Government for the People needs to be by the People

Many believe that government is increasingly responding to the agenda of special interests and not acting for the common good.

I am holding steadfast that our local government needs to be: of the people, by the people, and for the people.

Carson City operates under the Board of Supervisors/City Manager form of City Government. The Board is the legislative body that makes decisions for the community and also appoints the City Manager.  According to the City website:  “The Board is charged with providing orderly government and safeguarding the general health, welfare, and safety of its citizens”.

Points of interest -

1. Carson City’s economic recovery is not dependent upon decreasing taxes or fees (although it would be nice).  Improving our educational system needs to be a key component for Carson City economic survival.  For higher educational availability we need to support and maintain a sound working relationship with Western Nevada College (WNC).  Expanding access to higher education could contribute to economic strength and make for a more vibrant community. We need incentives and opportunities for permanent employment of our college graduates. Carson City would then become a magnet for investment and create a culture of innovation and entrepreneurship.
2.  Carson City has launched a program called #CarsonProud.  This is a multi-media publicity campaign “designed to keep residents up-to-date on projects, and share our love for the city”. With a (+/-) $100k budget, currently managed by Public Works this should be reviewed, as the City’s IT Department is the more appropriate department to run this and would likely do so more efficiently.
3.  During the last Legislative Session, SB29 passed and grants Carson City limited functional “Home Rule”, how this will be implemented is still unknown. This is an in-depth and lengthy topic, so please contact me for details.
4.  Another major election year (2016) approaches and both national and state elections will demand our attention. However, your efforts in making any real change for you and yours in Carson City begin locally, as 2016 is also an election year for Carson City Board of Supervisors. Ward Two (currently held by Brad Bonkowski) and Ward Four (currently held by me) as well as the Mayor’s seat (currently held by Bob Crowell), are all on the ballot.
5. Also on the November 2016 ballot. Carson City voters will approve or disapprove “Gas Tax Indexing”. This tax amount is yet to be determined and would be added to the current per gallon gas price.  All funds collected through this new tax will go towards street maintenance within the community.
6.   The Downtown Revitalization Project including the narrowing of Carson Street between Williams and Fifth St. from four lanes to two and the removal of all center median landscaping will begin next year.  Widening of the sidewalks and many other aesthetic upgrades will hopefully brighten the area for tourism and growth.  The plans are available for review at City Hall or feel free to contact me for more information.  This project has many great qualities; however, I did vote NO for this project and did so, as citizens should have been given the opportunity to vote on this issue.

We have three other corridors that will also be revitalized (with the 1/8 of a cent sales tax) which are the North, East and South “entrances” to Carson City.  I encourage everyone to attend the public meetings that will be held in the near future where plans for these projects will be discussed.  Many citizens are still shocked and upset at the final results of the Downtown Revitalization Project but there was much public notice and discussion prior to this phase of the conceptual drawings.

Remember - Participation by the many, yields great results on the decisions made by the few.

If you don’t know which Ward you live in or which Board member represents your Ward, call the Clerk’s office at 887-2087.

Wishing you all a safe and happy holidays and I look forward to hearing from you.

Please forward to family, friends and neighbors

 

 

                                                                                                                                                       

 

Become proactive in our community

 

I recently finished reading the book “Carson City Capital of Nevada, A Pictorial History and Tour Guide” by Phyllis Zauner, published in 1984. The historical accounts of Carson City’s history are interesting and somewhat comical.

In the chapter “Days of Glory for the V&T,” we learn construction of the V&T Railroad began in February of 1869 led by a wily Virginia City bank manager, William Sharon who “persuaded Ormsby County to donate $500,000 in bond money toward the project promising they’d have an equal return in tax revenue.”

Fast forward from 1869 to 2015. The following extractions were taken from various new sources:

March 16, 2012: Our local hoteliers are up in arms because, 4 percent out of 10 percent of the transient occupancy tax dollars are going to directly fund the V&T Railroads Bonds.

May 13, 2014 : An agreement reached in 2005 committed the Carson City Visitor Bureau to provide $100,000 annually until 2025.

Sept. 15, 2014: Lyon County’s Bob Hastings, who serves on the railway commission, said Lyon County voted to reject a request for funds from the Nevada Commission for Reconstruction of the V&T Railway.

