Month: April 2016

How to Learn About Local Government In McKinney

.Reading time 10 minutes.

There are three levels of local government I suggest my neighbors watch closely: Collin County, the City of McKinney and McKinney ISD. Being a student of local government is like being in a giant laboratory. Some people think that the only way you might be an effective player in governance is to run for office. I disagree.

Officeholders usually find themselves decision makers yet highly constrained. They have to operate under rules that, quite frankly, limit what they can do or say. And while they are at the table in meetings and at the dais, they actually find themselves having too much to read and study to be fully prepared if they also have to hold down full-time jobs.

Also, in my opinion, they lose some independence. Before long they end up having to go along to get along. If they want something done and need support, then they need three more votes (two in county government). It is said that politics is all about compromise. But the deep levels of compromise can be ugly and are often not what they expected — or wanted.

The real power is in the people. Well, it should be. But here is what happens. The majority of the citizens don’t care or don’t have time as long as their garbage gets picked up and emergency responses are relatively fast. If water comes out of the faucets and and sewerage is taken away, then the focus is on taking kids to sports activities, keeping the yard and house maintained and on advancing in a career. I understand.

And even the power of the citizen or business is compromised if you want something that directly benefits the person. I’ve been told by some prominent business people in McKinney that I am right on target, that I was their hero or some other words of encouragement. That is nice but when I ask them to help, they back away. Why? Because they do business or have favors to ask of an elected official. They have even told me that have to go along to get along.

Wait! They are knowledgeable about things that go on in McKinney, things they say irk them and are unethical or immoral at best and questionable about the legality in many cases, but can’t or won’t say anything because they rub shoulders with people at the Chamber or the county club and don’t won’t to get their friends upset at them? Ugh! You’re killing me!

So, the masses don’t know and don’t care and the knowledgeable are disgusted but may need a favor at some point in the future. Gee, that is a horrible community situation. But that is the way it is.

There is actually another group, and it is this particular group I am writing to today. There are those interested in the way government works, but they find it way too complicated. Politics are complex but finances are even more difficult to grasp. So, if you don’t want a single thing from local government other than good, honest decisions that serve all people today and, more importantly, our children and grandchildren in the future, then today’s blog is for you.

How Do You Learn?

It does take some time to learn, but most local governments have done a good job of putting information on their Web sites in the name of Transparency. There are documents, meeting videos and minutes available for your education. I believe there is the equivalent of a master’s degree just waiting for you to grasp.

However, in one sense, it can be like drinking from a fireplug. Most elected bodies do, in fact, get an orientation just before or after they are elected. However, these are usually just a few hours or maybe a two-day retreat. And then the remainder is on-the-job-training. And OJT will eventually get you there if you are on the governance boards long enough to get the benefit of hours of meetings.

First, just explore every single piece of information available on the Web sites of local governments. The amount of published information has grown immensely over the years – and for a reason – presumably for you to read! Here are just a few:

Budgets.
Comprehensive Annual Financial Reports (CAFRs).
Official Statements for Bond Issues.
Continuing Disclosure Filings Related to Bond Issues.
Video Recordings of Council Workshops and Council Meetings.
Video Recordings of MEDC/MCDC Meetings (not yet but coming).
Video Recordings of Planning & Zoning Meetings.
Agendas and Agenda Packets.
Minutes of Meetings.
The City Charter & Ordinances.
Pertinent State Laws (on another site).

How Does One Start?

In one of my MPA classes I taught at UNT years ago, I handed out a three-inch set of printouts of data to analyze. The class freaked out. I then told them to just study one page. Understand it completely. Hand calculate a few of the ratios. Then I said, all of the pages are the same. Different months, but the same data. Different classifications, but the same data.

That is not always the case, but my point applied here is to first glance through the entire budget, for instance. It is organized in a certain way for a reason. If in PDF format, as most are these days, there are bookmarks that help to navigate. Then read the transmittal letters and explanations in the front end. Read them twice. Maybe three times. Next year’s budget is likely to be in the exact same format with different numbers. And the key stories conveyed in the transmittal sections will usually tell you what is changed.

Let’s Stop Here.

In the spirit of taking a good spoonful and digesting before the next bite, let’s see if any McKinney or Collin County citizen (heck, anybody!) will take an interest in today’s blog and be willing to become a student again. After 42 years in the municipal business, I am still a student. I will always be. Yes, it is THAT interesting!

