As the Utah Legislature slogs through ethics complaints, backbiting and its persistent reputation for secrecy, Salt Lake City Mayor Ralph Becker wants to contrast the capital city as an open book.
Becker, who spent 10 years as a state lawmaker, unmasked a comprehensive transparency initiative Tuesday centered on the notion that government functions best when it is open, inclusive, responsive and accountable..
And to ensure that standard, the second-year mayor is calling on residents to come up with specifics through an online "wiki" designed to foster an organic e-democracy..
"'We invite the public to further peer through the window," Becker said, continuing the government-as-house metaphor by pledging "more open doors.".
"We rely on the public and the media to expose our warts. It reminds us of who we are working for.".
So far, there is little meat on the city's transparent bone. There are 30 categories to focus public input -- all of which can be tweaked, rewritten or dismissed, according to City Attorney Ed Rutan. "It's just a starting point.".
That information, along with a blog and an online forum, is on the newly constructed Web site www.transparencyslcgov.com..
Becker and City Council leaders encouraged residents to engage. They expect ideas -- such as posting budgets and documents online, televising more public meetings or answering questions about, say, a water bill -- to comprise a new city policy on transparency later this year..
Neighborhood activist Polly Hart, who generally applauded Becker's tenure, remained unimpressed. She argues residents too often are left in the dark..
"I thought this was going to be about how administrative decisions are made," Hart said. "I'm still not finding out.".
Councilman J.T. Martin says residents most often complain about a lack of transparency in planning. "They feel backroom deals are done and that people become friends with inspectors and planners," he said. "People still think it's secretive.".
To combat that stereotype -- and make the permitting process more user-friendly -- the city points to its newly launched "Accela" software. Accessed by the "citizen access portal" on the city's home Web page at www.slcgov.com, the program allows permit seekers to see where they are in the pipeline. It also contains records from planning and public utilities to transportation and fire -- in some cases back to 1979 -- according to planner Nole Walkingshaw..
"If you want to know an activity on a certain street, you can search by the name," he said, while combing for condo conversions during a demonstration..
Walkingshaw says a management policy is being honed before even more documents can be archived on the site..
Also Tuesday, Becker signed an executive order establishing a fraud-prevention policy for city employees, vendors and contractors. The move, he said, was recommended by Rutan..
Becker said the risks associated with transparency would be outweighed by creating a greater public trust. He has some "favorites" but would rather see residents establish which transparency holes to fill. Personnel matters, along with litigation and real-estate transactions, will remain private, the mayor said..
"We are just emerging from an era of great secrecy" during the Bush administration, said Joel Campbell, a Brigham Young University communications professor and past president of the National Freedom of Information Coalition. "It's wonderful that Salt Lake City has decided to look in an area of greater transparency.".
Despite the effort, critics say Salt Lake City leaders continue to be less-than-transparent on occasion. They point to the speedy $8 million purchase of the Barnes Bank Building in December along with a dearth of forums to discuss Rocky Mountain Power's expansion plans on the city's east bench..
