For some reason the audio did not include the first part of the council meeting, but it appears that was related to resolutions, ones that would be described by Council President Wilma Brown as “feel good ones” and an Appointment – Maumee-Monclova-Toledo JEDZ Board. It appears Copeland was absent, all others were present. LINK to Agenda Review for these items.
Sale of Marina District property to Dashing Pacific Group, 69 acres, 5-year re-purchase, $3,800,000 Hold to May 31
Webb said before the offer was withdrawn by Dashing they had planned to have a meeting, she asked this be put before Committee of the Whole to discuss all three offers. Brown said she thinks it should stay in Economic Development. Martinez asked if there was a time frame in the offer to purchase with Dashing. Loukx did not recall that provision, the deal is on hold, he believed there was a 90 day due diligence period after legislation signature. McNamara said if the Building Trades have a development agreement he’d love to see it, he’d move to relieve from committee to show Council’s continued desire to work with those interested in investing in Toledo. Ludeman said his impression the Dashing deal was not withdrawn, it was on hold, he read that in the paper and didn’t think it had been withdrawn. Collins asked if the other two groups were going to come forward and present their plans to Council, he asked Ludeman as chair of Economic Development if he planned to bring them to the table as well as Dashing Pacific. Ludeman said he’s had no call or personal contact, all he’s seen is two emails. He felt there was a negotiation, the Mayor and his administration found favor with Dashing and that is what is on the table, or Dashing’s decision to move forward or withdrawal, he’d be happy to see what they’ve got. Collins said there is more than two emails, he wanted to know if we were going to move forward with Dashing alone or give the other two the opportunity to ask the same fundamental questions. Collins felt it should be transparent so the community knows why the decision was made. Ludeman said it is not Council’s duty to negotiate real estate contracts, we have the ability to approve them, he thinks some members of council are skirting the lines of the charter, we have one deal that has bee negotiated by the administration, brought to the administration by Council and is on hold until May 31 when the Mayor returns from China. He will talk with the administration and decide how to move forward if details from the other groups can be delivered to the administration, that should take place. Collins said he’s not negotiating, he’s asking the basic question. Craig said point of order that Collins did not have the floor, Collins said he asked Ludeman a question, he did not relinquish the floor. Brown said after this speech we will have no further discussion on this. Bell said it’s a good thing that there are people that are interested it, if those entities present their information to the administration, they will look at it.
Then to the motion to relieve from Committee – Ludeman, Martinez, McNamara, Sarantou, Waniewski, Brown, Craig, Hicks-Hudson yes – so it was back on the Agenda and will be held for another two weeks, it will not be placed in Committee. Webb said she wants to say on the record that she’s disappointed that public discussion is being stifled on this issue.
Create Energy Special Improvemnt Dist(ESID),accept petition from Port Authority,MLK Plaza – Adopted by all present
Authorize revenue-sharing agreement with Monroe County, MI, new construction/business using water Passed by all present
Additional appropriation for Oakdale CSO Storage Basin Project, $276,911 Sewer Replacement Fund Passed by all present
MUO was delivered according to McNamara declaring Pilkington’s intent to buy the property, there is some risk since there is no contract, but he recommends passage.
Amend TMC Sec. 373.11(a) to allow dedicated bicycle lanes within the roadway Passed by all present.
Purchase 48 acre Capital Commons Industrial Park, 5600 Angola Rd., $1,050,000 CIP over 3 years 1st Reading
Ludeman said it will most likely go into committee since there are some financing issues as well as Martinez’s concern that the CIP budget be formalized before this would be voted on.
Accept FirstEnergy grant for electrical upgrades at MAC II, Inc., 1245 E. Manhattan Blvd., $30,000 Passed by all present
Accept funding from Lucas County Land Reutilization Corp for demolition/maintenance services,$500,000 Passed by all present.
Craig thanked the County Treasurer for his work on the Land Bank. He said this shows what is possible with a little thinking outside the box. Ludeman said there will be a joint committee meeting on Thursday for a full presentation on land banking.
Purchase demolition equipment for SB&H, $248,682 General Fund, NSP, and Trust Funds Passed by all present
Martinez asked for a spreadsheet of where the NSP funding was at by way of referral.
Intradepartmental loan from Storm Water Funds to Toledo Public Power, $100,000 for 10 yrs, 2% int Passed by all present
Purchase digital chart recorders replacing paper charts at Water Treatment Plant, $150,000 Wtr Imp Passed by all present.
Lease extension for 5 years for Engineering Services at One Lake Erie Center, $354,573 per year avg. 1st Reading
Amend Ord. 155-11, Street Lighting – Kenmore Ave. from Dana St. to Ward St. Passed by all present
Purchase 3 water quality and 3 air quality monitors for Environmental Servcs,$50,000 Storm & Wtr Rpl Passed by all present.
