Gene Wieneke

Marijuana Ordinance An Emergency?

2009-09-08T07:12:00.002-06:00

State law and local charters give cities the right to adopt emergency ordinances when circumstances demand that an issue or problem is addressed as soon as possible. An emergency, as defined by the charter, must be “for the preservation of public property, health, peace or safety.”

In considering a regular ordinance the charter requires that it be approved at two regular meetings. The public has the right to speak at a public hearing prior to the vote at the second meeting. By declaring an emergency the Council eliminates the residents’ right to speak at a hearing and the need for a second meeting is eliminated.

The Council has scheduled an emergency ordinance for the regular meeting this Thursday the 10th. The emergency? To regulate Marijuana Medical Dispensaries.

The City Attorney has been directed, and he will justify the emergency action. As you’ve seen the categories in the charter are broad and the final determination of what is an emergency is a legislative decision.

The owner of the Cricket store in the Garland Center is operating a dispensary out of a space connected to his store. For allegedly violating the city’s nuisance ordinance he has a court appearance on the 16th of this month. If a regular ordinance is considered, the second approval could not occur until the 24th.

Marijuana is legal in the State for medical purposes. Whether or not it should be dispensed in the city is the issue and it should be addressed as a non-emergency ordinance. The Council received the draft Tuesday evening and is expected to make the final decision in two days and one meeting without public input. For reference: citycouncil@northglenn.org

Now to Spend more than you Receive in Northglenn

2009-08-12T15:25:00.000-06:00

In 2009 the City’s General Fund annual revenues were expected to be 9.8% higher than the amount received in 2000. The Fund’s annual operating expenditures were budgeted to be 48.7% higher than in 2000. In my research I found a consistent pattern for the intervening years.

During the tenure of Manager Landeck the General fund’s capital outlays were paid out of the annual revenues. A typical amount was $2-3 million per year. When the new City Manager, Phil Nelson, settled in, he changed the method in which capital outlays were funded.

Starting with him and continuing today, capital outlays are taken from the original $20.8 million in savings built up by Manager Landeck. By switching the capital expenses to the fund balance, it freed up millions each year for new operating programs and additional employees.

Now that we are minus $15 million and at our minimum fund balance, what does it mean for today? Capital outlays must once again come from annual revenues or the residents must approve the continuation of an expiring property tax this November. Cancelling capital outlays is not acceptable.

As a small positive, when the current Council adopted the 2009 budget, we reduced the General fund’s operating expenditures by $1.3 million compared to 08. This year the economy convinced the Manager and all Council members to make substantial, additional reductions.

In my opinion you should not be satisfied until the Council reverses Nelson’s policy and pays operating and capital expenses out of current revenues.

2009 Budget Update

2009-03-10T19:41:00.000-06:00

On February 8th I summarized the need for budget reductions as follows:

“We will be addressing the third error of $646,800 in the immediate future. A truly balanced general fund is only $1,523,449 away assuming the recession does not deepen and revenue projections hold. The Council and City Manager Simmons are poised and determined to make 2009 a successful year.”

On March 6th the Council met in a retreat setting at the Recreation Center to discuss budget reductions. The numbers above were revised by the new Finance Director prior to the meeting to $181,226 in place of $646,800 and $926,649 in place of $1,523,449. Utilizing newer information he was able to correct some omissions and over statements in the projected expenditures and revenues.

On the revenue side, the accrual figures for Jan/Feb’s Franchise Fees were included and the Investment earnings were reduced. Net gain of $29,000. The net Sales Tax receipts were increased by $9,500 and smaller increases in revenues were added.

On the expenditure side, accrued expenses were added to the Finance, Parks/Recreation and Public Works accounts amounting to $94,000. Other accruals listed on 1/29/09 were reduced. The anticipated 08 carryover funds to the Capital Improvement fund were added for an additional cost of $1,032,000. All of these expenses were offset by grant funds that were not included on 1/29/09. They will be received in 2009 but credited back to 2008 projects. The grant reimbursements amount to $1,442,816.

The discussion on the 6th gave the City Manager some ideas as to where reductions might be located. He is to report back to Council in the near future. Finding the money to make up the $181,226 could be easy considering we have a general fund contingency of $200,000 that is tentatively marked for other activities but not committed. Hopefully he will find other expenses that can be reduced as a result of some increased efficiencies.

After these reductions are made we will be back to where we thought we were when the 2009 budget was adopted on December 13th. The big hit we’ve already experienced in Sales Taxes during January is yet to be addressed; as is whatever lies ahead.

My solutions? The City is over staffed. Additionally, even during these times, it is still taking a Cadillac or Lexus approach to most projects and services. Call it downsizing or rightsizing; but it must be done.

In the previous seven years the general fund was balanced only once and that was the year the entire street program was cancelled, the voters turned down the first recreation building project and the Mayor was up for re-election; 2005. I want a balanced budget now and every year!

2008 in Review-The Disappointments

2009-02-15T13:01:00.001-07:00

This week I would like to summarize some actions and policies that were not taken or instituted by the Council during 2008. Keep in mind that I have a much different perspective than the other members of the Council. At the same time, several share some of the disappointments.

The most recognized failure lies with the lack of development and return from the major investment in the vacant land between 120th and the recreation building. Two years ago, as a resident, I said that the firms the City engaged for the development were incompetent and did not have the horsepower. The City Manager and Attorney did not insert an end date in the contract.

What about the recreation building? Council hired the same company to analyse the building’s conditions for the third time. We’re still looking at over ten million dollars with no funding source available except voter approval of long term debt. The North Metro’s Fire Chief reviewed our report and issued a compliance order that will divert over $1.5 million from the general fund. More debt. An additional disappointment is that we haven’t even discussed what the long term plan is for the building.

Code enforcement still remains inconsistent and ineffective. We have a staff larger than either Westminster or Thornton and still, the big issue for years, remains. Staff works with residents in an effort to alleviate violations. Extension after extension has only led to frustration and anger from the neighbors. Council does not want to interfere with staff but when staff is ineffective, who can the residents turn to?

The Federal Community Development Block Grants are to be used for low-moderate income areas and individuals. The City receives $200,000 per year. During the last two years and this year we spent $100K in housing rehab with Brothers Redevelopment, a similar amount was used to pay salaries for code officers by the former city manager and $191K was given to NNDC for rehab work but returned.

The returned funds and balance of this year’s funds will be used to make elaborate improvements ($262K) to the Malley Street crosswalk and Highline Dr even though the traffic count does not even justify the passed over, $50K solution similar to what you see at the crosswalk on Huron, south of 112th. The last $150K will be used to hire a business to purchase and rehab one “empty” home for resale with the theory being that the process will be repeated from the profit. I offered several suggestions for the CDBG funds that directly benefitted low income individuals and neighborhoods to no avail.

All city charters, just like state constitutions, are adopted at a time that a particular body of thought exists with regards to its provisions. As the years pass, amendments are to be expected in order to address new issues and influences. Per State law the charter is created by an elected body of twenty-one residents. Last year we created a small review committee of half that number to evaluate provisions that might need revision and then sent them afloat without a compass or paddle.

Moving forward with a street side recycling program has been doomed thus far because it has been tied in with the quest for a one-man, polycart only refuse collection program. I tried to separate the issues by suggesting that the best way to evaluate resident usage and to get the program moving was to retain a private hauler to operate a city sponsored test program. With no real consensus I did not force the issue by scheduling it for a formal meeting and should have.

If I send you to Washington, what are you going to do for me and the country? Well, I’ll listen to all sides, interest groups, lobbyist, and federal employees and make the best decision on your behalf. The only real difference between that and city government is that we generally only hear from the employees, friends and a few motivated residents. The Council was forced to make some cuts last year to meet our minimum fund balance. As I stated in my last posting, we have many more to cut now. All of the cuts we made were suggested by the employees. Council did not have any ideas of its own advanced. It appears that the employees’ interests and yours are the same.

Other Disappointments: Staff is still determining what issues will be considered by the Council and when with rare exceptions. Rough service and program priorities have been established but the budget has not been changed to reflect them. Council’s operational oversight of operations has only increased from non-existent to minuscule. The only answer to our capital and maintenance needs is new debt and lots of it instead of limited debt repaid out of current revenues.

Know that your Council members are working together to address municipal issues and problems even though we have different values and perceptions of what YOU want. Remember what and who we listen to and don’t be afraid to let all of us know your priorities. Neither the employees nor you have a trump card but each has part of the deck.

2008 in Review-The Positive

2009-02-08T17:52:00.001-07:00

After one year as a member of the Northglenn City Council, I would like to summarize a few actions taken by Council that I feel are a positive change from the culture that has existed since 2001. With the addition of Ervin Baker and me, the three existing members who frequently called for change now had a majority on some key issues.

In January we reduced the City Manager’s unilateral spending authority in half and prohibited the hiring of a new Deputy Manager. The latter decision saved the city $138,000 per year and the first required the Manager to obtain Council approval for expenditures over $25,000.

A couple months later the Council shook up the staff when some members read and questioned the staff’s recommendation to rehabilitate the shoreline of Webster Lake. Staff had received a sealed bid in the amount of $47,558 in early December but recommended awarding the low bidder a contract for $183,943 for a greatly enlarged project.

When I and others questioned the staff’s recommendation on new financial software purchase, a very public debate incurred in the press and blogs. We were successful in obtaining new bids. Staff got their vendor and Council’s actions saved over $300,000.

As the two examples demonstrate, staff is now aware that some members of the Council are reading and evaluating their recommendations or as otherwise stated; fulfilling their responsibility to the residents. Some members of staff have embraced the new scrutiny and some have voluntarily left. The quality of the recommendations and the thoroughness of review have made for better governance.

In the second quarter of the year the Council conducted a two day retreat that resulted in the subsequent adoption of a Code of Conduct and Protocols for our relationship with each other and with the staff. I think the two most important and successful norms have been to not question each other’s motives and to debate, decide and move on.

On August 28th we unanimously finalized an ordinance that took back a delegation of authority that should never have been approved years earlier. The Council is once again in control of employee wages and all benefits. The question for tomorrow is whether we will use it or defer to staff’s recommendations. Salary surveys and wage increases have occurred each and every year while the City’s ability to pay without adversely impacting projects and services has yet to be considered.

We were also dealt a few lemons that the Council and staff addressed in a positive manner.

The 2007 Council adopted a budget for 08 that intentionally over spent the general fund in the amount of $5.9 million. In addition, (1) The finance staff forgot to account for the sales tax incentive payments previously committed that enticed three major retailers to the city. (2) The finance staff over estimated 08 sales tax revenues. (3) The finance staff did not adjust the starting balance in the 2008 general fund to match the audited yearend balance from 2007. The three errors by the former Finance Director and Manager amounted to an additional deficit of $2.0 million.

On the positive side, when Acting Manager Allen learned of the shortage he took immediate action with the concurrence of Council to cut 08 expenses successfully. With his and then Acting Manager Hayes’s help Council was then able to draft and approve a 2009 temporary budget that only over spends the general fund in the amount of $876,649. Even with this deficit we will remain above our self-imposed minimum of a 25% fund balance. The third error was not known January 29th and will be addressed, along with the recession during February and early March.

On October 23rd Mayor Novak and I sponsored a resolution recognizing the uncertainty of the economy and its potential impact on the City. With the recession at hand, the majority of Council members knew the budget we would be approving would require substantial modification in early 2009. In the resolution the employee pay plan and individual pay steps were frozen. Additionally, all hiring was frozen pending Council exceptions for budgeted positions and Council agreed to revisit the soon to be adopted budget during the first quarter of 2009.

We will be addressing the third error of $646,800 in the immediate future. A truly balanced general fund is only $1,523,449 away assuming the recession does not deepen and revenue projections hold. The Council and City Manager Simmons are poised and determined to make 2009 a successful year. Meanwhile, next week I’ll look back on the negative side of 2008.

Garner Abusing Staff and Residents Again

2008-10-18T17:51:00.003-06:00

If you haven’t read the bilge published by Rosie Garner in YourHub first, please do since the following is in response the bilge.

The City of Northglenn does not have financial problems. City employees providing residents with expected services are not going to be laid off. The Council is cooperating with North Metro Fire to correct the deficiencies in the recreation building according to North Metro’s schedule. Senior staff positions are being covered and will be filled.

Why do I begin with this damage control? Because,” the most vicious person at the city” is terrifying the employees and residents in an attempt to restart her campaign for next year’s mayoral election. The quote comes from a former member of the City Council. I became aware of it last year and personally heard it this year. Rosie Garner is not now on the City Council but the viciousness remains.

The former City Manager is responsible for the senior staff vacancies; not the City Council or any of its members. In fact, he is now with the City of Sheridan as Interim City Manager and personnel are quitting right and left. Unfortunately one of his lieutenants is here and spreading terror among the employees under the pretence of “knowing the truth, (wink).” That should be a crime for what it is doing to morale.

Speaking of finances, what do you think of this plan? We will start using 100% of our annual revenues for operating expenses and pay for all capital improvements out of our savings account. Rosie’s City Councils did that every year starting in 2003.

We’ve now hit the absolute bottom in savings so what do you think the new Councils have to do? In general, we need to reallocate the annual revenues to cover maintenance, operating and now capital expenses. The solution lies in the details and lower revenues are not going to make the choices easier.

Speaking of police vacancies, you’ll have to ask the Chief and the former Manager as to why they exist since Council has not taken any formal or informal action and the two of them were fighting constantly. I’d like to see many of the positions filled from within using the surplus promoted personnel.

Finally, Rosie made the specific allegation that the Council majority will circumvent the fire code violations that currently exist. First off, the Fire Chief admits that the deficiencies in the building have existed for many years and his inspectors are at fault for not noting or reporting them to the city earlier. Second, as far as circumventing the violations, shame on you for making the vicious, false allegation. What could you have hoped to gain.

City Council is Changing Direction; Slowly

2008-07-04T12:10:00.000-06:00

Would you intentionally plan on over spending your annual salary by 23% percent each year just because you had the money in the savings and didn’t want to give up any of your “feel good” activities? The City of Northglenn has for years. I’ll finish up with some surprising numbers; but first.

The City Council experienced a change in direction during the first six months of this year. I hope those of you who follow city activities are pleased with the progress thus far. There were several five to four and six to three votes early on but the consensus building continues.

There will be more split votes as we face some hard financial decisions. Individual members, just like residents, have their own set of core values and differences will continue, but we will be professional in our deliberations. Whenever there is change there is generally conflict but we will continue working through it for the good of the residents.

Here are some decisions that I feel are in keeping with your wishes. Term limits on the members of the appointed, advisory commissions and boards was killed. Council increased it oversight of expenditures by decreasing the manager’s unilateral spending authority from fifty to twenty-five thousand dollars per purchase. A ballot issue was authorized for this November which will eliminate further controversial decisions by lame-duck councils as happened last November.

It took some split votes and shocked a few staff members but we’ve saved a few dollars. Three examples: The prior Council’s $500,000 budget to beautify the soon to be reconstructed 104th Ave. bridge and approaches was cut in half. By directing that the position of Deputy Manager not be filled, a $100,000 was saved. Temporarily blocking the staff’s request to purchase Springbrook’s Software until Innoprise Software was fairly evaluated saved $440,000.

The Council has also taken some major steps to upgrade staff performance in the procurement process. Last November staff obtained a low bid on a project for $49,000 and asked Council in March to use the bid to award an expanded contract amounting to $180,000. Council thought it was unethical and sent it back to staff for rebidding.

On another project, the specifications were so loose that one company bid $87,919 using one technique for cleaning and sealing arterial fences and another bid $217,615 using different techniques. Both met the staff member’s specifications. Council sent it back to staff for new specifications and bids.

Deficit Spending: The 2008 budget adopted by the old Council shows general fund revenues of $21,466,156 and expenditures of $26,478,933. The deficit of $4,932,987 is covered by the year-end fund balance. At the end of 2001 the fund balance was just over $17.1 million. At the end of last year it was down to $9.5 million. If the budget is followed, it will be $4.6 million at the end of this year. Next year? Help!

Council Agrees on Issue Priorities

2008-06-08T19:21:00.001-06:00

The Council Members spent two days together in early April for the purpose of discussing their working relationship and a joint approach addressing various municipal issues. For the last two months you have seen one result; meeting decorum. This last Saturday we met with staff and shared our priorities from the April retreat.

TOP PRIORITY
120th Development—Recreation Center—Street Funding—Water Rights and Services—Empty Grocery Stores

HIGH PRIORITY
Comprehensive Master Plan—Solid Waste Collection and Recycling—Prioritization of City Services—Code Enforcement—Water and Sewer Infrastructure—Financial Software

MODERATE PRIORITY
Northglenn Neighborhood Development Corp—Foreclosures—Marketplace Long-Term Strategy—City Cost Reduction Plan

For the Top and High Priorities the Council has already identified Key Issues and Work elements to be pursued. It should be kept in mind that the prioritization was based on current circumstances and thought at the time.

While members of the Council will differ on the ways and means of accomplishing the desired outcomes, I believe we will do so in a collaborative manner. You will see the above information, with more detail, on the City web page in the very near future.

Manager's Departure Draws Mud

2008-06-02T10:03:00.001-06:00

On the evening of May 22nd the Council met in two executive sessions for the purpose of discussing two unrelated subjects. The following morning AJ Krieger agreed to submit his resignation effective that day after a settlement agreement was negotiated. The two previous managers resigned in early 2001 and February 2006.

Former Council member, Rosie Garner, was a participant in the 2006 resignation and directly involved in issues surrounding Mr. Krieger last fall. In a letter to the Northglenn-Thornton Sentinel and in a mass email, she is back on the campaign trail again. This time she is evidently claiming a bad memory. Let me help.

Come on, Rosie, you are summoning residents to the June 12th Council meeting to object to an action that you, yourself, took in February 2006. Then as it is now, the Council united in a super majority for the purpose of requesting a resignation from a sitting manager.

On the 12th the Council will listen to residents; some of which you have incited to heap accolades on Mr. Krieger while condemning us. Questions: Would you have formed an opinion after discussing all the details in private and then break faith with the other eight because of an orchestrated public protest?

Would you have taken the confidential information at your disposal and made it public? You didn’t and We will not either. Your current mudslinging is no different or anymore accurate than it was last fall so keep pitching into the wind. The members of this Council want to move forward together. Try helping instead of campaigning.

From what I’ve read, Rosie has a good idea of why Mr. Krieger is resigning. Since she personally fought to increase the amount of severance pay that can not be the reason she is rallying people to attend the meeting.

Due to her admiration for certain members of the staff, including Mr. Krieger, she cannot be encouraging him to withdraw the resignation. It makes no sense for him to take a termination without health insurance. Since she voted for Nelson’s resignation package in 2006, it can’t be that she doesn’t understand the process.

Less than a month after the residents turned her out of office, and a month before I took office, she started her public campaign to regain it through a recall election. She needs to distort the record and create justifications for the petition. She also needs to demonstrate her power to motive residents while testing the waters. The shoe does fit.

Questions on any subject? gwieneke@comcast.net or (303) 457-0858

Council Nears Decision on Software Procurement

2008-05-04T18:05:00.003-06:00

The issue of purchasing new software for the City is coming to a conclusion following some vicious, inaccurate attacks in the blogosphere and some discussions at meetings of the City Council. Some of the attacks contain blurbs of information known only to the Council and staff. Is Innoprise the lowest responsible bidder as required by the Charter?

A month before I became a member of the Council, a resident informed me that Innoprise had some serious issues with city staff. In a phone conversation, Mr. Harward said that he was told that he would lose the contract on the Sales Tax software if he talked to anyone about why he was not being considered further for the entire package. On February 4th, Brent Worthington cancelled the purchase as threatened in an email.

The second allegation is far more serious. I have verified the following from two separate, unrelated sources. A department head member of the team selecting the software company stated that, Innoprise will not be considered for the contract if Scott S. comes anywhere near the City. He made the statement to staff before the selection process began. Who is Scott S.? He is an employee of Innoprise who formerly worked for the City.

Not surprisingly, during the selection process, the team members compiled over thirty “concerns” they developed during Innoprise’s demonstration. Many of them were misleading and inaccurate and others begged for the question to be asked. Nevertheless, they were submitted to the Council without review or correction. I personally verified with the staff’s consultant this last Friday that the compilation had inaccurate and false allegations and that she had so informed staff members of the same at the time.

On April 17th Innoprise had an opportunity to demonstrate the software at the request of Council in a study session. The staff sat almost at a right angle to the screen and showed their disinterest. The Council had, after all, ordered the demonstration after they had submitted their recommendation.

Several days earlier I asked the City Manager if the staff was going to participate in the demo by asking questions or for clarifications. He said they would only be in attendance and it turned out that they were bumps on a log. It was a shame because Innoprise demonstrated programs that refuted many of the false staff “concerns” one by one.

Is Innoprise the lowest responsible bidder as required by Charter? Based on information submitted by the City Manager to the Council on May 1st; he stated that Springbrook had the lower price. WRONG. In reality Innoprise is lower by over a hundred thousand and that does not include the $105,000 discount offered by Innoprise earlier in the week but not detailed to Council in the email or in a separate email hours after the details were received.

Furthermore, the Innoprise proposal is one all inclusive price. The staff’s recommended vendor’s contract (Springbrook) has a slew of additional charges and limits that have not been shared with the Council. Additionally, Springbrook could not provide the required sales tax module but the Manager did not take that into consideration in his email.

What was staff’s reaction to the missing module? We’ll go without a new one and let the present program “stand alone.” In his email, the Manager did not inform the Council he was comparing apples to oranges or include the additional costs required to maintain a dual system of servers. That cost alone is over $15,000 per year until the sales tax software is replaced.

Is Innoprise the lowest “responsible” bidder? The one module that Innoprise did not have ready last November, and which was not required by staff until February (Award Date), was Payroll/HR. Starting in February the complete software package, including Payroll/HR is or has been purchased by the Councils of Broomfield, Erie, Greenwood Village, Loveland, Louisville, Sheridan and Cheyenne. Brighton is following suit.

The Councils of the following neighboring cities have also purchased individual modules: Boulder, Littleton, Lone Tree and Greeley.

The Council has leveled the playing field for Innoprise and now we will debate the merits and true costs of both bidders.

Northglenn's Software Procurement

2008-03-23T12:15:00.002-06:00

At the meeting of March 13th, the City Council unanimously agreed to partially restart the selection process for new financial software. While not all members agreed, the action was taken in order to address an alleged conflict in the selection process and a disagreement over the age of the software architecture.

The company recommended by the staff, Springbrook Software of Portland Oregon, was challenged by several members of the Council, including myself, due to the outdated eighties software platform and the lack of city clients in the State except for Fruita. Springbrook’s software uses “.net” or what is commonly called client server based architecture.

This means a copy of the programs must be physically present on every desk top running the applications. They try to overcome this limitation by introducing “thin-clients” using terminal servers or Citrix servers. The City spent close to $250,000 trying to implement a thin-client solution previously but the strategy was abandoned in December of 2005.

The software company that was not carried through the entire process by the staff, Innoprise Software, Inc. of Broomfield’s package runs on Java (J2EE), which is the latest and greatest thing in client server software. They also use My-SQL as their database engine. Both of these technologies are state of the art. My-SQL is open source and that could save the City a considerable amount of money.

Neighboring Cities using Innoprise software include: Broomfield, Louisville, Lone Tree, Greenwood Village, Loveland, Littleton, and Erie. Cities seriously considering some Innoprise software besides the Northglenn Council include Brighton, Lakewood, Englewood, Sheridan, Greeley and Cheyenne, WY.

The top three software companies were contacted to participate in additional demos this last week. Springbrook declined in as much as they have appeared before the Council on two occasions. Munis/Tyler declined. Innoprise accepted. Arrangements are being made for a demo at the present time. The software purchased will be expected to serve the City for ten years. With a total cost of over half of a million dollars, we need to get it right.

I would like to acknowledge the technical expertise of Tom Pond for information previously received that I have used in this article.

