Ok – early morning blogger’s fact finding mission complete. Back to blogging . . .
The Council was getting a little uppity last night . . . Mendota Court development, police radio system, parking ticket increases and filling a position in the Mayor’s office and a tad bit more. At the end, there is some more Edgewater silliness regarding the TIF. Comments in purple.
GETTING STARTED
They only started 5 minutes late, as I think most thought the meeting could be done in an hour . . . ha! Bruer and Rhodes-Conway were excused. Cnare was late. Verveer left early.
Mayor announced UW student passed away from meningitis and asked for a moment of silence.
Clear moved for suspension of the rules to allow for items to be taken out of order and items to be introduced at the end of the meeting. Passed unanimously.
HAITI
They took #8 out of order. It was a rseolution declaring yesterday Solidarity with Haiti Day.
Jennifer Weitzel-Blahnikm a public health nurse from Madison spoke about being in Haiti the day of the earthquake. On behalf people of Haiti, thanks them for the resolution ans says she is humbled to be here. Been to Haiti several times, always humbled and awed by grace and hospitality and hope of Haitian people. That didn’t change on Jan. 12. When the earthquake happened she immediately called her husband, said she was not sure what happened and that just in case you see something on the news, we’re ok. Didn’t think it was likely that Haiti would make headlines, rarely does. She was grateful to get the call home as they heard of disaster around them, as people came to yard for assistance and fear and panic in aftershocks started happening. What stands out is the voices raised in song to creator for saving lives, cries for help and mercy, compassion that Haitians showed to one another and to us did not wane in hours and days to come. Thanks the military who provided strength and compassion as they went home. Thanks them for their thoughts.
EARLY PUBLIC HEARING, PETITIONS, CONSENT AGENDA, SOME PUBLIC HEARINGS
There is no early public testimony or petitions.
Consent agenda is to pass everything on the agenda as recommended except public hearing items, and items 25 (raising parking fines), 27 (double fill position in Mayor’s office and 101 (police radios). Number 68 (Affordable Housing Trust Fund) is also referred to the Board of Estimates.
Thuy Pham-Remmele asked to abstain from item 9, mayoral appointments.
POLICE RADIOS
This item was being introduced and adopted under suspension of the rules.
Paul Skidmore says that commitment to public safety is communication, hopes staff would have one of the radios there to show them. County is going to be looking at adopting an interoperable radio system, they are paying $30M infrastructure. City already has radios with 30 channels, can communicate with others, they are $4,000 a piece, they have them and important that we support the system to keep the 911 center going to keep it seamless. There are a number of staff, including Joel Plant, Joe Balles, who was the chair of technical committee and others.
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff asks Plant for an update.
Mark Clear asks Plant to address urgency.
Joel Plant says this was a long time coming, talking about it for years. Premise all along has been notion of agencies being able to speak to each other in real time instead of being patched through communications system. Balles chaired the committee that did the RFP (request for proposals), Debra Amesqua from Fire and Kieth Clifford in radio shop also involved. Genesis is companion resolution being considered by county board, Hampton and Hesselbein, asked them to pass a similar resolution. County board is considering resolution on Thursday, so they want it passed tonight. [A. He should have mentioned that Willett has a competing resolution before the county board and what the issues are and B. It’s not in front of the County Board on Thursday, its in front of the Executive Committee. That’s the problem with calling on the Mayor’s political staff to answer questions instead of someone from the city bureaucracy.] Operating and maintenance Regional system only makes sense only if dispatching, capacity of the system to handle volume of calls is the City’s main issue, our current system has 23 channels, could handle 22 channels, so from beginning supportive as long as service is same or better than current system – which the city defined as number of channels. He mentions a recent article in the paper last week – they major point is maintenance of service.
The sheep vote to adopt without discussion of the alternative points of view.
PUBLIC HEARINGS
Items 1 – 5 are adopted, no members of the public to testify or discussion.
Item 6 was removed from the agenda.
