The city's new Communications Director has unveiled the Communications Plan. There are two key new systems: OpenGov, which promises to give the public access to city financial data; and Peak Democracy, an online opinion-gathering tool.
If OpenGov delivers as promised, it will be an important and long-overdue step toward transparency. For example, Mayor Barth stated in last week's newsletter that the city had already budgeted for five years of 10% annual increases in pension costs. But to our knowledge, no five-year operating budget has ever been shown to the public, nor could we find any such document online. If the city actually has a plan to pay for pensions as well as the Hall Park operations and debt service, that would be most welcome news indeed!
As for Peak Democracy, it claims to fairly engage the public by creating an online forum that requires commenters to be authenticated. We suspect that its use will be dominated, just as council meetings are, by special interests and a handful of activists. Online surveys get filled out primarily by people on mass e-mail lists when an issue comes up that affects their particular interest. And the council's interest in knowing what the public wants would be more credible if the council hadn't spent the last year doing the exact opposite of what the public clearly and vocally wanted on so many issues: Desert Rose, Prop A, retaining Sabine, pronouncing Vina "excellent," hiring an expensive new Communications Director...
So far I'm not impressed by our CD.
ReplyDeleteEvery dollar pledged to pension increases is TWO dollars not budgeted for necessary infastructure improvements. At last weds council meeting Barth stated she wants Encinitas only better, well dumping millions more towards pensions doesn't make Enc better.
As for Peak Democracy, this city sponsored forum will be used to silence debate on failed city systems, plans, staff and so called city leaders. The city will be able to control who posts, what they post, frequency of posting and the theme and subject of the debate. Good 'ol govt censorship.
Say NO to both.
How do you know they can control who posts? There are reasons to oppose or promote this tool, based on its own merits, without the conspiratorial angle.
DeleteThey can control who
DeletePosts be deleting post they don't like. What rock do you sleep under ??
Agreed. Another failed plan by a failing city manager and failing city council that rated a failing City Manager as "excellent". He is only excellent in his own mind, just like Lynn….. in reality they are both huge failures.
ReplyDeleteCity Council needs to take the first step and fire this City Manager who has a proven track record for devastating Cities' finances.
Fire Vina and eliminate unneeded positions at City Hall. The main objective should be reducing staff costs so the City has more money for projects. They need to establish a cap on how much money goes to the City Hall staff costs. Like Total staff costs shall be no more than 40% of all revenue. Its that simple.
Just like we said one year ago before this huge waste of time spent on jibber jabber "strategic planning, in May when the City starts the discussions about which objectives they consider to be a high priority they will then need to determine a financial plan on how to pay for it.
As we all know, way to much money is going to staff costs and there is no money left for projects. The way to address this issue is get a good City Manager that can reverse this situation. It takes someone with brains and integrity. Gustavo is not the guy and is bad for Encinitas, just like he was bad for Sacramento and Stockton.
Have you noticed that few people are sticking with you on your unfounded accusations about Vina in Sacramento and Stockton? Do you know why? It's because you have yet to provide any evidence that he was solely or even largely responsible for the financial problems there. You can't provide that evidence because it doesn't exist.
DeleteSo why not get off your irrational rant, dig into what's been going on in Encinitas before and since Vina was hired, assign blame more broadly where it belongs, and maybe even offer constructive suggestions?
The fact that you put Vina and Lynn in the same category shows that you're living in your own delusions.
Have you noticed that you are sticking up for him and are a lone voice on a site that is populated by people who want to see him gone? He also was unpopular in his former city. Go back on your own and read the posts as to why people see him as a failed leader and why he is threatening the entire council with his poor standards.
DeleteWe are the customers here and we don't want him. It is that simple!
"The fact that you put Vina and Lynn in the same category shows that you're living in your own delusions." Exactly, 2:22. Thanks.
Delete8:46 undermines his credibility with conspiracy theories lumping together everyone about whom he is bitter; he is again projecting his own ill will and obsession with me onto others, in a failed attempt at guilt by association.
8:46 has been hoisted with his own petard.
You missed the point, 5:05. It is that you condemned him and continue to condemn him for what you imagine was his fault in his past positions. You cannot provide evidence to support your accusations because there is none.
DeleteIf you want to venture into condemnation, dig into what he's truly responsible for in Encinitas. If you assign blame, place it where it's deserved.
