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The center city will likely get a close look Tuesday night.

Council will be asked to authorize city funds that will be spent on Downtown Greensboro Incorporated. Council does this every year, and some council members -- including the mayor -- say the money they spend on DGI is well worth it. But this year, various council members have asked to know exactly how the organization is spending the taxpayers' money, and have wondered whether DGI really needs their financial contribution.

DGI, which has the singular mission of making the center city a better place, was allocated $255,000 in this year's city budget. They also receive money from a special tax levied on businesses within the center city. This year, that adds up to $480,000.

In fiscal year 06-07, DGI had a budget of about $880,000, according to that year's annual report. The bulk of the operating budget came from the tax revenue. But the city also contributed $255,000. About $111,000 came from private contributions.

Check out DGI's last annual report to see how that money has been spent.

More council meeting details:What: City Council
When: 5:30 p.m. today
Where: Melvin Municipal Office Building, 300 W. Washington St., Greensboro
On the agenda: Council will hold a hearing on a proposed Kernersville-Greensboro annexation agreement, which sets the future dividing line between the communities.
They will also be asked to accept grants that will pay for surveillance cameras on city buses.
Watch it: Time Warner Channel 13 or www.greensboro-nc.gov/citygovernment/council
How to speak: Sign up before the meeting. Speakers have up to three minutes for nonagenda items. The speakers-from-the-floor section is 30 minutes.

The goal, according to Mayor Yvonne Johnson, is a great quality of life.

That was her message at the annual state of the community forum last week. She wants to support business, and complete the Civil Rights Museum and the urban loop.

"While Greensboro is progressing, we definitely have challenges. We must be vigilant
about improving social capital," she said.

Read her full speech here.

There are several ways that a group can ask for funding from the Guilford County commissioners, but the typical way is through an application process for a grant in the regular budget. In Thursday's meeting, there appeared to be an attempt to get around that.

But for the uninitiated, a little background could help explain why it seemed peculiar.

And this the applicant list for 2008-09 looked like this. Pay special attention to line 11 for Nia Community Action Center. This will come up later.

Throughout the year, funding needs come up and are often paid for with the county's contingency fund, a fund often used for unexpected costs. One example of the county tapping this in the last year was when the state ordered the Guilford County Sheriff's Office to come up with 28 detention officers midway through the year. The about $600,000 for that came out of the county's contingency fund.

And usually, those along-the-way expenses come up farther along than just two months after passing the budget. That's just one reason that the $25,000 funding request from a community-based organization on Thursday seemed unusual.

Scoop recently received a voicemail from angry resident.

In addition to the sundry things this gentleman was disgruntled about, he wondered what on earth city council could be doing in all those closed sessions? Shouldn't they be doing business in public?

Yes, Mr. Madcaller, they should do most business in public session, per order of the state open meeting law. But they've also go plenty of things to discuss behind closed doors.
In the last three meetings, council has used closed sessions to talk about pending lawsuits, personnel problems, and real estate issues.

This council has asked for more information about the city's legal troubles -- particularly in regards to issues around the police department. And new city attorney Terry Wood has delivered, with regular updates on any and all revolving legal issues (including stuff like the man who sued the city after he got a truck stuck under a train bridge.)

That might be why said caller noticed all those closed session: council has been having a ton of them since Wood took over the top legal position in the city.

Litigation and personnel issues clearly fall within the confines of confidential conversations the council is allowed to have. But if council or the city makes some kind of deal -- be it a legal settlement or arbitration agreement -- that will be a matter of public record (again, per the public record law).

As for the real estate stuff, council has met behind closed doors to talk about potential property acquisitions around the Coliseum. Again, if the city makes a deal to buy something, that must be public upon return to closed session. But they can negotiate behind closed doors if they like.

Last month, the Greensboro Neighborhood Congress asked city council to adopt a policy for handling public records requests that ensures people get what they ask for in a timely fashion.

Council members seemed willing to consider it. They asked the city attorney to review the neighborhood recommendations and report back on the city's current procedures.

Right now, the city doesn't have any written policy regarding public records requests (although they must follow the procedures detailed under North Carolina state law.) The city currently does not have one single person, or ombudsman, responsible for monitoring all requests -- one of the recommendations made by the neighborhood organization.

This week City Manager Mitchell Johnson made his own recommendation: let the new assistant city manager figure it out.

The manager's office currently has an open position, which Johnson plans to fill with a person who will be his chief of staff and a city communications expert. That spot might be an ideal ombudsman of public records.

Johnson could hire someone to fill the slot as soon as this month.

"I would recommend that we continue to follow out current practices until our new (assistant city manager) is on board with a goal of meeting or exceeding the timelines as proposed by the Neighborhood congress," Johnson told council in a memo.

Tuesday afternoon, city council got an in-depth explanation of a citizen-shot video of a couple of police officers taking down an armed man at Smith Homes.

There has been some debate online and in the community about whether the police officers acted appropriately (the department says they did.) Council, at the request of Councilwoman Mary Rakestraw, got a full review of the incident from police Capt. Anita Holder.

She played the police radio calls, showed a video of proper police procedure and explained that the officers were dealing with a life or death situation.

