In an email to Menifee 24/7, Anne Pica attached a letter written to her on City of Menifee letterhead by council member Greg August, stating that August will remove her from the Planning Commission effective today. In the letter, August told Pica "I am simply displeased with your behavior and I am concerned that it may compromise the City's planning process and the due process rights of others."
Pica said in the email to Menifee 24/7 and other media outlets that August "has been trying to control my every word or action on the planning Commission since I was appointed to that position by him just six months ago. He continually tells me my vote and actions reflect on him and if I don't conform to what he says, then he will remove me from the Planning Commission.
"Since that appointment, he has told me that I should just sit on the planning commission, say nothing and collect my stipend for the next four years. Of course, I have refused to do that, as I am working for the citizens of Menifee, and it is not in my makeup to disband my integrity or honesty for a lousy $75 stipend and the title of Planning Commissioner."
August confirmed Sunday that he sent the letters and plans to remove Pica from her position.
"I sent her two letters written by me on city letterhead," August said. "As far as reasons go, most of my concerns were addressed in those two pieces of correspondence. There were other reasons that I chose not to put in writing.
"I have spoken with Anne over the phone where her and I were unable to reach an understanding. Hence, I determined any further conversation between us should be in writing. I will not say anymore than it was a decision that I determined to be necessary in the best interest of the city."
On Friday -- the same day the second of two letters from August to Pica was dated -- Assistant City Clerk Jen Allen emailed the press with a notice that the District 1 representative on the Planning Commission would be vacant effective July 8. Interested persons have 10 days to apply for that position, the announcement said.
According to Pica, August demanded her resignation after she spoke during the public comments section of a June 25 scoping meeting about the proposed Chaparral housing development. In a letter dated July 1, August told Pica it was not appropriate for her to express opinions on a matter she would eventually be voting on as a planning commissioner.
"It is becoming clear that the position of Planning Commissioner may be too confining or restrictive for you and your activist inclinations," August wrote to Pica in the July 1 letter.
Pica responded in a July 3 letter to August, saying she identified herself as a private citizen and that only the city council would have to vote on the Chaparral project.
The rift between Pica and August is ironic, considering that Pica was one of August's biggest supporters during the November election, in which August defeated three others for the city council seat in District 1 (the Sun City area of Menifee).
"I will not surrender my constitutional rights because Mr. August thinks he has the power to stifle my voice," Pica wrote in the email to the press.