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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sun Jun 21st, 2009 01:04 am |
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Deuce
You ask good questions, I believe there are a lot of us who would like to hear the answers.
They could have (not a blogg) a question and answer web site, that way we would get our information from the horse’s mount instead of the newspapers.
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deuce
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Posted: Sun Jun 21st, 2009 12:31 am |
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The headline in the Surprise Republic reads: The City could face layoffs, cancel capital projects and increase property taxes if the current state budget is approved.
Michael Celaya, the city’s Intergovernmental Relations Director, examined the effects the proposed budget could have on Surprise and his conclusions are documented in today's Surprise Republic.
On the other hand City Manager Randy Oliver dismisses Celaya’s projections as “speculation”. However, Oliver does go on to say that the results (if the current state budget is approved) for Surprise would be minor changes in the number of employees and staff restructuring. Mr. City Manager, what about the effect on capital projects, property taxes, impact fees, etc.?
Whatever budget is finally approved it will most likely result in a reduction of Surprise’s portion of state-shared revenues.
Publishing the results of Celaya’s analysis is a step in the right direction for transparency in government.
Last edited on Sun Jun 21st, 2009 12:33 am by deuce
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sat Jun 20th, 2009 10:01 pm |
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The 10% was recently changed to include other depressed area’s in the city.
I believe, like an insurance policy, the set aside is for 3 months of operation.
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Craig
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Posted: Sat Jun 20th, 2009 09:22 pm |
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Thats a heck of a charge to say the city is sitting on 40 million isnt it bob? Got proof? Id like to know. The 10% set a side only belongs to the OTS?
Last edited on Sat Jun 20th, 2009 09:23 pm by Craig
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sat Jun 20th, 2009 09:03 pm |
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What they swept was $1,330,000 from the 10% Set-Aside (original town site), Art Commission and the ADA Enhancement Fund to General Capital and to the General Fund.
There could be as much as 40 Million in reserve for what I call the rainy day fund.
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Craig
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Posted: Sat Jun 20th, 2009 07:37 pm |
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Its 10% of the total budget from my understanding. However this year it was swept along with a couple of other funds and deposited in the GF due to the economy.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sat Jun 20th, 2009 07:30 pm |
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Craig
I do not know that the rain account is predetermined by a percentage of the budget, would you know if we still have the rain account?
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Craig
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Posted: Sat Jun 20th, 2009 06:55 pm |
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Thats easy bob, if they show a profit at the end of the year their taxing you too much. The rainy day accounts are a predetermined percentage of the annual budget and is included in the budget. I promise you if they showed a profit, you would be posting on here about how they are taxing you more than is necessary. It need to balance and thats the way it should be.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sat Jun 20th, 2009 06:36 pm |
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I could never understand the theory that cities could not be run like a business and show a profit and have a budget that is well below its revenues. If this were true, why would we be surprised at where we are today with large deficits?
Looking at government budgets, you’ll see that expenditures always equal income and not having like a house hold budget, a saving account that is added to each year. If the City has not spent our rain account on the city hall, it has never been increased.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Tue Jun 16th, 2009 08:51 pm |
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All covered Arizona workers must be paid the current minimum wage rate of $7.25 per hour. There are no exemptions to the law for those employed to do such work from their home. The Arizona Minimum Wage Act applies to those who are considered employees. Independent contractors are not covered under the law.
Under federal guide lines, it is hard to be considered independent contractors.
Last edited on Tue Jun 16th, 2009 08:53 pm by
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Mon Jun 15th, 2009 08:07 pm |
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Partnering with a company that is paying less then $2.00 an hour is the City of Surprise in violation of the minimum wage law?
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Mon Jun 15th, 2009 06:30 pm |
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Are we giving money to the Chamber of Commerce so we can tell them where to relocate and who to hire?
Read the Arizona Republic June 13th by Cecilia Chan
Surprise to help Chamber finance new location
Last edited on Mon Jun 15th, 2009 06:38 pm by
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sun Jun 14th, 2009 05:59 am |
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RECREATION AIDE / INTERN Part-Time Seasonal $13.18 - $17.40 hourly 06/15/09
The hiring salary is $13.18 per hour
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Craig
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Posted: Sun Jun 14th, 2009 04:44 am |
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Did someone get a job?
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sun Jun 14th, 2009 04:42 am |
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| Thought we had a hiring freeze, guess I was wrong.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Fri Jun 12th, 2009 05:44 am |
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Did Skip Hall with the help of Randy Oliver get the $100,000 for the sign tonight?
