Weekly De Pere City Council Update

Budget, taxes, and a possible parole office

2008-11-18T19:42:00.000-08:00

At tonight's City Council meeting, the members of the Council (including myself) voted to approve a budget for 2009 that maintained current city services, added one police officer, increased clerical time in the health department by four hours/week, and began an equipment replacement fund that will allow us to purchase more capital equipment with cash rather than bonding for it. The budget resulted in a 3.5% property tax increase.

When I ran for city council, I promised to emphasize paying for essential city services, and I believe this budget does that. For example, in the recent survey of De Pere residents, a slight majority of residents (54%) expressed a willingness to pay higher property taxes in order to maintain existing municipal services they thought were important. Also, when asked if they what they would do if they could make one improvement in De Pere, the number one response was in the areas of police/crime/safety.

While I am always reluctant to vote to increase taxes at all, especially in this economic climate, I believe this budget reflects the will of the people of De Pere and results in a modest tax that is consistent with the rate of inflation.

Another issue we started to deal with tonight as a council is a proposed state parole office to be located in the De Pere police department, connected to City Hall. I came home tonight, right before the council meeting, and found four messages on my answering machine expressing concern about the parole office. While I tried calling people back, no one was home so I was unable to speak with them prior to the meeting. Fortunately, the Council, including myself, voted to table the topic until next time, giving me and other council members a chanced to communicate with concerned citizens.

Both of these issues bring up something I've found frustrating at times as a council member. When issues like these come up, I've wanted to have a group of people in my district that I could use as a "sounding board," asking them what they thought about this or that subject. One solution that occurs to me is to develop an e-mail list of constituents that I could contact when I need feedback on something like the budget. If you are someone living in the second district and would like to be part of an e-mail chain like this, please feel free to contact me and let me know. As I've often said on this blog, government works best when it includes all our voices, and that's what I'm working to do a better job of as an alderperson for De Pere's second district.

elections, community involvement and "better luck next time"

2008-10-31T12:13:00.000-07:00

Three topics that I've been thinking about in relation to our community...

1. Elections - Of course, this has been on everyone's mind... and on their television... and in their mailbox... and on their answering machine.... I'm sure we'll all be glad when Tuesday's election is past. But that doesn't make the importance of voting any less. As tired as we may be about all the campaigning, the responsibility to take an active part in our democracy can not be underestimated, especially with all the important issues we face. While fall elections like the one we're in right now get all the headlines, the spring elections for local office are very important as well. My time on the City Council here in De Pere has certainly shown me that. So I guess what I'm saying is... VOTE!

2. Community involvement - I had a chance to sit in on an audio-conference at city hall that was titled, "The Power of Community Building: Unleash the Potential." Basically, the presenters were making the point that a sense of community and connectedness among a city's residents has a strong correlation with positive quality-of-life issues, such as better schools, low violent crime rates, and better physical and mental health. So if we want a stronger community, we need promote feelings of belonging, pride, being a part of something bigger than our individual selves, and inclusion. While these may seem like strange things for a government to be concerned about, I believe this makes a lot of sense. Government can promote civic pride and involvement, can work together as a partner with other community groups, can gather people and groups together to address issues of common concern, and can support efforts that work for the common good.

For me, our new sustainability group in town, SEEDs, is a good example of that. Government didn't get it started and isn't funding it or running it. But we are communicating with each other, and hopefully cooperating in the future. At this coming Wednesday's council meeting, we'll be looking at how the City can work towards sustainability, possibly cooperating with SEEDs, as well as hear from the mayor of Manitowoc about what their city is doing.

So I guess what I'm saying is, "GET INVOLVED!" Whether it's with a citizen's group, a church, a school organization, a neighborhood effort, or a governmental body, all of us together make our community a place worth living in.

3. "Better luck next time" - At the last city council meeting, I had three items in particular I wanted to have the council act on, and on all three items, I was in the minority when it came time to vote.

Issue one was installing sidewalks on Lawrence Drive, between Main St. and Scheuring Road. Some of the business owners along that stretch of road objected because of the added costs for installation and up-keep. I can certainly sympathize with that, but for the good of the city as a whole, I felt like sidewalks were needed there. As that part of the city changes to a different mix of businesses (such as Wal-Mart), sidewalks would only become more important. Now was the time to do it, as we could save on installation costs by making it part of the overall re-construction of Lawrence Drive. But, the majority of the council did not agree.

Issue two was helping a business owner along George St., whose lawn never did "take" after it was re-sodded (twice) following the reconstruction of George St. I felt like the city needed to make a commitment to re-sod or re-seed the entire lawn, but the majority did not feel like there was any more the city should do at this point. We managed to agree to wait and see what happens this spring, but I'm afraid that is putting off the inevitable. We shall see....

Issue three was what to do with a potential border agreement with Rockland. Because the item was (necessarily) discussed in closed-session, I can't comment on what took place, other than to say I was in the minority again.

There's a saying that, "Democracy is the worst form of government there is... except for all the rest." When you're in the minority, it can seem like not such a great way to go. But even when I don't agree with the decisions of the Council, I can appreciate that each person on it is voting in the way they think is best for the community. In that sense, even when I'm on the "losing" side, it still feels good to be a part of the process.

My only hope is, as we make these decisions, whether they're small, medium, or large (and these three seemed to cover all those sizes), we always have a view for down the road, and don't only react to the moment. Sometimes, I think, if democracy fails, it will be because we become swallowed by the moment, and don't have the courage and foresight to envision and work for the future. As I get older, it seems easier and easier to plan for that future, because suddenly, 20, 50 years or a 100 years doesn't seem like that long of a time!

budget discussions

2008-10-18T10:01:00.000-07:00

This past week, the council had a study session covering the Mayor's draft budget for 2009. The meeting lasted five hours, and included:

a budget model projecting total spending and taxes for ten years out;
a review of each line of the budget with the city administrator and the department head in charge of that area of city government;
discussions around where the budget could be trimmed even further, and the impact those trims might have on the taxes and services.

The budget we have is a very lean one, and any attempt to cut taxes or maintain them at their current level would mean a cut in services. A survey of De Pere residents taken earlier this year indicated that the majority of citizens would be willing to see a slight increase in taxes in order to maintain services at their current level. Therefore the Council is considering a small tax increase, although we do so reluctantly, because we know that all of us are experiencing tough economic times.

One of the added expenses to the budget in the past years has been the voter-approved expense of the city covering reconstruction of curb and gutters. In past years, the residents and businesses have paid for the reconstruction in front of their properties. Now, that expense has been added to the tax rolls, a major expenditure.

While that expense makes a tax cut extremely difficult, we still are looking for ways to minimize the budget's impact on tax payers. Unfortunately, the only way to cut taxes and maintain those cuts is to reduce services. Capital expenses could be cut for one year, but the need would continue in subsequent years, and all of us would end up paying higher prices for those items, as the cost increases because of inflation.

One service that has been cut back in recent years, and could possibly be reduced further, is brush and large bulky item garbage pick-up. That could result in significant savings not only through reduced fuel and staff costs, but also through a reduction in equipment expenses. However, I'm not sure the residents of De Pere would agree with a further reduction in this service.

Lean times call for a lean budget, which I believe the mayor's budget is. However, that does not mean that we won't still be looking for ways to bring expenses down. The draft budget includes a tax increase of approximately 3.5%. I personally would like to see that increase brought under 3%, but that may not be possible if we want to continue services at their current level. At the November 17 Council meeting, we will be considering the final budget, which includes a public hearing. Everyone is welcome to attend and have their opinions heard. The more participation we get in the budget process, the better off we all are.

The current financial troubles and the City of De Pere

2008-10-03T15:04:00.000-07:00

For the past few weeks, most of us have been listening for the latest update on the crisis in the financial industry. From the $700 billion rescue package to the tightening of credit for individuals and businesses, many see these developments as another sign of our deepening economic troubles.

What impact will these developments have on the City of De Pere? Only time will tell, but a few points worth considering come to mind:

Saturday morning I received a draft of the Mayor's budget for 2009. I have not gone over it in detail yet, but will be studying it carefully in the next week or so. Certainly the current economic realities have to be considered when putting the budget together, including the increasing pressure on the incomes of our community's residents. The city-wide survey we conducted earlier this year said that a majority of our people would be willing to pay the current level of taxes (and perhaps a bit more) in order to keep current city services. Still, that was before the our recent troubles.
This past week the Green Bay Press Gazette ran a story on how the financial crisis might (or might not) affect the ability of municipalities to borrow money. You can find the article at: http://www.greenbaypressgazette.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=2008810010660 De Pere City Manager Larry Delo says that this may even help make municipal bonds more attractive, as they are a safer investment. Still, we've had a fairly conservative financial strategy, and I think that should only continue.
That is not to say that De Pere hasn't had its share of financial struggles in the recent past. Some of those have been created by the State, by some are of our doing. This current round of troubles is a reminder that we need to be thinking long term with our budgeting and financial policies. It may be that a person, city or nation may be financially OK for the moment, but we must constantly be looking down the road. It astounds me that people are acting as if this crisis appeared out of no where. People in the know should have seen this coming and taken steps to address the problem before it got to this magnitude. We must do the same at the city level.

In the coming weeks, as I said, the Council will be considering the budget for 2009. Please watch the newspapers, this blog, and other public notice outlets for information on the budget's public hearing. We need as many citizens as we can muster to get involved in the budget conversation. It's YOUR MONEY - you should have a say in how it's spent. But we can only know what you think if you tell us!

So why does the police officer come by every Saturday morning?

2008-09-20T11:02:00.001-07:00

This morning (Saturday) I was talking with my neighbor after one of the De Pere police officers stopped by my house. He asked me why the delivery each week? What is it? Each Saturday, I told him, a large white envelope filled with information for city council is delivered to my door. It includes meeting agendas and information for the week, publications or other mailings that address various city issues, and assorted other papers that help keep me informed about what's happening both in the city as well as things at the state level that affect us.

I thought the envelope was a good "metaphor" for what I do as a city council member. From the outside, it may not look like much, but there's a great deal of important information in it. Sometimes it deals with seemingly minute things, like a letter from a constituent concerned about something going on in their neighborhood. But of course, it's not a small thing to the person who wrote it, and therefore, it's not a small thing to me either. Sometimes it's seemingly big things. This past week we had a meeting of the City Health Board, and during that meeting we heard about a push at the state level to increase funding for health departments in the state, including money for local health departments. Information to prepare us for that presentation was in the weekly packet.

Another friend of mine told me the other day that she saw me on the cable access channel when a recent council meeting was televised. After watching for awhile, she decided she could never do this job. I'm not so sure about that, I said. She's an intelligent person who genuinely cares about her community... the two primary qualifiers for a city council member. And I think there are plenty more like her in De Pere.

If you're reading this, that means you care about what's happening in our community. And that also means we could use someone like you involved in city government, whether as an alderperson, a committee member, or as a volunteer in some other capacity. Think about it... the world needs folks to be a part of our efforts to build up the common good. Who knows? Perhaps someday you'll be getting that white envelope dropped off at your door.

Is there a place in politics for love? - part 2

2008-09-13T12:16:00.000-07:00

Earlier in my term, on this blog, I asked the question of whether or not there is a place for love in politics. I'm reminded of that question often in this current election season, with so much negativity in the media coming from both of the major political parties. And even though this is a political question, one could ask what does this have to do with city council work in De Pere?

Too often, it seems to me, politics and governing is a zero-sum game. For one party to gain, someone else has to lose. We can see that in many different areas our community, but one example would be border disputes between municipalities. The City of De Pere has had to negotiate border agreements with many of its neighbors, disputing what land belongs to which community. Often that means for one party's interests to be served, the other has to lose. Is it possible, in a world of limited resources to come to some agreement on a "higher good" that can serve both parties? What about questions of standard of living, environmental impact, access to the basics of life, tax burdens, etc... not only for one side of the dispute but for all? If it's possible for all of us to give a little, then perhaps all of us can gain a little.

I suppose in some ways that viewpoint may seem naive. On the other hand, the alternative, leads to such ludicrous situations as the Wisconsin State Government putting limits on local taxes while not limiting its own ability to tax. The state gains at the expense of municipal governments, and in the end the tax burden on the average homeowner is not lessened - only their access to local services.

Writer and professor Cornel West said, "Justice is what love looks like in public." When I heard that quote, for me the connection between love and politics was made tangible. If something is truly just, then all communities benefit, whether or not it serves any one municipality's short-term interests. Of course, the trick is deciding what is truly Just. For that, we have to continue a conversation that has gone on throughout human history, but at least we can agree that that is the goal, and agree that Justice truly serves our community as well as others.

So... in a public border dispute or question of taxes, love is the same as justice, and justice is... well, let's start talking about it.

Labor Day thanks

2008-08-29T14:37:00.000-07:00

We're coming up on the Labor Day weekend, which is when most folks consider the summer over. But I want to take a moment and recognize Labor Day for what it originally meant - a celebration of the men and women who labor to make our country take shape and progress.

During the recent economic development tour I was on (see last week's blog), I was reminded of the many different ways that people make a living in De Pere. And having fielded a number of citizen requests for help, I've had the chance to see with new eyes the good work that so many of our city employees put in. Do they (or I, for that matter) do everything right all the time? No. But then again, none of us do. Being a civil employee can be a thankless job at times. However, I am appreciative for all they do, from the folks in public works who plow the snow and collect the trash, to the people in the health department who give shots and inspect restaurants, to the men and women who protect us in the police and fire and rescue departments, to the administrators and their assistants who run the offices at city hall, and everyone else in between.

This coming year, we're going to be considering a budget that will be very tight, and may call for cuts in some departments. If and when that happens, I suspect we'll realize the contribution these city employees make when we see that some of them aren't around any more to do those jobs. Yes, we need to become more efficient and do a better job with the resources and people we have. But for a moment, on Labor Day, let's give a sincere thank you to them.

touring the city's industrial parks

2008-08-22T14:15:00.001-07:00

This past Thursday afternoon, myself and three other alderpersons took a tour of De Pere's east and west side industrial parks, led by our City Planner, Ken Pabich, and assisted by our City Administrator, Larry Delo. They were also scheduled to give the tour to other members of the city council on another date.

