More Inept, Incompetent City Government

ABSTRACT: During Appearances at the City Council meeting, August 7, 2007, Carmelite Carl Roetter, Paige Johnson Design, Inc., stated that the “Memo” written by Steve McInchak, City’s Information Systems/Network Manager, was "full of errors and it was full of very slanted information.” And “it’s embarrassing to the city to produce a report like that, it’s embarrassing to the community for Council to then vote on that staff report which was so full of errors and so poorly produced.” City Councilman Gerard Rose expressed his desire that the item “be brought to the Council once again on the next calendar and with an amended staff report.” However, as City Administrator Rich Guillen later stated, “They’ve, we’ve signed the contract with anda/burghardt."

City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting
August 7, 2007

VI. Appearances

Anyone wishing to address the City Council on matters within the jurisdiction of the City and are not on the agenda may do so now. Matters not appearing on the City Council’s agenda will not receive action at this meeting but may be referred to staff for a future meeting. Presentations will be limited to three (3) minutes, or as otherwise established by the City Council. Persons are not required to give their names, but it is helpful for speakers to state their names in order that the City Clerk may identify them in the minutes of the meeting. Always speak into the microphone, as the meeting is recorded on tape.

During Appearances, Carmelite Carl Roetter stated, as follows:

“Madam Mayor, Council, City Administrator. Carl Roetter, Paige Johnson Design. Thank you Don for your comments. After the Memo from Mr. Steve McInchak that made it very clear that Paige Johnson Design did not have any of those capabilities, we received some unfortunate calls from clients, and it was, since all of that was clearly outlined in our proposal to the city, it was unfortunate to see that those many errors in the Memo from Mr. McInchak. Unfortunately, it was that Memo that was full of errors and it was full of very slanted information, upon which council made its’ decision. It was the staff report that council voted on. And that was just pulled, I understand, from the Consent agenda, but I would wonder if Council and the City Administrator would consider going back and looking again at that staff report. It certainly did not come up to the quality of the kind of work that our staff does, it’s embarrassing to the city to produce a report like that, it’s embarrassing to the community for Council to then vote on that staff report which was so full of errors and so poorly produced. So, I guess I’m just requesting that the City Administrator pull that staff report, bring it back to council this time, perhaps a little better done. Thanks.”

Immediately after Carl Roetter spoke, Michael Batori stated, as follows:

“At last meeting, I spoke on that very subject, asking that I felt that the information that was being presented and that City Council members spoke on the fact that they didn’t want to go against staff recommendation which I felt they didn’t understand and there were inaccuracies. I also think that it should be revisited because of the fact that there were inaccuracies that the Council was making decisions on. Thank you.”

After the close of Appearances, during deliberations on Consent Calendar items, City Council Member Gerard Rose stated, as follows:

“As to D. I am troubled that we are being asked to agree to a contract that we concede was grounded on an erroneous staff report. And as much as I hate to postpone this kind of thing, because I think it is very important, I would prefer that it be brought to the Council once again on the next calendar and with an amended staff report.”

To which City Administrator Rich Guillen later responded, as follows:

“Plus, based on the Council’s action, you approved moving forward with Anda/Burghardt, They’ve, we’ve signed the contract.”

NOTES:
Carl Roetter, Former Community Traffic Safety Commissioner
PAIGE JOHNSON DESIGN, INC.
Graphic Design and Web Services
Telephone: (831) 625.0480
Fax: (831) 625.2079
Email: carl@pjdesign.com
http://www.pjdesign.com/


Steve McInchak, Information Systems/Network Manager

CITY OF CARMEL-BY-THE-SEA
INFORMATION SERVICES
STAFF REPORT
TO: MAYOR MCCLOUD AND COUNCILMEMBERS
THROUGH: RICH GUILLEN, CITY ADMINISTRATOR
FROM: STEVE McINCHAK, IS/NETWORK MANAGER
DATE: 26 JUNE 2007
SUBJECT: AWARD CONTRACT FOR WEB SITE DESIGN

Selected excerpts, as follows:

RECOMMENDED MOTION
Adopt Resolution authorizing the design of a new City website and award the contract to anda/burghardt.

