Boise Guardian » CCDC

Bikeboy Says Two Wheeler Plan Off Balance

dave — Fri, 20 Apr 2012 05:35:46 +0000

Our long time two wheeler expert, Steve Hulme (aka Bikeboy) offers up his views on a new government spending spree for Boise bikes.

By Steve Hulme

The CCDC, in cahoots with the Central District Health Dept., are hoping to start upa bike-sharing program in Boise.

On the surface, it sounds laudable… 140 bikes at 10-15 different secure”stations” around town–mostly downtown extending out around BSU, and to the North End. You swipe your membership tag, or bankcard in the case of out-of-towners, and you release a shared bike. You ride and ride, and then turn your bike in at any of the 10-15 stations to release yourself from liability for the bike. Depending on how long you’ve used it, you pay rent.

In big cities, “members” get a half-hour of use for free, and then it’s a few bucks per hour. Members pay a $55-85 annual fee. Visitors would just be charged the per-hour fee for the time they had the bike out.

Fantastic, huh? Promotes health… cements our reputation as being “bike friendly,”gives tourists an easy way to ride the Greenbelt.

But here’s the rub. The startup money is likely to be $650,000. And that kind ofmoney doesn’t grow on trees… but it might as well; they’ve asked the federalTransportation Department to give it to ‘em. And of course, it would go onto the backs of the taxpayers. Or doesn’t it count, if it’s our federal taxes?

Here’s another point of interest… they did a study to determine the viability and decide where the bike stations should be located. They looked at 6 cities with existing bike-shares: Montreal, Minneapolis/St.Paul, DC Metro, Boston, Denver, and Miami.

What makes Boise different from them? Well, the comparison cities range in size from 400,000 (Miami) on up, and the metro populations range from 2.5 million(Denver) on up. I question whether Boise has the population base or density to
realistically compare with those places, or support a bike share program, even if we are “a bike-friendly city,” as stated by Karen Sanders of the Downtown Boise Association.

I’m not confident that my grandkids and their grandkids want to pay for a bike-sharing program for us, today.

It’s like nobody “in power” gives a rip about the $15 trillion debt – let’s just spend more!

EDITOR NOTE–Paris was the first place to start the bike vending program and it has caught on worldwide.

A New Month Brings Hope For Future

dave — Sun, 01 Apr 2012 23:51:55 +0000

This morning we awakened to all sorts of good news.

First it was Team Dave announcing they have abandoned plans for not only a downtown baseball park, but they also promised to not use any public money to further the desire named Streetcar (also known as the Trolley Folly).

Next thing we heard was the legislature realized how much impact they put on cities with the Land Board going into business against those who actually pay taxes. Plans are afoot to discontinue owning tax exempt businesses that would otherwise be private and pay taxes.

The new Urban Renewal director said it was simply wrong on too many fronts to continue to divert tax money to the agency at the expense of schools, cities, counties, and the highway district. He also noted citizens need a voice in long term debt issues.

With the tourist season upon us, we were thrilled to learn the Boise Depot was actually going to be open to visitors on a daily basis with tours to the bell tower to view the city.

Boise officials actually started talking to taxpayers and the media instead of hiding behind costly public records requests and claims of “personnel matter.” The new transparency is expected to cut down on costly records requests and lead to better understanding of all parties.

Then we realized today is APRIL FOOLS day. It doesn’t hurt to be positive, but sometimes it makes you feel like a fool.

Ball Park Bad Idea, Bieter Still Pitches It

dave — Sun, 19 Feb 2012 15:21:11 +0000

Team Dave’s captain, Mayor Dave Bieter used the City Club of Boise Thursday as a forum to pitch a new public baseball park for private gain. We see it as another swing and a miss.

At the same event, Bieter recruited the audience to seek petitions asking for a referendum to allow the city authority to impose a “local option tax” on citizens. The problem with the local option tax issue is the lack of restrictions on how it could be spent once imposed.

For instance, unless specifically outlawed, elected officials could use the revenues for things like ball parks and desires named street car–despite overwhelming public opposition.

We have to give a shout out to the Statesman’s BRIAN MURPHY–and those who comment on the Daily Paper for putting the issue in perspective.

While the good mayor certainly can use his bully pulpit as he pleases, we remind him that Idaho’s Supreme Court has made it clear public funds (resources, equipment, or staff) cannot be used to influence the outcome of an election–this includes campaigning for local option taxes.

Urban Renewal Put To Death In CA

dave — Tue, 31 Jan 2012 19:54:10 +0000

Here’s a LA Times article on the California Legislatures move to shut down all 400 of the “redevelopment agencies” (Urban Renewal in Idaho) as of February 1, 2012. The legislation was upheld by a 6-1 vote in the California Supreme Court. A caretaker will be appointed to pay off all remaining debt of each agency and no new projects will be authorized.

