More details on legislation is included in the coverage of June 21 Agenda Review. Eleven members of Council were present when the meeting began, Phil Copeland was absent.
At the end of the Council meeting Deputy Mayor Steve Herwat announced the groundbreaking for the Marina District is scheduled for Saturday, July 2 at 11:30 a.m.
Appointment of Luis Santiago as Chief of Rescue and Fire Operations as of July 1, 2011 – confirmed by all present.
Martinez congratulated Santiago on his appointment, he is the first Hispanic Chief to be appointed in Toledo.
Resolution – Recognize Chief Michael Wolever – confirmed by all present
Resolution – Recognize 6 graduates of Construction Careers Academy – confirmed by all present Copeland arrived.
Designate S. Detroit & Arlington as Guadalupe Flores Crossing – confirmed by all present
Resolution – Recognize Jane Boone – confirmed by all present
30 Day extension for the contract with the Lucas County Dog Warden’s office – Martinez, McNamara voted no, rest of members voted yes
Amend TMC Sec. 2101.01(b) to change Salary Group of Assistant Clerk of Council from E-1 to E-2: relieved from HR, IT & Finance Slow roll call on relieving from committee, McNamara, Waniewski voted no, Copeland had a question but roll call had already begun. Several minutes off off mic discussion took place. Copeland then voted yes, Craig also voted no, rest of members voted yes which meant it was relieved of committee. Then a roll call on the motion to amend as below, McNamara was the sole yes vote. Then Waniewski moved to put it back in committee. Then Collins moved to relieve it from committee, 4 no votes, When it came to passage after the below discussion on the item, McNamara, Waniewski, Craig voted no, rest of members voted yes.
Sarantou authored a memo that indicated other councils had larger staff, thus justifying the change in classification, McNamara said the memo indicates to him that council is understaffed.
McNamara felt the desk audit should be done, he offered an amendment that would add the clerk and assistant clerk salaries to 2058 bargaining unit. McNamara felt if we were going to do this, both positions should be linked similar to council staff. Steel asked if another action of Council would be required to make a pay raise take effect, Sarantou said that is correct. Steel agrees with desk audits but said they had requested them in the past and the administration has not ordered HR to do the desk audit. Collins wanted clarification from the law director as to the consequences of McNamara’s suggested amendment as it relates to their exempt or executive exempt status. Law Director Adam Loukx was present, he said he’d like to review this before giving an opinion. Waniewski thinks it’s abhorrent to talk about pay grade changes or increase, we need an analysis of all of these job functions compared to the private sector, he said in calling different size law firms the average salary was $55,000, he wants a desk audit. McNamara said going back to Steel’s question, the president of Council can give a raise, Brown has said she would not do this without other member’s authority, but president of Council can do it without Council approval, why change it if the salary is not going to be changed. He said Council has the authority to request HR do a desk audit, the last legislation for this was tabled because there was lack of support. He apologized for the haste in his amendment but he did not know this was going to be put before Council tonight, it was not on the agenda. Brown reiterated her statement there would be no salary change without Council approval. Brown said she is always surprised that people that have money are surprised when other people want more money, that the current clerk does legal research, real estate research and legislative services, some of them may not use the services of the assistant clerk but many of them do. Hicks-Hudson said she sees the need for a desk audit, she appreciates the work of the assistant clerk, but this should be related to the position not the person. She thinks they need as a city to justify the actions they take and that a desk audit would be helpful. Craig said he thought this was ill advised at this point in time, that this does not belong on the floor at this time. Collins sought clarification on the status of the legislation, it was relieved from committee, motion to amend failed, Waniewski put it in committee, Collins moved to relieve it from Committee. Steel asked about a desk audit, Deputy Mayor Herwat said HR would rely on input from members of Council on the duties and the proper compensation, Herwat said a resolution would do that but there are currently demands on HR, there are other pending desk audits being held based on limited staff. Collins said he understands the seeking of a desk audit, he does not feel this automatically includes a raise given the Council president’s statement on that. Herwat said the range of executive exempt employees has not been adjusted since January of 1998.
Additional tax exemption for Health Care REIT for expanded renovations of $6.35M at 4500 Dorr,12yrs passed by all members present
Renew property insurance with FM Global, 1 year + 3 1-year options, $550,554 Risk Mgmt Fund Webb, Collins voted no, rest of members present voted yes.
Amend Ord. 653-10 to establish deadline of Sept 30, 2011 for $10.25M HUD 108 loan for Berdan Bldg all members present voted yes.
Martinez said all this does is place a deadline, the rest of the legislation is unchanged.
