Ugly Side of Caldwell and Nampa Urban Renewal (TANSTAAFL*)

THE GUARDIAN received this opinion and has posted it for your consideration. This is in response to the articles on Caldwell Urban Renewal and the OUR VIEW OPED pieces in the Sunday IPT.

Growth in Caldwell and Nampa has increased all taxable valuations which means there is more real estate at risk for fire, earthquakes,and other natural disasters. This means we will need more K-12 schools, police, fire protection, roads, water and sewer demands, and all the other city services supported by property taxes.

But Urban Renewal is preventing the cities of Caldwell, Nampa and Canyon County from receiving all property taxes levied that would ordianarily go to fund city and county services. The cities and county get only the taxable values of the properties on the books prior to the formation of urban renewal districts. Urban Renewal Boards get all incrementally increased taxes to spend as they see fit.

Who will pay for city and county services demanded by all this new growth? The obvious answer is poor families, the old lady on a fixed income, and the hard working middle class of Caldwell, Nampa and Canyon County. Taxes on all the appreciated values and improvements within the boundaries of the urban renewal district go directly to the Urban Renewal District.

Wouldn´t it be nice if Caldwell Nampa or Boise would give YOU the increased tax revenues on all the improvements to YOUR home (or neighborhood) simply because the taxable value has increased?

No argument about it; tax subsidized urban renewal projects increase all property values in a community, but all of it is on the backs of common folks.

Think of the house YOU could build if Caldwell and Nampa offered up land, water, sewer and street improvements and provided low cost financing etc. for a project you would like to do.

Urban Renewal stinks as it relates to average citizens and property taxpayers.

Also, most citizens don´t have the money and legal resources used by Caldwell, Nampa and Boise. They take your tax money to lobby the Idaho State Legislature and file¨"friend of the court" briefs like Boise CCDC did in Rexburg on a swimming pool project.

Where is the need for the city of Caldwell or the Urban Renewal District to be involved in providing a structure for TVCC solely at the expense of Caldwell property tax payers?

Lastly, there is the issue of conflict of interest on the TVCC project. It flies in the face of the voter approved College of Western Idaho.

*TANSTAAFL, "THERE AIN'T NO SUCH THING AS A FREE LUNCH" cited in most Econ. 101 classes.

Are Caldwell, Nampa and Canyon County Ready for City Manager Govt.

THE GUARDIAN has been asking himself how many of our elected officials at city and county levels would have their jobs if they had to go through a formal hiring process. Moreover, how many of these well meaning folks would you put in charge of a $50-100 million dollar company as CEO? The only requirement other than getting elected is to be a registered voter. This qualification set appears weak, at best, when you start scratching on the surface of the issues our communities face today.

In 2007, more than 3,500 (49 percent) of the 7,171 U.S.cities and towns with populations of 2,500 residents or more operated under the council-manager form of gevernment. This structure is also used by more than 370 counties. More than 92 million people in the U.S. live in communities that operate under this form with professionally trained and educated city/county managers. (taken from ICMA webiste)

City Manager form of government grew out of political reform movements to facilitate a system of local government which combines strong political leadership of elected officials with the strong managerial experience of a professional local government administrator.

The goal of the City Manager is to provide professional administrative assistance to the City Council in establishing policies, programs, and services offered to the community.

A City Manager is appointed by the City Council to serve as the Chief Administrative Officer of the organization. The City Manager coordinates fulfillment of policies and programs established by elected City Councils. The City Manager provides overall direction to departments that administer City programs and services; implements inter-departmental programs for human resources, strategic planning, and emergency preparedness; and coordinates intergovernmental relations, lobbying, economic development, and public information efforts. The City Manager also oversees projects such as property acquisitions, special studies, such as annexations and development impact fees.

City managers typically will hold at least a Masters Degree in Public Administration or Management with excellent skills in finance, accounting and knowledge of governmental affairs. Good ones typically have 15-20 years of education, training and experience. They save cities and counties money!

