Here's a heads up on tonight's Council/RDA meetings, which will be conducted in the following order (click the highlighted links to view the respective council packets):
1) Redevelopment Agency Meeting (6:00 p.m.). Looks like this one will be mostly held in closed session (out of public earshot, in other words).
2) City Council Meeting (follows RDA Meeting). The chief item on tonight's Council agenda will be a vote on a resolution and ordinance approving a Junction Hotel special assessment area. This one looks to be a likely slam dunk, inasmuch as the council already approved the primary hotel bonding ($9 million) just last week.
3) City Council Work Session (follows RDA & Council meetings). This is a meeting which might be worth a close look, as the council packet is littered with photos of velodromes, water parks and fieldhouses, "gleaned" by an obviously eager Boss Godfrey during (taxpayer paid) junkets to Kansas City and Carson, California over the course of the past month or two. Will tonight's work session presentation be used as a "dry run" for Thursday's Magical Mystery Dome (Fieldhouse) Public Dog and Pony Show? That's our educated guess.
We'll leave the lights on in the lower comments section as per usual, in the event that any of our WCF readers would like to post their pithy comments or snide remarks, before, during or after tonight's RDA/Council meeting events.
Update 12/19/10 6:38 a.m.: View the full Council amd RDA videos, via the Ogden City website:
• 12/14 City Council Regular Session
• 12/14 RDA Special Session
35 comments:
so the EDA grant has yet to be approved....chances???? that funds part of the parking structure...and if the grant is not successful?....what happens to the parking?
Interesting to note that there were sizeable changes to the FH scope, yet the budget stayed the same? 14mil isn't going to cut it when you look closer at this one....
"...as the council packet is littered with photos of velodromes, water parks and fieldhouses, "gleaned" by an obviously eager Boss Godfrey during (taxpayer paid) junkets to Kansas City and Carson, California over the course of the past month or two."
More evidence that Matthew Godfrey is an emotionally stunted person, and a so-called "adult" still responding to juvenile impulses.
Very interesting clinical case indeed.
I shall watch this case closely from here on.
Additional Agenda Item:
4) Update of Envision Ogden and FNURE Investigation (TBA) The city and it's officers would prefer not to address this subject unless absolutely required by law. In other words, no comment. Blain Johnson served well, possibly using illegally attained funds, but that's water under the bridge and we are looking forward to bigger, better and even more deceptively expensive projects for Ogden.
grapevine posted on on the other blog about the FH that the meeting is now at the Amphitheater...can I get a WTF? outside? in winter (though technically fall)?
When will the council independently audit the Mayors office and where is he getting funds to fly on these boogdoggles China, Europe Mexico on city funds?
The city council needs to show some back bone and audit water, sewer and trash monies collected since the mayor and his cronies always seem to come up with the cash when they have a project cost over run.
If the Standard Exam doesn't follow up on the un named businesses the mayors is bring in shame on them. Where is the cost benefit analysist for all these trips.
This Mayor --- all mayors --- have discretionary funds at their disposal to cover travel, promotion of the city and its interests at trade shows, etc. And should. The Council, when it reviews the general budget for the coming year can decide Hizzonah has not used his discretionary funds appropriately, and trim them for the coming year. But in fact, it would not be good policy to have this mayor, or any mayor, come to the Council for every trip he wanted to make on the public's business during the year.
Curm, it's not so simple. The mayor has discretionary funds scattered all over the budget, hidden in all sorts of places. Yes, the council can try to track it all down and allocate less next year, but it would be a complicated process.
Dan:
Well, that's sort of the Council's job in re: budgets, isn't it? To see that the public's money is being prudently spent? And so far as I can see, no Council since I've been here [pushing nine years now] has done that particular job well.
I remember right after I moved here, Hizzonah, Mayor Godfrey, asked the Council to spring for expensive rollaway bleacher seats for the amphitheater downtown. The Council said no, not just now, we don't have the money. Whereupon Hizzonah promptly bought the seats anyway out of his discretionary funds.
It occurred to me then, and I still think so now, that if I'd been on the council, I'd have immediately concluded that the Mayor's discretionary funds needed to be cut in the ensuing budget by exactly the amount he had spent on the seats. [It was many thousands.] But, as I recall, the Council tsk tsked a bit, but did nothing.
And so it went. And goes still. In fact, the only time I can think of when the Council actually stood up on a matter like this, at least part way, was when the Mayor broke his agreement with the Council that the City's lobbyist at the legislature would work only on bills both the mayor and council agreed he should work on. The Council in the next budget cut all funding for the Mayor's pet lobbyist, who was henceforth paid out of Hizzonah's discretionary funds. But the Council did not in the subsequent budget reduce his discretionary funds by the exact dollar amount he was paying his pet lobbyist. It should have.
Curm, I agree. I'm just saying that it's not simple. There's not just a single line in the budget labeled "discretionary funds". There are multiple lines all over the budget that include funds that are at least somewhat discretionary. State law explicitly allows the mayor to reallocate funds within a department for any purpose not prohibited by ordinance. If the council wants to prohibit a specific type of expenditure, it's often easier to pass an ordinance to that effect.
