On this epic episode, we welcome Chuck Marohn, founder and president of Strong Towns. Chuck's bestselling new book, Escaping the Housing Trap, kicks off the conversation, which winds its way through a variety of important issues facing cities today. Topics02:33 - What is the housing trap?04:05 - Pre-Depression era housing finance08:00 - Government response to Depression vs the 2008 Housing Crisis13:15 - Supply and Demand vs Finance as causes of the housing crisis16:04 - Did we get here via High Modernism or hot fixes?  23:16 - When did we cross the Housing Trap Rubicon?26:36 - What role does the finance market play in the housing shortage?33:15 - Why doesn't the housing market doesn't respond to consumer needs like other markets?35:37 - What's wrong with demand side approaches to affordability? 38:55 - The Strong Towns approach to addressing the housing trap45:21 - How do we sell the Strong Towns approach to our community? 1:01:56 - Budgetary forests and trees1:04:19 - Chuck's has beef with sales tax1:18:17 - Why sales tax creates a higher burden for understanding your city's finance1:24:38 - What role should state government's play to help city's improve their fiscal health?Links and NotesEscaping the Housing Trap: The Strong Towns Response to the Housing CrisisStrong TownsStrong Towns EventsEscaping the Housing Trap TourSeeing Like a State by James Scott (Amazon)The case study on hotel supply Chuck mentioned (Twitter)Parkinson's Law of Triviality (Wikipedia)

On this somewhat feisty episode of ZacCast, Patrick and Chad discuss the built-in assumptions behind our development patterns, compare development in DFW and Houston, talk traffic planning, and talk about the problems with the electricity rate-making process in Texas. Stay tuned for a semi-lighting round at the end.03:58 - Do we have some built-in assumptions about how cities grow?21:39 - DFW vs Houston: development showdown26:55 - Pre-approved development plans, yea or nay?28:59 - RE: thoroughfare planning34:40 - Electric rate-making woes58:53 - Lightning round begins!58:59 - Calling your shot on interest rate cuts60:01 - Will the #1 ranked Texas Longhorns go undefeated?LinksOne of Collin County’s largest undeveloped tracts sold for massive mixed-use project (Dallas Morning-News)Plano firm buys land for 2,200 homes in fast-growing northern D-FW (Dallas Morning-News)Definition of Tizzy (Google)

In this episode, Patrick and Chad drop some hot takes on the appraisal changes recently approved by the Tarrant Appraisal District. We talk about addressing the symptoms of the property tax system in Texas versus addressing the illness. We discuss the upcoming September sales tax allocation. And college football is back, so we spend some time talking about week 1 to wrap up the episode.01:15 - Tarrant Appraisal District goes its own way26:28 - Are split tax rates a way to address the illness of the Texas property tax system?32:50 - Is building enough housing a way to address the illness? 38:04 - Sales tax update41:45 - What to expect if you see Patrick at a restaurant bar52:30 - Come see us at a conference near you!53:44 - College football is back!

Summer break is over and ZacCast is back at full strength. Today's episode is all about the economy. From macro to micro, how can cities prepare for what's next?01:04 - Dr Evil and Mini-me07:00 - What's the deal with the economy?08:02 - The Sahm Rule: triggered11:02 - August inflation numbers14:40 - Real estate and interest rates17:14 - Have cities already been in recession mode?20:28 - Retail's struggles27:58 - Electricity and insurance increases putting pressure on household budgets34:45 - Where do we go from here?42:20 - Has The Great Recession prepared current city managers for future downturns?44:21 - Texas vs A&M: rekindled

Join us as we catch up and chat about life and cities in this grab bag episode:00:10 - Patrick's waterpark excursions02:53 - Patrick reviews Kalahari01:40 - Is Schlitterbahn slipping?12:09 - Kalahari vs Great Wolf Lodge13:48 - Patrick reviews Schlitterbahn20:41 - Fast Pass, yea or nay?26:05 - The value of good customer service, and lessons for cities33:48 - Good customer service -> good user experience35:25 - What kind of city do we want to retire in?37:03 - Pat's Poli Sci Corner53:40 - Highway spending and decision making locus1:01:17 - Quick July sales tax updateLinksSales 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 perspective27:24 - Does our MPA train us to look at cities the wrong way?Social Life of Small Urban SpacesAmerican 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 pets01:55 - on inflation16:10 - 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 areasTimestamps00:22 - New TeamZac member01:32 - Setting hiring policy on the podcast02:55 - Generations Z and Alpha03:51 - The difference between Pat and Chad06:09 - The most expensive public restroom14:31 - Can we incorporate staff accountability for getting a project done?16:18 - The Purple Slip19:38 - Can we just empower employees?28:16 - Houston is broke39:36 - On urban highway expansion48:03 - McKinsey on the benefits of autonomous vehicles57:47 - Could AVs eliminate the need for parking?60:15  - AV cabs as public transportation: worst of both worlds?62:04 - Special announcement timeNotesA 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 states19:26 - The Urban CRE Doom Loop: What is it and how to avoid it34:04 - How should we compare and evaluate downtowns?35:45 - Vibe-Oriented Development43:51 - On Fire DepartmentsLinksMany 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 Recap04:30 - No Soap Radio08:45 - Amazon Lockers and auditing remote sales taxpayers25:19 - Changes to Appraisal District board composition46:18 - Zoning reform is coming to TexasLinksY'allitics Episode 267Dunning-Kruger EffectTexas Tribune article on prospective zoning reforms (Texas Tribune)