Forest Cove is singled out

As a resident of Agoura Hills for over 14 years and as a homeowner who lives immediately adjacent to the upper level of Forest Cove Park, I was disturbed by city manager Greg Ramirez's selfserving statements in his Dec. 11 "guest opinion" in this publication.

The "objective" and "independent" feasibility study? While conducted by an outside firm, the categories which were used to rank the various aspects of the sites were determined and influenced by the City Council and their staff. The weighting system used was also heavily influenced by the council and their staff, and this weighting system was predisposed to rank our local parks as the top candidates for this rec center.

However, the part that is so disingenuous was Mr. Ramirez's statement that "all factors in the study were considered." Fortunately for Mr. Ramirez, the council and their staff, one important piece of information was never even considered, that being the effect upon and opinion of the residents who would be impacted by this project.

This "independent" firm never contacted residents. The council never solicited residents' input until after the feasibility study was completed and four parks were ranked as the leading places to house a 17,500-square-foot rec center that would be 1,000 percent larger than the one we currently use.

In fact, council members stated, on the record, that they did not want or need the public's opinion at all about the placement of the rec center. How could such a study go forward without public input? How could a site be feasible without the residents being polled?

This is a flawed feasibility study, a flawed concept and a flawed process. I urge the City Council to take a step back and preserve our parks, not just the one in my backyard, but throughout the city of Agoura Hills. Mark Shpall Agoura Hills