Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda Report - November 16, 2011 Public CommentsContinued November 16, 2011 Rates (PWS Set public hearing for December21, 2011, to consider adopting resolution setting pre -approved Engineering News Record adjustment index for usage -based and flat water rates. D. Comments by the Public on Non-Aaenda Items THE TIME ALLOWED PER NON -AGENDA ITEM FOR COMMENTS MADE BY THE PUBLIC IS LIMITED TO FIVE MINUTES. The City Council cannot deliberate or take any action on a non-aaenda item unless there is factual evidence presented to the City Council indicatina that the subject brouaht up by the public does fall into one of the exceptions under Government Code Section 54954.2 in that (a) there is an emeraencv situation. or (b) the need to take action on the item arose subseauentto the agenda's beina posted. Unlessthe City Council is presented with this factual evidence. the City Council will refer the matterfor review and placementon a future City Council aaenda. Jane Wagner-Tyack spoke in support of the new treatment plant facility being staffed by City of Lodi employees and submitted a letterfor the record outliningthe same. Jerry Glenn, representing Lodi Adopt -A -Child, encouragedthe City Council and residents to participate in the annual holidaytoy and clothing drivefor the children. E. Comments by the City Council Members on Non -Agenda Items Council Member Hansen invited the publicto Wags to Riches, a newthrift store, and the ribbon cutting on November 18,2011. Council Member Nakanishi provided a brief status of the State budget with respectto anticipated revenues and expenditures. Mayor Johnson asked the City Manager to calendar a Shirtsleeve Session or regular meeting with the Lodi Animal Commission to discuss its most recent letter, which questioned the direction of the City Council for the Commission. F. Comments bvthe Citv Manaaeron Non-Aaenda Items City Manager Bartlamwished City Attorney Schwabauera speedy recovery and return. G. Public Hearings G-1 Public Hearina to Consider Unmet Transit Needs in Lodi (PW) Noticethereof having been published according to law, an affidavit of which publication is on file in the office of the City Clerk, Mayor Johnson called for the public hearing to consider unmet transit needs in Lodi. Public Works DirectorWally Sandelin provided a brief overview of the proposed public hearing to consider unmet transit needs as discussed in the staff report. Mayor Johnson opened the public hearing and receiving no public comment closed the hearing. No additional action was required at the presenttime. G-2 Public Hearina to ConsiderAdoptina ResolutionConfirming the 2012 Annual Re on rtand Lew of Assessments within the Lodi Tourism Business Improvement District(CM) 11 Jane Wagner-Tyack 145 SouthRose St., Lodi (209) 365-1986 My comments relate to plans for staffing and operating the new water treatment plant. I was unable to attend the August 30 and October 19 meetings at which you discussed these plans. However, I did watch the video of the Oicbober meeting, saw Mr. S andelin's presentation, and heard your deliberations. I also requested and reviewed the matrix provided to you by Mr. Miller, but was unable to determine how he arrived at his rankings for delivery and quality. In the interest of full disclosure, I will note *&my dmxfiter is a City employee. But part of her j ob involves managing Lodi`s transit operations contract, so I know that the City is willing and able to administercontracts for services provided by private fim. The League of Women Voters of the Lund States, of which I an a member, is currently doing a study of policy issues to be considered in connection with proposals to transfer government services, assets and/or functions to the private sector. The San Joaquin County League is participating in this study. Consensus conclusions reached will form the basis for League actian and advocacy on the issue nationwide. A major issue we have identified with privatization is transparency and accountability of private cpe t ims. It is instructive that only two out of six firms that were antacted responded to the City's request for proposal, and tImt those two did not provide information in all areas requested. Apparently fts was not a situation where hast firms thought they could be competitive with the City and s t i I I provide profits for their owners or shareholders. Some goods and services are most efficiently delivered by private fans responding to market cues. But market cues would not come into play in this case because you, the City Council, will set the rates. Southwest says it can provide the services at lower cost than the City can,primarily with lower staffing costs. Theoretically, this would allow you to set the rates lower, or in any case not increase them as much or as soon. But Southwest never provided all the information tib the original proposal requested You have never been comparing apples to apples. Several of you have gone to S outhWest's Mountain House facility to get more information on which to base a decision. fat's commendable, but it really doesn't meet the test of public transparency. Southwest was not completely responsive to begin nth, and you need to take tat into account in addition to cost when you consider axbmtirgwith Southwestto provide this service. Given a choice between the City and Veolia, whose proposal was more nearly complete, the costs are comparable, and the City has said it can meet Veolia's fig . This puts you in the position of making a choice primarily on principle: Should government provide servicesthat can be provided by the private sector? One answer is that it depends on the service. Markets work for goods and services consumers can choose to purchase, or not Clearly; that is not the case with water, a necessity for life. Markets are not very good for managing finite natural resources because they respond to short-term cues and operate for short-term advantage. As Councilmember Hansen said, water is not widgets. Stewardship of public tndtresources is an appropriate role of govemment, and I was encouragedto see that several members of this council recognize that. Local government is not Big government It is government accountable at the level closest to people and resources. Likewise, the greatest incentive to conserve a resource and manage it wisely lies closest to home. Like many people who are not themselves the direct beneficiaries of the public employee benefit and pension systen, I wish that system were smaller and less generous. However, I would rather see those benefits spent locally by public employees than have the rates I pay for services contribute to the executive compensation or investment portfolios of owners or shareholders somewhere else. Because transparency in matters involvingprivate provision of public services is so important, it is somewhat unfortunate fttyou are scheduled to make this decision at a 7 am "shirtsleeves" meeting rather than at a regularly scheduled City Council meeting. However, it is clearly not your intent to avoidpublic scrutiny, an evasion of which another local governing body was gAit i when it privatized a water service. You have been asked to make a decision quickly so that the plant can be staffed. I urge you to maintain maximum local control and accountability by staffing it with City employees.