Surprise, AZ News blog

Tony Lombardo, Arizona Republic, March 2, 2007

 

“It’s renewing contacts, and just constantly getting this Surprise story out to the people,” said Elkins, who is returning for his second Washington conference. “The first time I went, they didn’t know who or what Surprise was.”

 

Where has this responsible elected official been living. If this is true, why do we have staff members being paid to represent us and to apply for federal money.

 

Web site

 

As you all know, I recently started a news and political web site. It was, and is, my intention to inform the citizens of Surprise of current events, decisions made by the Surprise City Council and the happenings within our city government.

 

At the time I decided to develop my web site I had no intention of reentering city politics. However, after learning about Mayor Shafer’s health, the fact that there is no candidate in which I feel I can support in our upcoming mayor’s race, and the concerns I have regarding our city, I have decided to run for the office of mayor for the City of Surprise.

 

Bob Vukanovich

 

It is my intent to keep my web site separate from my campaign so that the citizens of Surprise can continue to receive unbiased information regarding our fine city. I know that actions are louder than words, therefore, I would hope that in the coming months you will discover that the content of my web site has not changed and that its sole purpose is to inform.

 

Citizens call for accountability

 

Letters from Surprise Independent, Feb.28,2007

 

While I find Councilman Joe Johnson’s animated response to criticism somewhat amusing, his lack of ethics is apparent by his disdainful attitude, his single-digit gestures and comments regarding citizens—they have no place at the council table.

 

It is true that the city has many issues besides the ethics policy, but one does not need look very hard at the council’s actions and spending records to see that fiscal responsibility and accountability dictated the ethics policy was long overdue.

 

At least Mr. Johnson admitted calling the policy “asinine” but one must wonder how he could associate taxpayers wanting accountability as being “politically motivated”. He also questions my “intent”.

 

Well Councilman Johnson , I have a fairly simple answer to that one. I intend to keep reviewing records and telling others just how much ethics are needed here in Surprise.

 

Donna Weekley

surprise

 

Mad-ness

 

As presented at the City Council meeting last night, 3/08/07

 

With all of the money we have collected on fee’s and taxation, this council has spent our money, starting with the stadium without any input from the citizens.This city council is now preparing to borrow money for their pet projects and delaying the repairing of Bell Rd.

 

A citizen wanted to comment on expenditures but was not allowed to .

 

Some of the statements and actions of this council tonight made no sense. It was like watching a grade B movie. 

 

 Improvement of road’s to get us in and out of the city is not one of Councilman Elkin’s agendas.

 

 He’s in Washington telling stories, while the City of Surprise’s Transportation Commission is having an important meeting on Monday, March 12,2007 at 6:30 at city hall.

 

Do our council members really care what happens to our city.

 

Our council members have a good skin game, a representive from the Heard Museum that wants to get 5 to 10 million dollars from us can talk for over 1/2 hour or more, A taxpayer from Surprise was talking on an agenda item when they cut him off at 3 minutes, I will say, they gave him an extra minute.

 

Being an American I thought we all had equal rights, but not from this council or it’s members. I feel that the concerned citizens of Surprise are being treated unjustly. We do not have one council member that will stand up for us, as they are in their own world.

 

Anyone, and I say anyone that ask and gets money from us can have all the time they want to talk, there has never been a time limit for them that I know of. 

 

Stadium Parking

 

When I was on the City Council I tried to convince other council members, city manager and staff that we had to save enough parking space for the stadium. I was told that they had checked it out, that we had more then enough and if not, we could always park on the grass. I told them we should save the corner of Parkview and Greenway for parking, but was over-ruled. I hope they are proven correct and that I was wrong.

 

50 Million $ difference

 

I appeared before the Council on the eight of March because I was told by a assistant city manager that there was an error on the two budget reports given to Council, that I questioned, but did not receive an answer “why”. I do not know if the City Council was informed or not.

 

At the City Council meeting held on March 22, 07 it was said to the Council that this $50 million was not rolled over.

