Merely identifying stages in the normal evolution and denouement of a municipal project does not guarantee effective decision-making. Effective decision-making is the result of having sufficient data to provide the basis for making rational choices between alternative courses of action. Effective decision-making also requires a refining, sifting and winnowing of the issues and data, the creation of an atmosphere conducive to making decisions in an unhurried and judicious manner and the weighing of potential consequences of alternative decisions or courses of action. Finally, effective decision-making requires the creation of a local administrative system that will guarantee that decisions made by the governing body will be carried out as intended.
Gathering data or background information is generally the role of governing body members individually and collectively and of municipal departments and administrative heads.
Tuesday, February 28, 2012
Monday, February 27, 2012
The Job
Elected officials in the City of Lake Mills must fulfill a variety of functions and have numerous commitments on their time. Additionally, the performance of their official duties is governed by numerous legal and procedural regulations and guidelines beginning immediately upon their taking office.
In order to provide the best possible support for newly elected officials as they assume these responsibilities, an Orientation meeting is needed to ensure that they receive all the information and assistance they require in a timely manner. The Orientation meeting provides support through the materials and processes described in the Orientation Manual.
The meeting will be designed to provide both general information about the City and the role of elected officials and more specific information on essential issues such as land use planning, budgetary procedures, municipal law, State and Federal regulations, goal setting, and team building.
In order to provide the best possible support for newly elected officials as they assume these responsibilities, an Orientation meeting is needed to ensure that they receive all the information and assistance they require in a timely manner. The Orientation meeting provides support through the materials and processes described in the Orientation Manual.
The meeting will be designed to provide both general information about the City and the role of elected officials and more specific information on essential issues such as land use planning, budgetary procedures, municipal law, State and Federal regulations, goal setting, and team building.
Friday, February 24, 2012
Council Rule
If a council member for any reason cannot attend a regularly scheduled meeting, he or she shall contact the city clerk prior to the meeting in question to give an explanation of his or her anticipated absence. The council member's stated reasons for being absent shall be entered verbally in the council's record. If circumstances render it impossible to give advance notice of an absence, the council member shall file a written statement with the clerk within one week of the absence. At the next regular meeting, the clerk shall enter the statement in the council's record.
Wednesday, February 22, 2012
Good Day
The weight has been lifted from my shoulders, the sun is shining on my face again and I see the opportunity to advance again.
Tuesday, February 21, 2012
The Message
Perceiving, comprehending and listening are receptive facets of interpersonal communication. None of them are a passive process. Rather, each is an active mental, emotional and physical processing of messages that the listener receives.
While a listener may perceive something; it only means they are simply aware of it. Perception does not imply understanding. The listener must comprehend something to begin to understand it. Comprehend is to understand the nature or meaning of; grasp with the mind; perceive and understand.
While it helps if a speaker’s message is interesting, it is more important for the listener to be able to set aside perceptions of the speaker and listen for the message. The choice of words or language in which the speaker translates a message will certainly influence the quality of their communication. But language is still a symbolic representation of a phenomenon, which leaves room for individual interpretation and distortion of the meaning. Meaning has to be given to words and many variables affect how each listener will attribute meaning to particular words. It is important to note that no two listeners will attribute the exact same meaning to the same words.
Perceptions—and the expectations that drive them—have their basis in attitudes. The listener’s attitudes determine how they react to, and interact with, the world around them. Perception is a three phase process of selecting, organizing and interpreting information. The listener and speaker can understand interpersonal situations better if they learn to appreciate how each construct perceptions. “It doubles your perception, to write from the point of view of someone you're not.” Michael Ondaatje
The listeners’ perception of a communication is affected by their past experience with the speaker. Perception is also affected by the organizational relationship two people have. For example, communication from a superior may be perceived differently than that from a subordinate or peer.
Listeners react to stimuli in the environment in very different ways. All listeners have shortcuts that they use to organize data. Invariably, these shortcuts introduce some biases into communication. Some of these shortcuts include stereotyping, projection, and self-fulfilling prophecies. Stereotyping is one of the most common. This is when we assume that the other person has certain characteristics based on the group to which they belong without validating that they in fact have these characteristics.
Listening to be informed is where the listener’s primary concern is to understand the message. Listeners are successful insofar as the meaning they assign to messages is as close as possible to that which the sender intended.
