Raising the stakes on public service

Eleanor Egan

In response to the Daily Pilot’s objection to raising the pay of

Planning Commissioners (“Planners’ raise could be vicious circle,”

Dec. 7), I contend the Pilot doesn’t go far enough. So I offer a

modest proposal: make public office a profit center for the city.

When a vacancy occurs or a term ends, put the position up for bids,

and award the office to the highest bidder.

It’s apparent that those who serve on the Planning Commission and

the City Council don’t do it for the money. They would probably serve

even if they were paid nothing at all, just as the Parks

Commissioners and members of the various city committees receive no

pay.

Based on my experience as a planning commissioner, the engineers,

businessmen and business women, lawyers, teachers and other

professionals who serve on the Planning Commission averaged about

three dollars an hour -- or less -- for their public service. Between

meetings the commissioners must read staff reports, correspondence,

environmental impact reports, general and specific plans, and other

technical materials, often voluminous; visit the site of each

property on the agenda; talk with staff and council members; and

field phone calls from concerned citizens.

Until the recent changes, when a commissioner missed a meeting or

a study session he or she was not paid but, when the commissioners

held special meetings, in addition to the usual four per month, they

received no pay for it. Clearly, the pay is not the motivator.

The pay raise will cost the city $6,000 a year, which is real

money, even though it’s only a small portion of the $100 million-plus budget. So if we pay nothing and award the office to the highest

bidder, not only would the city save money by not paying for the

services of the City Council and Planning Commission, but the cost of

elections would also be eliminated. The money that the winning

bidders would pay could go into the general fund.

The hotel room tax rates paid by out-of-town visitors, already the

lowest in Orange County, could be reduced.

The maximum annual business tax paid by the largest businesses

could be slashed from the present $200 a year to, say, $20. Money is

tight this year, as the Pilot pointed out, and surely the big chain

stores would appreciate saving $180 a year on their share of the cost

of police and fire services and street maintenance.

This proposal would further ensure that the winners are really

good at raising funds. Making official decisions would be a breeze,

because all the office holders would represent the same wealthy

developers and other businesses.

How’s that for a proposal that is penny-wise and pound-foolish?

* EDITOR’S NOTE: Eleanor Egan is a Costa Mesa resident and former

planning commissioner.