07-13-15 Common Council Meeting Minutes

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REGULAR MEETING JULY 13, 2015 REPORTS FROM THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS: BILL NO. 15 -65 — SPECIAL EXCEPTION — 3016 PORTAGE AVE. BILL NO. 15 -66 — SPECIAL EXCEPTION — 4085 MEGHAN BEELER COURT BILL NO. 15 -67 — SPECIAL EXCEPTION — 430 PARKOVASH AVE. Councilmember Mr. Gavin Ferlic made a motion to refer bill 15 -65, bill 15 -66, & bill 15 -67 to Zoning & Annexation Committee for July 27th, 2015. Councilmember Derek Dieter seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. REQUEST TO PUT THE CONFIRMING TAX ABATEMENT FOR AMERIPLEX SUPERIOR PARTNERS LP, ON THE 7/27/15 AGENDA Council President Scott requested a motion to confirm tax abatement for Ameriplex Superior Partners LP, on the July 27th, 2015 agenda for community investment. Councilmember Mr. Gavin Ferlic seconded the motion which carried by a voice vote of nine (9) ayes. NEW BUSINESS Councilmember Derek Dieter I will ask the offices of the Council, the attorney, and anyone else that wants to give input on several items; (as I'm done with the Council in several days). As this will pertain to the next Council, there has been several people that have brought issues over the years to the Council under Privilege of the Floor for us to look at regarding issues that happen in the realm of city government. We end up giving those to the administration or to the Board of Safety. In the end when a decision is made the Council is kept in the dark on the results of those, which I find whatever word you want to use. When the problem is initiated by you the citizens coming to the Council to look into it, we the Council should be a part of the people that get the results. When the Council has asked the administration or the Police Department to look into it, and we have not gotten the results, you can use whatever adjective you want, but that's not right. In the end, I'm not sure what course of investigative entity would result in the Council being able look into that. We do have the power of subpoenaing people in getting information but we don't have the arm which would investigate that. We will start under the Rules Committee and we will keep the public advised. When you bring stuff to us you are entrusting us to do something with it, I don't want us to give it to somebody and two years later we still don't have an answer who's looking into it. We will begin that process. Councilmember Karen White announced on Monday, July 20' at 5:30pm the Personnel & Finance Committee will host our first budget meeting. At that time we will get updates in regards to TIE: the number of TIE districts, how projects are established, and how they move up on the list. Councilmembers will be asked to come to discuss their priorities as we prepare for the budget process. In regards to the most recent resolution, President Scott, you mentioned that Councilmembers would be able to work with you. I would like to suggest that Councilmembers who would like to work on that submit their names to you as soon as possible. Council President Scott stated all Councilmembers can give input and we will be sharing this process as it moves forward. Councilmember Davis — What is the freedom of information act regarding the meetings that we are supposed to have, will those meetings be private meetings or open meeting? Council Attorney Kathleen Cekanski- Farrand stated we cannot violate the open door law, so we cannot have a majority from any standing committee. Councilmember Davis inquired even if we choose three (3) different people from the Council that are not the on the same committees my recommendation would be that everything that we decide be open for everybody to get a chance to look at it, not just based on that we don't have three (3) people. I think when it comes down to it the offices with the Mayor should be open to that too. As people and the Council need to know, anything that is shared in meetings like that need to be open, if not then why are we having them. PRIVILEGE OF THE FLOOR 42