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October 30, 2007
You take the High Road and I'll take . . .
Well, actually, I am taking the High Road, no matter what.
We've run such a positive campaign. We've worked hard and it shows. Here's our campaign by the numbers:
Yard Signs: More than 700 out there. Go Blue!
Letters to the Editor: Twenty-five very positive, well written letters printed -- and more to come!
Door Knocking: Quality time spent in all 10 precincts and still hustling to meet as many people as possible.
Endorsements: Four and counting.
We've had some petty accusations hurled our way during this campaign. I know that this is what happens. But, it's frustrating because the accusations are either patently false or they are so lame, it's unbelievable.
None have been worth responding to or getting too concerned about. I just absolutely refuse to stoop to the level of those who refuse to concentrate their minds and energies on what is really important: moving Cedar Rapids forward.
All my best -- Monica
I’ve missed my blogging over the past month mostly due to being on the “campaign trail.” Since posting my last blog we have put up hundreds of yard signs and I have knocked on hundreds and hundreds of doors. I’ve realized that the governance part of city council is what I know how to do after being at the helm of a number of organizations. Setting vision, policy and priorities is something that I have a great deal of experience doing.
Campaigning is not. But after three months of campaigning, I would say that it is a wonderful experience and everyone should try it. It has been a great chance to really get a first hand feel for our community and I am impressed. I have met so many wonderful, thoughtful people. In fact, I haven’t met a person I didn’t like or a soul with whom I don’t think I could work. Our citizens here in Cedar Rapids want progress, they want this new form of government to work, they want clear and understandable ordinances that are enforced and they want the council to get out in front and lead us to a better place. This is a really good city. But, with some effort and coordination and leadership the voters know as well as I do that we can really shine.
As I attend the question and answer forums I notice that the questions asked are usually about all the issues that have most recently been before the council. That’s fair enough. But I think many times those issues are symptoms of greater challenges. They are often issues because of a lack of policy or vision or priority. For example, take Twin Pines. With a vision for a town with parks and green space this idea of selling the land simply never comes up. And if it does, the Council can just say no. With the challenges Downtown and at Westdale, Twin Pines is clearly not a priority. And so again, if it comes up, the council can just say no.
I’m not afraid to take a good look at our assets and discuss what we ought to do with all of them, but let’s first make sure that the basics of city services are taken care of including leaf pick up. The city needs to set and stick to its priorities and get to work on the downtown and the riverfront. The city’s involvement in Westdale should be minimal and just aimed at protecting the current taxable investment surrounding it and thus a great area of the West Side.
What we are talking about quite often is city management and yet we now have a city manager. What is missing is somehow determining who will be the most effective leaders. I think this is best determined not by talk but by action. This is not about the candidate’s ages, or backgrounds, but about their depth of commitment. To find the best city council members, ask yourself: Who has really led and what have they accomplished? I have spent 25 years earning the right to ask you to let me lead. If you are ready for progress, I’m up to the challenge.
All my best -- Monica
As we approached the bridge we saw hundreds of bikes and bikers. I guess the bike ride had over 200 participants last year and well over 500 this year. The 8-mile route went out Third Avenue east, up Linden Drive and through Brucemore, across First Avenue past Franklin and Regis, around Mount Mercy to Center Point Road, past St. Luke’s and Coe College and back down Second Avenue to May’s Island. There was plenty of water and food before and after the race. The police were great about stopping traffic and I only saw one person without a helmet. It was a very safe ride. My compliments to all who made it such a great event!
It was fun to see residents of all ages get together for a delightful tour of some of our more mature neighborhoods. I chatted with a number of people as I rode. One father of two pulled his children along in a child carrier. I was amazed when he continued our conversation as he peddled his heavy load right up the steep hill between Coe and St Luke’s.
We were so fired up after the ride that we decided to continue to enjoy the outdoors so we jumped on the downtown trail and traveled south to the Blue Strawberry out on C Avenue by Kirkwood. There we were greeted by over 50 bikers who had the same idea and had beaten us out there. (We probably lingered longer than they did on May’s Island.) It got hot as we peddled home and I was starting to feel the 25-plus miles of the day as we headed up Third Avenue. But I smiled to myself as I thought about something a very smart woman on the ride had said to me, ”This is just a great statement about our city!”
And she was so right. The ride was free, it provided wonderful exercise to hundreds and was a great chance to meet new people. It promoted neighborhoods, wellness and sustainable means of transportation. It also promoted our system of trails.
In short, the statement of the ride was about community vibrancy and neighborhood vitality. Now those are things worth riding about!
Process Should be on Par with Citizen NeedsOver the past seven weeks as I have knocked on doors and visited with citizens throughout district 2, I have heard much about the Twin Pines Golf Course issue. Most people are outraged that the city would even consider selling "green space." A few people suggest we ought to sell the whole thing. However, most are frustrated and confused by the process. The background information needed to connect the dots seems to be missing. People ask me again and again what I think and where I stand on this issue.
First off let me say that what I thought was a process to gain an updated and improved golf course has turned into a discussion on selling land to get money. Wow. These are two completely different issues. I'm against selling off any part of the golf course for big box or strip mall development because it doesn't fit the area. And, I'm against considering the sale of land for any purpose until a new plan for the golf course and/or green space is in place.Even after the Twin Pines decisions are made, we'll need to make sure that we have a better way to study important matters. Here's how I think we can improve the process we use to examine community issues:
1. First, set the vision and the policy. This is City Council's area. Through its vision and policies, Council places value on those things that will lead to the type of city we want to be. In this case, the value should be on green space and recreation land. And, to some extent, on the use of land that is adjacent to green space.
