As amazed as we are at the silliness and technological amateurishness of the city's Peak Democracy web forum, we often lose sight of how nefarious the idea behind the software is. Peak Democracy is designed to create the appearance of public participation while allowing insiders to control the debate.
Thanks to Al Rodbell for reminding us in the Coast News.
Great points. These are the same problems that he anticipated going out the door.
ReplyDeleteIt's obvious to anyone with any sense that selection from multiple bad choices is anything but "Democracy", and is not a "Dialog". The word that comes to mind is "Peak Autocracy".
ReplyDeleteI wonder if they'll use PD to ask the public about naming a dog doody trash can after TB ?? Seems like a good use for PD.
ReplyDeleteNot really related but I wanted to ask anyway.
ReplyDeleteI have heard Shaffer is not running again in 2016. So, who do we want to run? It has to be a person who has been around the city a while; doesn't have too much baggage; is willing to take months out of their life to run (and money); and then serve for four years while people find reasons that they are not perfect. It's a hard gig and one not too many people without huge egos, or no job, are willing to take on. Think of who we have had, and have now. Stocks-insurance salesman; Dalager-knife sharpener; Guerin-didsability queen; Kranz-huge ego now that Ecke will talk to him; Muir-retired; Gaspar- who knows; Barth-retired; Shaffer-depends on what day you talk to her; and so many others. Maggie truly seemed to have a passion for our community and that spoke volumes to me. I didn't always agree with her, but I admired her commitment. So, who are the others that have been any good?
11:43,
DeleteThat deafening silence is your answer.
This is the wrong place to discuss constructive abd practical solutions.
Come back when you want to wax paranoid, rant mindlessly, and flap your arms.
Harumph,
-Anon.
6:38- Right now I will chalk it up to it's a gorgeous day and everyone is out enjoying the paradise we call home. If, on the other hand, it gets completely ignored, I would have to say you're right. Let's see. I'll check in tomorrow evening and see:)
DeleteMuir said he could collaborate with Ronald McDonald. .In N' Out doesn't have a mascot.
ReplyDeleteI have to believe that we will continue to have the same caliber of people that we have now, as we have had in the past. Not one person has stood out that has truly made an impact IMHO on this city.
ReplyDeleteIt appears those on council like "getting in bed" with the developers, while we the citizens get screwed time and time again.
If the council isn't protecting the fire fighters, the police, and the city staff with their fancy salaries and big pensions, then there is no hope for the people who actually pay those bills.
At one time I thought incorporating was a good idea, but since the ones who are serving us have and are ego driven, I am beginning to think maybe deincorporating would be beneficial.
We need strong leaders and we don't have them. We need people who are not afraid to say "no" to a developer. I don't look for that happening.
Peak Democracy is not a voice of this city. It is the voice of a handful of people, not representative of all of us. If this information is going to be used, then I can only imagine what this city will become.
8:59 PM
Delete"Peak Democracy is not a voice of this city. It is the voice of a handful of people, not representative of all of us. If this information is going to be used, then I can only imagine what this city will become."
Said on a blog that has maybe 50-100 regular commenters almost all of whom post anonymously. Talk about being the voice of only a handful a people.
It's funny that for all the talk of doom here, people keep moving to Encinitas and paying ever higher home prices. It must be that whole beach aura that entices people to move to an area even though it's going to the dogs or maybe they just aren't the right kind of people.
So what? People were moving to Rome and it had a total collapse.
DeleteWhat your point. My point is tax payers including myself are tire of being screwed. Kranz and the other clowns will be voted out next election. Just like $tock$ and Dalager were voted out. In fact, Kranz acts nearly identical to Dalagher, hence the term- Dalakranz!
Dalakranz - hilarious! Instead of a free stove, it appears to be free drinks.
DeleteKranzager
Delete3:29 PM
DeleteActually, those who could left Rome before the collapse or at least made sure they had residences to go to. I don't see what the fall of Rome has to do with Encinitas. That's really stretching analogies.
If people think the county would be more responsive to Encinitas residents and less deferential to developers they are living in a dream world. And I don't think the council is deferential to developers, although several may be more sympathetic than people here think they should be.