Council Room Packed for Meeting on City Manager

2008-02-10T17:28:00.000-07:00

A meeting of the City Council was held at one o’clock pm on Sunday in City Hall on February 10th. Notice of the meeting was posted Friday and the local newspaper received personal notice. The Sunday meeting was agreed to, publicly, at the meeting held Thursday evening.

The meeting was held to receive legal advice on an urgent personnel matter resulting from the executive session of the Council scheduled for the 7th. Upon returning from the private meeting, Mayor Novak and two members of the Council refused to reconvene the public meeting; choosing instead to leave City Hall. With two other Council members absent for the evening, the refusal of the three to participate left the remaining members without a quorum.

I was one of the two members required per Charter that called for the executive session on the 7th to consult with the attorney concerning several matters; one of which occurred the previous week. With only thirty days under my belt as a member of council, my participation was a difficult decision. I felt that circumstances in city hall required action before incidents occurring in 2007 and continuing to this date escalated.

The agenda for the Sunday meeting was, “Consideration of action regarding City Manager Employment Agreement with miscellaneous follow-up items.” The meeting was packed due to the calls “to save the city manager” from some members of the Council and their residents. All of this was not new to the City Manager because he faced the same public conflict while serving the city he left to come here.

One of the members, Susan Clyne, revealed some of the reasons the meeting was being held and chastised the Manager for his past behavior. She then offered an amendment to the main motion to establish a corrective action program instead of termination. Neither the Manager’s supporters nor detractors were willing to compromise at the last second. As a result, the motion to terminate was defeated five to four. Due to the nature of the strife in city hall I was one of the four.

As a new member of the City Council, I now know the motive behind the manager’s increase in severance pay that was rammed through in December by the old Council. They should have addressed the issue rather than providing him with additional severance, looking the other way and putting the yoke on the new Council. As it stands now, the City Manager has heard the very public comments and warning about future dealings with the staff and public. Let the peace begin in the seat of our local government.

The Council has made a decision and it is necessary for all parties to move forward. We have much to do and are years behind in taking a new, progressive path.

Let's Taunt Gene Now

2007-12-13T11:32:00.000-07:00

Let’s recall Gene right now. Darn, we can’t even file a recall petition until after July 10th. I guess it’s time to build a case on “what he is going to do” and let’s start before he is sworn in.

What’s our strategy? I know, create a monster in people’s mind and then tear him down. Exaggerations, fabrications and even total lies are acceptable because no one will be able to track down the source. The outcome of the election was a big mistake and we need to right the ship as soon as possible. Any technique to accomplish our goal is acceptable in hard-ball politics.

There is another thing we could do between now and July utilizing the old saying about separating the kernel from the chaff. We have seen his campaign issues on his web site, wardfour.info. We can take his positions and allege that they will lead to alarming conclusions. To that we will make up some additional predictions.

When he actually votes for one of the issues he does support, we can then say, I told you so. We have proof that he will do all the things we have alleged. The residents will never take the time or be able to separate the kernel from the chaff. This hard-ball technique will also have another benefit; blackmail. If he doesn’t back off from pursuing his goals for the city, we can use our fabrications in the recall election. We’ll get him.

I have been reading other blogs, comments and taking phone calls for several days now trying to get to the bottom and source of the campaign that has been leveled at me. I criticized the council for their lame duck actions using three examples. All of the sudden it was turned into something entirely different for future political gain.

In this posting I tried to put a spotlight on what has been going on, and what to look forward to in the days ahead. Like anyone else would, I ask for three things. Please wait until I get in office and then judge my voting record. Second, Ward Four residents have my email and phone number so just ask. Third, separate the kernel from the chaff. Thanks

Lame Duck Council Takes the Low Road

2007-12-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

A former, fellow retired city manager friend of mine, Bill Christopher, recently wrote in his column an article about “lame duck” city councils. The thrust of his article was that the time between the election of new council members and their taking of office was months too long. His reasoning was that a lame duck council would have the opportunity to sabotage the wishes of the voters and the new council if they chose.

I personally thought that the time from the November Election Day until early January was beneficial because it provided the newly elected officials with time to get up to speed on municipal activities. I didn’t feel Bill’s concern was any big deal until Friday when the agenda for the Northglenn Council’s meeting of December 13th was posted.

The current majority has proved Bill right. First, an outgoing member of the council, Rosie Garner, has sponsored an ordinance limiting volunteer board and commission members to two terms. With all the trouble the city has had for years obtaining volunteers, this maneuver is a slap in their face. It is also unneeded since the council appoints residents to the advisory bodies. If they want someone off, don’t reappoint them.

Second, the urban renewal authority had two advisors for many years. In April 2006, the Mayor decided to reward two former council members who had just left office by creating and appointing them as advisors. Now the Mayor wants to appoint a soon-to-be former council member, Rosie Garner, as an Advisor before the new council is seated.

The third item on the agenda is one the residents should never forget or forgive because of the precedent that is being established. Anyone who has regularly attended council meetings knows that the city manager and some of his staff members have been at odds with some of the present council members and visa a versa. Evidentially, the current majority has concluded that the manager needs more protection from the new council than exists in his present contract.

The existing contract provides for the standard six months of severance pay should he ever be terminated. The amended contract on the agenda increases the severance payment to nine months. An increase in the length of a severance period is unheard of during the term of a city manager’s contract. Because of the timing, it is clear that the council’s current majority intends on throwing its first rock at the 2008 council.

The city manager’s compensation is also being modified. His base salary is $120,000. Evidentially the sports scene is upon us because he also received a $15,000 signing bonus. After four months of service he received a bonus of $3,000. It was repeated after eight months of service for a total of $6,000. For 2007 he will receive a total of $141,000. Excluding the signing bonus his compensation is $126,000.

Per the proposed contract amendment his base salary will be $130,000. There will also be two bonuses of $4,000 each; not $3,000. Projected compensation for 2008 will be $138,000 or a 9.1 percent increase.

The cost to the city and residents for this lame duck maneuver increasing the severance period by three months is $32,500, salary only, should a termination occur in 2008. Since the manager will not complete his first year until January 11, 2008, why are Mayor Novak, Jill Parsons, Rosie Garner and Mike Martin taking this action now?

The reason put forth by the sponsors is that the new council will not have worked with the manager and therefore they are in a better position to judge his performance. In reality, two out of three members of the evaluation team, Novak and Parsons, and six out of nine of the 2008 council members will remain unchanged.

When you hear calls for unity on the city council in 2008, check back on who voted in favor of these agenda items on December 13, 2007.

Flyers Delivered Late Due to Sabotage

2007-10-26T17:58:00.000-06:00

I thought I had a good plan in my attempt to win a seat on the City Council. Personally deliver a calling card to every active voter in Ward Four. Provide insightful and accurate answers to surveys from interest groups and news media. Place my qualifications and positions on an easy accessible web site. Provide signs to residents who agree with my goals and objectives. Distribute flyers to all residents for their consideration. And finally, call upon residents to answer their questions and solicit support.

Unfortunately my last effort has been severely hampered by the lack of a timely delivery of the flyers. Knowing I would be out of town for over a week, I chose to hire a reliable small business to deliver the flyers. I knew they were reliable because the City has been using them for a few years to deliver notices to residents. Bad choice.

I will be walking the streets again now that a new friend and I have delivered a reprint of the flyers to over three quarters of the Ward. For details on the unreliable distributor of flyers, see www.wardfour.info

Balanced Budget Baloney

2007-09-24T17:34:00.000-06:00

The City Council is proposing a balanced budget for 2008; according to them. Let’s see if you agree using your own household budget for comparison. Perhaps you believe that your budget is balanced on a yearly basis if the money spent is less than or equal to your income. The Council Majority does not.

If you take money from one household set-a-aside and use it for another purpose, are you balanced if the total expenses are still less than your income? Probably so because you made a necessary adjustment. Is it acceptable for the City to take money from say the Storm Water fees to pay for a building to store the winter salt pile supply? They did it in the past and are again. The fees were imposed for a specific purpose; not a public works building.

If you take money from your savings account to meet expenses because your income is less than expected or you had an unanticipated expense, are you balanced. No. The City believes that using money left over from the previous year is acceptable, just because its income won’t cover expenses.

If you need some money from relatives in order to pay your bills, do you believe that you have a balanced budget? Of course not, especially if you are not expected to pay it back. The City believes that having the urban renewal authority ($120K) and a federal CDBG grant ($100K) pay some of its existing salaries expenses don’t unbalance the budget.

Last Thursday I watched some members of the Council quickly jot down the following comment about the 2008 budget, “The budget is balanced and balanced in every fund.” Evidentially, getting a relative to pay some of your bills, digging into your savings account and using money from one fund to subsidize another still means that your household is balanced and in good shape.

Lastly, did you know that the overdue Huron St. project has been cancelled due to a lack of money indefinitely? They will fix the encroachment of Croke reservoir under Huron and then do a bang up job with the area immediately around the reservoir with some grants and city funds. As far as Huron St. goes, it will get fixed only after you approve a tax extension in November of next year.

104th Avenue's Ponds' Fix Up

2007-09-19T15:42:00.000-06:00

It looks like my previous posting on the 104th Ave. strip park got the City’s attention. Or, maybe some of you expressed your opinion to the right people.

I noticed on Monday past, the 17th, that the city had a contractor taking some remedial action on the newly constructed sidewalk ponds. The contractor was auguring some holes adjacent to the sidewalk in order to create some French drains; holes filled with rock. The water should run off into the drain and alleviate the ponding.

It will be interesting to see how much the city will be paying for a corrective action that should not have been necessary. Hopefully it will only be a few thousand bucks.

104th Avenue's Strip Park

2007-09-02T13:07:00.001-06:00

After a year long traffic mess along 104th Ave and a million dollars are spent, the construction along the north side of the right-of-way is finally completed. There are several story lines surrounding the project including the project’s origination, design, funding, planning, and engineering. I posted an article concerning the project’s inception on July 16, 2006 if you wish to check the archives.

For years the Trail did not know what maintenance met. The weeds thrived and the asphalt walkway aged and crumbled all under the watchful eye of the residents while the city staff and our Council representatives tended to more important issues. In the spring of 2006 our Council representatives finally felt the heat you generated and asked the staff for a solution.

Staff designed a project, with slight variations, and took it before the City Council for immediate consideration even though the project was not budgeted. The alternatives went far beyond the rehabilitation of the area. In fact, just addressing the deterioration and rehabilitation of the area was not even considered, as requested by residents.

By a 6-3 vote, the majority chose the alternative with the highest capital and maintenance cost: Grass, trees, boulders, oversized concrete and high water usage. In other words, we now have a high maintenance, environmentally unfriendly, million dollar strip park. Where is the common sense?

If you do not know how to do a job; plan for it. The Council loves to fund and the staff loves to plan, but when it comes down to it, they operate by the seat of their pants. On 7-16-06 I pointed out that in order for the Council to finance this project, scheduled, budgeted projects and activities were cancelled. In addition, the previous year’s fund balance was tapped.

We need to digress to the bigger picture generated by a small part of the “green and wet” project as it pertains to the street curb work. A few years ago Westminster asphalted 104th west of the city limits. Earlier this year Thornton placed a chip and seal on 104th east of I-25. As a result, the City has been embarrassed into another non-budgeted, seat of the pants, project. The crack sealing and patching that has occurred over the last month is leading up to a chip and seal surface treatment to keep pace with our neighbors.

The City Council can not be faulted entirely for this misbegotten project. The lack of common sense and experience of their staff played a major role. It takes experience to know, how to throw out the bath water without throwing out the baby. The staff should have given the Council various alternatives including enhanced maintenance, rehabilitation and xeriscaping but they chose to go for the whole megillah. They should have demanded more alternatives. Instead, we have the strip park along an arterial street. When you do not know how to intelligently fix a problem, trash it, and build new.

Another tribute to staff's design ability is shown in the picture. In total there are four ponds permanently built into the 104th project. I would expect that most residents would know not to put the walks in the lowest area. The picture clearly shows that some fill or proper sloping would have been a design solution.

It is a shame and waste that part of the work just completed will have to be destroyed when and if the Council decides to construct turn lanes for the intersecting streets west of Huron. Turn lanes would have been a better choice then the capital expense and ongoing costs for the sprinklers. It is just another design flaw by staff and a disinterested Council.

Will You Be Able to Vote This Election?

2007-08-28T13:05:00.000-06:00

Over one-third of residents on the Northglenn voter registration list will not be able to vote in the November 6th election unless they act soon. Ballots will not be automatically sent to their homes and there will be no polling places. This applies to all Adams County inactive voters as well. The exact count of inactive registrations in Northglenn, as of last month, is 6821 or 37.2% of the total.

How did so many on the list become “inactive”? They did not vote in the 2006 general election? They moved and did not tell the County Clerk’s Office? Registration verification cards sent in February were returned by the post office? According to the County Clerk, here is what needs to be done per statues:

They can reactivate by submitting a signed request in writing (doesn't have to be on any particular form) to our office at 1865 W. 121st Avenue, Westminster, CO 80234 or they can appear at any Motor Vehicle office in Adams County to fill out and sign a new Voter Registration form. They can choose to print the Voter Registration form from our website if they choose. It is the voter's responsibility to be sure the office receives their request, which must be in writing, complete and with signature.

The City has been asked to notify all residents of this requirement on the front page of the next issue of the Connection. Incumbents generally like to see only active voters turnout for an election. In this election there are four council seats open and a major tax issue.

The City is asking voters to authorize an 86% increase in the city property tax for a new, enlarged recreation center. In case you did not know it, the proposed building will be 2.7 times larger than the present; hardly a replacement.

City Employees and the Recreation Ballot-Revised

2007-08-23T12:17:00.000-06:00

You might have read the article in the Sentinel by Chris De May advocating passage of the ballot issue for the new, enlarged 57 million dollar recreation center. Last week he also sent an email to several city employees and residents in an effort to organize a campaign in support of the issue.

His solicitation of support from city employees was a dangerous move. Employees have the right as citizens to advocate or oppose issues proposed by their employer on their own time but it exposes them to great risks. The scandal that rocked Jefferson County two years ago is a perfect example.

There is no doubt that employees will become involved after working hours but they will be tempted and succumb to using their breaks during working hours. I would remind them that it is now improper to use city equipment and offices for any campaigning.

That would include the computer, telephone, printers, faxes, vehicles, supplies and such. It would also be wise to avoid getting into the corner where you have to say, “But I was on break.”

Clarification: Mr. De May did not suggest that employees conduct any campaign activity on city time or with city equipment in his email. I know his character and completely believe him.

120th Avenue Development Update

2007-08-21T13:35:00.000-06:00

I understand my previous article picked up a little attention at a meeting Monday night. Since my posting, Zing and Prime West have signed the agreement approved by the City Council last May per the Mayor and City Manager. Since NURA has not signed it, the clock or count down on the performance requirements contained in the agreement has not started.

I was also told by a reliable source that Zing and the City Manager are still working hard at luring some businesses to the area. Even without an agreement, efforts are being made and they hope to have good news in time for the Council election. Understand, that is not their motive but it would be a bonus this election year. Since the City and NURA have ten million dollars invested in the land, building demolitions and reconstruction of Grant Street, I am sure we all want Zing and the Manager to succeed.

I mentioned the 2005 election due to an unpleasant memory. Remember the groundbreaking for the Century Theatre that was scheduled, postponed due to weather and finally held just before the mayoral election? I told you then that it was a contrived, bogus public relations stunt; and it was. I hope there is no repeat this year with the “good news” we should be hearing soon.

I would also like to head off another maneuver on the future recreation center ballot. In late 2004 the city staff included a “fact sheet” in the water bills. I asked if residents could also include a “fact sheet”. I was told that it would be improper and my request was denied. The idea of doing an insert in the bills for this ballot has already been mentioned at a council meeting this year. Let’s hope not.

120th Avenue Development in Trouble

2007-08-15T17:46:00.000-06:00

If you think the development of the City-owned property at 120th Avenue and Grant is going well, I have some disturbing news. The so called “investment” of ten million dollars in tax payers’ money is in jeopardy. Let’s begin with the information given to the City Council at the meeting of July 26th by City Staff.
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“As the Council knows, in May the City entered into a development agreement with our development partners Zing and Prime West.” After describing the City’s current activities in the area, the following statement was made. “Our development partners, Zing and Prime West, are currently interviewing brokers that would eventually get a listing on the site and actively go out and solicit tenants.”
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If you were led to believe that a development agreement exists, as was the Council, you would be shocked to know that it does not. After the Council meeting of May 10th, the Mayor signed all of the documents approved at the meeting. Not one other party to the agreement has signed as of this week. That includes NURA and the development partners, Zing and Prime West.
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Why hasn’t it been signed? Upon signing, the provisions in the agreement come into play, and as you will see, Zing and Prime West will be in over their heads. They will be required to deposit $50,000 as Ernest Money and a dreaded clock begins to tick. At the end of the six months Zing and Prime West must purchase and close on eleven acres of property. The agreement states that the purchase price will be seven dollars per square foot which comes to a total of $3.3 million. At the seven dollars price, the city will still be absorbing a large loss on its “investment.”
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There are other reasons that the principals of Zing and Prime West have not signed the agreement. Please keep the second quote in mind while reviewing what the “development partners” are supposed to be doing according to the agreement. They were to build a project; not find some brokers who will solicit tenants.
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Six months after signing, Zing and Prime West are required to commit their resources for some major expenditures including the civil engineering, architectural design and construction of all Subdeveloper Public Improvements. Why would Zing and Prime West want the clock started ticking when they have been able to control the property for well over a year with no cost participation on their part?
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I have to question if the City's purported development partner has the economic depth to do this deal. Not only have Zing and Prime West not funded any of the site planning done to date, the little they did last year is to be reimbursed through this Development Agreement. Why would the City, who has already taken a considerable risk by purchasing the land, continue to fund all of the pre-development expenses for the developer? Who is watching out for the interests of Northglenn?
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There are also some even bigger reasons for Zing and Prime West not to sign. The two principals do not have the money. In fact, the City has agreed in the unsigned agreement, to make them whole for an expense they incurred in the previous, failed agreement they had with the City for the same land in 2006. The City will pay the bill they owe to RLA Design in the amount of $10,000. They did not even have the money to pay the consultant they previously hired.
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The Council and the public are being deceived by Zing, Prime West and city staff. There are no “development partners.” The two principals are only trying to “sell” the Northglenn property to the contracted representatives of established retail and service establishments without using their own money while avoiding a time schedule.
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The efforts to entice establishments to the property are complicated by two additional disturbing factors. First, the Council sued Century Theatre’s new owner, Cinemark, for breach of contract. Cinemark is not above letting other private businesses know what type of treatment they might expect if they choose to deal with Northglenn.

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Second, the inability of this project to obtain any momentum has been played out in the public eye since early in 2005. How are we to know that quality retailers are not staying away from this project because of the lack of skill by the developer to work with the retailers as well as the potentially unrealistic expectations of the City? Could this project finally be tainted to the point that the more desirable users have passed us by?

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Third, number one and two have occurred. It is time to send Zing and Prime West packing for a variety of reasons including their failure to enter into the agreement. The City should stop "playing" at being Zing's development partner, put specific zoning criteria in place on the property and put it up for sale in a traditional mode. The City's involvement so far has resulted in it carrying the land, paying all the bills and taking all the risk for the two developer "partners" with nothing to show for it.

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Zing and Prime West have not begun marketing the project and have not brought on a retail broker to assist them in marketing the project. Maybe it is because Zing and Prime West are not being taken seriously by the brokerage community. Have their short comings hurt this project? I am afraid that this project has been branded as one where no one knows what they are doing.

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For example, The City wants to individually approve all retail tenants. This is over and above what other cities do, and it will stall the lease-up and development of the project. Taking that decision-making away from the developer is unacceptable to all the bigname developers along the I-25 corridor.

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Even though the agreement is nonexistent, the Council should realize that the clock has been ticking on them since they foolishly purchased the land and buildings beginning in 2004. The decision has cost us over ten million dollars in capital improvements and services. And that does not include the hundreds of thousands spent reconstructing Grant Street. The fact that they are willing to sell even the prime portion of the land for a loss speaks for itself.

Another $100,000/year Staff Addition

2007-08-05T18:41:00.000-06:00

The City is in the process of hiring another $100,000 a year employee. He or she will be joining six other employees who also earn $100K or more. In that group, three are actually making over $110,000 a year. The position currently being filled is that of Director of Planning and Development. Waiting in the woods is an eighth addition to the $100K club; an Assistant City Manager. Below the $100K group, there are sixteen employees in the eighty to one hundred thousand club.
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The elected City Council will not stop the creation of the positions or the establishment of such salaries. Why? Simply put, the current members do not want to take any such action. They have the power per the Charter and the Municipal Code but they do not want to interfere in the City Manager's discretion. Enough, I say.
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With half of the eight council member seats up this election, it might be wise to avoid filling what might be temporary positions at those salaries. Let’s be fair to the applicants and their families.

Poor Decisions Lead To More Taxes

2007-07-22T13:57:00.000-06:00

Unfortunately there is a new trend in our cities that is gaining popularity. Most of you haven’t notice it because it is occurring under your radar. Slowly but surely, your cities have been adding non-essential services and unnecessary overhead.

Because of the ever increasing staff and operating expenses for the low priority services, cities are finding out that they do not have sufficient funds to provide the services for which they were created.

What is their solution? Select an essential service that they have neglected and ask you for a tax increase. They go for one of your hot buttons. Asking for a new tax to fund a low priority item or the overhead expenses just won’t fly.

Northglenn residents can expect the same treatment this election or next; at the latest. We authorized a half percent sales tax to cover the water capital expenses for a temporary period. With the expense covered and the tax ending in 2009, they want to keep it.

The hot button will be street maintenance and improvement; an essential service supposedly covered by the General Fund. The Fund did the job before the new city managers and council members took over in 2001, but not since.

No matter the reason for their request, a promise was made when they asked for the additional sales tax. They should honor it. The fact they took ten million out of the General Fund to buy land north of City Hall should not be a factor. If they get their priorities right at City Hall, they will not need to ask for reinstatement of the tax.

Last Thursday night the City Manager presented the idea of continuing the sales tax to a receptive Council; so it is in the works. This Thursday night they will discuss an increase in the property tax for the new recreation center. Forewarned is forearmed.

A Faulty Re-Create Process to Cost $25-29 Million

2007-06-03T19:53:00.000-06:00

The City Staff and Council are committed to building a new recreation center even though last fall’s survey of residents reported that only 8% have been in the existing building over 13 times in the last twelve months. And, of that total, only 4% were there for a recreation program activity. First the costs and then the why.

You will be asked to vote on a property tax with an estimated, maximum cost of $4,800 per single family home. It is assumed in the staff’s calculation that your property is valued at $200,000 so do your own prorating.

The City Council is heavily relying on its own prejudices and a badly flawed “Re-Create” public participation and survey process in coming to the conclusion that a new recreation center is required. The few residents who have attended or responded, and will pay for the project, are being out voted by non-resident adults and students.

The City Staff received 487 surveys in person and/or online. As a result of the total process thus far, the Council heard a presentation based on the surveys and meetings, stating that a new building costing between $25 and $29 million should be constructed.

Of the 487 surveys, 319 came from non-residents and students. Sixty-five percent of the people deciding which facilities go into the building are not going to pay for it. I asked the staff to report the votes and preferences of those who will not be taxed, separately from those that will, but they refused.

To further slant the results, the staff member in charge of the Re-Create process personally asked a high school student to solicit surveys from other students as a credit project in an attempt to generate additional support for a new building.

For another, my fellow seniors should know that during the April meetings, the facilitator did not ask attendees if they supported providing space for a senior center during the voting process. Of course they still included our 2.5% of the building because they need our votes for the other 97.5%. You might be interested to know that the proposed space is 250 square feet smaller than the present area.

