Some good things happened the other day at city council.
In Disorganized or dishonest? we wrote about several items that were on the council agenda without any backup material. One of the items was a presentation about the city’s second quarter financial results. We commented that not making the report available to the public before the meeting made it difficult for members of the public to exercise their rights when the report is not made public.
The budget report was item 15.4 on the agenda.
When the item came up the chief financial officer of the city prepared to speak. At that point the mayor allowed city representative Emma Acosta to interrupt the presentation and say that since the report was not posted with the agenda members of the public would not have an opportunity to question or comment on the results. She indicated that she had received the report that morning and had not had time to review it herself. She made a request that the item be postponed for one week and that the report be posted on the web.
The chief financial officer indicated that he would be out of town next week and asked if the presentation could be postponed two weeks. Council postponed the item.
Ms. Acosta suggested that in the mean time the report be posted on the web so that the public could exercise it’s right to be informed.
Even better
Later in the meeting the item relating to the notification of intent to issue $62 million of certificates of obligation was addressed. Representative Acosta interrupted the presentation and asked if the city could not make the breakdown of the $62 million available to the public. She evidently feels that we have the right to know these things.
And better
The city’s chief financial officer told council and the public that the certificates would be used to pay for projects that have already been approved and completed. He went on to say that spending the money first and then arranging the financing was not the method that either he or the city manager preferred.
Before our former city manager changed the process, city council would approve the sale of bonds, the money would be raised and then the project would be built. This gave council more control over the spending that happens during their tenure. The process that is currently being used allows a city council to authorize a project, have the project started, and then a future city council is required to pay the bills.
Thank you
Representative Acosta deserves our thanks. If the city manager and chief financial officer can get us back to a more sane method of handling public works, they will deserve our thanks also.
This is better
Brutus
elpasospeak 
no way! they are being pragmatic and prudent? maybe they are finally aware that we are aware of what they are doing. Good for Ms. Acosta.
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Yes, Rep. Acosta appears to have made a good move. Meanwhile, this inquiring mind is wondering how the process for getting things done before they are paid for that was reportedly instituted by the former City Manager could still be in place, this long after her departure? And, I am also curious as to what kind of business could possibly have survived without being paid for services or work done four or five years ago, without having been paid? Anyone?
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Emma did good! All the sheep following in the steps of Queen Joyce need to be called on their mindless actions. So, I guess, we finally admit that the ballpark was intentionally planned to be billed to future generations for the sole profit of the present elite!
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emma wants to run for mayor and this is the only reason she has awaken from her coma
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Before you make a statue of Emma, remember the sweet executive session that paid her for the terrible work she did as head of the trash department. A very nice settlement to help her forget a few things.
Now that Niland shot herself in the foot, Emma is posturing for a run for Mayor. Damn people have short memories.
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Meanwhile, back at the palace, the princess is advocating a Downtown police force to protect the interests of her downtown developer benefactors.
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