The tour was very interesting and informative. What impressed me the most was not just the number, but also the variety, of industries and businesses we have in our community. According to Larry, we have, between the two sides of the city, a higher number of industries in our community than most other cities our size. Even with the economy being as difficult as it is, we're having buildings being put up, companies expanding, and land being sold for new enterprises.

The east side industrial park hasn't seen as much activity as the west side, due to being a further distance from easy access to transportation. However, with the plans for the southern bridge opening up increased possibilities in the next 12-15 years, I think that will change dramatically.

Overall, I would say De Pere is sitting well at the moment, but we can't continue to just "sit." I think it would be very interesting to see our city leaders consider some creative ways to grow the industrial/commercial base of our community. One idea would be to create an environmental company "incubator," which could give municipal support to companies that are working on sustainability and solutions to ecological problems, a market that is increasing rapidly. Who knows... perhaps De Pere and Brown County could be the "Silicon Valley" of the sustainability movement!

Slow August, busy fall

2008-08-16T13:05:00.000-07:00

The agenda for this coming Tuesday's meeting, while important, doesn't have as many of the long-term, community-wide issues that the Council sometimes deals with. However, I think the fall is going to be a busy one, as we work on:

Possible ordinances concerning registered sex offenders
What to do with the space left vacant by the old bridge
budget and tax rates for 2009
working towards sustainability in De Pere

There are probably a few more that I'm not remembering at the moment, but those are the big four that come to mind. Working our way down the list...

The police chief is charged with drafting a loitering ordinance, but that won't come before the council at this next meeting. As I've written here before, I don't think the Council will adopt a residency restriction, but I think a loitering ordinance is a definite possibility. I have some questions about its enforcement, but I'm willing to consider it.
The bridge space is one that, while I'm glad we're taking our time, I think we need to get moving on a decision-making process. It's been good to live with the space for awhile, see what it's like opened up. But if we're to start any work next spring on it, we need to be coming to a conclusion soon. While I'm open to a lot of possibilities, I think we need to keep at least some if not all of it public/green space. Ideally, I'd like to see us connect it the walking pier that will be built on the pylons of the old bridge.
The state has put enormous pressure on municipalities like De Pere, including more requirements to meet state guidelines while at the same time more restrictions on how we can pay for them. De Pere has a big challenge in deciding what to keep in the budget and what to cut, while at the same time trying to keep taxes down as much as possible. All this is stating the obvious... what is not as obvious are the particulars - do we cut this program or that? The community survey we took last spring will help, but I hope we can have additional public hearings to discuss what will be some hard choices.
Finally, sustainability may not be on the minds of all the alderpersons yet, but it should be, and very soon hopefully will be. Paul Kegel (District 1 alderperson and also a member of SEEDs for De Pere, our community's sustainability group) and I will be discussing the idea of De Pere becoming an eco-municipality. That is, De Pere committing to working towards sustainability. While such a commitment may be good for the earth, businesses and communities across the country and globe have shown it can be very good for the "bottom-line" as well. One way out of the budget crisis we face is to adopt sustainable practices, which, in the long run, can save the our city some money through increased efficiency and lower inputs.

The key to making good decisions on all of these issues is hearing from folks in the community. If you have any thoughts you would like to share with me, please don't hesitate to let me know: talktodan@robinsondeperecouncil.com or 347-0828.

catching up on this and that

2008-08-09T08:31:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple of weeks since I wrote in this blog, as I've been on "vacation" and then trying to catch up at my full-time job at St. Norbert College. My "vacation" was two weeks spent re-roofing my house. As I think most people do, when you're working hard on something, you begin to notice it all over the place. I never paid more attention to other people's roofs in my life! But I also began noticing even more all the people in our community that are involved in home building, repair, updating, roofing, decking, lawn care, etc., with many of their businesses based in De Pere. It gave me a renewed appreciation for all that they do, the hard work they put in, and how vital these small businesses are to our local economy.

Since I've been back to my regular schedule, I've had two meetings associated with my work on the Council. The first was this past Monday night with our local SEEDs for De Pere group, which is working to promote Social, Economic and Ecological sustainability in De Pere. We're getting a number of project going, including sponsoring the community group that will be promoting biking and walking in De Pere, putting together a "Got Bag?" campaign to encourage people to bring re-usable bags with them when they shop, study circles to help people become more familiar with the Natural Step (a framework for how to approach sustainable living), and outreach efforts to schools and businesses. This fall, my hope is that myself and Alderperson Paul Kegel (district 1, and also a member of SEEDs) will be bringing this information to the city council to help us move towards sustainability as a city government. Given the financial constrictions that are tightening each year on municipalities, sustainability offers a long-term path and solution to the financial challenges we face.

The second meeting this week was with City Council, and we dealt with two issues that stick out in particular to me. The first was a closed session discussion on legal issues surrounding the removal of PCB's from the Fox River. This project will have a short and long term impact on our community, and the Council and staff are working hard on creating the best situation for De Pere that we can. In the long run, however, this is an important effort for the health of the river and our community, and a reminder that what seems like a good idea at one time can come back to hurt us later, if we don't think about the sustainable, long-term consequences of our actions.

The second topic I want to mention from this past week's meeting is the discussion surrounding registered sex offenders in the community. It seems to me the Council is moving away from residency restrictions, which I believe to be the best for De Pere and Brown County. The information we've received on this subject and the opinion of the De Pere police chief I believe bear that out. Now the Council is considering a loitering ordinance, with the staff working on an initial draft. While in prinicipal I believe this could be the way to go, I have questions about its application, whether or not ANYONE, no matter who they are or their background, can be kept from hanging out parks and other public spaces. Still, if we as a community feel we need to do something about this issue based on the actions of surrounding communities, this may be the way to go.

A measured response

2008-07-19T14:37:00.001-07:00

This past week, the De Pere council discussed again the issue of residency restrictions for registered sexual offenders, particularly those who have offended against children. It was one of the moments that I felt very good being a part of this Council, as I believe we are taking a measured and intelligent response to this important issue.

De Pere chief Beiderwieden had included information in the weekly packet that is sent to Council members, and followed that information up with a report at the Council meeting. During that report, he shared the following reservations about the residency restrictions:

many communities across the country that have had such restrictions are re-thinking them, and considering rescinding them, because they have not increased public safety.
information from some communities seem to indicate that such restrictions may actually decrease public safety because:

sexual offenders who formerly registered have gone "underground" for fear that they won't be able to find a place to live;
those who do follow residency restrictions are pushed further and further out into rural areas, where needed support services are unavailable, further complicating their efforts to change their lives for the better and increasing the chances they may re-offend.

the increase in police staff time (which can be considerable) would produce little increase in public safety, but detract from efforts to protect De Pere's citizens in other areas of life.

From the beginning of this issue, my main concern has been to do what we can to increase public safety, but only if those efforts are based on facts, not on emotional responses. It does us no good to waste precious resources on actions that do help us, and may in fact hurt us. That's why I support the Council's action to further study this issue, to see if indeed there is something positive we can do. In that vein, the Council (including myself) asked Chief Beiderwieden to study the ramifications of a "loitering ordinance," which would outlaw registered sexual offenders from coming within a certain distance of places where children congregate, such as a park or a school. While this makes a certain amount of more sense than the residency restrictions (because repeat offenders are more likely to go some place they are not recognized, versus re-offending in their own neighborhood), I want to take a "wait and see" attitude as to whether this could be a productive action by the council.

A final concern is the principle of justice as it is applied in our system of government. A person is convicted of a crime and serves their time in prison or jail. Perhaps they are let out early on parole, which by its nature restricts the actions of convicted offender... in other words, they're not free to do whatever they like. But after jail/prison time and parole time are fulfilled, that person is considered to have "paid their debt to society." At which case, they are free to live as they see fit, within the bounds of the law that apply to us all. Obviously, there are certain cases where that freedom continues to be restricted, but those restrictions are applied very carefully, as they should be. If we are to apply additional restrictions on the freedom of someone who has "paid their debt to society," I want to be sure we are doing so for the very best and solid reasons, and not to create a false sense of security. I would hope that is the standard we apply in all such cases.

Reflections on the 4th

2008-07-04T08:45:00.000-07:00

We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.

In 1776, 55 men signed the Declaration of Independence, beginning the founding of the United States, a country built on the basic belief that all men are created equal. 208 years later, we are still discovering what that statement means. And that journey of discovery happens at all levels of our society, not just the federal level.

Today, "all men" has come to mean all people - no matter what your skin color, your gender, your religious background... at least for most folks. There are still those among us who do not believe that all people are created equal and that all people have equal rights. That journey of discovery, then, continues today, and it is the responsibility of everyone, including those of us on city council here in De Pere.

Communities across our country are changing, just as De Pere is. More people are moving in with different backgrounds, different outlooks on life and different ways of pursuing happiness. The challenge, much as it was in earlier times in our country, is to discover how we can become one community - acknowledging our differences while at the same time realizing our equality.

May our country and our community never tire of the journey, no matter how difficult or uncomfortable it may be. It has always been the strength of the United States that in our diversity we have tried to be one nation that benefits from a multitude of gifts and perspectives.

city government is a two-way conversation

2008-06-27T13:10:00.000-07:00

This week I received a call from someone very upset with me concerning how I voted on paying for the sewer work being done on Lawrence Drive. To recap the issue, Lawrence Drive has been in need of re-working. Not just repairing, rather, the road needed to be completely re-done, and that includes the storm sewer lines associated with the road. Normally, the storm sewer work is paid for by the property owners on both sides of the road. Unfortunately, one side of the road is almost completely owned by the state of Wisconsin as right-of-way for U.S. 41, and by law, the city of De Pere is responsible for paying the state's portion of the storm sewer work.

The question, then, was how to figure the state's portion of that work. Normally, the city's engineering department takes the total cost of the project and divides it by the total frontage feet along both sides of the road to come up with a per-foot cost. Then each property owner is charged for their portion of the road. This is the way storm sewer installation charges have been handled 99% of the time in the city's history.

In this case, however, the state's property is very long but also very shallow along Lawrence Drive and therefore contributes very little to the volume of storm water being handled by the sewer. So, another option that city staff came up with is to charge property owners by how much water they contribute to the total stormwater handled by the sewer (in other words, figuring how much of each property drains into the stormwater sewer). In the first case, the city would be on the hook for a large amount of money, but in the second example the cost would be greatly reduced for the city, but would be very high for some of the individual property owners. This type of charge for stormwater sewer work has been done only rarely in the city's history.

In the end, I along with the majority of city council members voted to handle the cost by the traditional per-foot method, which made the cost more reasonable for the individual property owners, but spread the cost out over the whole community for the city's portion. My reasoning was, just as the entire city enjoys the benefits of being located along U.S. 41 (increased business traffic, demand for housing and thus higher property values, easy access to transportation, etc.), the entire city should be responsible for the state's portion of the storm sewer charge, and not just the property owners along Lawrence Drive (who, again, ARE paying the normal share of this work).

While the person who called me had some of the facts incorrectly on this issue (for example, she thought the city could figure out a way to not pay ANY money, which is legally impossible), her basic point is that she felt I had not represented her well on this issue. In the first place, she believed the state's portion of the bill should not have been shouldered by the entire community. I then explained to her my reasoning (which I lay out above here). In the second place, she felt she should have been notified that this was on the agenda as it affected her taxes. I explained to her that every meeting of the council affects in some way the taxes on or the services to the residents of De Pere, and that it would be financially impossible to send out individual meeting notices by mail to every person in the city for every meeting.

Our conversation, however, brought to mind one of the great tensions in representative democracy... that is, how is an elected official to know exactly what is on the minds of the people they represent. While I understand that everyone would like their taxes lower (including my own!), at the same time a city does not function without some kind of revenue. While De Pere's taxes are not outrageously high, they are high enough. But at the same time, a recent poll of city residents showed that a majority of people would be willing to keep their taxes where they are if it means that we can keep city services at the same satisfactory level.

Community surveys are just one way of trying to understand what's on the mind of city residents. Phone calls such as the one I received on the Lawrence Drive issue are another. I've also gone door-to-door (both during the campaign and afterwards) to find out what people's concerns are. Blogs such as this one, and the feedback I receive from it are also good for keeping the conversation going. In all these cases, it takes not just an elected official willing to listen to people's concerns, but also an involved citizenry who are willing to not just voice their opinions, but also to get involved in making the community a better place.

Outdoors in De Pere and beyond

2008-06-14T09:36:00.000-07:00

With school getting out and the weather turning warmer, it indeed feels like summer is here, and that's usually the time folks are getting outside as much as they can. "Outside" is the theme for this week's blog, as it ties together some of the points I want to touch on:

Monday, June 16, the city is hosting a workshop on promoting walking and biking in De Pere. This is an effort I've been working on with some of the city staff to see what we can do to make our community a better place for folks to get around without a car. Usually that effort focuses on three avenues: education, engineering and enforcement. After the workshop (made possible by a state grant), we'll be working on putting together a plan to move De Pere forward. We actually are a pretty walking- and biking-friendly place already, but there's more that can be done. I think this effort will not only make the city safer for walkers and bikers, especially children trying to get to school, but it could also help make us a healthier community - both for individuals but also for our businesses, particularly in downtown. My hope is we use this promotion as a way to bring folks into the downtown area to take advantage of the many shops, restaurants and other businesses there, especially people coming off the Fox River Trail.

It's that time of year again when I start getting calls about folks not keeping their lawns up. Admittedly I'm not the best at keeping things tidy in our yard, but these calls consistently are for properties where the grass is a foot tall or higher - creating places for rodents to nest as well as an unpleasant neighborhood for other residents, especially those who live near by and are trying to sell their homes. Thanks to all who do a good job in contributing to a nice setting in the many different areas of the city.

Finally, my thoughts and prayers go out to the communities in Wisconsin and around the midwest who are suffering from floods. It has been a devastating week for many people, and the challenges they face in recovering from the floods is enormous. While people in their homes should always be our first concern, I'm also struck by the challenges faces by municipal leaders as they figure out how to repair or replace dams, roads, and bridges swept away by the rising water.

discussing a residency restriction for registered sex offenders

2008-06-05T12:11:00.000-07:00

At this week's Council meeting, we discussed the issue of restricting where convicted sex offenders who are registered with the state of Wisconsin can live in De Pere. This issue, in part, has been spurred on by the restrictions adopted by Green Bay, and then by other area communities in response to Green Bay's actions.

