Tracking Report Is Listless
ByTracking sheet. Report card. Two more tools being used by the city to make it sound as if things are getting done.
The problem with these glorified lists is not that things eventually get done, and a box gets checked or an item gets scratched off; issues should still be judged on the timeliness and completeness of their execution. As you can see from the January televised council meeting, the city has a way to go before they are successful.
I get the feeling that the mayor’s staff does not yet take this whole experiment too seriously.
I enjoyed the suspense leading to revealing the tracking report. You really were waiting for something grand. The delay and dismay; the emphasis of getting a copy visible for all to see; the reshuffling of the agenda to accommodate; and then the big reveal.
At that point the whole thing broke apart on re-entry, like Skylab.
Bill McDonald read the list as if he was reading the pictogram instructions from IKEA aloud. First you take and inventory of the parts included. Then you take part labeled “A” and bolt it to part labeled “G” with four “M” screws to four “N” bolts.
Maybe it was upside down.
I guess it only matters if you are paying attention.
I also picked up in the conversation there are things that land on the “Radar Screen” and things that are “On the radar screen in writing” that run an independent tracking route from those items that are “on the list”.
There is no qualitative commitment. Notice the mayor asked about the action regarding pet waste (Missing from the list), and Bill McDonald answers “you mean the doggie park”? So they really are not in synch on the final destination. The pet waste complaint was about code enforcement, not a wish for a dog park.
I will say, I am glad to see there is the beginnings of a system being developed that ensures citizen’s inquiries are acted upon. Ad the consistency and the qualitative metric of success, and they will be on their way to running like most any other managed organization on the planet.
The tracking report was put in place to show they are really on top of the issues. Ya!!!! There was also to be a report given (under old business) at each council meeting dealing with questions asked by citizens at the previous meeting. We have no idea if those questions are ever dealt with. It just seems like an exercise, they just can’t seem to follow thru.
Is there a criteria of what goes onto the list and what does not? Also, can someone explain the city’s role in replacing the recalled sprinkler heads? Shouldn’t that have been between the home owner and their contractor?
Here is the latest TO DO List, cut and paste from the official public record of Feb 10th meeting:
2010 Tracking Report Open Items:
1-26-10 Code Revisions
DMC Title 13 Fire updates
Report will be made on this subject at the February 9th Council Meeting.
Council workshop to be scheduled to discuss changes to Title 13 with Chief Hull.
Priority Hull/Larsen
1-12-10 Sprinkler Recall
Public Info Meetings scheduled for January 21st and 28th 7pm at City Hall. Change out underway. To be completed by April1, 2010.
Priority Hull
1/12/10 Obtain property on Powerline Rd
City Attorney reviewing title, memo forthcoming
Priority McDonald
Attorney
1-19-10 Strategic Plan
MRSC and AWC to be contacted for info and facilitator colleges also to be contacted for facilitator. Council retreat to be scheduled.
Priority McDonald
Memo Glacier Fund Use
How money in the glacier settlement fund can be used will be highlighted in a memo from the City Attorney
Priority McDonald
Attorney
1-26-10 Sequalitchew Creek
Trail Repair
Public Works working with Dept of Fish & Wildlife, Engineering, and Planning Dept to get permits for Trail Repair.
Priority Zahn
1-26-10 Shoreline Master Plan status report due from Planning in 2010
Active Planning Agency
1-19-10 Teen Council
Active Walker
1-12-10 Long Term Financial
Model Requested by Council to be developed. Staff will discuss current model and desired outcomes (before 2011 budget).
Active Masko
1-26-10 Up link to Rainier Media
Council concurred to provide notice to Rainer Media that City would like to move forward. Staff will give notice to Comcast (need to be budget sensitive)
Active McDonald
1-26-10 Blue Ribbon Committee on Communications
Organize Committee in 2010 to address community outreach. Council requested info on what other cities are doing with similar committees.
Policy Mayor
1-26-10 Appropriate collaboration with the Sequalitchew Watershed Creek Council (SCWC)
Attorney advised Council that a letter of support could be created instead. Scheduled for February 16th workshop.
Policy Council
1-26-10 Shaw Street Facility
Use Scheduled for February 16th Workshop. Staff will be reporting on CUP process and legal issues for use as a recreation facility.
Policy Mayor
1-26-10 Access from Hoffman Hill to Mounts Rd
Council to hold workshop, staff to provide information and educate Council on subject. Tentatively scheduled for April 2010.
Policy Council
1-12-10 Pet Socialization Park
Pet park to be researched near Powerline Rd.
Policy Zahn
7-2009
Fireworks usage Council to hold a workshop on whether or not to ban fireworks. Scheduled for February 16th
Policy Hull
1-12-10 Personnel Policies Staff updated employee personnel policies.
Council to hold workshop to discuss changes.
Policy Moreland
1-12-10 Public Info on Responsible pet Owner
Public Info to go on website, newsletter
Info Staff
2010 Tracking Report Completed Items:
1-12-10 First Park Industrial Development Agreement
Scheduled for Council Action on 12-Jan-10, approved by Council.
Closed McDonald
1-19-10 Strategic Plan Workshop
Workshop complete, Council to hold retreat to update plan. This item was moved back to priority status.
Closed McDonald
1-19-10 Youth Services
Workshop held, no Council or staff action required. DuPont Community to Organize Committee.
Closed Westman
No closure dates. Typical.
Here is how our City Executive Staff scored mid Q1′10 on their tracking report:
Start with 100 (A)
No measure of what is expected to be done. -5
No Due Dates. -5
Some items lack a clear owner. -5
Incomplete sentences. Sparse information. -10
No actions defined to build best class -10
fire and EMS services.
Q1 Mid Term 65 (D)
No longer failing, good job! BUT…you can do better.