Monday, November 28, 2011

Striking a Balance: Public Comments & Assembly Debate

Every decision the Assembly makes should be informed. Borough staff and Assembly members themselves attempt to provide information pertinent to each decision. Members in the community are also welcome to inform the Assembly. When information is submitted to the Clerk, according to the published schedule, that information is included in the "meeting packet." The packet is then made available to everyone, members of the Assembly and the public alike, through the Borough website. Check out the meeting packet for the November 29 meeting here. Careful. It's 185 pages long!

Another way to inform the Assembly is to rise and speak in public. There are public comment periods at two places in every regular meeting agenda; as well as extra opportunities prior to Assembly decisions regarding ordinances. There is one public comment period on the agenda for the special meeting November 29. And that brings me to the core of my topic: striking a balance between public comments and internal Assembly debate.

When many people wish to rise to inform the Assembly during a meeting, time limits have to be imposed, for one simple reason: the Assembly itself also needs quality time to make a decision. The only place the Assembly can make a decision is in public. The only place and time Assembly members can confer with one another - persuade, and be persuaded by one another - is during a properly noticed public meeting.

I agree that time limits, especially when making an effort to communicate, can feel arbitrary; dismissive even. I don't like them, but one part of my job is to facilitate Assembly decision making; and one way to do that is to protect the time the Assembly needs for its deliberations. So the time limits I impose (or not) November 29 will depend on the number of people in the audience who wish to speak. My motivation for doing that is to divide a 2-3 hour block fairly between the information the audience wishes to convey and the need for the Assembly to consult with itself and arrive at a position. I hope to strike an acceptable balance. Please let me know how I do.

Saturday, November 26, 2011

Friends of the Libary


The Friends of the Library invited me to light the star on the top of the tree at the Library Friday evening. I was thrilled and honored. The Library was packed. The tree is so huge and so full of lights that star at the tippy top is honorary, but of course, necessary.

As are the Friends of the Library - necessary to the vibrancy of the Haines Borough Public Library. The Haines Borough Library has a paid staff - but that staff has the added benefit of the support of a volunteer group whose only mission, according to President Sara Chapell is to "say YES to the library." It sounds like a very nice way to create a positive work environment and it goes without saying, though I'll say it, positive employees are productive employees. The Friends are a 501-C-3 non-profit organization. Click here for specific information about the organizational structure of the Friends of the Library.

The Lighting of the Library is one of the Friends biggest fundraisers. Last year the Friends contributed $9000 to the Library's budget. The Friends pay for the Summer Reading Program - staff salary as well as those motivational prizes that encourage our kids to read, read, read. One of the most important items in the Friends budget is grant writing. Grant writing, funded by the Friends, brought in $150,000 over for FY11 and FY12. This year, the Friends also paid for a gardener to maintain the landscaping around the library. Friends also contributed to the cost of landscaping around the new totem pole. Though this year a State grant is funding the APT charge for internet usage over the allowable amount, in years past the Friends have absorbed this cost. We could all use a Friends Of.... (you fill in the blank!).

Thursday, November 24, 2011

Happy Thanksgiving!

It's nice to have a day dedicated to gratitude. Like all special days, it has "shoulders:" events before and events after. Tuesday the Haines High School cooking class sponsored a feast for high school students and their parents. Friday Haines businesses are offering special holiday opportunities to consumers and we will light the tree at the library - kicking off the season of camaraderie and lights. These events and more are the result of countless acts of individual creativity and energy, for which I am deeply grateful.

I played a small part in a specific event on Tuesday that, for me, illustrates the basic affection we have for one another and for creatures large and small. The Downtown Revitalization Committee meeting was just getting started at the Rusty Compass when committee member Brenda Jones came through the door cradling a kitty. She found the young animal lying in the dark on the highway about 4 mile. She said that when she stopped she didn't know what she was stopping for. A wild animal? An owl? It turned out to be a crushed, yet alive, young cat. She didn't hesitate. She scooped it up and drove to town. Did we know of anyone who could help?