Strong feelings exist on both sides of this question, and that's very understandable. On the one hand, we ALL want to make a safe place for our families, friends, and especially our children to live. I have three children of my own, and I want to do everything I can to ensure their safety and happiness. On the surface of it, restricting where sex-offenders can live, and keeping their place of residence away from De Pere, seems like a good idea.

On the other hand, many people involved with the issue say that residency restrictions have not demonstrated any increase in public safety, and in fact may hurt the ability of communities to protect themselves. That was the argument made by a De Pere resident at this week's Council meeting. A victim of sexual abuse as a child herself, she reiterated what others have said. By reducing the availability of housing for registered sex offenders, we actually contribute to the problem of them NOT registering with the state. They are driven "underground" and therefore law enforcement does not know where they are.

This is a very complicated issue that cannot be fully explained in a short blog column. However, at the meeting, the Council asked the city staff to spend some time coming up with options for us, including restricting not where registered sex offenders live, but rather where they "hang out," in other words, a loitering ordinance.

My main concern is not passing an ordinance that looks good, or simply reacting to what the surrounding communities are doing, but rather doing something that actually contributes to public safety. I would be very interested to hear what you have to say.

this, that and the other

2008-05-23T16:01:00.001-07:00

This week has been a reminder that being a council member means having your hand in a lot of different "pots." For example, this week I:

attended my first meeting as a member of De Pere's Board of Public Health. It was very interesting, although I was a little "over my head" when some of the medical terms were brought up. This is the first committee I've sat on with more than just council members, and I was impressed with the commitment and knowledge shown by the community members of the Board.
discussed at the Council meeting the high assessment of businesses on Lawrence Drive for the sewer work to be installed when that road is completely re-done. I feel bad for the businesses along that stretch, as they are bearing the costs that normally are split between businesses and residences on both sides of the street. Unfortunately in this case, the State of Wisconsin owns most of the west side of Lawrence for the highway right-of-way, and cannot be assessed. That puts added financial pressure on the east-side businesses (although there are a few on the west side that have to pay, too). I hope we can figure out a way to help them financially, but at the same time we have to be careful not to sacrifice future road projects as well.
shared with those interested in our beginning sustainability group what our Steering Committee has been up to, including deciding on proposed vision and mission statements for the group, and even a name. I think it's all going very well, and we'll be sharing the final proposals for the group at a meeting on June 9th. If you're interested in being a part of De Pere's sustainability effort, just let me know.
voted at the City Council meeting to apply for a state grant that will fund a new effort to promote walking and biking in the city. With that money, we'll be gathering various leaders and stakeholders in the community to learn more about how we can help more and more folks walk and bike in De Pere - an effort I believe will help us environmentally and economically, as well as health-wise! Again, if you're interested in this work, just let me know and I'll be sure and include you in the information loop.

Doing the right thing

2008-05-10T10:07:00.001-07:00

This week I was at a meeting with elected officials not from De Pere, as well as other local community leaders. During the meeting, a particularly troublesome local issue was being discussed, and one of the non-elected leaders mentioned how some politicians would decide a certain way on that issue in order to get re-elected, even though they might not agree with that action. One of the elected officials acknowledged that reality, as if taking it for granted.

Lawyers, used-car sales people, politicians... it's hard to find a group of folks perceived with more skepticism than these, and the lowest opinion, it seems, is reserved for the politicians. It's no wonder, given the track record of many of our elected leaders - of both parties and of no party affiliation! In the last year, I've often had the experience of being in a conversation where politicians are derided, only to have someone in the group suddenly acknowledge that I'm a politician, as if that might be embarrassing for me. And I have to admit, I feel a little embarrassed at times! Given that climate, no wonder it's hard to get good people to run for office.

Balancing the will of the majority with one's own conscience as an office holder is rarely a problem. But there are times when the two may not match up. It is impossible to say which should hold more weight, because it depends on the issue and the person in that office. My hope, however, is that I NEVER let my concern for re-election make the decision. Right now, that's an easy thing to say, because I don't know if I'll be running again or not. But if I should decide to do so, that's a promise I'm willing to make, and one I would work hard at keeping.

Caring for the Great Lakes... and the region

2008-05-02T14:44:00.000-07:00

This morning I attended a presentation by John Austin of the Brookings Institution on the economic, social and environmental health of the Great Lakes region, a 12-state area which includes all of Wisconsin. He had some interesting insights on the hurdles our area faces, as well as the strengths we have. In particular, he talked about what an asset the Great Lakes are, and how their health and preservation impacts not only the environment, but also our economy and social well-being.

Such large concerns in some ways seem far-removed from the concerns of De Pere's City Council, but our community is tied tightly to the future of the Great Lakes. An easy example is, that's where we get our drinking water! But the Lakes also touch our economy as well as the quality of life of everyone who lives in this region. Concern for the Lakes also means concern for the waters that feed the Lakes, including the Fox River. The clean-up of PCB's in the river taking place now and in the future will have important impact on the environmental health of all who live in this region.

These are just a couple examples of why working for a environmentally, economically and socially sustainable future is important, and why the work being started by De Pere's yet-to-be-named sustainability group is just as important. The steering committee for this newly formed group has been meeting regularly to put together a vision of what the group is about, a framework for understanding sustainability that can guide its work, and an action plan for how the group will move forward. If you're interested in being a part of this effort, let me know, and I'll get you on the e-mail list right away.

Economic development in De Pere

2008-04-25T14:34:00.000-07:00

This week I attended a workshop on economic development hosted by Advance, the economic development division of the Green Bay Area Chamber of Commerce. The workshop was specifically geared towards local municipal officials, and folks from Hobart, Allouez, and Suamico attended as well.

I enjoyed the workshop, and found that I already had a grasp on some things, like Tax Increment Financing and Districts (TIF and TID, which the city uses very well right now), but I also had a lot to learn in other areas, such as how economic developers decide what businesses to target for bringing into our community. Advance is supported by De Pere (along with other communities in the area), and not only helps bring in new industries and businesses from outside the region, but Advance also assists start-up businesses, to help them succeed and add to our local economy. What I found interesting was that they support not only for-profit businesses, but non-profit ones as well, which I think provides our community with a great resource.

De Pere has positioned itself very well for economic development, and has a strong recent history in this area. The industrial parks on both the west and east side of town have contributed greatly to the economic health of the city and the region. The downtown on both sides of the river has done well in recent years, too, but much still needs to be done, especially after the businesses took a hit with the bridge construction.

The city needs to take an active role in promoting our downtown, and I think two efforts that I'm supporting will do just that: the construction of the wildlife viewing pier and the campaign to promote walking and biking. Another issue to be addressed is what to do with the land from the old bridge footprint on the east side. While I support using that property as public space, there are still many options to be considered. I hope all our citizens take an active role in the discussion around this issue.

A busy week!

2008-04-18T15:02:00.001-07:00

This week's schedule with city council and related work has been a busy one, including:

De Pere sustainability steering committee meeting Monday night
License Committee and City Council meetings Tuesday night
Meeting with interested citizens concerning the new Bed and Breakfast on north Broadway and a meeting with a county health department member concerning promoting walking and biking in De Pere on Wednesday
Attending a Congressional field hearing on the water levels in the Great Lakes at UWGB on Friday
Numerous phone conversations around not only the Bed and Breakfast but also problems with parking in the neighborhood around De Pere high school due to changes in the school's parking regulations

While the week has been a busy one, it's also been a good one. All of the work, meetings, and conversations have been about things I believe are important to our community. This job can be time consuming, but it also is a privilege, as it gives me the opportunity to be of service to the people of De Pere. I realize that may sound like a cliche', but it truly is a privilege.

Having said all that, the week has also been a lesson in how much I still have to learn - not only about the different topics that I have to deal with, but also about how city government works... and how it can work better. Every human institution has its moments when things could have been done better, and city council is no different. The unfortunate thing is, not doing a job perfectly can have adverse affects on the people we're serving. The fortunate thing is, I honestly believe that each of De Pere's elected officials is trying their best to do what is right for De Pere, and that gives us a chance to learn and improve how government works.

Making things happen

2008-04-11T14:00:00.000-07:00

Yesterday, myself and Larry Delo, De Pere's City Administrator, met with Brian Driscoll, who works with community relations for Governor Doyle's Office of Energy Independence. Brian wanted to talk with us about Wisconsin's new "Energy Independent Community" program, which is seeking to help our state's cities, towns, villages and counties rely more on renewable energy, in the long run benefiting both the municipality's bottom line as well as the environment.

While I was very interested in the topic at hand, what also struck me was how people try to "make things happen" in our communities in two different ways. One way is the "top down" approach, which has the leaders of a community (for example, elected officials, but it could be others, like school administrators) seeing something they think will make a positive impact, and then implementing that change. Another way is the "bottoms up" approach, which has the residents of that community coming together around an positive idea, and then organizing to advocate for and create that change with their fellow citizens and with their community leaders.

I think both kinds of change are necessary. On the one hand, lasting change can only happen when the members of a community are convinced that it needs to happen, thus the need for a "bottoms up" or grassroots approach. In the case of working towards sustainability here in De Pere (see earlier blogs on this topic), the group that is now getting organized here consists of citizens, educators, elected officials, business people, students, etc. As a group, we don't have the power to implement any official policies, but we can advocate for them, we can educate and learn from others, we can make small projects happen, and we can build the momentum in De Pere towards bigger and more long-lasting efforts.

On the other hand, everything can't happen by community consensus, which is why we have leaders in the first place. Thus a "top down" approach is also necessary. The City of De Pere's staff is slowly changing its practices, moving towards more sustainable ways of doing things, such as purchasing a hybrid vehicle for the Parks Department or looking at more fuel efficient options for heating and cooling city buildings.

The trick is to bring these two approaches together - to take "bottom up" community movement and energy and translate it into "top-down" policies and institutionalized practices that will last long after staff members come and go. In the case of city government, that's an important role the City Council can play. Whether it be sustainability, housing, community planning, or any other challenge De Pere faces, community leaders must foster citizen dialog and involvement, and then translate the energy created by that dialog and involvement into policies and practices. That's how together we can "make things happen." I believe that De Pere's sustainability effort I've been involved with can be a model for how that works.

building for the future... sometimes easy, sometimes painful

2008-04-04T15:26:00.000-07:00

A great deal of the work of the city council is trying to make good decisions for today, while laying a good foundation for the future. I've been busy this week with work related to the council and our community, all of which is trying to balance the needs of today and tomorrow.

This past Tuesday, the Council, including myself, voted to substantially increase the charge to residents and businesses in De Pere to handle wastewater. It was a vote I made reluctantly, as I could see no other options. I can only see voting against something if I have an idea for an alternative, and in this case, I didn't. De Pere's wastewater rates have remained the same for 22 years - an amazing length of time. What made that possible - among other things - was a surplus from previous years in the city budget, and deficit spending these last few years. Now, we need to catch up due to rising costs, necessary repairs, and the merger with Green Bay Metro Sewage District, and unfortunately it's going to come in one fell swoop.

In defense of the decision, De Pere's rates are still well-below the state average, and in the middle of the pack when compared with other Brown County communities. But having a large increase in one year is never a good idea. We've had to play "catch up" in a number of budget areas in recent years, such as property taxes, water rates, and now wastewater rates. I asked city staff if this was the last area we had to do that in, and I was told it was. The city council also passed an ordinance requiring us to do an annual review of the rates, so we don't have to do this again - a measure I supported.

That was the painful part of building for the future. An easy part was Monday night, when 22 people gathered to begin the practical work of forming a permanent group to foster sustainability in De Pere. It was a great evening with a lot of energy in the room - energy that we can harness to make a real difference in our community. If costs such as the wastewater rates are going up, I firmly believe that working towards greater sustainability in our community can bring DOWN the cost of operating - for the city, for businesses and for individuals.

Finally, last Friday I attended my first meeting of the Brown County Task Force to End Homelessness. My hope is, that by participating in this group, I can advocate for communities outside of Green Bay to take an active and appropriate role in addressing the housing needs of our community. By working together with government, businesses, non-profit organizations and individuals, we can provide supportive and affordable housing that will benefit the members of community that are struggling, but also the businesses that are looking to attract workers to De Pere. This can be a win-win situation, but it will take some real effort and cooperation beyond what we've had in the past. I'm hopeful all of us together can make it happen, adding yet another "brick" to the foundation we're building for De Pere's future.

Importance of community involvement

2008-03-20T12:22:00.000-07:00

I've been privileged this week to witness or be a part of a number of efforts where involvement by De Pere residents has made or is making a significant impact. For example, at Tuesday night's City Council meeting during the public comment portion of the evening, a number of residents of North Broadway spoke against the recent approval of a bed and breakfast inn in their neighborhood. While I voted for the approval, I thought the concerns they raised were valid. It may be that at this late date, nothing can be done to change the approval, but for their to be any chance of that, they had to speak up, and doing so made a difference.

On Wednesday, I attended De Pere's parking and traffic committee meeting, where about eight residents of O'Hearn Lane in De Pere came to air their concerns about speeding and traffic back-ups on their street as people try to avoid the round-about at the intersection of Libal and Chicago. Again, their involvement, and the number of concerned people on O'Hearn that they represent, I believe made a big impact on the committee members.

Too often, I think, people believe that if an issue isn't resolved the way that they want, then city government isn't listening to them. However, citizen involvement, no matter what the outcome on the immediate issue, is vital to the health of our community. And it gives elected officials like myself something to consider the next time a similar issue comes up. You can be sure I'll be asking a few more questions about approving business zoning in the future.

Sometimes, however, community involvement isn't around any specific problem, but rather addresses making the quality of life in De Pere better. One such effort is the sustainability group that I've written about before in this blog. Right now, we have almost 60 people on our e-mail list receiving information about this growing effort in our city. While most of those may not be involved on an on-going basis, we'll have 20-30 people taking an active part at some level, which is a great show of community involvement in something that I think will have a very positive long-term impact on De Pere.