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Thu Jun 11th, 2009 08:37 pm |
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We're Moving!
City Hall closed June 12 and 15
New City Hall Opens June 16, 2009
16000 N. Civic Center Plaza
Surprise AZ 85374
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Tue Jun 9th, 2009 05:46 pm |
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City Hall offices closed June 12 and June 15 for move to New City Hall. [Enter this site...]
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sat Jun 6th, 2009 12:02 am |
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The City of Surprise has never addressed the issue of what will happen or the cost’s incurred when recycling trucks from as far away as flagstaff start using our streets.
It appears that all of Maricopa County will be using this recycling facility being built in Surprise.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Wed Jun 3rd, 2009 12:01 am |
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HOA Presidents Rountable- Grand Ave on agenda Date: June 2, 2009 Description: Community Homeowners Association Board members are invited to learn more about plans to widen U.S. 60/Grand Avenue at the June 2 HOA Presidents Roundtable. Address: City Hall Classroom Hours: 6:30 p.m. - 8 p.m. Contact: 623.222.3242
12425 W. Bell Road
Email: ruby.sitea@surpriseaz.com
Emailed, ruby.sitea@surpriseaz.com
HOA round table
Is this meeting only for board members?
No answer
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Mon Jun 1st, 2009 07:43 am |
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Hard to understand their priorities, the City Council can’t give our employees a raise because of the poor economy, but they voted to spend $100,000 for a sign (Bell Rd. and Bullard) we don’t need.
If they really want transparency, they should put less consent items in their agenda book when holding a meeting. By placing items on consent, those item's are not open for discussion.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Thu May 28th, 2009 01:54 am |
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| Suprised that City Manager Randy Oliver would take money from the Handicap Enhancement Fund to build a sign on Bell Road (for who)? It's for an incubator that has no chickens yet.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Tue May 26th, 2009 07:53 pm |
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Surprise Tourism Advisory Board
Visioning Process- Future (1-5 years) – Think big, money no object
Last edited on Tue May 26th, 2009 08:00 pm by
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Thu May 21st, 2009 11:09 pm |
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Cochise, until the council gets ….., staff will set their own salaries.
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Cochise
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Posted: Thu May 21st, 2009 10:14 pm |
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| Bob: Have you sent your proposed reduced salary plan to Joe ? He needs something to grandstand about. JJ has almost broken his arm patting himself on the back at the last few council meetings.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Thu May 21st, 2009 07:50 pm |
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When are our high payed employee's taking a cut in pay?, Councilman Joe Johnson corrected me in my assumption that the City of Surprise had a hiring freeze in place, they are hiring even now.
This is happening all over, Phoenix Symphony musicians, staff OK 17% pay cut
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Fri May 8th, 2009 07:17 pm |
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Michael Shrock Jr. our former Budget Director is going to be the City Manager in Oskaloosa, Iowa, beginning June 15th.
Wish him the best, he has a bright future in management.
It has been said that his salary will be approx. $90,000.
Last edited on Thu May 21st, 2009 07:56 pm by
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Cochise
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Posted: Fri May 8th, 2009 05:21 am |
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Bob: Get acopy of the current org chart and related salaries.
Redesign the org chart, with appropriate salaries, and send your new product to Joe Johnson for his action.
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Craig
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Posted: Fri May 8th, 2009 04:34 am |
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April 9th 2009
rvukanovich wrote: When did this happen? Surprise, AZ News
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Fri May 8th, 2009 04:15 am |
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| Keep cutting the expenses, we don't need 15 departments, with the huge overhead.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Wed May 6th, 2009 05:34 pm |
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When did this happen? Surprise, AZ News
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Tue May 5th, 2009 11:49 pm |
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In this soft economy that we find ourselves in, we will see if these professional managers that most cities are hiring can face reality.
Being part of an underground union, it’s going to be tough firing their fellow members.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Tue May 5th, 2009 02:59 am |
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| Working on this years budget lets hope our city manager knows that the average pay for Governors in the USA is approx. $120,000, and that the average pay for the position of a director for the City of Surprise is $140,000.
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Craig
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Posted: Thu Apr 30th, 2009 04:27 am |
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http://www.surpriseaz.com/Archive.asp?ADID=3937
Bob this has been on the city website for a couple of days.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Wed Apr 29th, 2009 08:31 pm |
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| Nothing has been said lately about the plans for our old city hall, wonder if bio tech is still interested.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Tue Apr 28th, 2009 09:35 pm |
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With the shortage of hospitals what would happen in Surprise, in regards to the swine flu, are we prepared for a pandemic?