July 30, 2015: The current state of the revitalized V&T Railroad, the Commission sold the property at 6343 Highway 50E, known as the Drako property, for $785,000.

Note: The Foundation originally paid $1.425 million for the Drako property in 2006.

Do you remember in 2012 when 68 percent of voters rejected an advisory question on whether to raise the sales tax 1/4th of a cent to pay for the new library as part of the Carson City Center/Nugget Project?

Well, the current downtown project is a go — it’s going to happen.

As with the V&T Railroad project and now with the proposed “Downtown Revitalization Project”, the current Board should be mindful occasionally a past decision may continue to accrue debt, as might this new one.

Let me sum up some general issues I feel are ongoing and important to our City. These include, but are not limited to, the issues of : environment, including recycling, and the health of the Carson River; quality of our water supply; protection and health of our urban forest; the need for a noise ordinance; condition of our Historical Blue Line; and the Sheriff and Fire Departments have concerns they are nearing their capacity to provide protection. These are issues that have and always are going to need the support of public volunteers and concerned citizens groups. I would encourage more citizens to become proactive in our community by volunteering to serve on: Boards, Committees and Commissions. Openings are listed on the City website at www.carson.org.

Of the current and pressing issues brought before the Board twice each month, the majority is mainly financially driven for projects, grants or taxes to be imposed upon the citizens. The Board has only four working days to prepare questions, by researching and investigating these issues then studying and analyzing all the material. Then, they must vote.

Our fiscal responsibility is mirrored to our voting accountability as elected officials, to you the citizens.

Our community needs clean streets free from gangs and crime, and we need to be successful with these endeavors. Streets, sewer, water and infrastructure need to be a high priority. Preparing for natural disasters such as flooding and fires, earthquakes and power outages are included under infrastructure, safety and maintenance. So too are our fire and ambulance services, our Sheriff and public safety. These are serious issues I want on the forefront of our everyday conversation.

We need more jobs, as do many communities. This issue is ongoing and always a high priority. Unfortunately, it will never be fully resolved. The process of adding jobs requires expansion of existing businesses and the attraction of new businesses to locate here.

A percentage of our population is either homeless or jobless. All need the city’s support as do the elderly who can’t, at times, care for themselves. Essential services needed for their care requires constant monitoring and funding.

I will continue to address all these issues and others to the best of my ability as I serve as your elected official. I am honored to be chosen and working for the city’s people. Every great movement in history is led by the people.

Thank you to the Nevada Appeal for opening this space to all Board members on a rotating basis. It’s imperative Board members have the ability to reach out to their constituents and that they can reach out to us.

Jim Shirk can be reached at ILoveCarsonCity@yahoo.com or at (775) 720-5761

 

Please forward to family, friends and neighbors

 

Deep Thoughts, Cheap Shots and Bonbons

“It ain’t over till it’ over” Yogi Berra.

From the Board of Supervisor meeting held on September 17th.

Agenda item

#21C  Purchasing and Contracts

To approve Purchase Order # 2016-8807 for the purchase of roofing supplies from Garland/DBS, Inc., for a total amount $93,091.07 with a 10% contingency amount of $9,309.11 for a total not to exceed amount of $102,400.18 to be funded from Capital Projects.  Late Material included.

The reason for discussing this particular agenda item is the mention of  Late Material - hardly ever does city staff provide late material. Why would late material be provided? Two reasons:   1. Staff had additional pertinent information about the contract, product, or legal advice 2. Board member(s) or a citizen asked a question, made an inquiry or a request  that resulted in additional information being provided.

Basically, since serving on Carson City Board of Supervisor’s for the past 2 ½ years receiving additional late material has happened about as many times as man has step foot on the moon.

#22  Information Technology

To approve an extension of the contract between Carson City and the Brewery Arts Center (BAC) to provide public, educational and government access programming for the period of October 1 through December 31, 2015 as a transition period for the Carson City Information Technology Department (CCIT) to establish policies and procedures to provide these services no later than January 1, 2016.

For all intent and purposes starting next year Carson City IT Department will be filming all governmental board, commission and committee meetings. They CAN NOT alter, change modify or revise any filming of any meetings. They will be providing  better service at a much lower cost to you the tax payer.

