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REGULAR MEETING October 8, 2018
<br /> Ms. Hockenhull replied,No, that would only be through an ordinance.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, So with regard to the Storm Water Fund or the prospective
<br /> Storm Water Fund, we had a 2018 flood update on March 27th, 2018. That was shortly after those
<br /> four(4) areas were hit. Just to recall, over a three(3)year period there have been 1,758 calls to the
<br /> Sewer Department regarding water and sewage in basements. That was City-wide. We're all the
<br /> beneficiaries of a lovely red-dotted map that would indicate that and would like that entered into
<br /> the record tonight, if I might (available in the City Clerk's Office). The importance of this Fund
<br /> being established is to make some headway on this. I guess I also want to acknowledge, in my
<br /> comments, that at the time we discussed this in Committee and then have an opportunity to circle
<br /> back on it, our Storm Water needs, and I'm guessing this is just the tip of the iceberg, but when
<br /> push comes to shove, there are $2.9 million of Storm Water needs. That is taking this picture that
<br /> was shared with us in March, then all the price tags come into us in terms of damage,but the $1.2
<br /> million this Fund is trying to establish with the flat fee for residents is only hitting half of our
<br /> needs. We have had legacy flooding issues across our City. So while nobody wants to add more
<br /> fees to residents, residents have already been paying for this and have historically been paying for
<br /> this. I commend the Department for proposing this fee because,to me, it is deferred maintenance.
<br /> These are long time unfunded things and we have had to steal from other areas of the City budget
<br /> to try and address these issues. Not specific to the four (4) areas hit hardest, it is City-wide. This
<br /> affects us all. My last point relative to this is when we met in Committee, there was a top ten(10)
<br /> list of projects and I guess I would like to, similar to some of the discussion on the last bill, get
<br /> additional information on how those are the top ten(10). I would like an understanding of how we
<br /> are trying to equitably spread around the resources this Fund would generate. I would be eager to
<br /> sit in those discussions as I am the district representative of a district that got hit both in 2016 and
<br /> then again in 2018. I would appreciate being a part of the conversations about the use of this Fund
<br /> to help with not only legacy issues but more specifically the recommendations in the Lawson
<br /> Fischer report.None of those recommendations are here in this prospective list so I have concerns
<br /> about that. So, going forward, I would like to address that more and in a more targeted way. I'm
<br /> not arguing for my district. I think the Fund is a great idea. The level, as I said only half, is the tip
<br /> of the iceberg anyway. Enough said.
<br /> Councilmember Sharon L. McBride stated, My discussion I had with the Administration leads me
<br /> to believe that funding is definitely needed for the service. However, my district is split. I have,
<br /> probably half, in poverty and the other half is affluent. Until we have a contingency plan in place
<br /> when we talk about square footage or income and how we determine how to pay, because while
<br /> twenty-four dollars($24)may not be a lot for myself or a reasonable person that is over the median
<br /> income, it is a hardship on some of the people in my district.Not only is the proposal, but we had
<br /> utilities go up too. In dealing with the population I deal with, it is a hardship. While we all should
<br /> be accountable and it is a City-wide need, I also think there should be a plan in place. Whether it
<br /> is a tiered approach or a delayed approach, it is definitely necessary but we have to look at the
<br /> overall picture.
<br /> Councilmember Jake Teshka stated, I would like to thank Councilmember Karen White for your
<br /> leadership throughout this whole process. Being new, it is a lot to take in. Thank you Jen,too. I've
<br /> always gotten answers when I needed them from Dr. Mueller, Jitin and Mr. Perri. So I thank the
<br /> Administration for that. It has been a learning experience and I look forward to, I know we talked
<br /> earlier about it,doing more of a quarterly budget update.I look forward to being part of that process
<br /> this next year. I do think there are areas where this budget falls short but, as was said earlier, let's
<br /> not make perfect be the enemy of the good. When we look at the City survey commissioned and
<br /> the results yielded earlier in the year, sixty-nine percent(69%) of our residents said that our roads
<br /> and sidewalks were their number one(1)priority with only nineteen percent(19%)being satisfied.
<br /> I would like to see some more funding for those things in the 2019 budget. We also have to start
<br /> looking at our aging infrastructure that we need to be concerned with. As a Council and a City,our
<br /> tasks are primarily public safety and infrastructure. I think in the next year and in the coming years
<br /> we are going to have to do a lot more hard budget decisions. I don't want to be a hurdle, I want to
<br /> be a part of that process so I look forward to engaging all of you. Thank you.
<br /> Councilmember Jo M. Broden stated, I really do recognize and appreciate the consideration of the
<br /> hardship. We do that with some of our other utilities and fees so thank you for bringing up that
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