As it happened, I was meeting hopping that evening and I knew that Steve Vick, executive director of the Haines Animal Rescue Kennel (HARK) and the Chair of the Assembly's Standing Committee, Government Affairs & Services, was about to convene a meeting elsewhere. We rushed over just before Mr. Vick convened his meeting and begged for a delay. Steve examined the kitty; Brenda suctioned out its nasal passages. The kitty was boxed into a nest, Brenda returned with the kitty to her meeting, Steve to his - and the beat of the borough went on, though we all wondered if the kitty would live through the night.

Wednesday morning Brenda emailed that she had named the kitty "Hope," and that "Hope was still alive." I loved that sentiment. One of the definitions, though considered archaic, of "hope" is a "feeling of trust." Haines is a place I trust. As my six-year old son once said, "Haines is a place where everyone takes care of everyone else," and we might add, "anything else." The story of Hope is one small illustration of the many acts of kindness performed by everyone of us.

I am perennially grateful for the borough I live in and I appreciate this special day to set aside time to celebrate it. Happy Thanksgiving!

Sunday, November 20, 2011

Part 2: Meetings, Meetings, Meetings...

Two committee meetings, a special Assembly meeting, and a field trip were scheduled during the November 15 meeting. All meeting times and places are published on the Haines Borough website. But here's a little more information to whet your appetite for your government at work!

Tuesday, November 22, 6 PM: The Haines Borough Government Affairs & Services (GAS) Committee will meet in the Assembly Chambers to discuss the Chilkat Center management agreement between the Haines Borough and Lynn Canal Broadcasting. The Haines Borough provides space to KHNS in return for Center management services. The scope of services are laid out in a memorandum of understanding (MOU) originally adopted December 13, 2005. Lynn Canal Broadcasting, in a letter to the Haines Borough April 18, 2011, indicated a desire to return management to the Borough. The Committee is composed of Assembly members Steve Vick (Chair), Debra Schnabel, and Daymond Hoffman. The Committee may vote to recommend a course of action to the Assembly. The Mayor and other Assembly members may attend in an ex-officio capacity but they do not vote.

Tuesday, November 29, 6 PM: The Haines Borough Assembly will convene in a special meeting to take action on the opportunity to comment on the application for a preliminary permit from the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) by Goat Lake Hydro, Inc. for a hydroelectric project at Connelly Lake. The comment period for this application has been extended to January 3 due to an error in the notification process. During the November 15 Assembly meeting, the Assembly unanimously agreed to take the opportunity to consider a comment.

As Mayor, I have taken the liberty of inviting Bob Grimm, president of Alaska Power & Telephone, or his representative to explain the application or to answer questions specific to the application from members of the Assembly. Following information from the applicant, there will be an opportunity for the Assembly to hear public comment.

Given the potential complexity of the issues, I recommend that comments be provided to the Assembly in writing prior to the meeting - if possible. Comments can be sent electronically to the Borough Clerk through the Haines Borough website. Depending on the number of people who wish to comment to the Assembly in public, I may ask that speakers adhere to a 3-minute time limit.

Following public comment, the topic returns to the Assembly. In order to discuss an Assembly comment, a motion will need to be made and seconded. That will open Assembly debate. Since members of the Assembly cannot discuss topics outside of a meeting, proposed ideas (in the form of a main motion) are often amended. The process can get confusing, so I've been studying! Bear with us. Motions and their amendments are the mechanisms through which an Assembly, working under Robert's Rules of Order, crafts its actions.

Just because the process is complex, the Assembly has agreed to decide on the elements of its comment at the November 29 meeting and then review its comment at the Regular December 13 meeting. There is no rush, so the Assembly can take the time to double check the language of its comment before it is sent to FERC.

Wednesday, November 30, noon: Facilities Field Trip/Ports and Harbors. The Manager will conduct a field trip for the Assembly and for the public to examine infrastructure. The first trip will take in Ports and Harbors: Lutak Dock, Small Boat Harbor, Port Chilkoot Dock, and Letnikof Cove Dock. Check on the Borough website for details.

Tuesday, December 6, 6:30 PM, Committee-of-the-Whole: Solid Waste Management. On November 15, the president of the Chamber of Commerce, asked the Assembly to consider mandatory garbage collection in the Borough. The Assembly moved to meet to discuss the solid waste disposal issue. Any vote of the Committee-of-the-Whole is advisory to the Assembly. The Assembly can only take action in a Regular or Special meeting. The next regular meeting of the Assembly is December 13.