I hope my blogs, in their entirety but particularly those directly talking about local government, are being viewed as educational tools.

The Reward.

If I have to explain the rewards of being better educated or to make someone a better thinker, then I’m at a loss as to how to convey that motivation. A smarter citizenry can help a governing body. My goodness, just read the City’s weekly newsletter. They are begging the citizens to get more knowledgeable. It is a double-edged sword. You are likely to be way more supportive and understanding of most decisions that are being made.

You can also be there as a reminder that the body is veering from their stated goals. Or when something simply smells bad. Why did something that seems significant get placed on the consent agenda? Was it discussed before in a workshop and I just missed it? When some council members went against a staff recommendation, did they place on the record their explanation of their decision?

This is all about making government more open and honest. There is only one group of people who could possible be against such a goal. Let’s look at the group most of us want to be in. I was a Rotarian for only a short time years ago, but I am motivated to write these blogs today for similar reasons Rotarians subscribe to their Four-Way Test:

1) Is it the truth?

2) Is it fair to all concerned?

3) Will it build goodwill and better friendships?

4) Will it be beneficial to all concerned?

Some might argue that I am failing on the third one. But I think the first and second are my primary concerns now and the other two will work out over time. LFM

McKinney: What Have We Gotten For Our Quarter-Billion Dollars?

.Reading time 7 minutes.

The City of McKinney is not having such a good week in the economic development department. First Lincoln Properties pulls out of the celebrated Gateway Project. This is particularly disappointing since the hotel component didn’t happen without lawsuits and  $millions spent before this more recent phase moved into the forefront. So in early 2014 we think something is finally going to happen on the remainder of the Gateway property. And by early 2016 it is stalled again as the developers walk away.

Now comes Barclays Bank. In September 2014, we hear that 500 jobs are coming with a $4 million investment on the City’s part. And now in April 2016, Barclays is leaving before fulfilling their mission. The City says none of the $4 million was spent because Barclays had not met their threshold for jobs. Not to Barclays, maybe, but not a penny paid to the property developer?

Are we just that unfortunate here in McKinney? Yes, things happen. And there is much not within our control. I suppose.

However, this opens a door. I’ve walked through it before when I have questioned how the money is being spent for both the McKinney Economic Development Corporation (MEDC) as well as the McKinney Community Development Corporation (MCDC). The City Council did give a nod to a gigantic step when they indicated it would be a good thing to move the MEDC/MCDC Board meetings to the Council Chambers and video record those meetings. I greatly appreciate that move when it happens.

I have harped on this subject before, but I think it is imperative that the citizens of McKinney really get the full picture of where the MEDC/MCDC (4A & 4B) money has been used over the years. Between the two Money Boards, $250,955,609 of sales tax money has been collected for MEDC and MCDC operations and projects. For all the scrutiny the Council and public would give on the General Fund budget, is the same attention being paid to the Money Boards?

In just the past 12 months, $21,718,989 has been collected for the two funds. You may recall that I urged the MISD to show us the cost of the football stadium in terms of the Tax Rate Equivalent (TRE). So what is the TRE on the sales taxes going into the Money Boards? That’s very easy to determine. The taxable value is currently $15,200,173,814. If the City did not have sales taxes at all, and the same amount of money was spent in the City budget, it would take a property TRE of 28.58 cents to generate that much in funds.

Since the General Fund gets 1-penny while the other 1 penny is split evenly between the MEDC and MCDC, then we can see that these two Money Boards are getting the TRE of 14.29 cents.  That’s a lot of money!

So, what are we getting for that money? Let’s just focus on the MEDC right now or about 7.145 cents and $123 million since it started being a revenue source in 1996. What is the return on our investment?

Just how closely would you personally monitor every dollar if it was your $123 million? That’s the deal. It is our money. We elected the City Council, and they have appointed a City Manager and Boards to watch over it like it was their own checkbook.

In fact, when you go over the 75/SRT flyover and look down at Gateway, if you can see it, just exactly how much of OUR tax money has gone into that project? And after you head west on SRT and glance over at the Craig Ranch property you can partially see, how much money has been given to that developer? And what have we received in return?

In addition to cash, how much has been given by the City putting in infrastructure the benefited Craig Ranch? Or how many dollars have been waived that would have been paid in other parts of the City by developers for roadway and utility impact fees?

