Bill's Charlotte Report

Report of the
National League of Cities & Towns Conference
Charlotte, North Carolina
5 Dec., 05 thru 10 Dec., 05

Bill Glasmann
Ogden City Council-Elect

During my campaign, I pledged to communicate with the citizens about the various “goings on” of the City Council, and asking for input from outside sources so that I might make informed decisions. It’s now time to put into practice what I preached. The following is a report on my first “unofficial” official act (so stated because I’m not yet officially sworn-in):

During informal orientation of new council-elects, on 16 Nov., with the formal orientation scheduled from 2 Dec., through 16 Dec., it was strongly recommended by the Council Staff and others that we attend the National League of Cities & Towns Conference, to be held in Charlotte, North Carolina, during the week of 5 Dec., 05, if at all possible. Initially, I had some concerns with the LCT, as that organization evolves in some degree from a “NeoCon” political persuasion. Also, because I hadn’t yet been sworn in, I wanted my going to be appropriate and in line with my Ogden City budgetary philosophy. Therefore, I sought some advice from a good number of people as to whether or not I should attend. I contacted several conference veterans, from 4 regional cities, and a couple of former campaign advisors, to ask for their thoughts. Except for one individual, the consensus was that I should attend this conference, but to also keep vigilant eye on the LCT trying to co-opt me toward their political philosophy….the “NeoCon” thing. This advise went to my way of thinking. I would now have an opportunity to learn city government fundamentals and strategies from very qualified sources, to observe one of the South’s most progressive, economic “Boomtowns” and pick up on some ideas, and to network with experienced people from cities who have faced and successfully resolved issues similar to some of those of our own. Today, after having attended the LCT conference, I can unequivocally state that my decision to participate was correct. It presented me with some vital tools that will help me to hit the ground running, when I take office on 3 Jan., 06.

Myself, Dorrene Jeske, Jesse Garcia and Bill Cook made the trip to Charlotte. Dorrene and I flew out Monday while Jesse and Bill arrived late Wednesday. As much as Doug Stephens wanted and tried to go, he was unable to attend due to work and family commitments (this is retail’s busiest time of the year and Meirer & Frank is very dependent upon his services). Doug did do an admirable job, however, in keeping the lame ducks on ice until our return.

Travel time took over 12 hours, with a 3-4 hour weather delay in Atlanta. We stayed at the Hampton Inn-Airport, some 20 minutes from downtown Charlotte, where their superb convention center is located. Our hotel rates were about 1/3 to 1/2 the cost of downtown hotels. Dorrene and I spent about $80.00 on cab fare for the first 2 days and then rented an economy car from Enterprise after Jesse and Bill arrived. Our individual per diem was less than $50.00 a day. We flew Delta, coach class. Between the Council Staff and ourselves, we were able to plan and make the trip on basically a shoestring budget. The money we used had been appropriated by the current City Council during the May, 2005 Budget Session. We scheduled our workshops a couple of weeks prior to departure (I chose workshops that I felt would better prepare me to face some of our city’s more pertinent and pressing issues). Unlike some ill-conceived suggestions, partying with the Panther football players and cheerleaders was not, nor was ever intended to be, a part of our agenda. I went to Charlotte solely to learn things that would help me in the administration of my newly elected office.

Dorenne and I registered Tuesday morning, around 8:30 a.m., and then went our separate ways. My first workshop was a 3 hour affair entitled “The Changing Face of America: Visionary Leaders Engaging New Populations.” I chose that workshop to give me a leg up on one of my campaign pledges: the inclusion of the middle to lower socio-economic classes and our various minority populations into city workings. It was a fine workshop, conducted by Susan Thornton, M.S., CEO of a socio-economic think-tank and consulting firm out of Colorado. Some workshop goals were to provide elected officials with information, leadership skills and tools to develop and/or enhance programs that will provide new Americans with information and support; to encourage and help them to put down roots and become a permanent part of the community; and to help existing residents understand the importance of reaching out to welcome and aid our new population groups. The course helped me to understand the challenges, the strengths, and the culture/customs of our new friends, extremely important in our diversified city (our Hispanic population makes up about 30% of Ogden’s population). We were advised as to how, as a council, we can welcome our new friends and acclimate them into the community. We explored the many challenges immigrants face as they struggle to find housing, learn the English language, find employment, enroll in the education system and find health and mental care services. There was much emphasis put on culture, both theirs and ours, and we discussed how a “blending” of the two produced the most desired result and best effect.

