Pure lunacy. 11 hours later, as of 5:30 this morning, we have a budget. No votes were: Cnare, Konkel, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon. Here’s what I started to blog last night. . . you’ll have to check back later for more details that I’ll try to update after my meeting this morning. I stopped blogging at some point out of frustration with the slow connection.
But first . . . . if the budget is supposed to be a statement of our values (beware the snark), this is what I would say our values are based on our votes in the Capital Budget:
- It’s ok to possibly kill someone with a taser, but not with a semi-automatic military style “rifle”
- Structural deficits are a big concerns of the council.
- It’s ok to move forward with remodeling a building based on a department reorganization that is half-baked.
- We don’t have the guts to hold the County responsible for the costs of their county highways.
- Baseball is important.
- CDA should have a budget for their redevelopment activities.
- Slush funds are bad.
- The Mayor has to follow the Affordable Housing Trust Fund rules that the council passed.
- Habitat for Humanity is good.
The operating budget votes might lead you to believe our values were as follows (still snarky, too tired to be anything but . . . ):
- Yes, really, our budget should be sustainable.
- Sister cities are of value.
- Yes, when we said to do paid sick leave for City hourly employees we really meant it.
- Yes, really, our budget should be sustainable ($1.5M). Oh, wait, maybe not. (but not $2.4M)
- If some independent group wants to advise us on the Room Tax, maybe we should actually get the report.
- Police should get whatever they want.
- While we say the budget is about balance between police and social services, police get whatever they want and social services are iffy. Apparently $54M for police is balanced by $5M of services.
- Holding the police accountable or asking for information from them is called micromanagement.
- Did I mention, we should just give the police whatever they want.
- Give the Health Department whatever the County wants to give the Health Department.
- We don’t need any additional staff for the City Council, part-time hourly staff for $16,000
- The Mayor’s office staff deserve 22% raises ($20,000) in 5 years. The Mayor should be able to pay what he thinks is necessary.
- The clerk’s office should just work harder cuz we have a tight budget.
- Lakes should be clean only if we can find another way to pay for it.
- Screw the homeless.
- A public pool should be run by the public.
- Pilots projects don’t need to be done before you arbitrarily make new decisions without getting the results of the pilot project.
- Bus wraps pose no safety issues.
- We don’t need to do neighborhood planning.
- Decisions about the Office of Neighborhood Support need to be made three times before anything hopefully happens.
- “Jobs with a Future” are in our future.
- CDA should have a budget and follow their contract.
- Try, try, try again on the reorganization of the Department of Planning and Community and Economic Development.
- No funding to promote IZ.
- Screw the homeless, again.
- The SW side doesn’t get a neighborhood center.
- We can spend $7,500 for the year round homeless overflow shelter.
- Worthington Park kids should be given transportation to programs outside of their neighborhood.
- Youth employment programs are not a priority.
- Youth programs on the SW side are good.
- Weed and Seed is good
- Children can wait on a waiting list for assistance for quality child care.
- Child care centers should be helped to serve low income kids.
- Teaching Latino childcare providers is a good thing – despite some racist comments by at least one alder.
- Project HUGS is finally gone from our budget.
- West Senior Coalition can have their COLA.
- Girl Nieghborhood Power is good at Bridge/Lakepoint and Vera Court, but not Atwood.
- Emergency Housing vouchers for victims of domestic violence are good.
- Rape Crisis Center training to the police department is worth $10,000
- Cultural programs for 150 youth are not worthy/worth $20,404 (Canopy Dance, Millenium Soccer, Simpson St. Free Press Museum programs, Tap It, MLK Achievement awards and Vera Court funding.)
- Planning Councils are good.
- Libraries are good.
- MAP is good.
- Screw the homeless, again.
Here’s my comments from last night:
I’m not sure if this will get live blogged tonight or not, the connection is not very fast and we’re having some technical issues, so I’ll see how long I can deal with this technology. It’s was two minutes before when we are supposed to start and we don’t have quorum, a Mayor, a clerk, and about 9 alders. We started around 7:10. There were several announcements. Mics are live all night unless we turn them off so there may be a few treats for those out there in TV land, and there were several other announcements which I have already forgotten as things are all discombobulated . . . the staff doesn’t have microphones, Ald. Solomon is over in Siberia, we had some glitches with the internet connections, if we need to go to the restroom we need to go upstairs to use the bathrooms and the list of what is less than ideal goes on.
As we got started, the Mayor announced that former Alder King was in the room, to which some applauded. Then he announced that Alder King had left him a list of issues to work on . . . first he was met with groans, and I believe I was the only one who applauded. The Mayor said that Delora Newton from the Chamber of Commerce turned another shade of white.
Then, when the jokes were over, we got on to the budget around 7:15.
And by now I have gotten several comments from viewers about it not being streamed, the video being bad and not having sound . . . some of which may or may not be getting better depending upon who you hear from . . .
Here’s the votes I noted and what I can remember at this point.
Amendment No. 4
Agency/Service: Miscellaneous Appropriations / Sick Leave for Hourly Employees
Page(s): 11
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Verveer, Rhodes-Conway, Gruber
Add $63,000 to provide funding for paid sick leave for hourly City employees.
