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La Mesa Citizens Oversight Group has sent a letter to council members voicing concerns over three items on the agenda for the upcoming city council meeting Tuesday. The group advocates for “open, accountable, cost-effective, efficient government, and for opposing unnecessary taxes, fees, regulations, and policies."
Item 2 is a resolution to waive bidding requirements and approve purchase of two pieces of mowing equipment. “By-passing the required open bidding process and showing only one proposal is a concern,” LMCOG states. “It is not clear to us from the documents that the issue has been fully explored for alternatives (used but newer equipment for one example, subcontracting out the work for another example) and that the city bargaining power is being maximized.”
Item 7 is discussion and possible action on the continued need for a La Meas City Council Dwntown Revitalization Subcommittee. “We support action that improves and protects open government and transparency and that ensures full council participation in all issues and timely sharing of knowledge to each elected official and the public,” LMCOG indicates.
Item 8, proposed amendments to the existing Council travel policy, drew an extended response. “We support the listed recommendations for increased control and reporting of expenses to better serve the public. Our review of travel and expenses and reports from the past several years show the adherence to the current policy is inconsistent, in spite of recent improvements. We can see no legitimate reason the expense of taxpayer monies should not be fully and specifically justified, well in advance, to meet the mission, purposes and policies of the city government,” the group states, noting that such is the case in many large private businesses. In addition to proposed measures by Council Member Ernie Ewin, SDCOP suggests adding the following to the Agenda item #8 list or revisions:
1. Have staff develop a user and public friendly format and form to be used
each time that incorporates all the required reporting elements for
consistency for staff and ease of public review.
2. Include a reporting of any and all personal gain the expense, such as continuing
education credits.
3. For out of the area travel include a full event schedule and the specific
sessions or seminars that were attended.
4. Each attendee should provide a separate and complete report to be
individually accountable.
5. Given the way events are scheduled we believe it is reasonable to allow
post event reports to be delivered the first or second public council
meeting but no later than 21 days from the time of the expense.
6. When traveling at city expense for city business one is, by definition, a
city representative. All documents signed under these circumstances shall be
reported to the full council and it shall be noted whether any document was
executed under official city authority or simply as a personal position.
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