There is indeed a changing face of America. One only has to look around our fair city to see that, as Ogden is a microcosm of the larger, national picture. During my years in boxing promotion, I worked closely with Hispanic fighters and their support people, bringing many boxers and their entourage to Ogden from Mexico, Latin America, Texas and Southern California. Through that interaction, I learned much about the Hispanic culture and Hispanic customs. Now, with the combination of this workshop and my boxing and life experiences, I feel I’m better prepared to embrace these various cultures that exist in our city and assist in their becoming a successful part of our community.

We had lunch in downtown Charlotte. There, I got an up close look at their public transportation system. Charlotte has a light rail system, it even runs through the convention center, that’s augmented by motorized, “rubber on the road” busses, designed to look like San Francisco cable cars. Seeing the “cable car” busses intrigued me, for prior to and during my campaign I had floated the idea of a SF cable car look-alike bus system here. My thoughts were that a cable car style bus would serve our public transportation needs, give us the best “bang for our buck,” and present our city a certain “charm,” if you will, via the busses’ unique appearance, while we sort out the gondola idea. The bus system in Charlotte gave me the opportunity to see my idea “live and in color.” I talked with some of the transportation system people, was enthralled by the atmosphere that the cable car busses created, and saw how the system worked. Here then, as luck would have it, is another public transportation option for consideration, brought about by my going to Charlotte and seeing a live, working model.

My afternoon workshop, 1:30 to 5:00 p.m., was entitled, “Excellence in Government: Building Communities through Accountability, Honesty, and Integrity.” The session was taught by Dr. W. D. Larkin, Organizational Development Specialist, Auburn University, located in Auburn, Alabama. Dr. Larkin is also the President and CEO of MindOverMatter Presentations. The workshop identified ethical and moral behavior and accountability as the most acceptable levels of leadership. Other leadership skills we discussed were competency and the development of individual action plans and timelines. The workshop’s main focus, however, was we, as public servants, have to be completely honest, moral, ethical, responsible, and accountable in service. The aim was to challenge us to make a personal commitment to character. Other objectives were our accepting social responsibility in the area of public service and articulating a principle-based style of leadership. Inspiration, motivation and ability should be guides toward the accomplishment of a common goal or shared vision. The summation of this excellent workshop is best described as follows: “Leadership is not the ability to make people go where you want them to go; it is the ability to make them WANT TO GO where you want them to go.”
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A cab ride back to the Hampton Inn, followed by a $7.00 Southern style buffet (we walked to the restaurant and back) wrapped up a long and busy day. No after hours partying with the Panthers. No cocktails with the NASCAR drivers. No dancing with cheerleaders, from any of the professional sports teams, and Charlotte has a bunch of ‘em.