MENDOTA COURT
Public Comment
Patrick Corcoran (winner of Worst House on Campus Contest in 2008) introduces the archtects, his lobbyist and contractor. Says he is in his 12th year of managing properties, he owns 16 in the downtown area. He wants to create safer more secure and updated housing for students. He owned one of the properties for 10 years, and a few years ago purchased second one. In 2008 talked to Kitty Rankin, the former preservation planner and asked if inspected properties. He says there is a letter in packet that says there is no historic or architectural value from her. He talks about the amenities, trash and recycle shoots in building, interior trash compactor to minimize trash pickups. There is a resident manager apartment. Staff office is across Langdon St. The units will be furnished. He talks about the parking situation, Mendota court doesn’t need more automobile congestion, They focused on pedestrian bike and moped environment. This is in downtown design zone 3, no car parking required. City staff and Urban Design Commission (UDC) encouraged to go with more bike parking and they were applauded for what they did. 73 interior bike stalls, 27 exterior moped stalls. They have a bike lobby, this is a side lobby with oversized automated door with ramps to walk bike down. Grocery is in walking distance, Lake St parking ramp is two blocks away. Excited to present pedestrian and bike friendly project.
Bill White, doesn’t think they want to increase congestion on narrow street. There is currently no storm water management or storm sewers in the area. They are providing 3,000 gallon detention, they will use the rainwater for irrigation and cleaning purposes on site. May hear questions about density, this project is 74% of the floor area ratio. It is a handsome building, steps down from 14 story Roundhouse to 3 story Langdon. Eagon, Maniaci and Verveer support. Neighborhood Association president lives on Mendota Court and Bryon Eagon does as well and they support the project and that is who we usually look to. 2 issues, first is car parking, they don’t want it. Student fees include metro passes, city parking ramps within two blocks but have on-site accommodations for service vehicles. Short term parking is ok. 2nd issue is neighbor concerns, adjacent property owners, met with them twice, tried to wrestle with issues. Unable to come to grips with a bottom line issue. None were conditions of approval but agreement between neighbors, will work cooperatively to keep impact to a minimum, commitment will stand. Badger Herald even had a favorable opinion. Gary Brink & Josh Wilcox, architects and John Landgraf, contractor also available to answer questions.
Harvey Tempkin representing Flying Colonel. Mayor Dave Cieslewicz asks him to explain. He wants to make sure it doesn’t count against his five minutes, Mayor agrees, he says its a train reference cuz the Korbs are train aficionados. Says not here to question the wisdom of project per se, has some serious concerns that he believes need to be addressed now, once construction starts cat is out of bag and hard to resolve. Very large building, 100 bedrooms without any parking, understand why the aspiration is to move toward that situation, has to be done in the right setting and smartly. Explains the only access to his clients property is between two buildings, a 16 foot 8 inch joint access easement. Only one loading dock which will be used by visitors and maintenance, they believe that as delivery people come (pizza etc) or guests or tenants moving in will park and block the easement and they need the easement for access to their propriety. Not originally consulted, learned about it from Badger Herald, met with developer, nice building, problem needs to be dealt with before project approved. Met twice, tried to work out a written agreement. Possibility of putting a gate in. So if supposed to have access they could, all in agreement with it, but need staff approval. Concerned about getting that approval. When construction was to start, letter of intent said construction start in mid-September, absolutely fine with that, not fine with it starting in June or July – will create problems for tenants, Ms. Korb will talk about it. If adopt PUD, make it subject to written agreement between the parties. Try agreed to retain a tree and other things have been agreed to. Do think that with more time can reach an agreement.
Marlene Korb asked that approval be conditioned on an agreement suitable to allow all of them to work together. Several issues on easement, gate to protect easement, they will save a tree, but not agreed on starting date of construction. Patrick says August starting date is ok, but contractor would like to start in June, since buildings fully occupied throughout the summer, many people like to keep windows open in the summer, former alumni or visiting professors live in their properties, if construction starts in June there will be a great deal of noise and dust. In September more likely to have closed windows. September start date consistent with letter of intent filed on November 3rd. Approve subject to agreement or referred to another meeting.
Joe Korb worked in area at Roundhouse for 20 years, familiar with Mendota Court, looks nice, just too big. At plan commission this was referred to as an experiment to see if it works, what is the back up if it doesn’t? No parking or street parking or loading zones, was mentioned they might secure off site parking, highly urge if approved or referred that there should be a backup plan. Would like referral to get it worked out.
Questions of Speakers
Lauren Cnare asked Tempkin about knotty issues left behind, how much more time do you need to come to closure.