Wednesday, November 16, 2011

Assembly Meeting Highlights - Part 1

The Assembly met at the leading edge of last night's snow storm. Now we are all snowed in. Unfortunately all my notes are 1/4 mile away at the top of our road where I judiciously parked my car about 10:30 last night. No doubt, it is now under feet of snow. Many thanks to Assembly member Daymond Hoffman who fearlessly led the way home last night - his tail lights only disappeared in swirls of snow a couple of times.

Please note that these are unofficial and incomplete highlights. I will add to this list. More importantly, Haines Borough Clerk, Julie Cozzi, will present the draft of the minutes of the meeting for final approval to the Assembly at the next regular meeting December 13, 2011. The approved minutes represent the official record of the Borough.

Proclamation of Appreciation for Mayor Jan Hill
We delivered a proclamation of appreciation to Mayor Jan Hill via telephone. Jan phoned in from Juneau where she is involved in interviews for a new SEARHC president. In appreciation of her many years of service to the Borough and to the community, we presented her with a silver bracelet carved with a Wolf design by Jenny Lyn Smith. Jan's sister, Sue Folletti, accepted the gift on Jan's behalf.

Fisheries
We held the first public hearing for Ordinance 11-10-273. Assembly member Schnabel amended the ordinance to show that the Raw Fish Tax came in $24,851 over the amount budgeted and that $15,000 would be appropriated from that fund to hire an independent fisheries analyst to review Alaska Department Fish & Game data and management practices to investigate the relationship, if any, between ADFG data and management, and the ever declining stocks in the Chilkoot and Chilkat watersheds. The analyst will prepare the report and present it to appropriate local, regional, and state boards. The appropriation was requested by the Northern Lynn Canal Gillnetters Association. The analyst will be under contract to the Borough. The amendment was passed and the Ordinance was moved to its second public hearing December 13. At that time, the Assembly may amend, adopt, or otherwise dispose of the ordinance. All ordinances of the Haines Borough must have at least two public hearings before adoption.

Improved Ferry Service
The Assembly unanimously adopted Resolution 11-11-316 which 1) reaffirms Assembly support for improved ferry service rather than the East Lynn Canal Highway, previously expressed in two resolutions (04-04-042 and 07-11-116); and 2) supports the recommendations of the Marine Transportation Advisory Board, specially emphasizing the deployment of Alaska Class Ferries while making sure that public transportation is provided to support walk-on passengers if a Berner's Bay terminal is constructed. The resolution will be sent to Andy Hughes, Planning Chief for the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan, Governor Sean Parnell, Senator Albert Kookesh, and Representative Bill Thomas.

Haines Port Steering Committee
The Assembly adopted Resolution 11-11-317 redesigning the Port Steering Committee so that it conforms to Haines Borough Code 2.60 which requires member of Haines Borough committees to be residents of the Borough. The committee is now composed of 8 members: 6 of whom have been appointed: Scott Hansen for the Chilkoot Indian Association, Roger Maynard for the Planning Commission, Fred Gray, Michael Ganey, and Assembly members Joanne Waterman and Debra Schnabel. Four seats are designated for individuals with working knowledge of port facilities development, transshipment logistics and marketing. Mr. Gray and Mr. Ganey hold two of the four seats. Two seats are vacant and the Borough is continuing to solicit letters of interest.

Planning Commission Appointments
The Mayor's appointment of Danny Gonce to the vacant seat on the Planning Commission was unanimously approved, as was the re-appointment of Planning Commissioners Andy Hedden and Donny Turner.

Saturday, November 12, 2011

November 15 Assembly Meeting: The Consent Agenda

The agenda for Tuesday night's meeting, as well as the packet of materials, is posted at the Haines Borough website. Click here.

The Agenda is lengthy; the packet is large. An Assembly, or any board for that matter, uses a consent agenda to free up anywhere from a few minutes to a half an hour for discussion of more substantial items. Consent agenda items are items that routine procedures and are adopted by unanimous consent. The Haines Borough uses a star (*) next to an item to show that it is on the consent agenda.