Claims Settlement – Turone Murray for Police excessive force in October 2006, $135,000 Risk Mgmt. Passed by all present.
Amend TMC Ch. 144 to establish Toledo/Lucas County Civic Center Mall Oversight Commission Passed by all present.
That ended the agenda.
Excused: Hicks-Hudson 1
First Call
Martinez recognized a World War veteran in the audience.
McNamara – nothing
Sarantou – wanted to know what the administration is doing with the refuse workers, he and Ludeman have met with four who have not had any meetings or information from the administration and they all have CDL’s. He’s astonished because he was told by the administration several times meetings and communications have taken place. He asked for an update via referral, he said from the referral Webb got a meeting is pending with Allied, but he wants to know what the administration is planning since the City said those with CDL’s will have priority. Sarantou also said the fire department is over $3 million in over time, almost at the budget for the entire year, he wants to know when we will see a reduction in the fire department, by way of referral. May 26 is the next Finance, HR, IT meeting at 1:30 that will also have the economic forecasts from UT.
Steel – Northwest Ohio Pitch, Hit and Run is this Saturday starting at noon – 419-517-2937 for more information. He also reminded Council the ride of silence is tomorrow and he encourages everyone to ride to work Friday, it’s the second meeting he planned to ask for information from the administration, but they left early. He has people who had tree limbs that were never picked up and he questioned when the report concerning Libbey would be released that the administration promised. He hopes everyone has an enjoyable Memorial Day and that people give homage to those who served, like his father.
Waniewski – update on traffic in his district given the closings due to construction. He also wanted an update on the Sylvania Ave. study. He is having another bulk drop off in his district, 10 a.m. to noon at the Washington Local School Administration building.
Webb she understands the County passed a resolution on the trash issue, a question was raised regarding OPERS, the issue was who would be potentially liable, an administrative determination was expected from PERS, Council was supposed to get a contract, she has seen neither in her packet, yet the County moved forward. She’d like the administration to address this. She’s requested a number of referrals, she still is waiting on her public information request asking when the administration knew the county was planning on eliminating the waiver of the tipping fee. She feels the administration should treat her and her office with the amount of respect it and the constituents of her district deserve. As to the redistricting, she is sad that she’s losing the three areas within Lagrange, she had spent a great deal of time serving them and is experiencing a great deal of sadness, having two district council persons was a benefit to them. Notices went out in relation to a recent spill, she’s asked for the time frame as to when the crews will clean out the Jameson ditch and from environmental services when the clean up will be finished. On a personal note, she and her husband learned the second child they are expecting is a boy, she is leaning towards the name George, though George Webb would be George W, which may cause some issues in her household.
Collins – May is a month of reflection, this is Police Memorial Week, tomorrow at 9 a.m. officers and citizens will be recognized, tomorrow afternoon a memorial service will be held to honor those who have given their lives in service. It’s with sadness he says that the number of police officers who have died is unprecedented, Ohio ranks 2nd, 5 officers have lost their lives in 2011, every 62 hours an officer in the U.S. is killed. He said if you can’t make it tomorrow, the next time you see a police officer, thank them for their service.
Craig – He reminded Waniewski there was a time when you couldn’t get over to the other side of the river, he was glad we had life flight. Craig said earlier comments were made about discussion being stifled, we debate on things that are on our agenda, not by email. If it’s not on our agenda, we don’t debate. We also don’t sell property at a public auction we don’t have everybody in to do a one up. You are very mistaken if you think we can do a sale of land by public auction, bringing things to the floor of council that shouldn’t be here yet is just wrong. There was an MUO from Dashing Pacific after the sales of The Docks, we didn’t come in here and say is it sold yet, no, we wait until the administration puts together a real estate deal then we get to say yes or no, we don’t get to renegotiate this, if that’s what you want to do, you need to run for mayor or be in the administration, there are rules that Council is supposed to follow.
Hicks-Hudson said they have an extern with the University of Toledo Law school, he’s going to be helping with research related to District 4. She had several referrals that she gave the list to the Clerk, she said she was unhappy and displeased with the lack of progress related to sanitation workers would be an understatement. What she is hearing is excuses and reasons for things not to be moving forward, she urged the administration to make this a top priority to make this happen sooner rather than later.
Brown received a phone call from a resident who’s son is now living in California who was invited to the White House for an evening of poetry.
Martinez had an item he forgot, he’s been getting calls from constituents about people posing as security company’s and burglaries, he’s deferring to Collins as to what advice should be given. Brown said she had someone come to her door and ask her if her’s was connected to her phone line. Collins said they should take the information, description, time, type of uniform, the crimes analysis department will enter that information. The next Public Safety meeting will be discussing how they can better get information to the police department.
Meeting adjourned.
