No, not talking about Thuy, but she did get in a “was Obama born in this country?” type comment, a bike comment and noted her concern that the city staff might be taken over by people from another planet . . . Due to the aforementioned poison ivy and the resulting lack of sleep for the last few nights, this post is both a) late and b) short. Agenda is here if you want to find links or look at the items listed below.
The meeting started almost 15 minutes late, which was weird cuz everyone seemed to be in the room. It left plenty of time for – and I’m so sorry I missed it – but apparently, there was a dispute over who got the best seats in the house. The dispute was between council constant Rosemary Lee (her usual seat), her buddy Rolf and, oh, it can’t get any better than this, Will Sandstrom. Rosemary must have won, cuz Sandstrom seemed extra Sandstrom.
ROLL CALL – No one was listed on the agenda as being absent but the Clerk/Mayor said that Palm and Schmidt were excused. Comption was a no show, Skidmore left early, Maniaci floated in at her leisure as per usual. Quorum and people leaving the room became a concern at some points, which is rare.
MOMENT OF SILENCE
They had a moment of silence for the recently deceased Dane County Coroner.
#1 – COMMUNICATION REGARDING PLAN B
Two neighbors showed up to testify that the noise was bad from the club. Thumping late into the night and smokers gathering outside. One was a landlord who also noted that there were light issues because the car lights from the parking lot shined in the apartment windows. He also noted that the 17 parking spaces were not sufficient and it made parking for those who live in the neighborhood difficult. Oh yeah, and he didn’t like people throwing up and peeing on his lawn.
This item was referred to ALRC
#2 – Annexation Referred to the October 6 Common Council meeting
#3 – Direct attachment accepted on a voice vote
EARLY PUBLIC TESTIMONY
Susan Schmitz from Downtown Madison Inc appeared in support of the Library, TIF for the Edgewater and Capital Square Improvements being done in 2010 instead of waiting. It’s all about everyone’s favorite buzz word, economic development. I wonder which of these projects has the best rate of return or would be our best investment for the dollars we spend? And I wonder why she testified early instead of waiting?
Sonya Newenhouse from Madison Environmental Group showed up in support of the Library. She said, among other things, that renovating a building is not always the best for the environment and it isn’t black and white. [I really wonder what the hell that meant and what she has to back up that statement. More importantly, I wonder which project she’s getting paid to support . . . I never see her name as a registered lobbyists, but she testifies an awful lot and makes some money off these projects. Her, Hulsey and the Mayor are in a tough competition for the biggest former environmental advocate sell out award. I think the poison ivy is making me cranky. And, why did she testify early – its supposed to only be for medical, transportation or day care issues.]
Will Sandstrom treated us to a long rambling story about his father being an alcoholic and slipping and falling and getting a ticket as he was taking him to the hospital and finding someone to dig his grave the day before the funeral. And his mom and gangrene and I’m not sure what and he lives in a marsh and he yelled at the city attorney and then said the council was inhumane and somehow this all had something to do with the capital budget and discrimination and a hate crime. The Mayor told him his time was up, he kept talking, Clear came and tried to nudge him along. Mayor calls the next person who went home, Sandstrom still talking but eventually settles down.
Tim Sobota an employee from Madison Metro in comp group 44 thanks them for being allowed to testify early. [Wife County Board Supervisor Carousel Bayrd recently had their second baby and I’m sure he had to get home, therefore used this privilege properly.]. He’s in opposition to the deal he understands was struck – from reading a blog – that the agreement to get rid of the 1% penalty to employees in this group that live outside the county is in exchange for everyone else in that group paying more for health care. He says its not fair that the 90% of the 368 employees represented by MPSEA (Madison Professional Supervisory Employees Association) are paying for the 29 employees that live outside Dane County. As a non-represented employee, the Mayor and Common Council can impose health care increases on them and all city employees are supposed to have a co-pay at this point. However, he doesn’t think it should be imposed in exchange for the residency issue. He says even the residency issue on its own would be ok – but he thinks its good for city employees to live here.
Two more people were here and left. One in opposition to the Edgewater in support of Library. The other in support of Library, opposition to Edgewater.