 

Correspondence with Mayor

 

Sent: Saturday, Feb. 17,2007 11:02pm

Honorable Mayor Mayor Joan Shafer

It seems highly unusual that the court can now hire high paid, associate and pro-tem judges without the approval of the City Council. I understand they do not work under a contract, even our part time lawyers have a contract. When I was on the Council the court had to get our approval to hire security officers.

Thank you….Bob       

3/13/07 no reply

 

City of Surprise Engineering Dept.

 

I have had discussions with both the City manager and AC manager, about my concerns about the engineering department.

 

In the past having been a licensed General Engineering Contractor in both the state of California and Arizona, a licensed construction inspector for the Los Angeles County Engineering Department and having worked with many municipalities, I know that to have an effective engineering department you must have a qualified staff, such as engineers and inspectors that are employed by the city on a permanent basis.

 

Do any of us know what we have payed, in engineering consultants? We now pay what they call pre-construction consultants. Who I am told by staff verifies that what we receive from the architect is viable, one contract recently was for almost $700,000. A council member took this off the consent items but did not receive the right answer.

 

 

Surprise Technical Advisory Committee

 

I have had numerous email exchanges with Councilman Joe Johnson about this group, they are referred to as TAC. Councilman Johnson did not keep his appoinment with me to address my concerns.

 

From 1 email from Mr. Johnson, these are not “committees” as you are interpreting them. They are simply meetings and anyone in the meetings are not “members” they are people in an informal meeting.

 

Quoting from Mr. Johnson’s other emails, (TAC meetings for short are not formal public meetings), (conducted for the process of advising developers, land owners, business owners, and builders of their technical, engineering, and infrastructures needs).

 

We form committees to give advice to our elected officials, help me to understand, if they are not a committee, why is their advice and opinions given to the Council Members in their agenda books, when deciding how to cast their votes.

 

Bell Rd Budget 2007

 

On the same web page.

 

Building a Better Bell is a $20 million, five year project.

Building a Better Bell is a $10 million, five year project.

 

I e-mailed our City Manager with a copy to Mayor Shafer to help me understand which one is correct.

 

BOB VUKANOVICH

 

Thank you for your request for clarification. For the most up to date information on capital projects, including the Bell Road Project, the Cities Capital Projects Report is a great resource (updated at least monthly). The link is attached for direct access to the capital report: http://www.surpriseaz.com/index.asp?nid=827 or the specific report for Bell Road: http://www.surpriseaz.com/files/CIP/20547.pdf.

 

The project budget is $19,254,700.00. That amount includes what the project is expected to cost from cradle to grave.

 

The amount approved in this year’s budget (Fiscal Year 2007) is $9,564,700.

 

If you have additional questions please do not hesitate to let me know.

 

Jim Rumpeltes, City Manager, City of Surprise

 

Sun Valley Parkway Traffic

 

A traffic plan for Bell Road or to Grand Ave has to be in place for the future traffic anticipated from the developement of all of the sub-divisions West of the Beardsley Canal along side of the Sun Valley Parkway.

 

Cotton Lane was a wide road that ran North of Bell Rd. all the way to Grand Ave, but was given to the developer.

Cotton Lane, south of Bell Rd. we were told was to be a six lane road that would go south to the I-10, unfortunately this did not happen.

 

We must plan for the future, now.

 

Bob Vukanovich

 

Borrowing-email to Mayor Shafer, cc: Jim Rumpeltes 3/27/07

 

Mayor Shafer

 

Could you tell me, if you and the city council can borrow through the bonding process the maximum allowed under law without the approval of the voters of the City of Surprise?

As always

 

Bob Vukanovich

 

Minutes for Agendas

 

This email sent to the City Clerk with a cc to the City Manager

 

Sherry

 

I have been a strong advocate that city records are accurate and precise. But without the involment of management it is highly unlikely that this will happen.

 

Should there be a concern, if the regular city council agenda numbers for the meeting held on March 3, 07 does not correspond to the numbers in the council minutes of March 3, 07?

 

Bob Vukanovich