DISCUSSION
Our website should be new and fresh and easy to use capitalizing on new technology and programs that are now available in website design. The bidding process resulted in 3 bids;
Flying Cow Design Studio $61,490
Paige Johnson Design, Inc. $24,700
anda/burghardt $30,000

Staff recommends anda/burghardt with a bid of $30,000. Although the bid submitted by Paige Johnson Design, Inc. was lower, video production and integration can not be provided by the firm. This service is an important component of the proposed website and the value of the service will ultimately exceed the cost differential between the two quotes.

COMMENTS:
• Steve McInchak’s Staff Report for the “design, production and maintenance of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Web Site at domain ci.carmel.ca.us” contract mischaracterized the proposal submitted by Paige Johnson Design, Inc. As a result, City Attorney Don Freeman corrected these mischaracterizations with his comments at the August 7, 2007 City Council meeting. The bid submitted by Paige Johnson Design, Inc. then was lower than anda/burghardt and included video production and integration.

• All of the City Council Members, except City Councilman Gerard Rose, expressed no qualms or regrets about their previous deliberations and decision on the city web site design contract based on an erroneous, inaccurate and biased staff report on Paige Johnson Design, Inc.

• In short, not only was this process indicative of an incompetent and biased city administration, it was illustrative of a city council without an ethic of accountability to the public.

REFERENCES:
City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting
August 7, 2007

VII. Consent Calendar

These matters include routine financial and administrative actions, which are usually approved by a single majority vote. Individual items may be removed from Consent by a member of the Council or the public for discussion and action.

D. Consideration of a Resolution entering into a Destination Marketing Agreement with Jeff Burghardt, President, Anda/Burghardt Advertising, Inc. for Economic Revitalization and Destination Marketing services in an amount not to exceed $60,000 for Economic Revitalization and $125,000 for Destination Marketing.

City Council Agenda
Regular Meeting
July 3, 2007

X. Resolutions

A. Consideration of Resolution to award a contract in an amount not to exceed $30,000 to anda/Burghardt for the design, production and maintenance of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Web Site at domain ci.carmel.ca.us.

B. Consideration of a Resolution authorizing the City Administrator to enter into a consulting agreement with anda/burghardt for the position of Economic Development and Marketing Director in an amount of $60,000 annually.

City Council Minutes
Regular meeting
July 3, 2007

X. RESOLUTIONS
A. Consideration of Resolution to award a contract in an amount not to exceed $30,000 to Anda/Burghardt for the design, production and maintenance of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Web Site at domain ci.carmel.ca.us.

City Administrator Guillen presented the staff report. Information Services Manager,
Steve McInchak, answered Council questions.

Mayor McCloud opened the meeting to public comment at 6:25 p.m.

Michael Batori addressed Council.

At 6:26 p.m., Mayor McCloud closed the meeting to public comment.

Council Member ROSE moved approval of a Resolution to award a contract in an amount not to exceed $30,000 to Anda/Burghardt for the design, production and maintenance of the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea Web Site at domain www.ci.carmel.ca.us., seconded by Council Member HAZDOVAC and carried by the following roll call:

AYES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: HAZDOVAC, ROSE & TALMAGE
NOES: COUNCIL MEMBERS: CUNNINGHAM & McCLOUD
ABSENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE
ABSTAIN: COUNCIL MEMBERS: NONE

Carmel-by-the-Sea California - Official City Website: A Deterrent to an Informed Citizenry

Given that an informed citizenry is crucial to the proper functioning of a participatory democracy, it is disturbing that the City of Carmel-by-the-Sea does not have a complete and up-to-date website, including Agendas & Minutes for all Commissions.

