09-24-18 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING September 24, 2018 Councilmember John Voorde stated, I would just like to start by complimenting Council leadership, especially Karen White,the Administration, especially the Controller and her staff, for being so open and responsive to Council's questions. You don't have to have been around very long to know it didn't always work this way and it was far from being as open as it is now. Those of us who have been around can tell tales of back room deals to get votes and things like that. It is good that doesn't happen anymore. And there was very little solicitation of public input. So now, thanks primarily to Karen and Tim and with working with the rest of the Council Members, if we don't have the information that we think we need it's because we haven't asked. I don't know of anything that the Administration has not responded to. We don't always agree on specific amounts and I think there are still some things between now and October 8th, 2018 to be agreed upon or at least approached. I'm pretty confident that is going to happen based on what has happened already. I would like to applaud the Administration. Councilmember Sharon L. McBride stated, I would like to follow up again with a question about Human Rights because I was asked about it and I still don't think I got clarification. There is a part-time position in there but from my understanding there was a position in there that was removed. I am trying to get clarification on that. I think in its inception it was. Councilmember Karen White stated, I think in the 2018 budget process, at that time, the Human Rights Commission considered a budget based on them eliminating one (1) position. I cautioned them to do that as they would not know the impact of expanding into the County. They are asking for a part-time position based on the recommendation of the leadership. Councilmember Oliver Davis stated, I would also like to thank you, Jen. You followed up on my suggestion because I think it is important to put the numbers into terms.Not only from the financial point of view but it helps us argue our case for or against the budget in terms of sharing with citizens. It helps me get reasons of why I voted for or voted against it. In your case of course and tonight, voting for the budget. That's great because a lot of times we get caught up in the different numbers and not everybody is able to see that. Then people can say this is what is important for district six (6) or whatever district anybody up here is representing. So I appreciate that and I forwarded the recommendations you had sent to me onto the Council. I think that is important because people need to ask why did you vote for that budget and then I can say reason one (1), two (2), three (3), four (4), five (5), six (6), seven (7), eight (8), nine (9), ten (10), eleven (11) or whatever. I think people need to see that because I've been asked that. So the more we can put that in those terms is important. Toni ht I did share some concerns I had with the zoning issues so we will talk a little bit more about that and I'll share my notes about that. I'm not against the idea and concept but how we put that together and when we do that is something I would like to talk to people about.Are there any other considerations from Dianna Hess' neighborhood group?I would like for us to at least consider that again as we really push this whole concept about our neighborhoods. I think we have enough in our budget to do what the Administration wants to do and then also look at adding issues there to whatever disagrees, I know that some things wanted to be done lasts and they want to do some things this year and I understand that but I think that we can still do both and have enough funds where we can do that. I think that helps us to build the wheel toward that issue and not have, at this time in our Administration, have that friction. We want to get neighborhoods involved in a lot of ways. Not only through the Department of Community Investment but also through organizations like that. I think between now and October 8th, 2018, if some monies can be reconsidered to be put back. If it's not even the full amount, something toward that so that some people have had some insight and some kind of consideration. If you want to make some more stipulations with what they need to do in order to get that and they have to follow that or else it will be cut for next time, I'm all for that too. I just think that we have to honor that and they add a good service to our community and to look at issues like that. So those are some of the things that I would like for us to look at. I appreciate all the sidewalk issues and more issues coming from that. I am done and I will share more things in a letter. That's just where I am. Ok, cool. Thank you. Councilmember Jake Teshka stated, Jen, first (1St) of all, thank you. I applaud you and your team for the work you put into this. This is my first (1St) rodeo so putting all of this together, there is a lot. Thank you for all the work you've done. I would like to echo Ms. Kesim's sentiments about paving,roads and infrastructure. We did that City Survey and,unsurprisingly,roads, infrastructure