The Mayor said they have been trying to battle through this and it gets more difficult each time they meet. He believes they need to move forward to be able to fix the infrastructure, the cost is smaller now than it will be in the future but he also realizes the heart of council is not into what they are proposing. He suggested refer storm water back to the administration, that they hold sanitary sewer for two weeks until they find something that will meet the needs of the citizens and that council pass the full water rate request. He hopes in separating them they can at least move forward on one of the three.
He doesn’t want to be the mayor when two or three years from now when people have to boil water that we didn’t tell them things were that bad. He showed the piece of something from Collins Park, I’m guessing it was a piece of roof. Ludeman moved to amend to present his 5% plan, he didn’t have a problem referring the storm water back.
McNamara thanked the Mayor, he said it did not appear council was going to support all of his proposal, he suggested they move forward with the vote. Waniewski thanked the Mayor and McNamara, said they have been working to try to balance fixing the infrastructure versus what residents can afford. Waniewski said there needs to be more wiggle room on the other two but on the water at 9% he thinks is a good deal. Herwat said it’s a difference of 45 cents for av. families and 22 for seniors.
Collins said the Mayor is right things are critical and the difference between the 9 and the 5 prevents them from doing some of what they need. He’s going to support the 9%. He then referenced his suggestions from yesterday as to the moving of more staff into One Gov to eliminate outside leases. The Mayor said they would look at it.
Amend TMC Sec. 933.02(a) to establish new water rates 2011 – 2014, 9% increase per year Passed
Roll call on Ludeman amendment – motion failed. Next motion passage on Administration plan for water rates: No: Craig, Ludeman, Sarantou, Steel,
Yes: Copeland, Hicks-Hudson, Martinez, McNamara, Waniewski, Webb, Brown, Collins
Amend TMC Ch. 929 to establish new sewer rates 2011 – 2014, TWI fixed + 3% increase/yr Amended,Passed
Webb asked Craig what his intentions were, Craig said he’d like to have it passed, Webb said in the true Webb proposal was 9% for water, sewer makes up 60% of the rate payers bill. She supports Craig’s amendment and encouraged him to move forward. Herwat asked that this be referred back to committee to talk with the leadership to see if they can find a middle ground between the 3% and the 6.75%. Webb asked if this meant Herwat was going to give her the numbers tonight, Herwat said it meant he was willing to discuss numbers. Craig said he’s firm on this and they are getting 3/4′s of the increase, he’s not really that comfortable with this. He made the motion to amend. Copeland said we need to either pay now or pay later and they are playing Russian roulette and they need to let the administration do what they were hired to do.
Back to the motion to amend:
No: Copeland, Hicks-Hudson, Waniewski, Brown, Collins
Yes: Craig, Ludeman, Martinez, McNamara, Sarantou, Steel, Webb –
Motion carried now on to passage:
No: Copeland, Waniewski, Brown,
Yes: Craig, Hicks-Hudson, Ludeman, Martinez, McNamara, Sarantou, Steel, Webb, Collins
58-11 (609-10)Amend TMC Sec. 943.05(c) to establish new storm water rates 2011 – 2014, 9.9% increase/yr Refer back Admin
Sale of The Docks restaurant complex to Dashing Pacific Group LTD, $2,150,000 Amended,Passed
Steel referenced the marathon hearing on this today, he had questions not answered during the hearing but he received information after the meeting that made him more comfortable.
McNamara moved to amend, an account code was not referenced properly on the original ordinance, Amended – Vote on passage: No: Webb, Collins
Yes: Copeland, Craig, Hicks-Hudson, Ludeman, Martinez, McNamara, Sarantou, Steel, Waniewski, Brown
Emergency roof stabilization at Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, $210,000 Water Replacement Fd Passed by all present.
Webb asked if since the water rates passed do they still need this temporary repair. Herwat said yes, they were still going to need the netting and they can move that from place to place as the roof repairs continue.
Agenda turned over to Copeland – Second reading items:
All of these items passed with the vote of all members present, a few needed language amended they were all related to the change needed in the code for the new standalone Dept. of Inspection:
Amend TMC Ch. 1110, Flood Control Regulations,recognize new Dept. of Inspection,Floodplain Admi Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1301, Building Code, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, incorporate State law Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1303, Dept. of Inspection, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1305, Permits, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, incorporate State law Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1307, Fees, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, incorporate State law, floodplain fees Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1309, Occupancy & other Certificates, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, State law Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1311, Registration, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, incorporate State law Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1313, Home Imp & Remodel, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, State law Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1315, Bd. of Building Appeals,recognize new Dept. of Inspection,jurisdiction changes Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1317, Unsafe Buildings, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1319, Violations & Penalties, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, Trust Fund Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1355, Accessibility to Buildings/Facilities,recognize new Dept. of Inspection,State law Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1361, Encroachments in public r-o-w, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1367, Property Maintenance,recognize new Dept. of Inspection,incorporate State law Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1726, Abatement of Nuisances, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1733, Vacant Dwellings, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1743, Administration & Enforcement, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, State law Amended,Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1745, Minimum Standards, recognize new Dept. of Inspection, drainage discharge Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1763, Conditions for Letting Rental Property, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1765, Conveyance of Property by Land Contract, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Passed
Amend TMC Ch. 1767, Vacant Residential Building Registration, recognize new Dept. of Inspection Amended,Passed
Expenditure to Clark Shaefer Hackett for 2010 annual audit, $180,000 General Fund Passed by all present
Waive $600 application fee for zone change at 3940 & 3946 Funston Passed by all present
Craig said last year they passed a resolution stating they were not going to waive fees, he thought it included zoning fees. Webb said it was her understanding that was for festivals and she laid out her reasoning at Agenda Review, Craig withdrew his objection. Brown stated it was festival fees.