What they will be doing is using software that will allow the citizens better access to review and analysis all meetings. This software will finally bring Carson City into the 21st century.     

#23B  For possible action. Discussion and possible action to determine if Staff should provide all Board member with information provide to one member

Here is the motion and action taken by the Board.

I move to direct the City Manager to provide to all Board Members only that information and/or material that substantially impacts the published agenda.

It passed with a 4 to 1 vote.     

Yea: Crowell, Abowd, Bonkowski, Bagwell. Nay: Shirk

Background on agenda items: Hardly ever, is an agenda item presented to the Board of Supervisors that came from another source other than city staff. The vast majority of all agenda items presented by city staff is for the Boards approval to spend your tax dollars.

By so granting to the City Manager this power, as the sole authority to determine what will or will not substantially impact all future agenda items, is completely wrong.

Granting this extraordinary power to one individual goes against the principle of separation of governmental powers. The foundation of government is that fairness must exist. Communication is the first step towards fairness which then leads to an open and transparent government. Any and all information regarding an agenda item that is provided to one Board member should be provided to all Board members, regardless of who may have asked a question, made an inquiry or request.

Remember, agenda items are all about spending your tax dollars and with the passage of this motion it singularly empowers the City Manager to control all communications that could significant impact how a Board member may or may not vote which all depends on the information that is provided or not provided equally among all Board members.

 Correction Notice

In a previously newsletter I misquoted actions taken by the  Utility Financial Oversight Committee – to clarify they have  always recommend/voted for a  five year phase in hookup fees for Commercial rate increases.

 

Nevada Appeal on September 20, 2015 printed the following article:

Carson City Mayor Bob Crowell was honored on Sept. 15 by the Nevada Chapter of the American Planning Association with the DeBoer Award for Distinguished Leadership by an Elected Official, for his role in championing the Carson City Downtown Urban Design Streetscape Project.

Brief History of Streetscape Project

This concept had first been brought forward by Supervisor Abowd and Supervisor  Bonknowski on August 15, 2013 at the Board of Supervisors meeting as Agenda item #17 which reads as follows:

For Possible Action: Presentation by Downtown 20/20 on the Downtown Carson City Revitalization Plan consisting of three major components - Business Activity; Special Events and Promotions; and Beautification, Circulation and Parking. Possible action to accept the plan and direct staff to review the plan and report their findings to the Board at the earliest time feasible.
Summary: In April 2013, the Downtown 20/20, a group of businesses and citizens, appeared before the Board of Supervisors to advocate for removal of the fences that lined Carson Street in downtown and restriping of the street that would have eliminated one lane going each way and added parallel parking. At the time, the Board directed staff to remove the fences and asked the Downtown 20/20 to develop a revitalization plan that addresses other issues related to components of a successful downtown, not just the addition of on-street parking.

Speaking of Narrowing Carson Street

Back in 2012 the people behind the petition effort to force the Carson City Center aka Nugget Project on the ballot submitted 4,559 signatures to the Carson City Clerk-Recorder's office. They only were required to have 2,935 signatures verified by the clerk to qualify the petition.

I have repeatedly stated that the present day project (narrowing Carson Street) is a GO  there are no: if’s, and’s, or but’s. It’s going to happen.

To clarify yes there might be (might be) an exception to this, which is: If someone were to: 1) file for a petition with Carson City Clerk 2) the Secretary of State approves the petition 3) obtain the required signatures on the petition then it is possible that the Downtown Street narrowing could be placed on the November 2016 General Election ballot. This might be possible because your tax dollars are being used to fund this project.

How might that occur, one must look at the 2014 General Election stats which are:

Election day turnout     6,021                                                                                      Early turnout                8,459                                                                                Absentee turnout          1,239                                                     _________________________

Total                          15,719                                                                          

Of the 15,719 registered voters who voted in the General Election. My guessimate is that 10% of that number or 1,572 (+/-) signatures would be needed. Keep in mind all signatures would need to be validated by the City Clerk for the petition to be placed on the 2016 ballot. There might be legal huddles that would have to be overcome; no one can predict how the City might counter this action.

Animal Shelter

The shelter and Carson City were given 30 days by the federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) to rid the Carson City facility of the rodents and deal with asbestos. Presently the dog kennels at Carson City’s animal shelter were closed for perhaps a month. Dogs are now being transported to other locations temporarily while these problems get resolved.

