Advisory Committee for Community Development

[Daisy]

I see some familiar names appointed to this committee.  Congratulations to you!  Does anyone know what the advisory committee will be asked to do, or just more info about it?

[MortgageMamma]

It is a committee that has been charged with the formation of a Master Plan for our city.  I have spoken to the Mayor and the meetings will be set after the City Council elections are held on May 10th.  There are three seats that need to be filled by the Mayor.

[Livia]

Funny thing about the Master Plan:

1) As long as I have lived in Anna the council has used the Land Use Map for a master plan; and still does. 

2) The EDC has a master plan for the City of Anna, done by Le Tourneau College students (2007); that council "is" aware of, has not reviewed, or voted on.

3) After the EDC got their Master Plan done for the city the Council formed a committee to do a study for one year; that involves data collection for making a Master Plan for the City of Anna. 

4) And then, the Anna City Planner says that he drew up a master plan for the City of Anna years ago: which the council did not know existed and was just found again.

~~We currently have two master plans and council is doing a committee for one year to develope a master plan; while still using the Land Use Map?~~

Something is wrong with this plan of action.

[ehowton]

I have a plan.

[BrassMonkey]

Long live John Geren!!!

[Jim Smith]

Funny thing about the Master Plan:

1) As long as I have lived in Anna the council has used the Land Use Map for a master plan; and still does. 

2) The EDC has a master plan for the City of Anna, done by Le Tourneau College students (2007); that council "is" aware of, has not reviewed, or voted on.

3) After the EDC got their Master Plan done for the city the Council formed a committee to do a study for one year; that involves data collection for making a Master Plan for the City of Anna. 

4) And then, the Anna City Planner says that he drew up a master plan for the City of Anna years ago: which the council did not know existed and was just found again.

~~We currently have two master plans and council is doing a committee for one year to develope a master plan; while still using the Land Use Map?~~

Something is wrong with this plan of action.

So,  If elected what do you plan to do to fix this problem?

[ehowton]

So,  If elected what do you plan to do to fix this problem?

Have another Master Plan commissioned?  Can't have too many, you know.  Gots to pay the man.

[Livia]

From Jim ~ So,  If elected what do you plan to do to fix this problem? ~
 
First I am going to complain a little here regarding this.
 
I have been saying for the last four years, to the leaders of our city, that the City of Anna needs a Master Plan; with "ordinances that support" it. 
 
The answer I have always gotten in the past from council members is that the "Land Use Map" is the master plan; and from the former city manager "it would cost to much (approximately $250,000) to have a master plan done for the city. The city can't afford it."
 
Note: Currently the council has signed away their right of power to put items on the agendas for discussion, consideration and action; solely into the hands of the city managers discretion. 
 
Therefore, if the city manager doesn't think an item should be put on the agenda it does not appear on the agenda.  Often the city manager will say that the agenda is to full for requests to be put on the agenda for the date requested, etc.  This a problem.

So, if I was on council:
 
First, I would request an agenda item to revisit how items are put on agendas for council to make a decision on.  And hope that the council would take back the power to decide what is put on their agendas.
 
Secondly, regardless of the out come concerning how items get onto the agendas, I would attempt to bring the Master Plan issue to a formal discussion as an agenda item with council. 
 
First steps first.
 
And, I do have the strategy for the development and application of our cities Master Plan; should council decide to pursue action on this item.

[Jim Smith]

From Jim ~ So,  If elected what do you plan to do to fix this problem? ~
 
First I am going to complain a little here regarding this.
 
I have been saying for the last four years, to the leaders of our city, that the City of Anna needs a Master Plan; with "ordinances that support" it. 
 
The answer I have always gotten in the past from council members is that the "Land Use Map" is the master plan; and from the former city manager "it would cost to much (approximately $250,000) to have a master plan done for the city. The city can't afford it."
 
Note: Currently the council has signed away their right of power to put items on the agendas for discussion, consideration and action; solely into the hands of the city managers discretion. 
 
Therefore, if the city manager doesn't think an item should be put on the agenda it does not appear on the agenda.  Often the city manager will say that the agenda is to full for requests to be put on the agenda for the date requested, etc.  This a problem.

So, if I was on council:
 
First, I would request an agenda item to revisit how items are put on agendas for council to make a decision on.  And hope that the council would take back the power to decide what is put on their agendas.
 
Secondly, regardless of the out come concerning how items get onto the agendas, I would attempt to bring the Master Plan issue to a formal discussion as an agenda item with council. 
 
First steps first.
 
And, I do have the strategy for the development and application of our cities Master Plan; should council decide to pursue action on this item.

Isn't this what the Master Plan Committee is for. It seems that all of your complaints (on this issue) would be resolved after the committee is finished. Are you on this committee? What is your "strategy for the development and application of our cities Master Plan"?

[drax0r]

And, I do have the strategy for the development and application of our cities Master Plan; should council decide to pursue action on this item.

Does it involve consulting with psychics and remote viewers?

[ehowton]

Note: Currently the council has signed away their right of power to put items on the agendas for discussion, consideration and action; solely into the hands of the city managers discretion. 
 
