Week 7: Hidden Figures

I wanted to dedicate a blog post to some of the “hidden figures” of the PV Estates City Government. But before I do that, I’ll briefly summarize this week’s objectives and tasks as we hit the one-week mark for my final Planning Commission meeting.

Next Tuesday is the special August Planning Commission meeting, as I have mentioned in several previous blog posts. Two applications for home remodels will be heard–both which were continued from the July meeting on account of their controversial status. Each meeting can be considered the end of a month-long planning “cycle” which has various deadlines and tasks associated with it. This week (one week before the meeting) is a critical work week for several reasons. First, the deadline for submitting revised site plans and certifying a silhouette was this past Friday. What this means for Planning Staff is that we now have everything we need to draft a staff report about the project for the Planning Commission to review–this task is the priority for the week. Additionally, now that the silhouettes have been constructed and certified by a surveyor, we can visit the sites to take photographs (and affected neighbors can better assess the project’s impacts on their homes).

I should probably explain a silhouette here. A silhouette is an outline of the walls and ridge of the proposed new structure. It is most often used when the new structure or additions involve a second story, as height is a major concern. The silhouette for the second story and ridge are built atop the existing house using 2×4’s with twine strung tight between them. Small colored flags line the twine to make the outline more visible. The logic of this exercise is that any views lying within the confines of the twine lines would represent lost views in the event that the building was constructed.

I went out and took this site photo yesterday afternoon. This photo (and several others) will be part of our official presentation to the Planning Commission. It is likely that later this week I will visit neighbors and take photographs of the site from their homes to help assess how they are impacted by the project.

Now, onto PV Estates’ hidden figures.

As I’ve been here for nearly two months now, I’ve gotten to know Planning Department staff, as well as several staff members outside our department. The man who stands out the most to me is Pete Tepus. Pete is the City Foreman and has been working here since 1986. His job mostly consists of executing Public Works efforts related to community safety and cleanliness, such as removing fallen trees, supervising road repairs, and catching injured peacocks (more on that soon). While most people who work for the City wear a suit and tie, Pete wears coveralls and work boots. Because he is a longtime staff member, Pete is known by almost everybody in the City and is a major source of organizational culture and leadership influence here. Every morning he has a ritual of giving everyone in the office “knuckles,” and I have come to love his slogan: “I don’t take complaints, I take requests.” Pete’s attitude and mindset are overwhelmingly positive; he cracks witty jokes and offers sound advice on personal and professional matters. He is careful with his words and is respectful to everyone, but he will not back down if challenged and is firm in his decisions.

I’ve come to know Pete because he takes me to most of my sites for sign postings and photographing silhouettes. We ride in the dirty Public Works pickup truck through PV’s winding streets talking about the City, about the country, and about life. Pete has become somewhat of a mentor to me since I’ve been here and has set a wonderful example for me to follow. I personally share many of the same convictions as Pete, especially about being positive, not making assumptions, and not taking things personally. But because most people don’t practice these principles in their work or personal life, sometimes I find myself forgetting to practice them myself. Seeing a successful adult figure embracing these principles on a daily basis helps curb some of my cynicism about the American workplace and 9-5 work culture; becoming salty and negative is optional.

Another hidden figure is Donna Shellabarger. Donna is a permit technician for Building and Safety, and also takes on an administrative role for the Planning Department. She, too, has been here for many years and is a well known face in the office. Although I would not call Donna an office leader, she certainly influences the organizational culture with her kindness, patience, and encouragement. Ever since Elizabeth left, Donna has been an invaluable and ever-patient source of help for Jeffrey, Aaron, and myself. She is able to help with all the logistical problems we run into, from finding files to mailing out notices. But most importantly, Donna is encouraging. I have never once seen her impatient or rude to anyone. In fact, she consistently praises me for my work and I’m pretty sure she never stops smiling. Donna is a pleasant person to be around and I think every office needs someone like her to be the glue that holds us together.

Since I said I’d mention it later, I’ll say a brief word about peacocks. In the early 1900s, when the Palos Verdes Peninsula was purchased by Frank Vanderlip Sr, Vanderlip went to visit a friend’s estate in Arcadia. He had admired his friend’s collection of peacocks imported from India, and his friend subsequently gifted him several birds. Vanderlip returned to PV and let the birds roam his property, but eventually they escaped and multiplied into two flocks totaling several hundred birds. Since then, peacocks roam wild around the Peninsula. The City has a peacock control program to help ensure the flock’s numbers are stable and that injured birds receive care. Often, when Pete and I visit sites, we see the birds! They’re another reason I enjoy my internship here.