How do they do this...education,experience and training beyond just being a registered voter with a desire to do the right thing.

Currently, only three cities in Idaho have city manager government, Twin Falls, Lewiston, and McCall. It may be time to join the other 49% of cities in this great country by a vote for professionally managed government.

Does Idaho Need a Medical School

THE GUARDIAN attended a service club lunch this past week and the topic of the program was about the need for Docs in Idaho. We have one of the oldest average age levels for doctors at all levels of the medical field in Idaho. They will be hitting the rocking chairs in the very near future. The question is ...What to do and how soon? Think WAMI, Washington, Alaska, Montana, Idaho Medical School Program!

Our program speaker was Dr. Sam Summers and the point he made was the huge cost of funding a medical school in Idaho. It is a cost burden to all state taxpayers that most folks do not fully understand. The short answer is to fund more slots for Idaho student to attend the University of Washington and Utah via the WAMI Program . These two states have indicated that they are willing to accept more students from Idaho but want to be paid for the cost of the services.

The costs charged to Idaho would be the difference between in state and out of state tuition for students accepted into their programs. Students pay the in state tuition and the difference for the out of state tuition is paid by Idaho taxpayers. The cost today is about $50k per year for each student in the program. Idaho gets twenty slots every year at the University of Washinton. This arrangement sounds very reasonable to THE GUARDIAN. The State Legislature holds the votes to make things happen. All we need to do is fund more slots.

Currently, the president of Idaho State University is doing a full court press to get a medical school up and running at ISU. No matter what the cost is to the taxpayers. Cost benifit is not the issue here, it is a few people trying to do a noble thing but at a very high cost to the citizens of Idaho.

We have in past years had significant levels of "one time money" in the state budget surplus. How about putting this money into some kind of a foundation to fund slots for medical students from Idaho. Just a suggestion from a fertile mind..

Boise Weekly Features Guardian Editors

Boise Weekly features Guardian Editors, see "Cities in Disguise" article.

In a well written and fair piece about the cities of Idaho vs the citizens right to vote, Lora Volkert wrote about the perils of urban renewal in the current issue of BOISE WEEKLY.

The decision in Third District Court is still pending, so no comments here further than the court record reported by Volkert. www.boiseweekly.com

Canyon County Deciders Want Your Opinion

CALDWELL - The results of the public opinion ballot used to help educate the public about Canyon County's new ballot style, which was voted at the Canyon County Fair, are now available at www.canyonco.org. Rather than the familiar punch card, voters in the Nov. 4 General Election will use a pen to darken an oval corresponding to the selection of their choice. The public opinion ballots are in this new style.

The Elections Office has a number of ballots remaining and Canyon County residents who did not vote at the fair are invited to the Elections Office at 1102 E. Chicago in Caldwell, to express their opinion on a number of current Canyon County issues. The ballots will be available through Sept. 12.

This is a non-binding opinion ballot that will be reviewed by County Elected Officials and Department Heads. Interested residents may also call the Elections Office at 454-7562 to request a public opinion ballot be mailed to them. The voter must pay return postage.

It is important to note that for an official election such as the upcoming General Election, absentee ballots cannot be requested by phone. In an official election the requestor's signature must be compared against the signature on his or her registration form. In an actual election, voters may request an absentee ballot on plain paper, submit a completed absentee ballot request obtained from http://idahovotes.gov/, or request an Absentee Ballot Request from the county elections office by phone at 454-7562.

Requests for an absentee ballot in an official election may be submitted on plain paper but must include the voter's name, Canyon County residence, address the absentee ballot is to be mailed (if different from county residence) and signature. All unsigned requests, whether on plain paper or official request forms, will be returned unfulfilled.

CWI Community Metings Private or Public?

