Is INCOG still a necessary evil?

[spoonbill]

It was formed to make the process easier between local governments.  This was during a time before access to online services and email.  It made the process of working with representatives from each government easier for the common man.

Today it seems to be a self-sustaining regulatory roadblock between local governments, developers and progress in general.  I believe that today if these functions were moved back to the individual governments, the process would be much more streamlined.  INCOG could function as nothing more than an online collaboration between the various jurisdictions.  This would certainly make things less expensive.

Your thoughts?

[bacjz00]

I think this makes WAAAAY too much sense.

[inteller]

I think if INCOG was moved more into a neighborhood advocate role I could accept that.  I DO NOT want it made easier for developers to do and get their way.  There are SOME people at INCOG that make sure developers dot their i's and cross their t's and don't let them get away with murder.  We NEED those people.

If you let developers talk to directly to elected officials you would see some of the worst, evil development ever.  

What we DO need to do is get rid of anyone on the TMAPC board who has ANY tie to development.  They sneak their way on that board by way of mayoral appointment which I'm sure is directly proportional to how much they contribute to the mayor's campaign.  It is scary because these people will hold to the mayor's bidding.

[RecycleMichael]

Untrue, once again, inteller.

Most appointees have nothing to do with any election campaign.

Why do you feel compelled to slander?

[Kenosha]

You do realize that INCOG does more than just staff the TMAPC?

Transportation Planning, Environmental Services, Community Planning, Mapping... all part of INCOG's role.  The Land Development side is just the most visible portion.  The Transportation Division is responsible for planning all of our roadways and transportation alternatives.  Should we not have that be a regional function?  Can you imagine if individual cities took over that role?  We'd have haphazard, uncoordinated transportation planning.  Furthermore, millions of Federal and State dollars are funneled through the MPO as it is a requirement in order for communities to recieve them.

[spoonbill]

quote:Originally posted by Kenosha

You do realize that INCOG does more than just staff the TMAPC?

Transportation Planning, Environmental Services, Community Planning, Mapping... all part of INCOG's role.  The Land Development side is just the most visible portion.  The Transportation Division is responsible for planning all of our roadways and transportation alternatives.  Should we not have that be a regional function?  Can you imagine if individual cities took over that role?  We'd have haphazard, uncoordinated transportation planning.  Furthermore, millions of Federal and State dollars are funneled through the MPO as it is a requirement in order for communities to recieve them.

Yes I do, but within INCOG, these functions are performed my members of the respective jurisdictions and municipalities.  INCOG only serves as a coordination and administrative tool.  I still feel that coordination can take place without a slow, secondary, and for the most part redundant dinosaur.  

The mapping function that they produce uses antiquated systems and software.  Most of your large development organizations and municipalities use GIS systems that include current zoning, terrain, soils, underground utilities and a host of other forms of information in a 3D navigable format.  INCOG is still producing huge maps in PDF and paper form.

These people need to be moved back into regional and state government.

[booWorld]

On the land planning and zoning administration side of things, I'd like to see all or most of the planning for Tulsa fall to a City planning department.

And for all of my criticisms of INCOG, I must admit that there are some very good people working there.  In general, I did not appreciate the treatment I received when my property was down-zoned against my wishes.  I began to delve into the process itself, and IMO it's messed up.  Many or even most of the employees at INCOG are caught in a situation well beyond their control.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

Untrue, once again, inteller.

Most appointees have nothing to do with any election campaign.

Why do you feel compelled to slander?

Keith McArtor, former chairman of Tulsa County Democratic Party, appointed by Krazy Kathy in April 2007....oh yeah there is no connection there []......you tool.  

It really is ok, you aren't required to defend the cronies upstairs from you.

[RecycleMichael]

She has appointed hundreds of people to various boards and you picked one?

I went back to the list of contributors printed in the Tulsa World in 2006 and his name was not on it.

I am guessing either you are lying or just assuming that a past county democrat leader gave money to a democrat candidate for Mayor.