When the Assembly approves the full agenda, it also approves those items on the consent agenda all together without making individual motions for each item.

Nonetheless, all the items on the consent agenda are included in the Assembly's packet and in the packet available to you - the public.

This month's consent agenda includes minutes of past meetings, reports, resolutions, and two liquor license renewals.

Two resolutions pertain to change of signatories. The Assembly is required to adopt resolutions authorizing and designating persons to sign checks and as signatories for certain borough accounts. When elected officials change, new resolutions naming the newly elected officials, have to be adopted. The Clerk and I have put these "housekeeping" resolutions on the consent agenda (Resolutions 11-11-313; 11-11-314).

Another resolution, Resolution 11-11-315, is required by the state in order to receive fish tax revenue. The form is stipulated in state law (AS 29.60.450). This resolution is also on the consent agenda.

Two businesses are applying for the renewal of their existing liquor licenses: The Fireweed Restaurant and the Hotel Halsingland. The Alaska Alcohol Beverage Control Board notifies the Borough of pending liquor licenses renewals. The local government always has the option to make a statement. This item is on the consent agenda. By passing the consent agenda, the Borough indicates that it has no need to make a statement relative to these two licenses.

Staff and facility reports, including the Manager's report, are also on the consent agenda. The packet includes the Manager's report, the CFO's FY12 First Quarter General Fund Financial Report, the Public Library's Director's Report, and the Tourism Advisory Board minutes. Action items associated with any of these reports will always occur in the New Business section of the agenda and are not included in the consent agenda.

If any member of the Assembly asks for an item to be removed from the consent agenda, then it must be removed. The presiding officer will then assign the removed item to an appropriate section of the agenda.

Friday, November 11, 2011

Veterans' Day 2011

The veterans of the Chilkat Valley were on my mind as I, along with as many Alaskan Mayors, toured Eielson Air Force Base Tuesday. I loved seeing the planes, but most of all I loved being in the company of the Air Force and Army men and women. It was natural to say, “Thank you for your service,” and humbling to hear in return, “Thank you for your support.”


The Mayors went primarily to gain an understanding of JPARC (Joint Pacific Alaska Range Complex) as well as an understanding of the impact of military spending on the Alaskan economy.


JPARC is recently in the news because the U.S. Army and U.S. Air Force are preparing an Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to analyze potential environmental consequences associated with the proposed modernization and enhancement of ranges, airspace and training areas in the existing JPARC. For details about the proposal and to learn how to get involved go to JPARC EIS.


What I did not realize was that defense spending in Alaska accounts for 60,500 of the 357,000 jobs in Alaska or 17%. That’s more than the 52,000 jobs related to petroleum production.You can find the Executive Summary and a power point of this information in the report What Drives Alaska's Economy? at the Institute of Social and Economic Research.


Quite a few of the officers who addressed us at Eielson Tuesday mentioned that they were near to retirement. Potential retirees said that they hoped to stay in Alaska because Alaska has come to feel like home.


Representative Bill Thomas heard this sentiment and so he went to work last legislative session. Representative Thomas, himself a Veteran, secured a $500,000 grant for a feasibility study to site a Veterans’ Home, especially for those who need assistance as they age, right here in Haines. Though we don’t need a veterans’ home to celebrate Veterans’ Day, I can imagine that the day we open the doors in Haines will be a grand celebration indeed.


Thank you for your service!

Thursday, November 10, 2011

Another Way to Deal with Sludge


With Scott Bradford's experiments with our own sludge in mind, I arranged to tour the Fairbanks Wastewater Treatment plant just before dawn Wednesday. (That was 8 AM here!)

Sludge is what is left after as much water as possible has been extracted from sewage. It has value, if properly treated, as a soil amendment. Treatment requires combining it with sufficient carbon and air so that it heats up thus killing any pathogens. Scott has treated sludge on a small scale producing vital compost. He tests it every which way to confirm that it is free of toxins, and by the way, it smells great.

Fairbanks, according to the plant operator, has the only installation in the state, and maybe the country, that treats 100-foot long windrows of sludge. I had to see it.

