Unfortunately, this is yet another one of those situations where the public tends to think, “I don’t care who’s right or wrong. I just want you to stop arguing!” But it matters. There has been a slow, drip, drip break down in the proper functioning of our government, by every Council, over the past 20 … Continue reading “This is what obstruction looks like”
Transparency
Committees 2022
Categories TransparencyBelow is the list of CM Committee assignments for 2022. The Process In Des Moines, the Mayor is chosen by the Council at the first meeting of the year after the November General Election. Customarily, CMs send their preferences to the new Mayor and he decides committee assignments shortly thereafter. Here is my letter. CMs … Continue reading “Committees 2022”
Strategy Meeting Proposals
Categories Engagement, Policy, TransparencySubmitted to Councilmembers as “information only” March 18, 2022 Colleagues, At the 7 April, 2022 Strategy meeting I will present the following items: Pg 1. Councilmember Research Process Pg 2. Committee/Meeting Modernisations Pg. 4. Digital Presence #1. Councilmember Research Process: This is modeled on the SeaTac City Council Request Form (CRF.) The process is very … Continue reading “Strategy Meeting Proposals”
03/10/22 Marina Enterprise Presentation – Why we need a Marina Advisory Committee
Categories Marina, TransparencyWhy things never die in this town
Categories TransparencyAt the end of our City Council Meeting last night, we had a 30 minute Executive Session that was extended to 50 minutes. I am not supposed to divulge the contents of that meeting, but click on the above link and Councilmember Achziger has a comment as to why he did not attend. …the Mayor … Continue reading “Why things never die in this town”
Letter to Mayor Matt Mahoney re. Committee assignments
Categories TransparencyOn 24 January, 2022 I emailed the Mayor Mahoney with my preferences as Committee assignments. Mayor, For 2022 I would like to make the following committee assignment requests: 1. I would like to be assigned to the Municipal Facilities Committee or the Economic Development Committees. Either is fine. 2. I would like to remain on … Continue reading “Letter to Mayor Matt Mahoney re. Committee assignments”
An Open Letter Re. The 2022 Council Vacancy Vote
Categories Policy, TransparencyDear Des Moines, I want to congratulate all three applicants for the Council vacancy, especially the winner, Vic Pennington. He was not my choice, but he ran a gauntlet of criticism that most of us would find very tough to take and did so graciously. To him, I promise my full professional cooperation. To those … Continue reading “An Open Letter Re. The 2022 Council Vacancy Vote”
What’s the point of the discussion period?
Categories Transparency1 Comment on What’s the point of the discussion period?This is an article by Ann McFarlane, who runs Jurassic Parliament, a training company used by *The City of Des Moines and most cities in WA. It corrects just one of dozens of misconceptions I hear over and over from both the public, candidates and electeds about how Council Meetings are supposed to work. Time … Continue reading “What’s the point of the discussion period?”
Solution2022!™
Categories TransparencyAfter the February 2020 appointment process, I received many negative comments. What was so striking to me in reading those comm was the fact that both the process and the person selected came as almost no surprise to anyone. (I myself was told by fairly well-informed people three days after my election exactly how that … Continue reading “Solution2022!™”
Councilmember Martinelli’s resignation
Categories TransparencyTo the residents of Des Moines: I’ve lived here long enough to see several scandals on our City Council. And the thing I’ve learned is that the public has all the tools it needs to handle them; quickly and efficiently. The best thing colleagues can do at those times is to stay out of it. … Continue reading “Councilmember Martinelli’s resignation”