There's no power in unfounded accusations. Find the facts and document them. You're just ranting from your imagination.
So called city leaders is right. Encinitas needs real leadership, hasn't been seen in a long time.
ReplyDeleteFirst, from your comments, you wouldn't know 'real' leadership if you ran into it.
DeleteNext, no one in their right mind would volunteer to try and 'lead' the couch potatoes that whine on this blog. This proposed communications tool is open to you if you want to use it. Making up reasons not to participate is exactly what your opponents want: don't disappoint them: do nothing.
The key to this tool is not whether or not your 'whining' will be documented and 'revealed', seen by others/residents/voters: that you see the new tool as 'wanting' because your personal propaganda says more about you than the council, staff or Peak Democracy.
We get it, you want to be recognized, but you are not willing to risk, work or sacrifice to be trusted to lead.
The fact is, this tool is and I quote, should be used to 'guide, not dictate'. But several folks on here won't be satisfied until they have destroyed all those who step onto the firing line of leadership, nor will you/they try and lead: either because it is too hard, or you don't care about anyone but yourself, or more likely, 'whining' is the only 'tool' that you've developed.
Jerome $tocks, Dan Dalager and Roadside Park Bum were always complaining (aka whining) about whining.
DeleteIronic, 5:45, that you label everyone commenting here as whining couch potatoes, yet you must then, by definition, include yourself in that category.
I think we should give the new tools a chance. I had wanted an opportunity for the public, as long as individuals were authenticated, to be able to participate in evaluations of the City Manager and the City Attorney. That was going to be the plan, but that process was defeated by Jace Schwarm, who works for Glenn Sabine, on behalf of the City, Lisa Shaffer and Kristin Gaspar at the second subcommittee meeting on the CM and CA evaluations. This was allegedly based on some undocumented hearsay "advice" from the law firm of Liebert, Cassicy and Whitmore, not backed up by any legal precedent or statutory code. In fact, the advise was contradicted by Terry Francke, general counsel for Calaware, in an e-mail he sent to me and which was also sent to Tony Kranz and the rest of Council.
The way it went down, Council and those being evaluated, were in sole control of the evaluations. To me, Council, under the leadership of Mayor Barth and former Deputy Mayor Shaffer, have been more concerned about control than open government. They could have, but didn't, as promised, bring forth a Sunshine Ordinance. They attempted, in separate Council protocol subcommittee to eliminate time donations for public speakers.
Last visit to Peak Democracy required personal information before using the website. Nice way of tracking.
ReplyDelete9:20
DeleteMaybe they misspelled Peek Democracy.
Most websites that have public comment now require a login via either Facebook, Google Plus or some other application. The goal there is to prevent some of the so called trolling, name calling that occurs on public forums, including this one, despite the efforts of moderators, including WC, who is kind enough to provide this forum.
ReplyDeleteI would have to review the application of Peak Democracy and see the instances where it's used before commenting on it.
Mostly what we're talking about with NeoGov, and OpenGov, are just standard template based applications for applying to jobs and displaying data.
As for Peak Democracy, I am going to dig into it more, but this article I just read has an interesting take..
http://www.dissentmagazine.org/article/politics-fatal-therapeutic-turn
To put it simply, toughen up and put it out there in public. An admittedly hard thing to do in these visible times where jobs are scarce. I'm doing it right now, I work in the web sphere, so sadly I really can't have it out there on this or any blog that potential clients can look up.
-Mr Greenjeans
Mr.GJ- next time say what you mean in as few a words as possible... Your real answer minus all the jibber jabber is NO.
ReplyDeleteRight, but I was taught to substantiate my arguments. In short, Neogov is a yes, opengov I am leaning yes, and Peak Democracy leaning no.
DeleteJust about every site out there has a login, so get used to it, it's not a conspiracy.
-Mr Green Jibber
10:10 AM
DeleteWho said it was a conspiracy.
Peak Democracy registration isn't a login - it is a tracking device. Get used to it if you are NSA.
How is it a tracking device? I'm just starting to read about it. And just FYI, the NSA has spying on the American people for the last 40-50 years, at least now it's out in the open.
DeleteFor more info, read Bamford's "The Puzzle Palace"
-Mr Easy Green Reader
From their site:
Deletehttp://www.peakdemocracy.com/how_it_works
Clearly, it's a heavily moderated forum
http://www.peakdemocracy.com/about_us
My question is, is it worth the cost, and will it really drive the discussion to be more open. My guess is the real answer is now.
