Toledo City Council Meeting - April 24, 2012

Notes from Sherry - she has some comments and they are bolded.  Additionally, the TARTA appointment was William Thomas, Executive Director of the Downtown Toledo Improvement District/COO of Downtown Toledo Development Corp.  The Port Authority appointment was Sharon Speyer, President of the Northwest Ohio Region for Huntington National Bank.

In attendance: Councilwomen Webb, Hicks-Hudson, Councilmen Ludeman, Martinez, McNamara, Copeland, Sarantou, Collins, Riley, Craig, Steel, Waniewski, woman sitting in for Mayor (?), later replaced by Deputy Mayor Herwat.

Item 134 – Appointment – Director of Inspection – Hold until May 8th.

Item 185 – Appointment – TARTA – confirmed – all voting yes.

Item 186 – Appointment – Toledo – Lucas County Port Authority – confirmed – all voting yes.

Item 188 – Resolution – Recognize Stan Stachak – adopted – all voting yes.

Item 187 – Resolution – Recognize Makala White, Statewide Poetry Outloud Winner – adopted – all voting yes.

Item 215 – Zone change at 1420 Starr Ave. - passed – all voting yes.

Item 216 – Zone change at 1422-1426 Starr Ave. - passed – all voting yes.

Item 189 – Resolution – Support Workers' Memorial Day – adopted – all voting yes.

Item 190 – Resolution – Support UFCW Local 75 at American Red Cross Blood Services – Webb – I see that the workers are here (all dressed the same) - this was discussed at Agenda Review – I've passed out a paper with stronger language for the bill – we have gone to the table in good faith – this is unfair labor practice – this is the same Council that had a Resolution against SB 5 – allow your conscious to be your guide – this is for all those people that pay taxes. (Why is Council getting involved in a private business? We don't work for a Union, but we pay taxes. She has a wrong attitude towards people, especially those who don't work for a Union. Remember, she represents all of the people that live in District 6, not just the ones who work for a Union. SZ)  passed – Ludeman, Waniewski – no, rest yes.

Item 214 – SUP for greenhouse at 4747 Hill Ave. - passed – all voting yes.

Item 217 – Zone change at 1042 Woodville Rd. - passed – all voting yes.

Item 218 Amend SUP for 24-hour operation of convenience store at 2953-2963 Tremainsville (PC Disapproved) – Waniewski – I'm going to support this – Planning Commission disapproved – don't like the compliance – fuel store needs to be open 24-hours, a couple of stores around it are open 24-hours. Webb – this same gas station (name) is not open 24-hours in her district – abuts neighborhood – gang members from Asbury Park hanging around – denied permit – she will be voting no. Steel – What is the reaction from the neighbors? Waniewski – They're OK, nobody seems to mind. Passed – Webb, McNamara, Copeland – no, rest yes.

Item 191 – Accept additional State grant for Misdemeanant Intensive Supervision (MIS) for Municipal Court, $20,000 – passed – all voting yes.

Item 192 – Sale of 20' strip of real property at 11013 Airport Highway to Days Inn at Airport, $6,000 – passed – all voting yes.

Item 193 – Accept HUD grants, 38th Yr CDBG $6,839,464, 21st Yr HOME $1,682,898, 26th Yr ESG $610,343 – Martinez – First step to accepting – I'll have the final draft this weekend. McNamara - to have it reworked – get with Martinez. Steel – same concerns. Collins – the policy for Bethany House through the Department of Neighborhoods – applied in good faith. Martinez – answers by this Friday. Steel – what about the homeless fund? passed – all voting yes.

Item 194 – Amend TMC Sec. 965.10(5) to shorten No-Wake Zone from MLK Bridge to High Level Bridge – passed – all voting yes.

Item 195 – Authorize contract for auctioneer services and hold auctions to sell surplus vehicles and equipment – passed – all voting yes.

Item 196 – Establish and enforce Berkey Fixed Rate for existing water consumers in the Village of Berkey – to Utilities Committee, meeting on 4/30 at 4 PM.

Item 197 – Appropriation for new roof at Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, $9,200,000 Water Bond Fund - 1st Reading.

Item 198 – Appropriation for additional chlorine facility at Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, $5,050,000 Water Bond - 1st Reading.

Item 199 – Appropriation to upgrade SCADA System at Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, $4,958,704 Water Bond – passed – all voting yes.

Item 200 – Appropriation for vehicles & equipment at Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, $400,000 Water Replacement - 1st Reading.