Tempkin says 4 page agreement, disagree on starting date. Don’t know what is going to happen if city staff disapproves the gate. If those two can be resolved, we are there. Corcoran got a hold of him right away the next day and they were very cooperative, he inadvertently ignored Corcoran’s call.
Cnare asks about gate.
Tempkin says they want a strong gate at Mendota Court area, railroad gate and have a clicker, so people who want to use the loading zone or go back to their parking could get there, no pizza delivery, no guests, resolves a lot of proplems, don’t know if staff will approve it. Talked to John Leach, he was good with it, but still need to speak with others.
White says that there is no chance of agreement – bottom line is start after Sept. 1, if Korbs leased in summer also leased in autumn. Makes more sense to do it in construction season instead of autumn and unpredictable winter months, sooner they start, the sooner they get done. Construction is 7 – 3:30 and people are home in the evening, and they won’t be working. On the gate thing, they said ok if moving ahead, but the easement is supposed to be treated as an alley, their people would have the clicker, our plumber and painter would not have a clicker. Agreement sent after meeting said they would pay for half up to a certain amount of money for the gate. Commitment to continue to work with them and fraternities, offer of other parking if that needs to happen, some of neighbors working cooperatively. This is not an experiment. Design zone says ok not to have parking. Should be able to rely on that. Removing parking. Doesn’t think it is appropriate for referral, are these appropriate conditions to put in PUD, shouldn’t have to build in inhospitable construction season.
Michael Schumacher asks if in lease will stipulate that no car allowed to guarantee people living there would not have a car. [Wow, my Tenant Resource Center brain about exploded when he asked that. I don’t think that would be an enforceable lease provision that a tenant can’t own a car if they live in a particular building. They could restrict keeping cars on the premises, but they can’t prevent ownership.]
White or Corcoran says they can rent a space elsewhere, will have house rules about access easement not be used even temporarily, need to keep in mind Korbs own two buildings and have the same problems, so this is something we all share.
Steve King says there was a letter of intent in November, construction timeline, demo in august and start in Sept. That was original intent, if could start earlier, it would benefit everyone, if tenants unwilling to move it will be sept, but korpbs want that no matter what, impact on neighborhood sooner the better.
King asks about construction people, rent in 2011, construction people confident that they can do that regardless of if get started.
Langraf says yes, safety is the issue, less pedestrian traffic in June, less activities at Lowell Hall and Alumni Association. From safety standpoint, this is a criteria, can get work done earlier before students get there and have snow to deal with. Better approach to start early, can still get it done in August, just takes impact off neighborhood and safety issue.
Julia Kerr asks White about easement and who agreement is between.
White says adjacent properties owners, driveway for ingress and egress only, invitees has the right to go in and out without the key fob.
Kerr asks Tempkin same question.
Tempkin says easement is typical for downtown property – specific for ingress and egress no stopping.
Kerr asks about gate.
Tempkin says it is very limited, only 4 or 5 parking stalls, only one loading zone, would make everyone’s lives easier.
Kerr asks about everyone having a key clicker.
Tempkin says everyone who needs one will have one.
Marsha Rummel asks Gary Brink about new information in UDC packet for tomorrow night.
Brink says there are some changes with the loading area. Talked to traffic engineering, John Leach, no opportunity to put it where they had it, could locate it on east side, so 10 x 30 foot loading zone crated to accommodate. Brink shows where it is.
Rummel asks about what it will be used for.
Brink says maintenance, management and upkeep and trash, not pizza delivery.
Rummel asks about an alternate position.
Brink says not allowed.
Motion and Questions of Staff
Clear makes motion to adopt.
Cnare asks about conditioning approval based on a start date, have we done that before.
Brad Murphy says not familiar with doing that, can’t say hasn’t happened, but don’t recall it happening.
Discussion and vote
Bryon Eagon says he appreciates the concerns of both sides and wants to express support for project as designed without conditions. On the start date, may not live there next fall, he hasn’t signed a lease yet, but he is willing to be inconvenienced this summer, cuz less noise during fall when more people in school makes sense then. Supports the project and urges their support.
Passes voice vote unanimously, one audible no from Thuy Pham-Remmele.
