Forwarded from =?utf-8?Q?WH=20Citizen=20Transparency=20Group?= <protectwoodlandhills@gmail.com> Subject: =?utf-8?Q?Citizen=2DLed=20Transparency=20Notice?= Date: Fri, 8 Apr 2022 18:32:39 +0000 Judge Finds City Acted Illegally April 8, 2022 JUDGE FINDS CITY ACTED ILLEGALLY The City of Woodland Hills willfully refused to correct mistakes and wasted money and time on unnecessary and unwise legal battles that could have been easily resolved. It's time for the City to settle its legal issues and stop this mess! On March 22, 2022 Judge Sean Petersen of the Fourth District Court of Utah issued a ruling responding to the City of Woodland Hills' motion to dismiss a petition against the City. While some claims were dismissed, the Judge made the following rulings against the City: 1. "The Court finds that the Appeal Authority [of the City of Woodland Hills; formerly known as the Variance Board] acted illegally when it declined to hear Petitioners' appeal based on the notion that the Appeal Authority lacked jurisdiction to hear any matter presented in the appeal." 2. "The Appeal Authority violated Woodland Hills Code by not holding a public meeting as it relates to Petitioners' zoning violation appeal issues" 3. "The Appeal Authority acted illegally when it did not hold a public meeting regarding the zoning violation portions of Petitioners' appeal." 4. "Respondents [the City of Woodland Hills] violated Petitioners' due process rights. It important to note that the Petitioners repeatedly asked the City to correct the mistakes before filing the Petition with District Court. They repeatedly pointed out the illegalities to the Appeal Authority and asked them to correct their mistakes. The City Appeal Authority willfully refused to take corrective action, forcing the Petitioners to go to the considerable time and expense of filing their petition with the District Court and unwisely wasting City money and resources.* It is clear that the City had the opportunity to do the right thing and follow the law but willfully refused. So, the City refused to correct its mistakes and wasted money and resources in an unnecessary legal mess. The City demonstrated that rather than follow the law it will readily force residents to expend considerable time and expense to legally force the City to follow the law. Now, the City is attempting to change the laws and fee schedules to require residents to potentially pay even more to require the City to obey the law and be accountable. This needs to stop! The City needs to settle its legal problems to avoid wasting more money. The City must start obeying the law and stop trying to play legal games looking for loopholes or trying to change the laws it violates and retroactively apply the new laws. Please share this report with neighbors and friends! *Perhaps it is worth noting that Mr. Brent Winder served on that Appeal Authority during this time and appears to have played an important role in the Appeal Authority's illegal actions. Mr. Winder campaigned to be our Mayor on a platform of his legal expertise. Given this ruling, perhaps Mr. Winder's training as a patent attorney may not be as applicable as he thought. Email Us (mailto:protectwoodlandhills@gmail.com) ============================================================ ** view this email in your browser (https://mailchi.mp/97c334872d21/ombudsman-report-6208233?e=99e21e4f92) Copyright @ 2022 Woodland Hills Citizen Transparency Committee, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Woodland Hills Citizen Transparency Committee PO Box 785 Salem, UT 84653 USA