A public display of dysfunction

“The issue is not was it proper notification or wasn’t it — 48 people is a significant number of people who have been disenfranchised — but that under no circumstance entitles someone to conduct themselves like that,” Drayman said. “It’s not every day that you see a physical, let alone a verbal scuffle between the city manager and a council member.”

Both setback ordinances are due to come back before the council on Oct. 9, when Yousefian will have to recuse himself from voting because it would affect his property.

In the meantime, staff will be reviewing the city’s geographical information system, Starbird said.

“We do not want to create a situation where more nonconforming properties are out there,” he said. “If it takes a survey, you know, we’re going to do a survey.”

But one nagging problem at City Hall will take more than a technical procedure to solve, Najarian said.

Recent tension among City Council members, highlighted by Drayman’s recent decision to move out of his City Hall office and the reaction to Yousefian’s Tuesday conduct, is not conducive to efficient governance, Najarian said.

“I’m not saying people should leave their personalities aside,” he said. “But when you get to a point where your emotions overcome you, you start to lose sight of the issue involved, and it can turn out to be more destructive than productive.”

 RYAN VAILLANCOURT covers business, politics and the foothills. He may be reached at (818) 637-3215 or by e-mail at ryan.vaillancourt@latimes.com.