The Nevada Human Society under a contract with Carson City government has operated the shelter and run animal services since last October. It recently learned that CEO Kevin Ryan with NHS had been fired for “serious traffic violations.” Will this have any effect on how our shelter is run, I personally do not believe it will, although I would hope the NHS would appear before the Board and give some reassurances that it will not.   

Three questions about the animal shelter.

1.     The contract for the construction of the new animal shelter has recently been awarded; one might wonder why then reopen this aging structure?

2.     The money they (NHS) has pledged for the new Animal Shelter it is only to be used for equipping the building with furniture and other type accessories. Should their contract with Carson City become invalid, annulled or cancelled what will become of these furnishing?

3.     Why should Carson City Health and Human Resources oversee the  operation of the Animal Shelter? Regardless if it’s stated in: City Ordinances, NRS, Charter or any other document, it is well known our Health and Human Resource Department is understaffed and their main focus should be on Health of our community not the Animal Shelter.   

 

Going back to Yogi Bear                                                                                                       This edition of Deep Thoughts, Cheap Shots and Bonbons is over.

 

Please forward this to family, friends and neighbors.

 

 

 

 

Deep Thoughts, Cheap Shots & Bonbons

Doing the right thing is not determined, because one consistently votes with the majority. One should always vote on the principle of what is right and fair. A vote maybe lone vote, if so, just say and repeat as needed: “You can't break me. I don't have a breaking point”.

From the Board of Supervisor meeting held on July 16^th

Agenda item#11

This dealt with directing staff to examine the feasibility of the Carson City joining Nevada League of Cities (NLC). This is somewhat problematic. How could any Board member not consent and give the go-ahead to a feasibility study?

The agenda item stated that: Mr. Wes Henderson, President of NLC, would present a proposal to join (NLC) for the cost of $12,273.05 as it would complement the City’s membership in the Nevada Association of Counties (NACO).

I asked staff to submit Mr. Henderson proposal to Board members prior to the meeting so that members could have the opportunity to evaluate/learn about NLC.

The Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) and Nevada League of Cities (NLC) should not be confused with The National League of Cities (NLC) which is dedicated to helping city leaders build better communities. Working in partnership with the 49 state municipal leagues, NLC serves as a resource to and an advocate for the more than 19,000 cities, villages and towns it represents. If your confused, know this, there are numerous other similar organizations that provide parallel benefits, so choosing one over there other is perplexing.   

Supposedly our paid Lobbyist (Walker*) and Nevada Association of Counties (NACO) will undoubtedly be asked to work with Nevada Association of Cites (NLC) for the greater good of Carson City. We (Board) would need to hear from each of them what benefits another paid Lobbyist group will this bring.

*Point of interest: If Walker’s contract of $24,999.00 (+/-) did not need Board approval, why does Nevada League of Cities contract need Board approval when it is for half of that amount?  

Agenda item #13

The abandonment of the Public Right-of-Way, of East Sophia Street between Carson Street and Plaza Street. In the 35 page packet that staff submitted, all of which backed their recommendation as to why there should be NO charge to the applicant for this right-of-way. This 66 foot wide by 170 foot long area totaling 11,220 square feet all of which will be sub-divided between three parties that applied for the abandonment and each will acquire as real property - free of charge. Then, this newly acquired property will then be added to their existing parcels.     

This hypothetical new drive way off of Carson Street has already been incorporated into the Downtown Corridor plans even though the Board had not approved this abandonment. One has to wonder how staff anticipated the Board would vote to approve.    

I alone voted against this abandonment. This right-of-way was created as part of the Carson City plot map in the 1800’s. A map was recorded in 1963 and the City started maintaining this street.

Yes, the city will obtain additional property taxes and reduce the total amount of street maintenance. However, the applicants gain financially from this endeavor, and the cost saving to the City is - insignificant.

Agenda item#16E

To approve the reclassification of a Grants Program Coordinator (CCEA 41/P1) to Grants Administrator (P2) would increase position funding by $7,200.00. This position would now be under the supervision of the Finance Director.

I voted in favor of this, as the City received $7,061,070 in Federal Grant Funds, and $666,220 in State Funds for Fiscal Year 2014.