Some council members said the officers had no choice but to respond the way they did, since the suspect did not cooperate. But others questioned certain actions by the officers, including Councilwoman Mary Rakestaw, who asked why the officer didn't use a nightstick.

Rakestraw's question sparked a tiff between her and Councilwoman Goldie Wells, who Rakestraw accused of laughing at her.

"This is pathetic, Yvonne," Rakestaw said to the mayor, exasperated. (Captured on video by Fox 8.)

Ultimately, Holder said it was difficult to second guess the officer's decision in that moment. And council, as a body, didn't make any group pronouncements or conclusions about the video.

But the exchange between Rakestraw and Wells continued after the meeting. The women had a heated discussion that lasted after most of the city staff and council members left the conference room.

Later, Rakestraw said the women agreed to sit down over a cup of coffee and try to find a way to respect each other, despite their disagreements.

Could the city, possibly, do anything about low-hanging pants? Mayor Yvonne Johnson asked City Attorney Terry Wood Tuesday night.

The mayor asked the question at the request of a resident, who noted a citizen effort in Winston-Salem to ban baggy pants.

The exposed-undergarment look is beyond the bounds of common decency, some argued.

"They are showing their whole backsides," Councilwoman Goldie Wells noted.

But unless the offender is exposing private parts, Wood said, there is not much the city can do about it.

Scoop wonders what council would think about the droopy drawers if they were haute couture (check out Thom Browne's Spring Fashion week show) instead of street culture?

Unfortunately for folks distressed by fashion disasters, the First Amendment protects purveyors of both good and bad taste.

A few commissioners questioned when the best time was to make decisions during Tuesday's work session.

In a recent work session during the doldrums of summer, a couple important decisions happened though not all commissioners were present. Most notable among the decisions was on how to build the $115 million jail.

This was an issue before with previous boards - making decisions during work sessions and agenda meetings. Doing so isn't illegal if a majority of the board is present, but the decisions aren't during the usual times when the board does its deciding in front of the lights and camera of a regular Thursday meeting.

Commissioner Linda Shaw spoke up against taking votes in work sessions during Tuesday's work session, something that didn't bother Commissioner Bruce Davis. And Shaw also suggested having an extra meeting per month.

Incidentally, the board already has two meeting per month during most months of the year, except summer months, when many take vacations.

"It’s a waste of time to sit here and talk," and not vote, Davis said, adding that some agenda items keep getting pushed back because a board member to hear about it separately during the time that's set for regular meetings.

Commissioner Carolyn Coleman agreed with Shaw's stance on work session voting, adding that she wanted to be able to vote in a time that was televised - which is the regular commissioners meeting.

"We vote for the citizens," Davis said, alluding to the power of an elected official to represent his or her constituents.

Later in the work session, as the board chose not to fund two items that had already had funding pulled or denied for one reason or another, Shaw refused to vote (which is counted as an automatic no), while the others in attendance voted as they would any other time there's a quorum present. Coleman, along with Davis, participated in both votes.

The Greensboro City Council has a jam-packed agenda Tuesday night.

On the top of the list of issues that might draw residents' interest: three rezoning requests and an ordinance regarding sex offenders.

The requested zoning changes include:

-- a new events center on New Garden Road. The planning department staff recommended against it, but the zoning commission gave it a thumbs up. Some neighbors were concerned about noise from such a facility.

-- 32 condos on Dolley Madison. Staff and the commission recommended approval.

-- 72 multi-family units on Penry Road. Staff and the commission said no to this one.

As for the sex offenders: Councilman Mike Barber is pressing his fellow council members to join ranks with public officials around the state to ban registered sex offenders from city parks.

The ordinance is a business item, and could come late in the evening (depending on how long the hearing items last.) It could bring an interesting debate about the safety of children versus the rights of ex-offenders who have already served their time and are duly registered.

... is hearing an elected official say that a meeting agenda looks dull. That can only mean, by rule of Murphy's Law, that tonight's meeting will be full of suspense, fireworks and the good gov't action that keeps dedicated legions of Scoopsters coming for more.

Well, here's the agenda for tonight's county commissioners meeting.

A few highlights include locking down an interest rate for $100 million of the county's finances, some riot gear for the county jail and a presentation on the county's new method for collecting taxes.

And then there's the sales tax. Commissioner Linda Shaw, who told us this morning that tonight's meeting looks a little dull, said she hopes to talk to the commissioners supporting the sales tax about how that the ball should get rolling. If it's going to pass, then there should be a little more promotion before the public in time for the fall election.

"We've only got about 50-some days before the election," she said.

Election Day is 46 days from today. And absentee balloting has begun. Early voting begins Oct. 16.

Our local governing bodies are known for their epic meetings and feisty exchanges.

And Scoop was fully caffeinated, ready for another round for county commissioners Thursday. The meeting began at its usual time, about 5 minutes after its official listed time of 5:30 p.m. But one particularly vocal member wasn't there: Democratic Commissioner Melvin "Skip" Alston.

"Well let’s hurry up so we won’t have to deal with him," Republican Commissioner Billy Yow said about Alston, who came in a few minutes later. He was driving from a state real estate commission meeting in Raleigh that afternoon.