Walk De Pere!

2008-03-14T14:31:00.001-07:00

As I think I've mentioned before, I would love to see De Pere promote walking in the city. Such a "pedestrian campaign" could benefit our community in so many ways... safer streets for children going to school, healthier habits for our residents, cleaner air to breathe as we use cars less and less, increased revenue for our downtown businesses as more people use the Fox River Trail or enjoy the coming wildlife viewing pier, and the list goes on.

This coming Wednesday I'll be meeting with the traffic and parking committee for the city to begin talking about what such a campaign might look like. I've been looking over resources on the internet, and there have been dozens and dozens of communities that have or are having a pedestrian awareness or safety campaign, and the benefits are easy to see - lower accident rates, increased community awareness and a raised quality of life. Atlanta and Salt Lake City saw a drop off in pedestrian-automobile accidents while Phoenix had greater observance of the speed limit in school zones; If you're interested, check-out the Pedestrian and Bicycle Information Center at walkinginfo.org; it's loaded with all kinds of information.

My hope is that we bring together the police department; the schools; the city Health, Public Works and Planning departments; the new De Pere Sustainability group; local businesses; and interested citizens to all get involved. Each of these groups and individuals has a stake in promoting walking in our community.

The place of personal relationships on the City Council

2008-03-05T16:10:00.001-08:00

This week's city council meeting was probably the shortest one I've been part of, lasting about 30 minutes. While the issues addressed were no less relevant or important than any other week, there were just fewer of them. However, towards the end of the meeting, a conflict that has been brewing between two of our council members in the newspaper came out in the open.

My particular opinions about who is "right" or who is "wrong" aren't important (and not fully formed, I might add). What is important is a consideration of the role personal relationships play in the job of an Alderperson. We make decisions that have very practical and direct effects on people's lives, and we work in a forum that has ample room for public disagreement. When, if ever, should personal relationships have an effect on what is taking place or on what decisions are made?

To be perfectly honest, I'm still discovering what role personal relationships play in my job. I certainly believe they are important, and one of the first things I did as a Council member was to try to get to know the other Alderpersons better through one-on-one conversations. I believe that makes for a smoother-operating Council. At the same time, I can't let personal relationships get in the way of making a decision that serves the common good of the community, and that service of the common good was why I wanted to be on the Council in the first place.

Because personal relationships are so important and central, and because it can be so hard to sort out their proper place, I believe it's important that I approach this job with a good dose of humility, as I believe that can get me - and all of us - through some rough patches.

I don't know this directly, but my guess - and hope - is that the two Council members worked out their differences, as I believe they both, in their own way, are concerned about the best interests of our community. Serving on the De Pere Council has been a privilege, in part because we generally don't have the bickering and squabbling that goes on in other local elected bodies. Let's hope we can continue this practice of working together for the common good.

Great start to our sustainability group here in De Pere

2008-02-29T12:47:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday, we had our big "Awareness Raising" event for promoting sustainability in De Pere, and the turnout was great - 62 people! We also had some nice press coverage in the Press-Gazette the next day. In the days after the event, I heard from a number of people that they thought it was a good evening, with some good energy generated around the issues of sustainability.

Of the folks who attended, over 20 of them said they would be willing to serve on a steering and/or sub-committee for sustainability, with a number of others indicating they'd like to take part in a "study circle" on sustainability or be on the e-mail chain to stay informed. So, we're off to a great start. Our next gathering will be on Monday, March 31, at 7:00 PM in room 201 BC (upstairs) in the student union building on St. Norbert College's campus. Let me know if you're interested in attending. We're just getting started on a long-term project that I believe will have long-term benefits to our community - so the more the merrier!

Along with that big project this week, I've also been fielding a number of phone calls and e-mails around various issues, from zoning to the new mixed-recycling program coming this summer to city labor ordinances to pedestrian safety. It's been a real mixed-bag of issues, and I'm glad people were getting in touch with me. It strikes me that the duties of an elected official, if they want to be a positive force in their community, fall along four lines:

taking care of the nitty-gritty business of budgets, ordinances, committee work, etc.
responding to constituent concerns
taking on one or two areas of work that the person has energy for, that reflects the concerns of his/her constituents, and that can have a positive impact on the community (like sustainability)
communicating with constituents in general, so they know what's happening in their government.

There may very well be many others, but as I learn more about being an alderperson, these are the four that strike me as being especially important. What do you think? What am I missing?

What a winter!

2008-02-22T08:34:00.000-08:00

I have talked to so many people lately who are either physically sick, or just plain sick of this winter weather. This year has been one for the record books, and we're not even through February yet.

Given all the snow we've received so far, this winter has posed some real challenges for our public works department. Scott Thoreson, Director of Public Works, has talked about the long shifts being worked by members of the plowing crew, trying to get not just the streets clear, but also moving the snow piles from the sides of streets, sidewalk crossings, parking areas, etc. The constant snow has also put a strain on salt reserves, but he reports that the city has made adjustments to its salting and sanding routines, and that we should be OK through the rest of this winter.

I mention all this for two reasons. First, I appreciate the hard work the Public Works personnel is putting in, trying to cope with the "avalanche" of snow we've had. Second, I've received calls on a number of different concerns related to the snow - from snow-packed sidewalks to covered parking areas to questions about where to put garbage and recycling containers. And I'm amazed at the number of calls the Public Works department gets from folks concerned about their neighbors or city businesses not clearing sidewalks.

City government is hear to serve the common good; that's why we exist. And certainly that means getting snow cleared away so residents of the city can get about. That's why I'm glad to get calls from residents who are concerned about issues like this. It gives me an opportunity to help the city respond.

At the same time, I honestly believe that the city staff is responding as best they can, given the amount of work they've had in front of them. That doesn't mean we all can't do better, so it's important to hear what people have to say. We've had a little bit of a break in the snow, and the forecasts don't seem to call for any big snows in the next few days, so hopefully this will give everyone a chance to catch up on the work load. In the mean time, please don't hesitate to call me with concerns.

My family doesn't own a snow blower, so we're out shoveling to clear our walks. However, our neighbor on one side of our house DOES have a snow blower, and many mornings he has given us a hand in clearing our walk. We're very grateful for the help, and we've tried to pass that on by shoveling the sidewalk of the neighbor on our other side when he's been out of town. He in turn has cleared our driveway when we've been out of town. To me, this has been a great example of all of us being in this together... the city staff as well as residents doing their part to keep our sidewalks clear.

Time to make your voice heard

2008-02-15T13:17:00.000-08:00

One of the things I like about serving as elected local official is that, in Wisconsin, we're elected on a non-partisan basis. While I think political parties are probably a help in some things, too often, it seems to me, politicians have some of their attention distracted from what's good for the community by what's good for the party. Not having that concern while serving on city council has been a positive experience for me. In some states municipal officials are party-based, so we should all be glad Wisconsin is different.

Another "non-partisan" blessing for Wisconsin is coming up this Tuesday, when we have our open primary elections for national, state and local races. An "open primary" means that citizens can vote for whomever they feel would be the best person in that office, regardless of their party.

The key to this, of course, is that we must actually VOTE. De Pere has a history of very high voter participation, and it would be wonderful to see that history repeat itself, both this Tuesday, on April 1 for our spring elections, and again in November for the general elections.

When I was campaigning last winter, I was reminded how many people feel disengaged from the political process. Some of the reasons were understandable, others not as much. But given the issues faced at all levels of our society - both here in De Pere and in the United States as a whole - now is the time to make y0ur voice heard. I won by 26 votes last year, so I know the value of a single vote! Believe it or not, you can make a difference, so please take a moment on Tuesday and vote for the candidate you feel would best serve our community - we'll only get the best when we all participate.

housing issues in De Pere and Brown County

2008-02-09T11:36:00.000-08:00

The following is a statement I read during the Council meeting last Tuesday evening. The agenda item asked if we had anything to put on future agendas. I believe this is an important issue for De Pere to address. Let me know what you think:

"As everyone one of us on the Council is aware, Administrator Delo recently received a letter from the Green Bay Catholic diocese. The letter requested that De Pere consider whether facilities existed in its city limits that next winter could be an emergency shelter for the homeless population presently being served at the St. John the Evangelist Shelter in Green Bay.
My understanding of the situation is that this necessary facility is better located in Green Bay, as this more adequately serves the needs of those people needing shelter, including connecting them with necessary social services.

However, if that is true, it still does not absolve the De Pere community of responsibility in helping address the issue of inadequate housing options and homelessness in our area, for a few reasons.

First, the state of our economy is such that people who have previously felt secure in their homes may suddenly find themselves facing homelessness or inadequate housing, including people here in De Pere.

Second, it is to the advantage of both present and future businesses and industry located in De Pere that we work to ensure availability of affordable housing for workers.

Third, as part of the Brown County community, the economic and social health of De Pere is tied to the well-being of the county, and adequately addressing housing concerns has a large impact on that health.

Therefore, I request that a discussion on affordable housing concerns and homelessness be part of the second April meeting agenda for the Council, after the seating of the newly elected council members, and that this agenda item include:

1. a short presentation by someone in the community knowledgeable on the subject;
2. a discussion on the appropriate niche that the De Pere community might fill in the continuum of housing options needed in the county, such as transitional housing for families or affordable workforce housing; and
3. a discussion on the appropriate role the city government might play, whether or not we should urge more action by the county government and/or whether private organizations and individuals should play a prominent role.

A conversation on this important issue is needed in our community, and I believe it is the appropriate role of city government and this council to initiate that conversation

Working for an improved quality of life in De Pere

2008-01-25T08:28:00.000-08:00

This has been a "break" week from meetings, as it's the fourth week of the month, so most of my work has been on the upcoming "Fostering Sustainability in De Pere" gathering on Wednesday, February 24, 7:00 PM in room 11 of the Cofrin Science Building at St. Norbert College. This gathering is intended for the entire community - interested citizens, government officials, business professionals, and other community leaders. The meeting will include:

A presentation on Sustainability basics by Jay Moynihan, UW-Extension educator, who brings a wealth of experience and knowledge on sustainability;
A follow-up discussion on the presentation that will involve everyone present, to help us all get a better grasp on what is meant by Sustainability;
A dialogue on how we can practically move forward in community towards sustainability, including possibly forming a permanent group to promote this idea with residents, businesses, organizations and city government.

This is an exciting project for De Pere, and one that can have a practical impact on our community, improving the quality of life and lowering pressure on property taxes as we learn to do things more efficiently and environmentally-friendly. You're welcome to attend the meeting, and you don't have to RSVP ahead of time. But if you have any questions or ideas, please feel free to contact me at talktodan@robinsondeperecouncil.com or at 347-0828.

Sometimes things don't always go smoothly

2008-01-18T14:38:00.000-08:00

As much as I would like to pretend that everything always works smoothly, we know that isn't the case. If this is a communication from about my work on the City Council, in all honesty I should write about the stuff that doesn't come off as well along with the things that do. This past Tuesday's Council meeting is an example.

Previously, in December, the Council had voted to raise the amount of money city employees and retirees paid for their health insurance (along with increased payments by the city) - a necessary step to cover the rising cost of health care. However, the increase was greater for the retirees that weren't eligible yet for Medicare. The amount they paid previously hadn't come close to covering their higher costs to the health plan.

After the meeting, many of the Council members, including myself, were contacted by folks who felt this was a bad decision and unfair to retirees who had, during their working careers, supported other retirees. They believed the increase should be the same for everyone, as a way of "keeping faith" with those retirees who had supported others when they were employed by the city.

While I'm not a big fan of constantly revisiting decisions, which I think the Council has done too much in the past, in listening to the retirees as well as the current employees of the city who said they felt it was only fair to make the health care premium increase the same for everyone, I voted in favor of doing so. The vote, however, didn't go that smoothly, and I made a motion that I ended up voting against. My intention was to make the flat "across the board" increase retro-active to the beginning of the year, but that wasn't the motion I had actually made.

In the end, the change was made, everyone is dealing with the same increase, and I think the city is moving forward in the right direction on this... but it wasn't pretty! I've commented before that there is a lot to learn as a city alderperson, and this moment was a reminder of that.

folks giving to their community, both inside and outside elected office

2008-01-04T12:00:00.000-08:00

Two days ago the filing deadline for most local political offices came and went, and last night the folks of Iowa kicked off the presidential primaries by holding their caucuses. Today, I had conversations with two folks running for local political offices (neither of them running for city council in De Pere), and it struck me how important it is that we have good people running for elected office in our community. Whether these are people I would ultimately vote for is not the important point; what IS important is that we support the process by encouraging good women and men to give their time and effort for our community.

But obviously that kind of giving doesn't happen only - or even primarily - in politics, and I was reminded of that last night. This past Thursday evening we had our fourth gathering of folks working to promote sustainability in De Pere. 15 people, the most yet, gathered to work on our plans for a larger meeting on February 27th. Whenever we meet, I'm amazed at the energy, wisdom and experience present in the room - these are folks who are serious about promoting environmental, economic and community sustainability, and they have a track record of making things happen. I think some wonderful developments lie ahead for our city because of their willingness to give to our community.

If you're interested, we're having our larger meeting at 7 PM on February 27th, which will include a speaker and discussion on how we can get a formal, permanent group started in De Pere. The gathering will take place on the campus of St. Norbert College, and it promises to be a great evening. If you'd like more information on this, just e-mail me at talktodan@robinsondeperecouncil.com.

Some New Year's resolutions

2007-12-21T11:42:00.000-08:00

“It’s just politics.” I heard that from another elected official recently about this person’s public criticism of their fellow politicians. Whether the criticism was valid is a question for another day. What struck me was the justification, “It’s just politics.”

I’m not even sure what that means, but it seems to be a common rationale for - or lament about - actions that divide our community, foster ill will, and contribute little to solving the problems we face. And often those actions are taken at the expense of the most vulnerable people in our community, folks on low- or fixed-incomes or who are ostracized because they’re perceived as being different.