CONSENT AGENDA
They moved to pass the entire agenda with its recommendations with the following exceptions:
Public Hearing items
16 – referred to ALRC (Sale of Liquor at Gas Stations)
41 – referred back to the CCOC (Membership of the ALRC)
56 – recommendation is adoption (Walgreens settlement)
They excluded the following items for discussion:
10 – Mayor’s appointments
43 – Residency
55 – Borrowing resolution
No mention of the personnel policies which, for the first time since 1970 were sweepingly updated. (#45)
Clear asked by #41 was being referred back to CCOC which had discussed it twice already. Bruer says an alder has an amendment they’d like to make.
KOLLEGE KLUB
#4 – Move adoption of ALRC recommendation. No questions, discussion or registrants. Kerr voted no. Badger Herald explains why.[After schooling some folks on why never, ever to trust that the college newspapers got the facts right, I hesitate to link to that story, but heh, its all we’ve got.]
#5 – Placed on file without registrants or discussion. Passed voice vote.
#6 – No registrants or discussion. Passed voice vote.
CAPITAL BUDGET
Dick Wagner representing Downtown Madison Inc, since he’s the chair of one of their committees testified in support of the library.
Todd Striker who works in IT was in support of the library. Says people need access to the internet if they don’t have it themselves and that library provide information that you can’t get on the internet.
David Wallner from the Madison Library Board testified in favor of guess what . . . the public library. He told two, surprisingly rambling stories about his son which boiled down to “do it for the kids”.
Mike Slavish from Hovde Properities testified in support of the library. His testimony crassly boiled down to it will help Hovde’s properties near the library site which are blighted.
Scott Vaughn of the Building Trades union testified in favor of the library and Edgewater cuz it will mean jobs for his workers. 200 – 300 construction jobs for the library and 1000 jobs for the Edgewater.
Mark Haufman – Electrical workers Union 159 in support of Library and Edgewater because 20% of his members are out of work.
Regina Milner from the Downtown Madison Inc Board of Directors testified in support of the Downtown Library.
Scott Herrick, a local attorney with office on the square testified in support of the library.
Pete Ostlind of Capital Neighborhoods Ince, shared information from one of the forums they held where 120 people from across the city showed up and the survey they conducted there. It boils down to:
– Key factors they’d like considered: Cost to value assessment, LEED certified and how green the project is, location and they want it to be an architectural showpiece
– 50/50 split on if they liked the renovation idea. Pros were the reuse, rooftop space and perceived cost. Cons were the long term economics and lost opportunity for development.
– 99% thought Fiore had the stronger architecture – they liked the strong presence on West Washington and the image of a stand alone building.
– When asked if they would contribute to a fundraiser for the renovation project, more people said no than yes.
– When asked if they would contribute to fundraiser for one of the developers projects, 2 to 1 said yes they would support one of the proposals.
Rhodes-Conway asked him to share that information electronically with the council.
There were several other registrants from various unions (local 941, 314 – brick layers and carpenters and perhaps others) and DMI. 5 generally in support of the capital budget. 4 in support of the Edgewater. 3 in support of the Library and 3 or 4 in support of both.
#10 – MAYOR’S APPOINTMENTS – MONONA TERRACE BOARD
Bruer moved confirmation.
Rummel is concerned that this is the first time anyone can remember us appointing someone who lives out of the county. This person who lives 45 minutes away, moved self and real estate practice. Thinks it is a question of who should govern our city. Thinks it should be local residents with occasional person from outside the city who can contribute something special. Just because the committee likes him, should not be our standard.
Clear is concerned that this person moved to Wisconsin Dells, which is one of the main competitions for the Monona Terrace. Concerned there could be a conflict of interest.
Schumacher shares concerns about Wisconsin Dells being our competitor. Would like it reconsidered.
Bruer moves to refer back to the Mayor’s office, there are 4 or 5 seconds to that motion. Bruer alarmed, would like it reconsidered.
All the previous speakers went out of their way to say that this has nothing to do with the individual involved.
Mayor calls on Hess (Monona Terrace Director) to speak to feelings of Monona Terrace Board. Hess says it might help if this person is from Wisconsin Dells, might be a spy for us instead. He doesn’t think this person moved their business to Wisconsin Dells. Says this person is the chair of the marketing committee, working on branding exercises for community programming including the logo and he wants to finish those projects. Hess says that a local business person is good input to the marketing committee and appreciated by staff.
Referral passed resoundingly.
