Episodes
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In this episode, Patrick and Chad look at the Scottie Scheffler arrest and subsequent dismissal of charges from the perspective of a city manager. What went wrong and how can you do better? Then we consider the legacy of the Progressive Movement's impact on city management and discuss whether the paradigm it ushered in has us thinking about cities the wrong way.
05:47 - The Scottie Scheffler mishap from a city manager's perspective
Social Life of Small Urban SpacesAmerican Urbanist: How William H. Whyte's Unconventional Wisdom Reshaped Public Life (Amazon)
27:24 - Does our MPA train us to look at cities the wrong way? -
In this episode, Pat and Chad talk about inflation remaining stubborn and how cities can/should better report their infrastructure liabilities.
00:00 - on pets
01:55 - on inflation
16:10 - on assets and liabilities -
Episodes manquant?
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On this episode, we talk about:
The world's most expensive bathroom, the regulations that led to it, and how can we be better in our own cities?Houston is broke, but why? McKinsey suggests automated vehicles will induce continued population expansion into outer ring neighborhoods and rural areasTimestamps
00:22 - New TeamZac member
01:32 - Setting hiring policy on the podcast
02:55 - Generations Z and Alpha
03:51 - The difference between Pat and Chad
06:09 - The most expensive public restroom
14:31 - Can we incorporate staff accountability for getting a project done?
16:18 - The Purple Slip
19:38 - Can we just empower employees?
28:16 - Houston is broke
39:36 - On urban highway expansion
48:03 - McKinsey on the benefits of autonomous vehicles
57:47 - Could AVs eliminate the need for parking?
60:15 - AV cabs as public transportation: worst of both worlds?
62:04 - Special announcement timeNotes
A Close Examination of the Most Infamous Public Toilet in America (NY Times)Houston mayor says the city is broke (Fox 26 Houston)Here's the real reason Houston is going broke (Strong Towns)Autonomous Driving's Future: Convenient and Connected (McKinsey)Smart Bumps -
In this episode, Chad and Pat debrief from the Utah City Managers Association conference and talk about differences in management cultures among these United States. We talk about the growing concern of a doom loop cycle in urban commercial real estate, what is a doom loop, why do they happen, and how can cities mitigate their impacts or avoid them altogether. We follow up with a conversation about how to compare and evaluate the quality of your downtowns. Finally, we chat about a recent think piece on fire departments.
00:20 - Debrief from the Utah City Managers Association Conference and differences in management culture among states
19:26 - The Urban CRE Doom Loop: What is it and how to avoid it
34:04 - How should we compare and evaluate downtowns?
35:45 - Vibe-Oriented Development
43:51 - On Fire DepartmentsLinks
Many Cities Fear the 'Doom Loop' (WSJ - The Journal)Why the CRE Urban Doom Loop May Still Be Coming (Odd Lots)On Fire Departments (Thesis Driven) -
In this episode, we talk about:
The sales tax implications of Amazon lockers and whether remote taxpayers should be subjected to detailed audits to verify that their tax payments are accurate;Recent changes to Appraisal Board composition and various other property tax topics a recent Y'allitics episode stirred up; andZoning reform measures likely headed to Texas in the next legislative session.00:30 - April Fool's Day Recap
04:30 - No Soap Radio
08:45 - Amazon Lockers and auditing remote sales taxpayers
25:19 - Changes to Appraisal District board composition
46:18 - Zoning reform is coming to TexasLinks
Y'allitics Episode 267Dunning-Kruger EffectTexas Tribune article on prospective zoning reforms (Texas Tribune) -
Fresh off of Spring Break and without a lot of hard hitting topics to discuss, Pat and Chad bounce between friendly and city topics.
00:12 - Intro
00:42 - Spring Break activities
03:09 - Paw Patrol Live (and other such shows)
05:25 - Kids YouTube
08:00 - Bozo The Clown, Homie the Clown, and Dougie the Whale
10:45 - Paw Patrol revisited
13:20 - Disney plot holes
14:56 - What are we watching?
16:34 - Rents are falling in Austin
19:08 - Population surge in the Texas Triangle
21:52 - Moneyball for cities: yea or nay?
30:00 - Baseball's back
35:33 - College vs Pro Sports in the DFW region
37:19 - Mowing szn
38:20 - Signing off -
In this episode, Pat and Chad talk about a couple of big reversals. First, March sales tax allocations in Texas appear to have unwound all of the audit adjustments from last month. Pat and Chad talk about the impacts and how we can put Humpty Dumpty back together moving forward.
Then, in the wake of Tuesday's primary elections, we discuss what "local control" means and if our conventional view of the concept might need its own reversal. When should cities have autonomy? Are there first principles we can lean on to identify when a problem should be addressed at a regional or state level instead? A difficult devil's advocate conversation ensues, and we'd love to keep the conversation going with you!