Finally, during the March meetings, those of us who attended were only allowed to vote for a particular program or abstain. The facilitator did not let us vote against any unwise suggestions. Consequently the Council is getting a proposal with something for everybody, also known as the lowest common denominator with the highest expense.

One resident’s opinion summarized the process as follows, “My initial observation is the City is at the same point of proposing a brand new recreation center facility that they would have been, without the Re-Create process. In other words, the Re-Create project is meaningless. It was aimed at generating interest and possible votes for the November election.”

UPDATE: At meetings held on the 7th, the City Staff reduced the estimated cost to a homeowner from $4,800 to $2,820.

City to Change Refuse Collection Rules

2007-05-27T12:35:00.000-06:00

The Northglenn Council is looking to get in your pocketbook within ninety days and again in November. In the near future I will have some information on the $25-28 million dollar recreation center project being developed based on biased information, but first, we need to talk trash.

Council Member Martin sponsored a proposed staff ordinance making radical changes to your trash collection service. Key elements are: There will be no more annual city wide clean-ups. The City’s approved refuse polycarts, or equivalent, are mandatory. Tree and shrub branches can no longer be bundled and placed on the ground for pick-up. Existing plastic and metal garbage cans are outlawed. The bagging of leaves and grass clippings for pick-up will be allowed again on a temporary basis.

I objected to the ordinance as written in an email to the Council because it did not contain a waiver provision for special circumstances. Operation Clean Sweep may warrant a city wide clean up in the future and the Council should retain the right to authorize one rather than ignore its own law. I also think the Council should have the power to authorize a waiver when the next storm hits the City of Trees.

The good news is that following a little discussion the Council tabled the ordinance on the 21st until it could discuss it in a study session. If you have any feelings about the proposed ordinance, you might wish to contact a council member. You will not be allowed to speak at the future study session.

The justification for formally considering an ordinance with such major changes without prior discussion was, to “Give the public notice.” This does not sound to me like an honest answer. With the monthly Connection newsletter, web site, Sentinel and Channel 8, there are proper avenues to communicate with the residents. Another reason given was, to “correct” the ordinance adopted last month banning all types of bags. I am pleased some of you read my last piece on the subject and took the time to contact the Council. Time for another contact.

Bags of Grass Clippings/Leaves Outlawed

2007-05-06T15:20:00.000-06:00

The use of plastic bags for the disposal of grass and leaves is now prohibited in the city. In addition, the City has taken another step leading to a completely mechanized trash collection system with the adoption of the ordinance. The initial impact was described in the May issue of the Connection Newsletter.

In my July 13, 2006 posting I stated that the day was soon approaching when all residential trash and garbage would have to be placed in a container that can be emptied with the mechanical arm of future refuse trucks. The placement of items for collection outside of the “acceptable” trash container will not be allowed. For more details see the July 13th archive.

The members of the City Council followed their normal procedure in adopting the ordinance. If the staff says it is alright, there is no reason to evaluate its provisions; let alone read it. I don’t believe any of them intentionally outlawed plastic grass and leaf bags, but they did. In describing approved containers the ordinance says, “And specifically not including trash bags or boxes of any type.”

I already made an inquiry of some council members about the outlawed plastic bags. I was told that the staff would probably waive the requirement at certain times of the year. WHAT? The staff is going to voluntarily, on their own authority, ignore the municipal law without any provision in the ordinance authorizing waivers. There is a name for that crime and it is called Nonfeasance of Office.

Come on Council, amend your new ordinance and start reading further submissions from the attorney. Is it also acceptable for the police department to voluntarily start waiving enforcement of other ordinances? Finally, where does the liability fall when the local laws are ignored? Guess where.

RTD to force a rail station on Northglenn?

2007-04-08T11:14:00.000-06:00

If RTD eventually decides to locate a rail station at 112th Ave in Northglenn, the Board of Directors will have complied with the strongly stated wishes of: District K Board Member, Noel Busck, RTD General Manager, Cal Marsella, and Assistant Manager for Planning and Development, Liz Rao. All three leaders have made their opinion known on this possible site. RTD has the final decision making authority on all station locations.

If RTD decides to place a station at the location, every resident of the city will be impacted. Our City will be required to reimburse RTD two percent of all capital development costs. This will include the costs associated with the land, parking facilities, structures, planning and development expenses and such. The large amount of money required to meet this obligation will require the cancellation or deferral of services and improvements financed by the General Fund.

The placement of a station on the site will also permit the placement of a large sign on the structure which says, NORTHGLENN. Having such a sign, “plaque”, is a very big incentive for some of our leaders and residents. They see it as a source of pride for the city and a legacy for some before they leave office.

At the Fastracks Open House on March 21st the subject of your involvement was mentioned. I heard one person say that only residents close to the station site should have a say in the Environmental Impact Study. Specifically, that residents close to and west of I-25 should not be involved in any manner. I also heard a member of the City Council say that this is a community wide issue and those not residing near the site should and do have an equal stake in the locating of a station.

This little debate is leading to a future Council agenda item. The Council created Task Force was composed of volunteers. A vast majority of them were residents who lived close to the possible station. It recommended that the city oppose the 112th station site. It is very possible that the Council will encourage residents from across the city to provide additional input through a variety of means in order to mitigate the recommendation.

There is another unrelated but parallel issue before the Council and you; the Recreation Center. In last fall’s city-wide survey of residents, only six percent of the residents stated that they used the center monthly or more often. In the recent public process leading towards a determination of the Center’s fate, forty-five percent of the participants stated that they used the center monthly or more often.

If the rail station task force was bias and more input is desired, consistency demands a further review of the current recommendations on the center for the same reason.

Northglenn's Choice: Plaques or Essential Servives

2007-03-24T14:26:00.000-06:00

Our community leaders and a minority of the residents in Northglenn are and have been in a mode best entitled, “I want a ‘Northglenn’ (Blank).” In the past it was a Water system, a Sewage treatment plant, a new Mall and on. Now we hear our leaders saying, I want a Northglenn Library, a new Northglenn Recreation Center and a Northglenn Fastracks rail station.

There is certainly nothing wrong with wanting all of these services and amenities. The need to have a plaque saying, “Northglenn’s (Blank)” is a source of pride to many. This is certainly true for the residents who have spent most of their adult life experiencing the ups and downs of the community over the past forty years. Just because much has changed over the years is no reason to abandon that sense of pride.

When you are at the intersection of 104th avenue and Zuni street, which city are you in? The intersection has the Nissan dealership on the southwest corner and Enterprise auto sales/rentals on the southeast corner. Depending on your location in the intersection there are four possible correct answers. The point is that our community leaders and those residents who are very active in making our decisions know the answer. It is a very important factor to them in their decision making. Does it mean a lot to you?

We have many expensive facilities available to us. A recreation center is available to us just 17 blocks east of our city limits. There is another just 28 blocks west of our city limits. We have a public and collegiate library just 19 blocks west of our city limits. Ranageview is going to build a library 3 blocks south of our city limits. None have a Northglenn plaque on them and that is a driving force for many.

If it is important to you that we have our own library and recreation center, are you willing to extend the capital water sales tax ending in 2009 for these projects? Or perhaps increase your property tax levy? Twenty Million is not chump change and the figure does not include the interest or other financing costs. Make up your mind soon because you will be voting on it this November.

As far as a train station goes, many very powerful people in the area and in the city are saying, “We want a Northglenn station at 112th avenue.” Get ready for another couple million dollars in local costs. We will be required by State law to reimburse RTD for two percent of all costs associated with the station improvements. Add to this amount, the public costs associated with the potential new Transit Orientated Development; meaning, commercial structures in the areas now occupied by industrial and residential owners contiguous to the train station who are willing to sell for a profit.

In early February I posted an article listing your priorities for city services according to the random survey conducted late last year. Residents made the Core or bottom line services and improvements their top priority. From the General Fund, street improvements and maintenance plus public safety were the top priority. This November will it be the essential services or the “Plaque Projects”?

The picture is a large outlet pipe under Huron street at the Croke reservoir

Rangeview Requests Millions For Northglenn Library

2007-03-13T20:21:00.000-06:00

In the previous article I covered the deceitful, official election flyer distributed on behalf of the Board by Rangeview Library Board member, Ray Coffey, to all Northglenn residents. I also started to discuss the Board’s determination to close the Northglenn branch and construct a new facility west of the Thornton City Hall at Huron Street.

After the election, the Northglenn Council again discussed the election issue on the Park land and decided to start a public process. This information was passed on to Rangeview but they choose to reaffirm the decision to construct in Thornton. The strong support from the Northglenn residents at the polls and the Board’s promises in the flyer should have meant something but it didn’t.

After the Rangeview vote Councilman Miller was contacted by former Mayor, Odell Barry. As a result of the discussion, Mr. Barry chose to publicly offer the donation of his land on 112th Avenue, immediately east of Huron Street as a site for the library. The City Council, represented by Council members Mayor Novak and Jim Miller, jumped on the new opportunity and met with the Board. As a result of the meeting, the Board agreed to look into the Barry site with the understanding that the City would provided all of the support needed to make the facility possible.

The Board feels that it must provide for all the facilities described in the mill levy increase question as its first priority. I see no argument with that fiduciary responsibility. I do however question their opinion of what “support” should be required from the City. The Board committee requested the following: 1. The property is to be a completed “construction ready” pad site. 2. A parking lot for 60 vehicles. 3. Ownership or control of the land in perpetuity. 4. All utilities to be stubbed into the pad area. 5. The wavier of all city building and tap fees. 6. A financial contribution towards construction costs in the amount of $1,200,000. In addition, the Board requires an annual, minimum subsidy for operating costs in the amount of $500,000.

In addition to all the requested “support” from the City, the Board committee says it will be necessary to reduce the size of the planned facility in Thornton at Huron and 92nd avenue or to construct it in phases. This comes from a Board that just received a permanent 162% increase in its property tax levy from the voters. In this year alone their revenue will jump from $4,636,120 to $11,816,708 per their own estimates. Unless Adams County, Thornton, Brighton, Commerce City and all other cities agree to place a permanent moratorium on all growth, their annual revenues will continue to skyrocket.

All of this effort to find a site and entice the Board into constructing a library in Northglenn would not have been necessary if the Board had just followed through with its alleged promise to the residents of Northglenn as stated in its flyer. The Board violated the residents’ trust by voting to proceed with the site in Thornton.

The multi-million dollar commitment the Board has submitted to the City on the Barry site is rationalized by the statement in their proposal concerning the need to “provide the facilities described in the mill levy increase as its first priority.” They are reminded that constructing the library in Thornton near 92nd avenue is not a required location according to the TABOR notice they submitted for the November election.

Perhaps they would be willing to construct the library on the Barry site and tell the City of Thornton to pony up the millions necessary to build a “second” library at 92nd avenue. That brings up a question. What incentives has Thornton already promised the Board to obtain a library at the site? I’ve already heard that a land swap is in the works. What else? The Thornton Council members must know in addition to the Board members??

Some members of the City Council believe that the Board may compromise on some of the demands related to the Barry property. Others find the “support” sought so outrageous that they see no reason to purse a library at the location. I sense from the tone and logic used in the proposal from the Board committee, that the terms are not negotiable. The next few weeks will be very interesting. If the Board doesn’t come clean with the true reasons why they have chosen to leave Northglenn without a library, we, the residents, can do something about it.

Library Deceives Northglenn Residents

2007-03-11T13:16:00.000-06:00

No other city or area in Adams County approved of the Rangeview Library District property tax increase last November more than the residents of Northglenn. Why did the residents of Northglenn give the issue the highest percentage of victory? A flyer was distributed to all residents with these ominous words on the front page:

Northglenn Library To Be Closed!
Help keep this headline from becoming a reality…
Vote YES on 5A to
SAVE OUR LIBRARY
Paid for by SAVE OUR LIBRARIES committee,
Ray Coffey, Treasurer

In case you didn’t know, Mr. Coffey is a member of the Rangeview Board. There is no question as to the Library Board’s involvement in the issuance of the flyer. On the back of the flyer one of the points is that the Northglenn library will be relocated. The Board had made it known that the facility had many problems, including parking, and they wished to move the administrative offices to the location.

When word got around in September that the Board was looking to reconstruct the branch in Thornton, west of its City Hall, some members of the City Council and many residents became very upset. One member of the Council, Jim Miller, initiated a one man campaign to find an alternative site in Northglenn that met the Board’s criteria. It eventually came down to Winburn Park. The park is located on Huron Street just a couple of blocks north of the present Northglenn Library location.

During the period leading up to the election, Councilman Miller pressed the issue with newspaper articles, blog postings on YourHub and in dozens of conversations with the Council, residents, and with the Library Board in particular. To make a long story short, City Council member Miller and the Interim Manager, asked the Board in a presentation to consider the alternative site. The Board demanded a firm commitment before the election. Because the park contained a land restriction on its use, the Council explained that they would need to obtain approval from the voters before making a commitment. That fact was all it took for the Library Board to reaffirm its position favoring the Thornton site.

Since the election another site became available in the city. The Board is willing to consider an additional library at the location provide the City comes up with millions in permanent financial support. I will share the information on Tuesday the 13th. In closing I would like to point out why the Rangeview Library Board members can afford to be so cavalier in their actions.

The District’s Board members are appointed by the County Board of Supervisors. They are however not subject to the jurisdiction or control of the elected County Board. They have no accountability to the public. The County can replace the members one at a time when their terms expire but that is the total extent anyone has over their actions. Maybe we, the residents, should change that.

Planning Crises in Northglenn??

2007-03-06T17:04:00.000-07:00

The Community Development Center Manager, Terence Quinn, chose to move ahead with plans to increase his staff. In case you do not recognize the nature of his “center”, it is primarily composed of Planning and Economic Development.

He is the supervisor of two areas entirely outside his area of expertise: Economic Development and Housing. His promotion was the result of actions taken by the former City Manager and then Interim Manager, Leslie Cullen. Their new organizational structure needed a center manager regardless of the employee’s knowledge or experience. Intelligent and informed supervision is evidently not required. Supervisors should know and understand the workings of their staff. How else can you effectively be assured that the services are being carried out as requested by the policy makers?

In the 2004 so call layoffs, our City Planner of 25 years was terminated. Another planner was hired and fired. Mr. Quinn, who was formerly employed by DRCOG, was then hired to be the City Planner. Here is a paste from my posting of March 12, 2006. It addresses Mr. Quinn’s initial appointment and how he handled it.

Mr. Quinn ran straight into the rigors of local government which includes a zoning ordinance, master planning, design review, permit applications, signs and subdivision regulations. Since he is either not qualified or experienced in these areas or too distracted, he immediately found that he needed help.

Mr. Childress and our new Interim Manager, Leslie Cullen, entered into a consulting contract 12 days after Nelson resigned. For the tidy sum of $45,000 payable for services through mid-December, we now have a “practical” planner named Travis Reynolds. Guess where he used to work? Guess what his duties are? Did you say DRCOG and look at Mr. Quinn’s duties as listed in the previous paragraph.

With the departure of Mr. Childress, Mr. Quinn took over as center manager. Shortly thereafter, he convinced the manager to cancel Mr. Reynolds’s contract and employ him as a permanent employee. This week he introduced another full time planner to the staff. What was one planner for over twenty years is now three.

I was not aware we had a planning crisis in the City. Perhaps Mr. Quinn believes the Zoning and Subdivision Ordinances need to be trashed and rewritten. Perhaps we need three planners to address the future needs of all of our non-existent vacant land. It cannot be because there are plans to redevelop the backbone of our financial security: the commercial areas. That is of course impossible because all of NURA’s current revenues are gone while plans are being laid to mortgage its future in the development of land next to city hall.

I hope Mr. Quinn has finished building his empire in time to watch it slip away. Our new City Manager knows just a little about economic development and Mr. Reynolds has demonstrated that he is fully capable of serving as City Planner. Why do we need just “another” supervisor on the payroll?

City Misleads Residents in the Connection

2007-03-04T13:56:00.000-07:00

The March 2007 edition of the Northglenn Connection, official newsletter of the City, carried a lengthy article on the new editions of the building codes. It also described the new contractor licensing ordinance in considerable detail. I congratulate the City for devoting considerable space to the new licensing requirements. I’ll take some of the credit for that portion of the article. The three appearances before the Council, articles and posting criticizing certain provisions and the distribution of information to various businesses certainly prompted a good deal of the coverage.

While some consider my articles to be negative and slanted, the information in the Connection is often slanted with a positive spin. A positive spin means it is in keeping with the official line as defined by the City. While I am truly pleased that they have informed the residents about the licensing ordinance, I am compelled to comment about their spin, omissions and interpretations. In my previous career as a city manager I administered and dealt with contractor licensing ordinances and laws for 13 years.

If you want to grab your copy of the Connection, we’ll start with the third column on the front page. It states that the testing of contractors will be done by an arm of the International Code Council. The ordinance states, “The Chief Building Official shall establish such reasonable examining procedures for the issuance of licenses as shall, from time to time, become necessary.” There is no mention of the ICC testing in the ordinance and its use at this time is subject to change by administrative decision.

Next, we have the statement that contractors whom have tested at an ICC Center AND are licensed by another jurisdiction utilizing the same, will not be required to take the test. The ordinance states in 10-18-4 D, that applicants who hold licenses from other cities that the Building Official deems equivalent to his requirements may be licensed without an examination. The statement in the Connection makes a commitment that can be rescinded or modified administratively at any time.

In the next paragraph of the article we find a completely false statement. “As a licensing requirement contractors are required to show proof of lawful immigration under State immigration laws.” There is no such statement or anything similar to it in the ordinance. As we all know the State established such requirements. Why it was necessary to make such a claim is mysterious but not unexpected. The majority of the City Council supported the ordinance from the first day it was proposed last June because “they wanted to protect the residents”. Why the staff made this false claim is another matter.

Next we have a statement that should work on your project be delayed, the ordinance requires the contractor to protect the incomplete work from being damaged by the elements. The city neglected, probably intentionally to spin the alleged protection, to add the fact that this provision only comes into play if the work is stopped for six months.

On page three of the Connection the first column is designed to assure you that the ordinance will not be a hindrance to established contractors. I would agree only in cases where the contractor worked in Northglenn previously. When you are obtaining bids from a contractor, make sure you ask if they have a local license. If not, you will be waiting for them to become licensed. No building permits will be issued without a license per the ordinance.

I must slightly digress from the article to once again remind all that in accordance with the terms of the ordinance, (10-18-2 (A)) you are a contractor if you Build, Construct, Alter, Remodel, Repair, Move or Wreck any building of structure. Think outside of the box and what you would normally consider to be a contractor.

Starting at the bottom of the column on page three, the city refers you to www.contractorlicensing.org and then offers a quote from the site. I did check it and found something entirely different. If you check, you will not find the quote on the web site. You wouldn’t know that the quote is false unless you checked. I’m not disagreeing with much of the alleged quote. Only that it is missing and not supported in the City’s ordinance.

The spin and slant in the article becomes much more obvious in the second column when a bill under consideration in the Legislature is discussed. In discussing House Bill 1078 it is stated that, “The language of this bill is similar to the language contained in Northglenn’s ordinance, as well as those of surrounding jurisdictions.” Here is a link to the bill as passed by the House:
http://www.leg.state.co.us/clics/clics2007a/csl.nsf/fsbillcont3/845FB4E821E91DB887257251007BF071?open&file=1078_ren.pdf
Here is the Northglenn ordinance for comparison:
http://www.northglenn.org:8000/webdocs/2007/council/20070125/packet/CB-1590R.pdf
To claim that the Bill and ordinance are similar is true deceit.

The article goes on to pose and answer some questions. When will the ordinance go into effect? The staff is going to begin enforcing it April 1st. Know that the Council adopted it on January 25th and made it retroactive to the first of the year. The second question discusses what type of work requires a permit. It looks like they copied one of my previous postings on permit requirements and exemptions or they verified the information I provided in previous articles.

In the question concerning homeowners they state that a permit is not required. That is accurate only if the homeowner personally does all the labor. If one person or company is hired to do some of the work on the home, a license is required for each.

The question on apartment maintenance staff comes from my distribution of information to all the apartment complexes in the city. The City’s answer is incomplete and very misleading. The ordinance requires that when the maintenance staff conducts any activity that requires a permit, a license is required. There is a provision in the ordinance that allows for one member of the staff to become licensed and serve as an approved supervisor. All other maintenance personnel are not required to obtain a license. If an apartment manager relies on the information in the Connection, there is a sad lesson ahead.

Comment: Once an ordinance is adopted it is up to the staff to implement it. I do not disagree with some of their decisions. My concern is that the article is misleading substantially and not a public service. Residents should be able to rely on the information they receive from their elected officials.

City Takes a Bite out of Heidi's Deli

2007-03-03T11:31:00.000-07:00

The City's disregard for existing businesses was demonstrated again in an article that appeared in the Rocky Mountain News on March 2nd. This time, the City’s target was Heidi’s Deli. It is located in the shopping center along 120th Avenue which NURA acquired last year.

The City is in the process of widening Grant Street at its intersection with 120th. The construction has severely hampered Heidi’s operations. The staff, after consulting with the Council reacted to the owner’s plight by offering to reduce the lease payments beginning in January. Just over a month later, the City came to the ridiculous decision that Heidi’s situation was untenable and the owner was instructed to vacate the property in early April.

I would have assumed that the owner of Heidi’s would have been the better judge of when, or if, to pull the plug than the City.

I was pleased to see that one member of the Council, Jim Miller, ran across the situation outside of city channels and stepped in to question the need to terminate the lease. Fortunately there are a few members of the Council who were not afraid to question the motives and actions of the majority and the staff while under the leadership of the former City Manager.

Councilman Miller and all members of the Council know they do not have the individual power to instruct the City Manager in anything; and they don’t. The Rocky owes Councilman Miller a correction and we all owe the Rocky a word of thanks for reporting this abuse of Heidi’s.

If you didn't read the article in the Rocky, click on the title of this posting.

$18 Million Recreation Center Rewind

2007-02-20T18:31:00.000-07:00

As a result of the favorable vote last November authorizing the City to spend money for a possible new or rehabilitated recreation center, the City staff determined what was needed and scheduled seven meetings to encourage public input. Residents also received a flyer encouraging participation. So, why didn’t you come and voice your opinion?

I’ll hazard some guesses. The fall survey of residents placed the recreation center and its programs as the least important of all city services. You believed that your input would be negated by the special recreational interests. You have a job, family and other obligations that take precedence. You knew that the ordinance I wrote in late 2004 forcing one vote would again, so you decided to just wait it out.

On February 1st the staff presented the Council with a list of the ailments in the existing building. (The title will take you to the presentation.) They suggested the needed corrective actions and added some familiar improvement from the project defeated on January 18, 2005. Price tag; $18 million. As an alternative they presented the option of a new, relocated building with all the trimmings less a theater for, guess what; $18 million. Check the online presentation given at the February 1st meeting under Council Agendas.

In April the City is going to present the public with a design for a new or rehabilitated recreation center. Dollars to doughnuts, it will be an entirely new building costing just under $18 million, without a theater. The option of only rehabilitating the building is dead as of now. Why? One question has not been a part of the public process thus far and you were not there to ask it, even if it had been allowed.

The flyer you received asked the following questions. How does public recreation add to your quality of life? What are your recreation needs? What recreation amenities are on your “wish list?” And, for current users only, “What do you like? What do you need?” In addition there were two questions for non-users, “Why don’t you use it? What needs to change?” Did you non-users catch the implication that there is something wrong with you?

If you had been at one of the meetings, you would have found that answers to questions were not forthcoming. I asked why the potential cost of $18 million was not disclosed by the session leader, Kae Madden. She said in part that it wasn’t time to discuss it. The focus for now is the needs. The City staff is still getting away with highly structured meetings where you must follow their agenda. When I start wanting something I make a preliminary check of its cost before I start “wanting” it. Don’t you think the City should disclose the costs upfront? I think the City should reveal the fact that it is contemplating an increase in your sales or property taxes to finance the project.