Amend TMC Sec. 1313.03(a)(2) for minor changes to definition of Limited Remodeler’s License passed by all present
Sale of NSP model home at 4102 Dorchester Dr. to qualified NSP homebuyer, up to $115,900 passed by all present
Sale of NSP model home at 820 Dryden Dr. to qualified NSP homebuyer, up to $89,000 passed by all present
Sale of NSP model home at 428 Torrington Dr. to qualified NSP homebuyer, up to $90,000 passed by all present
Purchase tractor w/front-end loader & backhoe for Forestry, $27,500 Urban Foresrty Comm. Trust Fund passed by all present
Participate in State’s Water Resource Restoration Sponsor Program in East Sandusky Bay area passed by all present
Accept WPCLF loan for L-T Control Plan Ph. IIB Design Project engineering services, $17,250,000 passed by all present
Appropriation for engineering oversight of TWI project by Mannik & Smith, $235,000 Sewer Replacement Fund To Utilities and Public Service – July 11 at 4 p.m. is the tentative hearing date. He’s also seeking discussion of the EPA consent decree modification at that time.
Appropriation for General Resurfacing and 2011 Sidewalk Program, $2,973,400 CIP Fund First Reading and the 2011 CIP budget at the Finance, HR & IT committee meeting on Thursday at 1:30 p.m. Herwat said it appeared as if they were going to have enough funding to do a limited number of additional paving projects, including some in District 2.
Appropriation for new sewer service laterals on Evansdale Ave., $208,000 Sewer Replacement Fund passed by all members present
Appropriation for 8″ pipe for loop closures in water distribution system, $200,000 Water Improvement passed by all present
Contract for TPA services for workers’ compensation program, 2 yrs + 1 opt,$111,000 Workers’ Comp passed by all present
Contract for disposal of surplus City computer and electronic equipment First Reading
Authorize Energy Services Agreement with Port Authority for Toledo-Better Buildings Program passed by all present
Resolution – Application to ODOD for CORF grant for 2.42 acre Signature Park at 18th, Madison& 20th adopted by all present
Require LEED guidelines for new construction for 2.42 acre Signature Park at 18th, Madison & 20th passed by all present
Resolution – Adopt consolidated Lucas County – City of Toledo Emergency Operations Plan adopted by all present
Resolution – Restate pension pick-up for Police Chief and 4 Deputy Police Chiefs, 5% adopted by all present
Amend TMC Ch. 1706, Dogs, for Humane Society authority, Dog Warden responsibilities, & penalties First Reading
Agreement with Lucas County for dog control services, one yearFirst Reading
Authorize TEI agreement with Burkett & Sons, 30% award First Reading
Martinez had an issue with this since it’s an exception to a rule so he’s asking for first reading to get a clarification on why it’s 30% as opposed to 10%. Deputy Mayors Tom Crothers said he would support this to give them the opportunity to vet Martinez questions.
Waive TMC to allow Fire Chief annual salary to be $1,000 more than Deputy Fire Chief Waniewski voted no, all other members voted yes.
The fire chief is the only position not in collective bargaining in the Fire and Rescue Department, a previous ordinance addressed the chief of police’s salary when the chief served as a dual role, but the ordinance was not tied to the dual role, the mayor can address the parity issue as long as it’s in that range without having to come back to Council. Loukx said parity can be achieved with the laws currently on the book should this legislation pass.
Items Approved from Zoning & Planning Committee (Approved 7 – 0)
Zone change at Summit, Bush & Superior, former Riverside Hospital now YMCA property passed by all present
SUP for baseball stadium at 525 S. Holland-Sylvania Ave. for Central Catholic H.S. & Lourdes College passed by all present
Item Without Recommendation from Zoning & Planning Committee (w/o Recomm 7 – 0)
Zone change at 1204 E. Central Ave. (Plan Commission Disapproved) Yes vote means changing zoning, agreeing with Plan Commission would be a no vote, 3/4 vote are required to over-ride Plan Commission. All members of Council voted yes.
Steel said it does not appear to be a duplex and has been commercial for years. To his mind this is just cleaning up zoning, he is in support of changing the zoning to what is really there. Hicks-Hudson said as Steel said it would provide continuity, it was a small store in the neighborhood, the owner is planning on opening it as a sandwich/ice cream/candy store, the neighbors supported this. There was concern by Lagrange that it would turn into a liquor store, the owner signed a convenant restricting that. She urged Council to support her. Craig said it might look like spot zoning the character of that stretch of road is commercial. Steel said it can’t be a duplex so if they don’t change the zoning to allow commercial use it’s just going to sit empty. Ludeman said there is a vacant lot owned by the same owner, is the zoning change just for one or both. It’s for both, but if changes such as a parking lot were added additional approval would be required from the Plan Commission.
Amend TMC chapters to fold 16 park boards/commissions into Toledo City Parks & Recreation Comm Referred back to administration.
Absences:
Sarantou 1
Steel 1