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A major sales tax audit adjustment hit cities across the state of Texas in February. Chad and Patrick talk about the adjustment and some issues it highlighted. We follow up with a discussion on the recent performance of downtowns versus power centers, and the under-appreciated role that downtowns play in differentiating your city.
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In this episode:
(01:20) Sales tax momentum has been slowing for some time now. We dig in to the numbers and issue a red flag warning as cities head into mid-year budget amendments and next year's budget cycle.
Sales tax momentum continues to slow in Texas (ZacTax blog)(10:10) An episode of WSJ's The Journal podcast piqued Patrick's interest, so we discuss the UK post office scandal and lessons to be learned for city managers.
The Computer Glitch That Caused Nearly 1,000 Convictions (WSJ's The Journal)(29:30) We wrap up with an unplanned chat about the need for a city working group to define software interoperability standards so that cities can wrest power back from ERP and other software vendors.
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Pat and Chad are back for the first episode of 2024. After some throat-clearing chit chat, we discuss:
What do you do when a local news report or social media post gains traction, but you know the meat of the story isn't true? And how can cities be proactive in their communities to avoid such things in the first place?What's going on in the Texas legislature on school funding, and what's the impact on cities?Although the title might suggest it, there is no explicit content in this episode!
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In this episode, Patrick and Chad talk about softening retail sales figures and changes to the retail real estate landscape. We finish with a March Madness style Christmas movie showdown.
The American Store is Shrinking (WSJ) -
On today's episode, Pat and Chad talk about the holidays, from retail sales forecasts to planning holiday events to the appropriate time to start decorating. And because we can never seem to get through a fall episode without it, stick around for a spirited college football discussion.
Timestamps
00:32 - Holiday retail sales forecasts
13:12 - The joys of public events at the holidays
23:23 - Are we cool with decorating before Thanksgiving?
33:48 - Gratuitous college football razzing -
Newest TeamZac member Maria Skrut joins the show as we talk about a recent NY Times article on the future of drive-throughs. Where does the drive-through rank on the hierarchy of good urban design? Is the rise of the drive-through a result of growing anti-social behavior, as the article suggests? And what is the drive-through's impact on walkability, community development, and social capital?
Hungry (but Not for Human Contact), Americans Head for the Drive-Through (NYT)Taylor Swift Meme -
Household savings skyrocketed during the pandemic. Now that they're falling back to Earth, will retail sales come down with them? What other headwinds might stand in the way of the significant growth we've seen since 2020? Also, is Trunk-or-Treat a harmless Halloween innovation or a sign that we have given up on creating safe, walkable neighborhoods?
Timelines
00:00 - Throat clearing
05:15 - What's up in retail?
14:18 - Headwinds for 2024-2025?
23:45 - Is Trunk-or-Treat a symptom of bad walkability?
42:30 - College football and third placesLinks
Nicolas Cage Filmography (IMDB)Why retail stocks are suffering (The Street)Where did Trick-or-Treating come from? (Stuff You Should Know)Peaches Song (Mario Movie)Mike Leach on Halloween Candy (YouTube) -
Come for the best natural segue Patrick has ever managed... stick around for a discussion about the Texas Legislature's current struggles with property tax reform and how it may impact cities.
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A bill in the Texas Legislature could have a chilling effect on the home-rule status of Texas cities; SB2's property tax reforms could have significant implications for certain economic development mechanisms; and our thoughts on the 15-minute city and the brewing controversy around the topic.
Links
How the Texas GOP became the party of big government (Texas Monthly)HB 2127The 15-Minute City: Where urban planning meets conspiracy theories (NY Times)The Last Utopia: The 15-Minute City (Alain Bertaud)Order Without Design (Alain Bertaud) -
Patrick and Chad discuss a proposed Costco/apartment complex in South LA, how multi-family can be better integrated into suburban areas, and give an update on the 2023 Texas Legislative Session.
Costco wants to build a different kind of store in South L.A. (LA Times)HB 1465 - Grandfathering old sales tax sourcing rulesHB 1513 - SB 546 - Homestead exemption changesSB 547 - Homestead exemption changes, "Prop 13 bill"Local sales and use tax on residential use of gas and electricity (Texas Comptroller) -
Not a Stranger, Not a Friend (Strong Towns)Internet of S*** (Twitter account)ChatGPT
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First Errands (99% Invisible)This Way and That Way
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3:00 - Local control and California's housing programs
The Rise of the Single-Family Home (The Daily by the New York Times)27:25 - Strong Towns podcast on customer service
What Customer Service Should Mean for a City (Strong Towns Podcast)46:20 - Quick return to California
4630 - reels clip
57:40 - Cities preparing for recession
US Cities are Preparing for Recession (Bloomberg)US Cities Prepare for Recession (Fortune, paywall)All the (Unemployed) Young Dudes (The Fifth Column podcast) - Montre plus