But as long as you can create cute little monikers like "$tock$", "Dalakranz", or "Kranzager" it's all good.
Maybe people here don't get involved because they see the kind of crap they would have to put up with, as those on the sidelines try to best each other tearing them down. As I predicted, some commenters are already laying into Blakespear and she has only been in office less than two months.
What is my point 3:29 PM? Lack of self-awareness.
6:47 Have to laugh as you are the one that needs to get in touch with reality. The truth is more people are moving out of CA, including Encinitas because they can not afford to live here. Get in touch with the "real" world before spouting. off. The people that are buying homes here are actually moving up. We are not getting a full influx of outsiders.
DeleteAlso, some of the people from the outside (LA area) that are buying here might use it sparingly as a vacation home for a short period of time, or rent it out.
No one said this blog represents the people of this city. We enjoy putting out our ideas and comments. If you don't like what you read here, please move along.
In terms of Blakespear, she has already begun to show her true colors of why she wanted to be on council. I could see that from her campaign and didn't vote for her.
Delete8:04 PM
DeleteYes, during the Great Recession (GR) California experienced net out-migration which probably included some from Encinitas and in-migration hasn't increased enough in the past few years to overtake natural increase (births over deaths) as the largest percentage of population increase. Some predict that will remain the case for the foreseeable future. There is also the aging of the population where retirees move out due to the high cost of living.
But the Encinitas real estate market remained strong even during the GR and then jumped as the economy started to rebound although that has tapered off in the last year or so.
So I agree that affordability plays a role here. Most of us can't afford our house if we had to buy today with only 20% down, even with the low rates. So who is buying these houses. Some I'm sure are trade ups by locals but the majority are from outside Encinitas whether from the San Diego area, California or out of state. A lot of people want to live here. Whether or not this is a good thing, the new homes being built in Encinitas are going fast.
I am in touch with the real world even when I don't like the results. You, and others, may feel that "your" Encinitas is going downhill but there are plenty of others willing to take your place.
San Diego County (and presumably Encinitas) remained net-positive migration through the recession due to refugees from LA and OC:
Deletelink
They're escaping densification there only to bring it here.
I'm curious. Over the years people have told me that they would love to live in San Diego. I also see that quoted a lot as well. So do you consider these people refugees? Is everyone who moves here a refugee?
DeleteI worked in Orange county for many years and there are areas there that are just as nice and low density as Encinitas but I never wanted to live there. A lot of my friends there loved it but not me.
Encinitas - a city for 25 years, population 60,000, with a pension debt of $30 million. What will it be in another 5 to 10 years?
ReplyDeleteCity of 30 years. population 63,000 (can't fit many more on bad unkept roads) and debt of $60 million with our pension hogs at the trough.
ReplyDeleteEncinitas will be fine.
DeleteDefined benefit retirement plans are a big problem. The private sector did away with them in the 90's.
The public sector unions have a strong hand, and little incentive to compromise right now. Eventually, the underfunding will come home to roost, but it will manifest in weaker economies first. The value of coastal CA real estate (and the attendant tax revenues), and the sales taxes, etc. will sustain places like Encinitas longer than other spots.
Eventually, a contagion of municipal bankruptcies in weaker localles will pressure public sector unions to accept transition to defined contribution plans.
The change will happen; some cities will default as part of the process; Encinitas will not be one of them; the process will play out over decades.
Well said, 10:17.
DeleteI would add that road maintenance will be underfunded, high-density development will be promoted, and a downtown late-night drunk scene will be tolerated in order to allow our politicians to continue ignoring the pension problem.
Well said EU!
DeleteDe-incorporate. Could County control be any worse?
ReplyDeleteProbably better than what we've been stuck with.
DeleteWhile I focused my criticism on Peak Democracy company, in this same Coast News issue was a story about Del Mar contracting with a similar service, MindMixer. The way to understand these companies is by examining the verbiage that no one reads accessed by clicking the box "I agree." Those are known as terms of service (TOS) and are legal contracts that the user makes with the company.