Sick Leave for Hourly Employees $ 63,000
Total $ 63,000 Levy Impact: $ 63,000
The Mayor said he didn’t put it in the budget because it was something better bargained. He did not explain why it was not implemented. This passed 19 – 1 with only Compton voting against. The Mayor asked us to refrain from calling roll call when it was obvious what the vote would be. Did you think that outcome was obvious?
Amendment No. 5
Agency/Service: General Fund Revenues / TIF Reimbursements
Workers Compensation Fund
Page(s): 14, 22
Sponsor(s): Alds. Brandon, Sanborn
Reduce TIF Reimbursements in General Fund Revenues by $1,500,000 and apply that amount to the Workers Compensation Fund Balance. This amendment will reduce the projected Workers Compensation Fund Balance deficit.
Workers Comp Fund Revenues (Incr.) $ (1,500,000)
Workers Comp Fund Balance (Incr.) 1 ,500,000
TIF Revenues – Reduction 1 ,500,000
Total $ 1,500,000 Levy Impact: $ 1,500,000
No one expected this motion to pass, but it did. AYE Cnare, Compton, Konkel, Palm, Rummel, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon, Brandon, Clausius. NO Clear, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Verveer, Webber, Bruer.
With this amendment passing we have $21,000 to spend before we go over the levy limit. For every dollar over the levy limit, we lose a dollar of state aid. Also, with the amendment we are $301,000 away from going over the Expenditure Restraint Program limit and if we go over that limit, we lose about $5M in state aids.
This amendment will be the subject of two motions to reconsider later in the evening. The first one was soon after the police were nearly done, that motion failed. AYE Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Bruer, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Clausius, Brandon, Skidmore, Sanborn, Schumacher
The second motion to reconsider will come at the end of the meeting.
Amendment No. 6
Agency/Service: General Fund Revenues / TIF Reimbursements
Page(s): 14
Sponsor(s): Alds. Brandon, Sanborn
Reduce TIF Reimbursements in General Fund Revenues by $2,400,000. This is a companion amendment to Capital Amendment No. 5.
TIF Revenues – Reduction $ 2,400,000
Total $ 2,400,000 Levy Impact: $ 2,400,000
Place on file.
Amendment No. 7
Agency/Service: Room Tax Fund / Uses / Other; Room Tax Fund / Fund Balance
General Fund Revenues / Other Local Taxes / Room Tax
Page(s): 16, 13
Sponsor(s): Alds. Webber, Konkel
Increase the amount of Room Tax transferred to the General Fund by $100,000 (from $600,000 to $700,000) specifically for the Downtown Public Safety Initiative. (Note: In 2007, the Room Tax transfer was increased from $500,000 to $600,000 to fund the Downtown Public Safety Initiative. In the 2008 Executive Budget, the transfer was maintained at $600,000, but it was not specified for any particular purpose.)
Room Tax Fund Expenditures $ 1 00,000
Room Tax Fund Balance (100,000)
General Fund Revenues (Incr.) (100,000)
Total $ (100,000) Levy Impact: $ (100,000)
Placed on file.
Amendment No. 8
Agency/Service: Room Tax Fund
Page(s): 17
Sponsor(s): Alds. Bruer, Brandon, Schumacher, and Mayor Cieslewicz
Add the following footnote: “During 2008 the Mayor will appoint a Room Tax Oversight Committee to establish policies and priorities for the future use of Room Tax revenues and to assure the future health of the Room Tax Fund balance.”
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
There was some confusion and this amendment was placed on the table.
Amendment No. 9
Agency/Service: Police / Field Operations
Page(s): 28
Sponsor(s): Alds. Rummel, Konkel
Delete funding for six new police officers to begin training in May 2008. This would eliminate staffing of one full time beat.
Permanent Salaries $ (149,040)
Overtime Pay (9,000)
Fringe Benefits (73,560)
Purchased Services (5,100)
Supplies (51,390)
Inter-Departmental Charges (8,910)
Total $ (297,000) Levy Impact: $ (297,000)
This was placed on the table til the end of the meeting. We had to vote to table and it passed 16 – 4. NO Compton, Pham-Remmele, Skidmore, Brandon YES Clear, Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Sanborn, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Clausius, Bruer, Webber
Amendment No. 10
Agency/Service: Police / Field Operations
Page(s): 28
Sponsor(s): Alds. Kerr, Solomon, Judge, Rummel, Konkel
Delete funding for 12 new police officers and revise Highlight No. 1 to read: Add a total of 18 new police officers with as many as practical to start in the accelerated training academy as quickly as possible. An additional 12 officers may be considered upon completion of the police staffing study currently underway and a long-term fiscal analysis beginning in budget year 2010 by the Comptroller.
Permanent Salaries $ (298,080)
Overtime Pay (18,000)
Fringe Benefits (147,120)
Purchased Services (10,200)
Supplies (102,780)
Inter-Departmental Charges (17,820)
Total $ (594,000) Levy Impact: $ (594,000)
Chief spoke until 8:00, questions lasted until 8:50 and then the “debate” started. We took a break around 10:05 after voting against the amendment. AYE Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Webber NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Verveer, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius. I’ll have to do more on this later.
