10-28-13 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING OCTOBERT 28, 2013 Councilmember Scott: First of all I want to thank you for looking at the light initiative. It may be new to some Councilmembers but it’s something that we have discussed a few meetings in the past it is a concern that has come up in neighborhoods where there are issue of crime and safety and has been brought up by about five different neighborhood associations, myself and other Councilmembers here. A budget is a budget; a budget does not mean that the money is going to be immediately spent to that dime that nickel. Plans are in the works for that $100,000.00 or $200,000.00, I almost cut my budget, and there will be future actions coming down on that. So, I appreciate that and as far as salaries and that my only concern is that I don’t look at individuals or who is in those positions. Chairperson White: We are not talking about the salaries now. Councilmember Scott: Oh, yeah you are right. Chairperson White: You will have the opportunity for that. We are discussing Bill No. 45-13. Councilmember Scott: Ok, thank you. I think that’s about it then. Councilmember Henry Davis: Could you come back to me. Chairperson White: Ok. Councilmember Schley: Sure, thank you Mayor, this has certainly been a very interactive process arriving here. The question that I have for you regarding Bill No. 45-13 and the funds that are governed or that Bill 45-13 would address is with regard to the Smart Streets proposal; we have the funding for that coming from Fund #227 the Loss Recovery Fund and then the Motor Vehicle Highway money. Mayor Buttigieg: And Major Moves. Councilmember Schey: Major Moves. So the question that I have is in talking with residents and hearing both sides, both for and against the project, its seems that there has been a lot of discussion recently more focused on just trying to address Phase I A and Phase I B. Phase I A of course based on the information that Scott Ford had presented to the Council, will be the Williams and Lafayette Project which was presented to us for a total $671,000.00 and then Jefferson Blvd., was presented as Phase I B and that was presented for a total of $1.54 million. So, I wanted to ask when we get to this point of actually voting on Bill 45-13, if we were to only look at the funding appropriation that is currently, there is $2.3 million earmarked for Smart Streets out of Fund #227 Loss Recovery, if we collectively agree that we would support just the first two phases, Phase 1 A and Phase 1B, would we then be taking the line item out of the Major Moves? Will we see by Wednesday, if we truly are only support the first two phases, when we meet on Wednesday see the line item that is in the Major Moves budget removed? Does that makes sense, I hope so? It has to do with making sure that the changes that we have all discussed both Council, Administration and Community saying we would support Williams and Lafayette and possibly Jefferson and then see how that goes before we through in the whole $11.4 million. So my question to you is are we going to take first phase approach? And delete the earmarked funds out of the Motor Vehicle or Major Moves? Mayor Buttigieg: So, that sounds to me like a question that only your fellow Councilmembers would be able to answer. From the administration perspective, we believe that the full portfolio that we are submitting which is already of course phased compared to some of the things that were discussed earlier. But a portfolio that includes addressing William and Lafayette right away as well as Jefferson, but also design work allowing us to prepare for the northern approach and some of the other streets initiatives, at least in my view are a part of the Smart Streets package. Such as our corridor work and what we hope to do with our curbs and sidewalks. Then we regard that as one comprehensive package for a philosophical standpoint in terms of sources of funds. Major Moves is of course earmarked or is identified for use in transportation or infrastructure uses. There is more flexibility around some of the other sources and funds. The 5