PARKING TICKETS
Thuy Pham-Remmele says that she has questions.[Glorious!] She has constituents at home who want to hear it explained. First question, when proposed it, for $200,000 in budget, how come up with the number, based on number of tickets written last year?
There is confusion about who the question is for. [Um, its the Mayor’s budget, perhaps the Mayor?]
Joel Plant says that revenue projection was estimated based on volume of tickets written in last 3 years, no increase or decrease. No staffing changes taken into account.
Pham-Remmele asks if fees $200,000 is that it?
Plant says $200,000 is a pro-rated amount for the year.
Pham-Remmele asks about increase will we expect to see same amount of tickets written as last three year or expect smaller numbers of tickets.
Plant says they expect no increase or decrease.
Pham-Remmele asks [again]if more tickets written or fewer?
Plant says can’t say more or less, could argue raising fees would have a deterrent affect, but modest change in parking fees has no significant impact over the years.
Pham-Remmele asks when proposed a change, do we want to collect more money or raise more penalties so worry and modify their behavior? When we set the increase to get more money was that the main purpose or raise penalty so people be more careful, what was the intention when create policies?
Plant says that based on 2010 budget projection, notion of deterrent affect, but parking tickets somewhat immune when small increase, while some will try hard not to get a ticket, others don’t pay that much attention. A little bit of both, revenue plus deterrent affect if there.
Pham Remmele says she lived here 38 years, never had any parking tickets, one of reasons is because she avoids areas with meters and where she gets trapped and get a ticket, there are a lot of Madison residents who also feel won’t come to area where they get ticketed, that makes Madison downtown an unattractive place for people to come, her worry is to get revenue and get people to behave better, but consider businesses with meters in from of them, people won’t come in to businesses, need to consider that. She looked at the list of penalties, some are for safety, but a lot are on State Street and that is something that has her concerned, it has become a place where a lot of things happening and we want to make downtown welcoming. If hotel gets approved, is that a wise move? Should we think a little bit? $200,000 is not peanuts but are we desperately getting money wherever we can? Implied intention is to penalize people who have to drive, we should change that. When listening to Edgewater, they added an ice skating rink to feel like Rockefeller Plaza, can’t plan that and not plan parking. She was recently in Savannah, people like to go downtown and spend money. There was a wife and a doctor in town for a conference.
Mayor Dave Cieslewicz, looking very weary and pensive, interrupts and tells her she need to ask a question.
Pham-Remmele says she is getting to it but has to explain. They got a ticket and their car got towed becasue they were 5 minutes past the expiration. If we want this to be a destination, people won’t come and stay
Clear interrupts with a point of order about not asking a question.
Mayor says he hopes they are getting to one soon.
Pham-Remmele says she is going to ask Plant, have we planned enough to avoid this? Will this stop? Hard to accept such cuz representing all of Madison and we want Madison to be a welcoming place, she apologizes to colleagues and mayor for taking time.
Mayor says policy question Pham-Remmele is asking a policy question. He explains his point of view which I missed because . . .
[Verveer tells me he’s leaving to go to the game. The Mayor, made sure to get in several light hearted jabs at Verveer throughout the meeting for leaving at 7:40. I think everyone was thinking the meeting would be over within an hour and it dragged on for two hours, so people were getting testy and impatient.]
Bridget Maniaci asks about credit card meters.
Plant doesn’t know the answer.
Dan McCormick from Traffic Engineering indicates he doesn’t know the answer.
No other staff in the room present that can answer the question.
Mayor says they will get her the answer.
Pham-Remmele says that attachment says a lot of expired meter and overtime parking, so we do penalize a lot of parking over the time, but a lot on State St and that is her concern, a lot of overtime parking.
Plant says that the 3 most common parking tickets – expired meter, alternate side parking in the winter and snow emergency zone tickets were all left out of the increases.
Discussion and referral motion
Maniaci moves to refer, says lots of tickets given to her and her constituents, would like it referred to next council meeting to have staff present to answer questions.
They point out that would be February 23rd. [EDGEWATER! But, perhaps Maniaci feels comfortable with that cuz, its looking less and less likely that the process will be done by the 23rd? Note introduction at the end of the meeting.]
Mayor cautions alders that they made estimates in the budget based on how soon they thought they could get this in place and if they delay it will impact the budget.
There was no second, Kerr seconds.