Listening to understand is found in all areas of our lives. Much of our learning comes from listening that requires understanding of the sender’s message. For example, we listen to lectures or instructions from teachers—and what we learn depends on how well we listen. In the workplace, we listen to understand new practices or procedures—and how well we perform depends on how well we listen. We listen to instructions, briefings, reports, and speeches; if we listen poorly, we aren’t equipped with the information we need.
Listening is a seven stage process of hearing, selecting, attending, understanding, evaluating, remembering, and responding actively with feedback.
While a listener may perceive something; it only means they are simply aware of it. Perception does not imply understanding. The listener must comprehend something to begin to understand it. Comprehend is to understand the nature or meaning of; grasp with the mind; perceive and understand.
While it helps if a speaker’s message is interesting, it is more important for the listener to be able to set aside perceptions of the speaker and listen for the message. The choice of words or language in which the speaker translates a message will certainly influence the quality of their communication. But language is still a symbolic representation of a phenomenon, which leaves room for individual interpretation and distortion of the meaning. Meaning has to be given to words and many variables affect how each listener will attribute meaning to particular words. It is important to note that no two listeners will attribute the exact same meaning to the same words.
Perceptions—and the expectations that drive them—have their basis in attitudes. The listener’s attitudes determine how they react to, and interact with, the world around them. Perception is a three phase process of selecting, organizing and interpreting information. The listener and speaker can understand interpersonal situations better if they learn to appreciate how each construct perceptions. “It doubles your perception, to write from the point of view of someone you're not.” Michael Ondaatje
The listeners’ perception of a communication is affected by their past experience with the speaker. Perception is also affected by the organizational relationship two people have. For example, communication from a superior may be perceived differently than that from a subordinate or peer.
Listeners react to stimuli in the environment in very different ways. All listeners have shortcuts that they use to organize data. Invariably, these shortcuts introduce some biases into communication. Some of these shortcuts include stereotyping, projection, and self-fulfilling prophecies. Stereotyping is one of the most common. This is when we assume that the other person has certain characteristics based on the group to which they belong without validating that they in fact have these characteristics.
Listening to be informed is where the listener’s primary concern is to understand the message. Listeners are successful insofar as the meaning they assign to messages is as close as possible to that which the sender intended.
Listening to understand is found in all areas of our lives. Much of our learning comes from listening that requires understanding of the sender’s message. For example, we listen to lectures or instructions from teachers—and what we learn depends on how well we listen. In the workplace, we listen to understand new practices or procedures—and how well we perform depends on how well we listen. We listen to instructions, briefings, reports, and speeches; if we listen poorly, we aren’t equipped with the information we need.
Listening is a seven stage process of hearing, selecting, attending, understanding, evaluating, remembering, and responding actively with feedback.
Monday, February 20, 2012
Time To Learn
It is very obvious that the term "fund balance," is misunderstood by the Council. Their misconceptions are that fund balance is a "savings account," an amount of surplus cash, or in less kind terms, a "slush fund." The fact of the matter is that a fund balance is nothing more than an accounting construct. The fund balance is the difference between the city’s fund’s current assets—cash, short-term investments, inventories, receivables, and other unrestricted assets expected to be available to finance operations in the immediate future—and its current liabilities. A positive difference of current assets over current liabilities gives an indication of the resources immediately available to finance ongoing operations.
Friday, February 17, 2012
About Dogs and Cats
The city requires dog or cat owners get a license for their pet. The code requires that a license be purchased every year and that the license tag is on the pet at all times. There is, of course, a practical reason: the tag is often the only way animal control officials have of identifying a dog or cat they pick up or that someone turns over to the animal shelter.
Fees are different than charges although many people use the terms interchangeably. Fees can be typed as user fees, charges or regulatory fees. Under standard guidelines, user fees and charges are defined as voluntary payments (“voluntary” in the sense that they are paid only to the extent the individual chooses to use the service) that are used to finance traditional governmental services such as water, sewerage, and mass transit; recreational activities such as golf and swimming; and miscellaneous programs such as animal shelters, continuing education programs, and dangerous tree removal. These charges are for a particular benefit that an individual receives. The purpose of the fee is to recover all or part of the cost of providing the service. To the extent that the government charges the full cost of the good, it is trying to imitate the private market.
The dog and cat license is a regulatory fee that is imposed as a result of a need to regulate activities for the collective good, typically for public health, safety, or other protective purposes. The specific public health issues are rabies, pet reproduction and dangerous animals. Fees purchase a privilege or authorization that applies only to those individuals who want to engage in an activity deemed to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the community as a whole. Regulatory fees are applied to such activities as restaurant inspections, privilege’s in the street, building permits, dog licenses and marriage licenses. While the individual who pays the fee does not necessarily benefit personally from the good provided, the public does benefit. Furthermore, since a regulatory fee is not necessarily related to the cost of providing the good, this kind of fee does not try to approximate the private market.
