How
did it end?
Recommendations
Of the
Transportation Advisory Commission
As a Four Seasons Resident I was proud to witness the deliberations of the Advisory Commission with my fellow neighbors. We have a reputation for community involvement and Four Seasons made up 90% of the audience.
Wendy Hoyt, facilitator chosen by the Transportation Commission, asked
each member of the Advisory Commission to make a general statement. Nizar
Melehani, an El Dorado Hills Representative, made an observation that proved to
be a picture of these deliberations, that there are members of this Commission
who came with preconceived ideas, ideas they are unwilling to change. The staff
of the El Dorado Transportation Commission selected the members of this
Commission.
The
deliberations started out on the consensus that a change was needed and soon
was derailed over how new representation should be chosen, elected or appointed
or a mixture of both. Two committee members who had very strong opinions
against any change soon bogged the discussions down and the facilitator
facilitated the ending of the meeting when she said the time was up and that
the commission had accomplished a great deal already.
What was accomplished? The Commission indicated that a change was
needed. That change should take into consideration: representation, population,
geography, diversity, balance and communication. They also agreed that any new
cities should have a seat on the Transportation Board. What the Transportation
Commission does with these broad recommendations will be seen in the distant
future.
The
audience voted their disappointment with the Commission by walking out of the
meeting before it ended.
Some who remained felt that because the Commission
recommended change, strong support is given Alyson Huber’s Bill and that this
is the only avenue for change. Many felt that idea of cityhood for El Dorado
Hills should be studied again.
Submitted by,
John Raslear-