Cost Cutting Hoax: the Arizona Centennial Museum

One of the most frustrating aspects of the Governors attack on the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum is that, in the midst of the fiscal crisis, it is so easy to fool people into thinking it is a cost reduction. This is true even though the Governors office was very clumsy in presenting the deception. For example, within days of the Governors February 16 press release about the Arizona Centennial Museum, the Governors office released this statement in response to questions (bold italics added):

Note: ADMMR is the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources, of which the mineral museum was a part until July 29, 2010.

Plans for the Centennial Museum began many months ago and were born out of the fact that ADMMR was losing ability to deliver on its statutory mission after the series of budget cuts over the last year. The budget cuts necessarily came out of personnel and other non-rent funds, resulting in the loss of significant staff and program capability. It was clear ADMMR needed to find a cheaper facility, which led to the concept of re-purposing the facility into the Centennial Museum. As far as rent, the AHS will receive through a budget transfer the amount of money currently allocated for rent in the ADMMR budget. In future years, the AHS budget will increase by the amount necessary to cover rent. Additionally, the employee position and funds for the curator currently budgeted in ADMMR will be transferred to AHS to assist in managing the new museum. As far as the question of title, that was one of the first questions asked of the Arizona Department of Administration (ADOA), and we were assured that the new concept would cause no concern. The plans for the future of ADMMR are still ongoing as the original concept of moving them into empty space at the Governor's Offices with a mineral museum on the 1st and 2nd floors was ruled out due to the metal detectors which could not be relocated. The ADOA is examining other State owned office space where rent is currently being paid by some other agency where we can relocate ADMMR. We have some period of time while the Centennial Museum is being designed to find a new location for ADMMR, so the move is not imminent.

The logic in the bold type can be summarized as follows:

• The rent for the mineral museum building was no longer affordable

• All of the currently budgeted ADMMR rent money was transferred to the AHS. In future years, the AHS will be given whatever money is required for the building rent.

• The ADMMR now occupies space paid for by another agency.

Isn’t third grade arithmetic sufficient to determine that total cost increased?

Note: There is actually a hoax within a hoax. As explained in the original June 5^th post, the state of Arizona owns the building and there are no liens. Yet, ADMMR was charged market value rent, as if the State had no equity in the building. Most of the rent money became pork in another department.

Appendix: Other messages from the Governors office

Feb 24,1010 - to Tim in England

Dear Tim
The Mining and Minerals Museum (MMM) which is under the Department of Mines and Minerals Resources (DMMR) has been hit hard by the budget cuts and cannot afford its rent in that rather large facility and still have enough staff to accomplish their mission. For that reason, we started looking at moving the staff and records of DMMR to less costly facilities, and re-purposing the MMM. That is where we came up with the idea of the privately funded Centennial museum. The minerals collections will be incorporated into the mining related exhibits and the outside equipment will be utilized as well. The Museum responsibilities will be transferred to the Arizona Historical Society, which administers many museum collections. The Museum will not close, unless for remodeling purposes, we need to close it for short periods over the course of the next two years. DMMR will probably not move until July, and we are still looking for appropriate space for them. The Centennial Museum will be a permanent museum and will be state of the art and a big attraction for the public. I hope this helps.
ends (apparently the initials of sender)

March 12, to Paul in Arizona

Your e-mail to Constituent Services was forwarded to me for further comment. I understand you would like to see the Minerals Museum continue as is, but with the enormous budget reductions we have seen in the past couple of years, and with more coming, The Department and of Mines and Mineral Resources (which must pay the rent on the building)has been so significantly cut that I believe it is now down to three employees (paid for with State funds). The agency can no longer adequately fulfill its statutory mission, of which the museum is only used as a tool to educate the public. Rather than close the museum and eliminate the agency, the Governor sought private sector donors to replace what is essentially a publicly funded special interest museum, with a privately funded broader spectrum special interest museum. The State's Centennial seemed a logical event to rally a fund raising effort. We hope donors will be generous so we can actually have a museum at all. The current minerals collection is only housed on a portion of the 1st floor. The agency will move its library collection and staff to another location, which will free up additional space. The Director of the Arizona Historical Society has stated that she believes the entire minerals collection can be incorporated into the new exhibits which will occupy both floors. I personally hope that I can find adequate space for the Department of Mines and Minerals Resources in other State owned space where it can have a public library and perhaps a smaller mineral museum, but rent could still be an issue. I am also working on a plan to digitize all of the paper records of the agency so they will be backed up and would be available online, however that comes with a cost as well. While I understand your convictions and probably can do little to convince you to think otherwise, I did feel I should offer some additional information for your consideration. I hope this helps in someway.

