By R.E. Graswich, Special Assistant to Mayor Kevin Johnson:  Very cool process underway at Sacramento City Hall this week: Mayor, council and public all share first bite at big news from Sacramento First Task Force. The citizen's task force spent the last four months finding ways to build a new entertainment and sports complex in Sacramento. The task force report will be presented Thursday to Mayor Kevin Johnson at a special 11:30 a.m. session of the Sacramento City Council.

Original plans called for the task force to present recommendations to the mayor first, in private. He would study the report and decide whether to move it forward with the City Council.

The plan didn't sit well with the mayor. He decided the process would be better served with transparency.

Last week, Mayor Johnson called for the special session and decided he should see the task force recommendations at the same time as the public and council members.

There's plenty of suspense around City Hall over the recommendations. People are speculating about which development teams and locations will get the nod from Sacramento First.

Mayor Johnson is not participating in the suspense. The guy who created the task force and moved it forward has become the most patient person in city hall. He can wait until Thursday.

The best part of my job is getting out and meeting people – Sacramento residents, visitors and especially city employees. For the past week, I’ve been moving from city department to city department, talking to the men and women who keep Sacramento moving. I’ve met with everyone from the folks who design our streets to the technicians who maintain our computer systems to the people who keep the drains clear in rainstorms.

Every city employee is unique, but they share many concerns.

Each meeting has included discussions about the transition underway in the City Manager’s office as we move to replace outgoing executive Ray Kerridge.

There have been many questions about the budget deficit, which looms between $35 million and $40 million.

Some questions, such as those involving the process of finding an interim city manger, have straightforward answers. Others, such as those concerned with budget cuts, have no immediate answer.

One interesting question came from the transportation department. A woman asked whether being mayor was more difficult than playing in the NBA.

I didn’t have to think about this one. I said I get up every morning remembering how much I love my job, and how I haven’t had a moment’s regret about running for public office.

I also say being Mayor of Sacramento is much harder than playing point guard for an NBA team.

When I played basketball, things were pretty basic. We had 12 guys and worked toward a common goal. We worked hard and things didn’t always fall the way we hoped, but we were almost always on the same page.

Life in government is more complicated. And the stakes are much higher. We have about 4,600 employees and almost 470,000 residents, each of whom has concerns about the economy and public safety and the education of their families.

I told the city employees I’ve never had a more challenging job than being mayor.

But inspired by the hard work and dedication of city employees, being mayor is a job I wouldn’t trade for anything.

Call me Kevin “Green Shades” Johnson. I’ve had a few nicknames, but none I’ve liked as much as “Green Shades.” The idea of walking around with cool looking, green-tint sunglasses is the image I want to project for Sacramento. Our weather is perfect for sunglasses, at least 300 days per year. And green is the color of the new Gold Rush headed to Sacramento.

It’s the Green Rush.

We want the world to rush into the Emerald Valley, just like it did in 1849. Only this time, the world will be chasing green tech and clean tech, not gold nuggets from the banks of the American River.

I have been amazed by the support since my State of the City speech Thursday (February 25, 2010) at the Hyatt Regency.

I covered a lot of ground while speaking to about 900 business and community leaders at the Metropolitan Chamber of Commerce luncheon.

But none of the topics have resonated as quickly and completely as the conversation about our upcoming Green Initiative.

The Green Initiative will be the one big new regional initiative organized by the Mayor’s office in 2010. As you know, I love nothing more than identifying an area of critical need and gathering momentum to attack it.

This year’s target is the Green Wave.

The mission is simple. The best and the brightest people in finance flock to New York. The most talented entertainers make their way to Los Angeles. Brilliant techies find a home in the Silicon Valley. If you want to play in the political big leagues, go to Washington.

We can the same for Sacramento – make our region the world’s home for all things Green.

The Green Revolution is already underway, with more than 100 local Green and Clean companies bringing innovation, research and development and jobs of all levels to Sacramento.

We must expand these efforts, using our resources such as UC Davis and Sacramento State, plus the innovative organizations already here, such as SMUD and PG&E.

Add venture capital and the fact that California’s policies and regulations are created at the State Capitol, and you have every reason to believe Sacramento is ready to become home to the new Green Gold Rush.

It starts with each of us in the region – raising our Green IQ, living sustainable lifestyles.

If you see me wearing green shades, don’t think I’m trying to look cool. And don’t think I’m looking at the world through rose-colored glasses.

Sacramento is going to make the world green with envy.

