Transparency Lost

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Item Number 2 on the Oro Valley Town Council Agenda this Wednesday is a discussion of a change from synopsis minutes to summary minutes.  This item is being proposed by Mayor Hiremath and Appointed Council Member and 2012 Council Candidate Steve Solomon.  Their proposal is based on the alleged fact that this change will save the town money.

We believe that this change will not save the town money; rather, this change will substantially reduce the transparency of government in Oro Valley.  (We have previously blogged on this item.)

The continuance of this discussion from the last meeting happened because no council person had ever seen summary minutes. They had no idea what they were discussing.

This week's agenda item includes and example of July 20 minutes: Attachment C is synopsis minutes as filed; Attachment B is the summary minute example.

The difference between these two minute forms is striking. In one, the synopsis minutes, the reader gets the "flavor" of the discussion that occurred on second agenda item, an Archery Range on the Naranja town site: 488 words, 14 paragraphs. We can read who spoke and of what they spoke.   In the second, summary minutes, there is no discussion.  We are told who spoke but not which council members spoke. We have no idea of what they spoke.   In both, there is the motion that was voted.

In other words, summary minutes are worthless.  Synopsis minutes have some value.

If summary minutes had been taken at this July 20 meeting, the only way one can find out what happened is to go back to the video of the meeting.  That's assuming, of course, that the video/audio system did not fail as it did at the last council meeting.

So we gave it a test.  We located the item in about 3 minutes. We then clicked on it.

The video we got is on the left. We watched this screen for 8 minutes.

That's right: 8 minutes just to start watching it; and I have a high-speed cable connection!

Finally, I got to spend the next 24 minutes watching the details of this discussion.

Watching the video, I learned absolutely nothing of interest that wasn't in the synoposis minutes. I learned a lot more than was in the summary minutes, since there was nothing in the summary minutes.

It took me 31 minutes to learn what i would have learned in reading the synopsis minutes in 1 minute.

I'm a  persistent guy. I stuck with it.  I doubt that the average resident would ever be willing to invest the time or even have the techology ability to locate, watch and listen to the video.

It is alleged by Mayor Hiremath and Appointed Council Member and 20112 Council Candidate Steve Solomon that the move to summary minutes will reduce cost.  Which town employee is going to be dismissed? Our guess is that no one will be dismissed.

Nothing will be gained.

Transparency will be lost.
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2012-2013 Oro Valley Budget Forum

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We received and are posting the following press release from the Town of Oro Valley.
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OV to host public forum on 2012-13 budget
Thursday, Jan. 26, 2012 at 6 p.m.
Council Chambers, 11000 N. La Canada Drive

ORO VALLEY, Ariz. (January 13, 2012 ) - The Town of Oro Valley will soon begin the budget process for 2012-13. As our state and nation continue to struggle in a downturned economy, we again face the challenge of identifying efficiencies while preserving the excellent programs and services for which our Town is known. To that end, The Town of Oro Valley will host a public forum on January 26 at 6 p.m. to solicit input and provide information on the Town’s 2012-13 budget. If you are unable to attend but would like to share your thoughts, please contact Constituent Services Coordinator Pat Klein by phone, email or postal mail.

Phone: 229-4711
Email: pklein@orovalleyaz.gov
Postal: Town of Oro Valley, ATTN: Pat Klein
11000 N. La Canada Drive
Oro Valley, AZ 85737

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We commend the town for providing us this opportunity. It is an opportunity to understand Oro Valley's fiscal challenges and to participate in setting future spending directions. Let's be there.
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