Community Conversation
WhenThu, Aug 21, 7:00pm – 8:30pm
WhereNampa Civic Center, 311 3rd Street, Nampa, Idaho (map)
DescriptionPublic meeting to: -- Inform the public about the College of Western Idaho; -- To gather input about public perspectives and needs; -- To engage the community in the creation of a long-term vision for their community college.
more details»

The above notice of a public meeting was taken directly off the CWI website. There is no mention of the meeting of those sent "special invitations" to a meeting that will take place at the Nampa Civic Center at 1:30PM on the same day. This "invite only" meeting will take place 1:30-5:00PM.

The afternoon meeting must be open to the public by law. THE GUARDIAN is letting you know that you too can go and be heard at this meeting as well.

note: 8-21-2008

I attended the afternoon meeting and made an appearance at the evening meeting and the format for both meetings was identical. The course offerings they plan to offer initially, look to be for students that will matriculate to a four year institution. There was almost nothing in the way of an Associates Degree/Technical programs. Perhaps this will change with inputs derived from the meetings.

Chance For Young Politicos to Shine

by Dave Frazier

Hey kids! Want to be the youngest elected official in Idaho with authority to levy $40,000,000 in taxes in the name of higher education?

If you are a registered voter living in Ada or Canyon County you can get your name on the ballot to fill one of the 5 open seats on the College of Western Idaho Board of Trustees with just 5 signatures of other registered voters. If you are 18 and NOT registered, just register to vote and you qualify to be an elected official.

The school is woefully underfunded, thanks to low ball estimates by those eager to get approval last year. The new board has authority to levy a ton of taxes on local property owners and they would not be bound by the promises of previous supporters. Conversely, the new board could be taken over by anti-tax types and they could kill all funding efforts with a tiny levy.

Chances of a victory in the November election are pretty good for ANY candidate because Seats 1,2,3, don’t have any candidates at all. Seates 3 and 4 are also up for election and you just have to beat a couple of men appointed to the posts who are not likely to campaign hard for a non-paying position.

The CWI trustee job pays NOTHING, meets at least monthly, and takes a fair amount of time. The rewards include being an “elected official in Idaho” so you LEGALLY get to carry a concealed weapon with no permit. (Just don’t try to go through airport security packing heat or you get busted by the feds.)

If the younger set decide to step up and serve their community through the CWI Board, they will be in a position not only to levy property taxes, but even hire and fire the president of the college. They will be the major deciders of the curriculum and approve budgets. No need for a student council if the students run the place.

This is a rare opportunity for the youth of Ada and Canyon counties to make history for a good cause. Better act now because the deadline for filing is September 2. For details contact the CWIelection official:

Cheryl Wright
5500 E University Way,
Nampa ID 83687
cherylwright@cwidaho.cc
Phone: 562-3299

Caldwell has Cart Before the Horse, Groundbreaking for TVCC and No Financial Agreements Exist?

THE GUARDIAN received this beautiful invitation to the ground breaking ceremony for TVCC in Sky Ranch. We did a public records request for the financial arrangements with the developer, City of Caldwell, TVCC and the Caldwell Urban Renewal District and got a letter back from the city attorney, Mark Hilty, stating that no such documents exist.

How does a multi-million dollar project get started without any financial documents or agreements? And why aren't these financials out for the public to review? Short answer is sneaky government.

The smell of major taxpayer financial decisions getting made in the room the public never gets to visit or see is what is wrong with this deal. Property taxes will pay for this project and yet we don't get to see the terms and condtions. Our city deciders have circumvented the public process once again.

So, let's all get together and cheer the momentous groundbreaking where our tax dollars are going to be spent without any public approvals. This is yet another back room under the table act by our elected leaders of Caldwell and the Urban Renewal District telling us what is good for us. They decide and we get to keep quiet and pay the bills.

It appears that our Caldwell City Deciders and the Mayor have the cart before the horse.