ReplyDeleteIt looks like "Mindmixer" while sharing many of the same problems as P.D. is actually more pernicious. They have a number of terms that while not enforceable do threaten the cost of defending a civil suit. It may be the "virtual town hall" industry is a useful way to conceptualize this.
Back to a local level, our city never used this service to get feedback on the purchase of Pacific View, even though Mayor Gaspar told me she suggested this to Gus Vina. It's use to get input on hours of dog parks and not on meaningful issues, like a ten million dollar purchase, shows the power of the illusion of an open city hall.
It would be useful to go back to the Coast News article linked in the introduction, and make a comment on their site, as it will show that readers are interested in subjects such as this.
"... our city never used this service to get feedback on the purchase of Pacific View, even though Mayor Gaspar told me she suggested this to Gus Vina". You mean like take a survey? I thought that was verboten.
DeleteIn terms of use they say "Socialmentum [MindMixer] may, at any time without notice and in its sole discretion, inactivate, make unavailable and take other appropriate action with respect to messages, information or files which Socialmentum, in its sole discretion, deems objectionable or otherwise in violation of the Terms of Use". Not like EU (in his/her sole discretion) doesn't remove some comments here deemed objectionable.
Finally, "They have a number of terms that while not enforceable do threaten the cost of defending a civil suit." Which terms?
Oh, by the way. EU uses blogger which is a Google service. You don't see any link to Terms of Service here but they are available if you look hard enough (http://www.google.com/intl/en/policies/terms/).
DeleteHere is one section from the Terms of Service last modified April 14, 2014:
Your Content in our Services
Some of our Services allow you to upload, submit, store, send or receive content. You retain ownership of any intellectual property rights that you hold in that content. In short, what belongs to you stays yours.
When you upload, submit, store, send or receive content to or through our Services, you give Google (and those we work with) a worldwide license to use, host, store, reproduce, modify, create derivative works (such as those resulting from translations, adaptations or other changes we make so that your content works better with our Services), communicate, publish, publicly perform, publicly display and distribute such content. The rights you grant in this license are for the limited purpose of operating, promoting, and improving our Services, and to develop new ones. This license continues even if you stop using our Services (for example, for a business listing you have added to Google Maps). Some Services may offer you ways to access and remove content that has been provided to that Service. Also, in some of our Services, there are terms or settings that narrow the scope of our use of the content submitted in those Services. Make sure you have the necessary rights to grant us this license for any content that you submit to our Services.
Our automated systems analyze your content (including emails) to provide you personally relevant product features, such as customized search results, tailored advertising, and spam and malware detection. This analysis occurs as the content is sent, received, and when it is stored.
If you have a Google Account, we may display your Profile name, Profile photo, and actions you take on Google or on third-party applications connected to your Google Account (such as +1’s, reviews you write and comments you post) in our Services, including displaying in ads and other commercial contexts. We will respect the choices you make to limit sharing or visibility settings in your Google Account. For example, you can choose your settings so your name and photo do not appear in an ad.
You can find more information about how Google uses and stores content in the privacy policy or additional terms for particular Services. If you submit feedback or suggestions about our Services, we may use your feedback or suggestions without obligation to you.
So what happened to the Blogger Terms of Service post?
DeleteThe specific terms of service that are unenforceable are prohibition of copying any of their website. What they should have stated, given this is to be merged into a public-governmental agency is that it could not be used for commercial purposes. Copying for commentary such as I did of part of Peak Democracy on my FocusOnEncinitas website is legal under the Fair Use doctrine of copyright law.
DeleteThere are other clauses, such as simply browsing the site constitutes acceptance of the Terms of Service contract. These are extreme stretches that cast a pall over discussions of what is meant to be a public utility
Thanks for responding. I had posted similar terms of service for this website which is owned by Google but it appears to have been removed. Yes, I do understand the difference between public and private but my point is both are similar.
DeleteThere is an overreach philosophy in many Internet related terms of service which as you point out are probably unenforceable. Did you know that Google reserves the right to "read" your email with the goal of providing you personalized services. And yes, Google also claims that you agree to these terms by accessing their services. So like it or not, in Google's eyes we have both agreed to their terms.