At this point, we reconsidered amendment number 8 regarding the committee to study the room tax. The motion to reconsider passed. The amendment was amended to include a report by June 1, 2008 to the Board of Estimates, Economic Development Commission, the Mayor and the Council. That motion passed unanimously.
Next Alder Solomon moved reconsideration of the amendment that put us within $21,000 of the levy limit. That motion failed. AYE Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Bruer, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber. NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Clausius, Brandon, Skidmore, Sanborn, Schumacher.
Amendment No. 11
Agency/Service: Police / Field Operations
Page(s): 28
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel
Add to Highlight No. 1: At least five more neighborhood officers shall be added to neighborhoods that need them. The Police shall present to the Common Council by February 1, 2008 a plan for how to evaluate the neighborhoods that have neighborhood officers added to them and a plan for how neighborhood officers are withdrawn from neighborhoods that no longer need the officers.
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
This was amended to remove the first sentence to address the micromanaging issue. That was friendly. The police chief said they had that report that we were asking for and that he could give it to us, but . . . they still voted it down. Those voting for a community discussion about neighborhood officers were AYE Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Sanborn and Webber. NO Clear, Compton, Gruber, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon, Brandon, Bruer and Clausius.
Amendment No. 12
Agency/Service: Police / Field Operations
Page(s): 28
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel
Add to Highlight No. 1: The Police shall present to the Common Council by February 1, 2008 a plan for how Community Policing Teams will seek input from stakeholders and incorporate that feedback into their workplan and activities.
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
This one went a little better, there was a friendly amendment to have the report due April 1 and to have a plan “by police district”. AYE Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Sanborn, Skidmore, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer NO Clear, Compton, Pham-Remmele, Schumacher, Brandon, Clausius. (I think I missed someone there)
Amendment No. 13
Agency/Service: Police / Field Operations
Page(s): 28; Highlight No. 6
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel
Delete funding for four fully-equipped marked squad cars. Revise Highlight No. 6 to add: The Police shall include in their staffing study a recommendation for reduction in the use of police vehicles to reduce mileage including putting two officers in one car, the use of bicycles, horses and foot patrol as well as staffing patterns that can reduce miles driven.
Fleet Service Inter-Dept’l Charges $ (184,000)
Total $ (184,000) Levy Impact: $ (184,000)
We’re even arguing about tabling things at this point. On the motion to table AYE Cnare, Gruber, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Verveer, Solomon, Webber, Judge NO Clear, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Kerr.
On the main motion. AYE Konkel, Rummel, Solomon, Webber. NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sandborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Verveer, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Rhodes-Conway.
Amendment No. 14
Agency/Service: Police / Field Operations
Page(s): 28
Sponsor(s): Ald. Rhodes-Conway, Konkel
Police accountability language.
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
There was a substitute that we didn’t have the language so it was placed on the table. When we got back to it, the big debate over making the police report to us seemed to be about if they should have to tell us about the complaints that the police department gets. Chief Wray, of course, doesn’t want us to have the information. So Brandon made a motion to remove the language that required them to do this. That passed AYE Clear, Cnare, Compton, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Judge. NO Gruber, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Palm. Then it passed on a voice vote. Sorry I don’t have the language on this one at the moment
Amendment No. 15
Agency/Service: Police / Field Operations
Page(s): 28
Sponsor(s): Alds. Kerr, Solomon, Clear
Revise the first sentence of Highlight No. 8 to read: By July 1 of 2008 and every subsequent year, the department shall prepare an annual report for the Mayor and members of the Common Council that includes, but is not limited to, the following summaries reported by police sector:
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
Also placed on the table pending language on 14. Later it passed on a voice vote.
Amendment No. 16
Agency/Service: Public Health / Health Promotion
Page(s): 34
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Schumacher
Add funding to restore the half-time Fit City Coordinator position. (Note: This position was deleted as part of Board of Estimates amendment #9.)
Permanent Salaries $ 2 1,366
Fringe Benefits 7 ,863
Payments from Dane County (Incr.) (16,143)
Total $ 13,086 Levy Impact: $ 13,086
There was a substitute that ended up with a bottom line of (368). I believe we essentially said that we agreed with the county’s funding recommendations. Will get the language later. It passed on a voice vote.
Amendment No. 17
Agency/Service: Public Health / Animal Services
Page(s): 33
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Palm
Replace two half-time hourly / LTE “Humane Agent – Officer” positions with one full-time “Humane / Animal Control Officer” position.
Permanent Salaries $ 40,460
Fringe Benefits 1 8,363
Hourly Employee Pay (Savings) (24,648)
Payments from Dane County (Incr.) (18,875)
Total $ 15,300 Levy Impact: $ 15,300
Passed on a voice vote.
Amendment No. 18
Agency/Service: Common Council
Page(s): 39
Sponsor(s): Alds. Verveer, Konkel, Webber, Rhodes-Conway, Bruer, Compton, Clausius, Schumacher
Add funding for an Hourly position to assist Alderpersons. Funding cannot be expended until the Common Council approves the creation of a new hourly position in the Council Office. This position will start no earlier than April 1, 2008.
