On Wednesday, Mayor Adler called for an end to CodeNext. This was his opportunity to show some leadership by taking responsibility and acknowledging mistakes. He could have recognized the hard work of the community members who took on the job of analyzing the 1000s of pages, educating the public, and proposing solutions. He could have recognized the legitimate concerns that led 31,000 citizens to ask for more time and the right to vote. He could have shown respect to the unpaid attorneys who had to go to court to enforce our rights under the City Charter.

Instead Adler blamed the community, calling the public discussion of CodeNEXT "contentious and marked with misinformation." Adler accused community members of spreading "hyperbole, fearmongering, and divisive rhetoric," and claimed that everyday Austinites are "hurting our city, not helping." Adler blamed the previous at large Council that initiated the project and provided clear policy directions that the 10-1 Council ignored.

Adler allowed the Planning and Zoning Department to oversee CodeNext without first implementing the Zucker Report recommendations. Adler approved contract extensions that raised the price for the consultants to 8.5 million dollars. Adler failed to provide the staff and consultants with any policy direction and resisted attempts by Council members to do so. Adler allowed the staff to expand the project from a rewrite of the Land Development Code to a rezoning of the whole city. Adler ignored the warnings from citizens, organizations, and City commissions that there were problems with both the CodeNext process and product.

Finally realizing that passing CodeNext would take more than six Council votes and that his political career was on the line, Adler decided to do the politically expedient thing and kill the project. Instead of discussing the issue openly and in public with the entire Council, Adler posted his announcement on a "message board" during a City Council meeting while the public’s focus was on the contentious Precourt soccer issue. He clearly made a deal with the five additional Council members who quickly agreed.

CodeNext will come back in another form with another name. The first line in Adler’s message called for a “new and different process.” Kitchen’s post said to “reboot this process.” Flannigan, Casar, Garza, and Renteria submitted a resolution in which “The City Manager is directed to develop and propose a new process.” Before that happens, an independent review is needed so that we can understand what went wrong. Those who don't learn from their mistakes are doomed to repeat them. To start with, we need a Mayor who can acknowledge mistakes instead of blaming others. Fortunately, there is already a process for that.

http://austincouncilforum.org/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=1076