Anyway, after years in the IT profession I've come to ignore these broad stroked claims. The terms are standard for all PD and MindMixer sites as they are hosted by the firms for the cities.
Good points. I simply agree to the Google TOS since I value the services they provide, such as blogspot and of course the search engine. The difference is that Peak Democracy and MindMixer are providing mostly commodity software available open source, or at very low license fee.
DeleteThey are "selling the sizzle not the steak" and getting away with it from uninformed and unmotivated city officials. Absurd TOS clauses do have to be accepted by individuals trusting they will not be abused, but not by the city who represents them and has the clout to refine the verbiage. .
8:30/10:27,
DeleteIt was caught in Google/Blogger's spam filter. I just released it.
Thanks EU. That actually made my day. An excerpt from Google's own terms of service getting caught in their spam filter.
Delete11:26 AM
DeleteNot to belabor this but Peak Democracy and MindMixer are selling a service as much as a product and many open source licenses allow the code to be included with larger proprietary packages as long as the licenses terms are followed. I have seen over the years where companies try to make existing software and data proprietary by just making minor changes. That's pretty despicable.
However, I'm not bothered by the city's use of Peak Democracy if it will widen public input. I'm comfortable that any abuses will be minimal. Besides the ultimate public input on the housing element will be at the ballot box.
How do you define, "widen input?" What we have seen happen is 1 person sign in as several people. This was done in an obvious way to point out the flaws, but how many other times has it been done and people using false identities not caught. This is a mammoth waste of money, and those who put it through should be fired.
Delete1:23 PM
DeleteJust because it won't be perfect, you think it shouldn't be done at all. Until I see evidence of widespread falsification on the eTownhall housing element exercise, I will consider it a valid source of community input. I expect to see some false names in there or entries using real names but not entered by them. I can send city hall an email and pretend it's you and unless the city has received emails from you in the past they wouldn't know it wasn't you. So should the city ignore all email communication if it can't verify the actual sender?
The money involved so far isn't mammoth especially if you compare it to mail-outs or phone surveys. More and more cities in California and around the nation are trying out this form of outreach so we'll soon find out whether it's been a waste.
This sounds like the comments of Shaffer and Barth that when something is a disaster, they said that it is better than nothing. WRONG. Jeff Murphy is being paid $140,000. Manjeet is getting paid $130,000. Marlena is being paid $100,000 per year. So far, the IN HOUSE Housing Element has cost over $200,000 above these 3 salaries, and last meeting, Jeff Murphy said that he couldn't handle his job and Gus whined about how overworked they are. BELEIVE Murphy. He can't do his job. Wasting this time and money and making the council look incompetent is WORSE than doing nothing, and it is not about not being "perfect."
DeleteThe post above sounds like it came from someone like Bernie Madoff since it is from the point of view of someone who want to keep us in the dark and our money flowing in their direction.
5:50 PM
DeleteWhat drivel. You're showing your ignorance.
7:42 I think the comments made by 5:50 are excellent and it continues to show us that high paid staff whine every time they get another little project tossed their way. Good God, let's get some competent people on city staff so we don't have to keep wasting money on surveys, etc.
DeleteThis is truly getting out of hand. Who cares what other cities do. We only care what our city does.
This is silly. People who want confrontation with the state want the housing element to fail at the ballot box.
DeleteFine.
If you want that, then you want city staff and council to craft the proposed housing element without an accurate read on public opinion. The more accurate tools like PD are, the better the Housing Elemebt can be crafted to draw public support at the ballot box.
There are folks on this board who believe we cannot have a compliant housing elemend and preserve community character. I can respect that position--I simply disagree. But if PD is open to widespread mischief that distorts public opinion, then council is being actively mislead toward drafting a housing element that does not represent the will of the voting public. Any error in PD serves to benefit the people who want the housing element to fail. So why would they object to a flawed tool? Simple: either they know the tool is actually pretty good, or they just have a mindless reflex to object to any decision the city makes. Either way, it's just noise. The adults are moving forward.
6:25 AM Condescending tripe.
Delete6:25,
DeleteThe problem with your theory is that the upzoning map was created by staff before anything was even posted on Peak Democracy.
