Toledo City Council Meeting August 23, 2011

Notes on Toledo City Council's meeting from Sherry:

Toledo City Council Meeting

August 23, 2011

In attendance: Councilmen Craig, Sarantou, Waniewski, Ludeman, Steel, Collins, Martinez, McNamara, Councilwomen Webb, Brown, Hicks-Hudson, Mayor Bell.

* Item 389 – Issue renewal Notes, Sidewalk Programs, $840,000 - 1st Reading.

* Item 390 - Issue renewal Notes, 2004 SB&H Equipment, $370,000 - 1st Reading.

* Item 391 - Issue renewal Notes, 2004 Parks Equipment, $85,000 - 1st Reading.

* Item 392 - Issue renewal Notes, 2005 SB&H Equipment, $830,000 - 1st Reading.

* Item 393 - Issue renewal Notes, 2005 Parks Equipment, $180,000 - 1st Reading.

* Item 394 - Issue renewal Notes, 2009 Solid Waste Containers, $9,975,000 - 1st Reading.

* Item 395 – Issue Notes, 2011 CIP Issue renewal Notes, Plan, $3,135,000 - 1st Reading.

* Item 396 – Encroachment into public r-o-w (8' X 58') along Jackson St. for restroom & dumpster for Manhattan's – passed – all voting yes.

* Item 397 – Extend agreement with Public Financial management for Utility rates and projections, $95,000 Water/Sewer – passed – all voting yes.

* Item 398 – Agreement with Siemens Industry for security system at Water Treatment, 5 years, $55,000/yr. Water – passed – all voting yes.

* Item 399 – Accept contribution from DTPA for reconstruction or Orange St. entrance into Vistula Garage, $50,000 – passed – all voting yes.

* Item 400 – Street Lighting – Alley bounded by Plymouth St., Navarre Ave., White St., & Idaho St. - passed – all voting yes.

* Item 388 – Resolution – Recognize Toledo PRIDE 2011 – adopted – all voting yes.

* Item 401 – SUP for day care center at 4305 Dorr St. (Approved 6 – 0) – passed – all voting yes.

* Item 402 – Amend TMC Sec. 1104.0100, 1105.0301, 1107.0300, 1116.0204, & 1116.0218 for rentals, freight, fencing – passed – all voting yes.

* Item 387 – Appropriation for demolition/removal of abandoned/blighted houses, 2 year commitment, $350,000 CIP – passed – all voting yes. Craig – Council support will go a long way – great first step. Martinez – good use of funds.

* Item 233 – Purchase 48 acre Capital Commons Industrial Park, 5600 Angola Rd., $1,050,000 CIP over 3 years – Refer back to Administration.

* Item 136 – Amend TMC Sec. 757.01 & 757.02 to define improper solicitations – Sarantou - move to Amend – passed – all voting yes. Ludeman – (to Herwat) discussion with Mr. Thomas – downtown business community – how much has it been used? Herwat – make it a form of furlow. Ludeman – this will become law 30 days from passage. Hicks-Hudson – the purpose – to bring City into compliance. Adam Loux – it wasn't Constitutional (old law) – is now under Constitutional muster. Collins – (to Adam L.) What other Cities have done this? Adam L. - Cincinnati survived the challenge – Columbus and Dayton to a degree. Passed – all voting yes.

* Item 377 – Appropriation for expansion of VIOP phone system, various locations, $100,00 CIP Fund – refer back to Administration.

* Item 378 – Approve 2011 – 2015 CIP Plan, appropriate and authorize remaining 2011 CIP projects, $15,774,589 – Sarantou - move to amend.

McNamara – Sarantou Amendment? Gerald Dendingger – it's in front of you – amend to resurfacing – repair as many streets as possible.

McNamara – disagree with Sarantou – no focal point for Toledo – Borders is closing – my wife and I love books, we have been buying them up. Came across a book on Ohio, only had 2 – 3 pages on Toledo. We have many needs in Toledo right now – we need to invest in ourselves – we are international.

Collins – It is an important piece of Toledo – there has never been a Market Study done on this – Portside never had one done – We have done them on the Huntington Center and Fifth Third Field - resident's streets repaired are more important than moving dirt – Toledo will have more dirt tomorrow – the repair of our streets are more important – people calling about re-aligning their cars – lets fix the roads first.

Ludeman – What can $750,000 do? Herwat – 3 blocks done. Representative from Roads/Repair Dept. - It will take 3 months – stop paving at Thanksgiving time – can move dirt at Promenade Park at anytime.

Rep. From D. T. Construction – we need to eliminate trees – will open up the river – good use of that space – will look like Millennium Park in Chicago – will pull that area in – excellent use of funds.

Waniewski – address image? McNamara brought in image to the taxpayers – rather pave 3 blocks (he's going by emails he has received) – tighten your belt.

Martinez – I chuckle a little bit – (reads from book that McNamara referenced) (McNamara never said he bought it. SZ) – investment has come to the Warehouse District - help from Public investment. This is the kind of environment I want to raise my kids in.

Sarantou - $750,000 will get you 2 miles? Rep. From Roads – it would be mill and fill. Sarantou – Materials left to cover? Do additional streets? Rep. From Roads – check on contracts. Sarantou – mill and fill contracts for next year? Rep. from Roads - I don't have that information yet. Greatest repair – big construction.

Collins – In Akron, new machine that would eat up the old pavement at one end, and lay new pavement at the other end. Rather expensive? Rep. From Roads – don't know. Collins – I think it was around 3 mil – stretch our dollars – how much money needed – budget for next year.

Craig – we need to put more money into neighborhoods – by 9/1 – not going to get anything done – more streets need to be repaired.

Hicks-Hudson – What is the budget?

Brown – put the same street on the list for 5 years – still not done. Hicks-Hudson – How important – tonight? OK – don't want to wait. Herwat – CIP Funds - will stay there – F. E. Alignment – something more definitive.

Bell – money comes from taxes – tax dollars from Parks to roads – defeating ourselves – one time shot – let some hub caps/rims go.

Steel – plan for Park – if you build it they will come – What is the difference with this $750,000 this year? Rep. From Roads – get rid of the steps, bring in the dirt. Rep. From Roads – further study on stage – 5-6 mil project – grants (OH) – covered stage to come. (She is for the project at the Park – she said it as she left the podium. SZ)

Sarantou plan – work next year. Ludeman – good debate . Herwat – pay a premium for asphalt. Craig – move to call – question. Sarantou – take out side walks - $350,000 – commit program. Herwat – talked with Miss Whitney – squeezed 2 mil out of it for next year (her budget). Collins – transfer into GF - OT etc – Sarantou Amendment – put the money towards this – Is this a need or a want? (compares streets to streets) Craig – point of order. Brown – one request – one road. Rep. From Roads – what are you talking about? List of roads to be worked on.

Vote on Sarantou Amendment – No – Craig, Ludeman, Martinez, McNamara. Yes – Sarantou, Webb, Collins, Steel, Hicks-Hudson, Brown, Waniewski. Final vote on the issue – passed – all voting yes.

Final Call:

Steel – Come Saturday to the Toledo PRIDE event downtown.

Waniewski – Tomorrow meeting at UT, 6 PM, on recycling and refuse, on the 29th, Block Watch, Old Orchard neighborhood.

Collins – 10/2010 - $200,000 to LCIC – performance report – businesses created/left – Meeting tomorrow at Reynolds Garden Cafe – Muslim Association, Unity Dinner.

Martinez – just a note to Mr. Collins – LCIC's year goes from July to June 30th – don't expect them to have anything ready yet.

Brown – I think I've said enough.