Commissioner resigns over skate park views

Jennifer Kho

COSTA MESA -- A parks commissioner at odds with the City Council over

the location of a planned skate park on Charle and Hamilton streets has

resigned his post, saying it stems from pressure by the city attorney to

keep his views silent.

The outgoing and outspoken commissioner, Mike Scheafer, said though he

is in favor of the city building a skate park, he does not think the

location -- chosen by the City Council in January -- is appropriate.

“The skateboard park is a big deal to me, and I really think [the City

Council] is making a mistake,” he said. “This is very emotional for me.”

His resignation on Wednesday came as part of a months-long debate over

a skate park on Charle Street.

The City Council approved plans for a site at Lions Park last year but

changed them after neighbors objected because of noise and flooding

concerns.

At the meeting Wednesday, Commissioners David Stiller and Richard

Mehren said they also disagree with the Charle Street location but do not

want to delay building the skate park.

“I would not vote against this proposed plan tonight because of

location,” Stiller said. “I would like to ask staff to look for another

location but not to delay the process any further.”

Scheafer, who put the skate park on the agenda last year after the

city failed to find a location eight years ago, said he resigned because

he feels his freedom of speech is restricted as a commissioner.

Scheafer said the city attorney’s office issued a letter recommending

he abstain from voting on the issue after the Daily Pilot published a

letter he wrote opposing the council’s decision on the Charle Street

location.

He said he saw the city attorney’s letter Aug. 22.

“My ability to express my opinions and to give input on an issue that

I’m really involved in was taken away from me,” he said. “What it tells

me is there are people on the City Council who don’t want me to express

my opinions. We all have opinions on the things we do. I have the right

to speak my opinion as a citizen, and I don’t feel I could continue as a

commissioner having to second-guess my opinions or be careful about what

I say.”

Tom Wood, assistant city attorney, said the city attorney’s office

recommended that Scheafer abstain but that Scheafer made the final

decision to do so.

Scheafer’s public statements did not cause a conflict of interest but

came close, Wood said, and the city attorney’s office advised him to

abstain to be safe.

The goal of the law prohibiting such conflicts is toprotect the public

from biased decision-makers, Wood said.

Scheafer said he doesn’t think he should have to abstain from voting

and said Councilwoman Linda Dixon, whose rebuttal to his letter was

published in the Pilot in January, was not asked to abstain.

“Does she have a personal embroilment now, and should she abstain when

that issue comes before the council?” he said.

Bill Morris, public service director for the city, asked the

attorney’s office to determine whether Scheafer’s statement created a

legal conflict of interest but did not ask the office to analyze Dixon’s

letter, Wood said.

Dixon said she is shocked at Scheafer’s resignation and was unaware

that anyone had asked him to abstain from voting.

“I think in each situation, people need to do what they feel is

right,” Dixon said. “I can’t say whether he should abstain or not. I

think he has to do what he thinks is right.”

Mayor Gary Monahan, who also disagreed with the Charle Street

location, said he will miss Scheafer.

“I was pretty surprised to see the city attorney request, and I don’t

blame Mike Scheafer for resigning,” he said. “Everyone who gets involved

in city government gets involved because they have a passion for a

certain area, and that is a benefit they bring to the table. I’ve felt

he’s added a good voice, especially to issues about youth sports in the

city. I sincerely hope he will continue to champion and voice his

opinions for the causes he believes in.”

QUESTION

Should Commissioner Mike Scheafer have abstained from voting on the

skate park? Give us your opinion via e-mail at dailypilot@latimes.com or

by calling our Readers Hotline at (949) 642-6086.