My perception of this change: it will bring more Grant Funding to the City, as this position will oversee ALL such Grants for all city departments and elected official offices as well.

Agenda item#17B

Discussion regarding policies and procedures for the City’s Boards, Committees and Commissions –ironically, I have asked numerous times that this doctrine come before the Board.

When it did finally arrived on our agenda, I was quite surprised by how many questions and topic related issues were raised by Board members that dealt with this manual that was originally approved on September 6, 2012. There are many mistakes and inappropriate wording throughout this important document. Hopefully, staff will make all the corrections, so that this will better serve our community.

Prior to this meeting:

I had a conversation with the Mayor, to seek his input on how we could best inform ALL Board members of events that he would attend acting as the Mayor in ceremonial capacity. 

Possibly in the near future, these types of events could be posted on the City Website so that the public can be informed as well.    

Previous Board meetings I asked staff:

·       For the total dollar amount the City has spent on the Brewery Art Center building last year for: building upkeep, maintenance and or replacement of equipment and other paraphernalia. No response, to date no action taken.

·       Enacting a Noise Ordinance for Carson City. No response, to date no action taken.

In other related buzz stories of hot topics that I discussed at the Board meetings during the non-action period:

·       I specify brought up the Nevada Human Society who oversees our animal shelter – and their (NHS) relationship with Oversight Committee. What is most interesting about this: the Nevada Human Society is allowed to select person(s) that will serve on their own Oversight Committee. My opinion: this wrong on every level and could potentially have serious consequences for the City should events occur at the facility.

·       The City website should have links to all televised Board of Supervisors meetings, along with all citizen Boards, Committees and Commissions meetings.

·       There should Spanish link on our City website.  

·       Both the Sheriff and Fire Department have included a letter in the previous Board agenda packet stating: “Each are having difficulty in providing services in an efficient and timely manner. My concern is that this will go unacted upon.

Please forward this to family, friends and neighbors.

 

 

It's Your City with Jim Shirk - Ward 4 Carson City Board of Supervisor

Deep Thoughts, Cheap Shots and Bonbons

In the movie Dances with Wolves there is a line, one of the characters says, and it goes something like this: “Somebody back east is saying, why don’t he write?” Many of you might be wondering the same thing about me. Why I haven’t written for a spell? I could list numerous reasons, some might be worth mentioning, and others would be insignificant.

                                     In simple true-to-life terminology –                                                       I’m back.

 A few of the hot topics from the June 18th Board of Supervisor meeting.

 Agenda item #17A

Discussion and possible action to accept the 2015 Legislative Summary. Here are few of the most interesting Bills:

SB 482 Elected Officials Salary Bill - 3% per year increase for all elected officials.

This encompasses all city elected officials, including Board members.

AB 191 Fuel Tax Indexing - passed and will be put on the 2016 Ballot.

Citizens will be voting to approve that taxes collected from Fuel Sales will go towards road maintenance within the community where they are collected.

SB 29 NACO Home Rule (for operations only)

This replaces Dillon Rule. Essentially this is giving the Board more local authority-- could be a positive for our community.

My short and snappy overview: This had been a very informative hearing, it would very beneficial if the Board could have received these types of updates during the Legislative Session rather than when the Session is over.

 

 

Agenda item# 24C

To accept Staff's recommendation to approve Amendment No. 1 to Contract No. 1314-203 with Marathon Staffing, titled "Temporary Staffing Services" to increase the contract term from June 30, 2015 to June 30, 2017 and allow access to temporary staffing for a not to exceed cost of $1,500,000.00 annually.

Behind the scenes: This agenda packet came without a shed of back up material supporting how the spending of $1,500,000.00 is justifiable.

It is debatable how the Board could approve spending this amount of money without any data to support this proposal. That was my argument and the reasoning behind voting against this proposal.

Agenda item # 27

For Possible Action: To conduct a public hearing and take public comment regarding a proposed plan amendment to the Plan of Expenditure for a one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) sales tax that was originally approved by the Board of Supervisors on February 20, 2014, for public infrastructure projects pursuant to NRS 377B, including but not limited to construction of an animal services facility, a multi-purposes athletic center, and street and pedestrian improvements in the downtown area and Carson Street and William Street/Highway 50 East commercial corridors, and/or other projects as directed by the Board of Supervisors.

