| www.PositiveChangeForBurnsville.com |
Transparency in Government
In our busy world, we can’t always take the time to attend city council
meetings and personally monitor our government in action. Local
cable access allows us to watch city council meetings. You might not
be aware that many decisions are made by our city council during work
sessions, and later formalized at city council meetings. It is in the
work session venue where much of the debate between council
members occurs. Until very recently, the work sessions were NOT
afforded public transparency through the same cable access.
We humbly, but rightfully, feel that our efforts were instrumental to
have these meetings now televised via cable access. We called for
the council to televise work sessions upon creation of this website in
early 2008. The decision to film the work sessions was made in
January 2009, following the addition of new council member Mary
Sherry. Prior to this time, any attempt or suggestion of having the
work sessions televised was quickly dismissed by the council majority
consisting of Mayor Kautz, Liz Workman and Dan Gustafson. With Liz
Workman no longer on the Council, the proper consideration and
debate could be had on this important public access issue. That is a
demonstration of positive change, and an indicator of what can be
done when groups of dedicated citizens band together for the
common good.
While these meetings have been, and are open to the public, there is
rarely an opportunity for the public to address the council during a
work session. Since these sessions are really the work shop for
issues and are usually openly discussed and debated among council
members, it would seem to be a great opportunity for our governing
representatives to tap the vast pool of talent in Burnsville for their
views about issues. Many citizens of Burnsville are experts in their
professional fields. Now that government decision-making is
transparent at these sessions, it will serve to increase citizen
involvement, and increase the likelihood of the city council hearing a
viewpoint not previously considered, if citizens are allowed their input
at this crucial point of the decision process. Although there is a
provision for citizen comments at regular council meetings, the
council members usually already make voting decisions by that time,
making the citizen comments a “routine” exercise, some might say in
futility.
Consider another alternative for greater transparency by our elected
officials. Eden Prairie and Edina have instituted town hall sessions for
their residents, so their citizens can be heard on any city subject that
affects them. Typically, they are able to receive answers from the
officials – elected and staff - in attendance at the meetings, or with
committed follow up answers for those issues that cannot be
immediately answered. The less formal settings are attributed as a
success factor by those cities, which consider this a successful
venture, with plans to expand on this type of meetings. Their meeting
location was in their council chambers, a setting far more conducive to
citizen participation than a single city official holding court in a
commercial establishment.
In a current issue of lack of transparency, it appears that city officials
are trying to shroud required reports of success, or lack of it,
regarding the Performing Arts Center. The contract for management
of PAC with VenuWorks stipulates a required report of the financial
affairs at specific intervals. The first report was so sketchy in detail
that no meaningful determination could be made about the real results
of this city owned and operated center. In addition, the timing of the
submission of the report was not met by VenuWorks, which should
have triggered a penalty for the manager of the PAC. That did not
happen because, incredibly, in the words of the city, VenuWorks was
in compliance with the contract. Succeeding required monthly reports
have not been filed, and city officials still consider the management
company to be in compliance with the contract.
In our busy world, we can’t always take the time to attend city council
meetings and personally monitor our government in action. Local
cable access allows us to watch city council meetings. You might not
be aware that many decisions are made by our city council during work
sessions, and later formalized at city council meetings. It is in the
work session venue where much of the debate between council
members occurs. Until very recently, the work sessions were NOT
afforded public transparency through the same cable access.
We humbly, but rightfully, feel that our efforts were instrumental to
have these meetings now televised via cable access. We called for
the council to televise work sessions upon creation of this website in
early 2008. The decision to film the work sessions was made in
January 2009, following the addition of new council member Mary
Sherry. Prior to this time, any attempt or suggestion of having the
work sessions televised was quickly dismissed by the council majority
consisting of Mayor Kautz, Liz Workman and Dan Gustafson. With Liz
Workman no longer on the Council, the proper consideration and
debate could be had on this important public access issue. That is a
demonstration of positive change, and an indicator of what can be
done when groups of dedicated citizens band together for the
common good.
While these meetings have been, and are open to the public, there is
rarely an opportunity for the public to address the council during a
work session. Since these sessions are really the work shop for
issues and are usually openly discussed and debated among council
members, it would seem to be a great opportunity for our governing
representatives to tap the vast pool of talent in Burnsville for their
views about issues. Many citizens of Burnsville are experts in their
professional fields. Now that government decision-making is
transparent at these sessions, it will serve to increase citizen
involvement, and increase the likelihood of the city council hearing a
viewpoint not previously considered, if citizens are allowed their input
at this crucial point of the decision process. Although there is a
provision for citizen comments at regular council meetings, the
council members usually already make voting decisions by that time,
making the citizen comments a “routine” exercise, some might say in
futility.
Consider another alternative for greater transparency by our elected
officials. Eden Prairie and Edina have instituted town hall sessions for
their residents, so their citizens can be heard on any city subject that
affects them. Typically, they are able to receive answers from the
officials – elected and staff - in attendance at the meetings, or with
committed follow up answers for those issues that cannot be
immediately answered. The less formal settings are attributed as a
success factor by those cities, which consider this a successful
venture, with plans to expand on this type of meetings. Their meeting
location was in their council chambers, a setting far more conducive to
citizen participation than a single city official holding court in a
commercial establishment.
In a current issue of lack of transparency, it appears that city officials
are trying to shroud required reports of success, or lack of it,
regarding the Performing Arts Center. The contract for management
of PAC with VenuWorks stipulates a required report of the financial
affairs at specific intervals. The first report was so sketchy in detail
that no meaningful determination could be made about the real results
of this city owned and operated center. In addition, the timing of the
submission of the report was not met by VenuWorks, which should
have triggered a penalty for the manager of the PAC. That did not
happen because, incredibly, in the words of the city, VenuWorks was
in compliance with the contract. Succeeding required monthly reports
have not been filed, and city officials still consider the management
company to be in compliance with the contract.
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