This was first suggested by Gov. Jerry Brown who let his distaste for these agencies be known when he went after way to cut the state deficit.

Here’s the entire L.A. TIMES article.

The abuses and waste in California are similar to what is going on in Idaho. Look for some legislation during the current Idaho session.

No related posts.

Big League Baseball Depends On Minor League Public Funds

dave — Mon, 14 Nov 2011 21:10:20 +0000

The Better Boise Coalition is seeking extra innings in its game of “bulid a bigger Boise ballpark.”

Every survey over the past few years predicts a homerun when it comes to building a new baseball park, but when it comes to financing they all strike out. The DAILY PAPER published a box score round up of the efforts which does a pretty nice job of explaining the various options.

Most of the options rely on taxpayers, but one will “sell” foreigners a a green card if they invest and create 10 jobs–perhaps this would include popcorn and peanut vendors.

The GUARDIAN finds it disturbing that “civic leaders” will be hosted at a meeting that will cost common citizens $45 to attend.

The details according to the STATESMAN:
The Better Boise Coalition will discuss next steps with civic leaders during a meeting Tuesday hosted by the Urban Land Institute, from 4 to 6:30 p.m. at the Owyhee Plaza Hotel, 1109 W. Main St.

Tickets are $30 for ULI members, $45 for nonmembers with discounts for public sector/nonprofit employees, students and “young leaders” under age 35. Registering at the event is an additional $5. For information, visit www.idaho.uli.org.

Developer Was PAID To Fill Downtown Hole

dave — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 22:54:09 +0000

When Mayor Dave Bieter stood in front of the construction site wall at 8th and Main recently vowing to “tear down this wall,” he conveniently failed to let citizens of Boise know the private developer will be paid as much as $4 million by Boise taxpayers for his private venture.

This is the stuff the “Occupy” crowd loves to hear about.

Like about everything else these days, business can’t seem to make it without tapping into the public coffers. The IDAHO REPORTER offers details of the deal between Boise’s urban renewal agency, Capitol City Development Corp.(CCDC) and the Gardner Company. At issue is the infamous “hole in the ground” which has been the subject of numerous botched construction and financing deals.

Gardner is the builder on behalf of Zions Bank which claims its Idaho operations will be housed in the building.

Seems CCDC voted to approve the funds at its September 22 meeting. Total amount of the gift from the citizens of Boise will depend on the total size of the proposed structure–currently set at 253,000 square feet.

What Citizens And Candidates Should Know

dave — Wed, 31 Aug 2011 15:10:24 +0000

Each election cycle, the GUARDIAN tries to stimulate interest in the local Boise City election with a posting about issues, budget, etc. Here is the current attempt–10 days before the filing deadline for council and mayor races.

Issues of concern to candidates and citizens alike:

–Fire department has taken over the North Ada County Fire district, absorbed their firefighters on the city payroll, but closed a station and gets about $1 million less than promised at the start of the contract.

–Transit station is set for downtown with no assurance the property owner will sell. Is this the place for a parking garage and bus station? How about building the facility at Eagle Road and the freeway to keep cars out of downtown?

–Hawks Stadium. Do these ball players need a “state of the art clubhouse” and new stadium at taxpayer expense?

–Should the city be in the business of “attracting business” when in the past the biggest issue was growth?

–Trolley will cost millions and be used by few. Why no major investment or push for a decent bus system?

–City has spent many thousands on PR programs aimed at influencing public opinion. F-35, numerous surveys, trolley study, the constitutional amendments, ball park. Are these all needed?

–Should the city continue to use a 500 person telephone marketing survey to set buget priorities when the results are always in favor of police, fire, transit, and parks?

–Depot is closed to the public and has been for at least 8 years. Would you open it to the public daily in the summer and on weekends during off season?

–State historical society has done some improvements to Table Rock Vista Point. Would you favor partnering with the state to increase the access to this spectacular view of the city and valley?

–CCDC owns much of downtown Boise and acts as an “Independent Body Corporate and Politic” apart from city government. Property taxes on improvements and appreciation within their districts goes to this private agency and is diverted from the city revenue stream for police, fire, schools, etc. Would you continue and expand this unregulated authority?

–Boise PD has 310 sworn coppers with a total staff of 388. They have 317 vehicles and a $48,000,000 budget.

–Police offricers drive about 150 cars home every day…most of them are unmarked. There are coppers with the rank of patrolman making as much as $139,000 thanks to overtime and many coppers earn in excess of $100,000. One who just involuntarily left the force was making $120,000.

