Dear Council … Hope you are all well … I'm renewing my request, below, for an update on the City Attorney position. Since the City's email system, routinely treats forwarded messages as SPAM and never registers them on the email log, I am reproducing the text of the earlier email (sent on July 6, 2020) below. As I understand, there are several key positions including the City Attorney, Chief of Police, and perhaps others that residents want and need to be made aware of. Has the City ever considered creating a publicly available webpage that includes a running list of questions asked and answers to them, even if it means to say, nothing new to add? I would wager that there would be lot of empty cells in the answers column. There are many issues, questions, recommendations that have been raised during council meetings, via email, in person, or virtual. Although the City may not receive a lot of requests, it does not mean that residents are not waiting for those updates/answers. It could very well be that the system has exhausted us. It also would be more efficient for the Staff so they don't have to answer the same question over and over again, when they do answer them. One example, which is not critical at the moment per se, but is illustrative of the torturous nature of the back and forth: The request to make commission/committee meetings recorded as well as making them publicly available real time (please don't tell me we don't have the technology or that it's difficult) … I know that I am not the only one or the first one raising this issue … I personally brought this up in March 2018. And I am more than happy to provide all the back and forth several of us had endured on this very simple ask. I high recommend and request that the City implements a more customer-focused approach to its management and communications. After all we are the City's customers and we do deserve timely answers so we can participate in the process. Warm regards Soody Tronson Menlo Park Resident PREVIOUS MESSAGE SENT JULY 6, 2020 Dear Council - I hope this note finds you all well. Would you please announce/update the residents on the status for the the new City Attorney firm/counsel: - What is the current status? - Aside from the two Council Member on the sub-committee, what has been the role of the other council members in the review, interview, and hiring process? - When do you expect for the new City Attorney Firm and Counsel to start? - How many applicants were there? - What were the demographics of the applicants? - The financial terms under which the new firm/attorney will engage with the City? And any other pertinent information? Warm regards Soody Tronson Resident Received on Sun Jul 12 2020 - 20:16:37 PDT
