LETTER TO THE EDITOR:Council members overstep boundaries

It’s become painfully obvious to me that not all our Costa Mesa City Council members understand the basics of governance. It appears a few aren’t aware of how the process is designed to work and supposed to work.

Very simply, our City Council members are elected by the community to provide guidance and direction to the people who manage our fair city. The real work is performed by the staff members who serve the council, as well as the city manager and city attorney and police chief and other appointed officials. Council members may come and go, but, with exception of retirements or relocations or a winning lotto ticket, staff members and key officials were there when our council members were elected and they’ll be there long after those members are gone.

If a council member gets a bright idea, he or she should pass that idea along to the staff members, the city manager and the city attorney to determine whether it’s reasonable, affordable, doable, politically palatable and expedient, and above all, legal. Then, and only then, should the idea surface publicly. Even then, the idea should be tested via study sessions during which the other council members get the chance to review and debate it. If the grand idea still appears to have merit, it should then be calendared for a City Council meeting, during which the public gets the chance to hear about it and respond publicly.

Many, if not most bright ideas will die during this vetting process. And that’s a good thing, because we don’t need any more laws or rules or codes or ordinances unless they’ve proven themselves under the harsh light of public scrutiny to be absolutely necessary.

A couple of our current council members seem oblivious to this process or have chosen intentionally to circumvent it. And in so doing, in my humble opinion, they’ve embarrassed both themselves and our city. It doesn’t really matter whether a person agrees or disagrees with some of the more controversial plans brought forth by these members. Had they chosen to introduce them using the proven process as outlined, there’s no doubt their plans would either have gained much-needed refinement or have been unceremoniously scrapped. Either extreme would have been preferable in my opinion.

If their missteps are due to ignorance, I can only hope they choose to get smart, and fast, as our city’s reputation is on the line. If they’re intentional, I trust the electorate will recognize that fact and choose far more qualified representatives to lead us come November.

CHUCK CASSITY

Costa Mesa