Time for charter changes

[shadows]

Lets amend the charter.

20 years have passed since we made a drastic change in the city charter.  We have moved from a prospers city to the edge of bankruptcy.  We have encouraged city employees to move to the suburbs,  We try to bring the business back downtown that we moved out during the two decades.  It is time to make changes.

1. Change the council to full time positions.
2. Council appoint a protocol Mayor.
3. Council hire City Manager who answers to the council.
4. Council assumes duties of all authorities, boards and trusts retiring all such that now exist.
5. Council hires audit firm that reports to council with subjections on how to save money and combine city services.
6. Council oversee all department heads.
7. City employees (meter maids) take police reports on secondary crimes.
8. Fire department on 8 hour shifts.
9. Set a wage scale for all city employees.

The war between the states in 1860 was caused from the fallout of the industrial revolution.  Lets prepare now for the fallout of the electronic age as it brings increased unemployment eliminating jobs.   

[waterboy]

Provocative ideas. I like a lot of them.  Perhaps you could illucidate on some of them. It puts a lot of power into the hands of councilors. Appointed Mayor as protocol? That really swings the power to a committee of politicos and creates a leadership vacuum that would put the councillors at odds as they jockey for position. Call me old fashioned but I like the balance of powers that our founding fathers created; legislative, executive and judicial. The mayor/council should be in some balance.

And who would spearhead such a movement? Cause it isn't going to happen on its own. Too much change and too much power at stake. The only reason we changed it 20 years ago was because of a potential law suit.

BTW, too simplistic with the Civil War reference. There were lots of issues, cultural, societal, industrial and political. But I get your point. This is a time of similar upheaval.

[FOTD]

Provocative ideas. I like a lot of them.  Perhaps you could illucidate on some of them. It puts a lot of power into the hands of councilors. Appointed Mayor as protocol? That really swings the power to a committee of politicos and creates a leadership vacuum that would put the councillors at odds as they jockey for position. Call me old fashioned but I like the balance of powers that our founding fathers created; legislative, executive and judicial. The mayor/council should be in some balance.

And who would spearhead such a movement? Cause it isn't going to happen on its own. Too much change and too much power at stake. The only reason we changed it 20 years ago was because of a potential law suit.

BTW, too simplistic with the Civil War reference. There were lots of issues, cultural, societal, industrial and political. But I get your point. This is a time of similar upheaval.

At the time this came up, FOTD was working weekly with Charlie Norman begging him not to act out of fear of a lawsuit. That lawsuit that scared us would have been negated. So, don't say the devil was in any of these details.

Shadows. #3 ...head of Public Werks and Kier are our sity managers.
              #4 ....will never get past the oligarch egos and their dollar commitments...

    and good luck with that full time corrupt councilor stuff.....

The rest of your ideas seem good.

[Wilbur]

Lets amend the charter.

20 years have passed since we made a drastic change in the city charter.  We have moved from a prospers city to the edge of bankruptcy.  We have encouraged city employees to move to the suburbs,  We try to bring the business back downtown that we moved out during the two decades.  It is time to make changes.

1. Change the council to full time positions.
Not enough stuff for them to do.

2. Council appoint a protocol Mayor.
Only as a volunteer.  Not paying for someone to cut ribbons.

3. Council hire City Manager who answers to the council.
City Manager or Mayor.  Doesn't matter.  Came from a city with a city manager form a government.  Just as political, if not more, then the mayor form of government.

4. Council assumes duties of all authorities, boards and trusts retiring all such that now exist.
I think I like this one.

5. Council hires audit firm that reports to council with subjections on how to save money and combine city services.
I like this one too.

6. Council oversee all department heads.
No way.  Nine bosses gets no work done.  Someone has to make decisions.

7. City employees (meter maids) take police reports on secondary crimes.
Already being done with light duty police employees.  Not a city charter item.  This is simply a policy issue.

8. Fire department on 8 hour shifts.
Don't care.  Not a city charter issue.  This would be a contract issue.

9. Set a wage scale for all city employees.
Not sure what you mean.  Most already have this if I interpret this correctly.

The war between the states in 1860 was caused from the fallout of the industrial revolution.  Lets prepare now for the fallout of the electronic age as it brings increased unemployment eliminating jobs.   

[shadows]

1. Change the council to full time positions.
Not enough stuff for them to do.
( Efficiency surveys say now too many Chiefs not enough Indians)

2. Council appoint a protocol Mayor.
Only as a volunteer. Not paying for someone to cut ribbons.
( from among the councilors)

3. Council hire City Manager who answers to the council.
City Manager or Mayor. Doesn't matter. Came from a city with a city manager form a government. Just as political, if not more, then the mayor form of government.
(existing charter "City of Tulsa as a body Politic)

6. Council oversee all department heads.
No way. Nine bosses gets no work done. Someone has to make decisions.
(Article 111 Mayor  section 1.4 A through Q  "Note O after Provide" in existing charter)

7. City employees (meter maids) take police reports on secondary crimes.
Already being done with light duty police employees. Not a city charter item. This is simply a policy issue.
(Included under "O")

8. Fire department on 8 hour shifts.
Don't care. Not a city charter issue. This would be a contract issue.
(see Article X1  Fire Department in existing charter)

9. Set a wage scale for all city employees.
Not sure what you mean. Most already have this if I interpret this correctly.
( Use a format like the Davis-Bacon Act include the 16 political patrons of the mayor office)