| Back to Home page NEWSLETTER Cedar Rapids Downtown Kiwanis Club Deceember 5, 2006 The meeting was called to order by President Chuck Wehage. 25 Members in attendance. Guests: Pat Shey, Pam Landon (– soon to be new member), Ann Rhodes, wife of Mel Rhodes Birthdays: Kevin McCarville Anniversaries: Rod Thorpe – 12/7/99 Announcements: 1. Chuck Wehage has asked for a brief board Meeting immediately after meeting.
2. December 20th – Meeting at Witwer Sr. Center with Xavier Choir performing.
3. Sandy Batchelder Belling Ringing at Wal Mart Blairs Ferry Rd. December 8th from 8 AM to 8 PM. If you want to volunteer, review list and call workers to help out.
4. Next week – Induction of new members, Pam Landon and Jody Nolte
5. December 20th meeting will be held at the Witwer Center, with a concert by the Xavier Choir. Happy Bucks: James Platt – for Jim Doyne; Dick Boardman – also for Jim Doyne; Jim Doyne for all the comments; John Anderson, still alive; John Schweitzer – advertisement for New Horizon Band Concert at Sinclair Auditorium, Coe College (free), Don Grimm – son is leaving aviation (Lockheed) and going to AMD Semiconductors. Next week’s program: Daniel Kleinknecht, Music Director, Cedar Rapids Opera Theater. Speaker: Our guest speaker, Pat Shey was introduced by Dr. David Graeff. Mr. Shey is a member of our new City Council. He talked about the City Council workings and shared his observations.
There are nine people on the new Council: three at large of which he is one, five from districts and the Mayor. Their biggest task was to find a City Manager and it took longer than they anticipated. They are pleased with the results and they feel he is a strong manager.
Mr. Shey was elected to the Council and said that it is similar to serving on a board of directors. He feels that this role is to look at the big picture and plan policy and goals for next 5 to 10 years. This is not to micro-manage day to day issues but to set goals and policies. Each of the Council Members have different interests and strengths which brings balance to the Council.
Next week will be a tough one with Departmental Budget Meetings. They will ask the tough questions and challenge proposed actions. The budget must by certified by March 15th. Issues anticipated are: funding for the helicopter; disbursement of Hotel/Motel Tax; Health Care budget which has increased 35% over last year for the 1400 city employees.
In addition, the City Manager is in the process of reorganizing the 34 departments to 6 departments temporarily. A task force has been assigned to help using Lean Principles. Word for the day: Exemption from punishment or penalty Submitted: Charlene Boardman |
