The North Oaks City Council has taken a vote of no confidence against one of its members, who was accused of improperly visiting a private development site with a hydrologist without the owner's permission or the knowledge of other city officials.
The developer, North Oaks Co., lodged a complaint with the city alleging that the unauthorized visit in June by Council Member Kara Ries violated its due-process rights. The company had a development application pending with the city that has since been approved.
At a contentious meeting this month, the council took a no-confidence vote of 3-1 against Ries, with Ries herself dissenting and Council Member Sara Shah abstaining.
Ries, who has expressed skepticism about the development, had an attorney speak in her defense at the meeting who vigorously denied any wrongdoing.
Mayor Gregg Nelson said Ries should have followed protocol by disclosing her desire to consult an outside expert at a public council meeting and then getting permission from the developer to visit the property.
"It's bad behavior. She didn't follow City Council processes," said Nelson during a testy exchange with Ries.
Nelson and other council members also raised concerns that the hydrologist Ries consulted was related to a North Oaks resident.
Ries countered that she was simply doing research before a critical vote that would shape the future of the city. "You are demotivating people from asking good, hard questions," Ries said at one point.