Item 201 – Appropriation for new boiler system piping at Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, $350,000Water Bond – passed – all voting yes.

Item 202 – Re-appropriate funds for engineering services for Collins Park Water Treatment Plant, $200,000 Water Operations – passed – all voting yes.

Item 203 – Appropriation for chemical lab testing equipment for Collins Park Water Treatment, $200,000 Water Replacement - 1st Reading.

Item 204 – Expenditure for 2 storage tanks for Water Treatment Low Service Pump Station, $35,000 Water Operations – passed – all voting yes.

Item 205 – Appropriation for 2012 Sidewalk Program , $382,630 Assessed Improvement Fund – passed – all voting yes.

Item 206 – Expenditure to ESRI for GIS software and support for Engineering Services, $142,900 Sewer Improvement & CIP – passed – all voting yes.

Item 207 – Resolution – Street Lighting – E. Pearl St. from Elm St. to Chestnut St. - adopted – all voting yes. Item 208 – Street Lighting – Ryan Rd. from Cass Rd. to Eastgate Rd. - passed – all voting yes.

Item 209 – Re-appropriate funds for for secondary tunnel pipe support for Water Reclamation, $49,582 Sewer Bond – passed – all voting yes.

Item 210 – Amend TMC Ch. 930, sewer discharge control program for Environmental Services - 1st Reading.

Item 211 – Re-appropriate 2010 Street Resurfacing CIP funds for 2012 Sidewalk Program, $229,293 CIP Fund – passed – all voting yes.

Item 212 – Establish Trust Fund to celebrate National Drinking Water Week – passed – all voting yes.

Item 213 – Agreement with Lucas County for county-wide EMS, 1 year plus renewals – Martinez – has a problem with auto renewal. Representative for EMS – re-assures him what this is going for. Martinez – repeats his prior statement – passed – all voting yes.

Item 219 – Resolution – Object to renewal of liquor permit at Big Shots, 931 W. Central Ave. - Collins – committee meeting on this yesterday – from 2009 till now, there have been 70 calls – 1 fatality – 30 arrested recently – tried to cover up the smell of marijuana – they have called, but Police Officers will not work there privately – terminate license – passed – Riley abstaining, rest yes.

Item 168 – Resolution – Levy assessments for sanitary sewer for N. Detroit Ave., Dearden Place and Birdsall Rd. - Hold till 5/8.

Item 177 – Amend Ordinance 46-12 to assign net proceeds to United North from sale of One Martime Plaza, $143,000 – Executive Session, 20 minutes – McNamara abstaining – passed – all voting yes.

Last Call:

Hicks-Hudson – Code 111 and 112 – look at these for next meeting. Wants to know about tree trimming and grass cutting in vacant lots.

Ludeman – Went walking for the March of Dimes along River, bring the plight of early birth into the light – great event.

Riley – Winfred Park – inform as to changes/modifications. Former TPS sites in District 1 – what has been acquired?

Sarantou – HR meeting Thursday at 1:30. Thanks all the young people that volunteered for Global Earth Day.

Steel – time line for the work on Collingwood Ave. - also for pump repairs.

Waniewski – Thanks Sarantou for attending a meeting in his area. Need to pay attention to paving on Monroe St.

Webb – Steering Committee meeting to meet Thursday at 4 PM. Collins – Return of property on Winthrop – Beverly grade school for park/green space – where is it at? Neighbors want to take the responsibility/upkeep for the park. Cruthers – will get back to you on the property.

McNamara – Committee of the Whole meeting tomorrow.

Port Authority to get new member

Among other things on the agenda of the Lucas County Commissioners is the appointment to fill a vacancy on the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority.

The resolution names Richard Gabel as the replacement for Daniel Smith. Smith is with the American Maritime Officers. Richard Gabel, in addition to being an elected member of the Oregon City School Board, is the vice president of the International Longshoremen's Union and of the ILA Great Lakes District Council.

How wrong can you be?

As expected, The Blade editorial board has taken a swipe at the pay of Jim Hartung, president of the Toledo Lucas County Port Authority.

You see, they don't think he should get pay increases - or be paid as much as he is - considering the economic condition of the area. While this has been a consistent position from them, it's wrong.

First of all, they believe the purpose of the Port Authority is to create jobs.

"The Toledo-Lucas County Port Authority, which is charged with economic development, hasn't been able to create many new jobs recently."