As of Tuesday, 19 December 2006, a Summary of the City’s Website regarding the City’s Commissions/Board Agendas & Minutes:

Planning Commission
January 11, 2006 – December 13, 2006
No Minutes for June 14, September 13, October 11, 2006.
Note: Between January 10, 2001 (first entry) and December 2006, there are 26 omitted Meeting Minutes of a total of 98 Meeting Minutes, excluding December 2006, for an omission rate of 27%.

Design Review Board
February 1, 2006 – December 2006
No Minutes for April 26 (Regular Meeting), June 28, September 27, October 25, November 15.
Note: Between January 23, 2002 and December 20, 2006, there are 18 omitted Meeting Minutes of a total of 55 Meeting Minutes, excluding December 2006, for an omission rate of 33%.

Historic Resources Board
January 23, 2006 – December 2006
No Minutes for March 20, April 17, May 15, May 22, June 19, June 26, July 17, August 21, September18, October 18, November 20, 2006.
No Agenda for December 2006.
Note: Between April 19, 2001 and November 20, 2006, there are 24 omitted Meeting Minutes of a total of 47 Meeting Minutes, for an omission rate of 51%.
Note: The web site title “Carmel-by-the-Sea Historic Preservation Committee Agendas & Minutes” is incorrect; it is now the Historic Resources Board, since LCP certification in 2004.

Forest & Beach Commission
January 5, 2006 – December 7, 2006
No Minutes for June 1, August 3, September 7, October 5, 2006.
Note: Between January 3, 2002 and 2006, there are 13 omitted Meeting Minutes of a total of 56 Meeting Minutes, excluding December 7, 2006, for an omission rate of 23%.

Community Activities & Cultural Commission
January 18, 2006 – December 2006.
No Minutes for October 12, November 9, 2006.
No Agenda for December 2006.
Note: Between January 24, 2005 and November 9, 2006, there are 5 omitted Meeting Minutes of a total of 21 Meeting Minutes, for an omission rate of 24%.

Harrison Memorial Library Board of Trustees
January 18, 2006 – August 22, 2006
No Agendas or Minutes for Meetings after August 2006, i.e., September, October November, December 2006.
Note: Between October 26, 2995 and August 22, 2006, the agendas and minutes are complete.

COMMENTS:

• Qualitatively, City Council, Commissions and Board Minutes are not descriptive or informative; for example, public speakers’ words are not recorded verbatim or paraphrased so that the public has a sense of the content of their remarks---for public meetings and governmental hearings, this is often done.

• While the City Council Agenda & Minutes Packets are usually on the website by Monday, or the day before the Tuesday Regular Meeting, the CarmelAgendaPacketDecember2006 was not available on the City’s website until days after the Tuesday, 5 December 2006 meeting. And Special Meetings are not always posted on the City’s website; the 29 November 2006 City Council Special Meeting, for example, was not posted on the City’s website.

• Omission rates between 23% and 51% for the four Commissions and 1 Board are unacceptable; the city’s website should have all agendas and minutes on the city’s website.

• For $100,000, the City currently contracts with the advertising firm, Anda- Burghardt Advertising, Inc., to promote and market the city. Interestingly, Anda- Burghardt assumed the old official city website URL, http://www.carmelcalifornia.com/. The website that Michael Adamson, a Carmel Chamber of Commerce member, stated some were dismayed about because the Anda-Burghardt website is similar to and “in competition with” the Chamber’s website.
Note: Carmel Chamber of Commerce website, http://www.carmelcalifornia.org/.

• If Anda-Burghardt failed to maintain an up-to-date website promoting and marketing Carmel-by-the-Sea, like the City fails to maintain an up-to-date and complete website, i.e., Commissions and Board Agendas & Minutes, would the city be satisfied with that level of commercial service for $100,000? What does the lack of complete and up-to-date information on the City’s website communicate to residents of Carmel-by-the-Sea?

• Contact with one city employee about a request to maintain an up-to-date website produced the response; the City is not legally required to do that.

• A request to a liaison city staff member for up-to-date minutes on the website was ignored.