Let’s say it straight out: I’ve never been more proud of serving with the Sacramento City Council than I was Tuesday night, February 23, 2010. The council took two major actions, neither of which were easy but both of which will help push Sacramento toward a prosperous future.  We expressed our disagreements respectfully, made our positions known, and acted in the best interest of the city.

I am speaking about the adoption of charter reform and the decision to appoint Gus Vina as acting city manager.

The decisions were separate yet similar. In the charter reform action, the council voted to adopt the creation of an independent budget analyst.

I first expressed the need for a budget analyst last year. In recent weeks, the independent budget analyst became part of my charter reform package, a five-point checklist of improvements and updates necessary for our city government.

Today, there are just four points left on the checklist. I am confident the city council will place the remaining reforms before voters in November. And I’m confident voters will decide what’s best for Sacramento’s future.

The specifics still must be discussed, but the package includes modified executive mayor, an ethics review committee, term limits and an opportunity for voter re-approval on the reforms.

With the budget analyst now on the books, the momentum is moving ahead for reform.

The independent budget analyst will bring accountability to our budget process and prudence to our spending.

This is great news for Sacramento. There should be no turning back.

As for the city manager, I was proud to see the council make a unanimous choice with Mr. Vina. He will have 30 days to settle in as acting city manager, with the next two weeks spent working alongside our current and departing city manager, Ray Kerridge.

After 30 days, Gus will have the chance to win the job on an interim basis, serving through the calendar year.

By then, Sacramento should have a clear path toward reform, with voters ideally creating a separation of powers in November: an executive mayoral branch and a legislative council branch.

Then, the path to progress will be open. Sacramento will join the list of emerging cities, competing for jobs, economic development and prosperous future.

Time to get excited about the 18th Annual State of the City Address!  Yesterday in his weekly press conference, Mayor Johnson offered a little insight into the content of his speech.  View his press conference on YouTube at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RcyUoB-BIdc. We hope to see you at the Hyatt on Thursday, February 25th at 11:30 AM.  Click here to RSVP.

If you’re not able to attend the State of the City Address, follow along on Twitter using the hashtag #stateofthecity.

On Thursday, February 25th, Mayor Johnson will lay out his vision for Sacramento at the Metro Chamber’s 18th Annual State of the City Address.  He will discuss where we have come from, where we are and where we’re going as a city.  Over 800 people will listen to the Mayor’s address in a banquet hall at the downtown Hyatt.Interested in attending? Click here to purchase your ticket.  If you are unable to attend the actual event, you can still get in on the action.Some of the Mayor’s staff will be vigorously Tweeting to share highlights from his speech with all of Twitterville.  Follow along with the hashtag #stateofthecity.The Mayor has a lot in store for 2010 – and he wants to give you a sneak preview this Thursday. We hope to share that with you on Twitter. 

Allow me to share with you my feelings about the resignation today of City Manager Ray Kerridge. On a personal level, I am delighted for Ray. I wish him nothing but success and happiness in his new endeavors, and have no doubt he will thrive in the private sector. I look forward to learning about my friend’s adventures and accomplishments as he moves into the next chapter of his life.

On a professional level and as Mayor of Sacramento, I consider the resignation of Mr. Kerridge a devastating loss for our city.

There is never a good time to lose a highly skilled manager, but the idea of losing Ray now is deeply troubling to me -- as troubling as the atmosphere at City Hall that I fear might have played a role in Ray's decision. At this point, it's best that I stop and focus on Ray's outstanding contributions and save my more pointed comments for tomorrow, after I've had time to reflect.

The legacy of Ray’s leadership is easily summarized. For the past two years, the city of Sacramento has endured the worst of the most negative economic conditions our nation has seen in 80 years.

During the economic crisis, Ray guided the city with a quiet but extraordinarily steady hand.

While still facing significant difficulties, Sacramento can survive its economic challenges and emerge stronger than ever. In many respects, we are in better shape than some neighbors and comparable municipal governments across California. For this we must thank one person: Ray Kerridge.

Despite the economic crisis surrounding him, Ray pushed forward with his goal of redefining the culture of city services, making residents the focus of the city’s municipal energies, striving to get the customer to success.

Ray is not the kind of manager who brags about his success. If anything, he speaks up too infrequently, giving dissenters and critics not only the first word but the last word.

So if Ray’s last word to the city of Sacramento must be his resignation, I can share with residents that I have asked every city employee to reflect upon our city manager’s legacy and contributions.

If every member of city government – from the city council to police officers and fire fighters to utilities workers and the countless others – if we all contribute as much energy, intelligence, honesty, integrity and devotion to public service as City Manager Ray Kerridge, Sacramento will endure as one of California’s greatest cities.

