Bay Council recap: hot potatoes & C-SPAN

Storm drain

If the Bay Council could have charged admission to last night’s meeting, the city coffers would have gotten a big boost.

The agenda was unusually long and especially prone to controversy, hence the spillover crowds and overflow parking at City Hall.

Councilmen first took up the resolution addressing HB 1523 because it had attracted loads of interest since Councilwoman McDonald brought it up at the last meeting. (The council couldn’t agree and punted that time.)

Last night, members reaffirmed their earlier and apparently forgotten resolution saying the city doesn’t discriminate against anybody. President Boudin advised the audience to take the matter up with their legislators if they were so inclined.

After approving the docket, the council waded into the Planning and Zoning items. Oh, my.

Opponents of Melvin Barnes’ restaurant plans for North Beach came all lawyered up. Their case against approving the variances OK’d by P&Z  was long and thorough, complete with big maps and a laser pointer, but the council went ahead and approved the fence variance and the 25-foot front yard setback. (Boudin was out of the room and Seal voted against the setback.)

This one’s likely not over, folks.

Another not-in-my-neighborhood hot potato – a 22-home development on Third Street – got sent back to P&Z to start the process over. Not over, either.

As if that weren’t enough to keep the citizenry on the edge of their seats, once they could find an empty one, next came the proposed Leisure and Recreation (go cup) Districts and then Vacation Rentals.

Much to the disappointment of those who waited for hours, both items got moved to next meeting.

As I like to say about these meetings, they’re better than TV. Last night, however, seemed at times like binging on C-SPAN.

Thoughts and prayers are with Wendy.