The City Code states that the provisions of ch. 174, Wisconsin Statutes, and any amendments, shall be followed with respect to the licensing of dogs, owner's liability for damage caused by dogs, court orders to kill a dog, impoundment of dogs for running at large and for not being licensed, and penalties. Any violations of ch. 174, Wis. Stats., may be referred to the Jefferson County District Attorney for prosecution.
The Code requires every owner of a dog or cat in the City of Lake Mills to license every dog or cat that is owned, harbored, or kept within the City within 30 days of commencement of ownership or possession, or within 30 days of the dog's or cat's attainment of 5 months of age, and such license shall be obtained every year thereafter on or before January 1. If such license is not obtained prior to March 31 in any given year after the dog or cat is 5 months old, then a $5.00 late fee shall be imposed, in addition to any other penalty. Proof of current rabies vaccination of every dog to be licensed shall be required prior to the issuance of the license. The fees for licensing of dogs and cats within the City shall be set by the Council by resolution from time to time.
Also every person who owns or possesses a dog or cat within the City that is over 5 months old and who has owned or possessed such animal for more than 30 days shall have a current license tag attached to the animal whenever the animal is outdoors unless the dog or cat is securely confined to a fenced area.
The city’s basic annual license fees are $10 for unaltered and $5 for altered for both cats and dogs. Owners have until March 31 to license their pets, after that there is a $5 late fee imposed for existing pets. New pets can be licensed throughout the year and are not charged the $5 late fee. Because we are still in an “open license” period for 2012, the numbers below are from 1/1/11-1/31/11.
2011
DOGS: $2780 collected for 478 licenses and $225 in late fees were assessed = Total $3005; County received $2,318 and the City kept 687.00
CATS: $680 collected for 133 licenses and $35 in late fees were assessed = Total $715
Fees are different than charges although many people use the terms interchangeably. Fees can be typed as user fees, charges or regulatory fees. Under standard guidelines, user fees and charges are defined as voluntary payments (“voluntary” in the sense that they are paid only to the extent the individual chooses to use the service) that are used to finance traditional governmental services such as water, sewerage, and mass transit; recreational activities such as golf and swimming; and miscellaneous programs such as animal shelters, continuing education programs, and dangerous tree removal. These charges are for a particular benefit that an individual receives. The purpose of the fee is to recover all or part of the cost of providing the service. To the extent that the government charges the full cost of the good, it is trying to imitate the private market.
The dog and cat license is a regulatory fee that is imposed as a result of a need to regulate activities for the collective good, typically for public health, safety, or other protective purposes. The specific public health issues are rabies, pet reproduction and dangerous animals. Fees purchase a privilege or authorization that applies only to those individuals who want to engage in an activity deemed to have a significant impact on the health and well-being of the community as a whole. Regulatory fees are applied to such activities as restaurant inspections, privilege’s in the street, building permits, dog licenses and marriage licenses. While the individual who pays the fee does not necessarily benefit personally from the good provided, the public does benefit. Furthermore, since a regulatory fee is not necessarily related to the cost of providing the good, this kind of fee does not try to approximate the private market.
The City Code states that the provisions of ch. 174, Wisconsin Statutes, and any amendments, shall be followed with respect to the licensing of dogs, owner's liability for damage caused by dogs, court orders to kill a dog, impoundment of dogs for running at large and for not being licensed, and penalties. Any violations of ch. 174, Wis. Stats., may be referred to the Jefferson County District Attorney for prosecution.
The Code requires every owner of a dog or cat in the City of Lake Mills to license every dog or cat that is owned, harbored, or kept within the City within 30 days of commencement of ownership or possession, or within 30 days of the dog's or cat's attainment of 5 months of age, and such license shall be obtained every year thereafter on or before January 1. If such license is not obtained prior to March 31 in any given year after the dog or cat is 5 months old, then a $5.00 late fee shall be imposed, in addition to any other penalty. Proof of current rabies vaccination of every dog to be licensed shall be required prior to the issuance of the license. The fees for licensing of dogs and cats within the City shall be set by the Council by resolution from time to time.
Also every person who owns or possesses a dog or cat within the City that is over 5 months old and who has owned or possessed such animal for more than 30 days shall have a current license tag attached to the animal whenever the animal is outdoors unless the dog or cat is securely confined to a fenced area.
