Rancho P.V. : City Ousts Planner to Protect Its ‘Reputation’

Veteran planning commissioner Harvey A. Brown, who failed to disclose a loan from a developer despite instructions from the city attorney to do so six months ago, has been removed from office. Two City Council members said they do not believe that Brown used his vote to aid the developer, Burrell Ltd., but they said the removal was necessary to protect the city’s image.

Brown, who is a physician and served on the commission for six years, was dismissed by a unanimous council vote one day after he amended his 1983 financial disclosure statement to include a mortgage loan in excess of $10,000 from Burrell, a long-time home builder in the city who built Brown’s home. After receiving the loan, Brown voted on three matters involving Burrell subdivisions, but officials said they were minor issues and the commission vote was 5 to 0 in each case.

“He used bad judgment,” said Mayor John McTaggart, who said the council did not know about the loan until a few days before it ousted Brown. “There is no evidence that Harvey voted for anything of substantial financial benefit for Burrell. Our vote (to remove him) was based on the reputation of the city.” He said Brown misinterpreted the city attorney’s instructions that he should not vote on matters of “substantive economic benefit to Burrell. He did not feel these were substantive.”

Councilwoman Jacki Bacharach said she was concerned that Brown had voted on the Burrell items. She said land use is a major concern in the city “and we have to have the highest standards and be totally above any questions.” She said she served on the commission with Brown and called him a “good planning commissioner.”

Brown declined to discuss the situation.

McTaggart said the council action was triggered by a group of horse owners who filed a complaint with the state Fair Political Practices Commission accusing Brown of a conflict of interest in voting against a proposed horse trail near his property. The council subsequently voted to keep the trail in the overall trail plan. That commission complaint, which cites the loan, is under review.

City Atty. Steve Dorsey said Brown informed him about the Burrell loan when the horse trail issue first came up. He said he told Brown last October that the loan, even though it was for a primary residence, had to be reported because it was not from a commercial lender.

Over the objections of residents wearing “no sewer” badges, the City Council approved a petition format for residents who want a sewer system in the Bronco Drive area, which is west of Palos Verdes Drive East and borders on Rolling Hills and Rolling Hills Estates. In order to be considered by the council, the petition must contain the signatures of 60% or more of the property owners within the proposed sewer assessment district and be filed by July 15. About 100 homes, now on septic tanks, are involved, according to the city.

The city has estimated that installation of the system would cost each property owner between $9,000 and $12,000, although the council said the costs could be higher. The funds would be obtained through a one-time-only assessment. Almost 85% of the city now has sewers, officials said.

Residents who oppose the sewers asked the council not to authorize the petition, claiming that a majority of the residents do not want them.