–Boise Fire has 251 firefighters in 19 stations with a total staff of 289 and a budget of $45,000,000

No related posts.

Optimistic Developer Gambles On Boise “Hole”

dave — Wed, 27 Jul 2011 21:49:30 +0000

Yet another developer has signed on to build something at 8th and Main –the site of the infamous downtown vacant lot known variously as “the hole, ground zero, and the pit.”

A feasibility study is planned to decide just WHAT to build. If the Gardner Company wants to insure success, they will look toward something with affordable housing, expanded convention space, a library, ample parking, an exterior color that is anything but beige or brown (possible orange and blue), topped off with a baseball park and high end condominiums.

IT would be a sure deal with massive government subsidies if they can figure how to include a transportation hub or at least a trolley station.

So far, they admit the deal still has some kinks to work out, but the DAILY PAPER headline claims they INTEND to build. Lest we forget, Larry Craig INTENDED to resign too.

The Statesman quotes Chief Operating Officer Tommy Ahlquist Wednesday saying Gardner has signed a contract to acquire the site from Capps Holdings LLC. Capps is a Lake Tahoe, Calif. developer which acquired the property in 2009 in a foreclosure auction.

BIGGER Isn’t Better, BETTER Is Better

dave — Sun, 10 Jul 2011 21:29:18 +0000

The downtown deciders need to take lesson from the previous Bronco Football God, Dan Hawkins who once proclaimed that “Bigger isn’t better, better is better.”

The Sunday DAILY PAPER has a story by Cynthia Sewell detailing the the “options” for a new convention center. One of the ideas would involve demolishing a newly constructed county family advocacy facility.

The latest expenditure for a “consultant” yielded at least two potential locations for a new convention center, but neither is for sale and voters have repeatedly voted down any new center. Lest we forget, there is another move by Boise Mayor Dave Bieter and Team Dave to build a baseball park as well–despite the pending construction of a ball park, track, athletic field at the site of the old East Junior High by BSU.

Despite the incestuous relationship between the G-BAD boys and the Boise Convention and Visitors Bureau (a non-profit ad agency), there is anything but agreement as to the future goals of the Greater Boise Auditorium District.

We think one of the options would be NO EXPANSION and live within our means, providing a first class moderate sized facility (present structure) and perhaps explore the potential of a future expo at the Fairgrounds–sort of like having Obama and the Repubs work together on a balanced budget.

Running Government Like A Business

dave — Sat, 25 Jun 2011 18:27:16 +0000

A couple of stories we have noticed recently in rural Idaho media show just how to run government like a business AND turn a tidy profit for government workers. Some are legal, some are crooked, and some just stink.

–The GUARDIAN detailed how Boise motorcycle coppers make $56 an hour using city equipment to patrol Boise County. It is all legal, but of no benefit to Boise taxpayers.

–The Idaho World in Idaho City has a story of former emergency services employee Gordon Ravenscroft sending a private firm consulting work when he owned the private outfit. The commishes dumped the guy and now he is suing for unlawful termination, claiming former commishes had approved the deal.

“According to Ravenscroft’s filing, the County asserts that Ravenscroft performed grant writing and administration work directly related to his duties as Emergency Management Director. Ravenscroft was a full-time, regular county employee paid $44,773 annually.

It is routine for county department heads to apply for and oversee grants for their departments.

But here’s the kicker: Ravenscroft also billed the County for writing, administering, and inspecting grant projects through his company, MCL Consulting. Those invoices were paid by the County out of grant funds.
The Secretary of State’s business entity database reveals that Ravenscroft is listed as the President of MCL Consulting, LLC. His wife, Theresa, is listed as Treasurer.

According to records obtained from the county clerk, Boise County has paid invoices totaling $94,711.64 to MCL Consulting for grant services since Ravenscroft was hired in April, 2004.”

–Former Idaho Dept.of Environmental Quality staffer Jorge Garcia, 50, and Karen Damberg Garcia, 47, were sentenced Monday in federal court in Boise for conspiring to defraud the DEQ of grant funds that were intended to install diesel emission reduction equipment on school buses. Jorge Garcia was a project manager for the DEQ responsible for the bus diesel emission reduction project. Idaho DEQ paid the couple’s company more than $339,000.

–City of Kuna created an urban renewal district ahead of the July 1 date new laws go into effect in order to avoid a public vote. The tiny city consulted with Boise’s CCDC director Phil Kushlan prior to creation of the district. Now Kushlan, who is being paid $114,000 by Boise’s district as a consultant following his retirement, is a leading contender to direct the Kuna urban renewal program. The other candiate is former Boise City Councilor Jerome Mapp.