbaugh, left, and Norma Jackson applaud during a comment in support of Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson. The feisty Diffenbaugh said earlier in the night, "I wish I had a rotten tomato to throw at Mr. Weir."
Councilman Ken Weir listens to a fellow council member discuss his proposal to remove Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson during proceedings Wednesday night.
Planning Commissioner Russell Johnson triumphantly leaves the City Council chambers Wednesday with his wife, Susanne, after Councilman Ken Weir's attempt to remove him failed.
As a throng of supporters in the city hall lobby burst into cheers and applause, a triumphant Russell Johnson, with wife, Susanne, left, urges them not to disrupt the ongoing City council meeting. Johnson turned back an attempt by council member Ken Weir to remove him from the planning commission.
Weir wanted to postpone the vote on whether to dump Johnson until June 11, but his proposal to delay the vote failed 5-2, with only Councilwoman Irma Carson joining him. After that, no council member was willing to make a motion to dump Johnson — although Councilman Harold Hanson asked if he could make the motion and then vote against it.
The issue isn’t over. An earlier proposal by Weir to change the planning commission appointment process — allowing every city council member to appoint a planning commissioner immediately upon taking office, and allowing removal of a commissioner by a vote of four council members — will go to a committee meeting on May 20.
Weir introduced his motion Wednesday by spending 10 minutes attacking The Californian for misquoting him and describing his positions inaccurately.
Then he blamed Johnson.
“Mr. Johnson chose to drag the community through a destructive, divisive circus,” he said. “What I want is the exact same opportunity that every single council member has been afforded,” he said — the right to appoint a planning commissioner.
In fact, many city council members had to wait longer than Weir. Jacquie Sullivan, for example, gets to appoint a planning commissioner only in the last year of her term.
“I believe a like-minded commissioner will support responsible development, long-term planning and respect for private property rights,” Weir said.
Councilman David Couch said he wanted to know how Johnson hasn’t lived up to that.
“I am appalled by this attempt to remove Commissioner Johnson,” said Councilwoman Sue Benham. “This is a disgraceful proposal which undermines public trust.”
She offered advice she said she has given her children over the years — “Play by the rules and wait your turn.”
Weir said he was trying to fulfill the will of his voters and said his proposal was “about the concerns expressed to me by the people of the Third Ward during my campaign.”
Those people apparently didn’t show up Wednesday.
The issue drew 15 commenters to the meeting — including three current planning commissioners — all speaking against Weir’s proposal. And the city clerk’s office got 64 calls and e-mails against the proposal and just one for it, according to Deputy Clerk Kelly Fick.
Some defended Johnson as a conscientious, hardworking member of the planning commission. Others said Weir’s proposal was just a bad idea. Several said they work in construction or planning and have to work with the planning commission.
“I am quite embarrassed as a member of this community that this is even on the agenda to be voted on,” said Tim Cox.
San Ackerman told the council that Bakersfield has shed its old reputation for backroom dealing and a good ol’ boys system.
“What’s going on today is ready to bring us back to those old days,” Ackerman said.
“I think it’s an insult to Commissioner Johnson,” said Tom McGinnis, a current planning commissioner. He said the suggestion that Johnson isn’t in touch with his constituents “is a grave underestimation of abilities.”
Scott Hanson said he found Johnson to have honesty, objectivity and integrity, and he looked forward to seeing whether the council shared those values. And he said any council members who voted to remove Johnson should give good reasons — and supporting a fellow councilman’s request is not a good enough reason, he said.
Hanson also said he wanted to hear more about the “change in philosophy” Weir mentioned in an interview on KGET Wednesday morning as a reason for dismissing Johnson.
“We the voters are not aware of the philosophy changes you have been discussing among yourselves,” he said.
Johnson sat in the audience, quiet but smiling though public comment.
Millie Diffenbaugh didn’t speak at the meeting, but sat near the front and enjoyed the public comment.
“I wish I had a rotten tomato to throw at Mr. Weir,” she said.
Timeline
April 2005: Councilman Mike Maggard appoints Russell Johnson to the Bakersfield Planning Commission.
June 2006: Maggard wins seat on Kern County Board of Supervisors.
October 2006: The Bakersfield City Council votes 7-0 to approve the Hillside Ordinance. Every member of the current council, except Weir, voted for it.
November 2006: Weir wins election to succeed Maggard on the council.
December 2006: Maggard leaves council; Weir takes his seat. Johnson is hired as Maggard’s chief of staff.
March 26, 2008: Weir proposes changing how the planning commission is appointed. The proposal is routed to the Legislative and Litigation Committee.
April 17: Johnson is notified by Councilman Zack Scrivner that an item will be placed on the agenda to remove him, unless he resigns.
April 23: Weir attempts to postpone his move to remove Johnson. Council votes 5-2 to not let him.
May 20: Legislation and Litigation Committee is scheduled to consider Weir’s proposal.