Accept funding from Lucas County for 2011 General Planning Program, 4 staff, $258,300 Passed by all present
Amend TMC Ch. 719, bus stop courtesy benches, comply with Court rulings, Dept. of Inspection Passed by all present
Additional expenditure to YWCA for 65 rental units at 1018 Jefferson Ave., $338,790 HOME Fund Passed by all present
Resolution – Application to ODNR for public trails funding for Promenade Park Adopted
Additional appropriation for Private Inflow Removal Assistance, modify reimbursement, $600,000 Swr 1st Reading
Contract with Spengler Nathanson for legal services in labor relations/negotiations, $50,000 General Passed by all but Collins
Collins said he wants to go on the record that he felt another firm had expertise and he held the Law Director at his word that the lead chair would be someone from the Law department.
Agreement with Stephen Samuels for legal regarding Stickney & Tyler Landfills, $25,000 SW Trust
That concludes the Agenda –
Absences: Brown
Martinez
Waniewski – Moved not to be excused
Webb
Copeland had nothing
Craig said they had two long and very contentious committee hearings in the last two days, they reached compromises and agreements on everything, this is how government is supposed to work, you have your debates, sometimes it’s not pretty, when it’s all said and done they reached consensus on some tough issues. Nobody hates each other over this, they agreed to disagree vocally, they came out with a good compromise. He thanked everyone who participated both the administration and on Council and this is how democracy works, it’s not pretty but it works.
Hicks-Hudson thanked those who attended the first budget meeting, she said many of those who attended thanked her and it was a great discussion
Ludeman – resolution 65-11 was for the trails, he said he met with Howard Pinkley yesterday to talk about the vision they have for the area around the yacht clubs. He suggested they talk to the Rotary Club. He said to Herwat he knows Pinkley has talked to the Mayor and he’d appreciate seeing these discussions move along, they follow the vision we have for waterways and marinas. Ludeman said the Governor’s office asked to be informed immediately on the vote on The Docks because of their interest in this investment.
Martinez – echoed Craig’s statements, this was a good compromise, the adage of sausage making and democracy at it’s finest. He knows compromise is difficult especially since the administration is in the trenches. On what Ludeman said, he thinks this is the first step of a good relationship, he said we should have appraisals ahead of time and because we sold to foreign investors does not mean they are communists, the xenophobia in some of the comments they have received have been horrible. He commended council and the administration for finding people that love Toledo as much as we do.
McNamara had nothing
Sarantou thanked Hicks-Hudson for holding her meeting and to the citizens, he looks forward to Craig’s meeting tomorrow
Steel had nothing
Waniewski – red light camera update was sought, how much money are we raising – what is the process – how many people are fighting the tickets and how many are overturned. He wanted to reference the work of Carrie Ward, the wife of Harry Ward, who passed away a week ago. They were active in West Toledo, Carrie did great work in Old Orchard.
Webb – much hullabaloo was made about her decision to walk out on the vote on the water rates, she had a fundamental disagreed with Ludeman, one of the advantages of raising the water it would capture surburban rates, she said she was never against 9% on the water but this was negotiated as a package. Sanitary sewer accounts for 60% of the bill so Craig’s proposal saves the citizens money, none of them are completely happy with the deal, she said the flack she got in all of the papers and on television was worth it. On The Docks, she was promised an appraisal but she was told it could not be done in time, that was disappointing, an RFP was already requested by Ludeman for an appraisal on the Marina. She urged the administration to reach out to Genoa Bank on the money that is owed. March 7 at Lighthouse Church is the location for the District 6 Budget Hearing 6 to 8 p.m. She requested a snow plow for Brenner Court, formerly the home of Mayor Kessler.
Craig said his budget meeting is tomorrow at East Toledo Family Center, he said it will be fun for everyone.
Collins said they had a long two days, he said finishing last it’s better to be silent.
Brown said she agrees with Collins, they’ve heard enough, she reminded everyone that she and Waniewski are holding a joint budget meeting on the 16th, the paper reported it was just District 5 and it is her District’s meeting as well.
Meeting adjourned.
