With all due respect, Joan, I think you've buried the lede. Again.

I think Patch readers deserve to know how the vice mayor situation was handled with Lieberman and Braunstein (the highest vote getter in the last election) passed over.

With all due respect, what is going on in this town? Why was David Braunstein passed over when he clearly had a mandate from the voters? This does not sound like a democracy to me, but an oppressive regime. Please explain, maybe I am missing something. Signed, a very concerned citizen

It's called politics--but I did love Lieberman's classless whining.

It's called politics when you get your way and oppression when you don't.
Who voted what isn't even mentioned here. Reusing the same people over and over again is a real bummer. On the achievements: isn't the bike bridge a CalTrans project? The Sixth and O'Neil construction was a fiasco, the resolution of Koret Field was in spite of her best efforts and at least the tree ordinance is insane.

Then there should be a specific protocol to avoid these situations.

Obviously, the Belmont City Council does not listen to the will of the voters. Maybe that is why the word on the street is that Belmont is the laughing stock of the peninsula. No one wants to conduct business in this town....small businesses, organizations, schools, universities have all learned this the hard way. Can we have City Council term limits please? If I had known the City Council was this dysfunctional, I would have bought a house somewhere else ten years ago...

Hi--you can still move--I'll even let you borrow my truck.

What? Feirbach is still controlling the Council??

Belmont citizens voted differently. So much for having every vote count.

According to Wozniak it was a "good election... the voters had choices."
Braunstein won by 40+% more votes than Wozniak, so why wasn't he stepped up to Vice Mayor instead of bottom-winner Wozniak?

Why, oh why, did Warden go along with Feirbach's "yes-mam" supporter Wozniak? Warden, where's your independent thinking?? Surely, you understand the math - the people speak out in elections. There was a mandate in the last election, a strong mandate: the people want Braunstein in the lead, not Wozniak. If Wozniak had any class she should have declined the vice-mayor position. She doesn't deserve it, not by popular vote, nor by rotation.

If protocal were followed, as there used to be from what I understand, then the top vote getter should be next in line, not the "yes-mam" or "yes-sir" puppet.

All you people who are complaining shamelessly: It's politics and there is NO protocol. This is not the first time, nor will it be the last. You need to change protocols instead of having sour grapes. I'm sure if Reed had won, it would have been a Braunstein, Reed, Lieberman majority. And THAT would have been politics as well.

Justin, a lot of people in Belmont feel their voices are not being heard....this just adds to the problem...so sad for Belmont...David was the top vote getter by over 40%. The people have spoken and they wanted David in the lead...The will of the voters should have been respected last night and it wasn't. This was a slap in the face to the voters of Belmont....Respectfully yours. Hi

...and people supporting them would be up in a roar over it, albeit without justification.
I certainly agree it's politics, but I also agree it's unfair. Wozniak barely clung to her position despite the huge advantage of incumbency. While not illegal, it certainly is galling. If you think the complaining is shameless, perhaps it is because one shameless act deserves another.

I'm not saying it's right--all I'm saying that it's poltics and would have happened regardless of the "three."

First of all.... we are the laughing stock of County politics. Talk to any elected official from the surrounding communities. When asked who is the most unprofessional and difficult council, they will say Belmont. Second, as has been said, there is no protocol. These things happen when there is no protocol and councilmembers do not respect each other. Look at what happened in San Carlos. The first time Andy Klein was appointed mayor there were other nominations, but he ended up being supported 5-0. Matt Grocott was also supported 5-0. If you read the papers it is pretty evident how the two of them do not get along or agree. They both were just unanimously appointed again. I wish our council could act like that. All 5 of them are a joke. They are either bullies or whiners.

Deja Vu all over again. We were the laughing stock in the 90's and 2000, then we were good for a few years. The past 3 years the council has deteriorated. Not because of one person, either.