RESIDENCY ISSUE (#43)
Eric Keston, Lorri Wendorf & Kelly Lamberti all representing MPSEA in support.
Mayor calls on Verveer. Verveer says he didn’t push his button to be called on and defers to Schumacher who is the lead sponsor on the ordinance. Schumacher declines to speak and says Verveer should speak first. [Ok boys, quit positioning.]
Verveer says that he asked for separation to explain vote. Says this is nothing personal, no disrespect for valuable hard work and dedication the employees do daily for out community. Has been consistent in his support to have employees live in the City of Madison. The city used to have strict residency rules and slowly gave them away during bargaining. This is the last of our bargaining units, which is really not a bargaining unit. These are our highest paid employees. Only alders, the Mayor and his staff and the department and division heads with contracts will be required to live in the city. We should think twice about letting our professional and supervisory staff live outside Dane County. They already don’t have to live in the city – but this is about county and incentive to live outside county and he is worried there is no longer a financial incentive to live in the city. Again, no disrespect, doesn’t mean you don’t care as much if live outside city – but he thinks we should think twice about it. He knows its about equity. He says with this decision AMPS (police) will be impacted as well (because of their “me too” clause”). He says its ok if they live in Columbia, Jefferson or Rock county but wants to maintain the financial incentive. He says he respects that the Mayor made an off to the side deal that is not memorialized in this action. It’s not in the fiscal note as Sobota mentioned.
Schumacher says Verveer is right, but residency is personal when talking about city employment and commitment. He says the housing committee just heard that some professionals are now living in Madison and working in Verona. Says we need to look at this more globally and regionally. He talks about THRIVE looking at multicounty area – that there are changes in jobs and the workforce as we face more retirements. People moving from different areas of the country – want them to live here because it is an attractive city not cuz we force them to live here. He says an employee might fall in love with someone outside the county and they shouldn’t be punished. He says many years ago we made the decision about residency and we’re just cleaning this up.
Rhodes-Conway wants to explain her vote and also appreciates the employees and their point of view. She says the equity argument is a good and valid one and its hard not to vote on that basis. On the policy question, employees should live in the city – unfortunately former councils decided otherwise. However, what swayed her vote was the testimony of Tim Sobota. She says it must have taken courage as a city employee to speak out against the body that represents you and your employer. Thanks him for sharing the perspective. She’s sympathetic but on policy this is moving in the wrong direction.
Solomon tries to speak, microphone not working so uses Schmidt’s seat. Which he wryly notes is much easier when he is not here. Thanks Schumacher for his work, says he is a co-sponsor, wants to recognize the comments made by Tim Sobota and those who oppose this tonight, those comments make sense but the don’t work at this time. If we could go back in time it would. He says he thinks its really important that city employees live in the city but 88% have no residency requirement. E word – lets be realistic – police and fire and bus drivers don’t have to live in the city and doesn’t think one comp group should be penalized for not living here – argument just doesn’t hold up any more. Reiterates what Schumacher says about thinking regionally.
Mayor points out that Skidmore left and there are only 16 alders on the floor and that they need to watch for quorum. [Perhaps he was suggesting a repeat of former activities given the next speaker?]
[My apologies in advance, its sometimes hard to follow but this is pretty much what she said.]
Pham Remmele says she was in opposition at BOE, and doesn’t want to repeat what colleagues have been expressing. When this was set in the beginning, there is a reason why it was set, so when we change it using equity, what do we get in return for wiggling this. So that is troubling for her. Why are we doing it? For whose sake? These are highly paid, important decision makers and they provide services to the city. Why are we doing this when referring local businesses and talking about home grown? What are we talking here? In a city like Madison, where winter is severe are we thinking that they are going to be biking to work everyday, how will they come in to town and be in their place in work? Are we encouraging long commutes? Why are we doing this? Says to look at Los Angeles and how people are driving further and further. Sometimes they change jobs, but driving hours and hours so what are we doing when we are talking about things. Why are we requiring kids to go to area school, alders represent their district, voter registration, why are we questioning whether or not a person who is president was born in this land or not – suddenly it is all ok – are we thinking that people can be somewhere else and operate in the city by remote control? Home is where the heart is – where is the heart? She was a public school teacher, son went to public school for entire career to show her commitment and show that she expects the best things in the public schools. Doesn’t want to be hypocritical. If her work was not good enough for my child – she started out as a foreigner, lived here 3 decades, pays taxes, lives here, heart is here, concern is what happens to city – can be footloose and live anywhere – are we honest with ourselves, cuz when have nothing at stake and they are operating the city – please think twice – you don’t want someone from another planet running the city – don’t know how colleagues discuss debate and vote but wants to be on record opposed – not against people being included in the privilege, but hard to agree to this.[Sorry, I truly don’t know how to punctuate all that . . .some of the sentence fragments may be a result of my typing, many are not. I might need to get a recorder for the future.]
