I’ve gotten at least two dozen phone calls and messages from residents since last Thursday’s City Council Meeting where our City Manager, Michael Matthias had his annual Performance Review. January 23, 2020 City Council Minutes January 23, 2020 City Council Packet. I said much of what I have to say on this from the dais. … Continue reading “Over-compensating?”
Transparency
Tough Noogies
Categories Transparency1 Comment on Tough NoogiesI am told that the expression ‘tough noogies’ is pretty old. I first heard it on an old Saturday Night Live skit where Bill Murray tortures Gilda Radner. It was funnier than that sounds, but judge for yourself. Every frickin’ time I write anything I get at least one person who insists I either: a) … Continue reading “Tough Noogies”
Resolution 19-113
Categories TransparencyI kinda wish I didn’t have to write this, but we’re getting off to a bad start council-relationship-wise. I have tried to be as friendly as possible during this transition but this Resolution is pointed directly at Mr. Martinelli and myself and it’s exactly the kind of good-ol’-boy nonsense I ran against so I feel … Continue reading “Resolution 19-113”
Whether Information Learned In An Executive Session Is Confidential
AGO 2017 No. 5 – Aug 3 2017 Attorney General Bob Ferguson OPEN PUBLIC MEETINGS ACT—PUBLIC MEETINGS—CONFIDENTIALITY—ETHICS—MUNICIPALITIES—CRIMES—Whether Information Learned In An Executive Session Is Confidential 1. Information learned in a properly-convened executive session of a governing body of a public agency is generally confidential. 2. The disclosure by a municipal officer of information learned in … Continue reading “Whether Information Learned In An Executive Session Is Confidential”
Letter to the Waterland Blog by Mayor Dave Kaplan on 2016 Budget
State voters, Legislature have taken away much of Des Moines’ income by Mayor Dave Kaplan For the past several months, the City Council has been working to address our long-term financial issues through the 2016 budget process. In conjunction with our economic development efforts, which is the key to making the City financially sustainable in the … Continue reading “Letter to the Waterland Blog by Mayor Dave Kaplan on 2016 Budget”
Competitive City Council Races (Part II)
Categories Campaigning, History, Transparency1 Comment on Competitive City Council Races (Part II)As I wrote in Part I, we’ve had forty two City Council races or vacancies in the past twenty years, only seventeen competitive races and only thirty eight (38) candidates that may be called ‘competive’. And since many of them obtained office running unopposed or via appointment, the number of candidates who have been tested … Continue reading “Competitive City Council Races (Part II)”