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• 2016 (Maul: The CUP does not address the current use of the backyard. Condition#1 in the CUP only applied during the construction period of the lodge. (If you are confused by this, we were too!) • This time City staff added a completely new argument, which we had never heard in nine years of discussions with the City. Staff stated that Condition #1 of the CUP only applied during the construction of the Lodge building, and therefore had no effect on current Lodge operations. That is, with the City's current interpretation, the CUP does not address the use of the backyard. • City staff stated in their response to the code enforcement complaint: "Condition#1 relates to the development of the site and design of the building. Once the site was developed and the building was constructed per the standards of this condition, this condition was determined to be successfully implemented. This condition would only now apply to any new construction or development on—site, none of which is currently proposed by the Masons. This condition does not have any language explicitly prohibiting outside activities." • The above response frustrated us so much that we asked our attorney to write a letter to the City (See Attachment). Our attorney states in his letter, "Both my clients and I find this interpretation nothing short of ridiculous. Nowhere in the Use Permit is there any indication that this condition was for construction activities. Nor has the City ever raised this claim in all the time that my clients have been attempting to have the Use Permit enforced. The City cannot simply rewrite conditions to avoid their enforcement." We frankly are at a loss to understand why Staff has been so adamant in supporting the Masons against the legitimate complaints of neighboring residents—especially when the 1977 Use Permit conditions were clearly intended to protect those residents. We hope that the Council will demand an explanation for Staff's past behavior. Furthermore, we hope Council will direct staff in the future to take its direction from the Council and the Commission, rather than attempting to create its own policy directions.