Sun Valley Council Meetings – April 2012

We have a series of special City Council meetings scheduled this month in our effort to initiate the forensic audit, search for a new City Administrator, review the Lane Ranch North applications and, of course, conduct our normal monthly business. Here is the current schedule:

April 9, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 11:00 a.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Forensic Audit

April 10, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 1:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Lane Ranch North / City Administrator Search

April 16, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 5:30 p.m. – Ketchum City Hall, Ketchum - SV Marketing Alliance Quarterly Report

April 18, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 11:00 a.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Forensic Audit

April 19, 2012 – City Council Regular Meeting – 1:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley

April 23, 2012 – City Council Special Meeting – 4:00 p.m. – City Hall, Sun Valley – Continuation of 4/19/12 Meeting

Update on Suit

This is an update on the suit filed against the City of Sun Valley, myself, fellow Council member Bob Youngman, and City Attorney Adam King by City Administrator Sharon Hammer.

This past Thursday, December 29, 2011, Kirtlan Naylor, the attorney representing the City and those of us named in the suit, made the following statement to the Idaho Mountain Express which appeared on December 30, 2011 at this link:

“Sharon Hammer has sued the City of Sun Valley, and the pleadings that will be filed in defense of this lawsuit will shed light on these circumstances.  Only one side of this matter has been made public so far, so I would hope people withhold judgment until all facts are known.”

Response to Suit

The media asked me to comment on a suit filed against the City of Sun Valley, the City Attorney and me on November 21, 2011. This is what I have to say:

The charges against me are baseless and defamatory, and will be proven as such in a court of law. The voters of this County were introduced to Jim Donoval in the last election and they have already voted on his credibility.

Sun Valley City Council Meeting July 12, 2011

On Tuesday July 12, 2011 at 10:00 a.m. we have a Special Sun Valley City Council meeting. This is the third in a number of meetings we are holding to establish the City’s Fiscal Year 2012 Budget (October 1, 2011 through September 30, 2012). Click here to see the complete list of our budget meetings.

At this meeting the Council is expected to adopt a “Tentative Budget” for FY12. The purpose of the Tentative Budget is to set a ceiling on the level of expenditures and the city property tax levy. This information will then be put in the notice for the public hearing on the budget which will be held on August 2, 2011.

During the June 21, 2011 Special Council Meeting, we made significant expenditure reductions in the Mayor’s original proposed draft FY12 Budget ($6,055,000 down to $5,166,000). The Council modified version is available online at this link. We will be using this version as we consider our “Tentative Budget” at the July 12^th meeting. Input from the citizens of Sun Valley will be important at this meeting.

To see the full Agenda and Council Packet for the 7-12-11 meeting, click here.

You can also listen to any of our Council meetings live, or later on the internet at this link.

You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website

Two Sun Valley City Council Meetings March 17, 2011

On March 17, 2011 we held two Sun Valley City Council meetings. The first, at 4:00 pm was our Regular Monthly Council Meeting, and the second, at 4:30 pm was a Special City Council Meeting.

The Regular Monthly Council Meeting agenda only had on it the consent agenda (minutes from last month’s meeting and the financial report from February). Click here to see that Agenda Packet. We were unable to discuss the financial report as the City Treasurer was not present at the meeting.

The Special Council Meeting, called by the City Council (click here for that Agenda Packet), considered the following business:

• Review and discussion of policy considerations concerning “FY 10 Audit Comments and Management Responses.”
• Discussion of policy considerations concerning funding of Consolidated Dispatch services.
• Review and discussion of Council participation in preparation of meeting agendas in “City Council and Mayor Powers and Authorities” of the City Council Policy Manual.

We were unable to discuss the first item as the City Treasurer and City Administrator were not present at the meeting. The Council did, however, have a very good discussion on the subject of Consolidated Dispatch with County Commission Chair Angenie McCleary and will be moving forward with her to solve funding issues between the City and County. The Council also had a good discussion on how agendas for our meetings should be prepared in the future.

You can also listen to any of our Council meetings live, or later on the internet at this link.

You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website.

Violence Has No Place In A Democracy

In a democracy we cannot and must not allow the use of violence or the threat of violence to settle our political differences. Nils Ribi

Local Editorial Cartoon

I have to chuckle at the editorial cartoon in the local newspaper today. It looks like they are still mad at me since I called them out for their “selective reporting” on the marketing issue and that they probably won’t be the recipient of all the Chamber of Commerce advertising money this winter as they have in the past:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Express 10-15-10

Position on Sun Valley Marketing Funding

Update 9-23-10 @ 7:00 p.m.:

Late this afternoon I received a letter dated yesterday from the Mayor of Ketchum and the President of the newest iteration of the marketing board. I have put a link to it here so you can read it yourself. I think they were attempting to clear up some of the issues, but in reality I see their response as only more confusing. I have also put a link to the newest marketing board’s original press release of 9-14-10 here so you can get a feel for some of the issues we have been facing.

Original Post 9-22-10 @ 4:48 p.m.:

Note: The local print media has not fully reported the story of why the proposed new resort area marketing program has taken a drastic turn from what the Sun Valley City Council agreed in concept to support during its FY11 budget deliberations. Because of that lack of news reporting, I feel it is important to share my thoughts directly with you on why I cannot support the recently revised marketing organization. It is important to understand that this significant change was made without the advice and consent of the Sun Valley City Council prior to its announcement by this most recent group.

Nearly nine months ago we embarked on an effort to clean up the ineffective and wasteful use of Sun Valley’s tax dollars by the Chamber of Commerce.