Hourly Wages and Benefits $ 16,000
Total $ 16,000 Levy Impact: $ 16,000
This was placed on file unanimously so we could “share the pain.”
Amendment No. 19
Agency/Service: Mayor
Page(s): 41
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel
Reduce funding for the proposed reclassification of two Mayoral Assistants such that the positions will remain at the Mayoral Assistant 1 level.
Permanent Salaries $ (18,000)
Fringe Benefits (6,552)
Total $ (24,552) Levy Impact: $ (24,552)
The Mayor’s office was not asked to “share the pain” even though in 5 years some positions got a 22% raise, the salaries went from $580,000 to nearly $1M in 5 years. And yet, we couldn’t cut the budget. Failed 4 – 16. AYE Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Sanborn. NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Webber, Verveer, Brandon, Clausius, Bruer, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon
Amendment No. 20
Agency/Service: Clerks’ Office / Clerk
Page(s): 62
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Verveer
Add funding of $61,556 for restoration of the Clerk’s Office Coordinator position, to work on lobbying, special projects with tracking sunset dates and reports, election official training, bus drivers that help with elections, and legistar oversight
Various $ 6 1,556
Total $ 61,556 Levy Impact: $ 61,556
The clerk’s office gets to “share the pain”. The Mayor broke the tie. Currently the clerks office has 4 fewer staff people than they had 10 years ago. AYE: Clear, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber NO: Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer and Clausius.
Amendment No. 21
Agency/Service: Engineering / Storm Water Management
Page(s): 91
Sponsor(s): Alds. Solomon, Rhodes-Conway
Provide funding to initiate a planning process to pull together stakeholders and community members to establish clear and achievable goals and an implementation plan for cleaning the lakes. This effort would work in tandem with County initiatives totaling $135,000 this year.
Purchased Services $ 25,000
Total $ 25,000 Levy Impact: $ 25,000
We voted to pay for this from the Stormwater Utility. That passed on a voice vote with Ald. Sanborn voting no.
Amendment No. 22
Agency/Service: Parks / General Parklands
CDBG – Provider to be Determined
Page(s): 103 (Highlight No. 3), 153
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel, Solomon
Remove funding for the hiring of two additional hourly Park Rangers. Provide funding in the CDBG budget to add two homeless outreach workers to deal with homelessness issues, including addressing issues surrounding car campers and issues relating to homelessness in the parks. An RFP process will be used to determine a provider.
CDBG: Purchased Services $ 70,000
Parks: Hourly Wages (13,514)
Benefits (1,486)
Total $ 55,000 Levy Impact: $ 55,000
The homeless get to “share the pain”. Failed 7 – 13. AYE Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius.
At this point we took number 9 back off the table, which was cutting the 6 cops. We had to do this to let the cops go home since it was 1:30. Apparently, they are more important than all the rest of the staff that stayed there late into the evening. The vote to take it off the table was as follows: AYE Clear, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon, Verveer, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Cnare NO Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Webber, Rummel
This motion to cut 6 police officers then failed 13 – 7. Those voting for the cuts were Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Webber
Amendment No. 23
Agency/Service: Municipal Pool / Pool Operations
Page(s): 109
Sponsor(s): Alds. Sanborn, Compton
Add narrative requiring a Request for Proposal for complete operation of the pool.
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
Privatizing the public pool failed 3 – 16. AYE Compton, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn NO Clear, Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Brandon and Clausius. I think Rummel was out of the room.
Amendment No. 24
Agency/Service: Metro Transit / Fixed Route
Page(s): 120
Sponsor(s): Alds. Verveer, Konkel
Eliminate $50,000 in advertising revenues derived from the anticipated addition of more full-wrap advertising and maintain the current bus full-wrap advertising pilot program at 15 buses as authorized by the Council.
Revenues (Decrease) $ 50,000
Total $ 50,000 Levy Impact: $ 50,000
Bus wraps – you’d think it would be a public safety issue to see into the bus and a rider issue to be able to see out. Additionally, we’re in the middle of a pilot project that isn’t done, but we added more wrapped buses anyways. AYE (to not add more wraps) Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Webber, Verveer, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Skidmore NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Kerr, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Solomon, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius
Amendment No. 25
Agency/Service: Planning Division / Physical and Special Projects Planning
Page(s): 136
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Compton, Schumacher
Remove funding for the Neighborhood Wellness Indicators project.
Purchased Services $ (40,000)
Total $ (40,000) Levy Impact: $ (40,000)
We didn’t even get to make this “tough choice” as the motion was withdrawn/placed on file.
Amendment No. 26
Agency/Service: Planning Division / Physical and Special Projects Planning
Page(s): 136
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel
Provide $30,000 in Neighborhood Planning Grants for a James Madison Park District Neighborhood plan.
Grants $ 3 0,000
Total $ 30,000 Levy Impact: $ 30,000
The staff recommended that I ask for $60,000. Said it was necessary and if it was done it would save staff time and lead to more predictability for the developers. You know, its customer friendly, so it failed. AYE Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber NO Compton, Kerr (very reluctantly), Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Clear
Amendment No. 27
Agency/Service: Planning Division
Page(s): 136
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel
Replace Budget Highlight #4 with the following language that mirrored the resolution we passed last March regarding the Office of Neighborhood Support to include a community process.