Just watched the video. I was glad to see Warren Lieberman stand up to the bullies!!!They gave no reason why he should not be vice-mayor. I have never seen such a group of unprofessional and immature adults in my life. Honestly, I had no idea until about 2 months ago, what was happening in local politics in Belmont. What a nightmare! Only two more years, and then let's get the bums out for good. They might have won the battle. However, we will win the war!!

It almost seems as if Wozniak, Feirbaugh, and Warden all knew how the vote was going to go. That would be a violation of the Brown Act.

Tim you are probably right, but it just seems incredibly cooincidental.

Bill - this is a very serious accusation you are voicing regarding a supposed Brown Act violation. I would hope that you have tangible evidence to back up such a statement and are just not basing it on personal speculations or bias. By the way, you misspelled the former mayor's last name.

It doesn't need to be a Brown Act violation, It's just common sense. Why would the council's slow-growth monetarily conservative majority want to be lead by someone of the pro-development minority. Belmont is probably the only city in the Bay Area with a budget surplus, hasn't had to cut any people or services, and is still getting things done. What are Bill, Randolph, Hi, Kerry and Eric complaining about. I guess it's called politics.

Buck, only city with a Surplus? I am pretty sure that San Carlos right to the south of us has a budget surplus. Our fire department is set to go belly-up in 3 years (predicted by staff) and you are talking about a surplus! Really?

Bill, in case you haven't heard San Carlos got rid of their police department and are now using the County sheriffs, they are now using RC fire and they have practically no one in their park and rec department. I don't think the Belmont fire will go belly up unless your boys get into office. Reed is on record wanting to pay city employees more money. Eh?

It is obvious that Warden, Feierbach and Wozniak have done serious damage to Belmont. They do not represent the interests of hard working families. If you would like evidence of this please read the letter that was sent from the President of NDNU to the Mayor last spring. It is an eye opener. I am glad she did not put up with any of their garbage. Please note David Braunstein did not vote for this, nor did Warren Lieberman. There are two letters to read.

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=4&ved=0CDIQFjAD&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndnu.edu%2Ffiles%2Fabout-us%2Fpublic-relations%2FNDNULetterToCityCouncil.pdf&ei=Ry7qToGZCcfhiAK6prWwBA&usg=AFQjCNEaqVXT0nb-Jc-YroP-72i4-PD5Xw

http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CB4QFjAA&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.ndnu.edu%2Ffiles%2Fabout-us%2Fpublic-relations%2FBelmontCUP.pdf&ei=OyzqTpDCC63TiAKAsuj2Aw&usg=AFQjCNHaah6xtgtzVAicaR_Vc1iKtWlgXg

Sergeant Jerry D'Arcy from SFPD added a touch of class to the evening - singing our National Anthem

No, HI--they did NOT violate your child's rights so quit being so melodramatic. CAS is a business, by law and is subject to proper CUP's--the process was legal. I really wish you would learn the law instead of making emotional and erroneous allegations.

There is a Special Council meeting next week covering two issues-
The Recology waste contract
and
An appeal regarding a proposed house on Alhambra Dr.

IMO the Recology contract should have been resolved prior to the election because that is what the contract stipulated and because it would have given the voters an opportunity to base election decisions on the outcome of that process. The decision is already late and I am very concerned we are going to end up with a haphazard decision that is going to cost the customers (US) more than necessary for the remainder of the contract. A large rate increase this year (2012) will be followed by another large increase next year.

The Alhambra permit appeal could end up as another Koret field fiasco. A small group of NIMBY neighbors are trying to block the development of home that has passed through all of the approval steps - everyone has approved it. Clearly Councilperson Feierbach should recuse herself from the discussion since she lives very near (around 100 yards) the property in question and some of her close neighbors have signed the appeal. The same reasoning should have appled to Councilperson Wozniak on the Koret appeal since all of the complaining neighbors live within a block or two of her house.

The Alhambra appeal

No--not NIMBY at all. PLEASE get educated and be reasonable. Just because you don't get your way doesn't mean it's NIMBY. As long as CAS is a business, by law-it must follow rules whether you like or not.

