Keeping San Angelo Citizens Informed

After finding the City Council agenda for February 21 on Saturday, I searched for the agenda packet, which often runs into hundreds of pages.  I checked both the City web site and SlideShare for a document to peruse.  As of Monday evening, I felt shut out.

The next day I questioned if the City posted the packet on a "Council Live" story by Matthew Waller.  He responded:

Something went wrong, and the city didn't get the packet released until I requested it Monday.

With the leadership change, I can be patient as kinks are worked out.  I expect Interim City Manager Michael Dane to pick up the openness, given his award-winning transparency in the CFO slot.

I followed up with Ty Meighan, Public Information Officer, on the late posting issue.  He wrote:

It was posted on there Monday. I know because my office posted it this time for the city clerk and the Standard-Times accessed it. We did not use Slideshare  because they now want to charge us for posting items that take up significant space.

Here's SlideShare's pricing, $19 a month:

I'm not saying the City should spend $228 a year on SlideShare, but they should make it clear to the interested public the ways they can locate the agenda, its supporting packet and any presentations made at the Council meeting.  

The City had an RFP out for a website overhaul last fall.  They might wish to house documents there vs. SlideShare.  While change is in the works, please give the public a chance to be informed.. That means more than the day before.

Sen. Hutchison Shoots for ASU's Center for Security Studies

The Standard Times reported:

U.S. Sen. Kay Bailey Hutchison visited Angelo State University on Thursday to get a firsthand report on the Center for Security Studies, one of the projects she helped launch.

Hutchison, a member of the Senate Appropriations Committee, was able to help get Department of Defense grants of $2.8 million and $3 million during the past three years to launch the center.

Taxpayer in Texas posted the following on this blog last year:

Federal Earmarks are the sole source of funding for the CSS. So now ASU picks up the tab for what Rallo created with the help of Uncle Sam to the tune of $1.7 million in new salaries alone (not including benefits).

Here's the breakdown:
-Director & Deputy: $220,000
-8 new Professors: approx $650,000 (several are so new that they are not in the public salary database; three who are in the database are getting 91K, 71K, and 70K)
-6 new support staff positions: $296,849
Grand Total: $1.169 million each and every year.

Back to Senator Hutchison:  "I am going to try to get one more year (of funding)," she said in a news conference. "I'm going to try to see if I can help at least in that year, so they can be able to sustain what has been started."

Did Taxpayer in Texas meet with Senator Hutchison today?  If so, I'd love to have been an insect shaped drone on the wall.

MedHab Commits to San Angelo, Agreement Pending

Nothing is official until the parties sign on a dotted line, but MedHab is San Angelo's to lose.  City of San Angelo Development Corporation is working on an agreement.  When that's hammered out the City will make an announcement.  At least that's the word from one city official.   

Consultant Heavy Agenda Faces City Council

The City of San Angelo posted the City Council agenda for February 21.  It lists a number of consulting firms under various agenda items.

1)  CLEAResult Consulting, Inc. for the 2012 Score/City Smart Program

2)  Gateway Planning Group for the formulation of a targeted Lake Nasworthy sub-district plan

3) Wolf Consulting for consulting services and preparation of a study for the assessment of current resources and future recommendations for facilities and enhancements in the Cultural District (a shared expense with SAMFA, SAHF and Barrow Foundation)

4) Presentation and discussion of the Economic Development Strategic Plan compiled by Angelou Economics

5) Accept proposals and interview executive search firms for the recruitment of the City Manager position

This agenda doesn't include Texas Outdoor Consulting, currently working on a parks master plan for Lake Nasworthy and Twin Buttes Reservoir.

One might expect more internal work from a city with a full time manager and two assistant city managers. That said, I've worked with leaders who didn't trust the capabilities of local staff.  Mayor New gives me that impression, which this agenda confirms. . 

Abilene Announces Economic Development Packages: No MedHab

The City of Abilene's Development Corporation announced two economic support packages, one for a Colombia cookie company and the other for a wind energy firm.  Conspicuously absent was an incentive package for MedHab, a medical rehabilitation company.