Maybe critics want real public input rather than public input theater.
Actually EU, you are making my point.
DeleteIf the goal is to scuttle the Housing Element at all costs, then you don't want the upzoning map to be created by public consensus, because that's more likely to lead to an approval of the final product.
The obvious truth is, NIMBYism would never allow a consensus starting point map of properties to emerge. Besides, there are technical infrastructure issues to consider for each candidate property: sewer, water, power, road capacity, public transit, emergency services. I'm all for public input and democracy, but the average citizen isn't qualified or engaged enough to make those calls.
I suspect that a big-dollar advertising campaign from the city and developers will make this a close election even if there is zero real public input used in the final plan.
DeleteI give the voters more credit than that.
DeleteRecently a former CEO taught me that a big bankroll doesn't overcome a weak message when it comes to Encinitas elections.
Prop A was almost 50-50 even though the process was deeply flawed (Rutan & Tucker, false ballot arguments, no honest and open public discussion with council members about merits, etc.) and none of the doomsday predictions of opponents have proven to be true.
DeleteIn a bigger turnout general election, the advertisers have even more of an advantage as uninformed voters make up a bigger percentage of the vote.
Almost?
DeleteYour best exemplar is one where the big money lost?
All the regular posters here have one fundamental problem that they cannot solve: and that is an inability to define the actual problem: and until that occurs?
DeleteThe 'problem' is that the State, philosophically, is committed to making sure that every 'city' has an even 'playing field' for finding shelter locally: the elitism in Encinitas is so prevalent, that the citizens are 'blind' to it: period.
The 'housing element' will never be approved because the average citizen truly believes they are 'better' than most other citizens (Those people) but are too afraid to admit it publicly, individually or collectively; and until the average citizen/voter hears a 'story' that shames them into doing the 'right' thing, approving a report for the State, the city will continue to spin their wheels in pursuing the 'Housing-Element', something that hundreds of other cities have found a way to do, perhaps not happily, but with open eyes and an open heart.
Envy and 'Classism' are the two unspoken sources of collective shame that haunt this process locally and are suppressed at any cost: and the fact that the all-out assault on the 'housing-element' is consistently made by those among us who are emotionally disenfranchised, unemployed and 'on the dole' as the British would say, is the most ironic part about all of this.
The working-poor, who believe they are the middle-class, fighting on behalf of the well-to-do to keep Those People out is 'hysterical', in the many facets of meaning of the term.
Rename this site what it truly is: Encinitas Victims of the Envy and Elitism We All Try to Keep Undercover.
What's the Hold-Up? Bring on the Judges and Affordable-Housing Attorneys: why wait?
The louder you 'posters' yell/respond that you are not 'racist, classist or elitist', the more in-focus your 'false' complaints will become.
'Victims', all.
What affordable housing?
DeleteThere's no affordable housing in the city plans. It's all market-rate condos and apartments.
"It's all market-rate condos and apartments, that are below the median cost per unit of new detached homes in Encinitas."
DeleteThere. Fixed it for you.
You're welcome.
So all your talk of classism and elitism is off the mark.
DeleteNo poor people are coming under the housing plan. Poor people can't afford the luxury condos and expensive apartments that would be built.
What we'll get is a lot more people, more cars, more traffic jams. Good for developers and city revenues, not good for quality of life, the poor, or the environment.
If being an "elitist" is we don't want stack and pack, then I will gladly accept the title.
DeleteEU is correct. Poor people will not be buying the condos in this city, even if they might be under market rate. Have you taken a look at the market rate for this area lately? Surprise.
Creating the conditions for the sale of homes below the median price of new detached homes:
Delete(A.) Results in a decrease of affordability; contributes to a positive slope of median unit price over time.
(B.) results in an increase of affordability; reduces the slope of median unit price over time.
(C.) Does not affect median unit price.
(D.) I don't understand the question, but I hate my evil city government. Also, I ate my crayon, so I can't circle one.
We started this thread discussing PD, and the quality of community input. It turns out, that's a red herring. Would EU support passage of a compliant housing element with the densities required by state law if the community input tool used was more accurate? What about Al, Donna, Dr. Laurie, Lynn, or Andrew A.? No? I'm shocked, shocked.