Justin, no one wants anyone to break the law. If you voted to hurt innocent children that is your decision. If that is how you would like to live your life that is your choice. It is called "Pull up the ladder behind you." In California, lip service is paid to education. People do not truly fight for it. This is all in the past, let's move on...

Yes, calling CAS a business was the excuse used to get the NIMBY's what they wanted. It is very weak to define CAS a business - it is really a non profit education organization ( a School) focusing on special needs kids. Very few Businesses sell their services at 85% of the cost of the business and then rely on donations to break even.

Thank you Steve for your kind support. If I won the lottery tomorrow I would donate all of my winnings to CAS, so that they could set up other schools in the Bay Area and throughout California. Dyslexia is a national health crisis, which completely flies under the radar. The school truly is a beautiful thing, a remarkable institution. It is an absolute gem!

Steve--PLEASE GET EDUCATED! It was not an excuse. It is the law. They don't even pay property taxes.

Change the laws if you're not happy.

right or wrong is subjective

I'm happy to drop what you started. Have a joyous holiday season.

Steve and Hi, you are both a bit off your trolly. Steve, It is Braunstein who has publicly said he supported the 22% rate increase. See: http://www.smdailyjournal.com/article_preview.php?id=210162&title=Multiple%20choices%20for%20Belmont&eddate=10/07/2011%2004:36:00 . Feierbach was publicly against the rate increase.

Hi, No one on the council is against children or their education. The Charles Armstrong School auditorium in question was an oversized building that would have impacted the neighbors of the school in Belmont and San Carlos. Oddly enough, we agree about the state of K-12 education. It is the math and science curricula that we need, to stay competitive in the world, not a gym. We are one of the few nations in the world that give 3 months of vacation from school so the students can forget a good portion of what they learned from the prior year. Our educational system needs an overhaul but that has little to do with whether or not the kids have a gym.

Dear Buck, I agree with you on many of the same issues. Last January 2010, California finished dead last on the Nation's Report Card for 4th and 8th grade science. My husband is a computer chip designer in the semiconductor industry and interviews a lot of people. It is very hard for him to find good, experienced engineers. Currently, he is helping set up their office in Hyderabad, India. In any event, I think we agree on many of the issues facing the educational system in the US. It is a very complicated topic. Did you now that half of the companies in Silicon Valley are run by dyslexic engineers? Engineering is math and many of these people were right brained learners as children, just like the children at CAS. It has been proven exercise is very important for brain development and to help treat inattention issues. Exercise is necessary for children. Especially, with the rampant childhood obesity epidemic in the US. Got to run....Happy Holidays and best wishes for a wonderful 2012 in Belmont!

Hi, I had a severely dyslexic person working for me a few years back. He said the only time he felt hampered by his dyslexia was when he was in public grade school. In the high school he went to (a public high school in Oregon) he was given some latitude for his way of seeing letters and numbers and did quite well. Our basic problem with public schools is not just the funding problem it is also the factory mentality. A few recent developments promise to change some of this. One is internet interactive instruction. Many educators are working on these programs. Another is project oriented learning where students work cooperatively on projects they select. These projects are tailored to teach math, English and the sciences in addition to working cooperatively towards a goal. The third thrust is grading effort rather than the result to challenge those that want to rest on their laurels. There are many other experiments as well like team teaching, students teaching students and community volunteer teaching. One big blockade is the CTA, the AFT, the State and Federal Government. Innovation generally has to come from outside the system. Forget the gym, that's history. Fixing the educational system is far more important.

"We now have our own fire department, and that beautiful bike bridge—the Children's Bridge,"

So funny. Like our fire protection is any better (or worse) now than it was when we were with SC...and that bridge...sorry the Children's bridge, really makes a big difference in the lives of folks in Belmont.

Sorry to bust up the CAS dialog but the Outgoing Mayor should consider stand up. She is funny.

