Toledo City Council Meeting - April 2, 2013

My apologies for not getting this posted earlier. For some additionally commentary, check out this post regarding the proposal to raise council's pay by 18% and this post about two Republican councilmen who think Right-to-Work is an "extreme political position."

Here are the notes from Sherry:

Toledo City Council Meeting
April 2, 2013

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

Item 118 – Designate corner of Collingwood, & Acklin as Bishop Carl E. Mitchell, Sr. Way – passed – all voting yes.

Item 120 – Resolution – Support Wear Blue Day, Wednesday, April 10th, National Child Abuse Prevention Month – adopted – all voting yes.

Item 121 – Resolution – Recognize Marc Loving, Nigel Hayes, Keshyra McCarver, and Coach Ed Heintschel – Hold for 2 weeks, kids on break.

There was an award given to a group from the Cancer Society. April 16th is Cancer Prevention 3 Day.

Item 106 – Appointments – Ottawa/Jermain Park Advisory Board – Hold till April 16th.

Item 122 – Appointment – Chief of Police

• McNamara – Chief Diggs should go – not supporting this.

Slow roll call vote: No: Martinez, Riley, Collins, Hicks-Hudson, Ludeman, Enright. Yes: McNamara, Sarantou, Steel, Waniewski, Webb, Craig. Motion failed.

• Hicks-Hudson – Vote up or down.
• Collins – Chief Diggs is OK – (history) Felker was the Chief of Police in Mr. Finkbiner's Administration – he was supposed to bring in new leadership (Finkbiner) - only way Felker was removed was with a hearing, legal issues – ended up costing the City money and health care. Then in 2004, in another Finkbiner Administration Chief Navarre was removed the same as Felker – replaced with Jack Smith for a few months – then back to Navarre again – Mayor can continue with Diggs –
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• Hicks-Hudson stops him, speaks – Council to confirm or not.
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• Collins – doesn't change anything – if the Mayor gets re-elected, let him come to Council.
• Hicks-Hudson – if it wasn't for retirement, we wouldn't be looking at this.
• Martinez – sees both sides of the fence – Officers like the Chief – Public Safety beyond politics – supporting this – retire/re-hire – bottlenecks.
• Ludeman – confirm Diggs – liked by Officers – Mayor doing a fine job.

Vote – confirmed – McNamara, Collins voted no; rest voted yes.

Item 145 – Zone change at 801 & 1335 Front St. for K-8 school (Approved 6 – 0) – passed – Martinez abstaining, rest yes. Steel – Thanks to the Planning Committee.

Item 146 – SUP for K-8 school at 801 & 1335 Front St. (Approved 6 – 0) – passed – Martinez abstaining, rest yes.

Item 147 – Zone change at 443 & 445 South Ave. (Approved 5 – 0) – passed – all voting yes. Ludeman – immediate consideration for 150.

Item 150 – Resolution – Urge Federal Aviation Administration keep traffic control tower at Toledo Express open/staffed – adopted – all voting yes (Craig was absent for this vote)

Item 119 – Resolution – Recognize recipients of the LSU (Latino Student Union) scholarship – Hold for 2 weeks.

Item 102 – Appropriation to refurbish athletic facility at 1111 Manhattan Blvd. For Police Athletic League, $250,000 Parkland Replacement Fund

• Collins –amend – from Parks Fund to Law Enforcement Fund – as of 4/1 $746,000 – what is State/Federal portion, $323,000 - $133,000 to the department for Tasers – take money out of LE Trust – we don't own the building – Council to support.
• Ludeman – leave money in LE Fund.
• Steel – call the Law Director to discuss.
• Adam Loux, law director - Since the late 90's LE Trust monies for certain things – its purpose – this includes a LE purpose – it needs approval from an Ordinance and the Police Chief, both saying that this money is needed.
• Director Green – Need to find a different source of funds.
• Webb – not a proper use of funds (referring to Chief Diggs) – two part process – Diggs, monies not to be used for just anything – some was used for DARE Program – some of the money to be used for heating/cooling facility – old building torn down that would have provided this – concerned – City to take possession of 196 acres – Utilities Parks Fund (example, Optimist Park attached to Wait High School – spending Parks money for this – bigger things on the horizon - maybe a compromise - $125,000/$125,000 from each fund.
• Waniewski – thanks for the opinions – isn't this supposed to keep young folks off the street? See Police Officers – Diggs – we (Council) never used it for this.
• Craig – this is a great program – LE Fund for PAL Program – greatly reduce effort – refer back to Administration.
• Hicks-Hudson – Hold for 2 weeks.
• Collins – oppose funds for $50,000 to Police Museum?
• Diggs – not aware of this.
• Collins – to continue for Hicks-Hudson – he wasn't the Chief then.
• Collins – would you consider appropriations from LE Trust Fund
• Hicks-Hudson – let go, we can discuss this – on hold for 2 weeks.
• Webb – willing to be part of a compromise.

Item 113 – Transfer funds from General Fund to Capital Replacement Fund for vehicles purchased since 2004, $437,646 – refer back to Administration.

Item 115 – Expenditure to TMACOG for 2013 membership fee, $55,658 General Fund – passed – all voting yes.

Item 123 – Resolution – Express opposition to Ohio “Right to Work” laws
McNamara – opposes Right to Work – won't guarantee better pay for working families
Adopted – Waniewski voted no, rest yes.

