When the consent agenda came out with only Pham-Remmele separating items for discussion, I got several “Thuy Alert!” emails. I struggled with whether to just post there was alot of grandstanding that wasn’t worth writing about and leaving it at that . . . but the problem is, she made a few good points in between bachelor roses and Brad and Angelina African baby orphans. In case you haven’t already figured it out . . . lots of purple comments today. Be forewarned, she talked/asked questions for a full 45 minutes of the 90 minute meeting.
GETTING STARTED
They actually got started early, and by that I mean only 5 minutes late! I think it was out of respect for the guests from the Camaguey sister city.
ROLL CALL – Kerr absent, Maniaci m.i.a.
Bruer suspends the rules to take items out of order and introduce items from the floor.
CAMAGUEY SISTER CITY RESOLUTION
They celebrated 15 years of a sister city relationship with Camaguey and welcomed the Cuban artists visiting Madison.
Ricardo Gonzalez spoke recalling 15 years ago when the council adopted a project that was daring and difficult to undertake and yet over last 15 years one of the most successful sister cities. He introduced guests. Thanked the Mayor’s office and council for putting their confidence in us at the time and for voting for the resolutions about Cuba. Notes that Congress will be voting to end the travel ban allowing us to go see Cuba and see sister city without the restrictions. One of the guests thanks the Mayor and Council.
Bruer “quickly” adds words to add to the celebration tonight. I tuned out.
CONSENT AGENDA
You’ll have to look up your own links for some of these.
– Item 72 recommendation is to approve (Linden Park driveway easement)
– Item 24 recommendation is approval of the third substitute (Department of Energy Grant)
– Item 47 recommendation is to adopt (reducing energy and transportation fuel usage by 25% by 2025)
– Item 53 add housing committee as a referral (notification for chicken licenses and revocation of license)
– Item 55 refer substitute (sewer utility rates)
– Item 22 & 23 recommend approval but requires extra-majority vote (Water Utility Bonds)
– Exclude 8 (appointments), 10 (shared appreciation for non-profits), 13 (Meadowood Neighborhood Center), 20 (Vendor’s fees) for discussion
– Pham-Remmele asked for the Water Utility Bonds (22 & 23) to also be excluded.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Nothing of note.
MAYORAL APPOINTMENTS
Pham-Remmele asked for separation because she had concerns in April and she was told to just agree to go along and let them go ahead with the appointments and that CCOC (Common Council Organizational Committee) was going to take up this issue and make a recommendation for commission and committees appointments servicing many issues, asks council leadership what has been taken up. [Ok so here’s the beginning of driving her 20 colleagues crazy by grandstanding and either using questions, rather poorly, to make a point or just plain not doing her homework, there are mixed opinions about which it is, but it is clear the entire council left to right was just annoyed throughout the evening. One alder from the right, who I don’t necessarily agree with often, suggested I list the phone number and emails in my blog for the people she could have contacted prior to the meeting to get her questions answered instead of wasting time and grandstanding.] Patiently waiting since the spring. [Ok, this is the second major annoyance of the evening. Instead of “waiting” for something to happen, she could do her job and “make” things happen. She has this sense of entitlement that she can just say something and everyone else should just do the work with no direction or assistance from her.] She has a concern cuz this item has to get 2/3 council approval, she is very new on the council [OK – if she is new on the council that means Rummel, Solomon, Kerr, Clear, Clausius and Schumacher are also “new” along with the newest alders Maniaici, Bidar-Sielaff, King, Eagon, and Schmidt and I RARELY hear any of them use this as an excuse.] and takes her job seriously, when she votes she wants to be informed about the decision, so when it is decided that mayor appoint citizens, that is wonderful, but when the requirement to consent is from the council we are the final authority to look into it and approve it, but all time she served, she has been told it is a courtesy, you vote yes unless you have a big issue, most of time no issues, but she doesn’t know people, same names appear again and again, getting to point she memorized the names,[Ok – credit where credit due, yes, some of the same names pop up over and over, but many are due to requirements that committees have for cross appointment, so LRTPC need a plan commission for example, so that person’s name come up more than once.] some serve 10 – 12 years, serve on many committees, good they volunteer to step up and take care of civic matters, shows dedication and appreciates this, but if so important make every decision in town, many things go through so many commissions and these people, I don’t know them, don’t know how dedicated, not know who’s interest they are serving, election in 1.5 years, not