City Council happenings: February 2012 Archives

Last night's City Council meeting was very emotional.

In tears, Ronnie Pallares' grandmother Lucy Pallares, criticized the city for taking down a makeshift memorial on Fourth Street without telling her.

One by one, the five members on the council apologized.

"We forget sometimes we're dealing with people, not situations," said Councilman Bill Alexander. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry for the tears."

Ronnie Pallares, 19, pictured right, was an Army combat engineer who died in Afghanistan. His military banner on Haven Avenue had become a memorial site where friends and family left memorabilia. Last month, the city took down the memorial citing safety concerns.

Wednesday's meeting was tense and highly-charged not just because the Pallares family was upset. Council gadflies Bill Hanlon and Jim Moffatt, supporters of the Pallares family, blasted the city.

"Isn't it ironic that Ronnie Pallares died protecting those who took down the memorial?" Hanlon said.

Hanlon accused city staff of taking down items honoring a fallen soldier while turning a "blind eye" to campaign signs during elections season.

"Shame on all of you," Hanlon said. "I hope there's a level in hell for those who dishonor our heroes."

Councilman Chuck Buquet, shot back, saying Hanlon's comments also dishonored military heroes.

"I think he should look in the mirror relative to making those comments in the future," Buquet said in reference to Hanlon.

Buquet accused certain speakers of preying on the Pallares' family for "political theater." Moffatt ran for City Council in the last two elections and is often vocal in his criticisms of city leaders. Buquet, who was appointed to the council in 2010, is up for election in November.

The councilman took another stab at the two gadflies when referencing a photo of the military banner. Buquet said he forgot which speaker brought the photo to the meeting.

"I can't remember if it was Mr. Moffatt or Mr. Hanlon," Buquet said. "They look the same in their attire when they come up here."

Moffatt and Hanlon, both military veterans, often wear jackets adorned with veterans patches.

When Buquet was finished addressing Moffatt and Hanlon, he apologized to the Pallares family and said he was not happy with the way the city handled the matter. He also said the gold star banners, those that honor the fallen soldiers, should be modified. Buquet said not many people know what the gold star signifies and suggests the word "hero" be added to the 10 gold star banners in the city.

"I'm willing to fund the cost of the 10 banners. I'm hoping that, at least, helps," Buquet told the Pallares family. "It's my offer to put my money where my mouth is."

Mayor Dennis Michael said the proposed modification to gold star banners should be addressed by a subcommittee with input from families of the fallen soldiers.

At 81 pages, Wednesday's City Council agenda packet was the thinnest in memory. It weighed less than an iPad.

Packets in past months have been as thick as 700+ pages.


According to the city manager's office, the city has saved 900 reams of paper, or $10,000, after buying iPads for the council and enacting other paper-saving measures.

City Attorney Jim Markman once stated the iPad changed his life.

But Councilman Bill Alexander, the Luddite on the council, said, "I hate it."

Alexander prefers his council agenda packet in paper form. He likes dealing with highlighters and sticky notes.

"I guess I'm just old-fashioned," he said. 

Alexander also hates e-mails and text messages.

"I don't get any excitement over the typed word," Alexander said.

I wonder if that applies to newspapers.

City Hall staff members recently took down the signs, flags and other adornment hung on a street pole bearing the military banner of Ronnie Pallares. The items were placed there by family and friends to memorialize Pallares, the 19-year-old Army combat engineer who died in Afghanistan in 2010. Since his death, the Haven Avenue street pole has been adorned with flowers, Christmas lights and other sentimental items. The picture at right shows the pole before the items were taken away.

Although Pallares' mother, Brenda Pallares, does not object to the city's actions, Pallares' uncle, grandmother and other relatives are hurt and upset.

On Wednesday, City Council gadfly Jim Moffatt blasted the city for removing the items, which have since been returned to the family.

"He gave his life for the country," Moffatt said. "I don't see any reason for that not to be up."

Moffatt suggested the sentimental decorations remain until the Freedom Courtyard is built. Freedom Courtyard is a planned veterans memorial at Central Park. Construction for the project is expected to begin this summer.

Public Works Services Director Bill Wittkopf said it's a matter of public safety, particularly if the items spill out into the sidewalk or are blown away by high winds. He said memorials can typically be up for no longer than 30 to 45 days.

"The city does not mean any disrespect," Wittkopf said.

Pallares' uncle, Vince Pallares, did not address the council but shouted to Wittkopf from the audience, "If your son dies, I'll give you 30 days to mourn."

Later during the meeting, Councilman Bill Alexander said he would like staff to identify a place in the city where families can go and mourn or honor military personnel until the Freedom Courtyard is built.

"We owe it to those people who served the military, particularly those who paid the ultimate sacrifice," Alexander said. "We can't put a time frame on how long people grieve."

"I don't disagree," said Mayor Dennis Michael and directed the city manager to locate such a site.