They give us a web page and a number to call, but have said nothing about how we will handle an epidemic.
Last edited on Wed Apr 29th, 2009 08:36 pm by
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Mon Apr 27th, 2009 01:46 am |
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Under the leadership of John Hagen this must be a first, can you imagine 6 languages, wonder what this cost the City of Surprise.
Surprise has earned a #1 ranking in Foreign Direct Investment (fDi) magazine’s "North American Cities of the Future Awards 2009/10." The ranking postions Surprise as a World-Class city for business investment.
This is an internationally-recognized publication, published by the Financial Times Group of London," says Economic Development Director John Hagen. "Our city leadership’s foresight in getting our city Web site translated into 6 languages was key in demonstrating to the judges that Surprise is committed to attracting foreign business
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sat Apr 25th, 2009 01:46 am |
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After 10 years and all the money we have spent, do you really believe they know anything about the job market and the possibility of bringing high paying job’s to a suburban city.
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Craig
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Posted: Sat Apr 25th, 2009 01:08 am |
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Another weekend of jammed hotels and restaurants in Surprise. This time it is seniors at the Tennis Complex; last week, 64 college teams.
This hot off the city twitter acct. I replied and asked how the real jobs were coming. Considering all the recent press releases about how wonderful the city is im thinking we should be beating off companies with a stick.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Fri Apr 24th, 2009 09:27 pm |
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| It would be great if CM Randy Oliver would get Mayor Lyn Truitt and Council to address whether the City of Surprise should develope a charter government.
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AZnatural1
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Posted: Thu Apr 23rd, 2009 04:51 am |
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| The layoffs started today.....
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Wed Apr 22nd, 2009 05:31 pm |
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April 22, 2009 The City of Surprise is projecting less commercial construction next year, a key factor in a draft FY2010 budget that calls for a $1.9 million reduction in the city's General Fund.
"Regretfully, additional layoffs will be necessary to achieve the reductions I believe are required," said Surprise City Manager Randy Oliver.
Surprise, AZ
Last edited on Wed Apr 22nd, 2009 05:36 pm by
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Fri Apr 17th, 2009 11:02 pm |
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It is my understanding that we have appoximatly 800 emplyees and that over 100 of them make over $100,000 per year.
Staff cuts, higher license fees in QC's future
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Wed Apr 15th, 2009 02:27 am |
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Trimming down
Proposal calls for Scottsdale employees to take 2% pay cut
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Mon Apr 13th, 2009 10:57 pm |
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Professionalizing
"With a professional… you have clear roles, you have a unified direction, decisions are made quickly and it all results in service being delivered in an effective manner."
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Mon Apr 13th, 2009 04:58 pm |
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The General Obligation Bond Committee meeting.
The April meetings are planned on April 14 and April 21, at 6:30 p.m., in the Jury Assembly Room of the Surprise Public Safety Building, 16081 N. Civic Center Plaza.
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Cochise
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Posted: Sun Apr 12th, 2009 09:13 pm |
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Siimply because something emerges from ICMA does not mean the model is the best way to manage a city. Reduction in the vertical structure of management decision making has been the rage for years, but like anything else that can be overdone, resulting in communication gaps and loss of operational efficiency. In any event, people making decisions need to be competent AND willing to make decisions.
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Sun Apr 12th, 2009 07:51 pm |
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Wonder if this is sponsored by the ICMA, because if it is, all city managers will follow suite. Official touts changes as city reorganizes
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Wed Apr 8th, 2009 04:31 pm |
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The Maricopa County Mobile Air Monitoring van is stopping by Surprise City Hall, April 9, providing residents and City Council members a chance to tour the state-of-the-art vehicle.
Staff from the county’s Air Quality Department will be on hand from 3 p.m. – 5 p.m., to walk people through the brand new van equipped with the latest air-monitoring technologies. Anyone is welcome, however food and drink will not be allowed inside the van.
Maricopa County Air Quality Director Lawrence Odle will also make a presentation to the council during a 5 p.m. workshop, providing an overview of the county’s air monitoring programs and new clean air campaign "Clean Air Make More."
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rvukanovich
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Posted: Fri Apr 3rd, 2009 08:03 pm |
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I for one take my hat off to Randy Oliver, the City Manager of Surprise for doing a good job, being in a difficult situation with what he has to work with.
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