Board of Estimates Recap

TiVo’d, but it was a much shorter meeting than I had anticipated . . . Edgewater TID and Affordable Housing Trust Fund raid by CDA referred. Money for McDonald’s approved.

PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Me! I testified on behalf of James Madison Park District that we did not want to be included in the TIF district because we felt that we didn’t get any benefits (no infrastructure costs and the small cap TIF doesn’t really exist and we’re not sure it would help us) and that the risks (large scale development and single houses being torn down). Our properties in the 7 blocks are worth $58M and I felt we could help the county and school district by being taken out.

I also testified that if they are going to take the money from the affordable housing trust fund for the CDA, they shouldn’t lend the money for 17 years, but instead, 2 or 3 years.

NATALIE ERDMAN NEW CDA EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Natalie Erdman says this is a great opportunity, can use real estate and finance experience to do community development. Fun job for her and new challenges and hopes she is approved.

No questions. No discussion. Confirmed unanimously.

MONONA TERRACE BOOKING ASSISTANCE FUND
Moved acceptance. Clear asks if there is anything exciting in the report. Apparently not. Report accepted.

NEW YEARS EVE BUS SERVICE
Chitter chatter between Bruer and Mayor, couldn’t hear it. Passes.

METRO CONTRACTS WITH UW- FOR STAFF AND STUDENTS
Passes without questions or comments.

SOFTWARE FOR METRO
No questions or discussions. Passes.

CITY OF MADISON IS A RECOVERY ZONE
No questions or discussion. Passes.

PUBLIC ART PROCESS FOR N PINCKNEY AND SQUARE
No questions or discussion. Passes.

LEASE FOR POLICE AT BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB
No questions or discussion. Passes.

POLICE OVERTIME
Captain John Davenport says overtime is up slightly, and that is discussed in the report, but there is good news, the hold overs are down. They attribute that to the 5 shift plan and that is a good trend.

Verveer asks about convert to pay, what’s the update, compared to last year it is a big jump.

Terry says that last time they talked about vacation convert to pay, this is the overtime convert to pay. She says that the hours are increasing, people are banking more time than taking in pay, so pay to time ratio is at record lows. She says at beginning and end of year, they are cashing in more time, we don’t know why, it might be related to no pay increase. No particular indicator, it is just at their discretion. Also, not earning as much discretionary overtime, maybe they are balancing it out by taking time. Captain Davenport says he agrees and they are just guessing right not.

Passes without discussion.

4 YEAR CONTRACT WITH SCHMIDT TOWING
They remark that no one is there to contest it.

Bruer asks Clear to speak to it.

Clear says he was on the committee to help choose the company, helped with RFP and scored the responses. Two responses, unanimous selection was Schmitz based on the criteria in the RFP, not any one category that pushed it one way or the other, they scored higher in most areas. Committee felt confident that RFP process was fair and addressed the concerns of council members and the vendors.

Bruer asks who was on the committee.

Clear says Stephanie Neisen, Captain Bach, himself and Randy White (Puchasing), Bill Vandenbrook (Fleet) and Monet McGuire (purchasing).

Passes.

CHANGES TO ORDINANCE ABOUT “UNREGISTERED MOTOR VEHICLE”
Passes without questions or comments.

DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY MONEY
Clear says he talked with Larry Studesvill and within the last hour they had new information coming in from Department of Energy and having difficulty processing the information and by 27th they will have a plan to get the money on the street. They refer this item.

HOME MONEY FOR CDA FOR SENIOR HOUSING
Adoption of second substitute. Dan Fitzgerald from Horizon Development there to answer questions. No questions, no discussion. Bruer gives thank yous.

TID #32 EXPANSION
Clear moves version one, original map. Bruer seconds. Clear says that the concern about the amount of property in the TID by other taxing jurisdictions prompted him to go with the smaller area, some of their concerns are legitimate, they have budget issues of their own and they are watching every dollar. The major part of the project is the hotel and capturing more area for the small cap TIF has more opportunities, but its more property off the tax rolls. Clear apologizes to Verveer for not talking to him about this sooner, he says he just came up with this today after talking to staff and the county treasurer this morning. He says that is his best option to get successful conclusion at joint review board.

Verveer suggests that they refer to special BOE meeting before next council meeting on Tuesday or next BOE meeting. As Clear states he is blindsided, but he was out of town and Alder Manaici isn’t here, two BOE members missing, he would feel better if it were referred. He’d like time to work it out.

Mayor asks Gromacki to come up.

Clear says that not opposed to referral as long as they can get it done.

Verveer says not a delaying tactic.

Mayor asks about schedule, this has to be done in September? Gromacki says yes. Mayor says they can act on the 21st and they can. Clear asks if they can meet before Jt Review Board, they say it is ok. Clausius confirms that it would be the 21st. Bruer refers to the 13th. Verveer thanks them.

PORCHLIGHT DEAL FOR TRUMAN OLSON
Bruer thanks people. Passes without discussion.

TJ BROKERAGE FUNDS FOR MAP
No discussion or comments. Passes.

CDA AFFORDABLE HOUSING TRUST FUND MONEY
Clear asks if can refer cuz ordinance not passed? Clausius was going to ask the same question. Bruer moves referral. Mayor reminds them that they need to have it done by the end of September because the New Market Tax Credits will run out by end of September, they did get an extension until September 30th. They refer to the 13th.

MCDONALD’S SETTLEMENT
Clear asks for an update. May says memo in legistar. This was part of the bike path bridge that blocks the view of McDonald’s, but the real dispute is the access to McDonalds and how the vehicles enter and exit. At the time they made the award they didn’t think it was that impacted, as the litigation went forward, there was quite a bit of expert testimony about how it impacted the ability of people to get in and out. Our expert disagreed, but if they win it could be hundreds of thousands. They think that they risk having an award up to half a million and they went through mediation and this was the number they arrived at as being reasonable and that is why the recommend approval. There are funds in the project so no budget amendment.

Clear asks if there was a way to avoid this? May says that there wasn’t much to be done from the design aspect. It was a case where the condemnee didn’t come forward right away and if they had come sooner we might have given them a number that was closer all along. But in terms of design or engineering, not much could have been done.

ADJOURN
35 minutes . . . .

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