City council vs. Godfrey
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No Comments [ Add Comment ]By Scott Schwebke
Standard-Examiner staff
sschwebke@standard.net
'Strong mayor' system in Ogden since 1992
OGDEN -- Six floors separate the offices of Mayor Matthew Godfrey and the city council inside the Municipal Building downtown, but cracks in their relationship often seem much wider.
Never mind being on the same page, it frequently seems that hard-charging Godfrey and the methodical city council aren't even reading from the same book as they attempt to map out Ogden's future.
So who's to blame for helping set the stage for discord?
You.
That is if you voted in favor of a measure enacted in 1992 enabling Ogden to be governed by a full-time mayor and part-time city council.
Municipalities in Utah, other than Ogden, that use the "strong mayor" system include Salt Lake City, Provo, Logan, Sandy and Murray.
Patterned after state and federal government, the system gives Godfrey administrative and executive powers and the city council legislative responsibilities.
It has also been the catalyst for turf battles and public bickering between the mayor and council.
For example, in February some city council members chastised the administration for failing to disclose that Chris Peterson, responsible for a controversial gondola system proposal, is the owner of Bootjack LLC, a company slated to buy Ogden Redevelopment Agency property on Wall Avenue.
Community and Economic Development Director Dave Harmer didn't inform the council prior to approval of the sale that Peterson was involved with Bootjack because it would create controversy, according to a memo from city council Executive Director Bill Cook.
Godfrey has been vexed by some city council members, particularly Chairman Jesse Garcia and Vice Chairwoman Amy Wicks. He claims they fail to come to him with their complaints and instead vent their frustrations to the media.
"It's challenging with this leadership to get them to pick up the phone and call me and say they have a concern," Godfrey said. "Instead, they do it by press release."
Garcia declined to specifically address Godfrey's complaint. "Everyone's got their own opinion," he said.
Wicks said Godfrey hasn't tried to reach out to her. "Communications goes both ways," she said. "He's a full-time mayor and we are part-time council members. He probably has more time to pick up a phone and call."
Godfrey believes disagreements between him and the city council ultimately foster productive debate that leads to good government, which is the hallmark of the strong mayor system.
"With everyone who has this form of government, there is a healthy tension," he said.
Earlier forms
Prior to implementation of the strong mayor system, Ogden operated under three other forms of government.
From 1851 to 1912, Ogden was governed by a board consisting of a mayor, four aldermen and nine council members.
City government switched to a three-member commission in 1912. The system of government changed again in 1951 when voters adopted a council/city manager system.
Within the past four years, other cities in the Top of Utah also have tried to change government operations.
In 2003, voters forced Riverdale leaders to repeal an ordinance that changed the way their city manager interacted with elected leaders. By a margin of 2-1, voters demanded the city manager report to the mayor, rather than the city council, the original form of that city's government.
In Syracuse, Mayor Fred Panucci has temporarily regained his title of chief executive officer after a debacle involving his governing powers. In October, four city council members voted to change the post of city administrator to that of city manager, effectively stripping Panucci of his CEO title.
Residents circulated a petition to hold a referendum vote on the matter. After enough signatures were collected and the petition was certified, several petition sponsors sued to reverse the October decision until the referendum is held.
Second District Court Judge Jon Memmott sided with the sponsors and suspended the decision until the vote is held this November
Ogden's existing strong mayor system has specific checks and balances designed to prevent abuses of power.
For example, the mayor must receive majority confirmation from the city council to hire department directors and appoint new members to most commissions, boards and committees.
When the city council passes an ordinance, the mayor can either agree or veto the action. The mayor has 15 days to explain a veto to the city council. The council can override the veto with a two-thirds majority vote from five of seven members.
Cutting red tape?
Godfrey said he believes most residents support the city's current government system because it allows a full-time mayor to cut through bureaucratic red tape to tackle important projects.
The Junction, a multimillion dollar retail, entertainment and residential complex being built downtown, is a good example of what can be accomplished with the strong mayor system, he said.
"It gives the people a bigger voice in what happens in the city," Godfrey said of the existing system. "It puts more authority with the mayor, who has been elected by the people and can make things happen. A city manager may not be able to penetrate the layers of government and can slow the process."
In addition to employing their own independent staffs, Godfrey and the city council also have separate fiscal responsibilities.
The council is responsible for adopting the municipality's annual budget while the mayor has discretion in deciding how funds are spent within various departments.
"At the end of the day, we all have to work together," Godfrey said. "They provide the money and we provide the effort. The only way to get things accomplished is if we agree."
Jan Wells, chief of staff for Murray Mayor Daniel C. Snarr, said some people have difficulty understanding the divisions of power under the strong mayor system. "Sometimes residents don't understand what the differences are," she said.
Personality disputes are usually the cause of most friction between mayors and city councils regardless of the system of government, said David Church, an attorney for the Utah League of Cities and Towns.
"The form of government doesn't matter," he said. "It's the people elected who make it work."
Garcia said he hasn't received many complaints from constituents about the strong mayor system, and believes it's only natural that disagreements arise between the administration and city council.
"There is always going to be contention," he said. "Many times that's a good thing. The more discussion you have allows you to come to good decisions."
Reporter Shane Farver contributed to this article.
Separation
of powers
City Council
* 1. Adopts policy/ordinances.
* 2. Adopts general plans. Approves zoning and rezoning of property; annexations and vacations; and interlocal agreements.
* 3. Determines what services should be provided and at what level. Appropriates funds, i.e., adopts the budget, approves any amendments.
* 4. Prescribes general policy by ordinance as to how the executive branch performs its duties.
* 5. Provides advice and consent to specific employee appointments and commissions, boards and committees.
* 6. Conducts oversight -- reviews city administration and has power to investigate.
Mayor
* 1. Implements and enforces ordinances. Can propose ordinances. Mayor has veto power. Recommends policy.
* 2. Implements and enforces plans. May be involved in initial preparation of plans and makes recommendations. Negotiates agreements.
* 3. Proposes the budget to the city council. Mayor approves expenditures in accordance with the adopted budget.
* 4. Basic administrative functions: Property purchases, sales and management.
a. Assures city services are provided at levels prescribed by the city council.
b. Zoning functions, e.g., site plan reviews, issuance of permits.
c. Appointments and removals.
d. Effective police and fire services.
e. Contracting.
* 5. Oversees administrative departments and employees.
Ogden City
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