I recently attended a public hearing on how to fix the broken tax system in Wisconsin. While some good suggestions came forth, what stayed with me was the genuine concern people had for the future of their communities and their willingness to pay their fair share of taxes, even making up and caring for those who weren’t able to pay as much. Certainly that wasn’t a universal opinion, and everyone felt the system needs fixing, but the majority were willing to take up their responsibility for the community. After the session, I asked one of the organizers if this was unique to the Green Bay hearing, and she said no, that they had heard similar sentiments in other communities.

Many good women and men serve as local elected officials, but I believe our political life needs a greater regard for unity and the common good. With a turn of the calendar, perhaps all of us – voters and politicians alike – can set New Year’s resolutions that strive for something more, such as:

Working for the Common Good. This includes looking out for the economically, socially, and physically vulnerable. Yes, it’s a cliché, but it’s true that a community is only as strong as its weakest link. If we truly want to improve the quality of life in Brown County, we must do so for everyone.
Supporting efforts for the Common Good outside of government. The role of government is limited, so most of this work must be done by individuals, businesses, and community groups. The least we can do is not put more roadblocks in their way.
Broadening participation. The more people who participate in the political process, the better off we all are. That doesn’t mean I’ll always agree with the opinion of everyone who joins the discussion, but it does mean that our efforts to solve problems will have more people behind them.
Exhibiting more humility and civility. Serving as an elected official is not an easy job, and all of us doing it have a lot to learn, none more so than myself. Realizing this can keep us open to fresh, creative ideas, and at the same time raise the level of civility in our public debate.
Fostering cooperation and reconciliation. Politics is often viewed as a “zero-sum” game – if I win, that means you lose. We need to work harder to find creative solutions to problems that build on the good will present in our community – giving something to and asking sacrifices from everyone.

Maybe its just a pipe dream, but I look forward to the day when I hear someone tell the story of a local politician who was truly looking beyond self- or narrow-interests towards the common good, and the story ends with the line, “But hey, that’s just politics!”

Should we add police and fire personnel?

2007-12-15T10:24:00.000-08:00

This week I, along with other members of the city staff and council, took part in an audio-conference on the topic of appropriate staffing levels for police and fire departments. The conference was very interesting, discussing the kinds of questions we can ask to determine what is the force size appropriate for De Pere. Some of those questions included:

What are the response times for police and firefighters when a rapid response is called for?
What are the staffing levels and how do they match up with the daily, seasonal, and yearly cycles of calls?
Is appropriate record-keeping taking place?
What are the level of call closures for police?
How much time is the fire department able to spend in fire prevention?
What is the staff doing between calls?
Do police have the level of contact time with the public that is desired?

That last question is important in a very general way, because really, staffing levels come down to the community's desire - do we have enough people to carry out services to the level wanted by our citizens and that they're willing to pay for them?

Unfortunately, like so many other areas of city services, there's no "silver bullet" method for determining staffing levels. We have to come together as a community to decide what we want, how much we want of it, and what we're willing to pay for it. This goes for road maintenance and park and rec programs just as it does for fire and police personnel.

My hope is that the city survey and public discussions that will take place this coming year will help us answer those questions. Too much can be expected of that process, and as with most tasks involving public opinion, there will be many different viewpoints. But at the same time, that is the best process we have. It's like the old joke, "Democracy is the worst system of government there is... except for all the other ones."

The best we can hope for is to broaden the discussion and input as much as we're able, gather the information we have available to us, then make the best decision we can. That's why it is so important that the mayor and city alderpersons hear from our constituents. Now is the time to put your "two cents" in, as we have some important decisions to make - together.

Improving recycling in De Pere

2007-11-30T14:35:00.001-08:00

As part of De Pere's budget for 2008, the City Council approved the purchase of recycling trucks that will allow our community to do what is called "single stream" recycling. That means that instead of sorting paper into one container, and all other recyclables into another container, everything will go into one bin, which will be wheeled out to the street like the garbage containers. (Recycling pick-up will still be every-other week.) Moving to "single stream" recycling will require DePere residents to purchase a large bin for their recyclable materials, again, similar to the garbage containers we now use.

While people will have to pay for these recycling bins (which will stay permanently with the residence) this move to single stream has a number of advantages for the community:

Research has shown that recycling increases around 20% in communities that go to single stream, which results in savings for the city (and tax payers) through lower landfill costs;
Recyclable materials can be sold to a private company, bringing in revenue to the city;
The new recycling trucks will be automated, just as the current garbage trucks are, reducing the physical strain on city employees, and in turn reducing costs incurred by the city for worker compensation requests;
Increased recycling means better care of the environment by reducing the need of oil for plastics, trees for paper, etc.

An additional advantage would be if we could increase the types of materials that can be recycled. For example, right now only #1 and #2 plastics can be accepted by the city for recycling. If we could somehow include other types of plastics with other numbers on them, we could further lower our landfill costs and raise our revenue through the sale of recyclable materials.

Today, myself, the other members of the Board of Public Works, Mayor Mike Walsh, Scott Thoreson (Dir. of Public Works), and John Heesaker (Dept. of Public Works) toured the facility for One Source Recycling. The City is exploring a possible contract with One Source to take our recycling materials once we go to single stream. Presently, One Source accepts #1 through #7 plastics. According to the company, they are planning on expanding in the future the types of plastics accepted, as well as the types of other materials accepted for recycling, such as styrofoam.

While it is important for the city to negotiate the best possible contract from a financial standpoint, today's visit confirmed for me that there are better possibilities for recycling available to us. An important part of that negotiation will be having the company assist us with community education on recycling. With the change to single stream and the possible increase in the types of materials accepted, we'll have to do a good job of letting people know what's happening and how they can do their part.

A budget for this year, but already looking ahead to next year

2007-11-25T11:01:00.000-08:00

This past Tuesday, the Council approved the budget for 2008, and it included, unfortunately, a tax increase. I voted for the budget, as I felt that was the best course of action for the health of our community. While I take NO pleasure in voting for an increase, I believe state limits and past Council actions put us in a position where we are having to play catch-up from previous years' budgets. In the past, the Council has borrowed from our City's surplus in order to cover spending - now that practice has caught up with us, and we no longer have the surplus funds to cover that. The budget, as passed, does raise taxes for this coming year. However, of the options considered by the Council, it also puts us in the best possible position to keep taxes at a minimum over both 2008 and 2009.

Of course, that's if spending patterns and levels remain the same, and I do not believe they should. We have to seriously consider cutting some of the services the city now provides. We can't keep providing all that we do, and expect residents to go along with a sizable tax increase every year. The city will be conducting a survey next year, to see what residents want for services and what they're willing to pay, and we'll be having public hearings to continue the discussion, all in preparation for next year's budget.

At the end of this process, when we're considering the budget for 2009, I think we'll be looking at cuts, realignments, and possible staffing additions, as our city departments are overworked in many areas. I've already been contacted by someone who wishes we had added a police officer for 2008. Many other departments are also in need of additional staff - unfortunately, we can't pay for them all, and we have to prioritize our needs and our spending. My hope is that the survey and hearings will help us do just that.

Beyond our borders

2007-11-18T09:47:00.000-08:00

This past Thursday, we had our second gathering to talk about promoting sustainability in De Pere. We had a nice turnout of eleven people, and we made some good progress on planning for an event in January or February. One of the things that fascinates me about these gatherings is the interest we've generated from folks not just in De Pere but from outside of our community. The environment is one of those concerns that doesn't recognize borders - the air quality in De Pere is affected by Green Bay's air quality; global warming in De Pere is not different than what is happening in Howard.

The same can be said for other concerns in our community as well. I've been thinking about this with the recent controversy around the homeless shelter at St. John the Evangelist Church in Green Bay. A consistent comment by elected officials in Green Bay is that other communities need to step up and take responsibility for helping the homeless. If by that they mean that outlying communities should open a shelter, I disagree with them, and instead I agree with the Green Bay Press Gazette editorial of Saturday, November 18. The editorial said that Green Bay enjoys the advantage of having government, business and educational institutions located in its downtown area, many of whom provide services that those without a home need. If Green Bay wants those institutions (and I think they do), then they need to take the responsibility that goes with them. It doesn't make sense to locate a shelter outside of Green Bay, because that's where the institutions and those whom they serve are located.

At the same time, however, homelessness, housing, poverty, etc., know no boundaries. It doesn't make sense for De Pere to look at the controversy going on now and say that it has nothing to do with us. We are all part of the Brown County community, and our quality of life (not to mention our county tax dollars) are affected by the quality of life for all our residents. In talking with folks from the De Pere police department and the Kress Library, we do in fact have people who are homeless in our community. Granted, they number less than Green Bay, but the concern still exists, as does poverty for those who are not presently homeless.

The fourth principles of sustainability, according to "The Natural Step" (one system of understanding sustainability), is "people are not subject to conditions that systematically undermine their capacity to meet their needs." That statement implies that if we as a community are to maintain a good quality of life for ourselves and future generations, all of us must take responsibility for: (1) meeting our own needs as best we can; and (2) removing roadblocks and providing support for those who are struggling to meet their own needs. That kind of important work is the call we have as a community - both as citizens of De Pere but also as citizens of Brown County, Wisconsin, the United States, and the globe.

This week's council meeting and "How do you like being on the Council?"

2007-11-09T12:24:00.000-08:00

We had our first Council meeting of the month this past Tuesday, and it was a pretty typical meeting. While you can always access the agenda and minutes for the meetings on the City of De Pere web site (http://www.de-pere.org/), I thought I'd do a quick review of the highlights.

As usual, we started with a roll call of members present, a prayer and the Pledge of Allegiance. What usually follows at this point is time for public comment on matters not on the agenda, and announcements by the Council members. This week I talked about the upcoming meeting concerning environmental sustainability efforts here in De Pere. That meeting will be this Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 PM in Room 20D of the Bemis International Center on the campus of St. Norbert College. I announced it during the meeting as an invitation to anyone who would like to attend - I'm always amazed at how many people see the Council meetings on the cable-access channel, which is great!

Before the public comment and announcement time this week, however, we had a couple of Public Hearings on a re-zoning request (from residential to business) and levying a special assessment to cover repair work on the James St. Dam.

Among the other agenda items were:

creating more aldermanic wards in the city to cover property that had been annexed in the last year or so;
putting city-owned property up for sale;
leasing city-owned land for farming;
authorizing work to be done for the city by outside contractors;
approving applications for state grants.

We also denied the request of someone who owns property in Rockland to subdivide their property. According to state law, Cities have a certain zone beyond their borders where they have the right to approve zoning changes, and this person's property fell into that zone. I feel bad we had to deny his request, but we as a Council need to be consistent on these issues, and right now there doesn't exist a way to make exceptions for requests like this. In reality, this landowner's request is a victim of Rockland's and De Pere's inability to come to a border agreement, so my hope is that we can settle that quickly in order to give him the OK on subdividing his property.

For some reason, I've had quite a few people ask me this week, "How do you like being on City Council?" I always answer that I like it. While denying requests like we did this week are never something I enjoy, being able to serve the community - whether it be by helping constituents, deciding on leases and grant applications, or working with others to foster environmentally sustainable practices - is a real privilege that I constantly am grateful for.

promoting public input

2007-11-02T15:36:00.000-07:00

One of the "cornerstones," if you will, of my campaign last spring was making city government more accessible to residents in the second district. This blog is one way of doing that. What's wonderful to see is when other people are trying to do the same thing, particularly when it comes to state government. The whole budget fiasco this year has people wondering what kind of crazy system do we have set up in Madison?!

This past Tuesday evening, I attended a public forum at the Meyer Theater in Green Bay held by The Wisconsin Way - an effort to promote public debate about the future of Wisconsin. This organization is made up of a coalition of the Wisconsin Counties Association, the Wisconsin Education Association Council, Wisconsin Realtors Association, Wisconsin Transportation Builders Association and Wood Communications Group. The stated purpose of these forums, which are being held around the state, is to "engage Wisconsin citizens in a constructive, solution-oriented conversation about what we can do to make Wisconsin taxes fairer and reduce the property tax burden without sacrificing the quality of public services that have made Wisconsin a special place to live and work."

I found the forum extremely interesting, with many people giving their opinions about what we should be doing in Wisconsin. It was an evening that made me very proud to be a citizen of Wisconsin, as many people had sound, practical ideas on fiscal responsibility, while at the same time voicing their willingness to do their part in paying taxes when it is necessary and makes sense. Many of those same people also talked about how important it is that we as a society care for the environment and those who are poor.

For my part, I spoke about three points. First, we need to make sure we're including everyone in the conversation, and that we take advantage of the opportunities being presented with the changing demographics of our communities, including immigration. Second, as changes to the tax structures are being debated and considered, we need to be sure that some control of tax money remains in local government's hands, as most citizens feel closest to their local elected officials, and in turn those officials are most responsive to the concerns of people in their districts. Finally, we need to look at some practical examples of grass-roots involvement in government, such as "budgeting by objectives" and "The Natural Step" - two efforts that have been done at various levels of government, from city to state, and include extensive involvement by citizens. (And both of which have been written about in this blog in previous weeks.)

As I said earlier, I'm always encouraged by efforts to include as many people in government and politics as possible, and while I might disagree with some of the sponsoring organizations on some policy issues, I applaud their efforts to get the public conversation going. I look forward to the report that will be coming out next spring as a follow-up to these forums.

the three parts of an alderperson's job

2007-10-26T15:25:00.001-07:00

This was a "no meeting" week, the fourth week of the month when no regular meetings are scheduled. Instead, I spent the week fielding some constituent concerns and, yes, having a meeting... but this time with Ken Pabich, De Pere's City Planner, and Mark Walter, Executive Director of the Bay-Lake Regional Planning Commission.

The constituent concerns had to do with some problems folks were experiencing with their properties. Sometimes I'm able to help them rectify the situation, and other times the problem has passed, but they just need to know that someone associated with the city is aware that there was a problem. This week's calls were of the latter. There was little I could do at this point, but by being aware of their situation, I could do something to prevent the problem from reoccurring for them or someone else.

The meeting I had with Ken and Mark had to do with launching an effort to help the De Pere community become more environmentally sustainable. We're talking about having a half-day workshop for folks in De Pere to learn about sustainability, the benefits for our community, and what other communities have successfully done in their own efforts. To help make that happen, we're having a meeting on Thursday, November 15 at 7:30 PM on the campus of St. Norbert College. If you're interested in this effort and would like to help put a workshop together, or have other ideas that you think should be considered, contact me - I'd be glad to talk with you.