The truth is, state law uses density as a proxy for affordability. It's not great--certainly not the way I would do it, but there is some correlation, as the raw land cost per unit is lower. Still, it's the law, and I believe most voters don't want to go to war with the state over a relatively modest number of parcels in play.
Are there alternative ways to meet state housing requirements other than dumb upzoning for luxury condos?
DeleteWhat is the city doing to explore those alternatives?
That's a great question. I certainly think there must be a better way, but I doubt the state would have much flexibility. Laws are stubborn things.
DeleteI once thought the granny flat daylighting would do it, but I now understand the law is specific to meeting future needs. I'm surprised they might give us any credit at all.
If someone came up with a plan that satisfied the state law with truly affordable housing, I'd back it. But I suspect I would be one of the few. Most folks who object don't really care about diversity or affordability--they object to population growth from any demographic stripe.
The only affordable housing in California is in the deserts. Your children are not entitled to live here....they will need to earn their way.
Delete2:48, do you realize that those people clogging your commute are traveling from far away to work in your local grocery, restaurants, stores, and to teach your kids?
DeleteHow you liking rush hour on I-5?
The council needs to know that people ARE watching. Gaspar's clear victory didn't just come out of the blue. Teresa would have been beaten badly had she stayed in the race, but she decided to withdraw after decisions like Peak Democracy and the school purchase.
ReplyDeleteI'd like to see Gus Vina and Teresa Barth sign in and leave comments on Peak Democracy like Lisa Shaffer and Jerome Stocks did a few weeks ago.
ReplyDelete'A fervid minority can change a lot more things than a placid minority'. I am often reminded of this bit of wisdom when reading through various postings here. To discount the voices of the few because they have the courage to speak up against overwhelming odds it to their credit. Our leaders listen too often to influenced insiders when they should be listening to the voices who give of their time for the betterment of us all. Heroes abound here and in all stripes and colors. Those who seek to discount these impassioned voices would do better to listen up.
ReplyDeleteto: AnonymousJanuary 27, 2015 at 9:47 AM (my email is available to follow up)
DeleteYou started this sub-thread with an accusation of an elitism that really wants the illusion rather than the reality of "inclusive housing." There is much truth in this. In fact, I wrote this to one of my activist friends that I will share, "
------------------
I mentioned that (no reality of low cost housing) in the Coast News article and also on my review of Tony's discussion on my personal website, but it generated no interest. It could be that the entire system, including never looking too hard at our police activities, pretending that the Housing Element is to provide housing for the poor, and the purchase of Pacific View that is accessible almost exclusively to those in the most expensive coastal part of this city, is just the way power is distributed here.
And maybe I'm really a part of this mentality myself, as I value being in a low crime community surrounded by people who follow upper middle class norms. If someone accused me of being, "A limousine liberal who's pissed that he only drives an Altima" it just might hit too close to home.
-----------------
It's good that you have attempted to make this an adult conversation, acknowledging that housing is only cheap when it is in a neighborhood that sucks- pollution, lousy schools, gangs and all the pathologies that keep people who can afford to get out far away.
We could spend lifetimes going into this reality at every level - whether it can be changed and how. The Housing Element perpetuates the simplistic child-like happy talk that just may the the only alternative to the divisive vilification of national politics.
I do not believe that wealth and morality are inversely correlated. To suggest it is pretty classist.
DeleteCrime rates might be higher in poor neighborhoods, but there are factors in play that distort that stat. Poor neighborhoods have fewer resources for policing, recreation, and activities for young folks. Wealth also brings options--consider the issue of illegal drug abuse. Who is more likely to get caught and prosecuted, the Encinitas soccer mom who has multiple doctors prescribing her pain pills, or the kid in Compton buying drugs on the street corner? Even if both are caught, which one is more likely to evade conviction by ponying up both time and money for a big time lawyer, counciling, rehab, AA meetings, etc?
There are good and bad people in every neighborhood, and every social strata. With a wink to last week's holiday, I have a dream that all of us should be judged not by the fatness of our wallet or the badge on our hood, but by the content of our character.