The only jobs a Port Authority can create are new positions within their own agency. They don't create jobs. In fact, their purpose is to run the ports.

"Our Vision:
To position Toledo as a premier world transportation center.

Our Mission:
To assure that the Toledo area's water, air, rail, and surface transportation assets are developed and operated in a cohesive, coordinated and safe manner in order to provide maximum efficiencies and benefits to shippers, receivers, and passengers; to assure optimum business growth, technology development, investment, job retention and improvement in quality of life."

While the Port does have certain economic development tools in that they provide financing options to businesses, it's the businesses that create the jobs, not the Port Authority - or any other economic development entity including the Lucas County Improvement Corporation, the Regional Growth Partnership or the various government departments of economic development.

If entities like The Blade would acknowledge this fact, there wouldn't be unrealistic expectations of elected officials and economic development agencies in terms of what they can actually do. And, we might finally get around to focusing on creating an environment that will help businesses create jobs - rather than taking credit for what the private sector has done in spite of the unfriendly business policies that permeate our area.

The Blade also believes "Mr. Hartung could set a good example for public officials by refusing this ill-timed gift." I'm not sure, in his job description, where it is that the president of a port authority to supposed provide a good example for elected officials...but I think they've got this backward. Isn't it the elected officials who are supposed to provide the example?

And it's not a gift. It's compensation for performance. Interestingly, The Blade - and the elected officials who've criticized the raise and called for it to be 'returned' - have failed to state a performance-related reason for why Hartung has not earned it. Instead, they're appealing to emotion and class envy by implying that since so many people in this area are 'suffering,' other individuals should not prosper.

Besides, if the elected officials really care so much about the impact of salaries and the people who have to pay them, they can start by reducing their own - and the ones of all the government workers. Perhaps, rather than criticize what the Port Board has determined to be good performance, The Blade would like to address their lack of opposition to the Commissioners (by a 2-1 vote) giving Children Services Board employees pay increases of 4%, 3% and 3% over three years - especially when that agency has 2 - yes 2 - levies that support its operations (2.4 mills versus the .4 mills the Port Authority gets).

Then there is the issue of the Port Authority tax levy itself. Throughout their editorial, the reader is given the impression that the levy pays for the salary and is going toward the pay increase.

"... we don't believe such a generous raise constitutes the "wise use of [tax] levy dollars" ..."

"While the port generates income from shipping and airport operations, it also is the beneficiary of some $2.5 million a year that streams from the 0.4-mill property tax levy that was renewed by voters in 2004."

"... port directors are so accustomed to the steady income from the levy ..."

"The Hartung pay raise is a rude slap at those workers and to all those in Toledo and Lucas County who support the port operation with their tax dollars."

So let's set the record straight. From the Port Authority webpage:

"Ninety-three percent of Port Authority funding comes from revenue generated by its operating divisions and its finance programs. This revenue pays for all administrative costs including staff salaries. The other 7 percent comes from revenue generated by its tax levy. That money is used exclusively for capital improvement projects."

And this is consistent with the promises the Port Authority Board made in 2004 - to use these levy dollars in this manner. This levy used to help fund the Regional Growth Partnership before it became a separate, privately-funded organization. After the RGP's break from the Port Authority and public funding, the Port agreed to put a portion of those levy revenues into a Community Economic Development Program. And that's what they did, according to a Blade August 26, 2005, article, "Port authority OKs urban projects - South Branch library included on list for redevelopment grants":

"The port board approved $338,000 to seven nonprofit neighborhood agencies in Lucas County, fulfilling a promise to devote more of its tax- levy revenue to urban projects.
...
The port authority , which had been under fire for economic development programs outside Lucas County, in which its 0.4-mill development levy is assessed, agreed as part of a levy renewal campaign last year to set aside $350,000 annually for neighborhood revitalization. The levy generates about $2.2 million a year."

So Hartung's raise does not come from the levy, but from the profit on the operations of the Port Authority itself. The promises made to the public about the levy dollars are being kept. So the levy, itself, should not be a factor in the discussion of Hartung's compensation.

In the end, Hartung's pay is based upon his performance in running the operations of the Port Authority - not upon the overall economic conditions of the County, which is something over which he has absolutely no control. And to even imply that he is responsible for that is ridiculous.

Elected officials, on the other hand, through their policies, actions, taxing, fee structures and spending do have such control and influence. And editorial board members should remember that fact the next time they do endorsements.