In the six short months I've been working as an alderperson, it seems to me the job is divided into parts: (1) handling the issues that come up on the city council agenda; (2) dealing with constituent concerns; and (3) helping the community address issues that it hasn't looked at yet, or needs to look at in a new way. Which of those three take up more time varies from week to week. Sometimes the first part dominates, such as with the vote on the walking pier built over the old bridge supports. Other times, it's the second part, when I do my door-to-door visiting to see what's on people's minds in my district. And other weeks, it's the third part, as it has been at times lately with working on sustainability issues.

the three parts of an alderperson's job

2007-10-26T15:25:00.000-07:00

some late nights this week

2007-10-18T19:28:00.000-07:00

Tuesday evening started with an early License Committee meeting at 6:45 PM and ended when the Council finished our evaluation of City Administrator Larry Delo around 11:30 PM. Then Wednesday evening was spent on an almost-five-hour budget study session. While these were late nights, they also included some very important discussions for the city, especially the budget study session.

Because of the uncertainty with the state budget and the inability of the state legislators in coming to an agreement, municipal officials like those of us in De Pere are working "in the dark" about what our property tax levy will or can be. The mayor and the city administrator have taken a conservative approach, figuring that state will set a low level for the property tax limits, and that's probably a smart move. Still, the city, frankly, is struggling with fewer and fewer dollars to keep up the services it has historically provided. The question becomes, then, do we need to keep all those services up?

When I ran for city council, I promised to work hard to ensure that the city use tax dollars wisely to provide basic services, and I continue to believe that's the path we need to travel in these tight times. However, I'm NOT sure those of us in city government are always correct when we say what De Pere residents want for city services. That's why I support an idea that's being floated around City Hall - to do a community-wide survey that would give us some indication of what services the tax payers want, what they're priorities are, and how much they willing to pay for them.

That kind of information will help us break out of a rut that can develop when any organization does things a certain way for a long time. From what I can tell in talking to folks here in the second district, people are generally happy with what they're getting from the City for their tax dollars. Sure, some things could always be done better or more efficiently, but I think that positive perspective is true for the most part. But what happens when we are as efficient as can be reasonably expected and still don't have enough money to keep up all our services. If and when we reach that point - and we saw some of those cuts with last year's budget - how do we know what to keep, what to rearrange, and what to get rid of? How do we add services in areas that are needed and then decide what we have to cut to make room for them?

Another of my promises when I ran last year was to work hard to strengthen the connection between city government and the residents of the second district, and I think this survey is one piece of that effort. If you have an opinion about what are the most important things the city does for its citizens, let me know - that's important information that I need to hear. And I hope you'll come to the public hearing on the city budget, because we need to hear from as many people as possible about how they want their tax dollars spent.

Exciting beginnings

2007-10-12T09:04:00.000-07:00

Dedication of New Claude Allouez Bridge
This past Saturday our community came together and celebrated the opening of the bridge running through the heart of our city. It was a beautiful day, and not only because of the weather! It was a privilege to be a part of the ceremony, but I also had the opportunity to spend some time in the Chamber of Commerce booth helping with souvenir sales and answering questions of folks passing by. As wonderful as the bands and the speeches and the ceremony were around the dedication, the interaction I had with folks that day really stood out to me. Everyone was in a festive mood, and the spirit of our community was in great evidence, even as people walked away disappointed because we had sold out of souvenir t-shirts. The hot weather helped in many ways, but it also provided us with a surplus of sweatshirts to sell! To borrow a phrase from one of our local school systems - it was a great day to be a De Pere resident.

Promoting Environmental Sustainability in De Pere
Another exciting beginning took place this Thursday evening. As I announced at last week's City Council meeting, a group of De Pere residents, educators, and business and governmental folks gathered to talk about how we can help our community move forward towards great environmental sustainability. Sometimes people struggle with what is meant by "sustainability," but the easiest definition I've come across was shared with us at this meeting by Fred Schnook, De Pere resident and Project Manager/Planner for the Foth Companies: "Sustainable development is development that mets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs."

A lot of work is ahead of us to make that happen in De Pere, but the folks gathered that evening agreed that first we need to raise awareness and educate people on not only the environmental benefits of sustainable development, but also the economic and social benefits as well. Many communities have adopted strategies of sustainable development to make better use of tax dollars and help ease the pressure on property taxes.

To help raise awareness and educate, we'll be looking in the weeks ahead to put together a community-wide event to help people learn more about sustainable development. If you're interested in helping with this effort, we'd love to have you "on board." Contact me and let me know of your interest, and you'll be making a huge difference in the quality of life here in De Pere, not only for today but also for tomorrow.

Finding a Third Way

2007-10-05T09:52:00.000-07:00

This week's Council agenda included a closed session discussion on the ongoing situation with De Pere's southeastern border and the Town of Rockland. I was reminded of that discussion later in the week when I was attending a conference for City, Town and Village elected officials in Milwaukee. At that meeting we heard a great deal about the State of Wisconsin's budget impasse, and the inability of the Democratic and Republican leadership to come to some kind of agreement. No state budget agreement makes budgeting for the City extremely difficult, because we don't know what our portion of State revenue-sharing will be, nor do we know what the cap on taxes will be.

Both situations, Rockland and the state budget, remind me of the importance of being able to make a "Third Way" - to find some way to compromise and reach agreement, because ultimately we all have to live together and work together. Too often in politics, and in public life in general, it seems, people are unable to resolve conflicts and to mediate a solution. I believe, however, that those skills and the desire to come to some kind of mutual agreement, are essential if public and political life is to move us forward to a better future instead of getting us stuck in some kind of self-centered or ideological "mud."

I honestly believe that the officials representing De Pere have done a good job of trying to reach a reasonable compromise, just as I'm sure the folks in Rockland believe the same about themselves, and the state Democrats and Republicans as well. At some point, however, we have to see that constant conflict, legal suits and stalling tactics only hurt the common good for all of us. It is possible to find a Third Way.

The proper role of government

2007-09-28T12:30:00.000-07:00

A common question for folks these days is, "What is the proper role of government?" In other words, what is the government supposed to do and what is it NOT supposed to do? How one answers that question affects the level of taxes, the rights of individuals, and the responsibility each of us has for the common good. This week, I had the opportunity to attend two gatherings that reflected how that question might be answered.

On Tuesday, municipal officials from throughout the area gathered to hear an update on the latest negotiations concerning the Fox River PCB removal project. Unfortunately, the members with voting privileges voted to have the entire meeting in closed session, with De Pere City Attorney Judy Schmidt-Lehman voting for open session (which I was glad to hear). Despite the fact that the meeting was held in closed session, this to me was an excellent example of the proper role of government. Those gathered represented the best interests of their communities - they were the voice for the people living in the Fox valley. On issues that affect a broad spectrum of lives and conditions, government, it seems to me, is the proper channel for addressing these issues, because it is the only mechanism by which we can gather diverse opinions and attempt to come to some kind of consensus. People can argue about how affective that mechanism is, but at its best, government at any level is a good and proper way to balance competing perspectives and to move forward in action as one community.

But that still leaves a lot of responsibility and room for action by individuals and groups independent of government. On Thursday I attended the dedication of the Apartment Training Facility at Syble Hopp School here in De Pere. This building and program are dedicated to helping students that attend the School prepare for life as independent adults - something all parents wants for their children. This facility was made possible through the generosity of the Weyers Family Foundation, and while elected officials were on hand to dedicate it, the real "stars" were the members of the Weyers family themselves. Many times, the best response to community needs are provided by individuals, families, and groups that represent a smaller part of the whole, who have the flexibility to respond to particular problems, issues, concerns and opportunities.

While a hard and fast rule for government and non-government responsibility would be great, the reality is that the line is fluid - always shifting, always open for debate. And that's the beauty of the process, as hard as it is. We are always responding to changing circumstances, and healthy, respectful and open debate on the proper role of government is one key to responding to those circumstances.

What is our vision for De Pere?

2007-09-14T15:11:00.000-07:00

There is a saying that, where there is no vision, the people perish. As an Alderperson, I am struck by how appropriate that statement is - we as a community need to keep the big picture in mind. Even as we deal with the everyday details of helping a community function, we need to have a sense of what direction we want our community head in. Here are the places I encountered various versions of a vision this week:

1) Board of Public Works: The Board, of which I am a member, met this past Monday for its monthly meeting. The biggest item on the agenda was the proposed budget for the Department of Public Works. After our discussion on Monday, Scott Thoreson, the Director of Public Works for De Pere will submit his budget to Mayor Walsh, who will then combine that with the requests from the other city departments, adjust it as he sees fit, and then submit it for approval by the City Council. Monday was one of the first steps in a long process that will result in an approved budget for the 2008 fiscal year.

As I've written before, I believe public input on matters vital to the city is very important, and the annual budget would rank right up there with the most vital issues the Council deals with. The budget really is our vision of City government with number values put to it: what needs emphasis, what needs improvement, what we can do without, how we can prepare for the future, etc. Therefore, citizen input on the budget is necessary. Unfortunately, up until this point, that input seems to have been limited to the public's attendance at Council meeting. It is my hope that either this year or in the coming years, the Council can open that process up for more involvement by De Pere residents, so that together we can set the direction for our community. Here, our vision needs to be one of participation and involvement.

2) "Advance" meeting - On Wednesday morning I attended a breakfast meeting of "Advance," which is a group originating from the Greater Green Bay Chamber of Commerce, dedicated to economic development. One of the recent projects of the group is to promote an agreement by the different municipalities in Brown County to say that they will cooperate together in bringing new businesses and industries to the area, while at the same time not "recruit" businesses to move to their municipality from another one in the county. Here, the vision is of cooperation between governments, and it's one that I think makes a lot of sense.

3) Sustainability group - This week I began working with other folks to organize a gathering of civic, political and business leaders to discuss how we can help our community move to more sustainable practices and development - sustainable economically, socially and environmentally. Here, the vision is one of equality, harmony, and the provision of opportunity for future generations. I read an article this afternoon in USA Today that talked about Wisconsin's push for eco-tourism, much of it based on the state's heritage of environmental leadership - people like Earth Day organizer Gaylord Nelson, Sierra Club founder John Muir, and Sand County Almanac author and conservationist Aldo Leopold. We in Wisconsin have a great tradition of caring for the earth and for the people that live here; and I believe the movement towards sustainability is the next step in that tradition.

What is your vision for De Pere? What would you like our community to be and become? I would love to hear what you have to say, so please don't hesitate to get in touch with me at talktodan@robinsondeperecouncil.com. In the meantime, I leave you with the words of John Muir, as I think they speak of a great vision of unity:

"This grand show is eternal.
It is always sunrise somewhere:
the dew is never all dried at once:
a shower is forever falling, vapor is ever rising.
Eternal sunrise, eternal sunset, eternal dawn and gloaming,
on sea and continents and islands, each in its turn,
as the round earth rolls."
-John Muir

looking to both the past and the future

2007-09-07T12:39:00.001-07:00

This week the Council decided on the name for the new De Pere bridge, and in a 7-1 vote approved keeping the name "Claude Allouez Bridge," with myself voting in the majority. I heard from some second district residents on this issue, and all of them were in favor of retaining the name as a sign of respect for our community's heritage. For them the name represented the founding of De Pere, which traces its roots back to Fr. Allouez, but also the more recent history represented by the old bridge - a legacy continued in our new bridge.

Those comments and opinions mattered to me for two reasons. First, the opinions of constituents in the second district are always important, because I was hired by the voters to represent them on the Council. Second, I happen to agree with what they were saying. Our downtown is undergoing a wonderful "facelift" that will prepare us for the future ahead, but as we move forward we must also keep our connection to our past. Like any individual, a community can better know where it's going by understanding where it has been. The name of the bridge reminds us to keep that heritage and history as part of our present and future story.

Remembering and preserving the past, however, can only get us so far, and sometimes we need to move into the future by plotting a new course. As I've written in past Updates, I believe our community needs to explore the concept of "sustainable development/practices." Towards that end, I've been having some discussions with folks in De Pere about how our community - city, businesses, organizations, individuals - can move in that direction. I believe this is a high priority for a great many reasons, including:

the potential for cost-savings
improved health for the earth and those of living here
possibilities for economic development
protecting a livable, vibrant future for our children and grandchildren

As those efforts move forward, I will keep everyone posted through this Weekly Update. If anyone is interested in this topic, please feel free to get in touch with me.

A hard - and important - decision this week

2007-08-31T14:11:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday, the City Council voted on whether or not to merge with Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District, and to sell them our waste water treatment plant. The voted was 4-3 in favor of merging with GBMSD and selling the plant. I voted against the merger and sale.

My vote against the proposal was based on what I felt was too short of a time period for public comment. Many people have acknowledged this as one of the biggest decisions faced by the Council in many years, and while the Council has been meeting in closed sessions to deal with on-going negotiations between the city and GBMSD for over 18 months, the details of the final proposed agreement only became public the day before.

The reason, as I understand it, for the compressed schedule on this merger/sale is that the agreement included a proposed border arrangement between De Pere and Rockland, which GBMSD would support. Rockland will be given a choice between (1) creating a 30-year border agreement that gives De Pere access to almost 2900 acres for easier annexation, or (2) creating a 20-year period during which De Pere would have veto-power over any sewage extensions to Rockland by GBMSD, thus limiting Rockland's growth both inside and outside the border agreement area. Given the implications for Rockland and their possible protest, hurrying the agreement through makes a certain amount of sense.

No matter what the benefits to the city, however, I do not believe they warrant limiting input from our citizens on this important matter. The impact from this agreement is great, including:

the effect on the lives and jobs of the employees of the waste water treatment plant, who have given many years or service to creating a well-run operation;
the loss of a valuable asset in the waste water treatment plant
the possible gain of a much larger tax base for the city, thus lowering the tax pressure on property owners in De Pere
a permanent agreement with GBMSD, with whom the City has had a contentious relationship in the past
a change in services to the businesses of De Pere, with an unknown impact on how this will affect their ability to do business.