put negative thoughts in your mind,[classic, make your point by denying what you are doing, I wonder if she is concerned about someone running against her in a few years or what is going on in her mind.] should it be someone making big decisions for city shouldn’t they be scrutinized, they are not accountable and not elected [recycle RTA talking points here.] at least have something known to rest of council when appointed for 10 years. [She does have a point, the council should get more information, including I am told, the ordinance requires the council to get a copy of the statement of interest forms, perhaps this is what she is getting at. I need to get the ordinance and follow up on that. However, people are usually appointed for 1, 2, 3 or 5 years, not 10.] She asks about Stuart Levitan, she says she doesn’t know him, [Is she living under a rock?] who is serving in so many groups [CDA, Madison Development Corporation and Landmarks], don’t know him enough to know one way or the other. Rosemary Lee has been here forever [only on Vending Oversight]. She asks what did CCOC decide or do,[One more theme for the evening, she doesn’t attend committees where items of interest to her are discussed and doesn’t participate at the committee level and just expects others to do the work at her command.] there appointments are usually on the consent agenda, no one ever knows. She says don’t do this for her, she is not going to request or ask to be placed on any commission or committee,[Interesting strategy, knowing that she won’t get appointed, declare she doesn’t want to be appointed, and do it very publicly.] She says Bruer called her before meeting and suggested she serve on the Affirmative Action Committee and she appreciates it, but please don’t do it for me, don’t be like a bachelor over the rose, I am not desperate, fix the process so when vote for people not elected – let’s do it transparently, fairly, big city and working class should be a lot of people serving instead of the same old group, same old crowd, doesn’t make us look good, if clean, honest we should smell like roses.[Gotta give her props for her colorful, memorable statements, but I often walk away remembering roses, but not why she used it to get attention.]
Bruer – he’s going to see if he can focus – says at council and CCOC and in leadership meetings they look at composition of the committees, their representation and expertise so there is a certain level of review that continues to go on. [That was a bit of a stretch. CCOC doesn’t review committee appointments and that is why I asked for the reports on gender and race/ethnicity, because many committees are unbalanced, but very little is done with that report cuz the mayor decides.] We could have a committee to look at them, but we don’t have one, it would take us 2 or 3 years to go through confirmation hearings. A number of times appointments have been sent back,[Ok, but how many times, if ever, has the appointment changes? The Mayor usually just comes back with the same person.] mayor is sensitive to that. He says it is critical that every member of the body, if you have people in the community and willing to devote time, make those nominations known to the mayor and encourage those interested parties to fill out the application [Ok – Pham-Remmele may have a point here, when I was alder I encouraged people I know who were filling out the form to NOT use my name and instead I helped them find another alder to recommend them so they’d have a chance of getting appointed.]– if look at alder district reports, there is representation from all districts, he has sensitivity to encourage new blood and that doesn’t mean that those who have served diligently that end of the 5 or 10 years that they shouldn’t be encouraged to serve in other ways. Since Pham-Remmele has been vocal about their concern, if you have people bring those names forward and he would welcome her to bring the names to leadership and we will recommend them to the Mayor.[Here, I’m not sure if Pham-Remmele is not doing her job on her own, or if she just feel alienated from the Mayor’s office and doesn’t bother, as I did.]
Pham-Remmele thanks him, says that is the urgency, people in her district applied and encouraged and recommended and not chosen and they won’t apply any more. [Score one for Pham-Remmele, that is precisely the problem I hear all the time. People won’t apply because when they did there was no communication from the Mayor’s office and have heard of others who never hear about their application or they get appointed to something they aren’t interested in.] One is still serving, but they donated $1,000 to mayor campaign and that is why appointed, [That seems a little far fetched to me – but I’ll follow up on that claim! I don’t think any appointment except maybe Plan commission is worth that much money, and you could just stand with the Mayor at a press conference to get his attention and get appointed to something.]that was the bomb that dropped, this is not clean, with upcoming election, maybe we should see how they contribute to campaign, don’t want bad rumors to be passed alone.[If she’s interested, it’s all on-line, she could look it all up herself.]