Michael E. Anable
Natural Resource Policy Advisor
Office of Governor Janice K. Brewer
State Of Arizona
1700 W. Washington
Phoenix, AZ 85007

Challenge via email from Bob

On October 10^th, the following appeared on the Arizona Republic Opinions page under the heading: Jan Brewer, with friends like these …

As the MoveOn.org-style liberals have demonstrated to President Barack Obama, your friends often can be lots more vicious than your enemies. Case in point: the libertarian Cato Institute, a shrine of sorts for fiscal conservatives, just savaged Gov. Jan Brewer's fiscal policies (they gave her a "D"), mostly for backing the temporary sales-tax hike.
(Doug McEachern)

Wishing to provide the Governor with as much recognition as possible for the 5C Arizona Centennial Museum, I posted the following comment on www.azcentral.com.

She didn't even deserve a D. She is still squandering millions on her own pork projects: millions for her Arizona Centennial Museum and 7 million for the sidewalk to nowhere on Centennial Way.

Someone identified as Bob8930 then responded with:

Arizona Centennial Museum is privately funded. You forgot to mention that - or perhaps you didn't forget.

And Centennial Way? That is a boondoggle created by Mayor Gordon and funded by federal and city funds.

You get a Zero on your report and an F for your grade.

Discussion:

Bob is misinformed about the funding for the centennial museum. The Governor did promise that “no public funds” would be used, but it is not true. The Arizona Centennial Museum will cost taxpayers millions every year. This is explained in the prior July21 post “Who will pay for the Arizona Centennial Museum?

Centennial Way is a bit more complicated. Since the street is city property and the city is administrating the contract, Mayor Gordon probably has some involvement.

My comment on Centennial Way was based on a Sep. 9^th article in the Arizona Republic that was discussed in the prior Oct 8 post:" Are misappropriated funds being used for Centennial Way?. The Republic said that the Centennial Way project “is a collaboration of the Arizona Centennial Commission and other public and private groups”. This implies that the Arizona Centennial Commission is the lead entity. Governor Brewer is cochairman of the Arizona Centennial Commission and therefore has at least some responsibility.

The Republic article does not quote Mayor Gordon as it describes the project. It does quote Karen Churchard. The following information about Karen Churchard is posted on the internet:

Director, Arizona Centennial Commission and
Asst. Deputy Director, Arizona Office of Tourism
1110 W. Washington Street, Suite 155
Phoenix, AZ 85007
(602) 364-4158
(602) 364-3701 (F)
www.arizonaguide.com
www.azot.gov

Karen Churchard is the Assistant Deputy Director of the Arizona Office of Tourism (AOT), the state agency charged with branding Arizona on a global scale, positioning Arizona as a premier leisure travel destination and bringing new dollars into the state. Karen’s primary responsibility is serving as the Director of the Arizona Centennial Commission (2012) as well as overseeing AOT events and sponsorships.

So, directly or indirectly, Karen Churchard obviously reports to Governor Brewer, and the Governor is responsible for her actions. (note 2 below proves the Governor was at least aware of the Centennial Way project and was actively promoting it)

I am glad that Bob8930 recognizes Centennial Way as a “boondoggle”, and I hope to eventually convince him that the Arizona Centennial Museum is a boondoggle as well.

As to whether the Mayor or the Governor is primarily responsible for the Centennial Way boondoggle, we could use a little help. Perhaps someone out there could provide one or both of the following:

1. Arizona Centennial Commission Minutes involving Centennial Way
2. A copy of the application for the FHWA Transportation Enhancement funds

Note 1: The Centennial Plan is posted at www.arizona.org Page 6 identifies Centennial Way as a signature project and describes it as follows:

WASHINGTON STREET (CENTENNIAL WAY) | This collaborative project between ADOT, City of Phoenix and the Arizona Centennial Commission includes new widened decorative concrete sidewalks, more highly defined crosswalks, ADA curb ramp improvements, bike lanes, enhanced pedestrian lighting, and additional street scape elements. Travelers will have the opportunity to enjoy the history of Arizona and beauty of Washington Street as a ―promenade‖ beginning at the historic Maricopa County Courthouse & Phoenix City Hall to the historic copper domed Arizona Capitol Museum. The first phase of this project, in collaboration with the Phoenix Community Alliance, includes Centennial Way signage and State Flag Banners.

