SOUTH DAKOTA STRAIGHT TALK

If you enjoy political theatre, you do not want to miss watching last Monday’s City Council Informational when the Council discussed the recent snafu regarding the project estimates and funding of the Windows at the Washington Pavilion.

You can watch it at: http://siouxfalls.granicus.com/ViewPublisher.php?view_id=2 and then clicking on “video” to the right of Informational City Council Meetings – April 28, 2008.

There is something in this political melodrama for everyone without regard to your position of feelings about the snafu or the merits of the Windows Project. The mistake on the windows basically was an underestimate on the project’s cost of about $300,000 because the cost of the installation labor was not included in the project estimate. When the project was approved by the City Council last year it was one that received some public attention and though approved the Council was divided on.

At the Informational last Monday, All the Council members that were present spoke up and some more than once. (Vernon Brown was absent out of town on business, Gerald Beninga was absent but I do not know the reason, and Mayor Munson was not in attendance.)

Kicking off the show was Sandra Pay the Chairwoman of the Washington Pavilion Board of Trustees. Mrs. Pay stated that we are sorry to be here and sorry for the “miscalculation” on the estimate. She said it was a careless oversight and that the Pavilion’s management had taken steps to provide additional oversight of future work. Mrs. Pay further stated that they were truly sorry for this any embarrassment that it has caused. She also pointed out that the “Argus Leader” was inaccurate when they editorialized that the money for the project had been spent.

While Mrs. Pay characterized the mistake as the Pavilions, she also I thought very carefully and craftily attempted to leave the distinct impression that while it was the City’s building and ultimately their responsibility for upkeep, in no way should this “careless oversight” impact the fact that the Pavilion’s management should not be left in full control of management of the Pavilion’s operations. Further the impression was left (at least with me) that the Window’s Project should move forward this year even though it would not be entirely completed. Finally while it was unsaid, I thought it was hanging in the air that in no way should this mistake in any way cause the City to further question the Pavilion management’s ability or the Cities ongoing financial commitment to subsidize the Pavilion’s operation. The current annual subsidy amounts to over $1 million,

Mrs. Pay was followed by John Loos, Director of Operations for the Washington Pavilion. Loos accepted responsibility for the error and basically explained it away saying that it was not a big deal, was his first major mistake in 9 years on the job, that the money had not been spent, that a Representative of the City Planning Office had been present at a February meeting when the mistake was reported, and then he reiterated that he was sorry.

What followed next were questions and answers from the Council Members. The questions fell into several broad categories where Members expressed their opinion and in some cases frustration. The exchange between Kermit Staggers and Pat Costello was particularly pointed.

The outspoken supporters – These included Council Chairwoman De Knudson and Councilman Bob Litz. Litz felt that a mistake was made, the Council needed to put it behind them and move on.

The question was raised why does not the Mayor’s Administration inform the Council about significant events and problems. This gets back to control and the continuing power tension between the Council and the City Administration. The three councilmen that were generally in this Camp, included Bob Jamison, Kevin Kavanaugh, and Kermit Staggers. Jamison and Kavanaugh are both retiring in two weeks and in some ways were venting their long standing frustration of the Councils not being informed and lack of information. (In bureaucracies information is power.)

Kermit Staggers used this controversy as an opportunity to again challenge the Windows Project. Kermit also suggested that the lack of communication might have been an attempt to silence this fiscal error before the recent election. He was thus creating doubt I thought, that the Theresa Stehly - Vernon Brown election might had turned out differently had the Pavilion snafu been public. Given Brown’s popularity, the margin of Brown’s victory, and the fact that Brown had absolutely nothing to do with the mistake and the lack of communication – Stagger’s suggestion is off base.

Finally Staggers suggested that the Project should be delayed to discipline City bureaucrats and the beneficiaries of City money that mistakes have consequences (another opportunity to reverse the Window’s project.) It was at this point that Pat Costello suggested it would not be the Pavilion that would be punished but Citizens and Taxpayers.

Communications Problem, Bob Jamison specifically spoke to the breakdown in communication between the Administration and the Council. Kevin Kavanaugh seemed frustrated with not knowing about the mistake for several months and finally asked why the Council did not know and that he demanded an answer. Chair Knudson whose only remark was that she looked forward to the day that the Pavilion had its windows, said that an answer would be gotten from the Mayor. At this point the obvious unasked question was where was the Mayor?

This was fine theatre where passion, feelings and frustrations surfaced. The video is worth watching.

As a follow up on who knew what when KELO news reports that the mistake was known by the Planning Department. Mike Cooper, City Planning Director, notes that they probably should have told the Mayor but in their daily routine back and forth on so many projects did not.

Quick Straight Talk Commentary – Jamison made his point about communication without any hint of rancor and I thought with determined sincerity but Cool Hand Luke was Pat Costello who was reasoned an unemotional.

Disclosure – I previously posted on the Windows Project. This is a worthwhile project but because of recent changes in the economic landscape and other needs that have come to the forefront, the Windows should be put on hold.

Following the discussion on the Windows is an interesting report and update by the Lewis and Clark Water System on the current state of the Project. It too is worth watching but much drier stuff than the political theatre of the Windows Project. Quick synopsis – The L & C Project has been reconfigured to move forward by rearranging priorities and funding thus bridging timelines and putting the necessary federal dollars in as a last dollars received scenario. For the short term Sioux Falls will receive its short term water needs in the next 4 to 5 years.

Final Comment – There is more Theatre to come. On the May 5th City Council agenda are the first reading of ordinances to raise the City Sales Tax to a full 2% and to remove the suggest employment ratios for Police and Firefighters respectfully. I hope to post on this shortly.