I saw something good when watching part of the city council video for the January 2, 2014 meeting.
Governance
I saw the mayor and a couple of city representatives asking intelligent questions about agenda items. Item 5.1 on the regular agenda related to a potential $4.2 million construction contract for “on call” services. In essence city staff wanted the approval to spend the money for miscellaneous concrete work or as the backup material contained:
Install and/or construct various types of infrastructure improvements not otherwise addressed
A city representative asked what projects the contract was going to be used on. City staff indicated that the contract would be used as things came up. The mayor joined in and asked how staff could ask for $4.2 million and there not be a list of specific projects. The item was postponed until city council could be briefed.
Typical
Staff felt that in a normal year a certain amount of unscheduled work needs to be done.
It was remarkable to me that staff was not able to articulate the facts. It seemed to me that staff was taken by surprise that their judgment would be questioned.
The concept probably would make sense if there was a low dollar limit on each item authorized under the contract. We have unfortunately seen in the past that staff will sell a contract like this as being only for small projects and then turn around and use the money for one or two larger projects without having to get competitive bids.
Fairness
A different agenda item concerned a citizen asking for reimbursement for taxes that were paid twice. Staff requested that the request be denied. City representatives questioned staff about the completeness and fairness of the process.
Rubber stamp
In the past we have seen city council fail to exercise governance when dealing with city staff.
In this meeting we saw council ask intelligent questions and provide direction that was contrary to what staff wanted.
I hope that council continues to do this.
We deserve better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
We know ‘Scrivener’ has many faces. Does ‘Staff’ have many names or can we identify the core of the problem?
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A million here, a million there. Pretty soon, it adds up to a lot of tacos.
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Speaking of exercising control, I had a difficult time maintaining self-control after reading today’s El Paso Times editorial, which is a perfect example of self-righteous hypocrisy.
The editorial said that “an era of El Paso politics drew to a close last week when Anthony Cobos was sentenced…”
It said that the three imprisoned former county judges “are the symbols of the self-dealing that was a hallmark of parts of El Paso’s business and political cultures over the years.”
It’s lesson for the day was that “Seriously reducing corruption will require a much greater degree of civic engagement by El Pasoans. … Voting is a big part of that, but it also includes closely following what government is doing…”
So after reading all of that, I was both amused and disgusted. After all, the Times threw it’s weight and influence behind blatant promotion of the downtown ballpark, which will be a monument to insider self-dealing. In the process, the Times benefited directly from the sale of its own building, which was purchased by taxpayers to replace the city hall that was destroyed to make way for the ballpark.
While the Times says voting is one of the keys to fighting corruption, it did not advocate for allowing taxpayers to vote on whether to even build the ballpark. Instead, it glorified the “gifts” and “vision” of the Mountainstar principals, just as it once glorified the philanthropic and business endeavors of the now imprisoned Bob Jones, who was at the center of much of the referenced corruption about which the Times loves to report. It also benefited greatly from the advertising dollars spent by special interests to tell people how to vote on the hotel tax increase, which will ultimately only pay part of the true cost of the ballpark.
The Times encourages people to get involved, yet it, led by Joe Muench, used its bully pulpit to lambast and denigrate those who spoke out against the ballpark. They entertained themselves with childish name-calling intended to ridicule those who opposed the ballpark. It continues that criticism every chance it gets.
The El Paso Times needs to stop preaching to the public and search its own soul. Then again, maybe the Times has already lost (or sold) its soul. They seem to know right from wrong only when judging the actions of others.
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Even worse, it was purchased for basically “list price” based on the lower of the 3 appraisals. But who goes by an appraisal when there is virtually no market for a property? No one on CC spoke up for us and made a motion, e.g., “$5MM – take it or leave it.”
Thank you, CM, for another example of playing ball.
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