During the meeting, I made a motion to delay voting on the agreement until the Council's regular meeting on September 4, one week later. Though a week is a short amount of time, it seemed like a reasonable compromise, moving the process along while at the same time giving De Pere residents a few days to contact their alderpersons if they had concerns, questions, or ideas. That motion failed 2-5. The final vote was a difficult one for all involved, including myself. In the end, if we would have waited a week, I probably would have voted for the agreement, despite the possible impact on the very valuable employees at the plant, as I believe the overall good of the City would be greatly enhanced by the growth potential on our southeast border.

But I felt open to hearing what the community might have to say about this, and open to considering different opinions. In a democracy, especially at the local level, citizens need to have the opportunity to contact their public officials and share their opinions on what is such an important issue to the community. Unfortunately, our quick consideration and vote did not allow for that input.

While I disagree with the manner in which it was made, I will work to support the decision made by the Council, and also to do what I can to insure the best possible situation for our plant employees, as they move from working for De Pere to working for GBMSD.

Is there a place for "love" in politics?

2007-08-25T10:14:00.000-07:00

Lately, I've been thinking about a concept that doesn't get much discussion in political circles - the idea of love. Politics can be seen as a bruising sport, where there isn't much energy, room or patience for compassion. Maybe it's naive of me to think this, but I'd like to believe there is room for love, even in - or especially in - politics. The trick is... what kind of love? What shape and form does it take? What practical policies flow from it?

My experience so far with the City of De Pere, its staff and administration, and the other elected officials has been very positive. It is easy for me to see the care and concern they put into the work they do, the decisions they make, and the way they treat the people we all serve. Still, there are times when it's not always easy to know how to "implement" love in policy decisions.

One example is coming up this Tuesday, when the Council will be deciding about allowing the Green Bay Metropolitan Sewage District (GBMSD) to purchase De Pere's wastewater treatment plant. This is a big decision, which impacts a great many people, and will have implications on a border agreement (or lack thereof) with Rockland. That agreement in turn will impact our community's ability to grow and develop in the future, affecting the tax rates property owners will pay in the coming years.

So what role does love play in decisions of this nature? I have a love for the people and city of De Pere, but does that love stop at the city border? My first responsibility, always is to the good of De Pere and its citizens, but what if that conflicts with the needs of city employees working at the wastewater treatment plant? As an elected official of De Pere, I will always act in a way that I believe serves the best interests of this community, but having love and compassion for the other people involved in these situations challenges me to seek that best interest in a way that also serves the greater common good. Those kinds of solutions aren't always clear, and perhaps that is why politics and governing can be seen as a "messy business." But the challenge to love remains.

Making the most of every resource

2007-08-17T11:56:00.000-07:00

Last week I wrote about "sustainable development" - the idea that we develop our city in a way that does not harm the environment and can be kept up by future generations. I mentioned the "Natural Step Framework for Sustainability," and one of its objectives in meeting human needs fairly and efficiently is "using waste as a resource." This past week at De Pere's Board of Public Works meeting, we dealt with two city practices that do just that.

First, we dealt with the compost site that the City shares with Ledgeview. The Board decided to have the City issue new compost stickers, as it's been three years since we've done that, and many folks have since changed vehicles. That site is an excellent example of using waste as a resource, with the compost being used by both the City and its residents. It also conserves landfill space, producing a savings to the City.

Second, we dealt with how city residents recycle. Presently, a bi-weekly pick-up takes the recyclable materials from each home. Each home has to separate the materials into paper, cardboard (which has to be "gift wrapped!"), and mixed items (plastic, glass, and metal). The Board has decided to move the City to a "single stream" recycling method. Each home will purchase from the City a recycling bin, like the garbage bin being used right now. All recyclable materials will go in that bin, without the need to sort or wrap. Studies have shown that this increases recycling by 20-25%, saving landfill space and cost, and possibly producing a small amount of income for the City.

Given the pressures of everything from global warming to increased city operating costs, the need to more-with-less is growing. Sustainable Development meets that demand, and it is possible, with the compost site and single stream recycling being just two small examples. What is needed is deeper commitment from our community to make it happen even more.

What contributes to De Pere's quality of life?

2007-08-09T15:32:00.000-07:00

Last week I wrote about the budget work that the City Council and staff had been engaged in recently, some of which focused around De Pere's quality of life. This past Tuesday, during the Council meeting, we touched on something that impacts our "quality of life." At the meeting, we approved the rezoning of some land to allow business development on the west side, in the process "slicing off" part of the Conservancy that surrounds Ashwaubenon Creek near U.S. 41, just south of Scheuring Road.

I was reluctant to vote for this rezoning, as I believe the Conservancy is a real asset to the community, and could be even more so in the future as the City's Park and Recreation plan calls for the growth of the Conservancy to the south and the development of additional trails. In the end I decided to support it, because I believe the economic development next to the Conservancy is in De Pere's best interest. However, I first wanted to make sure that no further development would be taking place in that area, and that no more acreage would be "sliced off."

This item on the Council's agenda is a reminder of how important it is that we have a clear understanding of the things that do indeed contribute to our quality of life, because often times we are required to make choices between "good" and "better," or conversely, "bad" and "worse." Lately, I've been reading information on helping communities develop environmentally sustainable practices - in other words, living on this earth in a way that doesn't harm the environment and that can be kept up by future generations. In these readings, the "Natural Step Framework for Sustainability" is presented, including a list of objectives that strive to "meet human needs fairly and efficiently," such as :

affordable housing for a diversity of residents
locally based business and food production
using waste as a resource
eco-industrial development
participatory community planning and decision making
housing located near employment centers
equitable educational opportunities

This list makes a great deal of sense to me, and in many ways connects well with the main points of my campaign this past spring, including strengthening the ties between city government and De Pere's residents, and helping develop a vibrant future for the city. I'll be writing more about quality of life and these objectives in future blogs.

Beginning the budget process

2007-08-03T15:25:00.000-07:00

This week, the members of the City Council, the Mayor, the City Administrator, and the heads of the City departments all gathered to have a study session in preparation for the 2008 budget. Rather than deal with numbers, however, we spent our evening talking about various questions, such as, how we would describe De Pere today, and what we would like it be five years from now. I find exercises like this to be helpful because it keeps our goals and our vision in sight. If we don't know where we want to go, it's hard to set a direction, and the budget helps set that direction every year by funding certain priorities and not funding others.

The biggest asset De Pere has, we all felt, is a high quality of life, and the priority for the council, mayor, and staff, was to maintain and enhance that quality of life. A consensus developed around the top three areas that we need to focus on in order to do that, both in terms of today and five years from now: public works (utilities, sidewalks, etc.); culture, education, and recreation; and public safety (police, fire and EMS).

The rest of the priorities, in no particular order, were: general government operations (administration), capital projects (streets, facilities, equipment), water supply and quality, wastewater collection and treatment, and storm water control. All eight of these areas are general department/item areas on the city budget.

For the first part of the evening, the group was divided in half, one group comprised of those who had been involved in the city for 1-4 years, and the other of folks involved 5 or more years. When we gathered back together in one large group and compared our answers to a list of questions, we were remarkably similar in our responses except for one area. The 1-to-4-years group felt that the citizens of De Pere had a partially negative image of city government, while the 5-or-more-years group felt they had a positive image of city government. Many reasons for this difference were discussed, including length of time equaling a greater investment in the organization, and the more experienced group having a better sense of the "pulse" of the relatively silent majority of De Pere residents.

I would be curious to know the opinion of folks reading this blog - both in terms of the priorities for the city and their view of city government. It would add information to what has already been a very interesting discussion. And given the financial pressures on the city, it will only get more interesting as the budget process moves forward!

voting for the new pier

2007-07-20T07:49:00.000-07:00

This week the Council had its vote on the proposed fishing and nature-viewing pier that would be built out into the river over the bases of the old Claude Allouez Bridge, and it was approved 5-3, with Mayor Walsh also supporting it.

I voted in favor of the pier after a number of discussions with residents of the second district and folks from across De Pere. I was glad to see so many people take the time to contact me and let me know their thoughts and feelings on the project - both pro and con. My contacts were running about 3-to-1 in favor of the pier, and that sentiment carried a great deal of weight with me. Still, I felt like those who raised objections asked some good questions, and I tried to get answers to them.

In the end, there wasn't always the best answers to those questions, but the positives of the project, I feel, outweigh the negatives and the risks. When I ran for City Council, one of the points I tried to emphasize was working to help make De Pere a vibrant community. To make that possible, we need to have a healthy downtown, a bustling economy, and something that identifies De Pere as unique and attractive to visitors, businesses and new residents. I feel the pier is one piece of that puzzle - it helps develop the Fox River as the great community asset that it is.

But... it is still only one piece. I believe we need a comprehensive approach to developing our waterfront and downtown on the east side. If we look at the area from the north boat landing to the south boat landing, we can see recreational, environmental, educational, cultural and historical attractions that make De Pere a great place to visit and live in - the historical museum and library, businesses and restaurants, the bike trail and now the pier, Voyageur park and the boat landings. Some future ideas might be the green space where the present bridge "footprint" is and perhaps some public boat docks on the south side of the locks. The potential for this area is tremendous, and if developed and promoted properly, this could be a great economic asset to the community.

As I said at the Council meeting, the vote to approve the pier is just the beginning. As a Council, we need to be committed to this project to make sure money is raised so property taxes are not affected. I have already volunteered to be on the fundraising committee, and plan to do all I can to make sure that the pier is funded through private donations and grants. I've also had at least one person tell me they would like to serve on that committee as well, so I would welcome anyone else who like to be a part of what I think will be a great project for the city.

"The Consent of the Governed"

2007-07-04T14:43:00.000-07:00

I write this blog on July 4th, which is an appropriate time for me - and all of us - to reflect on the role each of us plays in the life of our community, our country, and our world. 231 years ago, 56 men signed the Declaration of Independence, stating their belief in the following:

"We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable rights, that among these are life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness. That to secure these rights, governments are instituted among men, deriving their just powers from the consent of the governed."

The foundation of our country is built, ultimately, not on political power, economic strength or military might. Rather, it is built on the truth that all people are equal, and that given that equality, any government must be created with the consent of those being governed. This is as true in Washington, DC as it is in De Pere. And while our federal officials may deal with issues of more widespread importance, it seems to me that local officials, such as those of us in city government, have the greater opportunity and therefore the responsibility to make government more responsive to the "consent of the governed."

This can happen in a variety of ways. One way is to reach out to citizens at times other than when we're running for re-election. This past week, I began going door-to-door, meeting folks in the second district and hearing what is on their minds. While no "earth-shattering" issues came up, people raised some concerns that do indeed affect them. But more importantly for me, this is another way to respect the equality that we all share as residents of De Pere, and to be in touch with what exactly is the "consent of the governed."

During my campaign, I said that I would knock on the door of each resident in the second district. I've visited only 30 of those houses so far, with about 2070 more to go! But I've enjoyed the conversations I've had so far, and I look forward to more opportunities to meet people at their homes, as well as at other places in the community.

We all have a part to play

2007-06-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

Lately, I’ve been getting calls from folks about a property in the second district whose lawn hasn’t been cut since perhaps the beginning of summer. The grass is over two feet tall by now and getting taller. The property is a duplex rental that has no one living in it, and the owner is an out-of-town landlord. The city has sent warnings to the owner about cutting the grass, and now is sending citations complete with fines until the grass is cut. Still, the landlord hasn't had the grass cut.

After folks brought this situation to my attention, I’ve had a couple of conversations with city staff about this. I’ve asked whether or not the city could cut it, and I was given two reasons why the city doesn’t. First, in the past when that was done, some landlords used the city as a “lawn care” service. Second, if the city cut the grass, it would open us up to legal liability for trespassing or if some damage happened on the property while it was being cut.

Part of the role of an Alderperson is to listen to people’s problems and then help them find a solution, and it’s always frustrating when I can’t do that. While I will continue to search for a solution to this problem, it’s also an exercise in realizing there are limits to what an elected official can do. In some instances, like this, those limits can be frustrating. Other times, we’re glad for the limits put on the power of government.

The situation is also a reminder that government action (or inaction) can never take the place of good citizenship and community-minded action by individuals in the city. We all have a responsibility to look out for the common good of the community, whether its making sure our homes and lawns are in decent repair, working to provide a healthy living space for our children, caring for those who are trying to get by on limited income, or protecting our environment.

I’m always glad when folks call me looking for some help; it means they are giving me a chance to do my job. But I’m also happy when I see all the good that can be done – and is being done – by people looking out for their neighbors, both the ones they know and the ones they don’t know.

Walking bridge and downtown development spurs discussions

2007-06-22T14:07:00.000-07:00

This past Tuesday’s City Council meeting was a long one – with lots on the agenda. Most of the time was spent talking about two issues concerning the eastside downtown area and the bridge construction. The first was the proposed new walking bridge, and the second was the footprint of the present bridge, which would be opened up after the bridge is torn down.

A number of people attended the meeting and voiced support for the walking bridge, with most of them being downtown business owners and/or operators. I’ve also started to get some folks contacting me to let me know of their support for the bridge. Initially, the only folks I heard from were those opposed the bridge, but now I would say the number of those supporting and opposing has evened out.

At this point, I would have to say that I’m leaning towards supporting the walking bridge, with one hesitation being the cost of keeping the piers in the water during the destruction of the bridge and then cutting them to the right height. A worst case scenario has that process running about $125,000. I would be more supportive of the idea if these initial costs would be covered by private donations. Already, the city has had pledges of over $30,000, which is a good sign. I do agree that this is a good opportunity for the city, but we can’t always take advantage of every opportunity that comes along if the money isn’t there. On the other hand, if the walking bridge would spur economic development in the downtown, raising business revenues and values and thus raising city tax revenue, that would help lower the pressure on residential property taxes. That, to me, is the critical issue. If indeed the bridge is approved, I would work very hard to make sure that it was built without city tax money.