Bruer jumps in with nervous glances from the Mayor, and says that is a strong statement, he would like Mayor to identify all “Alder Thuy’s”[Konkel pet peeve, Bruer only calls the women by their first names, never the men. “Alder Bridget” is another of his favorites along with “Alder Shiva”. Drives me nuts.] folks and he’d be happy to look at them and report back to Thuy and says there is no evidence of pay for play. [No wonder the mayor was looking nervous, this is hardly a real credible defender on this point.] That is totally an unacceptable suggestion. [It’s only unacceptable if its not true, but if she’s going to make the claim, she better be ready to back it up.] If she feels that is the case, then she wants to have leadership evaluate and assess that.
Mayor says not many gave $1000 to his campaign.
Palm says Pham-Remmele brings up some interesting issues, some committees have more applicants and some have fewer because not as desirable, what is the general understanding of how many applicants per positions – how does the Mayor recommend people, why do some people get appointed, some don’t.
Mayor says it varies widely, dozens for plan, few for more obscure committees, he encourages all alders to encourage people to apply, some districts have more representation, but they look for geographical diversity.
Palm asks about the council’s 12 year rule and the Mayor’s 10 year rule, what is your opinion on people on multiple committees for generations?
Mayor says he has been criticized for the opposite, for letting people go. Says there is not an ironclad rule, thinks good to turn over committees after a decade unless extraordinary reason.
Pham Remmele asks to abstain from the approvals, doesn’t know enough, abstain me from these appointments until process is more clear, a lot of appointments tonight and don’t have information to vote and not fair to vote against, abstain from process until process improved.[But don’t expect her to life a finger to make it happen. She could write a resolution to create a committee to look at it, write a report or change the ordinance herself. If she wants to have the discussion, she should propose some changes.]
This passes on a voice vote. Pham-Remmele, of course, abstaining.
SHARED APPRECIATION FOR NON-PROFITS
She asked for it to be excluded, pleased came to the decisions to change policy, it was a policy that didn’t work, have seen agency asking them to modify the rule that so they can operate, good time to eliminate, except city is giving up return that is going back into the funds, we get nothing for doing it, want staff or policy makers look deeper to see if something to offset this,[ahem, or she could do her job and come up with a proposal] instead of demanding a share of appreciation, can we do something so when property is sold can we get something for the e city, charge interest on the loan, getting rid of an unworkable policy – asks staff to respond before they vote.
Clingan says this has been an issue for 10 years, trying to protect themselves, not giving up shared appreciation, it is plowed back into the provider, almost all funds in many years have been given back to same provider in the same night and resolution. They added a provision that shared appreciation must be plugged back in to the core mission of the provider.[How are they going to track that? Where is the accountability?] Second thing is a compromise to have it be the default position, but there could be exceptions on selective cases.
Passes on a voice vote.
MEADOWOOD NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER
Pham-Remmele apologizes for being the only one raising issues this evening. She has to ask for that permission, item 13 is for aneighborhood center in her district Raymond Road. Thankful to see $72,000 assigned for this, cuz she worked very hard for 3 years to make it reality, [REALITY CHECK: SHE VOTED AGAINST HER OWN NEIGHBORHOOD CENTER FUNDING IN THE BUDGET WHEN IT WAS PART OF THE EMERGING NEIGHBORHOOD FUNDS!!! Yes, I’m yelling, just channeling the pent up frustration of my former colleagues. This was the vote that caused Rummel to throw her pen in the air during that budget debate. It also caused alot of eye rolling and tense moments with the council as many understood the need, but felt compelled to vote against it if the alder didn’t want it. It was an interesting dilemma. I chose to vote for it because its not about Pham-Remmele, but the people who need the services.] At this point, she stop talking and points out that several alders talking and not listening. Maniaci slinks back to her seat. Pham-Remmele waits. [She was probably right to point it out, but then also a little overly dramatic about it and she feels the need to drive. her. point. home.] Yes, there are more serious issue to discussion, but uncomfortable talking when something else going on, this is not respectful, this is like being in class, promises to be clear and short and fast as possible, but wants them to pay attention. She says this is a neighborhood center in her district, ran for office to respond to needs of neighbors and senior citizens longing for a place to gather and when it happened she really plead for that, from the point not even a concept, city responded unusually by giving $20K for study to a pilot and at the end of 2008 a lease signed almost at the last minute, opened Feb. 23, the response of neighborhood people has been beyond expectations, thankful for that, the word pilot has been removed, next year funded by CDBG is a good sign. Question is then what? So she is for it, answer a lot of needs in the area, things not done before opening, very clear with the public, as an alder for the district she is out in the dark, no one shared anything with her, someone showed her something to be introduced tonight [There was no pause here and a quick shift in topics and I’m not clear what she was saying, but I think she was unhappy about not being kept in the loop and I don’t know if this is the typical kind of thing that can happen to alders, or if this is more of her just not doing here work.] She says she feels like a parent of a child in Africa and Angelina Jolie came to adopt her child, this is beyond her expectation, don’t need to be connected, from this point on this child, who used to be an orphans is adopted, it has legitimate it documents, wants to rest in peace and know that they have a name and will be cared for. [?????????????????????] Question is what happens after this year, is it legitimate or will it be a goner, hopes someone could explain it. So far all these things happen and can’t answer how happened.
