ZacCast – Détails, épisodes et analyse

In this episode, Chad and Patrick discuss innovations in local government presented at the AFI conference last week, and check in on the Texas Legislature as the session is kicking into high gear.

Timestamps
00:00 Legislative Updates and AFI Innovations
11:05 The Voucher Debate in Texas Politics
21:02 Local Government Legislation and Its Implications
32:19 Impact of Corporations on Local Economies
34:04 Legislative Challenges and Political Interests
36:11 Property Tax Legislation and Its Implications
40:10 AI in Economic Development: Innovations and Applications
54:38 Building Secure AI Models for Confidential Data

In this episode, Chad and Patrick discuss the current state of the economy, focusing on market uncertainty and the challenges faced by city managers in forecasting sales tax revenues. They explore the importance of data-driven decision-making and the use of leading indicators to understand consumer behavior. The conversation reflects on past economic crises and emphasizes the need for caution in navigating current economic challenges, advocating for a measured approach to decision-making during uncertain times.

00:00 - Market Uncertainty and Economic Indicators
07:28 - Forecasting Sales Tax in Uncertain Times
16:38 - Probabilistic Approaches to Budgeting
23:39 - Leveraging Data Science for Economic Predictions
25:02 - Analyzing Consumer Sentiment and Sales Tax Predictions
30:15 - Historical Context: Lessons from Past Economic Downturns
33:35 - Navigating Current Economic Uncertainty
38:18 - Making Informed Decisions in Times of Crisis
41:37 - Finding Balance: Optimism vs. Pessimism in City Management

Join us as we catch up and chat about life and cities in this grab bag episode:

00:10 - Patrick's waterpark excursions

02:53 - Patrick reviews Kalahari

01:40 - Is Schlitterbahn slipping?

12:09 - Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge

13:48 - Patrick reviews Schlitterbahn

20:41 - Fast Pass, yea or nay?

26:05 - The value of good customer service, and lessons for cities

33:48 - Good customer service -> good user experience

35:25 - What kind of city do we want to retire in?

37:03 - Pat's Poli Sci Corner

53:40 - Highway spending and decision making locus

1:01:17 - Quick July sales tax update

Links

• Sales tax momentum continues to slow across Texas (ZacTax Blog)

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
27:24 - Does our MPA train us to look at cities the wrong way?

• Social Life of Small Urban Spaces
• American Urbanist: How William H. Whyte's Unconventional Wisdom Reshaped Public Life (Amazon)

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

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 areas

Timestamps
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 time

Notes

• 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 Departments

Links

• 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; and
• Zoning 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 Texas

Links

• Y'allitics Episode 267
• Dunning-Kruger Effect
• Texas 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!