Just about everyone in this room probably thinks I'm against development. Not true.

I'm against illegal development. But I hate folks who are always AGAINST things -- the bleacher bums of the world. So I'd like to tell you what I am FOR. I am FOR wise and beautiful development. I'm FOR a Sultan that can be economically sound while preserving and maintaining our rural atmosphere. I am FOR a Sultan that -- 20 years from now -- we can all point to and say to our grandchildren with pride: I helped build that. And I helped preserve our humanity by building it beautifully.

But it can be tough trying to continue believing in the future and believing in the law when so many simply do not seem to concern themselves with it.

Such is the case here tonight. I do not even know why we are here. The council canceled this hearing on January 7^th in order that they could review the issues and reschedule it. Yet here we are. We got off track.

I'm not sure I even know why I am here tonight -- any one of you can hop onto my website and find out precisely where I stand on these, and other issues. But that same courtesy is not afforded the residents of the city by this administration. So I guess I'm here to say that the city, and those who work for the city, do not afford me or any citizen the respect that comes from open information sharing, and doing the right thing.

We are here to comment on some rather significant revisions to some significant ordinances -- ordinances whose first criteria is that they be in accord with our comp plan. The city is ill-advised in changing such consequential ordinances on the eve of a major comprehensive plan overhaul.

Changing maximum lot coverage from 30% to 65% is an incredibly drastic change, fraught with major problems. At least, given the current administration's track record.

Revising ANY CODE that will give greater permission for further offending our critical areas is equally unwise. Again, given the current administration's track record.

And establishing and approving a cluster ordinance that carries such long-term and far-reaching ramifications to Sultan is -- again -- imprudent, considering this administration's track record.

And the comp plan amendment ordinance? What can I say about that? Not much, considering there was not even any draft ordinance published. How can one comment on thin air? But in order that my trip tonight away from my warm home and a sick mother-in-law who needs tending will not be in vain, I will submit to you a copy of my comments dated January 16, 2001 on Ord. 758 which were incorporated into others' and then passed onto council. But before it got to the council for their review and approval, somehow, some way, some on at city hall did not approve of that ordinance and by the time it got to the council it bore little resemblance to what was approved. The reason? This administration's track record. The process that was approved allowed far too much public participation and open communication. Something this administration has proven by its actions that it does not like.

Last year's approved ordinance 758 -- like everything else in Sultan -- seemed to start out just fine, but somehow, during the implementation process -- got off track. Which is precisely why, I guess, Sultan has such a poor track record.

Thank you for allowing me to comment.