I am baffled and disgusted by this process. It's a bad b-movie. I'm confused by your process which railroaded Lieberman. Eric Reed was shy 11 votes of someone many strongly didn't want (Wozniak) but (ONLY 11 more) voted for b/c of name recognition and low voter turn-out.

This all appears very rigged. We need change - not the sort of same-'ole-did it in '05, fiscally responsible pompous talk which creates uncomfortable situations for the council members and the community. Lieberman didn't create a lack of unity - you bombarding him and railroading him did! Watch the video Mayor, "ya ain't lookin' so good!" Who cares if you're a Belmont native - go with the flow? Change the tides. This instant stardom club of power if not only distasteful to watch, but disappointing and embarrassing as a citizen.

Agree with above; "Why was David Braunstein passed over when he clearly had a mandate from the voters? This does not sound like a democracy to me, but an oppressive regime. Please explain!"

WE NEED CHANGE!!! Bring the option for Reed and Braunstein, keep Lieberman and get rid of the old and bring in new ideas to transform our wonderful Belmont.

A younger community surrounds, and believe me... we're watching.

I'd like to reiterate Mary Beth's sentiments;
"Wozniak should have declined the Vice-Mayor position..."

Please, if you've not already, watch the video @ belmont.gov

Marit, Braunstein was never nominated even by Leiberman. Maybe it was Braunstein's self aggrandizing speech in which he took credit for everything the other council members did with a touch of false humility. The only thing he really did in his four years on the Council was that "National Night Out" thing which he didn't invent by the way. His brave act was to say let's do it and the City did it. I would score him a big zero but he sure did talk and somehow his pants didn't catch fire. It's a miracle!

The City Council Protocols, as of April 2011, dictate the following for Mayor and Vice Mayor selection: "The Mayor and the Vice Mayor shall be selected each year by a majority vote of the City Council." For Vice Mayor, Ms. Wozniak received three votes, Mr. Lieberman received two votes. (Mr. Braunstein was not nominated.) Where is the scandal? Why should the Council have ignored its protocols?

http://www.belmont.gov/Upload/Document/D240003923/Protocols2011.pdf

Mr. Swire,
The video answers your question and speaks for itself.
We all clearly understand that majority rules. That's not the question.

Dear Mike, I have only recently paid attention to local politics since October, and I have lived in the town for ten years. The Belmont City Council's mishandling of the NDNU - Koret Field issue shined a light on the Council's complete incompetence. Prior to that, I don't think any of the parents in Belmont were paying attention. Most people are too busy dealing with children, school issues, sports, work and life in general. The younger people in town want change. Our downtown looks blighted, our roads are crumbling, our public schools are over-crowded and hurting for money. Many people believe that their voices are not being heard. What the "WFW regime" did the other night was not right. I used to be proud to say that I live in Belmont. Unfortunately, I can no longer say that.....I feel very embarrassed for the city. We have a reputation of having a City Council that is unprofessional and difficult, and this is further evidence of that.

Mike is right on-they did nothing wrong. It's just that the minority is upset. It would be the same if it were the other way around--it's called Democracy. Sorry some of you are unhappy just like others would be if there was a Reed, Braunstein, and Lieberman majority.

Mary Beth--thanks for your input/

The pot calls the kettle black... click on "Mary Beth Kelley," then scroll down through the posts. Turns out "Mary Beth Kelley" is the newly hatched version of "Hi," who was formerly "Democracy." "Democracy" is my personal favorite of this poster's handles.

And who is this Marit? She's big on using the royal "we." I guess she thinks she has a posse.

Hi Jack, Yes, I have decided to come out of the shadows after what happened the other night...it is just so sad to see....Belmont can do so much better! Since Justin is continually sparing with me on Patch, I just thought maybe he would like to reveal his true identity. I think we all want what is best for Belmont...If you are happy with the way things are going in Belmont. That is great for you. Not everyone is...BTW, I am just speaking for myself and no one else. Happy Holidays, Peace.