Clingan says it’s a two year funding cycle, they would apply next summer for the regular cycle of funding and they hope that they would apply like other neighborhood associations, right now, stand alone money to get it going and become part of regular neighborhood center.
Pham-Remmele says when it opened she was told had to encourage people to use it and there would be a survey – she is scared, does it go through any survey process and if have to re-apply, who is in charge, are we doing things this flexibly all the time, if there is a formula to be funded like other centers? [She sat on the committee for two years, she should know the process.] She says she feels like she got the adoption papers under the table, doesn’t like it.
Clingan says this all happened when he was first hired, this happened in city standards with lightening speed, it was imperative to get it done, because they missed the 2 year cycle they put money into it for next year and then they hope that Meadowood like others will be part of two year cycle and if successful would get funding in 2011.
Pham-Remmele says that this community center is also connected to the library, she says “Mayor you know” they are worried about the library and at April meeting at police station you promised people that it won’t go anywhere, at budget Palm said we would look at location and money is set aside and expanded, its not going anywhere, plea to everyone for this community center, you adopted the baby, sibling connected right there, you approve land banking of $5M to save the land to develop union corners, next to the library there is a piece of land sitting there for 10 years and if expand you might want to expand to that. [Sometimes I don’t understand the connect between her random list of thoughts and so I worry I didn’t capture it correctly. But that’s all I got out of that. I’m working on just getting recordings for moments like these so you can just hear it for yourself.] In 2011 when they expand the library, what will happen to the community center. Excuse me, but I am giving up two kids, one handicap and old, but if Brad and Angelina adopts them she wants to say something now and move on, wants it on public record, when look at role of community center should share services with library branch, two siblings, might not be there all the time, say something on the record, so people listening on TV can hear something.[Same problem.]
Bidar-Sielaff says if Pham–Remmele is interested in how decision made, she could attend CDBG meetings, members of Meadowood were there when this was discussed, the alders who served on the committee didn’t know if Pham-Remmele supported this and had no information from the alder. She would encourage the alder not to make accusations of things under the table, this was done on the table, it was clear and open with members of the group there to answer questions. They made a commitment cuz we do care about what s going on in any neighborhood in our city. They were happy to make the commitment, but need to integrate it into the committee funding process. Discussion like this are wasteful and disrespectful. [Kudos Bidar-Sielaff!]
King says this is a real asset to the southwest side and going in a positive direction and wants to be added as a sponsor.
Palm – insert pause here – says that he thought they covered this last week, but still some haven’t heard accurately so he’ll repeat himself. A number of years ago they tried to locate a library that was reasonable for the service area and branches serve a lot of people. Compton and Cnare don’t have a branch, Clausius and Clear don’t either. Branches serve a lot of people and some in our community have a branch very near their home and he is overwhelmed with the pride they have but don’t know others don’t have that privilege. When library tries to look at costs of operations they look at the service area and try to make it accessible by the most people. The previous alder was passionate about not moving it, no conclusion with landlord, mayor graciously put placeholder in budget for next year for improvements, they will look at service area and model and find out what is best for people, for all of the southwest side. He explicitly said library is a place for all but not a community center, to insinuate that they two have a relationship is not appropriate, please stop saying it. Library is there for everyone, not a secondary role, that is why not community or neighborhood center, there are two different roles, could be conjoined or nearby, but that is not part of the library’s method of operation. Sometimes it is a broader issue to be resolved with neighboring alders and neighborhood associations, he invites all alders to come to library board to discuss where a proper branch placement is. Your participation is always welcome, you could grace us with your presence and it would be good to hear what people say at the time the decisions re made not after. [Kudos, again!]
