This blog is a follow-up to a previous blog posted on Tuesday, April 21, 2009 and response to the following article in the AZ Republic web site: Click Here
***For purposes of full disclosure, Mr. David Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator, has invited me on more than one occasions to attend the "We Are Buckeye" meetings and due to my demanding work schedule and family obligations, I have not been able to attend.***
Citizens For A Better Buckeye have been following the activities of the Town of Buckeye pet project "We Are Buckeye".
Although as we have looked into this group, we have seen that there are genuine and honest residents that believe in what they do and how it will ultimately help the Town. God bless all the residents that took part on this effort and we hope that they would not be offended by this blog since it was not intended to criticize them. However some citizens we talk to are concerned the Town's leadership is unwilling to consider a different point of view from our group.
Ultimately, Citizens For A Better Buckeye and "We Are Buckeye" are two groups that are passionate about the Town and have the deepest concern for the future for all. Let us recall some important details before we continue with the new information.
The main purpose/objective for this group is to find out form residents what they would want the Town of Buckeye to be in the future. The intention behind the group is to include residents in the decision of a 5 Year Strategic Plan. Below are some facts that we know to be true:
***For purposes of full disclosure, Mr. David Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator, has invited me on more than one occasions to attend the "We Are Buckeye" meetings and due to my demanding work schedule and family obligations, I have not been able to attend.***
Citizens For A Better Buckeye have been following the activities of the Town of Buckeye pet project "We Are Buckeye".
Although as we have looked into this group, we have seen that there are genuine and honest residents that believe in what they do and how it will ultimately help the Town. God bless all the residents that took part on this effort and we hope that they would not be offended by this blog since it was not intended to criticize them. However some citizens we talk to are concerned the Town's leadership is unwilling to consider a different point of view from our group.
Ultimately, Citizens For A Better Buckeye and "We Are Buckeye" are two groups that are passionate about the Town and have the deepest concern for the future for all. Let us recall some important details before we continue with the new information.
The main purpose/objective for this group is to find out form residents what they would want the Town of Buckeye to be in the future. The intention behind the group is to include residents in the decision of a 5 Year Strategic Plan. Below are some facts that we know to be true:
- The group is to be comprised predominantly of residents and Town staff just as support as needed.
- The group does not have sign-in sheets documenting events, those people who are participating and attending the meetings (as we were informed by the Town).
- The group does not have minutes to document the ideas and the contributions residents have provided to the committee (as we were informed by the Town).
- There is no accountability and communication between the staff and the Town manager regarding the developments of the committee (as we were informed by the Town).
- The purpose of the group is to collect information from the residents to develop a 5 year strategic plan which means lots and lots of tax dollars
The following presentation will provide you with a summary of information found about "We Are Buckeye": Click here to view this media presentation.
If you have not had a chance to view the presentation above, the following points are the main and pressing items that we found to be concerning and we strongly disagree with what this whole project has unfolded:
- The "Focus Topics" are out of touch with the residents opinion.
- 200 interviews are not enough and do not fully reflect the opinion of the 40,000 to 50,000 residents who have a stake in the Town.
- There are more methods that can be used to assist residents to provide feed back and not limited to just in "person interviews".
- The types of people listed as stakeholders are limiting and should be open to all residents and businesses who have an investment in the Town, not just a select group of people.
- There is very little evidence which demonstrates the residents who were given the chance to participate were the very people who arrived to the concluding "Focus Topics". If the Town can not prove it through documentation... it did not happen.
Although we firmly disagree with these items, CFABB hopes that "We Are Buckeye" and Town government as well as management would be open to stop. Stop and take a second look and discuss possible adjustments to the process with the purpose of working together and reaching more residents. CFABB and "We Are Buckeye" working as one for the same common goal... produce a comprehensive 5 Year Strategic Plan that embraces the relative opinions of most residents and something we as a Town can defend.
Having stated this, I have asked Mr. Johnson to consider the items listed above that we disagree with. So far, we have not had a response that resembles an opportunity to discuss them in detail. We remain hopeful that the door will open and there will be an opportunity.
The following documents were used to gather information for the following media presentation and we have made them available to you so you may also make your own conclusions. We would also appreciate your continued support as well by asking you to take part in the second of many forthcoming Surveys which CFABB is hosting so we may learn more about the residents concerns / comment on this topic and others. To take this survey please click here.
Staff Summary Report - The Town Manager Jeanine Guy
We Are Buckeye Report - Group spokesman March 17, 2009
Interview Questions - We Are Buckeye
In conclusion, the original intention to reach as many people has been limited to 200 interviews that will decide the fate of millions in tax dollars. This is another unfortunate sign that the Town is out of touch and reluctant to be in-touch.
A shout out of gratitude goes out to Mr. David Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Town of Buckeye for his patience and professionalism. We are very lucky to have this good man working for the Town!