Note 2: On Thursday, February 18, 2010, the Governor hosted the Governors Centennial Summit at the Orpheum Theater. According to Politico Mafioso, her presentation included the following:

Another Centennial project that is currently underway is the beautifying of the Arizona Capitol Mall –Washington Street from 7th Avenue to 17th Avenue – with projects such as the dedication of “Centennial Way,” the Phoenix Community Alliance’s “Arizona State Flag Walk,” and new landscape, sidewalks, etc.

Note 3: This blog has a 100% accuracy goal. Comments, criticism, and challenges are all welcome and will be used to clarify issues wherever and whenever possible.

UPDATE to “What’s happening to the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum”, Oct 2010

The original June 5 blog post entitled “What’s happening to the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum” described preparation and passage of the bill transferring the mineral museum to the Arizona Historical Society (AHS) for them to decimate and convert into the Governors 5C Arizona Centennial Museum.

The bill became law on July 29, and the AHS has taken control of the mineral museum. Conversion to the centennial museum has not started because centennial museum fund raising has been unsuccessful thus far.

The long circulating story about Freeport donating a million dollars for the %C Arizona Centennial Museum appears to be only partially true. Apparently the commitment is conditional, requiring completion and approval of centennial museum plans.

No plan has been presented for the centennial museum. The sole source out of state contractor did circulate a questionnaire seeking input for new displays. The questions suggest that the centennial museum, if built, will be a social studies museum.

At the moment, the mineral museum continues to function as it did. Most of the volunteers are still supporting it and the earth science education educating programs. However, the volunteers are extremely apprehensive about the future, and the curator has resigned.

Though work cannot start on the centennial museum, millions of state tax dollars are being diverted to the AHS to administer and maintain it. The AHS budget increased over 50% in the last year.

The Governor committed 7 million dollars (federal pork) to replace the perfectly functional sidewalks on Centennial Way (in front of the museum) with wider ones including some extra frills. The contract has been placed, and this may now be the greatest threat to the functionally restored stamp mill front of the museum.

Even though there was no need to do so at this time, the Governors office spent tens of thousands of dollars in September to move the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources (ADMMR) out of the mineral museum building. They are now in temporary quarters in two different buildings. Offices are in one on Adams Street, and some of the mine and mineral records are in another on Washington Street. The public no longer has easy access to the department because the offices are in a health department building with controlled access. Their function is badly compromised. Personnel are in one building, data files are in a second building, and mineral samples are in third under AHS control.

So, after over a year of preparation, the Governor appears to have accomplished absolutely nothing except to push through the bill inappropriately transferring the mineral museum to the AHS, to squander 7 million dollars on a sidewalk to nowhere (no one will use it), and to make an absolute mess out of the ADMMR. Which centennial is the 5C Arizona Centennial Museum being prepared for?

Are misappropriated funds being used for Centennial Way?

The existing and more than adequate sidewalks along West Washington Street (Now Centennial Way in Phoenix) will be torn up and replaced with wider decorative sidewalks. This project was described by Lynh Bui in the Arizona Republic on Sep 9^th (Phoenix’s Washington Street will receive centennial face lift). This article was discussed previously in the Sep10th post “Governor Brewer to spend $7,000,000 on an unneeded sidewalk”. Actually, as described by Bui, the project includes some new features in addition to the sidewalk. It includes “widening sidewalks, planting hundreds of palm and shade trees, and installing shaded bus stops”. It also includes “commemorative and informational displays ---- and more lighting and shade structures”.

Is this a legitimate use of Federal transportation funds? Given the near total absence of foot traffic (or any traffic actually) on this street, how can it be useful? Certainly it will do nothing to reduce traffic congestion or to repair an essential existing transportation corridor.

Phoenix recently placed contract ST85140038-FHWA (Centennial Way Federal Aid-Transportation Enhancement 2 Step Design build Services). If the money is mostly Federal highway Administration (FHWA) money provided under the Transportation Enhancement program, then it is presumably subject to the restrictions in the following document:

FHWA Guidance

Transportation Enhancement Activities

US Department of Transportation

Federal Highway Administration

Mar 25, 2010 update

www.fhwa.dot.gov/environment/te/1999guidance.htm

The document reveals that, like many federal programs, the Transportation Enhancement (TE) has a deceptive name. The program does not do basic traffic enhancement like reducing congestion. It is a pork program providing funding for non essential frills along transportation corridors. Nevertheless, there are specific and (for a government document) rather succinct limitations on the use of the money. The following list of eligible activities is listed on page 4 of the FHWA document cited above. Note that the items on the list are not examples. The money is only for those items on the list.

