Your turn: Here's how Galesburg can learn something from Tempe, Arizona

How does city government work with its citizens on major monetary projects? I have an appropriate comparison about two towns I know very well: Galesburg, Illinois and Tempe, Arizona.

I do spend equal time in both communities. I know that there is not a lot of similarity between Galesburg and Tempe. However, my focus centers on how the respective city council’s listen and govern.

First, let us look how both city governments are structured. Considering that Tempe’s population is six times that of Galesburg, it is noted that this “town” of Tempe has a local government that consists of five city council members, a mayor and a vice mayor – all who are voting members. Galesburg has a mayor and seven voting council members.

I consider this to be an important number. On a per capita basis, Galesburg residents should have a much greater influence on the council. Do they? Like Galesburg, Tempe City Council members are voted in for 4-year terms and half the council, like Galesburg, are up for election every two years.

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Here is the major difference: Tempe Council members are voted in “at large.” There are no wards or districts in Tempe. Galesburg centers on a traditional ward model. In theory, every city council member in Tempe could literally live in the same neighborhood. Not so in Galesburg.

Why do I make this distinction? If you analyze different forms of city governments (traditional, at large, and mixed) you will note the foibles of each.

Recently, a private developer wanted to build a National Hockey League mixed use venue in Tempe. This private developer wanted a 30-year tax abatement for a $2.1 billion project. This project was fully supported by all living ex-mayors of Tempe and everyone currently on the City Council.

There were many neighborhood meetings where the developers, the mayor and council members met face to face to discuss this plan. I attended one of those meetings. The entire project was recently voted on by the citizens of Tempe in a special election.

Many were convinced that this multi-billion-dollar project would easily win. It did not. 29,000 citizens voted with 56 percent saying “no” to this project.

Galesburg has its own highly charged development idea: a community center. The community center has been bandied around since the old fire station got sold. The former Jr. High School Churchill has been the battleground for opposing viewpoints. I never fully supported the idea of using Churchill.

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However, I do fully support the idea of a community center. We all note that Galesburg’s council has shifted from conservative to progressive to conservative over the recent years.

Lately, our local government smacks of what appears analogous to back room deals. Make no mistake that the city council before this year’s election shift had issues as well.

Before this year’s election, two council members were appointed versus elected. Yes, it was legal but from some people’s perspective, the card deck got stacked.

When one of the former appointed council members stated that putting Churchill on a voting referendum was not needed, their response as to why was insulting to the people of Galesburg.

Preconceived political opinion is at the heart of this entire diatribe. How do current Galesburg council members represent their constituents from their respective wards? A fair question.

I can only find minimal references from our current council members as to how they “poll” projects like a community center. What I have observed is inner circle discussions from current council members that refer to a 4-way voting bloc. It may have been so with the previous council group as well.

The Tempe government took the opportunity to let the community speak directly and frequently to the council and developers. The Tempe government let the community vote on the huge financial project. The mechanics were there to listen but their understanding of what the residents wanted was drowned out by big private developers whispering in their ears. Who is whispering in the ears of Galesburg’s city council?

It seems now that we have staunch opinions in the town council that are more concerned about getting even. There have been many missteps in trying to have a feasible and realistic community center since the firehouse was sold.

It was initially ignored, then re-surfaced with good intent but with poorly executed vision and financial considerations.

Now it looks like we simply have retribution politics. Prove me wrong. I would like to see every council member publicly and clearly state how they poll their respective constituents in each of their wards.

I would also like to see a public promise that city government decisions are based on resident’s desires and not based on collusion politics. Make it so.

Stephen Podwojski is a retired, well-traveled hotel consultant and training specialist. He was also a long-term writer for the former Community Roundtable.

This article originally appeared on Rockford Register Star: Your turn: Galesburg council members need to remember who they serve