There is an exact amount. I have sent an Open Records Request asking for documents that will let me compile that number for my readers. It think it is going to be a shocking number. Later, I will hope to answer another question I am curious to learn more about. How many people were on the MEDC Board (and City Council) that were working for Craig Ranch, directly or indirectly, when decisions were made to give money to that project as well as to the Gateway Project?

How is it that this information isn’t more readily available on the City’s Web site in the holy name of Transparency? Maybe we can all learn soon. LFM

BTW, if you like to study charts, and I hope a few of you do, you will notice that the Rolling 12 Month totals spiked for a period started in September 2011 due to favorable audit adjustments that benefited the City to the tune of $5,345,794. State law protects the specifics from being revealed, but it is an anomaly that skews the data. Otherwise, you can actually see the exact months the City has headed into a recessionary period and recovered. Many cities are peaking in their sales tax collections at the current time.

MCKSalesTax

 

And Other Duties As Assigned

.Reading time 14 minutes.

I wrote about Donna and treasures like her here the other day. This past Monday NCTCOG staff gave Donna a farewell reception. After Donna having to endure Monte Mercer’s daily assignments, she got to get ribbed before she took the podium. These were her words. I think just about everybody can relate when you apply for a job, interview and then after being hired being reminded you never really explored what “other duties as assigned” entails in your job description. Happy Friday!

MY INTERESTING 34 PLUS YEARS AT COG
By Donna Steward

Thank you all for coming! I’ve had quite an amusing and interesting career for the past 34-1/2 years at COG. I began working in the Regional Services Department (now known as RIS) in 1981. I was only 12 years old! After 10 years in RIS, I moved over to the Regional Police Academy and stayed there for less than a year when I was then hired in the Admin Department by Charles Cason in 1992. I like to think of Administration Department as COG’s 3-ring circus. The staff in Admin work hard for everyone in the agency by jumping through hoops, juggling every departments’ priorities, and we walk a tight rope trying to balance the needs of the agency. There’s a lot of hard work going on in Admin that doesn’t get the recognition that it deserves. Many of you know that I wear two hats in Administration: Procurement of goods and services and facilities management.

In Administration you can come to work thinking of what you plan to do for that day, but then all hell breaks loose and priorities change at the drop of a hat. Then I have to get into crisis mode because the icemaker leaked water all over the floor; mold was discovered, and I have to shut down the entire kitchen and meeting room; a major meeting is taking place and someone set off the fire alarm by burning popcorn so the meeting has to disburse; the transformer is popping and sparking so electricity to the building is totally shut down, it’s dark and the emergency lights aren’t working; a contractor needs access to all the locked closets and no one else has the key; movers need to finish the relocation and all other staff have gone home for the day leaving me there to make sure it all gets done.

There have been rumors of me being in the closet with the electrician, in the bathroom with the plumber or in the storage room with a contractor. Rumors sometimes are just that, but I have been in those places with those people several times throughout the years – discussing electrical, plumbing, janitorial and contractor related issues.

I am going to miss a lot of stuff that goes on around here such as the sleepless nights about whether or not a construction project is going to turn out right or if the multi-thousand-dollar furniture order has the right finish or color or if I have offended someone with an agency email with information that affects the whole agency. I know you’re gonna miss receiving those annoying emails! Especially the ones about turning in your pcard reports on time.

I’m gonna miss contacting building management that someone is cold and turn around and contact them 10 minutes later to say that the same someone is now too hot. I’m gonna miss someone telling me that the Coke tastes like battery acid, which is scary to think that one knows what battery acid tastes like. Or the coffee vending machine dispenses coffee without a cup or that one wishes the trees could be trimmed so they can see out the window when they should be working. But when the tree gets trimmed, ask why the tree was cut?

I’m gonna miss getting the emails to add project codes to copiers and a week later to remove those same codes because they are no longer needed. I’m gonna miss having to close a purchase order that is no longer necessary only to be asked to reopen it because the project wasn’t finished after all. I’m gonna miss emails telling me that some men’s underwear was found in the stairwell and later some women’s underwear outside the elevator. Not sure what was going on there!