Compton says she asked her questions ahead of time and asks if they can pass this and then if they find out something different if they could come back and change the fines back if new information would change their mind. She says she is not a staff member, can’t bless it, the numbers add up and we don’t need them here. [?] Won’t support referral.
Pham-Remmele supports idea to refer, this is very important and once decide something that impacts so many people in city, would rather have it publicly decided or discussed, instead of having information sent to one alder, happy to support referral.
Chris Schmidt has a point of information. Says that they have talked about the new credit card meeters at TPC many times and that they are being phased in over a couple years. Says there is no need to refer.
Schumacher doesn’t support referral. I missed part of what he said about why they have the policy the way it is, but then he said that referral was unnecessary and points out that Feb. 23 is going to be the meeting from hell anyway.
Larry Palm says generally not in favor of more fees, but this is penalty for doing something wrong. It’s like a kid not getting homework done on time. Teacher gives them a lower grade. This seems straightforward, penalty for doing something wrong. Vote on it tonight. If something other than penalties we can discuss this later.
Kerr says this is a tempest in tea pot on council floor, regardless of budget projections, due to aldermanic courtesy they should refer. If you had questions for constituents you’d want them answered, a couple weeks won’t kill us, support the alder.
The motion to refer fails on a voice vote. It was interesting that all the voices in support of referral sounded female. Rummel, Bidar-Sielaff, Kerr and I think Cnare. The voices against referral sounded mostly male.
Discussion on main motion
Maniaci says can’t support it, living downtown there are a lot of costs associated with owning a car. She points out that one of our budget items was to try to get better signage for bus stops, the bus stop signage is not noticeable that you can’t park there. As you go through these offenses, might not seem like a lot for $5 but if look at how often these fines occur and she points out that if you do not pay within a week the penalty increases. She doesn’t want to be told don’t worry we’re not including the main ones, there are 5 pages on where fines that are getting upped and without discussion by staff and information about credit card meter impacts can’t vote for it. City plays a part in some of the violations.
Pham-Remmele says when homework assigned don’t do get penalty example is not that simple, parking downtown is a pain, it is congested, can’t say just don’t do it, people who come downtown just to get paperwork and end up having to run around, get a ticket, jurors have that problem, people stay away from downtown. They should be following rules so why don’t you, more easily said than done. If trying to get money and straighten Madison people out, not good policy, not well thought out. A lot of people need to be downtown and if creating hurdles and obstacles downtown will go through more like a [????? I didn’t hear/understand]. She doesn’t support and wish more time to plan and think, if have to vote tonight, asks for roll call.
Clear reminds them that they supported it in the budget. There was no budget amendment to remove it.
Shiva Bidar-Sielaff echos what Clear said, had months to discuss this, surprised this is a subject of conversation, certainly understand why not to want to support it, but approved in budget.
Rummel says that Metro is re-marking the bus stops, added 5 parking spots to an area in her district, Rummel says notes less people parking on the street on Gilman, there are bigger questions about our parking strategy. She’s not sure they had budget detail, this is pretty routine.
Cnare says that she lives in the land of ample parking, not many violations, when goes through the list, they are the irksome things people call you about like someone parking in front of their mailbox. Residents in district 3 are annoyed people would do that, they don’t care if it is raised $5 or $25 the point is they don’t want people to park poorly. Generally they support this. They think if you have a car, responsibility attached to it. If $5 gets you to behave better, should support it.
King says he lives on the opposite side of town also in a land of ample parking, they spent time talking about this at a neighborhood meeting last night, if neighbors saw the list, they would say fines should be higher and if could make it district or neighborhood specific would do that too. Now is not time to debate it, it’s a no brainer.
Roll Call
AYE: Sanborn, Schmidt, Schumacher, Skidmore, Solomon, Bidar-Sielaff, Clausius, Clear, Cnare, Compton, Eagon, Kerr, King, Palm, Rummel
NO: Maniaci, Pham-Remmele
ABSENT: Bruer, Rhodes-Conway, Verveer
Mayor announces 16 – 2. Make a silly remark about Verveer being absent, so I thought he was joking and refusing to count Verveer as absent. Compton raises the issue and says that there were 15 votes and it turns out, they just made an error.
FILLING POSITION IN MAYOR’S OFFICE
Rummel asks to give background on job duties, what will get undone in CDBG and how does double fill work?