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
This was tabled while we got copies. Later, it passed on a voice vote with Julia and perhaps . . . Schumacher . . . voting against.
Amendment No. 28
Agency/Service: Economic and Community Development Division / Ofc. Of Business Resources
Page(s): 145
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Solomon
Provide funding for the “Jobs with a Future” program.
Purchased Services $ 5 ,000
Total $ 5,000 Levy Impact: $ 5,000
This passed. AYE Clear, Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer NO Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Clausius Rhodes-Conway had to abstain. And it sounded like Schumacher should have as well . . .
Amendment No. 29
Agency/Service: Economic and Community Development Division
Page(s): 145
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rhodes-Conway
Add a Budget Highlight as follows:
“By February 1, 2008, the CDA will report to the Council on its annual work plan for 2008. Absent such a plan, the Comptroller’s Office will initiate billings to the CDA for all City personnel charges to the CDA for 2007 and for the remainder of 2008.”
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
Passed unanimously on a voice vote.
Amendment No. 30
Agency/Service: Economic and Community Development Division
Page(s): 145
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rhodes-Conway
Add a Budget Highlight as follows:
“By April 15, 2008, in conjunction with the Comptroller’s Office, staff will present to the Council an operating budget template for CDA Redevelopment Activities.”
$ –
Total $ – Levy Impact: $ –
Passed unanimously with a voice vote.
Amendment No. 31
Agency/Service: Economic and Community Development Division
Page(s): 145
Sponsor(s): Mayor Cieslewicz; Alds. Bruer, Brandon, Konkel, Clear, Kerr, Clausius, Verveer, Compton, Gruber, Sanborn, Schumacher, Judge, Skidmore, Solomon, Cnare, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Weber, Rummel
Effective April 1, 2008, reorganize the Economic and Community Development (ECD) Division by creating two new agencies entitled the “Community Development Division” (CDD) and the “Economic Development Division” (EDD). Allocated from ECD to CDD will be the Office of Community Services, CDBG and Senior Center. The remaining services from ECD relating to Real Estate, the CDA, the Office of Business Resources and TIF will be allocated to the EDD. Each Division will be led by Directors who will report directly to the Mayor and to the Director of Planning and Community and Economic Development. Pending classification determinations by Human Resources, each Director position will be budgeted at a classification and pay range of 21-17. (This will result in a budget savings for the ECD Director position, which is currently budgeted at a pay range of 21-19.)
Current Director Sal. Svngs $ (109,547)
Current Dir.Fringe Svngs. (40,313)
New ECD Director Salary 6 7,500
New ECD Director Benefits 2 4,840
New CDD Director Salary 6 7,500
New CDD Director Fringe 2 4,840
Total $ 34,820 Levy Impact: $ 34,820
Passed unanimously on a voice vote, but not without comment. Rhodes-Conway appropriately was incensed by the illegal meeting of the Mayor, Brandon, Bruer, Clear, that led to this amendment being created.
Amendment No. 32
Agency/Service: CDBG
Page(s): 153
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel, Verveer
Provide $20,000 for an educational and training program targeted to potential buyers of Inclusionary Zoning (IZ) units and others involved in their marketing, such as referral groups, employers, brokers, lenders, attorneys, and developers. The specific activities would be undertaken with the advice of the IZ Subcommittee on Marketing.
Purchased Services $ 20,000
Total $ 20,000 Levy Impact: $ 20,000
Failed on a voice vote.
Amendment No. 33
Agency/Service: CDBG
Page(s): 153 – New Program: Eviction Prevention (Provider to be Determined)
Sponsor(s): Alds. Solomon, Konkel, Kerr, Verveer
Provide $50,000 for eviction prevention or entry funds (provider to be determined via a Request for Proposals).
Purchased Services $ 50,000
Total $ 50,000 Levy Impact: $ 50,000
The homeless got to feel some more pain, hand delivered by the Mayor. This one was a 10-10 tie with the Mayor voting no. AYE Clear, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber NO Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Cnare
Amendment No. 34
Agency/Service: CDBG
Page(s): 153 – New Program: Southwest Neighborhood Center Plan (Provider to be Determined)
Sponsor(s): Alds. Pham-Remmele, Compton, Gruber, Konkel, Rummel, Skidmore, Verveer; Mayor Cieslewicz
Provide $20,000 for a feasibility study for a neighborhood center to serve the greater Meadow Wood area. Based on indicators of neighborhood change and suggestions arising from the South West Neighborhood Planning process, the CDBG Commission would select an organization to develop this study of possible locations and feasibility.
Purchased Services $ 20,000
Total $ 20,000 Levy Impact: $ 20,000
Amendment No. 35
Agency/Service: CDBG
Page(s): 153 – New Program: Southwest Neighborhood Center Plan (Provider to be Determined)
Sponsor(s): Alds. Pham-Remmele, Compton, Gruber, Konkel, Rummel, Skidmore, Verveer; Mayor Cieslewicz
Provide $25,000 to initiate a neighborhood center in the greater Meadow Wood area to serve children, seniors, and families. It is expected that the center will operate initially on a facility use model, working with other community groups to increase the level of programming in this area. Funds would be directed toward set-up, staffing, and space costs.