I attended 2 more terrific workshops, on Wednesday. The morning class was “Capital Budgeting and Financing: Balancing Pay As You Go vs. Debt Financing,” taught by Professor John Vogt, School of Government, University of North Carolina. The course was filled with budgeting and financial issues, with working examples coming from a host of cities in Colorado, Georgia, North Carolina, Arizona, California, Iowa, and a couple more states. CIP policies and Planning were highlighted, capital replacement and renovation needs were plugged into Capital Asset Management System analysis. Annual budgeting was discussed, along with capital planning, infrastructure implementation, operations, zoning and use policies, renovations, and methods of financing projects. The new Recreation Center should have been the poster child for this class, as the Professor went over prioritizations, forecasting, CIP illustrations, public involvement and project voter approval. We went through a model of a project that mirrored our own Recreation Center almost to a tee, from the VRDD to the interest rate SWAP, and how it all works and plays into risk. I could have spent a week in that class. It’s a shame that some of our current council members hadn’t taken this workshop before voting on the Recreation Center….had they have done so, they might have found a better way to finance that project, especially one without the BDO obligation. From what I learned in that particular workshop, I’ll be able to make a better contribution toward the financial aspects of future city projects. Good class….a real good class. Incidentally, it was strongly advised, and is law in many states, that projects of this nature be voted on by the public. Much food for thought, regarding the future.

My afternoon session was, “Effective Diplomacy: Taking the Lead in Resolution Building,” taught by Hillary Freeman, Principal, CP & R Services of Palo Alto, California. The goals were to recognize and understand how conflicts result from miscommunication and unfounded assumptions about another person’s objectionable behavior. Once there, a six-step resolution was created, with an emphasis of approaching conflict and resolution creatively, which will increase my effectiveness as a public servant. Council meetings were discussed, with various action steps presented that should allow me to resolve conflicts more objectively. This particular class will lend itself well as to how I might handle possible objections and disagreements toward some of my upcoming council actions. I put these applications to use in how I’ve handled those vile and demeaning posts over our, especially my, attending the LCT conference. As a holder of public office, it is expected that I interact with people from a position of honor and dignity. I feel that I have accomplished that here, simply by not participating in a back and forth joust that would have served no purpose other than to fuel an already burning issue.

Dinner consisted of a sandwich and lemon-aid, in one of Charlotte’s trendy pizza establishments. Eight bucks, split two ways. After Jesse and Bill arrived later that night, we met in my room and brought them up to speed.

The dreaded “NeoConism” surfaced on Thursday, in a workshop entitled: “Eminent Domain: Life After Kelo.” This was a mobile workshop, with an open mic that provided for comments from the attendees. Three lecturers extolled what they felt were the virtues of eminent domain and all that a governmental body can gain from its application. There was even a plan of attack in how to manipulate the press and others into seeing eminent domain in their way. They “spun” the Kelo decision into being a very necessary and positive action. I was horrified, and the majority of the audience seemed to share their attitude….except for one young attorney from the East Coast. When he got the mic, he stated that he was probably the only person in the room to have a differing philosophy from that of the lecturers and he then spoke out against Kelo and all that it represented with extraordinary eloquence. After he finished his statements and sat back down, I slipped across the room, introduced myself, told him there were “two of us,” and asked for his business card. Safety in numbers, I reasoned. I plan to stay in touch.

After that workshop ended, my conference basically ended. Jesse and I took a ride through downtown Charlotte and into a part of the residential area. What a gorgeous city! Americana personified. Charlotte is definitely on the fast track going up. Just seeing the activity and experiencing the feel of a city on the move, gave me hope that the same can be accomplished here, in our fair city. Ogden’s progress and growth is right around the corner, at hand actually. We’ve got a “kick start,” and it’s up to all of us to ensure that we succeed. But things must be done right. So, bring us your input, get involved, eliminate the apathy and replace it with confidence. We can become, as President Reagan said, that shinning bright city on the top of the hill.

I flew home the next day, Friday, a day earlier than scheduled. I figured there was no need to spend another day’s per diem or lodging allowance. I got what I’d come for. And, as I earlier stated, there were no Panthers, no cheerleaders, no autographs, no huge, raucous parties, and no NASCAR. Except for the yellow Chevrolet that sits on display in one of the convention center lobbies. Those things, I felt, would be better picked up on my own time and on my own dime. In fact, I didn’t even snap a picture of the Chevy Racer with my throw-away camera. It was time to go home and bring with me a feeling of optimism, a feeling I got from hearing about other cities’ rebirths and experiencing a beautiful city on the move.