Alston and Yow are approaching legendary status with their boardroom antics. The two will talk over one-another, even ignoring the chairman's gavel for order as they jockey to get in a last word in a hot debate. And either will lecture at length if an issue sparks their interest.

Before leaving, Scoop asked Alston what he thought of Yow's comment.

"Hey Billy," Alston, chuckling, said to Yow, "maybe the meeting would go faster if I weren't here."

Whether it's Alston, Yow, or any of the 11 commissioners, when a politician gets going about a pet issue, there's no stopping them.

Scoop and others at the press table were just excited that there was daylight left when the meeting ended about 7 p.m. Often the board usually goes on until 9 p.m. or later, and hey, we've all got families to see and beer to sip.

The city says it will buy the Canada Dry and Coliseum Inn properties on High Point Road. Click here for the full story.

The potential sale and use of the Canada Dry building has been discussed for years, at times with much passion. The building will sell for $3.2 million, $500,000 less than owners were asking for the property last year. (Obligatory full disclosure note: the wife of News & Record editor John Robinson's family owns the Canada Dry property.)

So is this a good sale and fair price?

Update: Click here for the release from the city.

Politico.com said that regular folks are calling up their legislators on the $700 billion bailout plan for the tanked investment banks.

Whoa. Getting local involvement in things usually happens on super controversial issues (abortion, guns control, etc.) and campaigns for one piece of legislation, which leads to a flood of calls. This is a "dull roar," politico said:

Main Street’s reaction is strikingly similar to that on the addled Hill, as members weigh the threat of financial collapse against what many believe to be the most fiscally irresponsible legislation they have ever seen. “Where’s the backlash?” asked a leadership aide yesterday. “We’re kind of expecting it. But so far the calls we’ve been getting are very organic, not like the wave of calls we get when someone’s organizing a campaign.”

Most senators say they have seen a moderate rise in the number of calls and e-mails from people questioning or commenting on the plan. Senate Finance and Banking Committee member Charles Schumer (D-N.Y.), for one, hasn’t seen any uptick in overall contact back home — but almost all of the calls and e-mails he has been getting lately are about the crisis, his staff says.

Here's the question, though. Are you contacting your legislator over this? Are you looking for a way to get up with your elected official?

Here's how:

Senators-
Richard Burr

Elizabeth Dole

Representatives-
Howard Coble
Virginia Foxx
Brad Miller
Mel Watt

Other Congress members in NC.

You could have fresh, clean air in your home or work, thanks - kind of - to Guilford County.

All you need is a one green American dollar to pick up an old HEPA filter that from a health clinic that didn't sell in Saturday's surplus auction.

Old cop cars went for about $2,000. Buses: $900 apiece.

Scoop sees a great chance here in the next auction (March 28) to save up some change and get that sweet old Crown Vic that we've been eyeballing.

And the county's take from Saturday: $59,406.50.

If you still want that filter, call down to the county's purchasing department at 641-3226.

Scoop was propped up typing notes at this morning's 7:30 a.m. county commissioners forum when we heard something that perked us up like a cup of black coffee.

Eddie Souther, the District 4 Republican county commissioner candidate is loaded. He's got a permit to carry concealed weapons. And so does his wife. Big-time Second Amendment people, they are.

He brought it up while talking Thursday on how Guilford County could work better with other municipalities, and its citizens. Particularly with regard to the county's gun range.

"I’d like to open that up to public use," he said.

Later that day we bumped into his opponent, Board of Commissioners Chairman Kirk Perkins and at large Commissioner Paul Gibson, who was sitting next to Souther earlier at the forum.

"I was looking down to see if there was something there," Gibson said, joking, referring to maybe sighting an ankle holster.

"I'm just glad that I was at the other end of the table," Perkins said.

Now, politics around here can get fiery, but not gun-fiery. That's the stuff of rogue states, juntas and banana republics. And Guilford County politicians are a far more refined bunch than that, right? Right?

Maybe you've noticed Guilford Sheriff BJ Barnes' iconic goatee.

It's gone.

Why?

Thursday at a Jail Advisory Committee meeting, Barnes faced a few county administrators and commissioners who wore that expression that says "there's something different about you."

"It's getting loose up here," Barnes said, as he pointed to top of his head. Then Barnes rubbed is now-bare chin. "And it's getting white down here."

"I thought you looked younger," said Vice Chairwoman Kay Cashion.

"To be honest with you Kay, that was the idea," Barnes said of his sleek new look.

We heard that Oil of Olay really shaves off the years, too. That's what Gramma Scoop always told us.

The 2008 Greensboro bond supporters have rolled out their advertising campaign.

So has the city (although technically speaking, they can't "promote" the bonds.)

But Scoop has heard only crickets from voters.

What are folks thinking? Is $50 million worth it for a new auditorium? Is a road bond the only way to pave roads and build greenways? How about $20 million for Parks and Recreation, which will partially pay for a $12 million pool complex?

How about the economics of it? If all the bonds pass, it would take an extra 2.5 cents on the property tax rate to fund all those projects. Will the current financial uncertainty play a role in the way you vote on election day?