Rick Bell: City spending “is consistent with having an absence of rules”

[calculoso]

http://www.calgarysun.com/news/colum.../12938981.html

Framed around the famed (or infamous) new bridge, is some pretty shocking and alarming accusations from the City's Auditor

Tracy McTaggart, the city’s auditor, is putting the final touches on a probe of city contracts, including the $25 million Calatrava designer bridge

...

But we, the people, don’t get to see Tracy’s work for three more months.

Three more months, despite the fact Tracy says what she’s seeing in her inspection of the facts “is consistent with having an absence of rules” and she believes, at the city, “there is a need to get everybody playing by the same rules.”

...

That’s not all. When Tracy and her team started looking at city spending on goods and services, she didn’t find rules as we understand them and considered this to be “very surprising” and “very unusual.”

Now, she’s going through the goings-on across city departments, including the bridge deal, and it’s not pretty.

Personally, I'd think that a city as big as Calgary should have some pretty tight spending rules. I don't agree that the lowest price is always the best choice, as you usually get what you paid for, but there should be a pretty open and transparent process.

Should I be surprised that it sounds like this isn't the case?

[ricosuave]

You lost me at "Rick Bell"

[prarieboy]

Yeah, I'm not a big fan of Rick Bells inflamatory and anecdotal writing but I'd have to agree with the idea that Calgary City council is a little out of touch with the people who elect them. Most have been around for ages by default and likely know how to work things pretty well.
I'm not sure if replacing city council with new faces would help but I'm certainly not impressed with the current crowd for the most part.

[CaptainCrunch]

I'm hoping that city council gets cleaned out at the election, I think its pretty clear that the body has been in power for too long and they've lost perspective.

I'd also like to see Bronco turfed, I've never liked him. But unfortunately I don't know if there are any strong candidates.

[calculoso]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

You lost me at "Rick Bell"

Which is exactly why I was up front and didn't try to hide it.

Sometimes, the substance is more important than who said it.

[shermanator]

Anyone who uses the words "Silly Hall" in almost every single column they write does not deserve to be writing a column in the newspaper. Rick Bell makes Bruce Dowbiggin look like Eric Duhatschek


That being said, I really wish the bridge controversy would die. I think it's just a magnet for people to complain about city council. Is the bride a necessary expenditure? Not really. But just give it up....

[CaptainCrunch]

Don't care who wrote the column, it doesn't matter if it was Rick Bell, Duha, Eric Margolis or Adolf Hitler (Yes Hitler makes this thread)

We know that this municipal government has acted foolishly with our money outside of that bridge.

The content is more disturbing then who wrote it.

[browna]

I'll hold off final judgement until this report gets released.

A few snips of quotes from the auditor, followed by a lot of colorfully worded opinion from a usually melodramatic, sensationalistic writer, doesn't have me convinced quiet yet.

[4X4]

Coincidentally, just today, I heard Licia Corbella (of the Herald, and previously of the Sun) defend journalistic integrity on Adler, against a shrink that was claiming that most journalists are in the business to whine and complain.
While I understood both sides of the argument, I really wanted to call in and ask Corbella what her thoughts were on Mr. Silly Hall.

Rick Bell is the biggest whiner/loser I've ever had the misfortune of wasting my time reading. Why I've read dozens of his columns is a mystery to me. I guess I'm one of those people that enjoys watching a fool make a bigger fool of himself.

That said, I did not click the link, and therefore have no opinion on this particular piece. Just thought I'd comment on the author.

[Bunk]

Procurement rules are important, but so much work in any city is done sole-sourced. A project of this scope probably could have gone out to a competitive bid, but to do so for every project and activity would grind things to a halt. I don't find it that troubling when projects are sole-sourced to firms that are clearly known to be the best on the planet, and Calatrava is one of the world's master bridge designers. The real issue is when contracts are sole-sourced to people that are politically connected to politicians or bureaucrats. That clearly isn't the case here.

I personally am a supporter of the bridge project, but think its implementation, particularly communication of its purpose was fumbled. Its purpose, or even name was not explained or grounded in any sort of larger initiative that it was tied to (Landscape of memory project, or the Centre City Plan).

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by fotze

The peace bridge name was a complete afterthought for political reasons. How can you say no to a tribute to soldiers. May as well name it the Fight Cancer bridge.

This highlights the implementation problem that Bunk alludes to above. This became the perception because of how the project was implemented and communicated to the public. The bridge being linked to Memorial Drive (which is also undergoing landscaping and other improvements as part of the Landscape of Memory project) makes a name like Peace Bridge natural and a great link to this project. The problem was that the way it was handled, people perceived it the way you mention.

The bridge location and project itself (starchitect aside) was called for and identified as a need by a plan done a few years before. However, due to communication fumbles, this was never made apparent to the general public and some people thought it was dreamt up by some out-of-touch politicians.

If this project had been handled and communicated more appropriately from the outset, I think the public perception would have been a lot different. Not to say the media and other parties haven't played a role here too. The misinformation regarding the cost of a run-of-the-mill bridge (there is still a lot of people that think it could be done for $5M), how it is being funded, and lumping it in with the other bridge project has left a lot of people needlessly confused and angry.

All in all, it has been a perfect storm of mishandling of the process of informing the public, combined with a large dose of misinformation.