A point of clarification, please:
Are we to assume that Thursday's Wonder Dome Dog and Pony show is to go on before the results of the slap-dash-thirty-day-made-to-order feasibility study the Mayor and Council commissioned are in? Wouldn't be much point to the dog and pony show if the study concluded "No, no, don't do it, you guys are out of your frickin' minds, it won't work!" now, would there?
Could it be the Administration knows the study it commissioned will produce the results it made clear to the consultants that it wanted to receive?
No! Surely not! Say it ain't so!
Curm, for all we know thatstudy could have been concluded back in 2008. The site could have been the St. Annes and just lined out and changed, which could happen again, and blend in some old data from the mayors' old Push to shut down the Lorin Farr Pool and replace it with a downtown waterpark hotel, complete with a gondola port.
The point is Curm, credible studies are not one of the mayors strong suits.
Bill C.,
Good to hear from you!
Warm welcome back, Bill C.
Thanks for your savvy comments Bill C.!
And let me be the latest WCF reader to heartily welcome you back!
Bill, Bill, Bill... oh ye of little faith! The St. Anne's site study would have been for a High Adventure Archery-Jogging-Velodrome. Not at all what Hizzonah has planned for closing off Grant Ave. That's going to be a High Adventure Tennis-Jogging-Velodrome. Totally different thing, as anyone can plainly see.....
How much has already been spent on the layout of this thing? cart in front of the horse for sure with a study coming afterwards...Its Back to the Future!
...anyone catch the History Channels program last night "Third Riech"?....Hitler makes his first speech as chancellor in a velodrome
Nearly four weeks ago (on Friday, November 19) I submitted a GRAMA request to the city asking for all documents related to the field house since my earlier request last spring. When the 10-business-day limit expired last week, I received a notice saying the city needed an additional two weeks for the lawyers to review the responsive records. I then notified the city that under GRAMA, they are allowed only one week for legal review. Today, finally, I was invited to come look at a portion of the responsive records. But when I got there, I discovered that this portion consisted of (a) obsolete architectural drawings that were included with last year's RAMP request; and (b) a 3-inch-thick file from Tom Christopulos's office consisting of nothing but information on other recreation buildings around the U.S., from arenas to indoor pools to college gymnasiums. I wasted an hour going through this file making sure it contained nothing interesting (although it does give some insight into how Mr. Christopulos spends his time, googling such phrases as "indoor tennis courts"). Meanwhile, the city is stalling on providing records of the mayor's velodrome junkets, new architectural drawings, correspondence with the consultant they've hired, and so on.
I can't fathom why they would be so secretive, other than to piss me off. This information is all going to come out soon, and stalling just invites everyone to ask what the big secret is. But it's the way they operate.
I suspect it's pointless of me to ask this question, but I wonder if the Standard Examiner ask to see those documents? Has it been refused? Has filed a GRAMA request for them? And if it hasn't, why hasn't it?
This keeps up, the SE should adopt as its official motto: "Playing Catch-up! I'ts What We Do!" [They could put it in Latin, maybe, to make it sound better.]
The Standard has no pending GRAMA requests with Ogden City, but the Trib does.
The Standard will, of course, put the obligatory article in tomorrows paper inviting the public to the frigid outdoor after dark unveiling of the Magical Mystery Dome plans.
Grapevine:
Brilliant tactic! The message will be "See? If we had the Wonder Dome, you wouldn't be out here shivering in the dark and cold. We'd be holding this show the warm and well-lit Wonder Dome."
An informative article posted tonight in the SLT about the fieldhouse proposal states “There’s RAMP funding set aside for a legacy project,” Godfrey said. “And there are partners that have been wanting to build these facilities anyway. If we can collaborate and do this together, it will cost everybody a whole lot less right now.” He wants to spend up to 15 million RAMP dollars on this boondoggle. I support RAMP but not this deep hole. If this goes forward I will not support an extension of the RAMP tax next time.
.
Here's a link to the Trib article.
Forecast for 6-8 pm Thursday Dec 16:
22ºF, clear
Having the event outdoors will make it difficult for any reporters to count attendees. The reporters themselves may be inclined not to stay long, allowing the administration to pretend that there was lots of public interest even if there wasn't. And if all else fails, and attendance is obviously dismal, they can just blame it on the weather.
Dan
I think you underestimate the pure thrill of pissing you off! Not that I would know personally of course.
As to the way the mayor works, welllll, he always amazes me. It just seems to me that if he were honest and up front about things, and used his obvious talents to sell his ideas to the public on their merits - as he sees them - that he could still get all this bull shit built - and win or lose not have a whole lot of people seeing him as a lying, cheating little piece-O-shit.
I mean really, there has been a lot of visionary mayors in America. Some got a lot of great things built, some got a lot of crap built and some just had big dreams but didn't build diddly squat.