In looking at the presentation you will note in slide 47 that the staff is recommending that a special election be held in August. Why? First, only residents who are involved in city affairs will bother to show up, and that means a positive vote. Second, by obtaining a positive vote then, the City will have time to implement the collection of the additional tax before the first of the year.

I did state at a meeting that I would like to see a ground level senior center that is not attached to a recreation building and, is accessed by a separate entrance and close up parking. I also suggested that the City should consider agreements with our neighboring cities as an alternative to a new rec. building. Let’s avoid the annual one million dollar loss from the present building and the capital costs and debt of a new one by purchasing user rights in existing rec. centers at Colorado and Sheridan Blvds. In the recreation department’s survey of those who participate in their activities, forty-five percent do not live in the city.

I would like to assure you of one thing I know to be a fact. The staff and Council majority has taken your positive vote last November to mean, “The overwhelming majority of the voters want a new or expanded recreation center.” See you in April.

Will the City Council Listen to YOU?

2007-02-06T19:41:00.000-07:00

I hope you have gone to the Northglenn web site and paged through the results of the survey of residents from a few months ago. The City Council/Staff presented their interpretation of the results in a recent issue of the Connection. I found the results to question seven very interesting. It is on page 54. The question was, “Please indicate how important each government service is to you and other members of your household.”

I totaled the percentages in the columns labeled Essential and Very Important and subtracted the percentages in the columns labeled Somewhat Important and Not at all important. (A and B) minus (C and D) The first combined percentage reported which services are high on your list and the second; that which is low. I then subtracted the second from the first to obtain your priorities for the various services. I did not rank three out of the twenty services listed because they were not “on the street” program services: Cost of trash services, Accessibility and Utility billing. Here are the results in groups of five.

Essential: 1. Trash Collection. 2. Water and Sewer. 3. Street lighting. 4. Snow and Ice removal. 5. Enforcement of traffic laws.

Very Important: 6. Street repair and maintenance. 7. Safety of parks and buildings. 8. Code enforcement in residential property. 9. Parks and playgrounds. 10. Code enforcement in commercial property.

Somewhat Important: 11. Recycling. 12. Special pick-ups. 13. Maintenance of buildings. 14. Range of activities available in parks, recreation center and facilities. 15. Athletic fields.

Not at all Important: 16. Street sweeping. 17. Senior Center programs. 18. Services for youth. 19. Special events (concerts-July 4th etc.) 20. Variety of recreational programs offered in classes by city staff.

Editorial: Question 14 should have been broken into its several obvious components. The activities in the parks score would have been quite different from the score for activities in the recreation center. The range of activities for the recreation center would have joined the “Variety of recreational programs” (20) as the most unimportant city service. The question now is whether or not the Mayor and Council will shift their financial priorities to match your directions. Based on the grand ideas presented at the study session of February 1st, they will not.

Back to the Survey: The results to Question 15 on page 57 are interesting. It asked how many times your household has used the Recreation Center in the last 12 months: Never 53%, Twice or less 21%, Total 74%. To the question as to how many times a household has participated in a recreation program: Never 74%, Twice or less 13%, Total 87%

Looking at the other end, the results showed that those who used the Recreation Center over 13 times in the last 12 months amounted to 8%. For a recreation program; 4%.

The City Council is initiating a public comment process on the concepts presented to them by the staff on February 1st. Click on the title of this posting to see the presentation. Besides the meetings they have scheduled per the flyer we all received, you can also contact all nine of our representatives at: citycouncil@northglenn.org

Contracting License Ordinance #4

2007-02-05T11:57:00.000-07:00

In the Contractors Licensing ordinance the Chief Building Official/Inspector included Section 10-18-10 entitled Licensee Responsibility. If you violate this section you will have your building permit and license suspended or revoked plus be subject to 90 days in jail and/or a fine of $300 for each violation. YOU includes everyone excluding a homeowner improving his or her own property. Individuals you hire are contractors.

In the section he lists seventeen broad requirements, one of which is already enforced by the Federal government. Some are already required by the standard terms of your building permit. By restating them in the license ordinance it is possible to also terminate your license. Some are also intrusions into your life that I feel are unnecessary. For the most part he has expanded his authority and power base while obligating the City to another program. As we go through them please consider the staffing and financial costs to the city. I have used terminology contained in the ordinance and grouped license “responsibilities” in categories.

Standard Permit Requirements: 1. To obtain a permit when required. 2. To construct without deviation from plans and specifications. 3. To complete all work authorized under the permit. 4. To obtain inspections when required. 5. To conform to a special inspection program when required. 6. To obtain a certificate of occupancy when required. 7. To keep streets and sidewalks free of obstructions. 8. To observe all rules and regulations governing construction and land use. 9. To provide honest, factual information on permit applications. 10. To observe other City ordinances pertaining to safety. Comment: This is a licensing ordinance and a restatement of duties contained in the building codes merely subjects you to a revocation of your license.

Logical Requirements of any License: 1. To present your license card when requested. 2. To employ a qualified supervisor. (For companies involved in construction) 3. To pay fees. 4. To obey orders of the building department.

Federal/State Enforcement: To provide safety measures and equipment to protect workmen and the public. (OSHA) Comment: Why should we obligate local resources to enforce a Federal-State obligation?

Intrusions: 1. To report in writing to the building official any accident which results in lost time, injury, death or damage to any building within seventy-two hours? Comment: Any lost time? Five minutes to remove a splinter or ice a thumb? Damage means breaking a window pane, etc.? Remember, you must report all accidents or lose your license. Imagine the resulting paper work for city staff. 2. To provide toilet facilities prior to and during your work under the permit. Comment: Watch out for the toilet police or you’ll loose your license. No available toilet; no building permit.

Violating any of the provisions above is probable cause to have your license revoked or suspended. To have a license suspended or revoked is an automatic Stop Work Order on the permit. $$$$$

This is a bad, intrusive ordinance with provisions that cry out for repeal. The City Council sincerely thought they were protecting the residents. Their goal can be accomplished in a far simpler ordinance. You can email the Mayor and Council on this or any issue at: citycouncil@northglenn.org Please keep it handy. The Mayor has led the charge to involve the residents in their decision making. Grant her wish. Finally, by clicking on the title of this posting, you will have access to the entire Licensing ordinance.

Contracting License Ordinance #3

2007-02-03T11:24:00.000-07:00

In considering the ordinance licensing contractors the City Attorney recommended and the City Council approved what appeared to be an important exception. If a permit is not required, the licensing requirement will not apply. You’ll see how important the exception is in this posting. I made another trip to City Hall to copy the latest exceptions from the uniform codes.

In a few instances the work exempt from a permit is restricted further than I will be stating. For example, sidewalks and driveways are exempt. I’m not going to include the following restriction, “provided they are not more than 30 inches above grade and not over any basement or story below and which are not part of an accessible route.” In instances like this you will need to check with the city building service center for details. The first listing of exemptions covers residential, industrial and commercial property. If you find the language confusing, please remember that I am using terminology from the codes.

Building Exemptions: 1. Retaining walls which are not over four feet. 2. Water tanks supported directly on grade. 3. Sidewalks and driveways. 4. Painting, papering, tiling, carpeting, cabinets, counter tops and similar finish work. 5. Above ground prefabricated swimming pools which are less than two feet deep. 6. Swings and other playground equipment. 7. Window awnings supported by and exterior wall which do not project more than 54 inches.

Electrical Exemptions: 1. Replacement of flush or snap switches, fuses, lamp sockets, and receptacles, and other minor maintenance and repair work, such as replacing worn cords and tightening connections on a wiring device. 2. Installation or replacement of equipment such as lamps and of electric utilization equipment approved for connection to suitable permanently installed receptacles.

Gas Exemptions: 1. Portable heating, cooking or clothes drying appliances. 2. Replacement of any minor part that does not alter approval of equipment or make such equipment unsafe.

Mechanical Exemptions: 1. Portable heating appliances. 2. Portable ventilation equipment. 3. Portable cooling units. 4. Steam, hot or chilled water piping contained within heating or cooling equipment regulated by the codes. 5. Replacement of any part which does not alter its approval or make it unsafe. 6. Portable evaporative coolers. 7. Self-contained refrigeration systems containing 10 pounds or less or refrigerant.

Plumbing Exemptions: 1. The stopping of leaks in drains, water, soil, waste or vent pipes provided, however, that if any pipe, trap or drain is concealed and becomes defective and in need of replacement, a permit will be required. 2. The clearing of stoppages and reinstallation (not replacement) of water closets.

The Residential Code has an exemption not found in the Building Code. Under Mechanical, portable fuel cell appliances that are not connected to fixed piping or the power grid are exempt.

Commercial and industrial properties have some additional exemptions not found in the Residential Code. 1. Oil derricks. 2. Temporary motion picture, television and theater stage sets and scenery. 3. Shade cloth structures for nursery and agricultural uses. 4. Movable cases, counters and partitions not over 5 feet 9 inches.

Repairs: The uniform codes also have a special section called Repairs. It covers all classifications of property. In the section it appears that permits are not required for a lot of things. It then goes on to negate most of what it gives. First, the good part:

“Application or notice to the building official is not required for ordinary repairs to structures, replacement of lamps or the connection of approved portable electrical equipment to approved permanently installed receptacles.”

The limitations are so long, I am going to summarize them. You can not: 1. Cut away or into any portion of a wall, ceiling, partition, structural beam or load-bearing support. 2. Remove, modify or change any means of egress from a building. 3. Modify, replace, add or remove any pipes such as; standpipe, water, sewer, drainage, gas, soil, waste, vent or similar piping. 4. Electric wiring or mechanical or other work affecting public health or general safety including yours.

Finally, the uniform codes allow two other exceptions in the building section that the City has taken away locally. You must obtain permits for 1. Tool and storage sheds, playhouses, and similar uses. 2. Fences

In the next posting I will be outright attacking some very evasive intrusions into you life should you have to obtain a building permit. Big brother, Rick Davis, Chief Building Official, convinced the City Council to ignore my requests that they be deleted despite their intrusion and the financial and staffing burden placed on the City.

Contracting License Ordinance Cont.

2007-02-01T16:39:00.000-07:00

In the first posting I gave you the definition as stated in the new contractors’ license ordinance as, “One who undertakes to build, construct, alter, remodel, repair, move, or wreck any building or structure, or any portion thereof, for which a permit from the city is required.” In the third posting I will list the major exceptions to the permit requirements. You and those you hire will not be required to go through the licensing process only if no part of your project or activity requires a permit.

If a license is required, there are three main categories with annual fees of $75, $100 or $150. In addition, you will have to prove you are capable of carrying out the work proposed under the permit by taking a written test as stated in the ordinance. “The Chief Building Official shall establish such reasonable examining procedures for the issuance of licenses as shall, from time to time, become necessary.” Instead of demonstrating that you have the skills by complying with the building codes’ requirements, you have to prove it on paper first or else, there is no license, permit or project.

For the local commercial building owner or tenant, the local apartment owner or manager and for the owner or tenant of residential rental property, this is for you. The list of activities not requiring a permit is so limited that you had better prepare yourself for the licensing process. Much of what you consider to be mere maintenance of buildings and structures is covered by the permitting process and therefore the licensing requirements.

Let me give you one example. The stopping of leaks in drains, water, waste and vent piping does not require a permit and will therefore not require a license. However, if any of the pipes is concealed and it needs to be replaced, a permit and license is required. Concealment can be in any form including but not limited to sheetrock, concrete and good old dirt. Mr. and Mrs. Homeowner; you will need the permit but not the license.

How common is it to find water on the floor and a wet ceiling in any building? Since it is concealed, what are you going to do when after you pull down the sheetrock and find a defective pipe? Run up to city call and get a permit if you are a homeowner? Run up and apply for a contractor license, take a test, pay your license fee and obtain a permit?

Not really. In an emergency you can make the repair and then do the license and permit. Warning: you cannot cover up the work until it is inspected. Unless you are a homeowner working on your residence, you will have to wait until they have scheduled and you passed the licensing test and obtained the permit.

For the local commercial building owner or tenant, the local apartment owner or manager and for the owner or tenant of residential rental property, I have this advice. After you review the exemptions coming in the third posting, you might want to consider going through the licensing process and save yourselves a lot of potential legal problems.

City Council Protects Community??

2007-01-26T14:10:00.000-07:00

The City Council did it. You now have a new licensing requirement that affects every resident and business in the city. Many cities have a license requirement on work done to buildings and structures, but Northglenn went further. The Chief Building Official gleaned the toughest and most restrictive provisions from other cities and put them in the ordinance he sold to the Council.

Their public reason for the new law is to protect you from unscrupulous individuals and to assure the community that work done will be of “satisfactory” quality. The problem is that there is not one word in the license ordinance controlling such behavior. There is such a provision in the peddlers’ ordinance but none in the Licensing of Contractors.

Just who is a contractor according to the new law? Here is their definition. “One who undertakes to build, construct, alter, remodel, repair, move, or wreck any building or structure, or any portion thereof, for which a permit from the city is required.” The significance of the words I underlined will be discussed in a bit.

Through emails and appearances before the City Council since last summer, I did get some major provisions removed after hitting some hot buttons with a minority of the Council. The most significant was the exemption of homeowners from the license requirement. Fortunately, the city attorney also agreed to recommend the removal of the requirement that all licensees have liability and workers’ compensation insurance. Other than that and a myriad of typos in the building official’s ordinance, it was adopted as written.

The words I underlined are significant because alter and repair covers just about everything from the smallest, tinniest modification to major reconstruction. The word structure is critical because it does not cover just buildings. How about your sprinkler system, driveway, storage shed, fence, swimming pool, burglar alarm and water heater? The building official has them included and a lot more.

I have much more information to share in future articles but wish to close with a few thoughts for the future. The City Council hopes you will contact local businesses in the future for construction and repair work. You can be sure they will obtain a license early on. When the building official made his initial presentation to the City Council his justification was that he wanted “a level playing field” for his regular contractor clients.

If you go outside the city for a plumber, roofer, electrician or such, they may not have a Northglenn license. The penalty if you or they are caught is an extra investigation fee and a double permit fee that will be paid by you. Why, because the individual has to have a license in order to get a permit. The rub here is that a license from another city is not honored and means only one thing to our building official; the contractor doesn’t need to take a written test; maybe.

To make your life more complicated when you want some work done, the city has made sure that a person can not just walk in and obtain a license. Here are some of the additional requirements. “Applicants may at any time, or from time to time, be required to furnish additional information with respect to their qualifications and financial status or other matters relating to or affecting their license, as may be deemed necessary or desirable by the building official….” In other words, don’t offend the building official.

Soon I will discuss two groups that will be hit hard by the ordinance: Northglenn Businesses and Apartment Building owners/managers.

Ineffective Council Policy Making

2006-11-15T13:44:00.000-07:00

I’ve preached for over a year about the lack of communication on public policy issues between the members of the Council. Some like to say that they primarily vote unified but that only applies to non-controversial issues. Where the issue is complicated; they split their votes routinely. So, I’ll rehash some reasons and hope they will consider the information and not the source.

This will sound strange to them but the difference between a study session and an executive session in other cities is one of subject only. In executives the members sit around a table and have a family discussion on a confidential subject. In study sessions they have the same discussion on public policy that is non-confidential. Not in Northglenn. Unfortunately, the present members of the Council and those from recent years have no idea that they are sabotaging their own open communication.

Presently their study sessions are being controlled by their reliance on the staff. Presentation after presentation with the staff leading and the Council reacting is no way for the elected folks to make policy. They have it backward. Staff should be silent unless a member needs their input and then it should be brief. There is the need for staff involvement but what about trying an old fashion procedure. Instead of visual and oral presentations, send all of it to the members several days in advance. Let the members read, think and make notes before the meeting. And, then let the members discuss it in a group setting with the staff and public in quiet attendance.

Another change that should be made lies in the seating arrangement. In the executives they sit around a table and converse. Long speeches and “making points” is not the name of the game. Talking, give and take and the freedom to modify opinions and freely ask questions are. Conducting study sessions from their thrones is a big mistake. They need to get off the dais and converse with each other.

They do have a physical problem with the present council chambers and the lack of a conference room that will also seat the public. If they don’t want to place some tables in the chambers, perhaps they could remove the walls at the back of the room and hallway. The conference room they currently use for executives could be used for the study sessions and the chamber area could seat the public. Turn around a few chairs and presto. Besides, the extra space would be useful since too many of the council meetings are frequently packed with the public. Just an idea for consideration.

The members of the Council also have a tradition of gotcha on controversial issues. You don’t have to introduce a resolution or ordinance to make a point knowing that the majority will vote it down. Just make a speech or a point without a formal document. You’ll get your point across and be on public record. The only items that should be on the agenda for a formal meeting should be those that have been previously discussed at a study session; true emergencies and know routine matters excepted.

I’ve made my speech again. Hopefully the overwhelming majority of the Council will use these comments to start a new era in communication and in the making of public policy.

Council Shirks Another Responsibility

2006-11-12T12:51:00.000-07:00

The Council meeting on the 9th reminded me of two items I have been preaching about for over a year. The subject of this posting is the continued lack of oversight by the Council on municipal operations.

Section 3.10 of the Charter says, “The Council shall deal with the administrative service solely and directly through the City Manager, and neither the Council, its members, nor committees shall either dictate the appointment or direct or interfere with the work of any officer or employee under the City Manager.” In deciding what constitutes “interference”, the City Attorney again told the members Thursday night that they are the interpreters of the limitation.

For many, many years Northglenn Councils have been in a world of their own by following an extremely lassie-faire interpretation of their oversight responsibilities. From last meeting’s audio here are two quotes by the same person, Mayor Novak.
;
“When we approve a budget that has a dollar amount and we tell our staff what it is we want them to accomplish within that dollar amount and beyond that it is up to the city manager to see that the goals are accomplished and that we are within budget.” “We appropriate money to accomplish tasks and ask the staff to accomplish those within a given budget.”

The Mayor and her followers on the Council have taken the position that they provide the money in total and the Manager has the authority to use it throughout the year as he deems best. As a career-retired city manager, I assure you that our Council is way off track and I challenge them to seek professional advice from other Councils and their Managers.

The quote came during a discussion on the creation and filling of additional positions before our new manager, AJ, arrives. The minority of the Council wanted the present staff to hold off knowing that if AJ felt that some staff increases were not needed, his hands would be tied because it is unprofessional and cruel to lay off newly hired employees.

Here are the details of the new staffing discussion. In November of last year the staff proposed in the budget and the Council approved a full-time staff of 215 employees for 2006. With two interim managers at the controls since February, the Council was asked to approve six additional employees during this year. So, what actually happened? The staff increased itself to 242 full-time employees without the Council’s knowledge. What were the Mayor and her friends’ reaction? Listen to the third audio from the meeting. It was, “so what”.

What kind of bucks are we talking about? Out of a $56 million dollar budget only $28 million goes for day-to-day operations. According to the Mayor and friends, as long as the City Manager achieves their goals, he is entitled to use the $28 million anyway he deems fit. For good or bad we have a staff responsible to no one thanks to the majority of the present members of the Council.

2007 Capital Improvement Program Flaws

2006-10-16T10:38:00.000-06:00

The City has an excellent software program that allows the staff to identify desired capital improvements for the current year and several years to come. It is quite impressive. The City Council prioritizes projects utilizing a whole host of factors and the staff plugs them in for future reference and funding. Unfortunately the program does not lead to results because of an inherent failure in City procedures.

Ask any member of the Council what capital improvements will be constructed in calendar 2007. Ask them to show you a piece of paper with the answer. They will not be able to do so. They might refer you to two pages in the 2007 budget (pages 59 and 60) as a response but they would be in error. They will be only accurate to the extent that the two pages only show the new or modified projects that have been added to the CIP process.

The CIP program for 2007 lists projects amounting to $9.4 million. Here are the projects to be funded out of the General Fund only: Webster lake shoreline rehabilitation $150,000; Irrigation value replacement $20,000; Playground equipment replacement $30,000; Weld County road #11 realignment design $10,000; Traffic signal cabinet replacement $13,500; Remodeling of 1710 Leroy Drive $16,000; Integrated Technology master plan $200,000; Residential street overlays $750,000; Huron St and Croke reconstruction $3,758,705. TOTAL: $4,948,205

Before moving on with the answer I posed earlier, I would like to share the Council’s highest priorities for the General Fund’s CIP with their score for comparison: 105 Traffic signals cabinets; 102 Street painting and thermo replacement; 100 Arterial street overlays; 95 Residential street overlays; 92 Rec. Center HVAC replacement; 92 Street crack sealing; 90 East 112th Ave. widening; 85 Huron St and Croke reconstruction. There are some matches.

The reason the members of the Council cannot tell you what projects will be done in calendar 2007 lies in the supplemental appropriations they make during the year contrary to the CIP plan and the forgotten CIP projects authorized in prior years but not done or done completely. An example of a supplemental is the 104th trail and landscaping project with a price tag of $876,257. Last July council member Rosie Garner pushed the project through the Council even though it was not listed in the CIP even through 2011. There was a great push for the project and the Council agreed to fund it out of 2006 funds. As we can see, it will not be constructed until 2007 so what was the rush? I will discuss the problem caused in the following paragraphs. I am commenting on the CIP/budgeting process; not the value of the project.

In addition to the supplemental appropriations problems the CIP plan does not take into account uncompleted projects from prior years. Money previously authorized is reported as a carryover and accounted in the reserved General Fund year end balance. For example, as of June 30th of this year the 2006 CIP and the leftover projects from prior years had a combined appropriation of $4,516,105 of which $3,770,416 had not been spent.

The money is committed, tied up, unavailable or whatever you want to call it. Some of the projects were cancelled, others were reappropriated this coming year and others did not need the full amount of the appropriation. The Council should immediately evaluate all of the prior commitments and clean up the mess. Much of the money is being sandbagged for no legitimate reason or need.

In addition to clearing and freeing up money in the all of the reserved year-end fund balances, there are some more steps the Council should consider. 1. Amend the CIP budget early in the calendar year to reflect the status of the prior year’s projects. Either delete and/or reappropriate the money for unfinished projects or reschedule the project for future years if its comparative priority has decreased. 2. Limit the “reserved” year-end fund balances to projects which have a contractual encumbrance. Limit the reserved balances of all funds to only what is necessary. 3. In the future divide multi-year projects into yearly components and only appropriate what is necessary each year. Your CIP program will keep track of future obligations. 4. Do a thorough review of the current year’s CIP progress as part of the budgeting process for the ensuing year. 5. Ask Finance to provide an integrated report of all CIP activities in its monthly report. 6. Do not let the staff choose to abandon a CIP project as has happened each year. You should be the one to formally abandon or modify projects just as you do when adding one.

In paragraph three I listed the CIP projects for 2007. You might want to compare them to the 2007 projects as scheduled in the program during last year’s budget process: Street overlays $400,000; Washington St. overlay 104th-112th $200,000; Washington/Muriel signal mast arm replacement $260,000; School flashers/radar $20,000; Police department remodel $200,000; CH fuel station demolition $30,000; M&O building large truck lift $65,000; Section 36 additional land purchase payment $186,700; Communications enhancement $50,000; Skateboard Park $200,000. As I said in the first paragraph the program is excellent but the City’s procedures and application are very wanting.

When the Council becomes involved in municipal operations as part of its oversight obligation rather than just being the staff’s audience, the residents will be far better off.

In a pre-publication review by an expert, it was pointed out that the carryover procedure used by the City for the last few years is in violation of the City Charter. It appears that my previous suggestions may be of some value in rectifying the problem.

Budget: Development and Communication

2006-10-15T09:28:00.000-06:00

Since I recently discussed the personnel proposals in the Community Development proposed 2007 budget, here are a few numbers. In the requested documentation and comparison, the format has changed. In the detail sheets the 2005 actual and 2006 estimated actual are shown under one account: #61711 Economic Development. For the 2007 budget, the requests are divided into three accounts: 61711, 61701 Planning and 61721 Housing and Grants.

