This is the third in a series of changes to our City Council Meetings I’d like to see. This particular change has to do with ‘relationships’ so it may well sound crankier than usual. It’s not meant to. Honest. 😀 But there is a thing that tends to happen with group meetings that is kinda
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OPMA violations for dummies
Leave a comment on OPMA violations for dummiesBetter City Council Meetings #2: Questions
2 Comments on Better City Council Meetings #2: QuestionsThis is the second in a series of changes to our City Council Meetings I’d like to see. This particular change has to do with questions from Councilmembers about both how the government works and the legislation to be decided on at each meeting. This series began as a result of the especially problematic at
... continue reading.Better City Council Meetings #1: Eliminate the presentations!
2 Comments on Better City Council Meetings #1: Eliminate the presentations!This is the first in a series of changes to our City Council Meetings I’d like to see. This particular change has to do with managing the length of meetings, which was especially problematic at the August 6th ‘Budget Retreat’ (Video). And before we dive in, I don’t want to be a tease, but I
... continue reading.Tearing down the Van Gasken House makes Des Moines poorer
Bring Back City Manager Reports
2 Comments on Bring Back City Manager ReportsMy second motion at the 7 May City Council Meeting was to direct the City Manager to provide weekly reports. This actually was the practice for many years (and continues in many other cities our size and larger.) It was cut back to a Monthly Report in 2018 and then dispensed with entirely in February
... continue reading.It’s about the policy, not the person
1 Comment on It’s about the policy, not the personWhen I ran for City Council, I ran for policies, not against a person. I could have run against any of the three incumbents and had similar results. Because the public is ready for change. Last Thursday’s reappointment was also not about the person, it was about policy. The current majority did not want change and
... continue reading.Competitive City Council Races Des Moines 1995-2024
7 Comments on Competitive City Council Races Des Moines 1995-2024*Welcome back my friends to the show that never ends. Update: 03/12/2022: At the Thursday March 10, 2022 I said I could count on the fingers of one hand the number of competitive elections in Des Moines over the past ten years. I was wrong. Make that twenty. And three of those winners resigned. Some
... continue reading.My preferred Council Appointment process
Digging back into the cobwebs of history, I have researched several other appointment processes (we’ve had five in the past 25 years.) And there seems to have been a system for having eight (8) applicants which worked well. I’ve decided that this is my preferred process, not just because it seems fair, but because it
... continue reading.Dear Applicant: There may be a quiz
Leave a comment on Dear Applicant: There may be a quizDear Applicant, Thank you for stepping up to serve the City Of Des Moines. Since you have applied for the open City Council position, you will be interviewed at the Thursday February 6 Study Session. According to the Agenda, I will have an opportunity to ask you one question. I can’t tell you what question
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