We need more people like David Johnson in Buckeye!
We want to also acknowledge the Town Clerk Office and staff for their flexibility and awesome customer service!! Thank you!!
Jorge Buckeye Citizen
Interview Questions - We Are Buckeye
In conclusion, the original intention to reach as many people has been limited to 200 interviews that will decide the fate of millions in tax dollars. This is another unfortunate sign that the Town is out of touch and reluctant to be in-touch.
A shout out of gratitude goes out to Mr. David Johnson, Intergovernmental Relations Coordinator Town of Buckeye for his patience and professionalism. We are very lucky to have this good man working for the Town!
We need more people like David Johnson in Buckeye!
We want to also acknowledge the Town Clerk Office and staff for their flexibility and awesome customer service!! Thank you!!
Jorge Buckeye Citizen
~ Neighbors Helping Neighbors"
4 comments:
The intent was to reach as many people as possible, not just 200 people.
Your polls have 51 responses and 47...that also does that represent the entire Buckeye population.
Not that you haven't tried to reach everyone...but the We Are Buckeye group faced the same issue you did:
People just want to complain but not participate publicly towards a common solution..and most hear what they want to hear.
I believe Town management, staff and council and volunteers have done a fabulous job trying to reach as many people as possible, through the quarterly newsletter all residents get, through the Town's website, emails from various staff and volunteers, newspaper advertisments..., HOAs emails, neighborhood captains, but of course it's never enough.
We could have used more volunteers to knock down on the doors of all the people living in Buckeye...but even that wouldn't have made people angry...it would have been seen as too intrusive...so we used paper and electronic media to ask for help.
Those dedicated and believing in change showed up and allowed to be interviewed...other people were reluctant to be interviewed (even though no names were asked or addresses)
200 surveys is better than 0...and there are not million of tax dollars at risk...this is a strategic plan...which is a guideline on how to reach certain goals the community is asking for.
The dollar spending part can be modified based on people attending public meetings, council meetings and speaking publicly against what they don't like.
If only 200 people have provided input...well guess who just decided on what the town should do?
I think your negative comments that the Town is out of touch and reluctant to be in touch is not what I have experienced.
In my opinion, reading the news, the quarterly town letter, checking the website, etc etc...calling town hall...proves to me that your statements are a skewed towards negativism with no real solution to the problems you state...and I don't understand why.
I don't know you, have heard of you through the media and I hope your bar/restaurant will open soon...because...man do I need a cold beer in this heat.:)
Good luck
My two cents
You want to STOP the process so you can take the fame? Now that you see it has gone further that you have probably anticipated, you want to be involved.
Man, you got some nerve:)
Rick...let's be honest here. You know about public records and that the Town can prove this did take place...and a volunteer group doesn't need minutes and whatever process you're thinking about.
Are you willing to pay the fees to pull the email records and prove you're wrong? I highly doubt you want to show people you are wrong.
Dear Maximus:
Thank you for your input and yes I agree with your sentiments. Firstly I must make you aware that the blog to which you are referring to was not written by me. This was written by a volunteer citizen by the name of Jorge which I have copied so he may respond to you directly. I want Jorge to share with you the amount of work he went through collecting all known public records from the town on this matter. Since this is directly his project I feel he could better facilitate all that he knows.
I can tell you though, I personally attended two of the three meetings and I believe in what they are trying to accomplish. I just believe they are not well managed and they are not taking true input from the citizens. Therefore they are pushing their ideas upon the community as a whole. I just posted a blog today which will demonstrate to you that what you believe is not the case. I also would like you to understand that we have hosted 3 surveys over the last 4 weeks. We had actually 183 survey participants and 16 new volunteers.
CFABB is only trying to help and never has it been the intent to be anti-Buckeye. We are reaching the residents which can not be reached by We are Buckeye and that's it plain and simple. Some thinks CFABB is only one or two people! This is not true and soon some will learn just how big and organized this group really is. I have no control over this group as I am just a citizen of this town like the rest. I am only one voice of 47,000. It is our goal to represent as many of those residents as we can by getting them involved. As you stated in your email this is a very challenging task but, we will not give up.
As far as the Sports Bar goes, it has been a very long and painful process. I started on this project in July 2008 and as of this month we plan to open in October this year. I would like to extend an invitation that you and I have a cold beer together on me. Then you will see I am just like everyone else.
Thank you very much for your comment and please drop me an email if Jorge fails to contact you.
Rick Fernandez
"Buckeye Citizen"
IN GOD WE TRUST
Dear Maximus:
You are very welcome. My response to you was very cordial and I felt it was informative as well.
Based on your latest comment though I am confused because I did not display any sarcasm in my comment. I'm not quite sure you ment you or me. In any case have a great day and I look forward to meeting you some day.
Rick
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