Purchased Services $ 2 5,000
Total $ 25,000 Levy Impact: $ 25,000
34 & 35 were voted on together. The Mayor offered to pay for this out of the Emerging Neighborhoods funds. The motion was then to place on file. AYE Brandon, Clausius, Clear, Cnare, Judge, Kerr, Palm, Sanborn, Schumacher, Solomon, Webber. NO Bruer, Compton, Gruber, Konkel, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Skidmore, Verveer
At this point the most obnoxious suggestion of the night was made by the Mayor. He suggested that we place all the rest of the 21 amendments on file. Compton made the motion to do it, I missed who seconded it. The motion failed.
Amendment No. 36
Agency/Service: CDBG
Page(s): 158 – Program #33 – Salvation Army
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Solomon, Kerr, Verveer
Provide an additional $7,500 for a year-round overflow homeless shelter.
Purchased Services $ 7,500
Total $ 7,500 Levy Impact: $ 7,500.
This one was the one amendment for the homeless that passed 13-7. AYE Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Clear, Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel NO Compton, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Clausius.
Amendment No. 37
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 161
Sponsor(s): Alds. Sanborn, Brandon
Remove funding of $65,000 to the Office of Community Services for the following Youth Programs:
1) $60,000 to Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin for Youth Employment programs; and
2) $5,000 to the Atwood Community Center for transportation of youth of the Worthington Park Neighborhood to attend Atwood Community Center events. (Note: This funding was included in the budget via Board of Estimates amendment #33.)
Purchased Services $ (65,000)
Total $ (65,000) Levy Impact: $ (65,000)
I divided the question. The $5,000 for Worthington Park passed 12 – 8. AYE Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer. NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon, Clausius.
The funding for the Youth Services of Southern Wisconsin Youth Employment Programs was cut. AYE Clear, Cnare, Compton, Konkel, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rummel, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Rhodes-Conway. NO Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Verveer, Webber
Amendment No. 38
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 161
Sponsor(s): Alds. Sanborn, Brandon
Remove funding of $65,000 to the Office of Community Services for after-school and summer programs administered by the Wisconsin Youth and Family Center, as follows:
1) $15,000 for elementary after school program;
2) $10,000 for an elementary summer program;
3) $20,000 for middle and high school after school programming; and
4) $20,000 for middle and high school summer programming.
(Note: This funding was included in the budget via Board of Estimates amendment #34.)
Purchased Services $ (65,000)
Total $ (65,000) Levy Impact: $ (65,000)
These cuts failed with the following AYES Clear, Compton, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore NO Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Kerr, Konkel
Amendment No. 39
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 161
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Solomon, Verveer
Provide funding for the 4th quarter of 2008 for the Weed and Seed coordinator and related programs in anticipation of the expiration of grant funds effective September 30, 2008.
Permanent Salaries $ 1 1,450
Fringe Benefits 4 ,214
Telephone 2 00
Room Rental 3 00
Purchased Services (Program Funding) 1 2,300
Total $ 28,464 Levy Impact: $ 28,464
This motion passed, AYE Clear, Cnare, Gruber, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Clausius, Judge NO Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon
Amendment No. 40
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Child Care
Page(s): 161
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel , Rummel, Verveer
Provide an additional $42,500 for child care assistance to serve an additional 10 children on the waiting list.
Purchased Services $ 4 2,500
Total $ 42,500 Levy Impact: $ 42,500
This failed 6 – 14. AYE Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Rummel, Verveer, Webber NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius, Kerr
Amendment No. 41
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Child Care
Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 161
Sponsor(s): Alds. Sanborn and Brandon
Remove funding of $20,000 for child care assistance to help accredited child care programs that serve low income children and $26,985 to the Office of Community Services for a contract with Community Coordinated Child Care (4C) for a Latino Child Care program. (Note: This funding was included in the budget via Board of Estimates amendment #s 30 and 32.)
Purchased Services $ (46,985)
Total $ (46,985) Levy Impact: $ (46,985)
We divided the question on this one, voting on the $20,000 for stabilization funds to help daycares rent to low-income kids whose families have trouble paying. AYE Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon, Clausius NO Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer
Then we voted on the 4Cs funding. Alder Pham-Remmele was not at her finest on this motion, she was speaking to it out of order and was making what some might call racist remarks. She probably helped it pass. AYE Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Clausius NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer.
Amendment No. 42
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 166, Program #24 – Project HUGS
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Palm, Brandon
Remove funding for this program.
Purchased Services $ (5,873)
Total $ (5,873) Levy Impact: $ (5,873)
Passed on a voice vote, Alder Compton voting no.
Amendment No. 43
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 168, Program #40 – West Madison Senior Coalition
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Palm, Brandon
Reduce funding by $5,239 (from $223,544 to $218,305).
Purchased Services $ (5,239)
Total $ (5,239) Levy Impact: $ (5,239)
Was placed on file.