The Carson City Board of Supervisors originally approved the Plan of Expenditure for a one-eighth of one percent (0.125%) sales tax pursuant to NRS 377B on February 20, 2014. Because of additional costs required to build the Animal Services Facility, staff is requesting the Board amend the plan to increase the proposed budget of the Animal Services Facility to approximately $4.5 million. Of this amount, sales tax proceeds would account for $4.247 million and contributions the remaining $253,000. The $4.5 million would be used to construct the Animal Services Facility and related site improvements and fund related contingencies.

Personal Commentary: This had been the most monstrous of all agenda items ever discussed. From the open bell to the final curtain call, this should be memorialized as how not to conduct a Board meeting.

2014 Flashback: Main Street, North & South Carson Street, MAC and the Animal Shelter were first voted on within a combine package that fell under the 1/8 of a cent sale tax increase. So the Board voted on ALL of these projects that fell under these parameters. Then each project was voted on separately.

June 18, 2015: What recently transpired at the recent Board meeting was a just a series of serious mistakes and it all boiled down to: “show me the money”.

During this Board meeting, staff made a presentation showing how 3.7 million dollars had been approved by the previous Board (with John McKenna) using the 1/8 of a cent sale taxes to build the Animal Shelter. Staff’s presentation had been a twist of fate. Why? Because, now they (staff) were seeking approval for extra funding from the Board. Why? Because, when the Animal Shelter went out to bid with numerous late change-orders to the original drawings, guess what? Bids came in higher than the $3.7 million dollars that had been approved to build the Animal Shelter.  Staff recommendation: increase taxes to make up the difference.

More from that Board meeting: From the very beginning only one Board member asked staff questions – as most of you guessed – yes, it was me. This led to the discovery that the originally $4.0 million dollars that was formerly set aside could be today accessible and used for the Animal Shelter.

Essentially this story has kind of a Hocus-Pocus type ending, as you shall see. Remember, some of the present day Board members are on the record as saying: “we have needed an Animal Shelter for last 20 years”. This is a true and factual statement. Oddly, not one penny has been set aside in the last 19 years 11 months 29 days for an Animal Shelter.

End result: We had to break from the meeting, why? So that staff could make a new ledger showing exactly how much money there was and where it is located.

Here is a brief outline of how the money added up:

$3,999,999.99 of the originally $4 million was pledged by a motion.

This new funding ledger now includes additional contributions made by the Nevada Humane Society (NHS) at the Board meeting. High praise goes to this organization for their donation.

When added to the funding that CASI (another great organization) pledged, and the public contributions made – then - to the PENNY  – all the funding now was shown on the ledger.

There was no bargaining; there was no compromising; there was no negotiating; and not one penny came from Carson City General Fund or any other city accounts.

What is the next step in this process: The Animal Shelter has gone out to bid; HOPEFULLY it will come back at or under budget. If so, then ground breaking could occur this year. No member of the Board of Supervisors can serve on the Animal Oversight Committee without Board approval. The proper way is for each member of the Board to appoint a citizen to serve, just as the Board did for the Utility Financial Oversight Committee.

Postscript: The end result is, yes – Carson City is getting a much needed Animal Shelter.  Here is the Hocus-Pocus ending – if the Board previously approved $3.7 million to build the Animal Shelter and had every intention of going that route but  then the present day Board amended that amount to $3,999,999.99 million – then - that is without a doubt an increase in taxes, period.

 

Wrapping up  -

Your water rates are schedule to be increased July 1^st and ironically on June 30^th the Utility Financial Oversight Committee will be re-considering the rates they previously approved for commercial (water and sewer) connections charges. Why? Because, three Board members requested it, they believed that some organizations did not have sufficient time or opportunity to appear before the Utility Committee at the previous meeting. Even though this agenda was posted in similar fashion as ever other agenda packets has been posted for the last 30 years. How many organizations will give testimony at this hearing and how will these organizations affect the previously ruling of the Oversight Committee will be most interesting.

 

To You and Your Family – Happy 4^th of July

 

Please forward this to your family, friends and neighbors

Jim Shirk
ILoveCarsonCity@gmail.com
720.5761