I think it is time to Occupy Belmont. I'll bring the weenie roasters, some sleeping bags, tents, and other odds and ends. I'll cook the 1st night. BBQ squirrel will be the entre. This will be fun. Given the season we can celebrate Festivus and air our grievences around the pole.

For once, I agree with Alice! Festivus for the Restofus!

The agenda for Monday's special Council meeting is now posted and includes the staff report on the Recology contract, which can be accessed here -- http://www.belmont.gov/Upload/Document/D240007804/4A-CC-12192011.pdf.

The report states the following proposed alternatives for resolving the underpayment to Recology:

Alernative 1. Adopt an annual adjustment to Attachments R and Q as originally published in the Proposition 218 notice; or,

Alernative 2. Authorize Amendment No. 2 to the Franchise Agreement, as negotiated between Recology and the City, which smoothes rate increases; or

Alernative 3. Direct a reduction of services, pursuant to Section 15.12.D of the Franchise Agreement.

According to the report, Alternative 2 is for an 11.6% rate increase with the Migration Recovery Surchage spread over 2013-16.

If a negotiated solution is not approved by the Council, there will be service reductions. Service reductions that lead to more solid waste pose a risk of harm to the environment, and are counter to the goals of Belmont when it moved to weekly recycling and composting. If you are concerned that service reductions, including the possibility of eliminated weekly recycling and composting, will cause you to increase the amount of garbage which you throw away, please make your voice heard by the Council by writing to the Council or attending and speaking at the meeting Monday night.

It's hard to predict the unforeseen. The garbage contract is on the Belmont.gov website if you want to wade through it. It indicates that a fee adjustment would be necessary if there was a migration to the smaller cans. It turned out the migration to the smaller cans was larger than anyone expected so the fee adjustment was consequently also very large. I would have thought the difference could have been made up by more recyclables and lower tipping charges but Recology says that's not the case. The Council can't be blamed for this but I have to congratulate past Mayor Feierbach for bringing this out to the public for discussion. She was looking for ideas but, for the most part, all she got was flack from the Squirrels who want to BBQ themselves. (see Alice above)

Yo Buck...for the record I wasn't throwing up flak towards Mayor Feierbach regarding the size of her cans. I only poked fun at the "accomplishments" she referenced. Small in comparison to the Recology deal. I'm sure she and the others did the best they could. You are right...very hard to predict the unforseen even with the advances in market research. I'm sure Recology had no idea what a community like ours would do when confronted with the price structure. Belmont must be an outlier. Merry Christmas Buck.

I have been told that one of the recently re-elected City Council members accepted $1,000 in campaign contributions from individuals in one of the families opposing the Alhambra project. If that is true, should she/he recuse her self/his self from the discussion and vote? That might result in Coralin & this member not being in the discussion tomorrow night. Interesting turn of events?

Buck said
"It's hard to predict the unforeseen. "

You could also say it is hard to see if you do not look. The Contract required about $500k of revenue per month and somebody should have noticed right away that Belmont was failng to meet the target from the very beginning of the year. It's hard to blame the Council for missing the very visible trend, but what was city Staff and the city Consultant doing? - they should have been alerting the Council early on that there was a problem. It looks like the Council did not get the infomation early enough and then they apparently got bad advice and made bad decisions after they got the information.
I am more concerned about the process than the outcome. I worry that Staff really does not pay enough attention to pass through costs - the "services" like waste, sewer treatment and water that we all pay for.
Back in September ( 3 months ago) there was a meeting when the Council was notified about the problem and that a rate change would be required. Apparently, a big mistake was made at that meeting when three Council members agreed to notify us that a 22% increase was coming. That decision (vote) locked the Council into an across the board increase. My gripe is the Council should have focused more on the issue (spend more time) and come up with a more thoughtfull solution.

Coralin, I should have checked with you before writing the comment,
I heard you were 4 lots from the project. I'll check next time.

500 feet is not very far away.

Even though we at Dubfields do a lot of awesome stuff, we do not do real estate appraisals....with that said, it doesn't take much to know that property values would be significantly affected by major projects occurring just 500 feet away.