Amendment No. 44
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 168, Program #42 – Atwood Community Center
169, Program #46 – Bridge/Lakepoint/Waunona Neighborhood Center
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel, Verveer
Provide $4,000 to the Atwood Community Center for a middle school boys program and $18,000 in additional funding for Neighborhood Centers for Girl Neighborhood Power programs, as follows:
$6,000 for Atwood Community Center
$12,000 for Bridge/Lakepoint/Waunona Neighborhood Center
Note that the funding for the Girl Neighborhood programs is a one-time allocation conditioned upon an Office of Community Services staff review of the proposed programming and administration in order to facilitate quality after school activities for middle school girls at these sites. A written report shall be submitted to the Community Services Commission by July 31, 2008.
Purchased Services $ 2 2,000
Total $ 22,000 Levy Impact: $ 22,000
The motion was only made for the $12,000 for Bridge/Lakepoint/Waunona Girl Neighborhood Power. Passed 15 – 5. AYE Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Clausius. NO Palm, Rummel, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon.
Amendment No. 45
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 170, Program #58 – Vera Court Neighborhood Center
Sponsor(s): Alds. Schumacher, Cnare, Verveer
On October 31, 2007, due to funding losses, the YWCA notified Vera Court Community Center of their cancellation of the Girls Neighborhood Power contract in the amount of $27,955 as of January 1, 2008.
The City recognizes that programming for girls at the Vera Court Community Center has been and shall continue to be an important resource for girls on the Northside of Madison.
Therefore, the City shall provide a one-time $12,000 additional allocation to Vera Court Community Center for 2008 with the condition that staff from the Office of Community Services reviews the proposed programming and administration to facilitate quality after school activities for middle school girls at this site. A written report shall be submitted to the Community Services Commission by July 31, 2008.
Purchased Services $ 1 2,000
Total $ 12,000 Levy Impact: $ 12,000
Passes 15 – 4. AYE Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Clausius
Amendment No. 46
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 171, Program #64 – Domestic Abuse Intervention Services
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Solomon, Verveer
Provide $29,000 for homeless emergency vouchers for victims of domestic violence.
Purchased Services $ 2 9,000
Total $ 29,000 Levy Impact: $ 29,000
Passed on a voice vote.
Amendment No. 47
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 171, Program #66 – Rape Crisis Center
Sponsor(s): Alds. Judge, Verveer
Provide additional funding to the Rape Crisis Center for compensation for the training of new police officers in Sexual Assault counseling tactics, along with the continued knowledge provided to the force already in service. Funds would also be used to maintain or improve current levels of education, sexual violence prevention advocacy, and emergency counseling services for college-aged students in the City of Madison.
Purchased Services $ 5 0,000
Total $ 50,000 Levy Impact: $ 50,000
The amount of this request was changed to $10,000. It passed around 4:00. AYE Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer. Cnare, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon, Clausius ABSTAIN Clear
Amendment No. 48
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 171, Program #63 – Youth Integration into Recreation and Cultural Activities
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Palm, Brandon
Remove funding for this program.
Purchased Services $ (20,404)
Total $ (20,404) Levy Impact: $ (20,404)
This was funding for Canopy Dance, Millenium Soccer, Simpson St. Free Press, Tap It, Urban League and Vera Court. Failed 15 – 5. AYE Gruber, Judge, Konkel, Verveer, Webber NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rummel, Rhodes-Conway, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius.
We took the three neighborhood planning councils together.
Amendment No. 49
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 173, Program #85 – East Isthmus Neighborhood Planning Council
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Palm, Brandon, Compton
Remove funding for this program
Purchased Services $ (42,807)
Total $ (42,807) Levy Impact: $ (42,807)
Amendment No. 52
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 174, Program #88 – Northside Planning Council
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Palm, Brandon, Compton
Remove funding for this program.
Purchased Services $ (61,332)
Total $ (61,332) Levy Impact: $ (61,332)
Amendment No. 53
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 174, Program #89 – South Metro Planning Council
Sponsor(s): Alds. Cnare, Palm, Brandon, Compton
Remove funding for this program.
Purchased Services $ (55,292)
Total $ (55,292) Levy Impact: $ (55,292)
These made me really nervous, but they passed 11 – 9. Voting to cut AYE Clear, Cnare, Compson, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon, Palm, Webber NO Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, Bruer, Claussius
Amendment No. 50
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 173, Program #80 – T.J. Support Brokerage Firm (Madison Apprenticeship Program)
Sponsor(s): Alds. Solomon, Konkel, Cnare, Verveer
Provide additional funding to the Madison Apprenticeship Program.
Purchased Services $ 2 5,000
Total $ 25,000 Levy Impact: $ 25,000
After all that powerful testimony and the fact that they actually get drug dealers off the streets, it passed but it only got 11 votes. AYE Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer NO Clear, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Schumacher, Brandon, Claussius
Amendment No. 51
Agency/Service: Office of Community Services / Community Resources
Page(s): 173, Program #78 – Porchlight, Inc.
Sponsor(s): Alds. Solomon, Gruber, Konkel, Kerr, Verveer
Provide an additional $40,000 for transportation assistance for low-income, Metro-dependent adults to search for or maintain income security.
