Fireworks erupted between Peninsula Community Planning Board (PCPB) members last week, drawing charges and countercharges over board member behavior and motivations ” and prompting a veiled threat to sue over slander.
The fiery session began over a motion to open future meetings with the Pledge of Allegiance. Yet the subsequent debate had less to do with flags and patriotism, revealing instead deeper conflicts between some board members as the PCPB approaches its March election.
The verbal sparring also raises questions as to whether the fundamental task of addressing projects and developments is being overshadowed by personality conflicts and board divisiveness.
The original motion, made by board member Suhail Khalil, triggered a debate involving not only board members but also residents who attended the meeting Jan. 24 at the Hervey/Point Loma Branch Library.
Although a show of hands from the audience revealed a majority didn’t like the idea, the board passed the motion 7-6.
Passions ran high on both sides.
“[Saying the Pledge] is decorum. It’s courteous. It’s respect for the institutions we serve,” board member Gary Halbert.
Not everyone agreed with Halbert, however.
“I don’t need to stand up anywhere to anyone and pledge my allegiance to this country,” said chair Geoff Page.
Page said the move to open each meeting with the Pledge was an attempt by Kahlil to distract the board from other issues.
Page said he wanted to discuss disciplinary action against Kahlil for not following board procedures. The item concerning action against Khalil was formally an item on the agenda. However, board members voted to table that item until the end of the meeting.
Page said Kahlil has not been cooperative with the board on issues involving the San Diego Regional Airport Authority’s future plans for Lindbergh Field and that his actions have delayed procedures in the past.
The discussion of a reprimand or disciplinary action against Kahlil never took place because the board ran out of time, Kahlil said.
He added that the accusations made by some of the other board members were unfounded. He said he has tried to cooperate with other board members on airport issues.
Kahlil served as the chair of the board’s Airport Committee in September 2007 before the board replaced him with current chair Lance Murphy.
Kahlil said many members of the planning board, including Murphy, have accused him of “carrying propaganda” for the airport when Kahlil tried to hold a public meeting with the community in September.
“To demonize a person for moving forward on open discussions is ludicrous,” he said. “Everybody has a right to their opinion, but you don’t degrade somebody because they don’t feel the same way you do.”
He said he may sue the PCPB board and the city for what he views as slander.
The public airing of internal board conflicts has led to the perception that the board is dysfunctional, according to Page.
The board hears anywhere from two to five community projects each month, along with informational presentations from city officials regarding projects around the city.
But Dianne Reichardt, a Point Loma resident since 1969 who attends almost every PCPB meeting, said the board should spend more time hearing projects than squabbling.
“You see [residents] come to the meetings and the board spends the first hour arguing amongst themselves and the [residents’] projects don’t get heard until about an hour later,” she said.
Reichardt addressed this issue during the public comment portion of the meeting to ask the board to “act like adults in the community” and to cooperate with one another.
She added that this last meeting shows how internal fighting hinders the board’s function in hearing and moving forward on project developments.
In other action:
n The board heard an informational report about a planned retaining wall to prevent rockslides along the 3300 block of Talbot Street, according to project managers. Currently in the planning phases, the project would not begin until 2009, project officials said.
n Members of the Sunset Cliffs Natural Park Recreation Council also updated the board about the removal of several eucalyptus trees at the park that took place earlier this month.
The Peninsula Community Planning Board acts as an advisory committee to the city of San Diego on land-use projects.
The board meets every third Thursday of the month at Point Loma Library, 3701 Voltaire St. For more information, visit www.pcpb.net.