Janet Piraino says that Mario Mendoza will be on family medical leave for three months, because that is a long period of time, they need to keep important economic development issues moving forward, so it is important to fill the position. Larry Studesville will be filling that position. This needs council approval because it will be for more than 45 days. Issues he will work on will be the economic development agenda. [Hmmm . . . I’d like to see that agenda . . . and I wonder if the Mayor’s office economic development agenda is the same as the Council’s?] She lists duties that include plan commission, UDC, vending oversight, Monona Terrace, liaison to business entities in Madison including DMI (Downtown Madison Inc), Chamber of Commerce and Convention and Vistors Bureau. Issues such as room tax, etc. Nothing popping right now on room tax, but covering the issue if anything does happen. She notes there is alot going on, mentions Edgewater, zoning code rewrite, land bank issue, downtown plan, union corners, there is a lot on economic development plate.
Clingan says they can do this, we are part of a larger team, someone of Larry’s caliber has the position in good shape, he has a 2 or 3 year project, we put the calendar on ourselves, we have 3 years, timing is doable. Last Friday quarterly reports were in, met with DOE (Department of Energy), they like the progress we are making, the business applications that require a lot of work go out in a week and they are out of 3 months before they come back in, certainly work to do between now and them but Pam Rood, Nancy Dungan a new staff person and himself can fill in. They can do this.
Rummel asks about hiring freeze, how is this budget neutral, why use contingent reserve which is emergency money for end of year?
Dean Brasser says that not budget neutral in sense that CDBG activities are grant funded and mayor’s office not so has to come from general fund budget, still requires an appropriation. By this action, specifying purpose for it to be used.
Rummel says she would be more confident if preservation planner staff was filled, that impacts so many people, what is that status?
Mayor says that position was authorized to be filled Jan 1, they made one offer, now they are looking at a second candidate – doesn’t know latest, Murphy left so no staff to answer that question.
Kerr asks Piraino why she didn’t mention oversight of TIF office or CDA on the list of priorities, also her priority, Wingra BUILD TIF. Hopes that is a major economic development priority soon.
Piraino says she wasn’t going to go through everything. Mendoza did a memo for Studesville about live hot issues, happy to go through them, adds Brownfield remediation, bioag gateway and incubator, Old University Ave corridor, “but for” policy, Marcus hotel and municiple building, parking utility and bill board ordinance/statue and others.
Kerr asks if Studesville doing CDA work and TIF coordination or did that get divided up.
Piraino says Ray Harmon will handle CDA issues and will continue to do so.
Kerr says exception of special projects that Mendoza was handling.
Pham-Remmele says glad this was excluded – glad to hear explanation. Says she called Brasser’s office and talked to Deb Simon. She has questions for staff. Larry is going to move or already moved to mayor’s office. Mayor says moved a week ago. So when work in office, in place of Mendoza, who will do work in CDBG office, heard it was doable, always impressed with flexibility, staff suddenly available to do it, but when no special project what are those people doing. Since money from contingency, if city has been asking people to tighten belt and freeze hiring and mayor has half million for 5 aides and they get pay raises, so when everyone asked to do more with less and your office has aide who as to take a leave of absence then have to provide more staff for you – is it fair?
Mayor says that there are no pay raises in his office. He looks bewildered. [This caused me to utter the word BULLSHIT! perhaps just a little bit too loudly. When Jeanne Hoffman started in that office in 2003, she got paid $56K, now those same aides are getting paid $86K] He says there is a hiring freeze, they took part in it. Pam Williamson position will not be filled til May. They have shouldered the burden. [More bull, when that position was open the did a “trade” with the council office and took the Council’s staff to do the job and then gave the council office a different staff.] With Mendoza being key to so many issues, some involved, can’t go without. He says that with the hiring freeze, they do hire people when a manager can give a good reason to do, he thinks there is an excellent reason to do that in this case.
Pham-Remmele says that Warren Hanson is only coordinator for the Vending Oversight Committee and there has been an increase in food vendors and Mr. Hanson lost his assistant half time since a year before, working whole year without him, he has more work, less help, increased fees to get assistant and now entering spring and vending starting and as of meeting last Wednesday, not approved. The money is small, but we don’t present ourselves the best to the public, people see that service is needed. Compared to your office with high level top work, but people don’t see that much, so when refuse to hire someone to help Warren Hanson and at some time mayor office need help right away and we need to think about what that looks like.
