09-24-18 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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REGULAR MEETING September 24, 2018 out-foxed and that we can do that and so, therefore, I am glad to have had the discussion. I think in future references we will all work together. Councilmember Jake Teshka stated, I just want to echo some sentiments and thank Ms. Dean for all the information you provided. Thank you,Aaron, for the great work heading up VPA and Mark on the Park Board. Thank you for being available in helping with this information. Obviously there are timing issues and everybody has shared their thoughts on that. But the deferred maintenance piece, it was the City that deferred a lot of this. We hit on this in the Committee today. I wish we could pay cash for this and I wish there was extra money to pave roads with. I recognize that there are different funding sources. I think we have an obligation to this City asset for the maintenance that we, even though I wasn't here, had deferred. Thought I wish we paid for it a while ago and wish we could just pay cash for this,I look forward to many years of seeing what this good money goes towards. Thank you. Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, I feel informed and ready to vote. I think this is a big economic development piece. I am ready to vote. Councilmember Regina Williams-Preston stated, One (1) of the things that was talked about in Committee was how valuable an asset the Zoo is to this community. With the conservation work that is happening,and all of these improvements,it will be a destination that will continue to enrich the children's education and bring more people to the City. Looking at this by itself I think it is easy to ask why we are putting all this money into this,what about roads?But looking at the budget as a whole, I have been very impressed with how the Administration has responded to what residents and Council Members have asked for in terms of really important things like curbs and sidewalks. That is going up fifty percent (50%) next year. There is money going to homeowners to fix up their homes. There are a lot of other pieces and I see it as a balance. I am always an advocate to the basic needs but it is also important to have those quality of life place making things. I want to thank all the folks and I want to thank the residents for keeping us on our toes making us look through those numbers and have those conversations. Even though it is almost 10:00 p.m., I think the conversation was rich and was important to have. We are doing a good job. Thank you all. Councilmember Karen White stated, I am listening to all the conversations, all of which are very rich and needed. I think that shows we are doing the work and asking those tough questions. That is our role to do so. Each Council Member has the right to ask questions. I really appreciate the Administration,the Bond Counsel,members of the Park Board and Mr.Perri all coming to respond to all the questions asked. I feel very comfortable moving forward. One (1) thing I would like to put on the table is that this is the result of not being able to respond to the maintenance needs. As we begin to look at other areas within the City, I think that is a conversation we need to have as we move out of this budget process. What other areas are we looking at that we have not been able to respond to?Either we pay now or more down the road. That is a good conversation to have. We are trying to refine the budget process and one (1) thing we talked about was the first (1'� discussion, next ye , being about debt. We are going to look at TIF and those areas before we look at everything else. I encourage the Council Members, if you have any questions, concerns, recommendations after we get through this budget process. Every year we try to do a better job. This is good intellectual discourse. I'm ready to move forward. Councilmember Tim Scott made a motion to send Bill No. 44-18 to the full Council with a favorable recommendation. Councilmember Jake Teshka seconded this motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. RISE AND REPORT Councilmember John Voorde made a motion to rise and report to full Council. Councilmember Jo M. Broden seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. REGULAR MEETING RECONVENED 28