City government channel 15 10/17/2009

Time Warner evidently is having problems with their signals since the voice often faded and was overwhelmed by static but it was still interesting to listen to him.

• Opening of new skate park at west side, nice shots and a very young girl sang the Star spangled banner which was nice.   Some fool used dirty language when talking in the mike, hope his mom deals with him.
• the Kiosk for development, allowing people to get their informaiton quickly 
• Road Resurfacing- the transmap system allows them to assess 270 square miles of roads.  I especially liked that they put people's names on the screen, it helps.
• Pool..they went over the rules rapidly but at least had some of it in writing as well.   Just too much at once to absorb it
• H1N1 9/25/2009  Michael Hill, Director of Public Health
• vaccine question-flu mist type first, then injectible vaccine
• How much will go to El Paso
• all makers of vaccine are overseas
• please stay home if sick
• biggest problems have been those with underlying health issues.
• vaccine is free, but the providers can charge a small fee for administrative costs
• he certainly doesn't plan have the border patrol in his clinics checking for citizenship, he suspects there will be some from Juarez
• children are less careful about good sanitation

Mayor Cook "Walk a Mile in my Shoes"  - Animal Control

• Kept for a while so owners have a chance to find them
• animals are tested, vaccinated, spayed/neutered, chipped, unlike stores or newspaper. Dipped before added to general population. 
• newspaper sales should have breeders licenses if they are selling animals
• selling animals on street-report to police, against law because they may be stolen
• Cat adoption is very low - there are a lot waiting for homes
• animal control has old computers!  and they have to use maps instead of a nav aid!  
• about 300 calls per day
• Microchipping has a 3-5% failure rate, which results in 600 plus animals picked up that don't show as being chipped when they are.  
• They also pick up horses, chickens, goats, etc..  They pick up rattlesnakes too!
• City got involved in pets in 1960s rabies was rampant.  Picking up strays, vaccination and investigating fights has greatly reduced the rabies problem.  They found 18 rabid bats last year.
• Huge home on east side, 3 car garage with fancy car but didn't vaccinate dogs?  course he said they were his girlfriends and the dogs escape a lot.
• 18,000 times a year an animal control worker has to execute an unwanted animal.   The mayor is for a mandatory spay/neuter ordinance.

Western Hemisphere Travel Initiative getyouhome.gov 

• RFID technology - chip in card is a number assigned and that is then compared against the database.  The info is fast and they are on their way 35-45 seconds
• Less documents - 6 different birth certificates for Arizona alone   There will only be 6 cards

Sharepoint made understandable

SharePoint in plain English (CommonCraft)




You can see more of these great videos at www.commoncraft.com

NLA-City Manager 10/14/2009

Joyce Wilson, City Manager Mark Alvarado, Neighborhood coordinator

• 2004 changed to Council Manager form of government, most popular form of government in communities with populations of 5,000 or greater. Combines strong political leadership with strong managerial experience.  
• Mayor/Council: elected, define public purpose, decides what and why; intent, expectations, motive for government actions and mayor provides political and community leadership 
• Mayor is key representative for intergovernmental and international relationships. sets goals, priorities and initiatives for the community 
• Council appoints city manager; evaluates City Manager, hire/fire and mayor cannot veto their decision; forms the legislative body, approves the budget and votes on ordinances and resolutions 
• City manager never donates, never goes to election events, etc... to avoid bias. Her job is to implement the decisions, not make them. Decides how or the manner in which it is implemented. Full-time, paid, public service. Influence is positional through organizational authority. Should view the community as a "whole" and systematically, not as separate districts 
• 6000 employees (FTE? or body count?)  
• Percentage from taxes 56-59% from property and sales tax. rest from fees and intergovernmental transfers.
• Technology
• Social media - slowly entering but putting rules into effect before there is a problem. 
• Activenet - can register and pay for things, not yet 
• inspections can be scheduled online now 
• e-ticketing for police so it can be done on the spot
• ambulance can now record everything rather than waiting later 
• 60% of budget for city is people; for police it is almost 90% 
• City vs County
• County implements state law and policy, has powers specifically conferred directly upon them 
• City has autonomous jurisdictions within the state 
• Report a pothole to street department 
• Water department - reports to Deputy City Manager of Development and Infrastructure Services. It is separate on the chart because of various laws that have been passed previously to protect them. Appointed by city council 
• Regional mobility-i.e. the 375 loop around El Paso, widening of the border highway, express tollways . City council appointment 
• Metropolitan planning organization is required if you want transportation funds. It had to be semi-standalone, and involves a variety of interested parties. appointed by various entities 
• Download a document that explains the City Council Strategic Policy Goals and accomplishments 
• Issues brought up by participant about jails (city one is gone). Weekend in jail; then gets out to work. cost of keeping someone vs putting on an ankle bracelet and make them stay at motel 6 Municipal crimes are billed to city and it is much cheaper than running a jail. Arrest for municipal is mainly substantial numbers of outstanding warrants. 10-15yr old depts can't be written off but are uncollectable. Ms. Wilson is seeking to segregate these debts so they don't give a false picture of what is due and collectable. The city focuses on 5 year or less and uses both collection agencies and/or warrant roundups or ticket payment. The city is running about 80% of the fines being collected 
• Another asked about outstanding fines that should be collected. Police serve warrants in city, constables only in unincorporated areas.  
• Current Major issues (slide) 
• 10 hr days  huge gas savings and smaller other savings.   People did come in before and after work, but it was light then, would people come downtown if it was dark?
• 311 (informational for the city).   The cost per call is prohibitive so they are looking for alternative  solutions   it would at least stop calling so many places trying to find the right one.
• resurface and improve freeways between gateway and freeway
• freight trains-getting rid of them.  The train companies are willing to cooperate if the city pays the costs.
• spaghetti warehouse fell through because of finances.
• budgeting process - 4-5 month process, Manager has to present a budget recommendation.  Has to be balanced and is presented in June.   Department by department presentations during July Thursday and Friday.   Then wrap up which includes tax rates, then is set by council.  Last week in August the tax rate is set and budgets finalized.
• Unemployment rate - 9.6% here in El Paso, below the national avg for the last 2 years.   Last year, it was below 6 % and two years ago it was about 5%,   Technology/healthcare/pharmaceutical/manufacturing-green/
• Another port to Mexico??  looking at it for either new one or larger   long term
• One Participant wants more stuff for BMX and freestylers, including a larger area for racing
• first-time homebuyers   many programs and will be covered soon
• neighborhood grants
• Parks will be presenting November 11th
• Morale issues  Ms. Wilson thinks it is very good, she spends a lot of time in employee forums/just did survey, new adhoc employee committee.   Job security concerns; workforce the survey was thorough. Some dept had more concerns than others.

Like most things on the web, always check the information with the source.   Just because I wrote it down doesn't mean I believe everything or that I understood it completely.