Surprise, AZ News blog

It is absolutely amazing the difference of character that Councilwoman Foro projects, it’s as if someone other then her is writing the articles in our local papers.

In the Surprise Today, her article dated 7/4/07 how could she say that the current City Council decisions have been well considered based on study and research in light of the accusations made by the City Manager?

Quoting from her article…Who will voters want to sit on city council and serve as the Mayor? Proven office-holders, new blood or individuals Previously rejected or recalled by the voters.

Who are her proven office-holders?

If she is referring to me as the one recalled by the voters, being a public figure she can use my name. Councilwoman Foro be forthcoming, stop the innuendoes.

She does not say why I was recalled, nor does she explain that the voters that put me in office did not recall me.

answer to #07-63  

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

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

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

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

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 

In our rapid growth, other then our engineering department we have developed good departments. 

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

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.

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.