going my way?
Getting Started
AY PAC has consistently supported a regional approach to transportation. Our position is that the only long term solution must be financially sustainable. To that end, we continue to argue in favor of a funding model that goes beyond the purchase of service agreement (POSA) structure that delivers transit to citizens outside of the City of Ann Arbor.
It is in that spirit that we are encouraged by the direction of the Ann Arbor Transportation Authority (AATA) Board of Directors to envision expanded countywide transit for Washtenaw County. We particularly applaud their board for the following action taken at their November 19 meeting.
Resolution 5/2010
DEVELOP A COUNTY-WIDE TRANSPORTATION PLAN TO SERVE THE CITIZENS OF WASHTENAW COUNTY
“Now therefore it is resolved, staff, with appropriate outside consultation, shall take steps to develop a countywide service plan that includes other transportation initiatives, and positions AATA to identify funding and operating opportunities to coordinate and integrate values-based public transportation systems within all of Washtenaw County, including connecting as appropriate to transportation services of adjoining counties.
And it is further resolved that AATA staff shall seek advice, guidance and approval from the board prior to implementing major segments of the countywide transportation system.”
There is an informative reporting of the AATA board’s actions posted recently by the Ann Arbor Chronicle:
http://annarborchronicle.com/2009/11/19/aata-adopts-vision-countywide-service/
posted by J Gawlas
an open and closed case
Open Meetings vs. Open Process
AY PAC applauds all efforts by our city to promote open processes, meetings and decision making. On the surface, the recent open meetings resolution appears to help citizens’ awareness of meetings and decisions by all levels of commissions including sub committees.
Looking for transparency
This open meetings change will affect volunteer citizens on many committees. These volunteers may have to do a little more work, and take a little more risk to serve their city, all in the hope of keeping the public informed of opportunities to keep aware of meeting times and upcoming decisions.
Sadly, the process by which this open meetings resolution was enacted is exactly the opposite of an open process. This is not just ironic, but suspect.
For instance, consider that this resolution was sent to the city clerk and posted to the council packets at 4:16 p.m. the day of the city council meeting, less than 3 hours before council was to convene. AY PAC asks ‘why’? There was no emergency, no timeline that needed to be met on this issue. There was no pressing need that forced this to be addressed and resolved THAT NIGHT.
If anyone can inform AY PAC as to why this was so urgent that it needed to be addressed in a timeline that included NO opportunity for public comment and little reflection by council, we welcome the information.
AY PAC enthusiastically supports all efforts towards open processes and decision making.
AY PAC just as enthusiastically condemns forced timelines and significant resolutions proposed at the last minute.
Our Mayor, the Mayor Pro-Tem and Ward 1 Council Member Richardson were the only three who advocated for time to allow the public and the many volunteer committee members this would impact to be informed.
AY PAC wonders why none of the other city council members noticed the lack of public notice on a resolution to keep the public informed.
posted by B. Bashert
Transparency Rating (1) - 25%