Item 124 – Amend TMC Sec. 933.02(a) to establish new water rates, 5 years 2014 – 2018 - 1st Reading. We will have night time meetings on this for feed back.

Item 125 – Extend contracts with S&L Fertilizer and Stansley for spent lime removal at Water Treatment, $950,000

• Collins – (to Herwat) Four month change?
• Herwat – no change.
• Collins – amend.

Passed – all voting yes (Craig absent again)

Item 126 – Expenditure for Cal Flo Slurry for water softening chemical for Water Treatment, $50,000 Water Operation

• Sarantou – Public Utilities water rates proposal – 3 readings.
• Herwat – get this passed as soon as possible.

Passed – all voting yes.

Item 127 – Resolution – Notice and assessment process for 2013 Sidewalk Program

• Riley - (to Dave Welch) Can this be broken up into smaller projects?
• Welch – no answer tonight.
• Riley – small businesses to do work with City.
• Hicks-Hudson – minority businesses.

Adopted – all voting yes.

Item 128 – Resolution – Application to TMACOG Transportation Alternatives Program for financial assistance – adopted – all voting yes.

Item 129 – Expenditures for General Resurfacing and Matches & Planning for Engineering Services, $8,473,545 CIP – passed – all voting yes.

• Item 130 – Appropriation for Executive Parkway east of Secor Rd., $340,000 CIP TIF Reserve McNamara – move to Amend.
• Collins – economic development good.
• Herwat – We will work with you. Fund this program from CIP. 
• Sarantou – Private investment – thanks everyone. 

Passed – all voting yes.

Item 131 – Expenditure to extend GIS software maintenance & software support from ESRI, $105,000 Sewer Operations – passed – all voting yes.

Item 132 – Expenditure to Schumaker Bros. For Emergency sewer repair at 2250 Airport Hwy, $22,409 Sewer Operations – passed – all voting yes.

Item 133 - Lease-Purchase with PNC for 54 marked and 52 unmarked Police vehicles, 3 years, $3,480,000 CIP – passed – all voting yes.

Item 134 – Contract for on-line employee benefits administration system for Human Resources, $150,000 CIP - 1st Reading.

Item 135 – Expenditure to SeaGate Convention Center for Feb. 2014 Fire recruitment examination, $21,000 GF – passed – all voting yes.

Item 136 – Contracts for Internet access service, extend Buckeye 3 years and contract with Agile 5 years, $3,525/monthly - 1st Reading.

Item 137 – Contract with AT&T for city-wide cell phone equipment and service, 3 years + 1 year option, ICT Fund

• Collins – Did we resolve this issue? Expense of cell phones.
• Administration – Credit which cell phone?
• Collins - $400.00 cell phones?
• Administration – No, those were I-phones.
• Collins – just commenting.
• Administration – They will be using cell phones (smart phones) instead lap tops for inspection - voice and data – work with administration via employees.
• Sarantou – Spoke with Director Robinson – not new toys – monitor and block certain things – AT&T doesn't work in certain parts of Council Chambers.
• Administration – We will change this.
• Hicks-Hudson – Update cell phones.
• Administration – Yes.

Passed – all voting yes.

Item 138 – Technical Assistance Agreement with Global Green USA for redevelopment of Overland Industrial Park – passed – all voting yes.

Item 139 – Resolution – Amend pension pick-up plan for Teamsters Local 20 employees, 2.5%, 1%, 0 – adopted – all voting yes.

Item 140 – Re-appropriation for lease-purchase 2 Heavy Rescue Squads for Fire, 5 years, $202,000 per year, CIP – passed – all voting yes.

Item 141 – Expenditures for Fire Station Renovations, $180,000 CIP Fund – passed – all voting yes.

Item 142 – Sell 1990 50' aerial ladder fire engine to Penta Career Center, $1 – passed – all voting yes.

Item 143 – Resolution – Object to renewal of liquor permit at Remy's Gentlemen's Club at 707 Matzinger Rd.
Adopted – all voting yes.
Webb – thanks for the support – Moody Manor shooters went there.

Item 144 – Resolution – Object to renewal of liquor permit at 05's bar at Starr Ave. - adopted – all voting yes.

Item 148 – Providing for an annual salary of $136,000 for the Mayor effective January 2, 2014 – Committee of the Whole.

Item 149 - Providing for an annual salary of $32,500 for Council Members effective January 2, 2014 – Committee of the Whole.

Last Call:

Riley – What is the status of Darvis and Champion Spark Plug – vacant abandon sites.

Sarantou – Thanks to his great niece and daughter for being here.

Waniewski – List of used corner car lots and SUV's sold. Congrats (could be go – punchy) to the Toledo Walleye.

Webb – Point Place businesses sponsored the egg hunt. On 4/8 at 6 PM, meeting at Sylvania Library, about the library.

Collins – What does the City do about decommissioned equipment? What about old software? City provides it or destroys it.

Ludeman – Tomorrow presentation by Economic Development – Oak/Bancroft gas – supporting residents? Herwat – City cannot step in – have to get with Columbia Gas – we represent property owners. Three year old Brianna is watching us.

Hicks- Hudson – Department of Utilities to look at various projects – support minority businesses.