The ones who were honest, earnest and up front with the public, and through their knowledge, experience and honest research built great public enterprises that truly succeed in their own right, Amen, yes indeed, those folks become "Giants in the Community". Stuff of legend.
The ones who leveled with the public and were able to honestly sell their visions with enthusiasm, but then lost, were still seen as well meaning hard working servants of the people even though they ended up victims of life's circumstances.
The ones who lied and scammed, but built winners almost always publicly repented and retired into oblivion - except for their name on the building for ten years or so. Or they continued their nefarious ways until the law could no longer ignore them and they ended their careers in a bright orange flame of infamy.
The ones who lied and cheated and ended up with losers were recognized by history as being liars, losers and cheaters!
Where O where do you think Mayor Godfrey will fit in this scheme?
Will the Junction ultimately prove to be a winner?
Will the Velodrome - which almost certainly will be built - succeed?
Will the River Project ever get built and sold successfully to the public without city subsidies?
Will anything the little peckerwood ever touched turn to gold?
I am ever hopeful that the Mayor will prove me wrong in my opinions on these matters, and am wondering where you all are placing your bets...
People visiting Christmas Village is the reason to hold it outside? Yeah I am sure jr. Would rather check out the presentation than those silly lights and santa. An outdoor presentation in winter...brilliant. its a setup you can bet on that.
ND:
While holding the Godfrey Wonder Dome Dog and Pony show outdoors at night is, as you note, problematic, I kind of like Christmas Village. Fun to watch the kids, get some hot chocolate, stroll around enjoying the hoopla. Christmas Village is one of the good things Ogden does as a city event. Hijacking the toddlers as a way to swell turnout for the Dog and Pony show isn't a good idea, but the Christmas Village itself is.
The bleachers that Matt wanted so bad ran in the neighborhood of 85 Grand. Hell of a deal!
Dan
I think you underestimate the pure thrill of pissing you off! Not that I would know personally of course.
As to the way the mayor works, welllll, he always amazes me. It just seems to me that if he were honest and up front about things, and used his obvious talents to sell his ideas to the public on their merits - as he sees them - that he could still get all this bull shit built - and win or lose not have a whole lot of people seeing him as a lying, cheating little piece-O-shit.
I mean really, there has been a lot of visionary mayors in America. Some got a lot of great things built, some got a lot of crap built and some just had big dreams but didn't build diddly squat.
The ones who were honest, earnest and up front with the public, and through their knowledge, experience and honest research built great public enterprises that truly succeed in their own right, Amen, yes indeed, those folks become "Giants in the Community". Stuff of legend.
The ones who leveled with the public and were able to honestly sell their visions with enthusiasm, but then lost, were still seen as well meaning hard working servants of the people even though they ended up victims of life's circumstances.
The ones who lied and scammed, but built winners almost always publicly repented and retired into oblivion - except for their name on the building for ten years or so. Or they continued their nefarious ways until the law could no longer ignore them and they ended their careers in a bright orange flame of infamy.
The ones who lied and cheated and ended up with losers were recognized by history as being liars, losers and cheaters!
Where O where do you think Mayor Godfrey will fit in this scheme?
Will the Junction ultimately prove to be a winner?
Will the Velodrome - which almost certainly will be built - succeed?
Will the River Project ever get built and sold successfully to the public without city subsidies?
Will anything the little peckerwood ever touched turn to gold?
I am ever hopeful that the Mayor will prove me wrong in my opinions on these matters, and am wondering where you all are placing your bets...
Oz:
He ain't no Robert Moses, that's for sure.
Oz:
Actually, if Godfrey has succeeded in anything, it's been in creating and spreading the myth that Ogden was dead when he took office and that everything good that happens in Ogden now is because of him. A lot of people in town, even if they were here 12 years ago and should know better, honestly believe that before Godfrey there were no downtown restaurants, no downtown ball park, no Ogden River Parkway, no east bench trails. They believe that Godfrey brought us the Egyptian Theater and the Sundance Festival and maybe even Union Station and Snowbasin. I gotta hand it to the guy: He knows how to tell a big lie and keep telling it until everyone else just gives up and starts believing.
By the way, I recently heard that the council did not approve the Hot Tub Hotel bonds at its meeting on Tuesday. The matter was tabled, and there seem to be some council members with strong reservations about the complex financial shell games and risk to the city.
Well guys, it's business as usual. Good old Matt gets the ball rolling with a meager description of his vision and in time, fleshes out the deal with everything he and the guys can come up with in the way of dumb add-ons.
Typical Godfrey it seems to me. Once things get moving, i.e., Council approval, etc., the rush is on to keep things moving so that any hanging questions such as feasibility, funding sources and other mundane topics won't rear their ugly heads and dampen the stampede.
Better plan on another king-sized jar of vasaline you naysaying taxpayers - this one should be a real buttbuster and somthing to reflect on along with coming up with the cash for those Xmas bills. Happy Easter.
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