Eligible Activities [Revised January 19, 2006]

The list of qualifying TE activities provided in 23 U.S.C. 101(a)(35) is intended to be exclusive, not illustrative.

That is, only those activities listed therein are eligible as TE activities. They are listed below. [This paragraph and the list below were revised on November 4, 2005]

TE Activities Defined-

A. Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.

B. Provision of safety and educational activities for pedestrians and bicyclists.

C. Acquisition of scenic easements and scenic or historic sites (including historic battlefields).

D. Scenic or historic highway programs (including the provision of tourist and welcome center facilities).

E. Landscaping and other scenic beautification.

F. Historic preservation.

G. Rehabilitation and operation of historic transportation buildings, structures, or facilities (including historic railroad facilities and canals).

H. Preservation of abandoned railway corridors (including the conversion and use of the corridors for pedestrian or bicycle trails).

I. Inventory, control, and removal of outdoor advertising.

J. Archaeological planning and research.

K. Environmental mitigation

i. to address water pollution due to highway runoff; or

ii. reduce vehicle-caused wildlife mortality

Comparing the preliminary Centennial Way plan (as described by Bui) to the list of acceptable uses of the “Transportation Enhancement” money:

1. trees – this matches item E on the list, and is acceptable

2. bus stops – not on the list

3. lighting – not on the list

4. commemorative displays – not on the list

5. wider sidewalks (discussion follows)

Some might argue that a wider sidewalk is a “facility” for pedestrians. No other item on the FHWA list of approved items can possibly be interpreted to mean wider sidewalks, or even sidewalks.

However, consider the phrase “provision of”. If something is “provided”, then it was obviously not there before. The existing sidewalks along Centennial Way are more than adequate for the sporadic pedestrian and bicycle traffic.

FHWA provides the following examples to explain the "provision of facilities"

	Provision of facilities for pedestrians and bicycles.	New or reconstructed sidewalks, walkways, or curb ramps; wide paved shoulders for nonmotorized use, bike lane striping, bike parking, and bus racks; construction or major rehabilitation of off-road shared use paths (nonmotorized transportation trails); trailside and trailhead facilities for shared use paths; bridges and underpasses for pedestrians and bicyclists and for trails.

"New sidewalk obviously implies that no existing sidewalk is there, and "reconstructed" obviously implies the existing sidewalk is not safe or usable.

Therefore, it appears that the planned Centennial Way project is mostly a misappropriation of FHWA Transportation Enhancement funds.

The Arizona State Flag: Did Governor Brewer ever look at it?

West Washington Street in Phoenix, which leads to the State Capital, is currently decorated with Arizona Flags in preparation for the centennial. At the center of the star is a two foot copper star, representing the pride that Arizona once had in being the nation’s number one copper producer. Presently, the copper stars on the flags are nicely complimented by the Arizona Mining Mineral and Museum at 1502 W. Centennial Way. The museum features copper products and copper mining, as well as the unique Arizona geology that includes extraordinarily rich copper deposits.

However, Governor Brewer and the Arizona Historical Society (as explained in prior blog posts) plan to dismantle the mineral museum and replace it with a 5C Arizona Centennial Museum featuring cotton, cattle, citrus, climate, and copper. The motivation for this change is unknown, but cannot be based on Arizona history. At the time of statehood, Arizona was proud of being the top copper producer, and the flag was designed accordingly.

The flag has no cotton balls, no cows, and no grapefruit. The Governor should look at the 2 foot tall copper star on one of those flags, and think about why it is there.

References:

From www.azgovernor.gov (facts about Arizona)

The lower half of the flag is a blue field, the upper half divided into thirteen equal segments, six light yellow and seven red. In the center of the flag is a copper-colored five-point star. The red and the blue are the same shades as the flag of the United States of America, and it measures four feet high and six feet wide. The flag was designed by Charles W. Harris and first sewn by Nan D. Hayden. Blue and yellow are the Arizona colors, and red and yellow the colors of the Spanish Conquistadores headed by Coronado who first came to Arizona in 1540. The copper star represents Arizona as the largest producer of copper in the nation.

ARS Title 41
CHAPTER 4.1 - HISTORY, ARCHAEOLOGY AND STATE EMBLEMS.
Article 5 - State Emblems.
Sections 41-851 & 41-852.
41-851. State colors; state flag

A. Blue and old gold shall be the colors of the state. The blue shall be the same shade as that of the flag of the United States.