The clear recommendations we expected the five member Sun Valley Resort Area Marketing, Inc. board to follow would have benefitted the economic vitality of both Sun Valley and Ketchum in a focused, rational manner.

We were well on a path to making dramatic improvements in the area marketing system when some of the very people responsible for the Chamber were successful in slowing and then derailing the new resort area marketing program.

Now that they have done that, it would be imprudent to go back to what would be the same failed system of essentially providing public funds to private businesses. It defeats the entire goal of our effort to clean up the proven ineffective and wasteful use of Sun Valley’s tax dollars.

It is obvious there are some in the area’s business community who are still unable to see and accept the wisdom and need for real change, even with the clear and convincing data that was presented showing the existing system was not working.

If positive change is what they are so adamant to resist, then there is no reason to stand in their way and no reason to fund it.

It also came to our attention, directly from the spokesman of the most recent group, that they have been less than honest with the Chamber and the public regarding the actual voting structure of the most recent organization. I cannot knowingly vote to involve our City with an organization that cannot be trusted.

Fellow Council member, Bob Youngman, also explained his position on why he cannot support this sudden change in direction the marketing organization has taken, all with which I agree. The link to his comments can be seen by clicking here.

Special Sun Valley City Council Meeting June 3, 2010

On Thursday, June 3, 2010 at 10:00 am we have a Special City Council meeting.

At this meeting, the Mayor will present his proposed Fiscal Year 2011 Draft Budget. We will also hear presentations from organizations requesting funds under external contracts for service.

Presentations will be made by:

• Sun Valley-Ketchum Chamber and Visitors Bureau
• Marketing Exploration Committee
• Mountain Rides Transportation Authority
• Blaine County Housing Authority
• Ketchum Parks and Recreation Department
• Sustain Blaine
• Fly Sun Valley Alliance

To see the Agenda and Council packet for this meeting, click here.

At our last Council meeting we established the following calendar for the remaining FY11 Budget meetings. All meetings will be at Sun Valley City Hall at 10:00 a.m.

June 14, 2010 – Discussion on Draft Budget

June 28, 2010 – Adopt Tentative FY11 Budget

August 3, 2010 – Public Hearing on Tentative FY11 Budget, First Reading of Budget Ordinance

August 10, 2010 – Second Reading of Budget Ordinance (if necessary)

August 17, 2010 – Third Reading of Budget Ordinance (if necessary)

You can also listen to any of our Council meetings live, or later on the internet at this link.

You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website.

My 250th Blog Post

My last blog post on the May 20^th Sun Valley City Council meeting was the 250^th blog I’ve written since I began this interesting journey back in 2005.

Blogging has been a great way, as an Elected Official, to communicate with the citizens on a variety of issues. It has also been a tool to keep our community instantly informed, particularly in the early stages of the massive Castle Rock Fire of 2007. I have had a great time sharing many of my photos with you here, and it has been a way for long-lost friends to find me. I can’t think of abetter opportunity to involve technology in our democracy.

Great thanks to all of you who regularly read my blog posts, for your comments, and for your e-mails and phone calls! I look forward to continuing this journey with you here.

Here’s a photo I took a couple of weeks ago of Idaho’s beautiful Sawtooth Mountains from near Lower Stanley. Enjoy!

A Great Day for Sun Valley

It was a great day for Sun Valley, as we saw the result of real democracy in action today. Bob Youngman and I were sworn in to our City Council positions this morning by the Mayor.

The people spoke loudly during the City election this past November 3^rd. They have told us clearly what they expect from their government. It is now up to us to act according to their wishes.

It is an honor to serve the people of Sun Valley.

Here are a few photos from today’s ceremony.

The Mayor administers the Oath of Office, as Councilman Dewayne Briscoe observes.

The Mayor administers the Oath of Office to Bob Youngman.

It’s official.

Councilmen Youngman and Ribi confer.

Special Sun Valley City Council Meeting January 5, 2009

On Tuesday, January 5, 2010 at 10:00 am we have a Special Council meeting.

The main purpose of this Special Council meeting is to swear in the newly elected Council Members from the general election this past November.

Obviously this is a very special meeting for me as I will be one of the two Council members taking the Oath of Office. The other will be Bob Youngman. I am extremely happy that Bob was elected to the City Council. His help last spring in the effort to stop the consolidation of Sun Valley into Ketchum was invaluable and he will make an excellent Council Member. He has worked very hard to prepare for his Council position and I believe he is already more knowledgeable about City operations than some others with whom I have served.

At this meeting we will also conduct some additional business including electing a new Council President, filling vacancies on the Planning and Zoning Commission and other appointments. I have had the honor to serve the past two years as your Council President, a position I have not taken lightly. It kept me very busy working closely with Mayor Willich and attending a great number of meetings on behalf of the City. I will be nominating fellow Council Member Dewayne Briscoe to be Council President for the next two years. Councilman Briscoe has done a very good job attending to his Council duties and I have found working with him over the past two years to be a rewarding experience. Together we have accomplished many of the necessary legislative tasks needed to move the City forward.

As your Councilman, I look forward to keeping my focus on those things that really matter and which make Sun Valley so special and a great place to live. We now have a much stronger Council that I believe has the ability and commitment to accomplish, in a positive environment, a great deal of the necessary work we have outlined. It is truly an honor to serve you and I appreciate the great vote of confidence you have placed in me.

To see the Agenda and Council packet for this meeting, click here.

You can also listen to this or any other Council meeting live, or later on the internet at this link.

You can always see the full Council schedule and additional information at my website. The complete 2010 regular Council meeting schedule is now on my website.