Once sufficiently de-watered, the operators use front-end loaders to mix sludge with large wood chips. Next it is laid down in 5-foot high 100-ft. long piles. The pile is fed with as much air as required through a blower system. Temperature probes are inserted. The pile is "done" after it maintains 131-degrees F for 3 consecutive days. There is no external source of heat. Biology does the trick. The piles "work" year round, despite deeply cold Fairbanks winters.

The piles are built on asphalt pads designed to capture any leachate from the "cooking" sludge and direct it back into the plant for treatment. The Fairbanks plant is a secondary treatment plant and delivers its effluent back into the river.

In the spring, gardeners and landscapers arrive with pickups and take away the sludge-turned-compost for $10 a pick-up load. And soon, after the cabbages, carrots and lettuce are harvested and consumed...the process begins all over again.

When this innovation was introduced in the late 90s, Northland Lumber was looking for a way to dispose of its chips and was delighted to deliver chips for free. However, now that the value of the chips is apparent, and the need determined, Northland dedicated equipment and time to harvesting trees just for chips. The treatment plant now buys chips, but in the process a small local industry has been created.

The large chips are screened out of the compost and used by the plant over and over again.

As we examine our own wastewater treatment system, I think a road-trip to Fairbanks might be in order!

Tuesday, November 8, 2011

Alaska's EAS Test Cancelled Due to Storm in Western Alaska

According to David Lee, with the Alaska Division of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, officials have cancelled the November 9 EAS test Alaska due to the big storm bearing down on Western Alaska tonight.

Because Alaska is such a small "big" state we probably all know someone who is going to be affected by the storm. Right now I am thinking about the little town of Gambell whose newly elected Mayor is here in Fairbanks, cut off from her town and anxious, but hopeful that between the emergency preparedness meeting held before she left for Fairbanks and the leadership of the vice Mayor, all will be well.

EAS Test Wednesday, November 9

Tomorrow, at approximately 10 AM, there will be a first ever nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) conducted by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

The Borough received a letter explaining the test from the State of Alaska Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. The November 1 letter explains that the test will last about 3 minutes and will involve "broadcast radio and TV stations, cable television, satellite radio and television services and wire line providers..."

The purpose of the test is to test a system that will "...enable the President of the United States to address the American public during extreme emergencies."

The public is encourage to provide feedback about the test through a web site that will be available tomorrow, November 9. The web address is http://ready.alaska.gov/test.

The Alaska Homeland Security and Emergency Management also wants to take advantage of this test event to remind us that everyone should have an emergency preparedness kit and plan. Ready Alaska has excellent lists for items to include in kits as well as checklists for plans and activities for adults and kids.

I really like the downloadable DHS & EM 7-Day Survival Kit Calendar. It lists items to gather a day at a time for a month. By the end of the month you have a survival kit that will allow you to survive for 7 days until help comes.

Monday, November 7, 2011

Day 6: Traveling

I am headed up to Fairbanks today where I will join Assembly member Jerry Lapp, Manager Mark Earnest, and Clerk and Deputy Clerk Julie Cozzi and Jamie Heinz for the Alaska Municipal League's 61st Annual Local Government Conference. Click here for the agenda. And here for the workshops. I will be out of the office until Monday November 14. I apologize for any inconvenience this may cause.

Tuesday I will attend the day-long Mayor's meeting and then dive into workshops on Wednesday and Thursday. I am glad several of us are attending because ALL the workshops look compelling. Since the workshops run concurrently, in groups of 2, 3, or 4 any one attendee must make tough choices. Right now I am drawn to Wednesday's Determining Specific Leadership Behaviors, AML resolution and policy pertaining to public works & infrastructure; and Thursday's Disaster Management for Mayors and other Leaders; AIDEA; Lobby Basics.

Meanwhile I working with staff and residents on three resolutions and one ordinance for Assembly consideration at the up coming November 15 meeting. One resolution is in support of the Alcohol Task Force. Chief Lowe and Jan Hotze have contributed some language.

Another resolution is in support of improved access to the upper Lynn Canal via ferries. It follows the recommendations of the Marine Transportation Advisory Board's October 27 comment on the Southeast Alaska Transportation Plan Scoping Report, the Haines Chamber of Commerce's November 4 comment, as well as previous resolutions adopted by previous Haines Borough Assemblys. Though the comment period closed Nov. 4, Andy Hughes, Southeast Regional Planning Chief, emailed yesterday that the Borough's comment would be welcomed and appropriate.

