Florence mayor faces recall petition.

Byline: Winston Ross The Register-Guard

FLORENCE - Angry at Mayor Phil Brubaker's handling of the Stillwater Condominium project, a group of residents has filed a petition with the city to recall him.

Chief petitioner Jay Goodwin said the recall isn't only about the controversial project, which surprised many residents when the three-story building rose above the railing on the Siuslaw Bridge a few months ago. But he and treasurer Anne Kelly didn't cite other specific problems they had with the mayor.

"Stillwater was really just the catalyst," Goodwin said. "There are a number of reasons why people are upset, and it basically boils down to that the mayor especially and others were making decisions about what they wanted to do and they were not listening to the will of the people at all."

Brubaker, elected in 2004 for a term that expires in 2009, declined to say much about the effort. He said he'd file a rebuttal after the petitioners' 90-day window to gather signatures expires.

"I take this very seriously," Brubaker said. "And I plan to continue to do my job as mayor."

Residents upset about the Stillwater project are particularly peeved about a recent deal the city staff cut with the project's developers in an attempt to reach a compromise: lowering some sections of the building. Critics say the developer's building permit should have been revoked instead, and that Brubaker should be held responsible. Ultimately, the council decided not to take a vote on whether to send the permit back to the city planning commission for review, which allowed the city employees' agreement with the developers to stand.

"By using the legal loophole of a code of silence, there ended up being a vote of silence, not a vote by the council," Kelly said.

Brubaker's colleagues defended him, however, arguing that the developer had complied with local zoning laws and that it left the council without legal recourse to revoke Stillwater's permit.

"Recalling him or attempt- ing to recall him is a disservice to the City of Florence," Councilor Nola Xavier said. "When a developer comes in, buys a piece of property and applies to build what's allowed, how do you deny him the right to build what's allowed?"

Deb Todd, who's involved in the recall effort but can't sign the petition because she doesn't live within city limits, said she has several problems with Brubaker's leadership as mayor.

She said he has for years allowed and encouraged expand- ing Florence's city limits in a way that benefits only wealthy developers, and that he supported a deal to provide sewer services to the Three Rivers Casino despite the reservations of many in the community.

"He determines the agenda and he always has the last say before the vote," Todd said. "If you're going to be the leader, you're responsible."

Winston Ross can be reached at [phone] or rgcoast @oregonfast.net.