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Laura Wilkerson urges National City council for a 'fair and just' review of prospective business
Summary
At the National City council meeting, public commenter Laura Wilkerson asked the council to ensure a fair process for a prospective business (referred to in the transcript as "Kalimota"), emphasized the owners are women and minority entrepreneurs, and offered to extend deadlines to provide more information.
Laura Wilkerson, identified by the meeting clerk as the lone public commenter, told the National City Council she supports the business on the agenda and asked the council to ensure an equitable review.
"We want a fair and just process," Wilkerson said, adding that if the council needed more information the applicants were willing to extend deadlines so staff could work with them. She described the owners as "women and minority owners" and said they "will work hard" and "make you proud."
Wilkerson urged that applicants be treated consistently and that no public entity liability result from unequal treatment. She framed her remarks as an offer of cooperation: "Should you need more time…we are happy to extend the deadline on the information before you to work with you and find a way to get to yes."
Why it matters: The comment addresses the council's review process for an incoming business. The transcript records two different spellings for the business — Wilkerson refers to it as "Kalimota," while later the city attorney identified a case spelling it "CaliMota." The council did not take public action during Wilkerson's comment; rather, her remarks were recorded during the public comment period and the council moved on to closed-session items.
The council's formal agenda included closed-session matters after public comment; no vote or formal decision about the business was recorded in the public portion of the meeting minutes provided in the transcript.