These are the totals: 2005 actual $336,096; 2006 year end estimate $627,408 and if that increase is not enough, 2007 proposed $746,684. As has been pointed out in a comment the Center acquired a moderate paying position previously funded in the City Manager’s Office which accounts for some of the $119,276 increase between this and next year.

Now we take a peak at the salary only, not including fringe benefits, portion of the request: 2005 actual $229,632; 2006 year end estimate $491,386; 2007 proposed $481,729. In addition to staff they will need additional assistance listed as Professional Services with the price tag of $110,500.

Let’s summarize what has happened during the last year by recapping total expenses.
$336,096 = 2005 actual
$627,408 = 2006 City estimate

I would now like to change subjects and comment on the outreach, events and activities that make the residents feel that they are part of the well informed community family. In the budget it is called Community Engagement and it will cost you $794,402 in 2007. In 2005 it only cost $547,335. The Council increased the budget for the area to $703,897 in 2006 so the increase for 2007 is not that much in comparison. Especially considering that the staff will over spend the generous 2006 budget by $25,001.

One part of the Community Engagement budget is called, Public Communication. The answer to yesterday’s teaser is therefore $346,668 for 2007. For comparison, the Street’s Operating budget for 2007 is $462,095. Does that make sense? If it does, the other two areas in Community Engagement (Outreach and Events) need an additional $444,734. As stated above, the City Council is going to spend a total of $794,402 to reach out and touch you in 2007.

Public Communication Budget: With a one person operation in 2005 the actual expenses were $79,789 for personnel compensation, $2,848 for operating, $28,531 for professional services and $60,361 for miscellaneous for a total of $171,529. The two person operation in 2006 has expenses of $142,431 for personnel compensation, $13,500 for operating, $94,488 for professional services and $96,875 for miscellaneous for a total of $347,294. For 2007 the 2006 figures are rearranged and the total is $346,668.

At the last meeting of the Council several members were concerned about the lack of money for “on the street activities and improvements.” My suggestion is that you consider the residents’ priorities, the number of employees flooding city hall instead of the streets and the staff’s budget recommendation. The money is there but you will have to look at nonessential expenses and employees and say Adios.

2007 Budgeted Staffing

2006-10-14T21:21:00.000-06:00

I have been preaching for over a year about the lack of control exercised by the City Council over the senior staff, municipal operations, financial activities and ethics. Today I’ll provide more detail concerning staffing.

Many of you will remember the so called lay offs in 2004. The number of employees had climbed from just over 200 in 2001 to 253 in 2004. The story goes that the former Finance Director discovered a major shortfall in revenues which caused the need to cut the payroll. Forty-four employees were terminated or convinced to take early retirement. This action reduced the total staffing to 209 full-time employees.

In the subsequent 2005 budget, the Council authorized 215 full-time employees. In the 2006 budget they again authorized 215 employees. So, what did the staff do this year? They increased the number of full-time employees to 242. I understand the staff “consulted” with the Council on a couple of the additional employees but did not on the balance of 27 positions. Think about it. The staff just increased itself without our elected representatives’ involvement. Remind me, we have elected representatives to do what?

Guess what the staff wants for staffing next year? You bet; 252 full-time positions. Now what was that count in 2004? Maybe 253? Our Council is so oblivious to what goes on in the City that they believed in the staff presentations that showed only a modest increase of ten positions. The staff compared requests to actual; not approved and it went right over the Council’s head. I have already picked up some flak by telling some members of the Council that they are increasing the number of employees by 37 over their previous authorization; not ten.

When the supposed mistake that caused the layoffs in 2004 was found before the last Council elections, but kept secret until March of this year, the Mayor expressed her feelings in the March 2nd issue of the Sentinel. “Despite the unfortunate nature of the city’s layoffs in 2004, the increased funds in the city bank account isn’t entirely a bad thing. It gives us more flexibility. The bottom line is that we have $10 million in savings now instead of the $8 million that we had before. This infusion of cash will help council get to its priorities faster.”

As the proposed budget shows, the City staff had its own priority. The staff increased itself by 27 employees this year and the estimated year-end balance went from $11.1 million in 2005 to $8.8 million for this year; and is projected to be only $5.1 million at the end of 2007. As you move around in the city, check out all the improvements done by the City this year with the extra 27 employees. Remind me, we elect a City Council to do what?

Now for a teaser about a future posting. The Council is proud of its great commitment to communicate with the residents. We have the web site, Connection, Channel 8 programming, the televising of meetings, occasional flyers, PR articles and numerous ads. How much are you willing to pay for all this?

A Dismal Future for the General Fund

2006-10-12T17:02:00.000-06:00

Care for a shocker? As a starter you need to review the General Fund Comparative Budget Statement (page 50 in the Reader) in the proposed 2007 budget. I will enter some links for your use later to use in reviewing the following comments.

More deficit spending is occurring currently and planned for the future. Staff projects the general fund revenues will continue to increase from the $18.5 million of 2005 through 2008’s $21.0 million. Note the impact of the deficit spending as reflected in the Year End Balances shown at the bottom of the document: 2005 $11.1 million actual; 2006 $8.8 million estimated; 2007 $5.1 million estimated and 2008 $5.2 estimated.

The operating expenditures are as follows: 2005 $17.5 million actual; 2006 $18.2 million estimated; 2007 $20.4 million estimated; 2008 $21.0 million estimated. The staff is keeping the operating expenses slightly below or equal to the NEW annual revenues each year. They estimated that for 2006 the operating expenses will be less then the new revenues by $831,958. In 2007 they plan on using all of the new revenue except for $12,996.

In looking at the section below the Expenditures, another major problem becomes apparent. The amount of Intergovernmental revenue for capital improvements drops by half a million between 2006 and 2007. The repayments for the Marketplace advance from NURA drops from $669,663 to its final payment of $196,072. Two of the proposed expenditures, Capital Outlays and the subsidy to the Northglenn Neighborhood Development Corporation increase a combined $1,152,756 from 2006 to 2007. When you add in the Debt Service payment transfer and the Contingency you can see why the year end fund balance is decreasing from $8.8 to $5.1 million between 2006 and 2007.

In the second paragraph I pointed out that the proposed year end fund balances for 2007 and 2008 are almost identical. Why is this so? The staff deleted a subsidy in 2008 for NNDC and reduced the amount available for Capital Outlays from $4.9 million in 2007 to $1.3 million in 2008. If the staff had put the same effort in capital outlays in 2008 as they did in 2007, the year end balance would be $1,538,761 or 7.3% of expenditures. Guess how small 7.3% is compared to the General Fund’s expenses? It will cover operations for three weeks. The Council’s current policy is to maintain a 25% balance in the General Fund, therefore the staff will stay and the capital improvements and outlays will go.

What has the staff said in the document? There is still money available to be used before we hit the minimum 25% floor established by the Council. We will use it up in 2007 and to hell with capital improvements and outlays in 2008. In 2008 and future years we will provide the bare bone maintenance activities necessary while securing our jobs.

To see the document I am referencing either click on the title of this posting to access the available budget download on the City site (page 50 in the reader) or go to a friend’s web site: http://www.northglenn-watch.org/ I will be offering some suggestions, obviously, in another posting.

Council Shirks Budget Responsibility

2006-10-10T13:04:00.000-06:00

The City Council recently authorized the commencement of the formal budget adoption process. They listened to the presentations over the last few months and authorized the staff to prepare the formal papers. In late November or early December a public hearing will be held on the adoption ordinance. The first reading will occur most likely latter this month.

Many members of the Council are not comfortable with the budget but they know that, with a new manager to be under contract this Thursday, changes will be likely after he arrives. Oh, by the way, the new manager is A. J. Krieger. The Mayor released the information at her Monday coffee even thought all nine members of the Council agreed in Executive Session not to make any public comments until the negotiations were completed and a contract signed.

The budget as proposed is an instrument fraught with “gimmes” wanted by the staff before AJ’s arrival. Because of the overhead costs related to the gimmes, there is once again an absence of major maintenance and capital improvement projects. I will be commenting on the gimmes in a few postings starting today and continuing during the next few weeks.

Terence Quinn reestablished the Community Development Department that Leslie Cullen and Phil Nelson abolished last year. You may remember my earlier posting concerning the number of people in the area as compared to the CD Department that existed in previous years. In 2001 there were four individuals. This year Terence increased it to five plus a contract employee. For next year he wants nine full-time, one part-time and one contract employee. If Terrence knew how to do rather than direct, even he would not be requesting new worker bees. Gimme a kingdom!

“Heavens to Betsy” we must be either a rapidly expanding city or one that needs to be “redeveloped”. With all the development that occurred in the late nineties through the efforts of four, what does Terrence have in store for us with eleven City employees? And, get this; I’m not counting the employees in the already enlarged Building Department. The very sad part in all of this is that our Council members did not ask why or say no to one single thing Terence or the staff wanted.

I will be saying this over and over again so please keep it in mind now and in the year to come. “The budget is an unscrutinized compilation of unadulterated staff requests.” The requests were not analyzed by a City Manager or our elected representatives. AJ has a tough, important job on his arrival. At least most of our Council members recognize the budget document for what it is and will be wide open to his suggested modifications.

Knowing staffs as I do, they are already making contingency plans to implement their requests. In fact, upon Council approval they will be taking concrete steps to assure their bennies immediately. For example, they will be advertising and interviewing for all the new positions before the ordinance goes into effect. They know if they can get a person hired on paper before AJ appears, there is no going back. Don’t let it happen!

Budget Process in General

2006-10-04T18:29:00.000-06:00

The adoption of the 2007 budget by the City Council is just around the corner. The Council will get a look at the draft this Thursday evening. I certainly hope they receive a printed copy so they will be able to study it in great detail. Slides and online documents do not provide a good means of comparative analysis.

When the process is completed the Council will be adopting a very short document which will detail the budget only in the aggregated totals required by State Law. This is done to maintain a tremendous amount of flexibility due to the fact that the budget is a “plan”.

With a new City Manager around the corner, I’m hoping that the budget will not become an unused shelf item as it has been for the last five years. To me, it should be an expression of what our elected representatives want to accomplish during 2007 and the allocation of revenues to accomplish it. If it is to be changed by the staff, as has been the past, the Council and the residents should be informed of all of the Whys in advance and the Council should specifically and publicly approve of changes in the plan as they are deemed necessary.

Why did the former Manager and Interim Manager create and fill fourteen more positions than authorized by the Council in the 2006 budget without Council knowledge? Why did the staff ask for an additional multi-million dollar addition to the 2006 budget in December of 2005 when the ink was still wet on the adoption of the 2006 budget? Why were nearly all the 2006 authorized capital improvement projects not constructed? The answer lies primarily in the budgeting process and adoption as allowed by the Council.

This summer and early fall the Council watched a multitude of slide presentations from the staff addressing the anticipated budget needs for 2007. In addition to providing justifications for the requests, the staff compared their various budget categories to the present budget and offered reasons for the proposed increases in all areas including detailed personnel changes. A very similar process was followed in prior years.

The problem with the process is that the proposals the Council has been receiving for months will not be specified or detailed in the budget proposed for adoption. Instead they will see millions dollars only listed as Commodities, Operating Expenses and Personnel in increments of hundreds of thousands with no additional details. The dog and pony shows of the last months were only that; shows. It doesn’t have to be that way and I assure you the Manager will not object if the Council chooses to require more detail.

In my July 31st posting I detailed some of the problems that have resulted due to a lack of specificity by the Council in the Appropriation ordinance. The ordinance is adopted immediately after the budget is adopted and it is the document that has the teeth. I hope the Council will step up and assume control of the City’s financial operations as specified and allowed in the Charter.

Verification of Bogus Theatre Groundbreaking

2006-10-01T13:32:00.000-06:00

Since last October I have been countering all claims made by the City with regards to the then proposed Century Theatre. In order to enhance the election of incumbents at the November 2005 election, a bogus groundbreaking was staged.

I knew it was a political lie because the information I had verified that 80% of the construction plans had not even been submitted to the City for review. I posted my information before the groundbreaking was held. The Mayor and former City Manager could have cancelled the event but chose to go for its political benefits. It should not have even been scheduled in the first place. Were ethical standards placed in the back seat of the Excursion or left on the road side?

When no work began on the site in November or December, the City leadership countered that it would start later in December or January. Again they lied. The bulk of the plans were not submitted until the end of the year. I told you that February might be the really start date if even then. I did not know that the plan review would not start until later in January. During the Spring I told you that I had just received a document verifying my claims.

At last Thursday’s meeting of the City Council the document was made public in a discussion concerning a payment to the former Deputy and then Interim City Manager; Leslie Cullen. Below I have typed the full text of the document. If you would like the PDF copy of it, please email me using the link on the right side of the screen. The author of the email is the Economic Development Director for the City. The recipient is the Department Head that was in charge of public works and engineering.

Subject: “Century Site Construction”
From: “Katy Press”>katypress@hotmail.com>
Date: Tue, 04 Oct 2005 07:57:04 -0600
To: kkowar@northglenn.org
CC: lcullen@northglenn.org

I received Leslie’s voicemail yesterday about making sure that the site appears to have things going on after the ground breaking next week.

From Northglenn’s side, we had talked about:

· Staking the site.
· Putting up a silt fence.
· Possiblity of having one of the contractor's scraping the site.
· We are talking today about the ROW improvements and moving up the timing on 120th.

I am talking to Bob Hemati about where they are at with their contractor and when they can “mobilize”.

We can strategize this afternoon when we meet at 2:00 PM.

That is the email document as written. Your Mayor, her friends on the City Council and City Staff lied for political gain. Remember this next November.

As to why Ms Cullen received a bonus of $5,406.50 on a 5-4 vote two months after resigning has to be questioned in light of the “favor” last October. When this email was revealed at the Council meeting, neither the Mayor nor any of her friends commented or responded. You might ask them to respond to the email at a formal Council meeting since denial is out of the question.

Amendment 38 Supplemental

2006-09-30T16:30:00.000-06:00

I need to modify my last posting on Amendment 38 as it pertains to the source of the Whereas I found objectionable. It seems that the Northglenn City Council adopted a model or sample resolution written by the Colorado Municipal League.

During my career as a City Manager in Colorado I learned early on that the cities’ advocate in the State, CML, was an institution that fought and fought hard for local control. It is a valuable resource that cities normally can count on for good advice. I was not happy to learn that CML had prepared such a one-side and inflammatory resolution.

My apology to the Northglenn City Council. I only wish the members and City Attorney had read through it more carefully before its adoption.

Council Position on Amendment 38

2006-09-29T13:29:00.000-06:00

In and earlier posting I criticized the City Council for taking a position on one of the amendments to the Constitution which will be voted on this November. My criticism was based on the fact that the issue will not have a direct impact on the operation of the City. Last night they took a position on an amendment that will impact the City which I believe to be quite proper.

I do have a quarrel with some of the rational they used in their Whereas portion of the resolution recommending disapproval of Amendment 38 also known as the Petition Amendment. Under the Mayor’s sponsorship the City’s disapproval passed with the minimum number of votes. I am linking the resolution for your convenience in the Title.

The Whereas section common to all resolutions and ordinances is the location where a governing body specifies their reasons for its adoption. It is also used in future years to clarify the “legislative intent”. While I agree with most of their reasons, some contain words and concepts that are controversial and deceptive.

In number three we see that they feel the cost of complying with the amendment will “paralyze” municipal operations. Don’t believe that for a second.

In number four anyone who files an initiative is “disenchanted”. I guess the majority of you that voted for the charter amendment on the Water fund or said no to the very expansive and expensive recreation center project now know what your elected officials call you in private.

In number six the prophets have determined that the amendment “will” be found to be in violation of the U.S. Constitution. We also find the first major deception from the Mayor and Council. The act will “violate the free speech rights of municipal employees.” Let me quote the applicable part of section (d) from the amendment.

“No district (City for our discussion) or district staff shall aid spending district resources, or using any district procedure, equipment, or staff time, to discuss pending petitions after petition forms are delivered.” The City cannot use its financial resources or staff to fight an initiative ON THE CLOCK. The language in the Whereas is just plain wrong. Our employees’ right to free speech is not denied or compromised.

In number seven I see the second deception. Please read it because you would never guess that the actual amendment provides for a statement from the opponents to any initiative equal to that of the disenchanted disproportionately small number of residents. In other words, you will receive the familiar blue book in local, non TABOR, elections. Gosh, a level playing field.

In number nine they content that “honest mistakes” will result in a $3,000 penalty to the city official reviewing the petitions for sufficiency. The amendment spells out exactly what the reviewing official can and cannot do in determining petition sufficiency. There are no “honest” mistakes if they follow the very specific brief language in the amendment.

Vote your conscience but be informed.

City Returns Grant Money

2006-09-27T14:56:00.000-06:00

For over a year now I have been receiving a copy of the monthly payables from the City. There were two interesting checks in the August payables. In an earlier email to some residents I pointed out that, per the Finance Director, the City had not spent $1,939,740.23 of the Adams County Road and Street half-percent sales tax you authorized in November of 2001. Why?

From the August payables we find that the City also returned, unused grant money as follows: $41,999.59 that was not used on the Sensory playground improvements, and $87,500 that was not used from the Northwest Open Space Grant.

I understand that Adams County will soon be auditing all grants and the pass-through funds soon. Good! There is one question. The City Council did not vote to kill the projects, so why was the staff allowed to cancel the projects on their own volition?

Response to Previous Posting's Comments

2006-09-26T21:16:00.000-06:00

Every blog on Blogspot.com has an option concerning comments. By checking one box the author can censor any comment he/she does not like. If I had wanted to skew the information by having only one viewpoint, I could have followed that route. I did not as most of you have already found out.

In the previous posting, based on some of the comments, I should have emphasized the fact that the information was primarily a summary of previous posting going back to October. The information is still there. I spent time and money requesting information from the City under the authority of a state law and stand by the one-sided but accurate information.

When interviewing managers City Councils always present the positive side of their communities and minimize the negative. Before the internet, manager candidates had to rely on comments from other managers working near the city of interest. That always helped but the information gathered was lacking in detail.

In my previous posting I used much stronger terms than usual in summarizing the current situation from the information I have gathered. The frustration comes from having shared the information over the last nine months with members of the Council many of which are not too fond of my stance on most issues. Their ears were closed.

Hopefully my posting will at least get the candidates’ attention. I also hope it will enable them during their interviews this weekend to be more informed in responding to questions from residents. Placing all the information in one posting has certainly had an impact from your responses. Let’s try some questions for the candidates.

It has been stated publicly by a critic that the condition of the streets will require millions to correct per the Auditor. Please prioritize streets along with other municipal functions?

It has been alleged by a critic that you will not be able to rely on your senior staff. How will you evaluate them and how long will it take you make a decision on the staff’s future?

Do you believe that the Council would be interfering with your authority should it establish specific policies governing personnel regulations, purchasing guidelines, etc?

Our local critic has also stated that the budget adopted by the Council is so generalized that you can ignore it. How detailed should the Council’s approval be?

He and some friends have also filed and initiated ordinance that will stop the Council from demolishing city hall and the recreation building without a vote of the residents. How will you deal with the situation?

How are you going to deal with our critic and the others who regularly harass the City Council and Staff?

City Manager Candidates: Heads Up

2006-09-25T08:34:00.000-06:00

With a new City Manager on the horizon, everyone is anxiously holding their breath, curbing their zeal and biding their time. Everyone includes the members of the Council, the senior staff, the worker bee staff, and the residents who are involved and interested in City operations; including me.

With that said, just what is the new Manager facing besides a Council badly split on all things important to our continued viability as a community. While the City web site, Connection and other activities of the public relations department keep pushing the “we are wonderful and responsive to you” campaign, the quality of our municipal services continue to deteriorate and millions of dollars are wasted on plans, plans, plans and dreams.

To give the new Manager a heads up as to what he will find upon reporting to work, I’ll rehash some problems and reveal some new. I’m sure readers will have there own lists or maybe even feel that some of the following statements are exaggerations. Just remember, I obtain my facts from public records requests, in accordance with State law, and supplement it with information from those in the know. I then give you the facts and information; with an obvious attitude.

First, the Council is composed of individuals that have serious personal difficulties with each other on a daily basis. The Council has members that believe if you do not agree with me 100% of the time; you are my enemy. It has a majority that believes the Council should speak with one voice; mine. The major division on the Council is between those that sincerely believe that the staff is, and is the only one, that has all the right answers, and those who will question and challenge the staff when recommendations are inconsistent, incomplete or inadequate. The vast majority of the Council is a sucker for a classy, well presented report or presentation. If it looks and sounds good; it must be a good recommendation.

Second, the new Manager is going to love the following information. Under the guise of not interfering with the day to day operations of the City, the current and past Councils have abdicated their responsibilities under the Charter. The budget is so very broad that he can ignore it. Budgeted projects are just that; budgeted, so what? There are no detailed rules concerning personnel, purchasing or even the sale of City property. He can modify, create or abolish positions at will regardless of the budget. The Councils have even dodged adopting Affirmative Action and Equal Opportunity policies. What a deal.

Third, thanks to the prior Manager’s staff cleansing, the new Manager must deal with and initially rely on a senior staff composed mostly of losers: One condescending expert who spends more time selling their business than serving the city, two designer examples of the Peter Principle, one who makes decisions based on sexual preference, and three others, so bad that I will not describe them in print. On the positive side there are two professionals who have the qualifications, experience and attitude for their positions.

Fourth, the new Manager unfortunately will not be able to rely on the majority of persons surrounding or close to the senior staff for a variety of reasons. They were hired or promoted by the senior staff for either their aggressive and arrogant nature, who they knew, who they were related to or their sleeping habits; qualifications notwithstanding.

Fifth, the new Manager is going to be expected to turn a lemon into lemonade when it comes to the land the Council has purchased north of City Hall. The City alone has diverted $7.4 million from the General Fund in quest of a new retail center. NURA spent another $2.25 million. Meanwhile municipal services have suffered. In streets alone, the Auditor noted that they needed $2.4 million in maintenance and improvements to meet required standards as of the end of 2005. Now the Council is considering scrapping City Hall and the Recreation Center in favor of a new facility south of the North Metro office building at 120th and Grant. He should realize that the proposed retail area is an obsession that is more important than all other governmental responsibilities together.

Sixth, the new Manager should be prepared for the following influences on his and the City’s future. There will be an election next year and some members of the Council will be actively campaigning to defeat their fellow members. There are many more residents besides me that want major changes in the City and its use of our sales and property taxes; and we will have an impact. He has until February 2008 to demonstrate that he is worthy of the challenge. His actions must prove to the entire Council that he works for all them no matter how much danger he places himself in to accomplish it. The residents deserve a competent, qualified, professional and polite staff. The sooner he makes the necessary changes the better.

Finally, I will give him the benefit of doubt as long as does what is necessary and places the community and its residents ahead of his resume.

City Manager Candidates

2006-09-22T07:29:00.000-06:00

Here are the three candidates for City Manager. Following the public interview process next Friday the 29th and Saturday. One of them will be offered the position.

Aden Hogan, Jr.
Age 55
Education: Bachelor’s in Business Administration-Mesa State College, CO-Master’s in Public Administration-1992-Univ. of Colorado
Prior Professional Experience (Last first): Former Town Administrator, Parker, CO--Assistant to the City Manager, Oklahoma City, OK--Risk Manager, Oklahoma City, OK--Director of Risk and Fleet Management, Mesa County, CO

Thomas Hutka
Age 48
Education: Bachelor’s in Engineering-Princeton-1980—Master’s in Public Policy-Harvard-1987
Prior Professional Experience (Last first): Former City Manager, Port Huron, MI—Assist. County Manager, Osceola County, FL—Assist. County Manager, Hennepin County, MN—Commissioner of Engineering & Construction, Cleveland, OH—Capital Projects Manager, Hillsborough County, FL

Arthur Krieger
Age 38
Education: Bachelor’s of Science-Illinois University, IL-1990—Master’s in Public Administration-1993-Saint Louis University, MO
Prior Professional Experience (Last first): Current City Manager, Ferguson, MO-- Assist. City Manager, Decatur, IL—Econ. Dev. Director, Decatur, IL— Econ. Dev. Director, Woodstock, IL— Econ. Dev. Director, Decatur-Macon, IL

Questions that need to be asked and answered:
Who has a career in communities our size?
Who is accustomed to having a large staff?
Who is building a career?
Who has been the “head man” in several communities?
Who will use our limited revenues wisely?
Who is knowledgeable in the inner workings of a city our size?
Who has the knowledge to accurately evaluate the staff?
Who will have the support to do what needs to be done?