Abilene and San Angelo are vying for MedHab's production facilities.  San Angelo's Development Corporation and City Council approved a $3.6 million package for MedHab on January 3rd.  A decision is overdue.

Day 40: No MedHab Decision

San Angelo and Abilene nervously await MedHab's decision on where to locate its production facilities.  CEO Johnny Ross gave a 40 day window for his decision.  Valentine's Day was Day 40. Who will be heartbroken?

Minutes Miss COSA's MedHab Elephant

Consider San Angelo City Council's January 3rd minutes, where Council eliminated a ban on city officials receiving economic development funds until six months after they leave office.  The minutes of that decision reflect:

APPROVAL OF A RECOMMENDATION BY THE CITY OF SAN ANGELO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION (COSADC) BOARD TO AMEND THE CITY OF SAN ANGELO DEVELOPMENT CORPORATION GUIDELINES FOR JOB CREATION ASSISTANCE SECTION ENTITLED ELIGIBILITY OF APPLICANTS AND REVISING OUTDATED CONTACT INFORMATION

How did Council amend guidelines for job creation assistance?

Development Coordinator Robert Schneeman presented background information. A copy of the presentation is part of the Permanent Supplemental Minute record.

Council member Morrison expressed his concern regarding the amendments to the application eligibility criteria noting that the current criteria rules have been styled to prevent elected and appointed officials from receiving funds from the City of San Angelo Development Corporation. He expressly spoke in opposition of the amendment. Council members Alexander, Hirschfeld, and Adams spoke in favor of the amendment and proposed MedHab incentive (item immediately following this item).

Motion, to approve the amendment to the Guidelines, as presented, was made by Council member Hirschfeld and seconded by Council member Alexander. AYE: Alexander, Adams, Hirschfeld, and Farmer. NAY: Morrison and Silvas. Motion carried 4-2.

Minutes usually show the old language vs. the new.  That omission aside, why don't the minutes state Mayor Alvin New's substantial conflict of interest in MedHab, via a more than $15,000 equity interest in the company?

Council member Morrison explicitly stated the change was proposed to make Mayor New compliant.  Otherwise, he'd have to sell his MedHab stake or resign as Mayor and the company wait six months for development aid.  MedHab doesn't have six months, given its June 2012 Australian product launch.

City Attorney Lisa Bowling holds two affidavits from Alvin New regarding his conflict of interest in MedHab.  An open and transparent administration would've produced these documents. 

Council approved lowering the ethics bar on city officials garnering economic development funds.  Next, it tackled the $3.6 million package for MedHab.

APPROVAL OF AN OFFER OF ECONOMIC INCENTIVES TO MEDHAB, LLC, A MEDICAL DEVICE COMPANY CONSIDERING LOCATING IN SAN ANGELO INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, A TAX REBATE, JOB CREATION GRANT, BUILDING RENOVATION GRANT, AND LEASE ASSISTANCE

Once again, City leaders did not come clean on the Mayor's MedHab holdings, much less his position on MedHab's Board of Directors.  Here's their summation:

Community and Economic Development Director Shawn Lewis and Economic Development Coordinator Donna Osborne presented background information. A copy of the presentation is part of the Permanent Supplemental Minute record.

Councilmembers Hirschfeld, Alexander, Silvas, and Mayor Pro Tempore Farmer spoke in favor of the incentive.

Motion, to authorize the incentive, as presented, was made by Councilmember Adams and seconded by Councilmember Hirschfeld. AYE: Alexander, Silvas, Adams, Hirschfeld, and Farmer. NAY: Morrison. Motion carried 5-1.

The minutes fail to indicate the total incentive approved for MedHab.  Once again, there's no mention of Mayor New's stated conflict of interest from filed affidavits.

While Mayor New visited Australia, possibly on MedHab's behalf, an elephant wandered freely in Council chambers.  Few would talk, much less write, about it.

I shouldn't be surprised the City Clerk scooped up it's offal.  Otherwise, how could Council minutes be so pristine?

I've seen sparser sets of minutes, but none on such a weighty decision, ethically and financially.  Surely, San Angelo's leaders can do better.