The meeting also gave people a chance to comment on what should be done with eastside footprint of the old bridge. Some believe it should be used for business development, while others feel it should be open public space. For my part, I believe this should be open public space, perhaps “trading” with Creviere Commons, located on the northeast corner of George and Broadway, which could then be developed as commercial property. If the walking bridge goes through, I would feel even more strongly that the eastside footprint should be open public space. If we’re putting money, time and effort into developing the city’s waterfront, we need an attractive, accessible route for foot and bike traffic to move between the downtown and the river and trail. Right now we don’t have that. Such a connecting point would be a great asset to the city and enhance the economic development being touted with the walking bridge.

Having a voice in City Government

For me, these two issues are great examples of one of the positives of being involved in city government. At this level, it is very easy for citizens to have a voice and an impact on issues that affect their lives in very practical and meaningful ways. I toured the proposed walking bridge area with some downtown business folks earlier in the day this past Tuesday, and they had a number of thoughts on the subject to share with me. I’ve also been receiving e-mails, phone calls, and people stopping by the house on these and a number of other issues. I really believe that local government has a unique role to play in our country's democracy, as it is here that citizens can most easily engage the political process. Because of that role, we also have a unique responsibility to look for ways to dialogue with people about these issues affecting their lives. In the weeks to come, I'll be getting out and knocking on people's doors to introduce myself as their alderman and to get their opinions on the walking bridge and whatever else they would like to talk to me about.

Lots going on!

2007-06-14T14:31:00.000-07:00

This is my first update in a couple of weeks, as I've been out of town with some family matters and then catching up. But the last few weeks have seen a number of issues being discussed:

1) Walking bridge on the Fox River - As many of you know, the city is considering using the piers from the present bridge to develop a walking bridge that would go out about two-thirds of the way across the river. People would access this bridge by another bridge that would take them from Voyageur Park onto the nearby island, which would then give them access to the walking bridge. This is something that needs to be decided in July, otherwise the piers will be taken out in the fall when the old bridge comes down. I believe this walking bridge is a good idea in theory, but I'm concerned about the use of tax dollars to finance it. On the one hand, taxes have been going up while city services have been reduced, so we need to keep a tight rein on city spending. On the other hand, the walking bridge could bring economic development to the downtown, raising the tax base there and thus reducing the pressure on residential property taxes. Preliminary information on the bridge indicates it could bring in more tourism to see the wildlife (birds, fish, etc.) that gather around the dam area, and more tourists mean more spending in the downtown. The Council will be deciding this soon, and I've begun to hear from some constituents, many expressing concern about the impact on taxes of the bridge, while a few others expressing support for it.

2) The old bridge footprint on the east side - Connected to the walking bridge (in my mind) is what to do about the old bridge's footprint on the east side of the river. Some folks favor having putting in buildings for new businesses, some favor a parking lot, and others favor some kind of public space where people on foot could access the river and the Fox River Trail. In principle, I favor using the "footprint" for public space, as I think a gathering place for the people of De Pere, as well as a connecting point to the river and trail would greatly benefit the city and the downtown businesses. However, given the city's financial pressures, I think a great deal of this will hinge on the impact on city spending. I do believe that we need comprehensive planning for the downtown area, which means I see the walking bridge and the "footprint" as being tied together. During my campaign I pledged to help our downtown flourish, and I think these projects have the potential for doing that, but only if we can afford them, which is a big question.

For me, one important question with both of these projects is, how will these affect those De Pere citizens on low- or fixed-incomes? While the easy answer is that we look only at property taxes, another vital point is providing low-cost or free recreation, particularly for families on low- or fixed incomes. Both the public space at the "footprint" and the walking bridge would do that.

3) An indoor pool - The initial surveys for the pool indicate that there is some public support for this. However, surveys always ask questions in the abstract - it will be interesting to see how people feel about it once the pool's impact on their property taxes is fully understood. I had a call recently from a De Pere resident who suggested having a referendum vote on the pool. While the discussion on the pool is still in its early stages, I think the idea of a referendum has some merit, and I'll keep that in mind if we get to the point of deciding to move forward on this project.

Let me know what's on your mind. As I mentioned above, I'm beginning to get some feedback from constituents on these issues, and I'm always grateful to hear from folks. While we may not always agree on everything, I take your comments very seriously, so please feel free to get in touch with me and let me know what you're thinking, what questions you have, and what ideas and concerns you'd like to share.

Beginning work on the budget - a need for creativity

2007-05-25T19:02:00.003-07:00

Mayor Mike Walsh called a special Council meeting this past Tuesday to begin discussing this coming fiscal year's budget - or more precisely, to begin discussing HOW we will prepare the budget. As I understand it, this is much earlier in the year to start working on the budget, and the financial challenges the City faces are the reason for starting now rather than later.

As in most municipalities in the state and country, the cost for city services has risen, while there is no desire on the Council to raise local taxes - and therein lies the problem. How do we meet the legitimate need for services in De Pere, while also meeting the legitimate need for taxes to remain where they are?

During my campaign, I stressed the need for a better connection between De Pere's residents and the City Council, and no issue better illustrates that need than budgeting. We on the Council need to clearly hear what residents want and what they're willing to pay; and we need to clearly communicate to our citizens what the challenges are, how we've met them, and why we made the choices we made.

Larry Delo, the City Administrator, presented one model for budgeting that depends heavily on citizen involvement, as well as communication between the Council and De Pere residents. While some Alderpersons (including myself) have legitimate questions about this particular way of budgeting, some of this model is very much needed.

During the discussion this past Tuesday, a great amount of time was spent on the need for the city staff to be creative in finding new ways to get things done, to do them well, and to accomplish all this at a minimal cost. We heard examples of how this is being done now, and how we might encourage more of it in the future.

However, if the Council is looking for staff to be creative, WE must be creative as well, looking for new ways to connect what we do with our citizens, to create a process that gives people a chance for greater input in the budgeting process, and to communicate what we're doing with De Pere's residents. We can't keep doing what we've always done - it's time to try something better.

This is my first time working on the budget, and I'm looking forward to learning more as the process unfolds, to writing more about it here at this weekly blog, and to hearing from you what you would like to see happen.

A Busy Week

2007-05-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

The full Common Council met this past Tuesday, and most of the discussion at the meeting centered around two topics:

Nuisance ordinance
The first topic was a nuisance ordinance that was initiated by the City's police department. Basically, the idea is that if a particular address in the city has three different calls for police presence, then the police would work with the owner of the property to develop an abatement plan to address the reasons for the calls. This would be the case whether the owner lives in the house or rents the property to someone else. Any further calls to that address would result in a bill to the property owner covering the city's expense for the call, plus a fine. The first reading of the ordinance took place at this meeting, and it was approved 7-1, with my vote being the lone "nay." The ordinance will come back for a second reading at the June 5th meeting of the Council.

I am basically in support of the nuisance ordinance, but have some questions around the formation of the abatement plan. In cases where the disturbances result from domestic situations (misbehavior by children or youth at the residence, domestic violence, etc.), I believe the formation of the abatement plan would be difficult for the police, especially in instances where the property is a rental where the plan would be created by the police and the owner, but not necessarily the person renting and living in the house.

While I have the utmost respect for the police department and trust the work that they do, I believe the ordinance itself could be stronger. I feel the solution is to formally include the resident of the property, which would include the renter if it is a leased property, in the creation of the abatement plan. I suggested this at the meeting with Sgt. Brian Messerschmidt, who was good enough to take some of his time to discuss the issue with the Council. I have had a second conversation with him since then. I have also asked City attorney Judy Schmidt-Lehman to draft language for the ordinance's second reading that would include this provision. Sgt. Messerschmidt stated that he felt this addition to the ordinance would be fine, and my hope is that this will take place at the next Common Council meeting.

Listening to the public voice
Discussion at the meeting also took place around a small, but I believe significant, point - public comment at the Council meetings. It was decided by the Council that the public comment period would be moved from the then end to near the beginning of the meeting, so that those who wish to say something do not have to wait around until late in the evening to do so. It was also decided that a sign-in sheet would be available near the entrance to the Council chambers, so that people can indicate if they would like to comment on an agenda item. I voted in support of both of these steps, because I believe it is important to do all we can to help strengthen the connection between city government and the residents of De Pere.

Day-long workshop for newly elected officials
Today, Friday, I attended a day-long workshop in Kimberly for newly elected municipal officials sponsored by the League of Wisconsin Municipalities. One of the things that has become quickly apparent to me is how much there is to learn as an alderperson. This workshop was very helpful, as it covered a number of important topics, including budgeting and finance, procedures for meetings, open meetings requirements, ethics, public works, responsibilities of governing bodies, and a host of other topics. I also had a chance to meet and talk with officials from other area municipalities, including Allouez, St. Nazianz, Stevens Point, and Marinette. While I learned more than I could put into this week's update, I was especially glad to hear more about the legal and ethical requirements of elected officials in the state, particularly around open meetings requirements. Wisconsin has a number of laws in place that are meant to keep the process of government open and available to its citizens, which I believe is of the highest priority.

Future growth for De Pere?

2007-05-03T12:16:00.000-07:00

At this week's Council meeting, eight of the items on the agenda had to do with growth in the city in one way or the other - from condominium developments to property acquisitions to transportation enhancements to business expansions. De Pere is a city on the move, and I'm impressed with the number of initiatives taking place right now both by city government and from private businesses. We've experienced incredible growth over the last couple of decades, and that growth has helped the city's taxes to rise at a slower rate than most other Wisconsin cities of comparable size. But questions remain just on the horizon - can we keep it up? Is there a limit to our growth? What happens when we can't grow any more?

The time will eventually come when De Pere has no more room for expansion. That may be soon, or it may be decades away. In either case, there are a number of pressures on both sides of the growth question. During my campaign, some people lamented what they perceived as a loss of the "small town feel" of De Pere as more and more housing developments take place and the population pushes upward. At the same time, some people were concerned about the rise in property taxes, which a push for growth can help alleviate.

I believe that the "small town feel" of De Pere can be maintained while we welcome more people and businesses to the community. How we maintain and develop our downtown area, and how we get to know the people in our neighborhoods has a lot to do with that. At the same time, growth is not unlimited, and I believe the city council needs to be proactive and start preparing for the time when we find ourselves at that limit. In addition, too much growth puts pressure on the environment, as we use up increasing amounts of limited resources. The growth "question" will be a major issue for residents of the city in the coming years, and I would be glad to hear your thoughts on it.

What are De Pere’s plans for Parks and Recreation?

2007-04-26T07:00:00.000-07:00

It’s been a quiet week for Council meetings. Mayor Walsh has appointed me to two committees of the City Council – the License Committee and the Board of Public Works, neither of which met this week. However, the City’s Planning Commission did meet, and I attended that meeting to find out more about the De Pere Comprehensive Park Plan, which was up for review that night.

I was impressed by the Plan and it’s picture of the City’s Park and Recreational land and facilities. De Pere has a number of things to be proud of in its park system, but as always, there’s room for improvement. In particular, with the community’s population growing in the southeast part of town, which is in the Second District, we need to provide new park and recreational space for folks moving into that area of De Pere. The proposed long term plans for the City include a possible new community park in the southeast corner of De Pere, bordering on Rockland and near Ledgeview.

While I agree a park is needed in that area, three-fourths of the proposed park’s service area is outside De Pere’s city limits. I spoke with Park Director Marty Kosobucki about that after his presentation, and about the possibility of working cooperatively with Brown County, Rockland, and perhaps even Ledgeview in the development of a park. While there would be many hurdles to overcome, he seemed anxious to do whatever we needed to in order to eventually provide De Pere’s southeast residents with the needed recreational space. Given the budget pressures the City faces now, I believe we have to look at alternative and creative ways to fund projects like this, and I’ll be bringing this up when the Park plan comes before the City Council.

Working as a Team

There’s a limit to what only one alderperson can do. It’s when the members of the City Council and staff work together that great things can be accomplished. Last week I talked about getting a tour of the city’s facilities and beginning to meet some of the women and men that work for De Pere. This week, I’ve had the chance to talk one-on-one with some of the other alderpersons. Those conversations have been good opportunities to get to know each other, and to build relationships that will help us conduct the city’s business together. While we may not always agree, it has become very evident that each of the alderpersons sincerely is looking out for the best interests of the community, and I look forward to continuing these conversations in the coming weeks.

First week on the Council

2007-04-19T19:38:00.000-07:00

The April 17th Council Meeting
This past Tuesday, I was sworn in as an Alderperson for De Pere's Second District. It was a great evening, and I felt very honored to have an opportunity to serve the residents of De Pere. The Council meeting itself was not one of our more eventful ones, with many important issues being addressed only briefly.

The largest amount of time during the meeting was spent discussing the beginning times of council and related committee and commission meetings. Alderperson Kegel asked the Council to consider moving some of these meetings to a standard 7:00 PM meeting time. He felt this would make it more possible for De Pere residents to attend and take part in the work of these groups. It may seem like a small thing, but, as I said during my campaign, I am in favor of anything that can strengthen the connection between City government and the folks in De Pere. However, I think that means not only concern for the people attending the meetings, but also the people volunteering their time, energy and talents to serving on these committees and commissions. I would be interested in knowing how they feel about the possible time changes. The Council, including myself, voted to move certain meetings to 7:00 PM, but this will be brought back to our next meeting for final approval.

Also, the issue of residency restrictions on people convicted of sexual offenses was briefly brought up, with Mayor Mike Walsh reporting on conversations between some of the Brown County municipalities. I was glad to hear that these area community leaders had agreed not to rush into any decisions, but to take their time in deciding what they would do. This is not only an important issue for the practical effect it has on people's lives, but it is also an important symbolic issue. I believe we must try, as hard as we can, to make judgments based on sound information when promoting the safety and welfare of our community, and not out of blind fear or because we are pushed by Green Bay.

Getting to know the people involved
On Thursday, April 19, I had the opportunity to tour some of the city facilities, including the Municipal Service Center on the west side, the Community Center, the Wastewater Treatment facility, the east side Fire Station and the Police Department, and to meet some of the folks working for De Pere. I was very impressed by the many people I met, and the work they are doing. It strikes me that the City has done a good job of hiring people who genuinely care about their work, and go about it effectively, efficiently, and responsibly, with a commitment to serving the community. I'm looking forward to getting to know them better and to working with them over the next couple of years.