The city’s basic annual license fees are $10 for unaltered and $5 for altered for both cats and dogs. Owners have until March 31 to license their pets, after that there is a $5 late fee imposed for existing pets. New pets can be licensed throughout the year and are not charged the $5 late fee. Because we are still in an “open license” period for 2012, the numbers below are from 1/1/11-1/31/11.
2011
DOGS: $2780 collected for 478 licenses and $225 in late fees were assessed = Total $3005; County received $2,318 and the City kept 687.00
CATS: $680 collected for 133 licenses and $35 in late fees were assessed = Total $715
Thursday, February 16, 2012
Fund Balance
Resolution 11-37 Fund Balance Policy was approved unanimously by the City Council. There was no debate about designating $1.3 million in operating cash until a newspaper article for a campaigning council member. For five years the unreserved fund balance has been a focal point of the budget address without one comment. Major memos regarding profitability and solvency which discuss cash flows and operating needs and not one comment.
Wednesday, February 15, 2012
Let's Try This Again
The Ethics Board is an adjudicative board setup to render ethics opinions, as well as to review ethics complaints. The members who sit in judgment must be able to render fair and impartial decisions based on the evidence.
Adjudicative matters are those in which decision makers are required to conduct a hearing and make a decision based on the law and the facts in a particular case. There are parties to adjudicative matters, who have a personal stake in the decision that is made. As a result, minimum standards of due process apply, in order to ensure that the parties receive fair hearings.
It is also vital that persons of competence and integrity be encouraged to serve the on the City Ethics Board. The standards used by the City to select Board members to enforce the Code of Ethics should be interpreted and understood so as not to unreasonably frustrate or impede the recruitment and retention of those persons best qualified to serve it and the City.
It is understood, particularly in the instance of voluntary and uncompensated Board members actuated by their commitment to public service, that it is not reasonable to demand so complete a disassociation from the private sector as to preclude each and every possibility of a conflict of interest arising. Accordingly, the Council should consider the intention and motives as well as the extrinsic acts of those persons having a fiduciary relationship with the City. Although appearances and acts often outwardly manifest a person's intentions, motive becomes particularly relevant whenever the acts themselves are called into question as giving rise to even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The Ethics Board has been given the authority to act for and on behalf of the Council in ethics matters so that the circumstances which are being reviewed give rise to a relationship of trust and confidence. The number of technical and ethical problems of a legislator being brought before his own legislative body who have reasons to over or under emphasize the conflict for purely political reasons, whereas being before an independent, nonpartisan body of individuals who have no personal or political stake in the matter.
Adjudicative matters are those in which decision makers are required to conduct a hearing and make a decision based on the law and the facts in a particular case. There are parties to adjudicative matters, who have a personal stake in the decision that is made. As a result, minimum standards of due process apply, in order to ensure that the parties receive fair hearings.
It is also vital that persons of competence and integrity be encouraged to serve the on the City Ethics Board. The standards used by the City to select Board members to enforce the Code of Ethics should be interpreted and understood so as not to unreasonably frustrate or impede the recruitment and retention of those persons best qualified to serve it and the City.
It is understood, particularly in the instance of voluntary and uncompensated Board members actuated by their commitment to public service, that it is not reasonable to demand so complete a disassociation from the private sector as to preclude each and every possibility of a conflict of interest arising. Accordingly, the Council should consider the intention and motives as well as the extrinsic acts of those persons having a fiduciary relationship with the City. Although appearances and acts often outwardly manifest a person's intentions, motive becomes particularly relevant whenever the acts themselves are called into question as giving rise to even the appearance of a conflict of interest.
The Ethics Board has been given the authority to act for and on behalf of the Council in ethics matters so that the circumstances which are being reviewed give rise to a relationship of trust and confidence. The number of technical and ethical problems of a legislator being brought before his own legislative body who have reasons to over or under emphasize the conflict for purely political reasons, whereas being before an independent, nonpartisan body of individuals who have no personal or political stake in the matter.
Monday, February 13, 2012
Work and Income
Wisconsin still has a strong middle-skills job market, but the state lacks the middle-skills employees. A middle-skill job is one that requires more than a high school diploma but less than a four-year college degree. The term middle-skill refers to the level of education and training required by a particular job. It should not be confused with the actual competence and capacity of workers and occupations — many middle-skill occupations require highly skilled trade and technical workers.
There are multiple opportunities to receive the training in Wisconsin so why aren’t people taking advantage of the middle skills job market?