Mayor says authorized to fill that assistant position April 15.
Pham-Remmele says that last year it was authorized and it was not filled. She says that on the raise issue, as of this morning she has information that Rachel Strauch-Nelson get a job effective Jan 28 from $86K salary to $90,988 raise just last week sir, hope you are aware of that. She says that her last question is Mark Olinger, contract expired Oct last year and retaining his service until being paid $125,000 more than you Mayor, how do we pay that? From where? $125,000
Piraino says that even tho there are no pay increases with the unions in which we reached and agreement with unions and non-represented staff. Doesn’t apply to step and longevity increases, same as everyone.
Rham-Remmele says it is an increase. We are doing that. Can’t say we don’t have that.
Mayor says distinction between step which obligated to and discretionary pay increases. Longevity, we are obligated.
Pham-Remmele says she understands that, when teachers got pay increases the whole city was angry, just according to scale, just wants to be accurate. When we ask for $23K but what we present to public, your office get money and pay salary and when have need immediately have to be filled, but other departments have to do more with less, doesn’t make us look good.
Schumacher has a point of information. He says it would help us if we stay focused on asking questions, maybe the chair can help keep us focused.
Schumacher has a question for Wirth. How many unfilled positions do we have, how long have they been unfilled? He wants the information across the entire city.
Piraino answers “I can get you that” they have been tracking, had to do that for fiscal estimate. Happy to share it.
Schumacher asks about Williamson’s position, how was that work done.
Piraino says the work was spread around. [Ahem, there was no mention of the council staff/mayor staff switcheroo – they helped to spread their work to another office.]
Clear asks about budget amendment and why it comes out of contingent reserve, he says it has no impact because equivalent salary savings in CDBG.
Brasser says yes, but grant money, so technically savings, but it will result in reallocation of the grant money, can’t reduce CDBG budget by amount of increase in mayoral budget.
Clear thinks he understands.
Compton says that spoke with mayor, concern is not shifting people from one position to another. Her concern is that economic development is understaffed and we have staff that sat through all the presentation that have been involved on the issues and grave concern that someone can’t come in not having been there from the beginning and pick up fast enough. Mayor made some adjustments, but can you explain. Wants to make sure people hit the ground running.
Mayor explains exceptions – Plant is working on Target, legislative issues are with Rachel Strauch-nelson, he says he is sorry Larry is not here, wife’s birthday, he is actually very attune to the issue and qualified to take over, was a executive at Alliant Energy for years, well versed in city government, filled in for Lucia Nunez, excellent job there, known in business community and knows city government with a few different jobs. Can hit the ground running, knows Bioag Gateway is important and he is well versed and eager to help.
Compton says that Larry is qualified, Edgewater, Target, some of these things have had so much discussion over long period of time and if you weren’t at the meetings, you lose something in there, I trust his abilities, but not centrally focused here. Hope to continue where going on this projects.
Mayor says Mendoza is available by phone, at any time, so all that expertise is phone call away.
Rummel asks why in office before council approves?
Mayor says he can do it for 45 days without council approval, this is 90 days so it will need council approval.
Palm says he is concerned, not specifically about Studesville, it is of concern how we staff the city and how pay people and what we support. Knows mayor office does good high level work and we need that work, we need to consider day to day impacts that staffing levels have on our constituents regardign trash and snow, crossing guards, library assistants etc, appropriate for mayor to have full staff, but also important to keep discussion going.
Clear adds that should this not succeed it would put significant pressure on Mendoza to return earlier than he wants to. His loyalty to city and office will weigh strongly on them. Action is recognition that Mendoza has right to his leave. [That argument was really a stretch and just awful. That isn’t at all what this is about, but nice way to try to make people feel guilty. I don’t think anyone on the council thinks Mendoza isn’t entitled to, and shouldn’t take his leave.]
Schumacher says that does not accept that logic, his vote doesn’t reflect that. Has mixed feelings due to last budget, had to face laying off people, but chain of events made it so they could eliminate and not fill positions when departments need them. Everyone should share the pain more equally. Usually give exec office leeway, but in this instance, not the right message. Didn’t ask for the info up front either, for filled position – is there another way to do this without budget amendment.