I’m gonna miss getting requests to remove a squirrel nest from inside the hood of one’s car or that squirrels have been eating the wires of another’s car. I’m gonna miss hearing about a possible squirrel massacre in the parking lot because there were two dead ones out there. Probably killed by the vehicle owners! I’m gonna miss the complaints that we need to have air fresheners in the restrooms, only to go back and tell building management to remove them all because the smell was making one sick. I wondered how long they stayed in the restroom? I will miss having to ask building management to change out the soap because one didn’t feel their hands were getting clean enough.

I’m gonna miss hearing the complaint that some were getting bitten by fleas in their office only to learn that they had just sprayed for fleas at their home the night before. I’m gonna miss hearing that I’m too hot, and I can’t concentrate on my work and may have to go home. Or that I’m too cold and I can’t concentrate on my work and may have to go home. I’m gonna miss the complaints that someone was cooking fish in the microwave stinking up the entire office and that I need to send an email to tell people not to bring fish for lunch.

I’m gonna miss being asked to tell people to flush the toilet when they finish or to tell them to stop peeing on the seat. I’m gonna miss receiving requests to tell people to wash their hands after using the restroom or to tell them to not use their cell phones while other people are using the restroom or that I need to post a sign in the restroom on proper restroom etiquette. I’m gonna miss hearing about bugs being in the coffee from the vending machine and on the same day receive compliments that the new flavored coffee from the vending machine is really good. Perhaps it was the bugs that made it good!

I’m gonna miss hearing that there are grown men undressing outside one’s office window and then receive comments that they enjoy watching the police cadets running around outside half dressed. I’m gonna miss trying to help someone figure out what size, color or style of logo shirt that I think they should buy. I’m gonna miss being asked to make the workers outside stop their work because they’re being too noisy and people can’t hear what’s going on in a meeting inside. I’m gonna miss being asked to have the landscapers to come back later because the smell of the cut grass is making them sick or that the mowers are bagging the grass clippings instead of mulching them. I’m gonna miss having to get a vendor to adjust a 7-year old chair because it’s been uncomfortable all that time.

I’m gonna miss wondering how the entire door to the microwave ended up on top of the microwave. I’m gonna miss hearing that there’s a screaming cat sitting outside one’s office window or a family of skunks is burrowed in the bushes. I’m gonna miss hearing about the rules of drinking coffee since the agency no longer supplies it for employees. I’m gonna miss hearing about the ants that are marching across desks or wasps or bees swarming inside the office. I’m gonna miss being asked to tell people to stop using air fresheners in their office because some don’t like the smell. I’m gonna miss being asked to tell someone they shouldn’t wear a certain cologne because the smell is making one sick.

I’m gonna miss when someone tells me they want to order 50,000 pens that they need by next week, and I have to do an interrogation. Do you mean PINS or PENS? What brand, color, style, ink, is there a logo imprint, what color logo, is the logo created, can I get a copy? I’m gonna miss telling them that getting pens next week ain’t gonna happen since it has to be bid out and the product comes from China so the next question is what’s your real deadline so I can make this happen for you?

I’m gonna miss being called the COG mom. I’m gonna miss being told that I should be the Director of Whatever You Need. I’m gonna miss those words “go ask Donna.” I’m gonna miss being told that “you’re just like the Wizard of Oz – You make stuff happen behind the scenes. I see all of your emails, but I never see you.”

A lot of people have told me they could not do what I do on a daily basis. As you can see it’s been quite an amusing journey for me, and you have to have a sense of humor to keep your sanity. My secret is to get out for lunch EVERYDAY and unwind. I have bitten my tongue quite a bit over the years, but now that I’m retiring, I can let the holes begin to heal.

But all joking aside, what I’m really gonna miss is all of you. I’ve enjoyed working here for the past 34-1/2 years. I want to tell the newcomers that COG is a good place to work and you can make it what you want it to be. People wonder how I survived this crazy job and I tell them: “I do my job then I switch to my wife, mother, grandmother hat and go home.” Now I’m about to switch to my retirement hat!

My plans are to do some traveling, relaxing and just enjoying life. First stop will be in the words of Gladys Knight “I’ll be on the “midnight plane to Georgia” to visit my new grandson, Charles Joseph, expected to arrive in mid-April.

I want to close with this last thought: “Don’t get so busy making a living that you forget to make a life.”

Thank you all for coming!

Donna Steward
Procurement & Facilities Coordinator
Administration Department
10/5/81 – 4/1/16