Correction: delete "inversely"
DeleteShoot, I meant 'a fervid minority can change a lot more things things than a placid majority.'
ReplyDelete"A fervid minority can change a lot more things than a placid minority". Yeah, like spending $10M to buy Pacific View.
ReplyDeleteHas any one heard about Muir and his suggestion for a housing element committee? Would be interesting to know who is on it and who they pick as their "leader".
ReplyDeleteAnother question is: Why has this city ignored the state law on housing for so long and now all of a sudden it is a rush to become compliant?
Who was not doing their job at the city? How long have we not been in compliance?
Good questions. We should all ask these questions when the housing element goes to the City Council and Planning Commission. Jeff Murphy and his staff fucked this thing up beyond all hope. Can the City Council fire Department Heads since there is no City Manager?
ReplyDeleteIf the answer is yes, one suggestion is very obvious.
Patrick Murphy and Teresa Barth started the terrible process and spent over $1.3 million dollars on the General Plan Update that never even started with our OWN General Plan, but started with General Plans from other cities for which MIG and their consultants had already been paid. They claimed that the "template" would "save money." The problem is that their job was to save Encinitas taxpayers money, not to save MIG money!
ReplyDeleteAnother point that has not been made is that the Planning Department received at least $60,000 in Federal money and at least $30,000 in a SANDAG grant to do research and studies to capture ACTUAL citizen input. When they got the results and didn't like what we had to say, they combined answers, changed answers, and ultimately didn't process the last batch of citizen surveys.
Instead of using SANDAG funds and Federal funds to do scientific studies, funds went to consultants and were used to pay for trips, training, and overtime to Planning staff. If a planner works part-time or is an exempt employee, he/she should not have been paid overtime for the work on the General Plan.
These accounting problems in Planning continue since Jeff Murphy asked Council $400,000 in the first months that he had his job, yet there is no follow up or tracking for where it went. In addition, he represented the Housing Element as work that would be done in house, yet we have over $200,000 in consulting contracts to support the Planning staff in this new phase.
Gus Vina represented himself as an expert in finance, General Plans and computers. Look at our General Plan/Housing Element process and tell me how that was demonstrated when the General Plan was shot down, over budget, and they couldn't even present a red line version of the updated material--which is one of the simplest basic functions for the IT and Planning Departments.
Now that Vina is gone, other personnel adjustments need to be made!
Are you referring ($400,000) to the budget adjustment request to be able to pay Esgil, the city's building inspection contractor, for doing the inspections that the city was collecting the fees for? If so those are fees, not taxes, and must be used for the purposes they are collected for. Departments can't spend money that isn't in their budget even if they are collecting additional revenue. The city council had to adjust the budget to allow Planning to pay Esgil.
DeleteWhy was the $400,000 amount allowed to grow so large if it was an anticipated fee, and why was it placed on the Consent Calendar? A "budget adjustment" might be a few thousand dollars for a city, but not half-a-million dollars! I don't buy the idea that that the Planning Department uses funds as they are intended since it is actually illegal to pay part-time employees overtime, yet that has happened. Funds collected for low-income housing have gone to out of town consultants when they were collected to benefit low-income housing projects in Encinitas. There are many, many examples of improper use of funds.
DeleteLet's have a forensic audit of the Planning Department!
9:42 AM
DeleteAll your conspiracy theory mindset will get you nowhere. Budget revenue numbers are estimates. The amount of building activity forecasted was low which translated into the low revenue estimate. Seeing the higher than anticipated activity, which meant higher than expected fee collection, the planning department had to request an increase in the budgeted amount of expenditure. Even though the department was collecting additional fees, only the city council can authorize spending that money. So the department asked the council to authorize it.
And what was that money used for? To pay Esgil to do the building plans inspections and construction site inspections for which the fees are collected. In a sense the planning department is the middle man but it does retain a small percentage of the fee for overhead.
I'm sorry you don't understand municipal (fund) accounting. It's that simple but your conspiracy theory mindset prevents you from understanding. By the way, Esgil is under contract and the rates are agreed to in the contract. The city doesn't pay Esgil employees directly.