The third resolution pertains to the newly formed Haines Port Steering Committee (HPSC). The purpose of the resolution is to conform the HPSC to Haines Borough Code 2.60, Committees, Boards, and Commissions. The Manager, Darsie Culbeck, and I are collaborating.

The ordinance to be introduced covers the changes to Assembly procedures I presented at the Nov. 3 work session: an additional agenda category to provide for Assembly motions to designate topics for the next meeting's agenda (2.10.020); removal of the limit on the number of opportunities for a member of the Assembly to speak (2.10.060(D)); removal of the requirement for the Assembly to review invoices before payments are made (3.04.050), and the removal of the requirement for all Resolutions to be read out loud before the Assembly votes (2.12.110).

Materials are due to the Clerk by tomorrow at 8 AM! I better get busy. I am grateful for today's electronic communication. Hopefully I'll be able to press "send" to Julie Cozzi's inbox before I board my flight to Fairbanks at 1 this afternoon.

Friday, November 4, 2011

Day 5: Sorting out FERC

The Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) made a mistake. As a result, the period to comment on the AP&T and Goat Lake Hydro application for a FERC permit for the Connelly Lake project (P-14229-000) in the Haines Borough has been extended to January 3, 2012.

Our contact at FERC is:
Brooks Carter

Federal Energy Regulatory Commission 

888 First St NE, Rm 1A-1 

Washington, DC 20426
202-502-8145
brooks.carter@ferc.gov
Once notified of the oversight, Mr. Carter moved quickly to correct it. Mr. Carter explained that there were errors in the addresses for four entities including the Municipality of Skagway and the Haines Borough.

Filing comments is relatively straight forward using FERC's elibrary. Click on the "eComment" link on the left side of the page. If you get stuck, there is online support. The key piece of information you need is the docket number: P-14229-000.

I will ask the Haines Borough Assembly if it would like to comment on behalf of the Borough. If so, I expect that a draft of an Assembly comment will be taken up at the December 13 meeting.

Thursday, November 3, 2011

Day 4: Work Session

I felt that the evening's work session was productive. We will institute some changes to Assembly procedures immediately at the November 15 meeting; others will require changes to the code.

Here are some changes that you will see implemented on November 15:
  • Seating Arrangement: the clerk will sit next to the Mayor, enabling the clerk, especially to provide subtle but needed support regarding parliamentary procedure.
  • Public comment will be timed according to circumstance and timing will be monitored by the Mayor instead of the Clerk.
  • You no longer need to sign up to testify during a public hearing, but you may if you'd like. Those who sign up will be called on first.
  • The mayor will follow the agenda, announcing the items, but will not read the recommended motion, though that text will continue to be printed on the agenda, and any member of the Assembly is free to use it.
  • Items that come before the Assembly will be supported with a document called an "Agenda Bill" - a document that provides a guide for detailing rationale and pertinent information related to the item.
  • The Manager's report will be on the consent agenda. Manager's recommendations will be incorporated into an Agenda Bill as appropriate.

And most controversial of all - there will be no food on the dias!

Members indicated an interest in altering Haines Borough Code as follows:
  • to provide for unlimited turns of Assembly members to speak during a debate (2.10.060(D);
  • to eliminate the requirement that the clerk include a synopsis of Assembly debate (2.10.040(D) - a change which will pave the way for "Action Minutes;"
  • to provide an opportunity in the Order of Business (i.e. Agenda) for Assembly members to indicate their intention to bring a topic to the next meeting's agenda;
  • to eliminate the requirement that all resolutions be read out loud (2.12.100(A); and
  • to eliminate the requirement that the Assembly review invoices (3.04.050)
I will draft an ordinance addressing these changes for the Assembly to consider introducing on November 15.

Members indicated their preferences for memberships on at least two of the four Standing Committees: Commerce, Finance, Personnel, and Government Affairs & Services; as well as their preferences for assignments as liaison to one or more boards, commissions, or committees established by the Assembly. I will announce those assignments on the 15th and appoint the chair of each standing committee.