[CaptainCrunch]

Originally Posted by frinkprof

This highlights the implementation problem that Bunk alludes to above. This became the perception because of how the project was implemented and communicated to the public. The bridge being linked to Memorial Drive (which is also undergoing landscaping and other improvements as part of the Landscape of Memory project) makes a name like Peace Bridge natural and a great link to this project. The problem was that the way it was handled, people perceived it the way you mention.

The bridge location and project itself (starchitect aside) was called for and identified as a need by a plan done a few years before. However, due to communication fumbles, this was never made apparent to the general public and some people thought it was dreamt up by some out-of-touch politicians.

If this project had been handled and communicated more appropriately from the outset, I think the public perception would have been a lot different. Not to say the media and other parties haven't played a role here too. The misinformation regarding the cost of a run-of-the-mill bridge (there is still a lot of people that think it could be done for $5M), how it is being funded, and lumping it in with the other bridge project has left a lot of people needlessly confused and angry.

All in all, it has been a perfect storm of mishandling of the process of informing the public, combined with a large dose of misinformation.

I completely agree with this post, beyond the fact that I'm pretty much underwhelmed by the bridge design itself, this city council has become increasingly arrogant in its handling of city business, and it handling of the voting public.

If there's one positive that would make me ok with this stupid bridge is if it caused massive voter turnout at the next election.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

If there's one positive that would make me ok with this stupid bridge is if it caused massive voter turnout at the next election.

Not to say that a higher voter turnout isn't a good thing, because it most certainly is, but I would hope that it is not fuelled by a small scale project (in relation to the overall budget) which has been surrounded by plenty of misinformation and outright falsehoods. I guess what I'm trying to say is, getting politically engaged is great, but I would rather it not come as a result of being misinformed.

[CaptainCrunch]

Well political outrage overcoming voter apathy is better then voter apathy.

I'd like to announce my intentioning of running for Mayor in the next election. I'm running on a platform of honest dishonesty, and patronage position . . . no scratch that high paying patronage positions for all of my friends. Please note that these positions are for sale, they're not merely granted.

I'd also like to annouce that as my first act as Mayor I intend to start a war of obliteration against the City of Edmonton.

There will be no mercy in this dojo.

[Bigtime]

Originally Posted by CaptainCrunch

Well political outrage overcoming voter apathy is better then voter apathy.

I'd like to announce my intentioning of running for Mayor in the next election. I'm running on a platform of honest dishonesty, and patronage position . . . no scratch that high paying patronage positions for all of my friends. Please note that these positions are for sale, they're not merely granted.

I'd also like to annouce that as my first act as Mayor I intend to start a war of obliteration against the City of Edmonton.

There will be no mercy in this dojo.

I would like to be your official city manager in charge of sweeping the leg.

Or as a second choice I would like to be the guy that gets to shout at each council meeting "yah Johnny, get him a body bag!".

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by ricosuave

You lost me at "Rick Bell"

The guy is pretty much a tool and likely writes in Crayola Blue, but please don't dismiss the article (or at least the point). This has been a serious issue for many years and needs to be resolved.

As a Calgary citizen and (significant) taxpayer, I appreciate that Bell at least stays on top of what's happening at City Hall, even if I don't like my Journalist saying "Silly Hall" and calling people Dweebs in the article.

Of note: "Ald. Brian Pincott, chairman of the audit committee and a bridge booster, is singled out by Diane as a guy who should have stepped up to the plate and did not. Thanks, southwest Calgary Ward 11 voters."

I was one of the people fooled by Pincott. I can't tell you how many discussions I've had with neighbors and community members that want him the hell out. Can't speak for everyone, but I personally apologize to you all for having given Pincott my vote.

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by shermanator

Anyone who uses the words "Silly Hall" in almost every single column they write does not deserve to be writing a column in the newspaper. Rick Bell makes Bruce Dowbiggin look like Eric Duhatschek


That being said, I really wish the bridge controversy would die. I think it's just a magnet for people to complain about city council. Is the bride a necessary expenditure? Not really. But just give it up....

It's not just about the bridge my friend, the failures/favors that led to bridge are happening all over - many (some suggest most) contracts are handed out with little oversight, no bidding and no strings attached. There have been no shortage of writings about them - although 'the bridge' is certainly at the forefront.

As for the bridge topic specifically....does it not bother you that we KNOW there are/were problems, and that the auditor's report is being delayed until after the municipal elections by the ones directly responsible for the mess?

[WilsonFourTwo]

Originally Posted by Bunk

Procurement rules are important, but so much work in any city is done sole-sourced. A project of this scope probably could have gone out to a competitive bid, but to do so for every project and activity would grind things to a halt.

Are you ting me? We're not talking about who the Mayor's official barber gets to be or where to buy a couple $100,000 sanding trucks. We're talking about 5 Million dollar jobs for permanent infrastructure. And you're telling me that in the time the fancy-pants bridge designer was envisioning the Chinese finger-trap, Ellis Don couldn't have come up with a bid?

[CaptainCrunch]

I still remember reading about the audit for IT purchases for printers a couple of years back where they didn't go out to Tender and ended up paying a lot more money.

[peter12]

As long as we don't become a cesspool of debt and corruption like Montreal, they should keep upgrading the city's infrastructure.