Latest News Article: Schism Widens At LPCA

From Inside The City
February 2009,

Schism Widens at LPCA
Rump group wants to make the neighborhood association
‘more democratic’

By Jocelyn Munroe:

Tensions were as high as the tree canopy in Land Park at a community forum last month, held to discuss residents’ dissatisfaction with the way the Land Park Community Association is run.

The January 21 meeting, attended by about 75 residents, at times devolved into a raucous argument between two opposing factions: one representing longtime members of the LPCA board of directors, the other a new group, called LPCA Renaissance, started by two newer board members, that wants to reform the board. LPCA Renaissance has proposed several changes, including increasing the number of directors, making director elections more democratic and implementing director term limits.

The group recently circulated a petition among LPCA general members calling for a special meeting after their request for a membership vote was turned down by the longtime board directors, who mostly disagree with the proposed reforms. Several of the directors have served on the board for 10 or 20 years.

Last month’s meeting was held to discuss a recent LPCA survey, which showed that a signifi cant number of Land Park residents don’t approve of the association’s performance. Many residents were attending their very first association meeting, and some expressed confusion over the conflict. “Is it a power struggle or merely a difference in opinion on valid issues such as crime and commercial development?” asked one.

Board president Elyse Metune hired a professional facilitator to manage the meeting’s agenda. Although several attendees asked the facilitator to let each side explain its position before starting the program, she stuck to the original agenda. At that point, about a quarter of the attendees left, obviously disgruntled.

“There should be a process and a transparency that ensures that the elected body refl ects the concerns of the community,” said Land Park resident Patrick Mentzer, echoing the sentiments of many remaining.

Attendees were asked to make comments on issues such as crime, architecture and association operations, then vote on the five comments most important to them. The ideas gathering the most votes addressed the association’s operations and communications, underscoring the existing conflict and ill feelings. Several comments were sharply worded personal remarks against particular board members.
Other popular comments ranged from starting a crime liaison committee to opposing bridges across the Sacramento River to creating more bike-friendly streets.

Board vice president Scott Rose called for patience and fairness. “We all know we live in a special place, and passions run high; desires run high,” he said. “It may not always be pretty, it may not always be perfect, but there’s an effort here to push the agenda forward.”

During the meeting’s final 15 minutes, each side was allowed to explain its position. By that time, more than two-thirds of the attendees had left.

Board member and local real estate developer and attorney Craig Powell spoke fi rst, representing the LPCA Renaissance group.“Our goal is to return this organization to the members,” said Powell. “It is currently a boarddriven organization. Our idea is to democratize it. We want to expand the board, bringing fresh new ideas and fresh people. We have never had a competitive election. Let the membership decide [who to elect]. The people who have been leading this organization for the last 20 years have done a lot of wonderful things, and I want to let you know I respect that. But the leadership has become increasingly closed.”

Powell, who circulated the reform petition, criticized Metune for abusing her position by using $2,190 of LPCA treasury money to hire attorneys to advise the board on how to deal with his action. “It’s sad,” said Powell, “because these folks have done an outstanding job for a long, long time. I don’t mean to minimize that. [But] they need to move on. We need fresh, new, energetic leadership. They need to let go.”

Attorney and 10-year board director Kearse McGill represented the longtime board members. “What the organization is really about,” said McGill, “is local issues. Are we going to keep the tree canopy in the park or let it die? Are we going to fi nd ways to increase crime prevention tactics in the neighborhood?” he asked. McGill argued that term limits would bring in board members unfamiliar with the issues. Their lack of knowledge would hurt continuity and hinder work on important projects. “I don’t think that term limits are any good,” he said. “Look at the state legislature. Term limits only cut off experience. Some of them [issues] are incredibly complex and go back years. We don’t have paid staff to give us agenda reports.” McGill also addressed the issue of the attorney’s fees. “I don’t see that the abuses are here,” he said. “She [Metune] went and consulted an attorney because Mr. Powell made it clear that legal duties were required of her.”

The LPCA Renaissance group will hold two meetings in February to push forward its proposals. At the fi rst, a town hall-style meeting on Wednesday, February 4, members will discuss reform proposals. At the second, on Wednesday, February 11, the group will offifi cially consider adopting the proposed changes to the bylaws.

Both meetings will be held at 6:30 p.m. at the Eskaton Monroe Lodge at 3225 Freeport Boulevard. For more information, visit the LPCA’s website, landpark.org, and LPCA Renaissance’s website,
lpcarenaissance.blogspot.com/.

UPDATE: Both meetings have been moved to Holy Spirit School Fr. Brady Room