2. Then, frame the issue. Set up the process so that the discussion centers on what is really important. Don't let the tail wag the dog. In this case the conversation should center on the golf course and the finances not just selling land. In fact, this process asked you and me to give up our land without knowing what we might get in return.
3. Next, get community input. Learn what people want to do with the golf course. I've heard everything from securing better drainage and having a teaching center to a driving range with a year round bubble. And yet, when I attended the Time Check information meeting there was not one display on how the golf course might be improved. I understand that just recently council moved to set up a citizen's task force to work with a developer on a golf course plan. This sounds like a step in the right direction.
4. Get expert input. Analyze staff and consultant recommendations on the product possibilities and its financial implications against council's vision for the city. In this case, examine best practices for upper Midwest private and city-owned golf courses. Study all scenarios for capital and operational costs. In short, get the facts on golf course design and financial input.
5. Craft the possible solutions. With all the information at hand, three or four possible solutions are created and community input is again sought. In the case of the golf course, this means offering several course concepts with various improvements at various financial investment points. And, of course, citizen open houses are held to explain the options and gather reactions.
6. Make the decision. After a great deal of study with plenty of facts and much citizen input, Council votes on the issue. Yes or No.
7. Monitor the situation. As with any decision, especially those made with the good of all in mind, it is important for Council to keep an eye on the follow through and the follow up.
In summary, I think that the process we use as a city to examine our options for the future is extremely important. We must have logical, reasonable and transparent methods for testing ideas and discussing and analyzing concepts. A solid process is an essential building block in creating respectful and open conversations with citizens. And that's part of what will help us make the leap from a good city to a great one.
Take me out to the ballpark... This week our company and family members celebrated the summer with dinner at the stadium
We could have gone out of town for our summer outing but why not spend a wonderful evening at the ballpark? The Veterans Memorial Stadium is a community gem. Every time I visit the place, I'm proud that I was able to assist with the case for building the new stadium and then later work with the city to make the rent payments reasonable for the long haul while ensuring that the city is paid what was agreed upon.It was a good decision to re-build the place as attendance has been very positive and it has been used to host high school district games, concerts and other events. The new Veteran's Memorial is meaningful and the museum is interesting as well. If you think we lack for excitement in Cedar Rapids just go out to a home game. The baseball viewing does depend on the players that the pro team sends us each year. But the people-watching is always heartwarming. I dare you to leave in a grumpy mood.
(If you want to experience a night at Cedar Rapids' ballpark you can get more information at www.kernels.com.)
I loved the old stadium as well. Today is my 23rd wedding anniversary and my husband and I re-met there in 1982 after a 1981 chance meeting didn't go any where. Something about that August evening at the ballpark when I just "happened" to run into him made Bill decide that he wanted to start dating. We married two summers later and the rest is history. So I have great memories of the old place.
But I am inspired by the new stadium.
It feels like the future of our city: Bright, diverse and exciting. The place has wonderful ties to tradition and yet it continually offers new games and new songs to keep things alive and moving forward.
Our children are such ambassadors of our households as they go out to their schools and activities. They learn so much from us and then they branch out and learn on their own and from many others. But what we don't always stop to think about is the huge education that we parents receive from our children. I thought I knew a few things when my children were little babes. And, I did. But oh the education I have received as we have worked to "bring them up." And Oh the Education I am Still Receiving…
In addition to thinking about other forms of fuel, recycling and other sustainability issues -- including the idea of how to tax people who are using alternative fuels! -- they have also learned first hand about the differences and similarities of people around our great country. In addition, Frances learned carpentry as she helped build the bunk beds that are on the bus. She learned to cook on a shoestring. She learned that she could live a whole summer with very few clothes and without a blow dryer. She did wear her Iowa shirt whenever possible!
The summer transformed Frances. And, it impacted her Iowa family as well. We have long been a very active household for recycling and we certainly care about our environment. But we just hadn't thought much about all the possibilities for sustainability. Not until the "bussers" visited us.
But now I find myself thinking about a saying from one of my grandfathers. "Use it up, wear it out, make it do or do without." It's probably from the era of the Great Depression but the words have great meaning for our current society.
Thank you Frances and Big Green Bus for being part of my continuing education.
They say that life is a journey and not a destination.
How true that is!
I went on many walks and bike rides with my husband Bill, I talked with my daughters, and I consulted with my closest friends. And then, when it was time to make a decision on whether I should run, I realized I already had.I would run for office.
Thanks for reading, feel free to contact me, and let the journey continue. I've got to go now because I have a daughter on The Big Green Bus ( www.thebiggreenbus.org ) and they are rolling into town! More on their visit next time . . . Monica
Perhaps I'd made the decision during my years on the Chamber Board when we spent hours and hours studying best practices in city government. Or, maybe it was during my time on the City Planning Commission. Or, perhaps I moved closer to wanting to serve while assisting some of our city or county clients with better methods of obtaining community insights. You see, somewhere along this life journey, I'd learned that one of the most noble causes is improving the place where you live.
In my short time on this campaign journey, I've already made lots of new friends and re-acquainted myself with people I have known for many years. I've listened to citizens' frustrations and heard some brilliant ideas for new approaches and opportunities. I'm sure as I continue this journey, that I'll meet scores of new friends and look forward to hearing more of your thoughts.
326 23rd Street Drive SE • Cedar Rapids, IA 52403
319.364.4420 • 319.364.7278 Ext. 101 • monica@monicavernon.org
Paid for by Cedar Rapidians for Monica Vernon.
Jim Vancura, Treasurer