Purchased Services $ 4 0,000
Total $ 40,000 Levy Impact: $ 40,000
The Homeless got another dose “sharing the pain”. Even thought this got changed from $40,000 to $10,000 it failed 8 – 12. AYE Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Sanborn, Solomon, Skidmore, Brandon, Bruer, Clausius
Amendment No. 54
Agency/Service: Library / Neighborhood Libraries Services / South Madison Branch
Page(s): 177
Sponsor(s): Alds. Kerr, Konkel, Rummel, Solomon
Increase hours at the South Madison Branch Library from 45.5 to 58 per week to enable more access to high demand Internet PCs and spread out the use at this crowded and busy branch library. The new hours would be 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
Permanent Salaries $ 6 2,110
Hourly Employee Pay 1 1,343
Fringe Benefits 2 4,150
Total $ 97,603 Levy Impact: $ 97,603
This was modified to remove the last line to let the library staff determine the hours later. It passed 15 – 5 even though it put us way over our library limit. AYE Clear, Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Schumacher, Solomon, Verveer, WEbber, Bruer, Clausius. NO Compton, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon.
Amendment No. 55
Agency/Service: Library / Neighborhood Libraries Services / Hawthorne Branch
Page(s): 177
Sponsor(s): Alds. Konkel, Rummel
Increase hours at the Hawthorne Branch Library from 47 to 58 per week to enable more Internet use, as well as more available time for small group meetings and individual research and study. The new hours would be 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Saturday.
Permanent Salaries $ 6 5,636
Hourly Employee Pay 2 5,675
Fringe Benefits 2 7,081
Total $ 118,392 Levy Impact: $ 118,392
Net Total Levy Impact $ 3,138,737
This was modified to remove the last line to let the library staff determine the hours later. It passed with a little different vote with Schumacher flipping. 14 – 6 even though it put us way over our library limit. AYE Clear, Cnare, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, WEbber, Bruer, Clausius. NO Compton, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Brandon, Schumacher.
There were a few other votes that night. We tried twice to recess the meeting instead of pulling an all nighter, but because the Mayor wanted to go deer hunting, we made our decisions in the dark of the night without sunshine and very little sleep. There were many times when alders Compton and Pham-Remmele had to stop in the middle of the vote to find out what we were voting on and sometimes the Mayor and the Attorney couldn’t even tell us or agree.
The first motion to recess was around 1 or 1:30 by Rhodes-Conway. We would have adjourned until 9am on Saturday. Compton and Bruer said they couldn’t be there. AYE Cnare, Kerr, Konkel, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Webber NO Clear, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, SKidmore, Verveer, Brandon, Bruer, Claussius.
The second motion to recess was around 3:30 by Judge (who had a mid-term the next day) and he wanted to recess to our council meeting on Tuesday since we have a light agenda. That failed 17 – 3. Solomon and I believe the Mayor would not have been there. AYE Kerr, Konkel, Palm, Rhodes-Conway, Webber. NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Pham-Remmele, Rummel, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon
The final issue of the evening we had to deal with was the fact that we were over the levy limit. We had to reconsider taking the $1.5M TIF money that we applied to the Worker’s Compensation Fund. That tied 10-10 with the mayor breaking the tie. Those who didn’t want to do that were as follows: NO Clear, Cnare, Compton, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Solomon, Skidmore, Brandon, Clausius AYE Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Konkel, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer.
Some people wanted to go back through all the amendments and make more cuts to get us under the levy. I asked the Comptroller to fill them in that we can’t run this right down to the dollar because there are numbers that we don’t get until into the year and they can still change, so we could be off by as much as $200,000 so we needed to cut about a half a million dollars yet. Cnare and Compton wanted to keep going at 5 am. After alot of discussion, they voted to end the debate. Those who wanted to end the debate were: AYE Clear, Cnare, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Pham-Remmele, Rhodes-Conway, Skidmore, Verveer, Webber, Brandon, Bruer NO Konkel, Palm, Rummel, Sanborn, Schumacher, Solomon, Clausius. .
Then, we finally got to the vote to change the $1.5M to $1M. There was more discussion, but we voted. I didn’t vote and was ready to keep going because Alder Brandon kept saying that he had 1.5M of cuts but he wouldn’t tell us what they were. And I knew that I had over $1M of cuts in the amendments that I passed. I passed when I got to the vote to see how people voted, Clausius was out of the room and the Mayor held the vote for him to get back, after waiting quite a while, I voted AYE simply because the outcome of the vote would have been the same either way. The motion would have resulted in a 10-10 tie with Clausius in the room and me voting no and the Mayor would have voted yes, so I voted AYE to end the waiting. The vote was AYE Compton, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Konkel NO Clear, Cnare, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Schumacher, Skidmore and Brandon.
The final vote on the budget was only 13 – 7. AYE Clear, Compton, Gruber, Judge, Kerr, Rhodes-Conway, Rummel, Solomon, Schumacher, Verveer, Webber, Bruer, Clausius. NO Cnare, Konkel, Palm, Pham-Remmele, Sanborn, Skidmore, Bruer
My favorite comment of the night . . . when I asked some of the comptroller staff how much money we wasted on staff costs over the last few nights . . . they replied “all of it”.
That’s all I got. I hope my memory and my notes are ok. If you spot any mistakes, feel free to let me know. brendakonkel@yaho.com or at any of my other email addresses you might have. More comments to follow after a little more sleep.
