By Jim Sack

It was the type of city council meeting that Mitch Harper should like: short, concise, low-keyed.

On the committee session agenda were two, just two measures to consider: declaration of an economic revitalization area, and a “prior-approval” to get work started early on street repairs in Crestwood Colony. Council members seemed to struggle to find questions to ask on both matters. Both matters whizzed to votes and acceptance.

A presentation by two planners followed concerning the Downtown Design Manual. That conversation was also quite professional, collegial, serious and would have been over in ten minutes, except for the presentation of a PowerPoint slide show that added, perhaps, another five minutes to the chat. The PP presented a history and forward-looking agenda, but did not go into much of the substance. Repeatedly council members lauded how much preparatory work the city staffers had done to bring the manual, which will regulate the aesthetic redevelopment of the downtown, to this point. More staff meetings with “stakeholders,” we ordinary citizens and council members will lead to presentation of the document for council approval later this year with implementation hoped for by the first of next year. John Shoaff applauded the high standards of staff the work from his triple perch as councilman, member of the working group that created the manual and as an architect-planner. Liz Brown, also a member of the group, but a lawyer, was a bit more cautious, but also “on board.” Inclusion of her in the process probably was the smartest thing the organizers did. As an participant she has had plenty of time to include her ideas on aesthetics and the ramifications of the law. She frequently has ridiculed discussions of style and aesthetics.

Glynn Hines also presented his report, as an appointee to Citilink, the public transit company, PTC, as demanded by Councilwoman Liz Brown. Seven minutes. She, you may remember, wanted standards for all council appointees, most of whom are council members, or penalties would follow. Mr. Hines complied eloquently.

Mitch Harper must have been smiling as the meeting marched quietly by.

Then, members stood up and ambled to the other side of the room for the “regular” session where final votes are cast and we rabble have our chance at the mic to express one opinion or another. It also flew by. The flag even cooperated by releasing itself easily from the base. The stars were aligned. One after one a measure was read and approved. Some were approved in groups. Slam, bam. Again a restrained grin by Councilman Harper for he is the proponent of the consent agenda, a form of meeting at which only those matters controversial would be put on the agenda and thus discussed. Other measures would be approved by “consent.” That would spare city workers and others who are called to testify on the most mundane of subjects when the matter is already all but agreed.

In effect, the consent agenda will require council members to do more homework and ask their questions of bureaucrats and the public in advance in order to decide whether they wish to relegate a matter to the consent section or to bring it forward for discussion. Mr. Harper wants to stop wasting time, simply put.

Tom Smith and John Shoaff, when asked how much time they devote a month to council matters, placed it at between 12 and 20 hours. Mr. Shoaff added that if he “became involved in an issue,” such as the widening of Calhoun Street which he and Smith fought together, the commitment could double easily. I guess they are both estimating on the conservative side. Each answers letters and phone calls. Each member reads the comprehensive packet of materials presented to them the Friday before council meetings. Each person on council serves on two or three outside boards, such as Redevelopment, Citilink or the the Downtown Improvement District. Homework must be done for each meeting and follow up is expected. Council meetings each take two or more hours a week. Constituent meetings require more time. There are a dozen event invitations each week related to their jobs that they must choose from. They do show up at fish fries, pancake breakfasts, Quadrant meetings, neighborhood meetings and political events because it is part of the job. I will guess they give more like ten to fifteen hours each week, forty or more hours a month. I may be on the conservative side.

So, last night the meeting flew by until citizen time. K2 again was a topic. A citizen took the view that council should regulate, not outlaw the substance because he was afraid of pushing it underground with all the attendant risks and the known benefits to organized and semi-organized crime who are happy to step right in. (So I hear a plea from the police chief for more budget and more officers?) Another man ranted about a police incident. Ranted was exactly what he did. He is known for his colorful language. Citizen time ranges from the sublime to the ridiculous. Then, as usual, council members added their two-cents worth. Liz Brown spared everyone her community calendar recitation. She was happily brief. Glynn Hines restated his commitment to the young people who are pushing a ban on K2 and a couple members noted matters of minor interest. Whoosh. Done.

There was an ominous moment a bit earlier when Mr. Harper introduced an ordinance dubbed “Ownership” which would require those doing business with the city to disclose members of their boards and shareholder above a certain financial threshold. He read it quietly, but you could see eyes on either side of him blink.

So, next week will be a fight, once the purchase order for a few bags of concrete is approved. A consent agenda would allow the mundane to be quickly dispatched in favor of policy discussions such as Pay to Play, the Ethics bill Councilwoman Goldner will also present again next week and “Ownership.” It should be that way.

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