And with that . . . the motion passes.
RAISING THE VENDING FEES
Pham-Remmele says this is a Vendin Oversight Committee issue, where she serves and has had several calls from food vendors concerned about raising the fees. Fees were $680 in 2003, $800 in 2004 and now $850 so if you look, 25% increase in last 6 years and as she mentioned before, Warren Hanson has been working with less and adding more responsibility. He lost his assistant Charlie, working without help and this is one of the few area where we have direct service to the public, so when money approved to hire assistant was taken for other uses and with the hiring freeze, now entering the spring, is there any guarantee at all if we raise the fee, will it be use toward paying for that position? There is nothing in the resolution. When need money why do we get it from small business vendors, it’s a very small number of money, but these are people who are mostly minority who don’t know how city works and don’t know that we are discussing things impacting them. She works with Verveer on VOC and depends on his experience and she feels uncomfortable approving this, that is the reason she excluded it. Should they do this, is the money worth doing it?. We discuss a million dollars very easily and something like this she wants to bring to their attention, plight of small business people. Worth consideration.
That was the end of the discussion.
WATER UTILITY BONDS
Bruer asks comptroller to explain for new members of the body and give us a sense of why this comes up with such a short notice.
Brasser says this is a refinancing of Water Utility’s debt, they have faced constrained revenues as it become more difficult to get rate increases, but expanding capital improvement program, especially with water quality issues. Coming under increasing financial pressure and needs to borrow more money to operate and finance capital improvement program. They are also under antiquated bond covenants, high levels of required debt service coverage. To bring more stability to water utility, this refinancing replaces all debt with new bonds that were bid this morning, and refinancing results in several benefits 1) modernize bond covenants to conform with industry standards, 2) allows utility to reduce debt service over next few years and increase cash balance and flow, water utility can pay back capital loan from the city more quickly. Most of the borrowing amounts changed, good interest rates, Title 1 was predicted to be $49M but that was reduced to $47M. Those are all tax exempt, 20 year bonds, 3.88% true interest rate, lowest ever. Other resolution is a smaller piece of debt $1.5M, taxable because refinances some debt of water utility that was already refinanced in 2005 and can’t issue tax exempt debt for refinanced debt. $50M interest rates favorable, utility improve cash position, allows them to borrow, $11M is for their current capital projects.
Bruer asks the reason for the short window? Attractive interest rate?
Brasser says borrowing for water utility approved in 2009 budget last fall, planning in the works for a long time, quick turnaround is because competitive sales process. Bids go up at 10:30 in morning, bids are good for 24 hours, get bids, work out package quickly. That is why they held the special Water Utility and Board of Estimates meetings right before the council meeting. They need council approval so can get back to the winning bidder by 10:30 tomorrow morning.
Bruer says this has been true as long as he can remember.
Brasser says it is the standard schedule.
Bruer says if questions or concerns they can contact comptroller office in advance.
Brasser says any time. Notes Piper from Water utility is here too.
Schumacher adds that water utility has the fortunate but financial dilemma that 20% savings on conservation and that translates to revenue, city will be facing this in the future, but we as a city need to figure out how to have a fee structure to add in to the conservation – cost of doing business with water utility.
Pham-Remmele says if to refinance, how is the current interest rate changed? What is current interest rate?
Brasser says that inside the cover of the resolution shows the schedule for the winning bidder, interest rates that bond holders will pay over next several years, for year 1, 2 3 and 4 they pay different rates, the calculation of the true interest costs including transaction fees is the 3.88% which replaces several different bonds at different rates and maturity. Says average interest rate is going to be close to the ones replaced.
Pham Remmele said that text says the “next few years” – should help improve stability, repay working capital loan. I next few years 9 or 2 or 10?
Brasser says closer to 2 than 9. City fund balance, beginning a few years ago, water utility had a cash crunch, growing capital expenditure needs and rates from Public Service Commision (PSC) assumed higher water sales, as sales declined, also meant declining revenues. Conservation good, no money bad. City loaned money on a temporary basis, that loan is $4.6M at moment, financing will help reduce that by $1M or more when completed and over next 3 – 5 years, water tultity will fully repay the balance.
