A couple of weeks ago, we had a tip. For the first time, the City of Colorado Springs intended to throw a State of the City Address Watch Party for city employees.
According to our tipster, there were no such events with past mayoral administrations.
The watch party email invitation mentioned having a cup of coffee while watching the mayor’s address. A cup of coffee doesn’t sound terribly expensive- as long as it’s not Starbucks!
The mayor typically holds a State of the City address to communicate the city’s progress on municipal projects, provide the public with updated information about a wide variety of the city’s public policy goals and directives, and typically provides a vision for the city’s future.
We reached out to the City of Colorado Springs Chief Communications Officer Vanessa Zink and asked some questions:
Hi Vanessa,
I would appreciate a comment about the upcoming city employee watch party for the mayor’s State of the City address. I understand the city is holding the party next week. From what I understand, this is something new and has not been done in the past. Is there a reason the city has decided on a watch party? Also, what is the anticipated expense to taxpayers?
I appreciate your time.
Rebecca Marshall
Springs Taxpayers United
Here is Ms. Zink’s response:
Hi, Rebecca,
City employees will have the opportunity to watch the Mayor’s speech in a conference room at the City Administration Building on Monday. His State of the City address is a recap of the work that City employees have contributed to over the last year, and we believe it is motivating for our team members to be with one another as they hear this recap from their executive. This is not the first time City employees are being encouraged to watch a State of the City address. Some departments have held their own “watch parties” in the past. I don’t know if this is the first time multiple departments are coming together to watch it.
The event is not catered. It is a low maintenance, cross-department opportunity to gather that saves seats for residents who want to listen to the Mayor in person at City Hall.
Thanks,
Vanessa
Our Take
Should city employees watch the mayor’s address on their own time? Probably. Taxpayers do. If city employees know what is going on in their work departments, they should already know what the mayor is going to say. A State of the City address should be focused on you- the taxpayers. The address is about what’s happening and what’s planned in the near future. It’s not about giving pats on the back to city employees. Zink mentioned it’s “motivating for our team members to be with one another as they hear this recap from their executive”. Do employees need a pep talk from the boss? That’s not the purpose of the State of the City address, as we’ve mentioned.
We’re reasonably reassured taxpayers didn’t pay to cater a watch party, though, we would have preferred a response indicating zero taxpayer funds were spent.
Did you catch the State of the City address? Here’s the link, in case you missed it.