Mayor says that no net cost to the city, his grant funded position will be frozen, grant money won’t be taken while in the office so available going forward, not any more money to the city . . . and then I missed some . . . he says he is sending a message of consistency, will go for a year without Williamson, couldn’t make do without Mendoza, that is the same rules as the rest of city government, managers can appeal, sometimes say yes, when looked at it, 1 of 4 were filled. Not different rules applied to himself.
Pham-Remmele says that she agrees with Schumacher, what she will decide today should not put pressure on Mendoza, impressed he takes the priority where he is needed, like when mother passed away, but not a choice for me, don’t regret that and person has to do what is right to do, no pressure on Mario – stay where you are and do the best you can, nothing should make you rush back here, no pressure on my trust in Larry, it’s just the process, we need to be more transparent and understand how we staff and move people around, from highest manager to lowliest person in city hall, they are important, let’s be square and fair.
Brian Solomon says that Clingan says he can survive, this will not cost city more. If vacant positions are an issue let’s start asking questions and putting pressure and get it filled, this is a critical position, most important priority, how can we let this sit vacant for three months. This is a no brainer, vote yes and then lets go watch the Badger game.
Maniaci says this is not Dave’s staff, this is our policy staff. She is already working with Larry on Edgewater and on Capital Gateway. She sat down and talked with him and the next day had a memo in her mailbox. If we don’t approve we aren’t screwing over Dave’s office, we are screwing over ourselves if staff not available to us.
Rummel moves referral. She says she is not prepared to vote for it, not sure there is 15 votes, would like to move referral. She says the mayor’s staff is not our staff. We don’t have policy staff, we have 2 administrative staff for 20 of us. She has asked for over year for preservation planner. We are our own policy staff. We are not doing this to punish mayor’s office or important issues, she asks for referral for two weeks. Would like to work on this more with mayor’s office.
ROLL CALL ON REFERRAL:
AYE: Bidar-Sielaff, Clear, Kerr, King, Pham-Remmele, Rummel and after passing, Schumacher
NO: Sanborn, Schmidt, Skidmore, Solomon, Clausius, Cnare, Compton, Eagon, Maniaci, Palm
ABSENT: Verveer, Bruer, Rhodes-Conway
There is no further discussion, and because this is a budget amendment and requires 15 votes, they do another roll call.
AYE: Sanborn, Schmidt, Skidmore, Solomon, Bidar-Sielaff, Clausius, Clear, Cnare, Compton, Eagon, Kerr, King, Maniaci, Palm and after passing the first time Schumacher because if he doesn’t vote AYE it fails . . . way to stand by your convictions Shumacher!]
NO: Pham-Remmele, Rummel [Pham-Remmele had nothing to lose, Rummel may be in the dog house, but at least she voted her conscience.]
ABSENT: Verveer, Bruer, Rhodes-Conway
INTRODUCTION OF ITEMS FROM THE FLOOR
Clear introduced the Edgewater TIF resolution which is sponsored by Clear and Mayor Dave by title only and reads:
Title
Authorizing the Mayor and City Clerk to execute a development agreement to fund a
$16,000,000 Tax Incremental Finance Loan to Landmark X, LLC (“Developer”) to assist in the development of the Edgewater Hotel redevelopment project.Fiscal Note
A fiscal note will be completed when relevant financial information becomes available.
Note, they made a procedural error in introducing this. It requires a 2/3 vote and they did not take one.
2.05 INTRODUCTION OF BUSINESS.
(1)(b) Any business to be referred may be introduced from the floor, and if no fiscal note is prepared, will be referred to the comptroller for a fiscal note. Introduction of any matters by title only or without a fiscal note shall require a two-thirds (2/3) majority vote. Any matter introduced from the floor shall be either (i) referred to the next Common Council meeting for action or (ii) automatically referred to the next Common Council and be placed on the agenda as if for introduction, solely for the purpose of additional referrals.
Additionally, you should note that this is by title only because something is going on and Hammes and the City have not been able to reach an agreement on the term sheet which is required to write the resolution to be introduced. I guess we’ll have to stay tuned.
ADJOURN
It’s 8:35. Badger score is 25 to 15, Badgers are up.