-Mr Green Non Moderated Dicussion
I meant the real answer is "no". The key to me is getting responsiveness back in government, and I don't think this is the real answer..
Delete-Mr Green Jeans
The difference between Lynn and Vina is that WE PAY FOR Vina. Lynn is on her own and as a taxpayer, I'm here to judge Vina only: fail!
ReplyDeleteAnd with Vina having identified "28 activists," you better believe the tracking feature was very attractive to the Kabinet.
ReplyDeleteI disagree with that, if he already has this alleged list, he already knows who you are, but that goes with the whole paranoid mindset, and I refuse to go there.
DeleteThey want more feedback, supposedly, and this is a nice, out of the box tool that helps them do it.
My take is I don't think it really will. Apps are just that, you have to have people backing up the promise of the app with action. These things are only as good as the people using them.
If this is the big Comms plan, then our money is not being well spent.
-mr Green Dissapointed
You'd be "paranoid" too, if he'd said that to your face. How rude, GJ!! Don't know how long you've been here, but the city under Stocks has a history of retribution against so-called activists. You apparently have not been on the receiving end, and as an apparent newbie here need to know that bad things have happened to good people.
DeleteNot paranoia: fact.
I've lived in Encinitas for 20 years, and I've opposed Stocks that whole time. I worked on campaigns for Sheila, Teresa, Maggie and on down the line.
DeleteI guess this is too public a forum to discuss retribution, but I will say this. If you put yourself out there in the public arena, I know going in the risk involved and that some people won't like it. That's a risk I'm willing to take, and obviously some on this blog other than you or I are taking bigger risks, because they use their real name.
Again, I'm trying to comment on these apps for what they are intended for and what my view of them is from an IT perspective. You are bringing more into from your experience with Gus and the city. Can they keep a log of all your comments, yes, but they do that now when you use the city website on a form or a request. You have to that with a public information request.
My best advice would be to not use the app if that's your concern.
-Mr Green, Soylent Division
Heavily monitored is a kind word for censorship. Peak Democracy explains their monitoring:
ReplyDeleteWe use in-house staff and patent-pending software to monitor every comment, and our forums follow the order and decorum of a government hearing to maintain civility.
"Decorum" was Stock's all-time favorite word. Hehehe.
DeleteEven better for censorship is Peak Democracy's rule of restricting each participate to only one comment per topic so they can't dominate, argue, or attack each other.
ReplyDeletePeak Democracy shows 1337 forums and 171,918 constituents for an average of 128 people per forum. Hardly a mad rush to use an online social media tool.
ReplyDeletePeak Democracy shows Palo Alto as an example. The Palo Alto site was last updated in 2012, had 1899 visitors and 2 statements out of a population of 66,363.
ReplyDeleteThe powerpoint presentation has taken a lot from the Malcolm Gladwell's book "The Tipping Point". Gladwell's ideas have been hotly debated on our own psychology list serves, and statisticians find a great deal of concern about his methodology. However, I guess we all have to take a wait and see attitude, as there is really nothing else we can do. If the CIty wants transparency that's great. If they don't, those interested in change have to step up and get elected.
ReplyDeleteThat's what we thought Tony and Lisa were interested in and Teresa couldn't wait to enact: change. Three sheep in wolves' clothing. How do we not get hoodwinked again?
DeleteYou don't know, that's the messy part of democracy, you don't get everything you think you want or deserve or were promised.
DeleteI didn't expect everything, just something - geez. Messy yes, 180 degree switcheroo? No.
DeleteBy itself, this Peak Democracy tool is not going to expand transparency or expand the dialogue. It's a tool, and app, a part of the process maybe.
DeleteThe transparency has to come from everyone involved at the city, from workers to planners to council. Only a fraction of the populace will use these tools, the same way only a fraction votes, or goes to meetings.
This might be a good start if there are bigger and more bold plans to be offered in the future, but sadly, I think this might be the big initiative.
It's really not enough, not enough to warrant the Comms position, and frankly, it sounds like someone at the top directing the Comms person to put this stuff in place..
-Mr Greenjeans
One thing seems to have been left out, at least what I could read online. Encinitas demographics shows an aging population and a large number of hispanics. Do these populations use as many of the online features that are being offered right now? Has there been a study on that? Or are we just rushing in to yet another B.S. feel good for staff situation.