There are multiple opportunities to receive the training in Wisconsin so why aren’t people taking advantage of the middle skills job market?
Friday, February 10, 2012
Thursday, February 9, 2012
Better Check
Any structure similar to the Santa Claus erected by a public entity should have the technical aspects of the design reviewed for compliance with design criteria, the following minimum calculation documentation should be evaluated:
Design Criteria.
The calculations submitted shall clearly document on a summary sheet the information noted below. Documentation shall also be submitted to show how the design loads were established.
1. The current building code used in the design.
2. Itemized dead & live loads used in the gravity design.
3. Snow loading criteria including terrain and exposure category, importance factor, design ground snow load and snow drifting loads.
4. Wind loading criteria including minimum wind design speed, exposure category and importance factors.
5. Special loading(s) (where applicable).
6. Reference to the geotechnical report and values used in design.
7. Materials (wood, steel, concrete, masonry, etc.), grade of materials and stresses of materials used in design (bending, shear, compression) should be noted in the calculations, notes and/or specifications.
8. Load combinations used in design for each material should be documented.
Factors used in determining lateral load.
1. Factors used in determining overall wind load should be indicated as required.
2. Clearly defined type of Lateral-Force-Resisting System used and which Primary Structural Components are part of the system.
3. Computer analysis and design results should be submitted with an input model or sketch showing geometry, loading, boundary conditions, etc.
4. Design of Primary Structural Components relating to the Lateral Force Resisting System. These components would include, but are not limited to, diaphragms, collectors, drag struts, out-of-plane anchorage and connection design.
It is common knowledge that substandard structural design practices pose a safety threat to the public. If errors and/or omissions go undetected during the permit review process or during construction, the results may be catastrophic. Tragic failures highlighted in past news have had a detrimental affect on the public’s perception of public entities.
Beyond protecting the public welfare, quality designs are in everyone’s best interest. They reduce risk for owners and foster better business for everyone involved. Not providing the requiring the minimum services as outlined may place unnecessary risk on the engineer, staff and public entity.
Design Criteria.
The calculations submitted shall clearly document on a summary sheet the information noted below. Documentation shall also be submitted to show how the design loads were established.
1. The current building code used in the design.
2. Itemized dead & live loads used in the gravity design.
3. Snow loading criteria including terrain and exposure category, importance factor, design ground snow load and snow drifting loads.
4. Wind loading criteria including minimum wind design speed, exposure category and importance factors.
5. Special loading(s) (where applicable).
6. Reference to the geotechnical report and values used in design.
7. Materials (wood, steel, concrete, masonry, etc.), grade of materials and stresses of materials used in design (bending, shear, compression) should be noted in the calculations, notes and/or specifications.
8. Load combinations used in design for each material should be documented.
Factors used in determining lateral load.
1. Factors used in determining overall wind load should be indicated as required.
2. Clearly defined type of Lateral-Force-Resisting System used and which Primary Structural Components are part of the system.
3. Computer analysis and design results should be submitted with an input model or sketch showing geometry, loading, boundary conditions, etc.
4. Design of Primary Structural Components relating to the Lateral Force Resisting System. These components would include, but are not limited to, diaphragms, collectors, drag struts, out-of-plane anchorage and connection design.
It is common knowledge that substandard structural design practices pose a safety threat to the public. If errors and/or omissions go undetected during the permit review process or during construction, the results may be catastrophic. Tragic failures highlighted in past news have had a detrimental affect on the public’s perception of public entities.
Beyond protecting the public welfare, quality designs are in everyone’s best interest. They reduce risk for owners and foster better business for everyone involved. Not providing the requiring the minimum services as outlined may place unnecessary risk on the engineer, staff and public entity.
Tuesday, February 7, 2012
A long Road
The metaphor suggests that when things are not going well for you there is hope. Just as a long road eventually has a turn, problems also eventually have a solution, even though one might have to wait.
Monday, February 6, 2012
Seasons
The essence of surviving in a political environment is patience. The politics of people come and go like seasons. This requires a lot of patience. Like fishing, the bureaucrat must remain patient while persevering. If the decision-makers are pushed too early and too hard, it could destroy hope of cooperation with that decision-makers in the future and possible job loss.
There is an old statement that gives some hope for a new season. "A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun; a time to be a statue, and a time to be a dove."
There is an old statement that gives some hope for a new season. "A time to throw stones and a time to gather stones; a time to embrace and a time to shun; a time to be a statue, and a time to be a dove."
Friday, February 3, 2012
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)