So, if I was on council:
 
First, I would request an agenda item to revisit how items are put on agendas for council to make a decision on.  And hope that the council would take back the power to decide what is put on their agendas.

And if the City Manager chose to not put your item of revisiting how items are put on agendas...?

[Slim]

From Jim ~ So,  If elected what do you plan to do to fix this problem? ~
 
First I am going to complain a little here regarding this.
 
I have been saying for the last four years, to the leaders of our city, that the City of Anna needs a Master Plan; with "ordinances that support" it. 
 
The answer I have always gotten in the past from council members is that the "Land Use Map" is the master plan; and from the former city manager "it would cost to much (approximately $250,000) to have a master plan done for the city. The city can't afford it."
 
Note: Currently the council has signed away their right of power to put items on the agendas for discussion, consideration and action; solely into the hands of the city managers discretion. 
 
Therefore, if the city manager doesn't think an item should be put on the agenda it does not appear on the agenda.  Often the city manager will say that the agenda is to full for requests to be put on the agenda for the date requested, etc.  This a problem.

So, if I was on council:
 
First, I would request an agenda item to revisit how items are put on agendas for council to make a decision on.  And hope that the council would take back the power to decide what is put on their agendas.
 
Secondly, regardless of the out come concerning how items get onto the agendas, I would attempt to bring the Master Plan issue to a formal discussion as an agenda item with council. 
 
First steps first.
 
And, I do have the strategy for the development and application of our cities Master Plan; should council decide to pursue action on this item.

You talk lik my mommy. She always use big words to. Are you her? I'll bet you are. Do yu look like me? Do yu like jello? I like the red 1s. Is that your favarit tu?

[Livia]

I am not on that committee.  The committee is just being used to gather data.
 
You should ask the council what the Master Plan Committee is for since we already have one adopted master plan that they are not using and one that the EDC has developed which is not being used.
 
This committee is directed by the city planner and is just doing data gathering to turn in for evaluation.  I am sure they will have some recommendations they would like to have included in a "new" master plan; yet no one on that committee is qualified to develop a master plan. 
 
Seems to me that the council should be using the plan they adopted years ago, be reviewing the EDC plan for updates to their original plan, adopting of the EDC plan to replace the original plan or hiring a qualified person to develop a master plan.  It could be that the current city planner is doing just that by way of the master plan committee?  Is he?
 
Revisiting how items are put on agendas concerning the city manager?
 
If the city manager refuses to put requested items on agendas, for at least discussion, to be voted on by council, so council could decide if those items will be put on future agenda to be voted on, I could take the issue to the Newspapers so the public would be made aware of the fact and see if things changed by way of public pressure.  Or, I suppose, as a last ditch effort I could to do a petition recall of the council for not carrying out their duty in violation of the charter (including the recall of all city employees) like the City of Murphy did.
 
I would hope that a radical action like this would not have to be taken to resolve the issue.  Why would a city manager refuse to take direction from their employer?

As far as my specific strategies go those are reserved for having the ability to enact them legally.

[drax0r]

Why would a city manager refuse to take direction from their employer?

That's the rub though -- An individual council member has zero authority.

The council as a body manages the city manager, but the council as a body can only act on items on the agenda.

As there is no longer an regular item on the agenda that would allow the council as a body to request future agenda items, it appears that the topics available for discussion are limited to those the city manager deems appropriate for inclusion on the agenda.

It is an interesting topic.

I wrote about this back in April:

http://www.annatx.us/blog/2008/04/20/the-de-facto-king-of-anna/

[BrassMonkey]

I am not on that committee.  The committee is just being used to gather data.
 
You should ask the council what the Master Plan Committee is for since we already have one adopted master plan that they are not using and one that the EDC has developed which is not being used.
 
This committee is directed by the city planner and is just doing data gathering to turn in for evaluation.  I am sure they will have some recommendations they would like to have included in a "new" master plan; yet no one on that committee is qualified to develop a master plan. 
 
Seems to me that the council should be using the plan they adopted years ago, be reviewing the EDC plan for updates to their original plan, adopting of the EDC plan to replace the original plan or hiring a qualified person to develop a master plan.  It could be that the current city planner is doing just that by way of the master plan committee?  Is he?
 
Revisiting how items are put on agendas concerning the city manager?
 
If the city manager refuses to put requested items on agendas, for at least discussion, to be voted on by council, so council could decide if those items will be put on future agenda to be voted on, I could take the issue to the Newspapers so the public would be made aware of the fact and see if things changed by way of public pressure.  Or, I suppose, as a last ditch effort I could to do a petition recall of the council for not carrying out their duty in violation of the charter (including the recall of all city employees) like the City of Murphy did.
 
I would hope that a radical action like this would not have to be taken to resolve the issue.  Why would a city manager refuse to take direction from their employer?

As far as my specific strategies go those are reserved for having the ability to enact them legally.

Put our fair city in a bad light with the media?  Attempt an overthrow of the Anna City Government.  I'm sure glad you are not one of the people running for Council...