Open Government

The City's Pulse Issue #1 March 2007 by Mary Souza
Open Government: Just what the doctor ordered! Our sweet, little community of Coeur d'Alene has been growing. We're spreading so fast we're like a teenage boy in a growth spurt. But instead of eating up all the pizza and cookies in the house, we're gobbling up our open lands and riverfronts. We're feeding large doses of public money to great projects like the new Library and the Kroc Community Center. But at the same time, we're feeling a stabbing pain in our property tax area. Folks on fixed incomes are having a rash of problems making ends meet. Newcomers, and our adult kids, trying to find affordable housing are experiencing serious sticker shock. And our school system is stressed out over the upcoming levy. How can we deal with the bulging waistline of both our city budget and our city limits? The prescription is good, open, responsive government. Local government in any town, but especially our small town, should be put on a strict diet of transparency, transparency, transparency! Small town officials know many business people and are often supported by them. Independent business people might work for developers while also serving on boards and commissions that make decisions about growth. The same lawyers might represent competitive factions in town at the same time. The only cure for these potential illnesses is full disclosure. Public officials should be up front with possible problems and then keep all discussions and decision-making out in the open. Upon close examination, this type of transparency is at critically low levels in Coeur d'Alene. No, you say? That couldn't be happening in our perfect Coeur d'Alene! Look again. Lift up the covers. Poke and prod just a little bit and you can find some serious concerns. Watch your city council on Channel 19. It's all a friendly, happy group. But then notice that the questions, what few they ask, are all pretty soft. They seem to know the answers before they ask. That's not a good sign. Listen to their discussion, or lack thereof. It can be a symptom of pre-meeting decision-making, out of the public eye. That's a very serious problem which could spread and require surgery. Go to the city's web site: www.coeurdaleneidaho.org to check the minutes of the council meetings. They are bare bones and don't give a clear picture of the proceedings. Many items important to the community are buried in long, technical titles or encapsulated with jargon on what's called the consent calendar. This column will attempt to keep a finger on the pulse of our local government. I'll assess the information, evaluate the accuracy levels and report back to you. Together, we can provide the checks and balances that will help improve the health of our local government. Here, then, are the recommended pills for Coeur d'Alene: Transparency & Disclosure. Use them constantly, don't worry, you can't overdose. Please take them until the citizens tell you to stop!

Open Government: Just what the doctor ordered!

Our sweet, little community of Coeur d'Alene has been growing. We're spreading so fast we're like a teenage boy in a growth spurt. But instead of eating up all the pizza and cookies in the house, we're gobbling up our open lands and riverfronts. We're feeding large doses of public money to great projects like the new Library and the Kroc Community Center. But at the same time, we're feeling a stabbing pain in our property tax area. Folks on fixed incomes are having a rash of problems making ends meet. Newcomers, and our adult kids, trying to find affordable housing are experiencing serious sticker shock. And our school system is stressed out over the upcoming levy. How can we deal with the bulging waistline of both our city budget and our city limits? The prescription is good, open, responsive government.

Local government in any town, but especially our small town, should be put on a strict diet of transparency, transparency, transparency! Small town officials know many business people and are often supported by them. Independent business people might work for developers while also serving on boards and commissions that make decisions about growth. The same lawyers might represent competitive factions in town at the same time. The only cure for these potential illnesses is full disclosure. Public officials should be up front with possible problems and then keep all discussions and decision-making out in the open.

Upon close examination, this type of transparency is at critically low levels in Coeur d'Alene.

No, you say? That couldn't be happening in our perfect Coeur d'Alene! Look again. Lift up the covers. Poke and prod just a little bit and you can find some serious concerns.

Watch your city council on Channel 19. It's all a friendly, happy group. But then notice that the questions, what few they ask, are all pretty soft. They seem to know the answers before they ask. That's not a good sign. Listen to their discussion, or lack thereof. It can be a symptom of pre-meeting decision-making, out of the public eye. That's a very serious problem which could spread and require surgery. Go to the city's web site: www.coeurdaleneidaho.org to check the minutes of the council meetings. They are bare bones and don't give a clear picture of the proceedings. Many items important to the community are buried in long, technical titles or encapsulated with jargon on what's called the consent calendar.

This column will attempt to keep a finger on the pulse of our local government. I'll assess the information, evaluate the accuracy levels and report back to you. Together, we can provide the checks and balances that will help improve the health of our local government.

Here, then, are the recommended pills for Coeur d'Alene: Transparency & Disclosure. Use them constantly, don't worry, you can't overdose. Please take them until the citizens tell you to stop!