Source: City of Richardson and ChatGPT.
The Richardson City Council is in the process of filling a vacancy created by the resignation of Councilmember Dan Barrios. Project teams sometimes use a simple exercise called "Roses and Thornd" to reflect on a completed project and identify lessons learned. Things that went well and that we can be proud of are "roses." Things that didn't go well are "thorns." Barrios's seat isn't filled yet (and won't be filled until late September), but we can see how the process is likely to play out, so it's not too soon to hand out some roses and thorns.
A thorn to Dan Barrios for not resigning when he announced he was running for Congress. He wasn't forced to. He chose not to. He later voted for a "resign to run" amendment to the City Charter so that future candidates could not do the same.
A thorn for those members of the council who wanted to add a "resign to run" provision to the City Charter *and* make it retroactive to Councilmember Dan Barrios, thus forcibly creating a vacancy in the first place.
A rose to the council for responding to public pushback by making the "resign to run" provision apply only to future resignations.
A rose to Councilmember Dan Barrios for delaying his official resignation until after the City Council adopted a process for naming his replacement. (Full disclosure: I originally wanted him to resign immediately. He didn't, but I was pleased that at least something good came of it.)
A rose to the council for taking the time to work out rules and procedures for filling a vacancy, thus filling a gap left by the City Charter.
A thorn to Councilmember Curtis Dorian for wanting to reopen the debate just before the process was about to be used for the first time ("Council Recap: Dorian Wants A Second Bite at the Apple").
A rose to Councilmember Jennifer Justice for bluntly putting that idea to rest. "As to the process, we talked about it ad nauseam. I have absolutely zero interest in reopening what we talked about until we were blue in the face. And quite frankly, I'm sick of talking about the process. We have adopted a process. This is the process, and I am not interested in changing it."
A rose to Mayor Amir Omar for guiding the process to a consensus. He didn't always get his preferred outcome, but others didn't either. He handled it all with a deft touch and reached an outcome that received unanimous approval.
A rose to the council for adopting a process that is open and transparent. The deliberations over which applicants to interview will happen in open session. The interviews will also take place in open session.
A thorn to the council for not deliberating in open session about who the three finalists will be and who should receive the appointment. Maybe next time they will have the confidence in themselves that they can conduct the process in an open and transparent manner without embarrassing the applicants or themselves. The public deserves to see every stage of the appointment process, including the council's deliberations. The public interest deserves nothing less.
Quotes have been lightly edited for clarity and brevity.
"Empty council chair,
Rose stems bear both bloom and barb.
Richardson looks on."
—h/t ChatGPT
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