Kerr appreciates that it is an equity issue, but can’t support it. Sorry other councils dealt away the residency requirement. Believes in residency requirements and is voting in opposition but means no disrespect to those in the comp groups affected.
Rummel appreciated Tim Sobota’s comments. She says it is new information to her that 88% have ability to live outside the city but 90% choose to live in city. Concerned that 90% of the people will pay to subsidize 10% of the employees.
Cnare would like to ask questions but Brad Wirtz from Human Resources isn’t at the meeting. She asks if there are recruiting issues here, how long will it take to fill positions? Is that a barrier? Also wants to know supervisors responses to if it makes any difference where the employees go back to at night. Also does the “trade” allow us to contribute more for health care – can someone tell her if there is a foundation to that.
Mayor says yes that is an agreement the Mayor made with MPSEA, like any labor negotiation, they agreed to $5 per employee which is cost of giving up the 1% pay penalty.
Cnare asks if it is a financial wash? Mayor says more or less.
Cnare thinks it should be referred til someone from HR can be there to answer questions. She moves referral, Bruer seconds.[if they would have voted, it would have failed with only 16 people there.]
No discussion on referral – unanimously referred.
BONDS
Bruer asks comptroller to fill in numbers for 53 and respond to action item before them.
Brasser says that the Series A bonds are $43,915,000 of borrowing. Its refinancing existing debt without extending the time of borrowing. The interest rate is 1.387% which replaces 3.9 – 4.3% interest rates so it is substantial. It will save $598,000 over the next 6 years.
Second series is Build America Federal Stimulus funds. I missed the amount, but the total was $106M minus the $43M above and the $8M below. I thought he said #3.9M but that wasn’t right. He said these were at 2.243% which is also extremely good, the best in decades.
Third there was $8,200,000 in items considered private activity or infrastructure that couldn’t be funded by the 2nd series. These are taxable, but at 3.589% and still very low.
He says the AAA bond rating really helped.
Kerr asks overall savings?
Brasses says that the first series was $539,000 over the first six years so about $100,000 per year. On the rest they were assuming rates would be low, but these were even lower than expected and should have an impact of a couple hundred thousands over the paid back period.
Bruer points out that we see cities and counties losing bond rating and in financial ruin. Pats self and others on the back for preserving the AAA bond rating. [At this point he’s saying alot of words without saying much, several in the back row were wondering if he was just trying to rub in our AAA bond rating relative to the county’s bad news.]
Verveer – echos comments, thanks Brasser and notes he has been vigilant in noting the importance of the reserve fund/rainy day fund. Says the AAA bond rating from Moody’s is partially because of that work. Also notes, unfortunately, Dane County not as lucky.
Bruer roll call. No one seems to understand why. Mayor notes that if there is no objection, a unanimous vote will be recorded. And it is.
ANNOUNCEMENTS, INTRODUCTIONS FROM THE FLOOR
Verveer asks to reconsider #81 at the request of the city clerk. Says the liquor license is withdrwan and they should place on file. Voice vote to reconsider. It passes, Verveer moved to place on file. Also passes on a voice vote.
Rhodes-Conway introduces two resolutions to create two ad hoc committees on sustainability – one for the public and one for the private sector.
Bruer reminds alders that Thursday evening, 5:30 – 7:30 at the Brink Lounge the alders can get together and schmooze with businesses. He notes it is not a lobbying event but to build relationships and thank business community. [Anyone believe that? Esp. given the high turn out by Downtown Madison Inc regarding the Capital Budget?] He starts to read off all the co-sponsors and supporters involved . . . he gets interrupted by those waning to adjourn and doesn’t really finish.
Shiva says it is the beginning of Hispanic Heritage Month. She’ll have a resolution at the next meeting.
Bruer annouces happy birthday to Alder Sanborn and moves to adjourn.
