Well, its budget night again, this time 24 operating budget amendments, but first, their regular meeting. Then I’ll post a new blog on the budget.
This is, for all intents and purposes, a “live blog” i.e. very little editing and only obvious spelling mistakes fixed.
Everyone is here, Barbara McKinney is attempting to connect via conference call.
Consent agenda
They pass everything except items 9, 15, 16 and 17.
Item 9
Authorizing the Mayor, City Clerk and Chief of Police to accept a FY2015 Byrne Criminal Justice Innovation grant award in the amount of $155,522 and to utilize these funds to support the Raymond Road Corridor Neighborhood Public Safety Planning Project; and amend budgets accordingly
Mo Cheeks asks what this does. Captain Lengfeld says this will allow data analysis to revitalize the neighborhood from a trust and safety standpoint. Cheeks asks how this will apply to other neighborhoods. Captain says that it will be a model for other neighborhoods. He says they need to get neighborhood residents excited and empower them, then this is a victory. Cheeks asks about them doing a report so that other neighborhoods can learn from this. Motion passes, tho I gotta admit there were just a whole bunch of buzzwords thrown around that made little sense.
Item 15
Joe Gromacki says that there is an updated TIF report that should have been in legistar and its not. Gromacki says that the initial report covered all the issues at the last meeting. Staff said it wasn’t feasible at the last meeting, the developer countered with a proposal about the rooftop farm and they went back to negotiations, they will still do the form and the they are now asking for less of the money which is now only 70% of the TIF which is more reasonable. Verveer asks if this addresses the pre-mature payments. Kevin R from the city attorney office says the money is back in escrow and can be used for the roof top production farm. That will be a stronger requirement and it will be done. Verveer asks when Fesitval Foods will open, is the parking holding it up. Gromacki says that if this is approved on Nov 3, then it should open Jan 2016. Motion passes.
Item 16
John Jacobs speaks in opposition to extend the contract. He says George Austin has not done a good job providing accurate information to the public. He is concerned that Austin has a conflict of interes working for the Fautchi’s who are also invested in Bob Dunn’s hotel. He says that even though the $47 has been approved, the office and hotel don’t need to be completed. He says that the mayor has misled the public or was given bad information by George Austin when he said that the project will pay back the TIF. He urges them not to re-up the contract.
Marsha Rummel asks if George Austin is here, he’s not. Natalie Erdman offers to answer the questions.
David Ahrens says that he opposes the contract, we have had many contracts over the years. There has been a lot of success, but during the last few years that has not been the cases, especially given the proposals. George Austin is clearly in favor of the project and not neutral and representing the city’s needs. He says that the biggest issue is his support of Exact Sciences and he questions the information about the viability of Exact Sciences. We only got one part of the story, he expects Exact Sciences to tell us one side, but a consultant should provide a balanced view. He will be voting against the contract when it comes to council.
Mo Cheeks asks that Mr. Austin be at the council when this comes up.
Rummel votes no. Everyone else votes aye.
That’s it, kinda sloppy and quick on my part. They try again to get Barbara McKinney on the phone.