ReplyDeleteJust rushin' in.... See this way the CD will have to monitor and direct the conversation.
DeleteA few forum questions -
ReplyDeleteShouldn't Mayor Barth or Deputy Mayor Muir be ribbon cutting at all the new wine bars and breweries.
Shouldn't council members Gaspar, Kranz, Schaffer, Barth, and Muir present more declarations to the alcohol establishments for their fine contribution to the new economic development plan.
Yeah that was a zero integrity move.
ReplyDeleteVina complained about Sacramento residents being "apathetic" when he first arrived and was introducing himself...we should have realized what he was introducing was his brand of "leadership" that results in constituent apathy. He didn't seem to be able to connect the dots and neither, it appears, does our council.
ReplyDeleteRight about now Charlie's new Leucadia club sounds pretty good. Will you invite me to join please? I like what you said and I will quote it "The LC is a non-political club and is a place to escape such things and people with agendas, especially political agendas." I would like a place to discuss other issues of the day or just sit back and play a game of chess. Thanks for considering my request.
ReplyDeleteDo not believe we ladies are welcome, Dr. L.
DeleteI'm sure we are 5:45. At least I will find out. I don't know Charlie personally, but all I can do is ask.
ReplyDeleteDr. L: I heard through certain reliable sources that you are being targeted by a hit piece that you received anonymously in the mail. Are you sure you want to make yourself even more vulnerable by even asking to join? I am seriously worried for you.
ReplyDeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to know the drawbacks if any to Peak Democracy. Sounds great on the surface and with a cursory review online I couldn't find anyone complaining about it, but I'm suspicious of new things, and I know how "the bad news" about any topic can be strategically buried under thousands of pages if not completely purged.
ReplyDelete1. Does this service honor everyone or just Encinitas registered voters? I'd sooner involve only legal registered voter here in Encinitas on any local issue than anyone else.
2. How many voters in Encinitas even have a computer to pipe in with their two bits? I would guess twice as many as 5 years ago, but I think that is an important factor for polling issues and taking the pulse of concerned citizens. Easy to say "All voters have a computer" but I know that's not so, and I barely know a fraction of our total voters.
3. How does John Q. Public verify comments by anyone are not from out of town? Surely private emails are not going to be disclosed to the public.
4. Would shills even be exposed or accountable?
5. I'm all for tools of learning and getting to the right result in the right way, but there's another definition of tool.
6. I understand how "tracking" can be an invasion of privacy. But when it's legal to record your phone conversations without your knowledge, what won't the government do?
Did I miss anything?
One other question I would like to know. Who is going to be the moderator of this forum? Is the it highly paid Comm person. Is that what she will do all day. If so, I'll do it for half the price.
ReplyDeleteI'll do it for a quarter of the price, but will need an endless supply of bagels to me cube!
ReplyDeleteFred, good questions. Like I said, the tool is only as good as the questions asked, and the answers given. There's an old computer saying, "Garbage in, Garbage out". So it all depends on the goals for the Peak Democracy app, how it's set up, and how the data is used.
Most forums online now require some form of login, usually FB. I recommend doing what I do. Sign up for FB using a pseudonym, and create a FB persona with a name other than your own. This allows you to comment on public sites and satisfy the login requirements without giving away the farm.
Most people in this city have a computer in their homes, or can use their phones for the same function. In theory, and theory only, I would think 75% or more of residents would have access via the computer/online.
You can never expose all the shills, I just offered up a way to hide behind a persona. It depends how they set up the tool, what the login process is. I will go to another city's site to check it out and report back.
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0622678.html
Mr Green Sherlock..
http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/06/0622678.html
I really think the city does not need access to my IP address. Vina has already shown his colors with his activists list (perhaps he can't count past 28), and Barth has called those she disagrees with "obstructionists." They do not need my information, as I know going in they are not trustworthy.
ReplyDeleteWho said they will require your IP Address?
Delete-Mr Greenjeans
Mr. Green ?, you are obviously new on this blog and, in my opinion, send rather mixed messages. You can go do your research, but that doesn't mean people are going to act on it.
ReplyDeleteActually, I'm an old hand. My point is simple, obviously the city is not going to provide you an unmoderated forum to bitch at them with.
DeleteThat's why they're getting a tool requiring and authenticated login, to quote unquote keep unwanted trolls from controlling the dialogue, so to speak.
If you don't want to deal with your information on their site, don't go there.