And finally, members responded on a Likert-scale 5-0 rating their interest on a set of projects I had prepared for their consideration. I will compile the results for the Assembly and report back on the 15th.

Stay tuned!

Wednesday, November 2, 2011

Day 3

Former Mayor Mike Case, ipad in hand, was waiting for me today. He had been reading my blog.

Mayor Case wanted to talk about the long list of questions I posted on Monday. Mike wondered if I was "managing" or "mayoring." He warned me against the former. I have never made a secret of my admiration for Mike. So I take his advice seriously.

Luckily, I had prepared a couple of documents for the Thursday evening work session to underscore the difference between "managing" and "mayoring" or "Assembly-membering." Mayor Case liked these much better than my Monday list. I hope you will too.

Here is the "Bill of Rights for Assembly Members" and its companion "Bill of Rights for Managers" adapted from the Alaska Municipal League's Newly Elected Officials Handbook, pgs. 13-14:

All Assembly members have the right to:
  • equal treatment and information
  • fair and respectful treatment in all situations
  • equal access to the manager for questions or assistance
  • teamwork between manager and elected officials
  • a minimum of surprises - the assembly must be made aware of all potentially embarrassing situations or problems
  • complete, timely, accurate, non-partisan, and non-biased information
  • short, concise reports which are easily understandable
  • several options offered to solve a problem, if possible

The manager has the right to:
  • fair and respectful treatment in all situations
  • expect that all direction or offers come from a formal action of the whole assembly
  • being criticized only in private and in a constructive manner
  • being thanked when appropriate
  • expect that materials and reports will be read by assembly members before meetings
  • have adequate tools and resources to perform efficiently and effectively
  • have duties and responsibilities put in writing so they are clear and understandable
  • be give the authority and resources to complete assigned tasks

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Day 2

The agenda for the November 3 work session is in circulation. A work session agenda is to be provided 48 hours prior to the session (2.10.030 (B), and so it was, but it was close...

Haines Borough Assembly

Committee-of-the-Whole Work session

November 3, 2011, 6:30 PM, Assembly Chambers

Agenda

A. Review role of mayor in creating the assembly agenda (HBC 2.10.030) and during assembly discussions (may take part 2.16.010 (c); veto (2.16.030); when to relinquish the chair (2.10.010 )


B. Review the relationship between the manager and the assembly (Manager’s Duties HBC 2.20.020; Assembly powers HBC 2.08.050)


C. Review Ex Parte Communication; and targeted procedures from Robert’s Rules (Julie Cozzi, MMC, Borough Clerk)


D. Review and comment on Mayor’s proposals to modify non-codified and codified practices used to conduct Assembly meetings .


E. Review and discuss standing committees of the Assembly, advisory committees and ad hoc work groups and task forces: possible reorganization, assignments, role of liaison, communication between committees and Assembly.


F. Rate interest in and add to specific projects or initiatives to explore on behalf of the community.

"F" on the Agenda is a list of projects and concerns that came up during the campaign. Today I thought to try to align the list with the 2004 Haines Borough Comprehensive Plan. A few items lined up but most did not. Are the concerns out of sync with the 2004 plan, or is the plan out of sync with the present?


To me, the disconnect between the concerns raised during the campaign and the old Comprehensive plan underscore the importance of the present effort to update the Comprehensive Plan.


The Planning Commission has had 8 meetings to review re-writes of chapters of the Comprehensive Plan since March. The 9th meeting is scheduled for November 16, 6 PM, Assembly Chambers. We all need to go. The Comprehensive Plan and the Borough Budget are the two most important policy documents produced and ultimately endorsed by the elected body. It is far easier to evaluate the final product if you have been able to participate in, or at least witness, its development.


I have recommended that all matters coming before the Assembly reference both the budget

and the community's Comprehensive Plan. That will help keep our government relevant, provided that there is ample public participation in the development of both documents: the budget and the Comprehensive Plan. Right now, it is the Comprehensive Plan that is itself in the planning. Come and see on November 16.


************************************************************************************
Today was the first day of work for the "Mayor's Assistant."


Nicole Studley will be providing some needed paper shredding between 10-11 AM most days in the Mayor's office. I am delighted! And shredded paper makes wonderful compost. Let me know if you need some for your pile.