P.S. One of the candidates is an adjunct professor at CU-Denver as is our Mayor and the selection process may be only a ritual.

Adams County Ballot Deception

2006-09-17T18:00:00.000-06:00

I suggest you read the ballot issue proposed by the Adams County Board of Commissioners very carefully this election cycle. They are banking that you will skim through the ballot title and miss a major point. I am speaking about their request to extend the half percent sales tax for roads and bridges. Four years ago we said yes. Now they want to extend it for twenty years. Why?

The full amount of the current tax has been shared by the cities, towns and county for our mutual benefit. This time the Commissioners have chosen to neuter most of the benefits in favor of a personal pet project. If you approve the extension, only Forty percent of the revenue raised will go the roads, streets and bridges. The remaining Sixty percent will go a totally unrelated purpose.

In 1993 you first authorized the half percent sales tax for the new Justice Center. In 1997 you extended it for the Detention Facility. In 2001 it was extended for the street, road and bridges. Now they want to use sixty percent of the money primarily to construct a new “centralized government center”. Because of the major expense involved, they need to continue the tax for Twenty years.

If you feel that their request for the additional County facilities is needed after reading through the ballot issue, vote yes. I for one will vote no simply because of the underhanded deception. Most of us have every right to trust our elected officials. We generally do not pay attention to their every move and should not have to do so. Government officials need to rely on our faith in their judgment in order to operate. At the same time, as they rely on us to give them undying loyalty; we deserve the same. The Commissioners have broken our trust with this ballot issue.

In the ballot text they state that they want to continue the half percent sales tax for improvements to the roads and bridges. A quarter of the way down they mention justice center, a pre-trial holding facility and finally the centralized government center. When you have read half way down you will finally see that the roads and bridges will only get forty percent of the tax extension instead of the present one hundred percent.

Another subtlety lies in the fact that the “big” project, the new government facility, is listed third instead of first. After all, you supported the new justice center in 1993, a detention facility in 1997, and the roads and bridge improvements in 2001. Clever! Bury the major reason for a twenty year tax behind things you already supported. They are counting on our tendency to not read everything through to the end.

Now that you know what is included in the ballot issue; vote your conscience. The Commissioners broke faith and you know my vote.

No More Debt Without A Vote

2006-09-13T09:58:00.000-06:00

On August 24th we filed a citizen initiated ordinance to stop the City Council from authorizing a multi-year debt, without a vote, to develop the land they have acquired from the City Hall and E.B. Rains Park northward to 120th Avenue. With Century Theatre asking to be excused from the land lease and the advent of some new, more extensive ideas by the Council majority, we are going to withdraw the submission and filed a revised initiated ordinance for the following reasons.

.
PROTECT THE GENERAL FUND SAVINGS
NO MORE DEBT WITHOUT A VOTE

(This ordinance applies only to the area from City Hall and E.B. Rains Park northward.)

A. The City diverted $7.4 million from the General fund’s operating departments and capital improvements projects for the purpose of land speculation in the Area.

B. The Auditor reported that street maintenance, overlays and construction activities did not meet established Standards. The Audit states that the City had a deficit financial program need of $2.4 million as of December 31, 2005. (Source: 2005 Financial Audit)

C. In an Executive Session with NURA on August 23rd the Council members discussed the demolition of City Hall and the Recreation Center following the construction of a new municipal building where the Century Theatre was proposed to be located. The information was disclosed by the Mayor at her following Monday coffee.

D. The General Fund savings (unreserved year-end balance) was only increased three million during 2005, from the five year low of $8,418,836 in 2004 despite the fact that:
1. The City cancelled the entire street maintenance program for 2005.
2. Voters disapproved of the issuance of debt for the recreation center.

Our ordinance will not hinder the City from developing the retail land with the on board developer. However, we do not want to see them enter into a debt situation that will delay the first penny of profit for 20 years.

Do you want a say in all of this or are you going to trust the Leadership?

Email: committee@northglennco.us

Sewage Treatment Plant Odor

2006-09-06T15:45:00.000-06:00

The Northglenn sewage treatment plant located on the county line between Adams and Weld Counties and just east of Interstate 25 has been a real stinker recently. Hot weather, gentle breezes and poor operation by the City are to blame.

The treatment lagoons utilize various types of bacteria including aerobic, facultative and anaerobic. The odors came from the anaerobic bacteria that usually thrive near the bottom of the lagoon and the residue they leave. When they and their by-products float to the surface because of operational neglect, they leave their aromatic signature for all to enjoy.

The State has a special form called the Annual Biosolids Disposal Report. Note the word Annual. When a resident in the general vicinity of the sewerage plant sent a letter to the local paper on August 24th, he complained that he could not obtain a reason or explanation for the odor. He tried to get answers from the City of Northglenn, the Weld County Health Department and three State agencies all to no avail.

As a frequent critic of the current Northglenn staff and council, I chose to file a formal request for information utilizing a State law on open records. The response was as I and another had expected. The city did not remove and dispose of the anaerobic sludge from the bottom of the lagoons in 2002, 2003, 2004 or 2005 per official records. I still have to verify whether or not sludge was removed this year. I doubt it.

By neglecting to remove the sludge on a timely basis, the city appears to have allowed it to accumulate to a level higher than the pipelines from the high volume vane air pumps. The forced air is what keeps all aerobic bacteria in the upper levels of the lagoons reproductive and hungry. When the anaerobic bacteria and sludge levels are above the air supply lines they are forced upwards toward the lagoon surface bringing the foul odors with them.

The former, experienced staff that operated and supervised the sewage treatment plant operated it according to the standard operating practices and State Law. However, many knowledgeable employees were laid off or moved on during the reign of the former City Manager. With the incompetent or inexperienced staff that Phil Nelson hired all that remains, it is no wonder that the sewage plant, our streets and our reputation has hit a new low not seen since the fiasco on the water system purchase and fallout.

It is well past time for the City Council to get some answers on this and resolve other problems with the staff before the new City Manager is hired. I pity the poor soul who takes the manager position. May he possess the necessary skills to clean up this mess. It will be a tough road and a real measure of his ability.

Audit Question Response

2006-09-05T14:38:00.000-06:00

In response to a question concerning my documentation for the two previous postings, I would like to offer the following. You will have to go to City Hall and ask to inspect the 2005 audit.

For the posting concerning the year-end general fund balances see page 114. For the Auditor's comments on the co-mingling of federal monies and the capitalization of the sewage treatment plant look at the short letter to the Audit Committee. You may also listen to the Auditor's comments in the audio from the meeting of July 13th. This is available on the City's web site. You can also go directly to the Council agendas using the link on the right side of this site.

For the posting concerning the lack of adequate work on our streets, see page 66 in the Audit.

2005 Audit Continued-Streets

2006-09-02T14:48:00.000-06:00

In addition to the Auditor’s comments addressed in the previous posting, they were critical of one of our major reasons for having a city: Street Maintenance. Before I discuss the subject, you might want to click on the title of this posting. It will bring up a map shown to the City Council this July. If your street is purple (excellent) or deep blue (very good) be thankful for the efforts of the City Council, City Manager and staff that served you in 2001 and before. Once you are at the map, the arrows at the top will take you to the entire presentation. (Go forward and backward from the map page)

CAUTION: The PAVER system referred to in the presentation and by the Auditor is an objective tool used to evaluate the condition of a street that is predicated on the judgment of the city employees conducting the initial inspection.

Auditor’s statement: “During our review of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report, we noted that in both 2004 and 2005, the repair and maintenance expenditures of the City did not meet the estimated required amount needed to maintain the street system at the originally determined level.” They went on to point out that the City must conduct an assessment in 2006. The City Council has agreed to the assessment and has set the minimum acceptance level at 70% which is the lowest point in the Very Good category.

The Auditor compared the conditions of the streets using the last two assessments: 2000 and 2003. It is also a comparison between the leadership teams of Parsons/Landeck versus Novak/Nelson. Here are the Auditor’s numbers for the streets that were not rated excellent or good:

Year 2000: Arterials 3.8% Secondary 7.4% Overall 6.6%
Year 2003: Arterials 20.7% Secondary 10.0% Overall 11.4%

The Auditor went on to tell us what we already knew in dollars. In 2004 and 2005 the City did not keep up with required maintenance. Here is a number to keep in mind when reviewing the following information. This year the Council authorized a street sealing program in the amount of $458,997.46. That’s it! The following comes from the Audit and covers the year 2005.

Arterial:.......Expenditures needed-$506,404. Actual spent-$169,424
Secondary:..Expenditures needed-$2,057,303. Actual spent-$0.00
Overall:.......Expenditures needed-$2,563,708. Actual spent-$169,424
Deficiency:..Expenditures needed: $2,394,284*
* In 2004 the deficient was $414,523. In 2001 the City was on the plus side: $273,158.

2005 Audit Comments

2006-09-02T14:43:00.000-06:00

The City received the 2005 Audit in June of this year; two months later than normal. There were some interesting comments along with the status of the General Fund Year-End Balance. For perspective, the Balance represents our general fund savings account.

Here are the balances for 2000 through 2005: 2000-$17,774,778; 2001-$20,835,264; 2002-$20,222,105; 2003-$11,719,708; 2004-$8,418,836; 2005-$11,900,742. During 2005 many comments were made by us about the $12.4 million dollar deficit spending that occurred in 2003 and 2004.

We initially knew that city hall wages and personnel had bloated by thirty positions after Phil Nelson was hired as City Manager, but land speculation was the major single reason.

During those years, under Nelson’s and the Mayor’s leadership, over $5,999,000 was spent purchasing land and buildings north of the recreation center and Webster Lake. The land remains vacant today but big plans are in the hopper.

The Auditor also condemned the City Staff for co-mingling Federal grant money with the General Fund’s money in the niceness of terms.

“During our audit, we noted that the City does not track federal grant activity in a central series of accounts. We recommend that the City establish general ledger accounts specific to federal grants in order to better monitor such activity.”

On another subject the Auditor noted that the capitalization of the sewage treatment plant was not in accordance with acceptable procedures. Their advice was, “The City should analyze the plant project and capitalize the different systems separately, so that the various useful lives can be defined. For example, the heating and air conditioning system and certain mechanical systems used in the actual treatment process would have shorter lives than the building itself.”

Opinion: The fact that the Auditor pointed out these two deficiencies is indicative of a bigger problem in the City’s fiscal management and procedures.

A third comment by the Auditors concerning the condition of our streets will be addressed in the following posting.

Bye Bye Century Theatre

2006-08-25T21:00:00.000-06:00

Century Theater is gone or at least it wants out of the lease. Hooray! As former Councilmember Goodspeed pointed out when the lease was under consideration, the former city manager gave away the farm to convince them to anchor his retail development north of the recreation center. Nelson needed a replacement for the expanded recreation center that the voters killed. Unfortunately the vast majority (7 to 2) of the City Council supported him and massive commitments were made by the City.

It is a true blessing that Century’s new owner, Cinemark, has asked for the lease termination. The City will save millions by accepting unless the City Council offers the same expensive incentives to a new anchor. The staff and their private developer had previously contemplated an alternative to the theater. I wish them good fortune, but keep the incentives reasonable. I hope they remember that they are using money from the General Fund that finances almost all municipal operations save the Water and Sewer Utility Fund.

I have written many times about the theater since last October. My earliest posting dealt with the false, bogus, political, campaign ploy: The official groundbreaking. I had information that only 20% of the required plans for the building’s construction had been submitted and I passed it along to you. The senior staff and some of our elected officials knew the truth but choose to deceive you for political gain. Since then I have had to counter false claims about the theater posted on the City’s official web site several times. I did not obtain the smoking gun of proof until earlier this year but I am not disclosing it still today.

I hope the City will let them leave after recovering the hard costs it incurred per the lease. The City should be entitled to the staff’s time spent reviewing the plans that came in earlier this year. The Council and its lap dog, NURA, purchased only one parcel of land that was really needed according to the terms of the lease. The cost for the parcel in question was just over $382,000. The City also paid an outside consultant $9,700 to address some issues in the plans submittal. I am sure there were some other expenses but I hope the City Council will be reasonable in its request.

The City Council now has the opportunity to move on in its development plans and hopefully convince the voters that it has done its best as steward of the city’s future.

City Council Conducts Illegal Secret Meeting

2006-08-24T14:01:00.000-06:00

Last night the City Council met with NURA in executive session following the regular NURA meeting. No notice as required by City Charter and State law was posted at City Hall or on the City Council's Documents/Agenda web page as required.

Public Disclosure Still Requested

2006-08-22T20:25:00.000-06:00

I have not received a response to the following request sent last May. I still believe that disclosure is in the public interest. Update: The Council did recently repay the Water Fund for the money used to purchase land. See one of the June 16th postings.

To: Mayor and City Council
fro: Gene Wieneke
Ref: S.E. Quadrant Development

I had intended on presenting my comments at the last regular, cancelled meeting. I am out of the city Thursday evening and therefore request that you accept my comments at this time.

You have already invested eight million dollars in land acquisition and building demolition and the Sinclair station is yet to come. You still have the expenses for the theater's infrastructure, street reconstruction and a major parking problem. And, in the eight million I have also not included the money you are now expending for revamping the 120th and Grant intersection or the six million you have in mind for a parking ramp.

You have financed your expenses thus far by using the Water Fund, General Fund and property tax collections from many of our existing businesses. Through all this you have not presented the public with a detailed plan for the recovery of these costs let alone the profit you expect to receive starting decades from now.

You have taken a lot of ill advised steps that have led you into a situation that needs to be thoroughly and publicly analyzed and discussed. I have sensed that your lack of concern over the huge amounts you have sunk into the area comes from the belief that NURA's property tax revenues will bail you out. Let me remind you that its property tax revenue is coming primarily from North Metro Fire, School District 12, Adams County and our General Fund. It is not free money for you to waste on a very bad investment.

I would now like to address your parking problem, knowing that you have considered some options privately. You still have one option that you can control easily. Instruct the staff and developer to eliminate a parking ramp from further consideration. In November of 2004, Phil Nelson estimated a ramp would cost 3.5 million and have an amortized annual payment of $300,000. Now you are considering a ramp costing six million dollars. You, we, cannot afford it.

If you ever expect to get a return on the current investment, a parking structure is out of the question. Follow through on the scenario where the theater patrons and your future retail stores customers share a parking lot at different times of the day. Another option you could consider is to seek a partial variance from the parking regulations on a temporary, renewable basis if necessary.

In summary I ask you to take the parking structure off the table immediately and make your plan to recoup the present investment public in full detail. I would like to be better informed and I am sure others feel the same. You might also ask yourselves if your development plan will stand up to the scrutiny of the electorate. And, please do not tell me that NURA makes it own decisions. We both know better.

Thank you
May 23, 2006

Council Direction on Ballot Issues

2006-08-18T15:34:00.000-06:00

Last week the City Council members involved themselves in a social issue when they endorsed one of the fifteen ballot issues scheduled for the State-wide election this November. There are fourteen additional issues and only three of them will affect the operation of municipal government.

Referendum F modifies recall-election laws. Initiated Amendment 38 makes it easier to propose initiatives through out the State. Initiated Amendment 41 is intended to stop public employees from accepting gratuities. The remaining eleven are social and/or other issues unrelated to municipal government operations.

If the City Council wants to tell us the consequences of F, 38 and 41 from their standpoint, fine. But don't tell us how to vote on them and don't even comment on the other eleven issues. One mistake is enough and I have my own norms and mores just like you.

Three Updates

2006-08-11T13:48:00.000-06:00

Last night the City Council agreed to delay the scheduled first reading of the Radio Amplification and seven building code ordinances along with the Licensing of Contractors ordinance that I discussed partially on August 4th. The staff had planned on presenting them for a first vote on the 24th. The Council will conduct one or more Study Sessions before moving forward.

Because I flagged certain sections, some of our Council members and the City Attorney took a look at the proposals and influenced the Building Official to remove the atrocious licensing of homeowners. There are many more “difficulties” to be addressed in the ordinances but we all will now have an opportunity to participate in some thoughtful consideration of the nine ordinances. I thank the Mayor and Council for their action.

The future and condition of the Recreation Center building is back on the Council’s table. The initiated ordinance I wrote which forced the January 18th election in 2005 has come into play again. The Council wishes to move forward on some rehabilitation and additions to the building but knows that public input is going to be necessary. In the near future they will be discussing exactly what type of projects they wish to put before the voters. Pay attention to their agendas and give them your advice.

Last summer I urged them to conduct a detailed, comprehensive and accurate survey of residents and we offered to assist in the process. That idea hit a brick wall. On this go around they will be seeking input but you will have to come to them. They are still not going to come to you through a survey. I guess that this does represent some progress.

When they are ready to move forward I hope they will not try to be “clever”. By this I mean bury some hot buttons projects in with some questionable projects and force you to vote yes or no on THE package. You know, something for everybody. Take the good with the bad. Take it or leave it. I hope they will give us multiple choices in the ballot on all free standing projects.

Lastly, I would like to discuss the 120th and Grant development. Over the last couple of years the Council has acquired a lot of property between Webster Lake, the Recreation Center and 120th Avenue. They have used the General Fund’s revenues and a million and a half from NURA to finance the purchases to the tune of $7,386,983. It is expected that another undisclosed sum under one million will be used to acquire the Sinclair station. Add to that the $1,391,713 now being used to reconstruct the intersection of 120th and Grant plus other street work in the area. The total investment thus far is just over $9,500,000.

Because Century Theater remains on the table as of today, the land lease approved in 2005, needs to be factored in to the overall development. Incidentally, the work that is about to begin at 120th and Grant is required to meet a commitment the City made in the ground lease. As part of the deal, the City agreed to make up the difference in parking requirements for the theater; several hundred spaces. The construction of a parking structure WILL be necessary or else too much land will be unavailable for the desired satellite retail stores. To the nine million above, add in another $6,000,000 per City estimates. The total thus far is $15,500,000 and this does not include the cost of borrowing the money to repay the General Fund, the remaining yet to be determined costs required by the land lease and the $100,000 plus to demolish the station and shopette.

A Proposed Licensing Requirement on You

2006-08-04T08:39:00.000-06:00

In late July the Building Inspector presented nine ordinances related to building activities to the City Council for its consideration during August. One of them is titled “Licensing of Contractors”. It requires that all contractors working in the city be licensed in order to obtain building permits. This includes YOU unless you qualify for an exemption.

If you have the skills and wish to personally make any structural improvements to your home or building, you will not qualify for an exemption and you will need to test for and obtain a license. That applies regardless of whether or not you are an occupant or the owner.

For non-structural alterations or repairs, you can avoid the licensing requirement if the “value” of the improvements does not exceed the total of $1,000 per calendar year. What are non-structural alterations and repairs? Here are a few to get you thinking about your own situation: Replacement of a storm door, shingle repairs after a storm, installation of window awnings, insulation of a garage, construction of a shed or improvements to a patio, painting, re-installation of a hardwood floor, installation of new rain gutters, etc.

Here is the actual paragraph which establishes the criteria exempting you from the licensing as proposed by the building inspector. You are exempt if you are:

“An owner or occupant making alterations or repairs totaling less that $1,000 in any one calendar year to the building he or she owns or occupies, which repairs do not involve the structure of the building, if the owner or occupant furnishes all the materials.” [Section 10-18-2 (b) (2)]

For comparison, here is the exemption provision in effect in the City of Thornton: Section 10-116 (b) in part, “An owner performing work on such owner’s personal residence shall not be considered a contractor.” Note that there is no dollar or non-structural limitation.

Let’s say that our City Council adopts the ordinance and you have no choice but to obtain a license. Here are the requirements: Class B license, Annual fee of $100, Liability insurance policy in the amount of $500,000 and a passing score in a knowledge and skills examination yet to be devised by the Building Official. In addition, the Building Official may require you to furnish additional information with respect to your financial status. [Section 10-18-5 (c)]

Concerned about leaving a comment?

2006-08-03T13:56:00.000-06:00

Comments are always welcome and are read by myself and others. You will have an opportunity upon opening the comment entry screen to enter your name or chose Anonymous. The only way you will give your identity away is by using so many details that readers who already know you will be able to make an educated guess.

Please feel free and safe to leave comments at your pleasure.

Budget Process and Defects

2006-07-31T11:38:00.000-06:00

Each year the City Council adopts a budget and then sits back while the Staff ignores the priorities, allocations and restrictions. This has been the past practice for the last four years. The Council and Staff have been reviewing departmental requests in a string of Power Point presentations for the last few months. I am hoping that the Council will do an about face and establish some budgetary and oversight controls this year.

For example, the Council approved in theory the number of employees authorized for 2006. Earlier this year the Manager created and staffed 14 additional full-time positions without Council approval. The Manager was able to hire the additional people because the Council approved the various levels of staffing in informal Study Sessions but did not tie them to their budgetary approval.

Another example is the failure of staff to carry through with the capital improvements prioritized and formally approved in the budget. The Council approved almost five million dollars in CIP projects for 2006. Since then the Council has added another $2.5 million in projects to the capital improvement list for a current total of $7.3 million. One of the problems is that the priority projects in the CIP and other Funds have and been trimmed back or eliminated to make room for the supplemental additions. Meanwhile, the original list in the CIP has been left on the shelf. Below are the original CIP projects from the General Fund only as approved in the 2006 budget:

Street Overlay $400,000, Huron-104th-112th $450,000, 112th Widening $600,000, 104th/Huron Intersection $300,000, C. Center Dr. Improvements $400,000, School Flashers/Seed Radar $20,000, Jacobucci Land Purchase $186,700, FISS System $164,000 TOTAL $2,520,700

The street seals, not overlays, are now under contract. The Jacobucci land purchase at 112th and the railroad tracks has just been cancelled; fortunately. What else has been done as budgeted? Broken promises. You can check all the Council minutes and you will only find formal supplemental small projects that are funded from the operation budgets and the use of the Cash Reserve. The staff decided to not follow through on most of the CIP projects. They have passed along their reasons on some of them to the Council but only informally. Our Council has not taken the required formal action and has no intention of doing so; as normal. The approved 2006 budget is a sham.

I will be discussing the budget process and results in greater detail very soon. I will include some specific suggestions that will help the Council to reassume its long ignored duties in fiscal management. Hopefully, some of you will also provide the current majority of the Council with some backbone. We elected and expect the Council to be in charge and not the Staff’s puppet.

Comment Response

2006-07-28T15:13:00.000-06:00

Some comments on my last posting have advanced the theory that Ms Cullen was doing the Council a big favor by assuming the position of Interim Manager. Phil Nelson sent an email to all employees on the morning of Saturday February 11th. Just over 28 hours later, after conversing with the Mayor, Ms Cullen sent an email to all employees. You be the judge.