Most of the other posters are willing to add positively to the forum or are willing to back it up. You do neither.

Your lies and constant negativity hurt us all.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by spoonbill

quote:Originally posted by Kenosha

You do realize that INCOG does more than just staff the TMAPC?

Transportation Planning, Environmental Services, Community Planning, Mapping... all part of INCOG's role.  The Land Development side is just the most visible portion.  The Transportation Division is responsible for planning all of our roadways and transportation alternatives.  Should we not have that be a regional function?  Can you imagine if individual cities took over that role?  We'd have haphazard, uncoordinated transportation planning.  Furthermore, millions of Federal and State dollars are funneled through the MPO as it is a requirement in order for communities to recieve them.

Yes I do, but within INCOG, these functions are performed my members of the respective jurisdictions and municipalities.  INCOG only serves as a coordination and administrative tool.  I still feel that coordination can take place without a slow, secondary, and for the most part redundant dinosaur.  

The mapping function that they produce uses antiquated systems and software.  Most of your large development organizations and municipalities use GIS systems that include current zoning, terrain, soils, underground utilities and a host of other forms of information in a 3D navigable format.  INCOG is still producing huge maps in PDF and paper form.

These people need to be moved back into regional and state government.

oh, don't get me started on INCOG's (lacking) GIS.

The City of Owasso has a better GIS than this "county wide" organization.

[inteller]

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

She has appointed hundreds of people to various boards and you picked one?

I went back to the list of contributors printed in the Tulsa World in 2006 and his name was not on it.

I am guessing either you are lying or just assuming that a past county democrat leader gave money to a democrat candidate for Mayor.

Most of the other posters are willing to add positively to the forum or are willing to back it up. You do neither.

Your lies and constant negativity hurt us all.

I'm only speaking of the TMAPC which is at the center of debate on this thread.  She has only had the opportunity to appoint 3 people to that board.  Of those 3, one is the former local Dem leader, one is a developer (homebuilder) and the other is an architect that serves many of the developers around here.  Conflicts of interest all over the place.  

There aren't enough hours in the day to discuss the back scratching appointing that has been done for other boards.  I never said anything about MONETARY contributions twit.

[RecycleMichael]

Again your facts are wrong. Do you not realize that people on this forum will call you on it?

She has appointed four people to the board so far and at least one of them doesn't fit your description.

Stop and do your homework before you call out the word "putz".

[spoonbill]

Fight! Fight! Fight!

[RecycleMichael]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

They sneak their way on that board by way of mayoral appointment which I'm sure is directly proportional to how much they contribute to the mayor's campaign.  

What other way to you mean they contribute?

[spoonbill]

quote:Originally posted by inteller

quote:Originally posted by RecycleMichael

She has appointed hundreds of people to various boards and you picked one?

I went back to the list of contributors printed in the Tulsa World in 2006 and his name was not on it.

I am guessing either you are lying or just assuming that a past county democrat leader gave money to a democrat candidate for Mayor.

Most of the other posters are willing to add positively to the forum or are willing to back it up. You do neither.

Your lies and constant negativity hurt us all.

I'm only speaking of the TMAPC which is at the center of debate on this thread.  She has only had the opportunity to appoint 3 people to that board.  Of those 3, one is the former local Dem leader, one is a developer (homebuilder) and the other is an architect that serves many of the developers around here.  Conflicts of interest all over the place.  

There aren't enough hours in the day to discuss the back scratching appointing that has been done for other boards.  I never said anything about MONETARY contributions twit.

Inteller,
It is advantageous to have members who understand planning, development and architecture at a very high degree.  It is also advantageous for these people to be successful in their communities.  Successful people usually have political ties and opinions.  This is simply part of doing business.  

I have no problem with the members of the planning commission, in fact I think the current staff is an excellent mix with some great intellectual gifts and experience.

If appointments were made to those who have no development, architecture, or engineering experience, the commission would be clown parade.  I would have to spend half my time trying to explain things to them using finger puppets.

I just think the underpinning of INCOG needs to be rethought.