B. The flag of the state shall be of the following design:

The lower half of the flag a blue field and the upper half divided into thirteen equal segments or rays which shall start at the center on the lower line and continue to the edges of the flag, colored alternately light yellow and red, consisting of six yellow and seven red rays. In the center of the flag, superimposed, there shall be a copper-colored five pointed star, so placed that the upper points shall be one foot from the top of the flag and the lower points one foot from the bottom of the flag. The red and blue shall be the same shade as the colors in the flag of the United States. The flag shall have a four-foot hoist and a six-foot fly, with a two-foot star and the same proportions shall be observed for flags of other sizes.

C. The flag represents the copper star of Arizona rising from a blue field in the face of a setting sun.

Some Birthday Present: the 5C Arizona Centennial Museum

Suppose that, on you birthday, a friend gave you the keys to a new little Chevy Aveo. However, after the party, they quietly slipped you a booklet of payment coupons. They actually bought the car on credit using your identity. And, oh yeah, they used you six month old Lincoln Town Car for the trade in.

Would you be happy?

That is about what Governor Brewer did to Arizona when she presented the 5C Arizona Centennial Museum (see the following online news release):

February 12, 2010 (602) 542-1342

Governor Announces Centennial Birthday Present

Privately-funded museum dedicated to telling Arizona’s remarkable story of growth

State of Arizona

Janice K. Brewer Office of the Governor Main Phone: 602-542-4331

Governor 1700 West Washington Street, Phoenix, AZ 85007 Facsimile: 602-542-7601

CONTACT: Paul Senseman psenseman@az.gov, Karen Churchard (602) 364-3723 kchurchard@azot.gov

How she slipped the taxpayers the payment book is explained in the July 21, 2010 blog post entitled “Who will pay for the Arizona Centennial Museum”.

The press release says: “The Governor also explained that no public funds will be used to build this new museum”.

Unfortunately, that’s not true, unless possibly if there is total emphasis on the word “build” as opposed to maintain and operate. The latter is costing taxpayers millions of dollars per year.

And what was the trade in (your Lincoln)? Why that is the top rated and internationally recognized Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum that you already have and have had for over a century and which is a vital part of K-12 earth science education in Arizona. The Governor is putting her “gift” in the very same building. The preliminary plans for the Arizona Centennial Museum that the Governor presented on February 12 show no remaining features of the existing mineral museum.

This “gift” has such a bad odor that thousands of students signed petitions stating: “Governor, please take this gift back”.

Unfortunately, the legislature brushed aside the students’ petitions and accepted the payment book by passing House Bill 2251.

Note: The nine million dollars to be given to the sole source contractor for the interior centennial museum displays will supposedly be paid for with corporate and federal grants. However, as explained in the July 21 post, providing for the facility and administration is going to cost Arizona taxpayers much more than that.

Comment: Apparently centennial museum fund raising efforts have been completely unsuccessful thus far, so there will be great temptation to “borrow” some public funds to finish the “gift” in time for the centennial. Taxpayers need to watch their money closely.

Who tampered with House Bill 2251?

Prior posts have described how House Bill 2251, establishing the Arizona Centennial Museum and transferring the Arizona Mining and Mineral Museum to the Arizona Historical Society, was pushed through the legislature in spite of public protest. One lone Senator did attempt to limit the damage caused by the bill, and prepared an amendment. Four provisions of that amendment are described and explained in the August 15 post (Will the Arizona Centennial Museum comply with the law?)

The original bill, drafted by the Governors staff or by a lobbyist supporting the Governors project, politicized the Arizona Department of Mines and Mineral Resources. Previously, the Director of ADMMR reported to a five member board of governors, thus insulating the department’s activities from political manipulation. The original bill changed that, making the director report directly to the Governor, and opening the door to political mischief.

During Senate meetings preparing the amendment to the bill, a majority of participants agreed that the portion of the bill politicizing the ADMMR was not appropriate. There fore, there was a fifth provision in the amendment that eliminated this inappropriate change to the law. The Governors representatives objected, but the majority, and the Senator, insisted that the board retain control of ADMMR.

Somehow, this agreed upon 5^th provision of the amendment was never integrated into the amendment document that was voted on by the Senate. As signed by the Governor, the law effectively eliminates the ADMMR board. The Director of the ADMMR is now subject to the whim of the Governor.

Who made this unauthorized change in the bills amendment?

What was their motive?

Were they acting under the Governors direction?

What mischief is the Governor planning?