Date: Sun, 12 Feb 2006 21:01:07 -0700Subject: Message to all employees/To all employees,/By now you have probably had a chance to read Phil's letter that he emailedto you on Saturday./Although saddened by his decision to resign, I, and I am sure all of you,honor and respect Phil's decision and wish him well./I have accepted the responsibility of Interim City Manager while CityCouncil engages in their search process for a new City Manager forNorthglenn./I want to assure you that the City will continue to function with stabilityand surety during this time of transition. The Management andLeadership Team members are working extremely well together. We willcontinue to utilize this strong team approach to manage the City./We are currently finishing up with our work on 2006 Outcomes for eachService Center. These outcomes will serve as guide posts as we continuealong the path laid out by City Council's goals./The Mayor and I will meet with the Management Team on Monday at 10am.Following that meeting, I will ask each Service Center Manager to meet withtheir team to hear concerns and communicate what has been discussed./If you have any specific questions that you would like to ask me directly,please feel free to come and see me or send me an e-mail. I will publish myschedule for the week by the end of the day Monday so you will know when Iam in my office./Please know that I have a strong commitment to stability during this time.Please continue with all of your good work as you always have as we workthrough this transition./I have every confidence in our exceptional City Staff and I expect that we willcontinue to move forward together as we work to reinvigorate and bringeconomic sustainability to our City./See you Monday,Leslie

The "/s" in the paste were added to depict the orginal paragraph breaks in her email.

Interim Manager Resigns

2006-07-26T14:38:00.000-06:00

Interim City Manager Leslie Cullen has submitted a resignation effective immediately citing ongoing conflicts with some members of the City Council. Surprised? Leslie campaigned for the position privately and in a letter to the Council immediately upon Phil Nelson’s termination. Now that she has had a taste of what a manager goes through, she runs and blames others.

Check out my posting for February 24th for some background on Leslie’s abilities in the link to the Archives. The truth for her resignation lies in her inability to handle the position and her own ego. Some of our Council members simply didn’t genuflect sufficiently. There is an alternative reason for the resignation: Power Play. It will be interesting to see what is going on behind the scenes today and what comes out at the next meeting of the City Council.

A close side issue is the fact that she, along with the former manager, has ignored the Charter with regards to the relationship between the Council and members of the staff. Both of them dodged their responsibilities when it came to presenting information to the Council. They instructed the various department heads to take the point on staff recommendations at meetings and between them rather then represent the staff. This in itself has generated a lot of conflicts with many members of the Council and the staff. As expected, Leslie created an organization in chaos and lost the respect of her own personnel.

Fortunately Steve Zoet, will be taking the helm while the Mayor and Council continue to drag out the selection of a new City Manager. Steve has served the City long and well and will be a fitting Caretaker for the time being.

$1.3 Million Non-Budgeted Project

2006-07-16T16:24:00.000-06:00

The City Council is prepared to adopt an ordinance funding a non-budgeted project that you may wish to address at an upcoming public hearing. The project is long overdue but moving forward with it at the present time has some consequences as well as benefits.

I am speaking about the expenditure of $960,000 to reconstruct the 104th avenue trail and landscaping from the western city limits to Huron Street. The landscaping plan calls for grass, a large number of trees and the supporting watering system.

Funding is slated to come from the elimination of previously budgeted projects in the Adams County Open Space Grant, Conservation Trust Fund and General Fund plus the utilization of $114,912 from the General Fund Reserve.

When the ordinance was approved on first reading last week, three members of the Council opposed moving forward with the project this year: Lindsey, Paiz and Clyne. Major reasons given were the fact that the project is not budgeted, its high water usage, additional maintenance and the diversion of money from budgeted projects.

The budgeted projects being eliminated are: from the Open Space Grant; the Recreation Center FFE: From the Conservation Trust; West Marketplace Landscape and lighting, an additional project at the Recreation Center and a $33,000 reduction from the Citywide Beautification program. From the General Fund; the development reserve for financial software, upgrade of the Croke Reservoir aeration, reduction in city beautification and work at the Croke Reservoir.

Councilmember Garner asked the staff much earlier this year to eliminate the eyesore along 104th avenue in response to requests from residents. I criticized the current condition of the area last fall as well. Unfortunately, the timing of the project and the cuts suggested by the staff from other projects leaves me opposed to moving forward at this time.

In order to sell the appropriation ordinance to the Council, the staff tossed two additional projects into the ordinance that are also not budgeted and in addition to the costs specified above. For improvements at Wyco add $254,014 and J.D. Cayton add $54,821. Hopefully the school district will be a position to defray some of those costs. The strategy worked and the majority of the Council is ready to move forward after the required public hearing that you will be able to attend if you choose. Its your choice.

PolyCart FYI

2006-07-13T15:08:00.000-06:00

The City Council recently raised the price for polycarts to sixty dollars. Previously, they adopted a policy that they will require all resident to use them when 70% of the residents have voluntarily chosen to purchase the carts.

Because the existing refuse trucks only have a limited life span, you can expect the City to switch to one-man trucks with a mechanical arm as quickly as possible once the goal of 70% is reached.

I have observed that many residents, currently using the polycarts, are placing additional containers and bags out for pickup. When the City switches to the one-man truck you can expect this practice to stop. Whatever you cannot place in your polycart, will not be collected. You will have to store it until the ensuing pickup or purchase an additional polycart. I am referring to the quantity; not the nature of your items. It will be up to the Council to decide whether or not they will begin to charge an additional fee for a second cart at that time.

Because the City currently has a seasonal limit on the amount of refuse they will pick up for the basic fee, I predict that a per-polycart fee will be imposed.

Executive Session Abuse

2006-07-01T15:04:00.000-06:00

The Northglenn City Council appears to conduct business in the open but a review of the facts tells a different story. Secret Executive Sessions are where they really do the serious work.

During the first half of this year alone they held 14 secret sessions and did not give the public advance notice of the sessions in 5 instances. During all of last year they held 14 secret sessions and did not give you advance notice on 3 occasions. In 2004 they held 9 and did not give you advance notice 6 times.

The Charter recognizes that some matters need to be discussed in secret. It authorizes the City Council to meet in secret for the following reasons: Personnel, Claims against the City, Legal consultation, Litigation and finally, Deliberations in a quasi-judicial capacity.

In reviewing the agendas and minutes I have found that their most common reason for conducting executive sessions other than Personnel is “Legal, Contractual and Negotiations.” That is a quote. One of my former City Attorneys once told a City Council and me privately that, “If I am in the executive session, you can talk about anything you want.” Unfortunately that is allowed because it cannot be proven and only the integrity of our elected officials can stop the practice.

Earlier this year Mayor Novak raised hell with the members of the Council about leaks from executive sessions even though she was also involved. Leaks should not be necessary to keep the Council on track but they do serve as a deterrent to the misuse of the right to conduct executive sessions. Some of our national political figures have learned that the hard way.

It might be time to consider an initiated ordinance to reign in our Mayor and Council. Hopefully these suggestions will not make that necessary:

Twelve of the unannounced executives were called during the course of a meeting by Mayor Novak. No more!

Members insist that the purpose(s) of a proposed executive fit “narrowly” within the authority granted in the Charter. No more of, “but the attorney is present.”

Members refrain from the habit of “going along” with requests for executives unless it is absolutely necessary even if the issue might qualify for secrecy.

The City Attorney puts the source of his paycheck aside and starts to defend our right to know whenever possible.

Study Session Presentations

2006-06-29T15:34:00.000-06:00

At tonight’s study session, the City Council will be bombarded with major presentations covering Water, Sewer, Streets and other traditional public works issues. Capital expenses in the multi-millions will be tossed at them in a jam packed agenda.
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I laud the fact that this type of information is going to the Council well in advance of the budgeting process for 2007. Unfortunately the Council members will have a very limited time to ask questions but they will be held to their comments by the staff.
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I hope the aftermath of the meeting will not follow the same pattern as that of previous years. Each year the staff makes a major power point presentation and then uses it as a “We told you so” whenever the Council questions or objects to some future expenditure as the ensuing year progresses.
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I hope this year the Council members will remember that the generalized, global presentation is not tying their hands when considering the budget because they will hear “We told you so.” This staff loves to make a general presentation, ask if there are any comments and then slam in the details many months later. Don’t make one commitment until you see the fine print and associated costs.
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Another concern about tonight is that one of the presentations includes specific requests for funding during 2007. That is troublesome because of two reasons. First, the budget development process does not begin normally until mid-September when all requests are compared to needs, objectives and revenues. Second, there will be a new City Manager and tonight’s presentations could well be seen as a way to tie his hands if the Council is not careful. If the present staff could convince the Council to buy into some specifics now, it would only be human of them to resist changes.
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My suggestion is that the Council obtains the big picture and says thanks. No more.

Century Theater Update

2006-06-29T13:45:00.001-06:00

Time for an update. The first two paragraphs were previously posted.
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Time for Century Theater’s groundbreaking? The company has finally received all of the necessary building permits. Oh wait, the groundbreaking was scheduled, rescheduled and held during the City’s election campaigns last October. How many times did I state on this site between August and January that the ceremony was an election lie?
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Do you remember the selected developer for the area, Opus/Weinberg? They were subsequently fired by the City. But first, the City staff leaned on them and they agreed to pay the $8,000 in costs for the ceremony in advance. I wonder if there will be a payback during the Las Vegas junket. Contrary to the economic development speeches by Mayor Novak, Northglenn’s treatment of a nationally known developer will be remembered.
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At the NURA meeting held last night, June 28th, the City’s Economic Development Director Katy Press, updated the Board on the progress of the theater construction. According to the information she received from staff, the main disagreement with Century currently is caused by the incompetence of the engineering firm that is working on the infrastructure needed for the theater. J.R. Engineering is under contract to Century for a portion of the work.
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Here is the kicker. While blaming the engineering firm for the quality of their work, the City also has them under contract to reconstruct the intersection of 120th Ave and Grant St. Duh! The real problem is with some members of the staff working for J.R. Engineering. Hint: Former City employees are working for J.R...

Rick Davis Exposed

2006-06-29T08:47:00.000-06:00

Last night’s meeting of the urban renewal authority (NURA) had a little excitement that was not specifically on the agenda. The Board was scheduled to approve a relocation agreement later in the agenda with one of the tenants from the shopette recently acquired by NURA at 120th Ave and Community Center Drive. During the Public Participation agenda item the owner of the business address the Board.
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Since you might not believe what happened, you can listen for yourself by clicking on the title of this posting. It will take you to the official audio of the meeting. It is well worth your time because it is so typical of the experience other new business have received at the hands of Rick Davis.
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The shop owner told the Board that he was ready to sign the relocation agreement until the building inspectors’ swat team descended on him recently. He described in full detail the unprofessional “attack” made by Rick Davis and two lackeys when they were asked to look at the new tenant space he had leased.
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According to him, they used his equipment without asking, damaged his newly painted wall and misread conditions that existed above the ceiling tile. Two wires he was subsequently written up for were lying in the area but not connected to anything. He solved the problem after receiving the formal notice of violation by picking them up and placing them in the trash.
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His presentation was so real and sincere that the Board, following an executive session, voluntarily added a $2,000 maximum award to the relocation agreement to pay for the valid violations concerning a hole in a firewall and an exit light. The Board also asked Davis’s boss and personal friend, Interim Manager Leslie Cullen, to address his decorum and actions with him.
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You should also know that the tenant space that the owner had leased was located in an existing building that had previously been occupied. The new tenant was the victim of past errors by the city staff through no fault of his own.
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Finally, during the campaign last fall I ran into other new businesses that had ugly stories to tell about Rick Davis’s lack of knowledge and extremely overbearing behavior and ego. Finally, the word is out and the new City Manager, when hired, will hopefully rectify the situation. I will make sure he knows about it. After all, Davis has not passed the skills test necessary to be certified as a building inspector even though the former City Manager gave him the title of Chief Building Inspector.

City Manager Selection Process

2006-06-25T12:43:00.000-06:00

The search for a new City Manager is finally moving. The advertisement appeared in the International City Management Association’s Newsletter this month. The online version appeared just before the 12th and the mass mailing was delivered between the 20th and 21st. The deadline for resumes and applications is July 10th.
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The process that the City Council has chosen will probably not result in interviews until late July at the earliest. Theoretically, we could have a new Manager onboard by the first of September. I wish I could be optimistic about the end result of the process, but the direction in which the Mayor has taken the Council has tainted it.
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The use of a headhunter has and will continue to skew the process. As you are reading this, the headhunter is contacting over a hundred of his firm’s contacts and suggesting that they submit an application. The cronies are in the game plan and as such, favorites to be interviewed. Out of perhaps fifty candidates, the headhunter, not your Council, will choose five to be interviewed.
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Of course the individual members of the Council will be told who the other candidates are but they will be discouraged from even considering them. And, you can bet that the Mayor will make sure that only the consultant’s choices will see the light of day. During my career as a city manager I participated in selection processes using headhunters and not. I’ve been blessed and damned by both. I learned and observed that too often the outcome expected for a particular city depended on which consultant the city used. Not good.
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Lastly, why has the selection process taken so long? Answer: Phil Nelson did not have a new position until a couple of weeks ago and the Mayor had many debts to pay back. She stalled even initiating the process for many months in order to avoid harming his chances at securing a new position. When a city manager is seeking a different position, it is ten times better to be employed than unemployed. By not advertising the position, cities outside of the State were not aware that he had been sent packing. Fact: The members of the press in the metropolitan area he ended up in thought, from his resume, that he was still employed by Northglenn. I will go into the details a little later for those of you who have not been involved in City affairs.

Thistles Renewed

2006-06-16T19:21:00.000-06:00

In October 2005 I posted this picture and suggested that city staff remove the thistles. They were located outside of the Police and Council entrance to City Hall.

Last week I saw that they survived the winter. At the council meeting a citizen mentioned the thistles during the meeting. They are gone today at long last. Who says the Council doesn't listen. Embarrassment is the key.

Aquatic Facility Strikes Out?

2006-06-16T15:19:00.000-06:00

At last night’s Council Study Session, it was presented with an updated proposal by senior staff member, Steve Zoet, and representatives of the District Twelve School District concerning an Aquatics Facility. The proposal called for a joint venture between the District and the City for the area between the Recreation Center and City Hall.
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The full proposal is available as a Council Public Document on the City’s web site for the date of June 15th. I thank them for being open with the proposal. You can check it out in full detail because I am going to comment on it and the discussion that followed. You can also click on the title of this posting.
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Two options were presented: One for a 25 Yard by 25 Yard pool and the other for a 25 Yard by 50 Meter pool. The latter is far less common than the first. The price tag for the smaller pool, including on-site improvements, was $11,900,000. For the larger pool the price tag, including on-site improvements, was $18,200,000.
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The District offered to fund $5,700,000 for the smaller one, leaving the City with a capital cost of $6,200,000. For the larger one the District offered $10,000,000, leaving the City with a capital cost of $8,200,000. This is only part of the story.
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The School District had a few more requirements: 1) The District would have unrestricted and full access to the facility to accommodate their needs. It was anticipated that this would run for six months each year (November through May) Monday through Friday. Swim meets and other activities would also consume some of the weekends. 2) The City would have to provide the land and pay for all on-going maintenance and operation costs; indefinitely. Ouch!
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To the City Council’s credit, with only Mayor Novak and Councilmember Paiz absent, it was the consensus of the remaining seven that both proposals were not in the best interest of the City. I hope that the proposal does not surface a third time.
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Unfortunately, I have to add a negative to this posting. Following the recreation center election the Council adopted an ordinance stating that any future projects for the expansion of the center would have to go to the voters. Last night Steve Zoet suggested that the City could get around it by having the District construct the aquatic facility instead of the City. I am saddened but not surprised that this staff and its current leader, Interim City Manager, Leslie Cullen, would propose such an idea. Once again, thanks to the Council, their suggestion went nowhere.

Water Fund-Preserved and Restored

2006-06-16T12:48:00.000-06:00

I would like to thank you, the voters, the City Council and especially Rosie Garner for actions taken to restore and protect the Water and Sewer Utility Fund.
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As the author of the ballot initiative creating the Fund, I was pleased immensely with your overwhelming passage of the citizen initiative. You know what is right for our City when asked. Thank You!
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When the affidavit for the initiative was presented to the City Council, the majority led by current Mayor Pro-Tem, Rick Lindsey, agreed to submit the initiative to you without forcing us to gather a considerable number of signatures. The Council minority, on this issue, is also to be thanked for not campaigning against the ballot issue.
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A special thank you goes to Ward Four Councilmember, Rosie Garner, for recently initiating and advocating a resolution that paid the Fund back, in full, for the money that had been previously used to purchase land in the vicinity of the recreation center. Through the efforts of many Members the resolution restoring the money was passed unanimously. Thank You!

Congratulations

2006-06-10T07:49:00.000-06:00

I would like to congratulate the City for providing a complete audio recording of all meetings held by the council and the major boards and commissions. It is a service well worth the cost and effort.

Heads Up-Building Codes

2006-05-31T15:08:00.000-06:00

Go to the Council Agendas link on the lower right side and checkout the agenda for Thursday night, June 1st. The subject I would like to address is the International Building and assorted Codes.
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Throughout my career as a city manager I was responsible for recommending the content of the ordinances adopting the same Codes. You should think of them as National Laws with a small “l”. Professionals in the field prepare and revise them to address changes and procedures governing the construction of buildings and the safety of the public. They are designed as a Model for all governmental jurisdictions throughout the country. Adopting them as written for the entire nation is not expected or advised.
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Another reason for not adopting them as written is the need to compare each code to the present where one exists and another is to check for conflicts with existing local ordinances. The Municipal Code is full of restrictions on most aspects of our life and property such as the Code Enforcement regulations, the Zoning Code, the Subdivision Code and the various water, sewer and storm water regulations. The City staff should take months to prepare the City Council with some sound recommendations.
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In addition to a thorough internal review the staff would be wise to spend some quality time with the appropriate staffs of our neighboring cities. Why reinvent the wheel? Other Councils have approved many of these international model codes and revisions but only after picking and choosing certain paragraphs and chapters. I think this cross-check is critical at this time since our City does not have a Certified Building Inspector on the staff.
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Thanks to some careful thought, some members of our Council have put up a little fuss about Thursday’s agenda item as it was intended. The building inspector wanted to summarize all the International Codes and then ask the Council Members what amendments THEY wanted; believe it or not. And just how would our elected representatives know what changes to make in over one thousand pages? Hopefully, the “intent” of the presentation will be radically changed and the horse will get in front of the cart.
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I will follow up with the results as they occur.

Century Theater's Groundbreaking?

2006-05-19T16:27:00.000-06:00

Time for Century Theater’s groundbreaking? The company has finally received all of the necessary building permits. Oh wait, the groundbreaking was scheduled, rescheduled and held during the City’s election campaigns last October. How many times did I state on this site between August and January that the ceremony was an election lie?
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Do you remember the selected developer for the area, Opus/Weinberg? They were subsequently fired by the City. But first, the City staff leaned on them and they agreed to pay the $8,000 in costs for the ceremony in advance. I wonder if there will be a payback during the Las Vegas junket. Contrary to the economic development speeches by Mayor Novak, Northglenn’s treatment of a nationally known developer will be remembered.

Junket time in Las Vegas

2006-05-17T11:49:00.000-06:00

Las Vegas is a great place to host a junket. All the national retail companies and commerical developers gather there to strut their wares and promote their developing shopping centers. Since it is being held next week the City Council might have to cancel its second regular meeting in a row.

You see, we need to send three elected representatives along with the Chairman of NURA and two members of the staff. Westminister, Broomfield and Thornton are much larger and have scads of development opportunities but each of them is not as junket prone as our City. They will each get along with fewer representatives.

April 14th Correction

2006-05-17T11:39:00.000-06:00

In the April 14th posting a change is needed concerning the School District's pool proposal to the City. The amount of $5.7 million comes from the District rather than the City. The balance of the information is correct. My apology for passing along the error in the information I received.

A Challenge to Me

2006-05-11T19:29:00.000-06:00

A friend recently advised me that some residents have the opinion that my postings and letters about the City are nothing more than that of a sore loser. I did run for Mayor in an attempt to return the city government to its senses. My first attempt to change Northglenn was more successful when many of you joined with us in defeating the proposed major expansion of the recreation center at the polls in January 2005.

In August of last year I told you that our first choice of a candidate for Mayor was long term council member, Bill Goodspeed. I stepped in when he could not run. My efforts since the Summer of 2004 have been directed towards a return of normalcy in our city govenment. It is and will remain my reason for continuing this blog and my involvement in local affairs.

I have based my postings on the facts. If anyone feels that I have lead them astray, please leave a public comment for all to see.

City violates State law and gets caught.

2006-05-10T20:55:00.001-06:00

The City was served with a Cease and Desist Order on April 26th by the Colorado Department of Public Health and Environment’s Water Quality Control Division. The Division is empowered to levy a fine of $10,000 per day. This information was known by Mayor Novak two days before the last regular meeting of the City Council but did not share the information with her fellow elected officials.
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In August 25, 2005, the State issued approval for the expansion of the treatment aspects of the wastewater treatment plant beyond the original plant approval and stated that the Big Dry Creek Pipeline was not part of this approval. The City authorized the contractor to proceed in March. On April 13th a State representative observed the ongoing work in violation of the prior Approval.
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The staff, headed Leslie Cullen, contends that there was implicit knowledge of the effluent line by an employee of the State’s Water Quality Control Division. The employee no longer works for the State. The State met with the City staff and attorney on this issue last week and this past Monday. The Council has not yet been updated on the discussions as of this posting for a reason. The Mayor is out of town. Surprised?
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We already know that some on staff thought that some informal chats would take the place of a timely written application and the need for formal approval of the effluent line.
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The Interim City Manager, Leslie Cullen, has already admitted that due to a lack of experience she would have to rely on her “expert” staff. The Mayor was and is still wrong to have insisted that she be promoted to Interim Manager. A knowledgeable and experienced Interim City Manager would not have let this situation occur.
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In addition to possible major fines by the State, the City also has to contend with the contractor who was forced to stop construction activities. I guarantee you that he will be entitled to penalties, moving and setting up fees from the City. He could also successfully demand additional compensation for loss of work due to his inability to secure other work in the interim.
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I wonder what the true definition of a klutz, dolt, dullen, or pudden-head really is? Whatever; the City is top heavy with them and that includes the TOP.

Cullen ignores City Council

2006-05-02T16:24:00.000-06:00

At last week's meeting of the City Council, it was brought to the attention of all that the Public Relations firm reporting to the Interim Manager and Mayor had contacted representatives of the press for the purpose of criticizing some members of the Council.

Except for two members of the Council voting NO, the information was sufficient for the majority to cancel the contract effective immediately. Despite the Council action on the 27th, Interim Manager, Leslie Cullen, still had them working for the City (Her and the Mayor) today.

Ms Cullen is a shrewd, calculating egotist that still does not realize that she works for the full, nine member City Council.

Bond Issue in the future?

2006-04-24T16:25:00.000-06:00

What is it with the current leadership of our City? Their plans ought to chill you to the bone. The City and NURA already have $3.1 million invested in the property near the proposed theater. Now they want to spend another $2.0 million for the infrastructure to support it. They already gave them a twenty year land lease for $20. They also agreed to provide them with adjacent parking and are seriously considering expending $6.0 million for a parking ramp.
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In this year's budget they set aside $500,000 to repave and partially construct Huron Street. I made my opinion known concerning the street's substructure near Croke reservoir last year. In response they are now considering going far beyond the original project and throwing in some major improvements to the reservoir to the tune of NINE MILLION DOLLARS.
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On top of all this, a very clever School District and a not so sharp City staff took a proposal to the Council last week. How does this sound to you? City pays a lump sum payment up front in the amount of $5.7 million and an additional share of capital costs amounting to $2.7 million. Not generous enough? Try adding these provisions: School District always has first priority on usage. City pays all maintenance costs. City pays any future capital costs that might be required with the District only helping out on possible rehabilitation.
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Considering the fact the City overspent the General Fund by Eight million in 2003 and 2004, do you smell a bond issue? Blow the money on overhead instead of maintenance and improvements for three years, and then borrow? We need some citizen involvement since the leaders are so out of touch with reality.