Pham Remmele says she asked her husband to look at last year to this year water bill. March 2008, 1.2 per cubic foot, 1.41 this year, with sewage etc. added her bill went from $422 to $525 and just putting self in position for regular Madison resident, encouraged to be conservative, rate of using we are going down, have rate of 17% of customers in default, all optimistic to repay, but we do have less use for water and higher fees charged and higher number of customers non-paying. Has reservations going into this. Wants to answer to regular resident, what are we doing? $50M is not a small amount.
Mayor asks Piper – Brasser says that it’s true that water rates have gone up and will need to go up, Robin can talk about how new rate cases are looking at changing the rate structure, utility has been addressing this.
Mayor wants Piper but Pham–Remmele jumps in and asks about meter reading improvements, how did we pass the savings to the residents and how much of loan or money is used for replacing the pipe system, doesn’t see numbers there to give her the assurance.
Brasser says that everything water utility spends is either to repay current debt or for new projects from 2009 budget, can only spend the proceeds on improvements to the water supply and distribution system. He says that this resoltuion doesn’t include those details, it’s in the budget process.
Pham-Remmele asks if by approving this tonight, how will it impact customer rate for Madison residents if they approve these two items, how is this going to affect the resident of Madison?
Brasser says this action has no direct impact on the rates. Except good repairs of system, rates set by PSC, which is a separate process, most of borrowing replacing debt, very little impact, Robin can talk about the rate cases. This allows utility to cover current capital costs already built in to the current rates.
Piper says that in this refunding is $11M for 2009 and a little 2010 and majority is for main replacements and infrastructure improvements, won’t affect the rates for a few years, PSC doesn’t allow actual inclusion of assets that were funded through the money until the assets are in service, affect is in future years.
Schumacher asks Piper where we stand with other utilities?
Piper says that they have the lower portion of larger utilities, 78 larger ones in the state and we’re approaching the upper teens, but fairly low for area and state. Water bill is now municipal services, sewer, stormwater and landfill remediation fees all on the water bill. Water bill increase is only 36% of the bill and that is all that is increased.
Cnare says that lack of money stymied us (Water Utility) this year, we have a loan out there, but reality is that it has an impact on our budget, this allows them to pay back the $4.5M that is the win, scrambling to catch up cuz too conservative for years, pipes, booster stations and the water table level issues need to be addressed. This is forecasting and the community now understands this is a precious service and resource and that they are not not saving up for one big bolus every few years. Not wait for the main to break, basic stuff, not an unusual occurrence, residents will appreciate when they turn on the faucet and have clean water now and for year to come. Good deal on water for a long time, starting to catch up – PSC agrees we need to increase the rates, benefit is also capital budget and automatic reader reading, monthly bill will be able to see the results in the savings. This is not unusual, its a critical piece that allows this to go forward.
Pham-Remmele wants to be clear – what is the bond rating now?
Brasser says AA2.
Pham-Remmele asks if this is better or worse?
Brasser says it is down from AA1 before this most recent rating. Last time sold bonds, Moody’s gave them a negative rating, need to rectify situation that we are trying to address with this debt restructuring, so rating went down.
Pham-Remmele asks if they are sliding? What proportion of operating expense is for debt service?
Piper says he thinks it is 18 – 20%, that is in the ball park.
Pham-Remmele asks if that is comfortable – are we ok with that or should we worry about it?
Brasser says not a ratio to worry about, but in general fund we have goal of 12%, but water utility isn’t a city, different structure, capital intensive, much of effort this building and maintaining the system, so expect to have a higher ratio for debt service cuz of all the borrowing.
Pham-Remmele says right now it is?
Brasser says coverage ratio of operating income to debt service has been scheduled out. Its 300% and then drops to between n 130 – 140% of the revenue of debt service for 20 years of bond issue. Above required level of 125%. 1.4 was requirement in past, with new debt, 1.25 and utility is projected to have actual 1.3 – 1.4. [I confess, I didn’t quite understand that, so I hope what I typed is correct.]
Pham-Remmele asks if this is optimistic?
Brasser says it was realistic.
[Ok, that was more tolerable and a little less grandstanding. But again, this isn’t the first time the council approved bonds in the nearly 3 years Pham-Remmele has been on the council and she should have known much of this.]
They vote, it passes. There are some introductions of items. They adjourn for their “budget party” at Madisons. Rollercoaster ride comes to an end . . .