-Mr. Green IT
more blogging from the city spin doctor.
DeleteQuiet down folks. This is NOT, I repeat, NOT a democracy and you will do as I tell you.
ReplyDeleteGustavio
OK I will call one of their people that I found online. He is in Carlsbad.
ReplyDeleteGreg Hermann is a public management professional and currently serves as a Senior Analyst for the City Manager in Carlsbad, CA. Greg specializes in implementing technology solutions that save money, improve service and provide increased access to information. Greg’s current projects focus on the idea of on-demand government, utilizing apps to allow people to interact with government on their schedule. Prior to Carlsbad, Greg worked for the cities of Palo Alto and San Luis Obispo.
Just call me Sherlock.
Disband Encinitas City Hall.
DeleteAnd more:
ReplyDeletePeak Democracy Inc
1900 Addison St. Suite 200
Berkeley, California 94704
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Revenue: $5 mil. - $10 mil.
Employees: 20 - 50
Industry: Government
Company Description: Peak Democracy, Inc. develops internet software that augments and diversifies online civic engagement in ways that can increase public trust in government. The Company's flagship product, Open Town Hall, has trail-blazed a new software market called government online public comment forums. Open Town Hall's online public comment forums have the order and decorum of government meetings -- making them civil and legal as well as insightful, easy to use and inexpensive. Over 50 government agencies across the US have used Open Town Hall to power more than 800 online public comment forums that have attracted over 80,000 online attendees and have garnered a user satisfaction rating of over 96%. Peak Democracy has been an Alliance for Innovation strategic partner since 2009.
This comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteUh-huh. "Ways that can increase public trust in government...." Sounds like an IRS ad. Encinitas' City Hall is untrustworthy; why would something they implement be trustworthy?? No, thanks.
ReplyDeleteTo bad-they already bought it so everyone can stop looking. We did not get consulted,as usual, so we now have another full time employee who will job her work out to this organization. Wow, seems like some people are making way too much money, and not necessarily getting it directly from our taxpayers. For example insurance brokers get a commission on their sales; stock brokers get a commission for selling certain stocks; I think you get my drift. I wonder if that extra money will got to the City coffers or in a few people's hands?
ReplyDeleteDump Peak Democracy
ReplyDeleteI guess there is a run on tin foil at the grocery stores. Although I can't verify whether the same people who complain about lack of input are the same ones complaining now about Peak Democracy but it sounds like it. There are complaints here that those who show up at town hall meetings like the 101 streetscape and general plan update don't represent their views but now complain about using an online forum to supplement those attending.
ReplyDeleteJust as you will be recognized if you attend a meeting, there needs to be some way to insure that the input given in an online forum is unique and representative. If you're too intimidated by that, don't send email, don't phone, and not interested enough to go to meetings then too bad.
I think most Encinitas residents believe the city is doing just fine and aren't motivated to become active. That's doesn't mean they won't become active if the right issue comes along but on the whole they're satisfied. Many of you will claim they are blind and/or ignorant of the truth but then it's your job to convince them. And posting solely on this blog won't get it done.
Ok so tell me something I don't know....you typed a lot of words to state the obvious.
DeleteObvious to you maybe.
Deletetalking to our Council members about eliminating the unneeded position of "communication czar" is what we need to do….
Deletea position costing tax payers $135,000 to blog in favor or flawed actions of a inept City Manager.
Council needs to fire Vina. You are avoiding your primary responsibility to your constituents and we are awake to your wrong doings. Vina is NOT "Excellent" for Encinitas. Only Excellent at leading city's into more financial woes. Time for continued change on City Council next election.
We need a Council that will give us a good City Manager
I'm all for input...but we've been burned repeatedly by "98% of the people like the beach" so-called input sessions that wasted our time.
ReplyDeleteThis new and improved version tracks us and that's another level of stupid I don't need.
Agreed. So we have a few software programs the City is acquiring to help with transparency and communicating with residents- big deal?
ReplyDelete…. besides a generic lengthy presentation prepared by some one else or any City, what is the substance to the objectives and implementation measures of the "new" the Communication Plan?
google earth allows you to actually see the building where you are,
ReplyDeletenot only on the street where the property is
located. Meyers continues on to describe the correlation between this "shrinkage" and the presence of "sitelinks" within listings.
All you've to do is to uncover the link on the blogsite you will be adhering to every day.