The City of Sacramento took a huge step forward today (February 10, 2010) in resolving the controversy over building permits in the Natomas flood zone.  At a City Hall press conference attended by officials from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), I was joined by City Manager Ray Kerridge and Council member Ray Tretheway in discussing a corrective action plan the city is developing with FEMA’s guidance.

City staff will move swiftly to respond to the issues identified by FEMA, which has given the city 60 days to respond. Let me assure you, these issues will be resolved in far less than 60 days.

As I told the media, the issuance of building permits in Natomas during the time in question was a serious and significant violation of FEMA rules.

At the heart of this issue, both for the city and FEMA, is the safety of our residents, their property and the well-being of our city.

Nothing we do is more important.

It is significant to note that the corrective action directed by FEMA would probably not have been available to the city if not for the fact that the City of Sacramento has an excellent track record when it
comes to flood protection.

In other words, our history helped.

Ms. Ward addressed Sacramento’s “impressive” FEMA rating in her letter and comments to the media. As Mayor, my goal is to ensure that Sacramento retains its high standing with FEMA despite the city’s mistakes in this issue.

Let me close by saying the City of Sacramento has learned a difficult and valuable lesson, and is working hard to resolve the situation.

The entire city council and senior city management must work together and make sure this type of mistake does not happen again.

View video of the press conference online.

As you may know, I announced an exciting new reform package this morning.
 
 The new package combines key aspects of the strong mayor initiative (SMI) with the additional ideas proposed by Council Members, the Charter Review Commission, and the public.  The goal is to create a collaborative reform package that incorporates input from all sides and has broad appeal among the council and public.

You can read more specifics about the package below.

Our next step is to discuss this proposal with Council.  We’ll start at tonight’s meeting, and continue the discussion in the next two weeks.

However, we have to act quickly.  Now is the best opportunity for real reform to get our city back on track.  This modified proposal is the result of 13 months of listening to input from Council, the Charter Review Committee and the Sacramento community.  The time to act is now; Sacramento cannot afford to wait.  If we wait, true reform will be watered down by special interests and those mired in the “status quo” will stop at nothing to paralyze the process.

Here’s how you can help:
 


1.  Attend tonight’s council meeting. Bring along three friends and arrive at City Hall (915 I Street) at 6:00 PM.



2.  Call and email the Council Members urging them to consider this new proposal.



In a short window of time, we can make history for our city.  Let’s get started!

Read today’s Sacramento Bee article that details the new proposal.



FIVE PART REFORM PACKAGE



1.  Modified Executive Mayor
•    Mayor proposes annual city budget
•    Mayor hires City Manager and his/her top 20-30 managers
•    Mayor has veto power, and Council can override veto
•    City Attorney and other charter officers remain independent


2.  Independent Budget Analyst
•    Analyst provides objective analysis of Mayor’s proposed budget before Council approves it


3.  Ethics Committee
•    Independent commission to provide oversight and training to city employees


4.  Term Limits on Mayor and Council



5.  Voter Re-authorization
•    Voters can “try it before they buy it” – ensures voters get future opportunity to revisit charter changes before they become final

Last Thursday, a California court of appeals said accountability should take a number and wait in Sacramento.  Over the last 96 hours, I contemplated the consequences of waiting for City Hall to reform itself.  The time for waiting is over.  The question isn’t whether Sacramento should reform its government.  The question is how.

In the next two weeks, the Sacramento City Council has the ability to give voters a chance at immediate reform. The council can place a charter reform initiative on the June ballot.

The council can take the first substantial steps toward reform simply and openly in the next two weeks.

Tuesday night at City Council, I will ask my colleagues to place a collaborative executive mayor reform package on the June ballot.

My request will be based on charter review ideas that have been circulating for the past year.

I have listened to suggestions and concerns from across our city. I believe these collaborative reforms will resonate with the entire community, even among my critics.

The time has come to spell out in simple language a handful of points necessary to make executive mayor reform work in Sacramento.

In the next week, I will ask city staff to draft the appropriate resolution, which the council can place before voters in June.

From the start of this process, the only thing I have asked is for the citizens of Sacramento to have the right to vote on reforming their government.

If a majority of voters aren’t interested in reform and believe the system is fine, so be it.

But the people of Sacramento must be allowed to vote on reform, as soon as possible. Not next winter. Not in two years. Not when it’s convenient to elected officials.

Our city can’t afford to wait.