Three Cypress Officials Blast Group Seeking Their Recall

Three City Council members on Monday night blasted a citizens’ group that is seeking their recall, accusing them of settling a civil suit for about $30,000 out of court so they could use the money for “personal purposes.”

In rebuttal, Kathy Simcox, a spokeswoman for the citizens’ group, said the confidential settlement was fair and proper. Simcox said the confidential nature of the settlement prohibits her or anyone else from disclosing if any money was awarded.

The uproar took place during a City Council meeting. During the session, Mayor Cecilia L. Age said she was publicly disclosing the confidential settlement made last week by the Cypress Land Co. to Citizens for Sensible Development of Warland Center.

Age said the citizens’ group got “in the neighborhood of $30,000” for agreeing to drop the suit. The citizens’ organization had sued the land company because it plans to build a sporting goods warehouse in their neighborhood.

An earlier suit over another, larger warehouse proposed as a carpet distribution center is still pending against a different land developer, Warland Investments Co. The citizens’ organization lost that suit in Orange County Superior Court in May but has appealed that ruling.

The group is seeking the recall of Age, Councilwoman Gail H. Kerry and Councilman Walter K. Bowman.

Age, in an interview Monday, charged that the citizens’ group is using the issue of warehouses to seek political power. She charged that some on the group will try to be elected to the City Council in the recall election scheduled Nov. 7.

Tony Smith, a leader in the citizens’ organization, announced the out-of-court, confidential settlement with Cypress Land Co. on Friday but said he could not disclose the details. Cypress Land Co. officials similarly declined to comment on the matter.