College of Western Idaho Glitterati Exclude "unwashed masses" from Meetings

By David Frazier, Boise Guardian

Shame On CWI Apartheid Meeting Plans.

The fledgling College of Western Idaho–approved by voters last year–is about to get off on the wrong foot with plans to have “invitation only” meetings to gather information to shape the future of the college.

It is inappropriate, demeaning, and illegal to hold meetings with “common citizens” in public and then conduct a similar set of closed meetings with the elite “community and business leaders and elected officials.”

Such “back room” strategy of apartheid is offensive to the GUARDIAN and exemplifies all that is wrong with local politics in Idaho. It is a slap in the face to the majority of citizens who voted to tax themselves–only to be excluded from the REAL decision making process. Even if it is an “innocent oversight,” it is shameful to even contemplate private meetings with the rich and powerful. At least their decision was based on money and power rather than race.

Nice gesture to meet the public Aug. 21 at 7pm in the Nampa Civic Center and then again at the Boise Center on the Grove at 7pm Aug. 28. However, Idaho’s Open Meeting Law demands TOTAL ACCESS, even to those of us who are not of the privileged minority known as “community and business leaders.”

The Chamber of Commerce can limit their meetings to Idaho Elite, but a government funded and managed institution of higher learning must abide by the Open Meeting Law.

Shame on CWI officials for even contemplating the idea of excluding those of who pay their salaries from a “deliberation” aimed at shaping the future of students who may someday attend the school.

Thanks to the Daily Paper for publishing the plans for “apartheid meetings.” CWI didn’t send us that press release.

Mayor Car Expenses in the Valley

THE GUARDIAN could not help but notice the car allowance number for Mayor Nancolas of Caldwell who has a whopping $10,000.00 car allowance a year. So, a quest for further knowledge of what the mayors in the valley are allowed for vehicle use will be posted as they are received

The first response received is from the fair city of Meridian, Idaho. The response is exactly as received from the good people at Meridian City Hall:

"Mr. Allredge:

The City of Meridian provides Mayor de Weerd with a car for her use as well as the fuel and maintenance of the vehicle. For FY09 the City has budgeted $825 for fuel, $500 for maintenance, and $500 for repair of the vehicle. The Mayor is taxed on her personal use of the vehicle at $190.26 per month. I hope this answers your questions."

The following response was received from the city of Boise regarding Mayor Dave Bieter's vehicle budget allowance.

"Dear Paul,

Thank you for your inquiry regarding Mayor Bieter's vehicle allowance for the next budget year which begins October 1, 2008. Mayor Bieter does not receive a vehicle allowance nor does he receive mileage reimbursement for driving his personal vehicle when he is on City of Boise business.

Your request for information has also been forwarded to the City Clerk for the City of Boise as your request is considered a Public Records request."

Mayor Tom Dale of Nampa claimed $4,080 last year in mileage for his personal vehicle expenses.

Update from Caldwell City Finance Director 8-20-2008

Mayor Nancolas vehicle reinbursement:
Mayor Nancolas was reimbursed $9,000 for 19,852 miles driven in his personal vehicle conducting city and public business in 2007. That is $ .453 per mile and is below the federal mileage rate of $ .485. Mayor Nancolas pays all vehicle expenses and the city saves the cost of a new vehicle and has placed responsibility to maintain the vehicle on Mayor Nancolas. The city has no liability if the vehicle is wrecked or abused. The point that you are missing is that mileage reimbursements are not money makers to the recipients they are simply cost reimbursements. Garret spent most if not all of the $9,000 he received on vehicle expenses, repairs and purchase. The city would have to pay similar amounts if it provided a vehicle to the Mayor. Please tell me how much you would expect the city to reimburse you for driving 19,852 miles. I'll bet your request would exceed $9,000.

City of Eagle... city owned vehicle that stays at city hall and they budget $1,000 per year for fuel and maintenance. Mayor of Eagle drives his own car to and from city hall with no mileage expenses billed to the city.