That is the question elected officials ask themselves as they leave office. It will be answered for the incumbents on Election Day. Ceremello, the watch dog of government, the civic activist, the reporter for this paper, the hammer of, and the constant candidate for, the city council… is unable to recall a single accomplishment from the worst councilmember in the last 20 years.
Perhaps my not seeking recognition due to my belief that "you can accomplish more by focusing on the success and not the credit" is wrong. It appears my accomplishments are very import since I AM NOT RUNNING and Ceremello needs to run against my record and prove something.
Let's focus on accomplishments. You, the voter, have some fine new candidates for city council to choice from. You will have to separate those that list their accomplishments from; just being lucky to be warming the council seat and voting… just the act of standing at the podium and speaking… thought about it… and thus they take credit!
You understand "asking the tough questions" or "it’s the big picture" is just cover-up for not having a clue. You wonder, when will they get it - you expect them to actually, physically and mentally do something or provide an answer! Therefore, what is offer below is only a very small sample of what I, Mike Smith, accomplished for Dixon.
Recommended the following elements for the Southwest Area design guidelines in 2004: no sound walls – use open fencing, landscaping buffers and trees; provide pedestrian flow between subdivisions, the park and commercial spaces; use storm ponds and agricultural buffers as useable open space and for recreation and wildlife; that the city provide zoning flexibility to meet our list of goals; all homes to require universal design and visitability; as many homes as possible oriented and prepped for solar… highlights of my second council meeting.
For Brookfield, universal design and visitability; as many homes as possible oriented and prepped for solar with solar installed on one model; I provided a long list of developers/partners to execute the goal for active or assisted living on the 5 acres set aside for senior development.
Universal design and visitability was signed into law in 2004. It will take time to work its way to every city. However, I implemented it early via the development agreements so that these two areas, over 1800 homes, will offer buyers a list of options that modify the home for accessibility. All homes will have to have visitability – that means persons in a wheelchair or walker can come visit your home and use your bathroom. This should help more people remain in private homes.
I put forward the council goal for strategic plans for each department without one (Police and Fire have plans). Finance and Economic Development are now working on them, others will follow as the budget allows.
The energy district concept was a goal from Vice-mayor Gil Vega. I recommended an energy strategic plan to reach that goal and the council budgeted $20,000 towards a consultant. I started the actual plan with Gil and finished it with Jack. It was done with public workgroups and the entire process was done at no cost to the city.
I wrote the rough draft air quality strategic plan with help from the public and at no cost to the city. Both the energy and air quality plans will go to the general plan advisory committee for fine tuning and then be incorporated into the general plan – saving the city tens of thousands of dollars.
It was my council goal to form a redevelopment advisory committee and after three years my goal received enough support and became operational this year.
It was my offer in 2006 to sit down with the public and look at recycling options. That lead to the creation of the official sub-committee in 2007 to gather public comment and move towards closure – either we recycle at the curb or not and if not what can we offer.
It was my offer to bring closure to the assembly use issue by bringing all the interested partied together to talk. The stakeholders and interested parties came together, came up with a solution and I carried it to the council. After five plus years the matter was closed and we have an assembly use overlay.
I attended all the Kenko sewer trunk line mediation meetings with our city attorney and city manager to work out the settlement claim. Combining the authority of the council and my experience in construction management and claims, Dixon went from recovering a few hundred thousand dollars to fully recovering our costs of over $2-million.
When we reported out at the council meeting on the Kenko outcome, I fully explained the reasons how the City got into the problem on the project and recommended changes and the addition of a debarment ordinance. All the recommendations have been implemented; the debarment ordinance should be complete before my term is up.
I have testified before the State, interviewed for live radio and television news on behave of Dixon numerous times. It's the least the "establishment dupe" can do.
Do you notice the trend presented above? Do you believe that time on the council is like walking in a nature park. One must to strive to leave it for the future in better shape then they found it and so that no one can tell they were there. Consequently, one has to physically take the walk.
Who's next?
Who's not?
Mike Smith
Vice Mayor, Dixon