As the new year begins Lompoc is facing a two-year journey that will be filled with misguided politics like we have never seen before in this city.

Sometimes change is good. In this case, the changes to come were manifested in the first meeting for the newly constituted City Council.
 
Midway through the Dec. 17 council meeting the new crew was sworn in. The meeting started smoothly as the outgoing mayor led the council through some unfinished business, and they certified the election results.

It was a rough start though for Lompoc’s new mayor. It was obvious from the start that Jim Mosby wasn’t suited for this kind of position.

As the meeting facilitator it was his job to follow the agenda, but the city attorney had to correct him several times from the outset because he was not familiar with the protocols established for leading public meetings.

As is his style, Mosby began by reaching back to an item that had already been discussed and approved in the earlier part of the meeting.

This is a break from the normal protocol for council meetings, and the only reason he did it was to reemphasize an error in the Lompoc Parks Maintenance and City Pool Assessment District report.

Thus, Mosby began his current term where he left off a few years ago by disparaging the professional staff.

The only new item, which sailed through without comment, was an update to the city architectural guidelines which were last changed in 1995. Over the years the planning commissioners had attempted to have the guidelines updated, but there never seemed to be enough in the budget to complete the task.

This time the State of California was mandating the change, so the long-awaited update occurred. What followed, though, was an assault on previous council actions.

Noozhawk reported that “For instance, he sought an item to review impact fees.”

Impact fees are the way the city acquires funding to pay for the increased levels of service that will be needed to support a new project. Large projects, such as housing developments, will need more trash containers, surrounding road improvements, and additional public safety support.

He specifically asked that the current fee schedule be revived considering a December 2023 California Supreme Court decision regarding traffic impact fees. In this case they found that charging fees for service was a legitimate practice.

Providing government service, just like all other commercial services, isn’t free, and perhaps the new mayor doesn’t understand that. Mosby’s idea was to waive some fees to encourage development.

Nearby Santa Maria charges much higher fees for the same services and has no shortage of new developments.

Next, the mayor wanted another look at how folks are appointed to the various committees and commissions; this item was discussed at length and changes approved on Nov. 19, and three members serving on the new council were present and supported the changes, but the two new members wanted to take another look.
 
Both new members were supported in their election bid by sufficient registered voters to win a seat. The councilman from District 1 won by a handy majority but was now having trouble finding willing people to serve on the various commissions.

Why the new mayor wanted changes is unknown since he can choose from all the registered voters. Maybe no one wants to serve and take the time and effort only to have their recommendations and observations ignored by the City Council.

Lastly, he wanted another look at providing a grand fireworks display on the Fourth of July. When the Lompoc Unified School District upgraded Hauck Stadium a few years ago, it was no longer suitable for pyrotechnic displays because it would damage the artificial grass.

Other sites were evaluated, but deemed too hazardous by professional fireworks technicians and public safety officials because of the potential for falling debris on surrounding homes and buildings. So, what Mosby hopes to accomplish with another look isn’t clear.

On her departure from office, now former Mayor Jennele Osborne said: “Hold this incoming council accountable. They have every tool to continue to make this community succeed and build on that success, so don’t let them tear it down.”

Based on Mosby and his enablers’ previous actions, this is a prudent warning.
 
References:
Lompoc’s New Mayor, Council Ready to Revisit City Changes | Local News | Noozhawk
 
December 2023 Supreme Court: 20231220184957045_22-1074bsacUnitedStates.pdf