Two Million Dollar Accounting Error Timeline

2006-04-17T17:25:00.000-06:00

Early in last year’s Mayoral and Council campaign I reported that the groundbreaking for the Century Theater was a hoax designed to solidify the incumbents’ effort to obtain re-election. It was; and it worked. Now it is time for me to expose another example of campaign deceit: The two million dollar accounting error.
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My sources for the following information comes from 1) Council members, 2) Article in the Sentinel dated March 2nd, 3) Letter in the Sentinel written by Finance Director, Brent Worthington dated March 16th, 4) The audio tape of the Council meeting held on February 2nd. The meeting of February 2nd is important because the members of the Council first learned of the error at that time even though the staff knew that a problem existed seven months earlier. (July/August) I will rely on the tape and power point presentation from that meeting heavily.
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1) In July 2005 the Finance Director noticed that the sales tax revenues were not following the pattern experienced in prior years. He claimed on February 2nd that he had mentioned it to the Finance committee in either July or August. He did not know the cause of the problem at that time.
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2) In October 2005 a new member of the finance staff determined that the new tax approved by the voters in November 2001 was not properly being allocated. The Finance Director informed the former City Manager who in turn informed the Mayor. A decision was made not to let the information out to anyone during the campaign; including “certain” members of the City Council.
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3) From mid-October until the City Auditor arrived in January of this year no action was taken by the Mayor, City Manager or City staff. Even though the cause, nature and effect of the $2,000,000 error were known, those in the know would not divulge the information to our elected Council.
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4) In January the Auditor agreed with the information presented to them and the release of the information to the Council was scheduled for February 2nd.
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At the meeting, the Finance Director was interrupted while presenting his power point presentation by a very surprised Mayor Pro-Tem and Finance Committee Chairman, Rick Lindsey. Rick asked why the Council had only been told about the error seven months late. He immediately received the following response from the City Manager, “We wanted to make absolutely sure that all the totals and figures and we also wanted to follow up with the auditors as to, if in fact there was an error, why they didn't catch it. wanted to make the totals viable for you." (Note: There is no claim that anyone on the Council had been told.)
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Immediately after the Manager’s statement, the Finance Director stated that he had a very good recollection that he mentioned the problem to the Finance Committee in July or August. He also admitted that the situation was not even an agenda item for the committee. Since this claim had been made in the Sentinel article and in Brent’s letter to the Sentinel, I’m going to make a guess as to what might have happened. Assuming that Brent had only determined that the sales tax was out of whack, I would not be surprised if he had said to the committee something like this as the committee adjourned. “I’ve noticed that something is not right in the sales tax compared to prior years but I’ll be checking it out and will get back to you.” This is only my guess. It might have happened, but it is contrary to the recollection of Rick Lindsey and I do know that he was completely surprised on February 2nd. Either way, the error when discovered, was kept secret and neither the Mayor nor any other member of the Council had anything to say during the meeting that might shed some light on the timeline.
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I cannot think of any legitimate reason our elected representatives were not informed of the error, in detail, last October.
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In the March 2nd issue of the Sentinel Mayor Novak commented on how she would like to use the “found” two million dollars in the General Fund, “This infusion of cash will help the Council get to its priorities faster.” I have a better idea. PAY BACK THE WATER FUND! Evidently, she has already forgotten the results of the November Charter Amendment that you overwhelmingly approved.

Why is the city staff out of control?

2006-04-08T07:34:00.000-06:00

I have come to believe that a unique culture at City Hall has contributed to the mistakes that the Council made over the past four years. The City of Northglenn has never been a partner with the other cities in the north metro area. It has been an island of thought and procedures. The current and past way of doing business seems normal to our elected officials. Councils have over the years given, by inaction, the City Manager more authority and discretion than any other city in the metro area. It was for this reason that the radical actions taken over the last four years by the former manager seemed normal to them. They had nothing to compare to and never bothered to check with other cities.
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You have often heard of Councils being referred to as the Policy Maker. That is a misnomer for Northglenn. Here are some policies and procedures they have not established: Personnel rules, regulations or procedures, pay plans or procedures, public bidding procedures, open meeting procedures beyond the basics required by Charter, a code of ethics governing employees and themselves, purchasing procedures for items costing under $50,000, a detailed budgeting procedure and process, fees for permits and reviews, the number of employees on the payroll and the establishment of water rates just to name a few. All have been left up to the discretion of the City Manager.
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Only in Northglenn! Is it no wonder the former Manager, without the formal approval of the Council overspent the General Fund by eight million in 2003-2004?

An Open Forum

2006-04-07T07:43:00.000-06:00

Since I learned of the recreation center project in July of 2004, I have been a constant monitor and critic of the City’s leadership. I am overdue in passing along some additional information. I have talked with most members of the Council and I can assure you that they sincerely believe that they are doing the right thing for Northglenn’s future. They do not have a hidden, sinister motivate for their actions. A very few of them have been self-serving on occasion but thankfully the public and their own consciences’ have served you well.
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It is time for you to get involved on a regular basis. The Mayor and her four believe that they are doing the right thing for the City and you, as does the other four who have expressed major concerns on various issues. I believe all would welcome your comments. Some of our elected representatives refuse to believe or recognize the fact that they may be out of tune with the residents and other cities. It is time to start providing them some feedback. I know they will listen. When I have passed along private information from current and former employees, I was told by some, “that they are just disgruntled employees” and promptly dismissed the information.
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To get things rolling, I have created an open Blog primarily for employees and residents to exchange ideas. Our elected representatives are certainly welcome to join in at any time. Anything goes as long as laws are not broken and the proper decorum is maintained. I urge you to call visit or email your representatives at any time. If you will click on the title of this posting, it will take you to the Council members' email and phone numbers. The Blog remains there for your use. http://www.northglennblackboard.blogspot.com/ Names optional!

Educating the City Council

2006-03-26T14:14:00.000-07:00

How much lower can the Mayor and Council’s respect among the residents decline? How many more examples of citizen repudiation lie ahead? When are the Mayor and Council majority going to realize that they have been going down the wrong path and wasting money for over five years?
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In January of 2005, the residents said no to the major expansion of the recreation center. This was quite the victory considering the Council used several articles in the Northglenn Connection, a prohibited “informational” flyer in the water bill and multiple articles in the Sentinel and metro dailies in an effort to sell the project.
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The residents spoke again last November when they overwhelmingly approved a Charter amendment creating a Water and Sewer Utility Fund and restricting its use to water and sewer purposes over the objection to the Mayor and her Council majority. You may remember that I proposed the Charter amendment because the Council purchased land for a proposed retail center using the water monies.
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At the same election the residents of Ward III defeated an incumbent seeking re-election who had been a major supporter of the recreation center project, the misuse of the water and sewer monies and the status quo. The incumbents up for re-election in the fall of 2007 should take heed of the message. So far, some have not, but they have time?
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Just last week, on the 23rd, another message was delivered to the Mayor and Council by the residents and business located in Ward I. A few members of the business community advised the residents in the area near 112th Ave and Irma Street that the City was going to adopt a resolution placing the non-residential area in an Urban Renewal Project Area. The community responded in force, packed the Council Chamber to overflowing and backed the Mayor and Council majority down.
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What do we have to look forward to today? There is one major conflict already in the works. You certainly haven’t forgotten the groundbreaking for the Century Theater in the proposed retail area between the recreation center and the North Metro Office building. They had to schedule it twice due to weather during last fall’s election campaign. The Mayor and her city funded PR firm wrote major articles for the Sentinel, the Denver Post and the Connection repeatedly.
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Last fall I posted several articles on this site and in the Sentinel revealing that the groundbreaking was an outright campaign lie because I knew that the construction plans had not even been submitted for review, let alone permits issued. As a member of the Board of Adjustment I also knew that the theater would be short hundreds of parking spaces. Add that to the parking requirements for the proposed adjacent retail and you are spelling PARKING RAMP and millions of dollars. The Mayor and her Council majority are going to try and sell you on the same fiscally irresponsible project they tried previously. The main difference will be the substitution of a new theater for the recreation center expansion project. You will hear a lot more about this in the near future.
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When will they start putting common sense and the residents first?

Layoffs Revisted

2006-03-18T16:24:00.000-07:00

PART ONE

Last December, I posted several articles concerning the 2004 layoffs by the City Manager. If you would check the December Archives and the last one dated 12/26/05 in particular, it will put this one in perspective.
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Recently one of the employees laid off contacted us because she was attempting to secure a part-time position with the City. Prior to the lay off she had served in the identical full-time position for over 15 years. When the Interim City Manager was asked about the City’s rehiring policy, she replied as follows:
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“We do not have any current policy regarding re-hiring. We currently hire the best candidate for the position. Experience in the city would be a factor in looking at the best person for the position. I know we have re-hired people in the past but we have no requirement to do so. It is based on what is best for the city and the best person available to fill the position.
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With this type of disregard for those laid off, three members of the Council have sponsored a resolution establishing a procedure addressing their plight. They are Susan Clyne, Sheri Paiz and Jim Miller. The resolution requires that such former employees be given a preference in seeking reemployment with the City. As a safeguard there are reasonable restrictions. The resolution will be considered at the Council meeting scheduled for Thursday March 23rd.

PART TWO

The reason for the 2004 layoffs has recently been in the news because they were mainly unjustified due to an accounting error that was just revealed to the public. I say recently because the staff, with the knowledge of a select few on the Council, withheld the information from the public until after the last Mayoral and Council election. I recently received an email that addresses this and other problems with the layoffs; including their true motivation. The following is hard hitting but valuable in that it is the truth and it helps to put the Interim Manager’s statement into perspective. I offer it with minor editing and some redactions.
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“The truth is that City Manager Phil Nelson saw the fund balance that had been developed over the years for the next rainy day( in retail sales) and went nuts over hiring staff until the finance forecast came back from Bob Eichem that the City could not afford the extra bodies. Yes, some of the forecast included the lost sales tax deposited in the utility fund but that in itself was not the cause of the massive layoff. It was Phil Nelson’s over hiring.
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Then came the choice of who had to go. Would it be the seasoned, loyal and experienced employees who didn't embrace the new philosophy or the new hires that were eager to be paid high salaries and follow the Nutcase to the Promised Land? The decision was easy and the old crew had to go. The "retirees" were given a simple choice, leave with a severance package or wait for layoffs and maybe get nothing. So seventeen good souls bailed because they wanted something for all their hard work and dedication plus they needed a financial assist to make it to the replacement job.
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Then, when the number of takers were not enough, next comes the orchestrated layoff of another selected group of seasoned and experienced employees so Phil Nelson could keep his over hires to kiss his feet. The Council, not aware of any of this, let Phil destroy decades of dedicated, hardworking, and experienced staff so as to have the new-hires follow him to the Promised Land.
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Now that the City has little depth of staff, no experience and has ignored the service needs of the community for several years, the Finance Director comes out to straighten the record on the layoffs. It's a bunch of xxxxxxxx! Good people have been screwed over by this and somebody needs to skewer the xxxxxxxx who did it, continue to hide it, and propagate the xxxxxxxx for daily consumption by misguided Kathie and her moronic followers.”
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I have been hitting hard on the senior staff at City Hall for two reasons: 1) Their direction and lack of knowledge and experience is adversely affecting the services we are receiving, and 2) The Mayor and her devotees on the Council have thus far refused to accept the truth or even look into the information I have presented. I personally know that they are absolutely convinced that all is well. Until present and former employees or you come forward anonymously or else wise, nothing is going to change until the election in November 2007 when hopefully Mayor Novak looses her devotees on the Council.

Community Vitality Center-#2

2006-03-12T19:44:00.000-07:00

The other very important area Curt Childress directs is the master planning, subdivision regulations, physical planning and zoning. There is a part-time employee on the staff currently that was laid off in 2004 despite 25 years of service to the City. Pat Breitenstein was forced out by the previous manager along with the other senior members of the staff. He served as the Planning Director, Planner and for a time Executive Director of NURA. Because of his practical experience he was brought back to write a difficult ordinance and has remained to conduct other activities; excepting planning and development. You will see why it doesn’t make much sense shortly.
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In 2005 they hired another planner who didn’t have all the skills and temperament they expected. He was cautious in the field and not flashy. He didn’t last long; unfortunately. Last November the Manager brought in Terence Quinn as the City Planner at the salary of $70,096. Mr. Quinn previously worked for the Denver Regional Council of Governments (DRCOG). He looked at and worked from a regional perspective. He does have a Master’s in Planning but local government detail is not his specialty. He did have one additional qualification. Our Mayor serves on the DRCOG Board and she was an informal reference.
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Mr. Quinn ran straight into the rigors of local government which includes a zoning ordinance, master planning, design review, permit applications, signs and subdivision regulations. Since he is either not qualified or experienced in these areas or too distracted, he immediately found that he needed help. Of course, he couldn’t utilize the knowledge of Pat Breitenstein, I guess, so he, Mr. Childress and our new Interim Manager, Leslie Cullen, entered into a consulting contract 12 days after Nelson resigned.
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For the tidy sum of $45,000 payable for services through mid-December, we now have a “practical” planner named Travis Reynolds. Guess where he used to work. Guess what his duties are? Did you say DRCOG and look at Mr. Quinn’s duties as listed in the previous paragraph. If you did, you are starting to understand how the present City leadership thinks; and pays.
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With a salary of over seventy thousand and a contract for a ten month period of forty-five thousand, we might start to get some services in the planning and zoning section of the Community Vitality Center for $115,000.
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Now we know Leslie Cullen is relying on Curt Childress who is relying on Terence Quinn who is relying on the ability of Travis Reynolds. (Sounds like the last posting; doesn’t it.) In the previous posting I pointed out that a contract employee, Becky Hogan is carrying the ball in economic development. Here we see that a contract employee, Travis, is carrying the ball in planning and zoning. It appears to me that we could do without Curt Childress ($76,662), Kay Press ($89,892) and Terence Quinn ($70,096); and contract all the work out. (-$236,650 plus benefits)

Community Vitality Center-#One

2006-03-11T17:22:00.000-07:00

In the previous postings I discussed the Community Vitality Center’s Director, Curt Childress. Economic Development is one of the primary functions of the Center. Its Director is Katy Press. Katy’s present salary is $89,892. When she was hired last year I reported on her abilities and experience as stated on her resume and application.
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If you ask any member of the Council they are likely to refer to her time with Safeway as a reference for her expertise. She was with Safeway from 1990 to June of 2000 as Real Estate Manager for the Denver Division. She does not state if she was “a” or “the” Real Estate Manager. After ten years with Safeway she left to work for the Catellus Commercial Group in Fort Collins and later Lakewood until November 2001. She did not state the reason for separating from Safeway but does report that she left Catellus because the “Development program” was eliminated.
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She formed a consulting company doing business in the retail development area in October 2001, and remained there until coming to the City last fall. I do not believe the Council has inquired as to why she left Safeway for a lesser position in Fort Collins and then into the traditional “consulting business”. Evidentially she doesn’t have something to carry out the duties of her position with the City. The City just entered into a contract with another individual to do the actual work. I do not have the details of the contract yet but I understand from a close professional friend not connected to the City that the person is very qualified.
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We are now spending over $138,000 a year for economic development personnel. Unfortunately the emphasis is on the Mayor’s retail area near the Recreation center and the proposed theater and not the preservation of our existing retail. That leads me to the past. I have not talked with the following individual concerning this or any other posting and he does not know it is being written.
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For many years our economic development was the responsibility of Jerry Starling. Since he is still on the payroll but anticipating retirement currently, I would like to remind all of his accomplishments. He played an instrumental role in a few developments: The Marketplace, Washington Point (Albertson’s), Fox Run subdivision, Applebees, Red Lobster, Boondocks, Registry Apartments, Karls Farm Store, PrideMark Homes, Centex Homes, Townhomes at 112th/Huron and the Irma Business Park Development. I do not think retirement was in his plans until Phil Nelson and his people arrived; at least, as of 2000. I personally do not believe that Katy Press and her new contract employee, Becky Hogan, are the answer we need now. Buy two for one?
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Now we know that Leslie Cullen is relying on Curt Childress who is relying on Katy Press who is relying on the ability of Becky Hogan. Why? Since the City is also spending $5,000 a month for the PR firm that is handling the Mayor’s and Leslie’s problems, I’m sure we will find out why.
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The next positing will discuss the Planning, Zoning and Community Development portion of Childress’s Community Vitality Center and who is really doing the job.

Curt Childress-Part Two

2006-03-11T13:19:00.001-07:00

Let’s discuss Curt Childress’s good points before going on. He was born and raised in Iowa; as was I. He obtained his Bachelor’s degree at an Iowa university. I obtained both of my degrees at a different Iowa university.
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Mr. Childress has a very professional presentation of self. He can and does hand out a line that is amazingly convincing. One would never guess that it is sound and fury hiding a lack of knowledge while pontificating. He is however not unique. The former Manager also surrounded himself with individuals possessing the same knowledge and verbal skills.
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The thing that is really worrisome is the fact that our elected members of the Council are not aware of the information I am presenting and the majority of them have not demonstrated any desire to critique or seriously question the staff about their recommendations. I know that part of their apprehension comes from frequently tongue lashings by the Mayor; about not showing the staff the loyalty it is due.
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During a further review of Mr Childress’s resume I found where he listed a civic position: President/CEO and Chairman of the Board of Directors for the Allentown Road Volunteer Fire Department. The period was from 1999 until he came to the City. I located their web site and reviewed the Department’s section on its history. It lists all former Chiefs and Presidents. Mr. Childress is not on the list. Enough said. Go to http://www.allentownroad.com/ and click on the History link. Just before the pictures at the bottom you can check for yourself.
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Enough with the diversion. In reviewing Mr. Childress’s resume and application he does not claim any experience in supervising or managing employees or any knowledge in the disciplines that he is currently directing. One would think that would be a prerequisite. It wasn’t a consideration because the former Manager needed someone to be in charge of the new Centers that Leslie Cullen created while a consultant. Mr. Childress, giving him credit, has excellent skills as a salesman.
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As I pointed out in the start of the last posting, Mr. Childress is primarily in charge of Economic Development, Planning and Zoning and Community Development. All of this is expected from a landscape architect with no management skills or knowledge in any of the disciplines. It goes to demonstrate the foolishness of the current City organizational structure created by the Interim City Manager.
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If Ms. Cullen is relying on Mr. Childress to have the expertise, and we know he doesn’t, the question is, where we will find the employees that know what they are doing. I will shed some light on that in the next posting.

Curt Childress-Part One

2006-03-09T17:45:00.000-07:00

Mr. Childress is the Director of the Community Vitality Center for the City. In the organizational scheme developed by the former consultant and current Interim City Manager, Leslie Cullen, this Center replaced some of the departments you might have been familiar with in the past: Economic Development, Community Development, Special Projects, Community Planning and planning for the physical development of the City.
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Ms. Cullen informed us in the last issue of the Sentinel admitted that she does not have a lot of experience in the field of city management but that she will rely on the staff. In her statement to the Sentinel she said, “You need to have people who you trust and who are experts in their fields give you the technical information you need to make informed decisions.” Let’s just examine the “expertise” of Mr. Childress in his area of responsibility as taken from his application and resume.
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In 1994, he obtained a Bachelor’s degree in Landscape Architecture from Iowa State University. His career began in the State of Virginia as a Landscape Designer/Estimator for a private firm. Upon leaving them, his next position in Virginia was as a Cashier in a Gourmet store which was in addition to his four month position with another firm as a Landscape Designer. That covers his first two years.
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In March 1996, he took a position as a Landscape Specialist with a firm in the State of Maryland. A year after taking this position he became a Landscape Specialist for the Maryland Highway Administration. Two years later he went back to the private firm he had previously left as an Environmental Analyst. Eight months later he went back to the Maryland Highway Administration as an Environmental Analyst III in October of 1999. He worked for them until coming to Northglenn in October 2001 as a Landscape Architect. He served in that position until late in 2005, when he became our Community Vitality Center Director.
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I’m going to finish this phase of the report with one additional item from his resume and application. He has been the owner of Metropolitan Landscape Design Inc./ Gro Team since 1992. Yes, two years before he obtained his Bachelor’s degree. His Maryland company existed during the time he was in Iowa and Virginia as well as Maryland. While I can admire his spirit, it does not belong as an entry in his Employment History.
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I will be commenting on his lack of expertise in the area that he directs more this weekend. Since he does not have the expertise Ms. Cullen is counting on, I will be reporting on the expertise of the individuals that Mr. Childress is relying on. We will then come to the sad end. For now, please refer to the first paragraph.

A CUNNING PAIR: NOVAK/CULLEN

2006-02-24T14:02:00.000-07:00

Under the Mayor’s leadership the City Council has promoted the Deputy City Manager, Leslie Cullen, to the position of Interim City Manager. The manner in which she even obtained the position of Deputy smacks of cronyism. Ms Cullen has been an employee of the City since last July. Prior to then she was a consultant who took in $300,000 serving the former Manager through a series of contracts.
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In a posting and a letter to the editor last fall, I decried the organizational restructuring of municipal operations that saw the elimination of all departments as we know them. At a recent meeting, the Parks Board was so confused with the new structure that they asked their Council representative to try and find out who was their liaison with the staff. Or, who is in charge of parks? The new structure was devised by Ms Cullen while serving as a consultant.
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On July 6, 2005, the former Manager implemented Ms Cullen’s new organizational structure. The position of Deputy had been held by Karen Skifalides until July 1, 2005. Concerning the position of Deputy he stated, “I plan on trying something different in that the position will be filled on an interim basis by people that will be working on projects that will be short term in nature, but will involve the continued evolution of our organization for the future. People who fill the position will come from inside and outside of the organization, and will hold the position for a time that will be specified by a contract.”
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I can hear the Mayor and her oligarchy saying, enough of that, we want Leslie Cullen on staff. Ms Cullen began as Deputy on July 25th. Proof of that lies in the fact that the outgoing Manager recommended that Ms Cullen NOT be appointed as Interim Manager.
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Ms Cullen is an academic and global thinking expert that probably wouldn’t know the difference between a water and sewer line. After listening to her at the Council meeting of February 24th, she proved my point. I have been assured that she is very nice and pleasant to be around, unless you work for her, and that she is very good in her field; which isn’t municipal operations. I also have seen that she can talk you ear off and not miss one buzz word.
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In her own words she describes her qualifications as follows: “I have a proven track record in producing turnarounds that have caused substantial change. In working with Northglenn as a consultant, I became very connected to the Vision of the ‘New Northglenn’. I believe that I will be able to move this vision to reality as an internal with my other employee partners at an accelerated rate.” For more of her own comments and those of her sponsor, Mayor Novak, you should read the cover story in the February 23rd issue of the Sentinel. Yes, she has a law degree but has not practiced for years.
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Ms Cullen started her career as a registered nurse in 1980. In 1986 she received a law degree and worked for two firms until 1992. From 1992 to 1996, per her resume or 1997 per her application she was a partner in a firm that consulted with law firms in the area of strategic planning, organizational change, marketing and client relations. From 1997 to 2000 she worked as a consultant with a firm specializing in “large scale organizational change projects” for the pharmaceutical and biotech industries.
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Now her work experience becomes somewhat confusing. Her resume and application states that from 2000 to 2004 she operated her own business, Collaborative Solutions, as a business strategy consultant. Her resume states that from 2003 to 2005 she also worked for Sirna Therapeutics as a Vice President in re-organizational activities but her application states that she was there from 2004 to 2005. At the same time, her application states that she was Vice President for Mines and Associates from 2003 to 2004 but the position doesn’t appear on her resume.
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It is obvious she has considerable experience in going into companies and selling them innovate packages of organizational modifications. I do not believe that she has the knowledge or experience to manage a city’s operations as Deputy Manager, Interim City Manager or Manager based on her resume, application and public statements. I can assure you that if the position of Deputy had been advertised in a professional city management newsletter, she would not have met the minimum qualifications necessary to even apply.
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And now for the saddest part. Mayor Novak and her oligarchy will do everything possible to make Ms Cullen our new, permanent Manager. They will go through a recruitment process for a Manager but it will be a dog and pony show for your benefit. Only you can ensure that a legitimate process will be conducted and a professional manager employed.