The Council was a little loony last night. It took us about 4 hours to agree, unanimously, on just about everything. Here’s what we did.
- #1 – We proclaimed April 2008 as Child Abuse Prevention Month.
- #2 & #3 – We approved Arbor Day and Earth Day Clean up resolutions before the Parks Commission recommended them (See V A & B)
- We then approved the consent agenda, which was the whole agenda minus items 21, 23, 32, 98, 99, 105, 109 & 125.
- #4 we approved the W Wash Hotel
- #13 We had a big long discussion over the raingarden controversy which is if there are rain gardens installed during street reconstruction should the City pay 50% or 75% of the cost, with the homeowner paying the rest. The Mayor and the City Engineer explained that this issue wasn’t even included in the item and we’d have to vote on it later. But that didn’t stop alders from talking about it and asking questions.
- #14 We got the so called “10 minute version” of the State of the City Address (that the clerk timed and lasted 19 minutes.) We got the full speech that will be delivered at the Rotary today via email before the council meeting, but the mayor started out (“going for the automatic applause line”) by explaining he wasn’t going to read it all. Seemed kind of rude for the people who showed up to hear the speech and aren’t members of the Rotary and don’t have invitations to go. (I got two invitations, one from Stuart Levitan – thanks Stu – but don’t know if I have time to go.) Here’s the pdf of the full speech.
- #21 – We referred an bartender’s license back to ALRC.
- #23 – We referred another bartender’s license back to the City Attorney’s Office.
- #32 – A gentleman brought information about his assessment and his neighbors assessments, but we denied his claim without comment. I think at times like these the council is in a tough position because we know staff reviewed things and gave us their recommendation and we can’t ask questions in open session since a court case is involved.
- # 98 –Security Deposit Photo Ordinance passed unanimously after several speakers spoke in support, one against, and glowing praise for Alder Judge. The most interesting part of the evening was when Nancy Jensen from the Apartment Association all but named names when saying that landlords should not use security deposits “as the 13th month’s rent” or “nickel and dime” tenants by charging for wiping dust off lightbulbs and other such things. She seemed particularly concerned about “large fee managers” – meaning management companies as opposed to the owners.
- #99 –Platinum Bike Report – Again, lots of speakers, lots of praise. And then a goofy discussion where Alder Brandon tried to re-define the terms “adopt” and “accept”. He listened to several alders explain what they thought it meant and then said he was ok with it. However, there is a long lost memo out there from City Attorney Eunice Gibson that no one can find that explains the difference. I looked for a few minutes this morning and couldn’t find it, but I’ll look again tonight if no one finds it today. Unfortunately, no one asked the City Attorney what he thought it meant.
- #105 –Neighborhood Electric Vehicles – Several speakers, lots of praise. Several alders test drove the vehicles before the council meeting, some of them who did were Clear, Webber, Rhodes-Conway, Palm, Solomon and Kerr . . . and likely several others, but I wasn’t out there in the rain to see who did.
- #109 – Was accidentally separated and so we quickly passed it.
- #125 –Reconsideration of DemolitionOrdinance – After a bit of discussion, which may have been out of order, Alder Gruber withdrew his motion without objection from the Council. Apparently, no one wanted to re-open the whole ordinance for re-discussion. Some seemed extra nervous about it being potentially changed
After that it was about 10:30 and we all went to Brochach. Well, the Mayor, George Twigg, Michael May and Alders Rhodes-Conway, Webber, Rummel, Palm, Clear, Schumacher, Gruber, Bruer, Kerr, Judge, Solomon, myself and . . . hmmmmm . . . I think Verveer was there . . . but he was whisked away by his fan club and we didn’t see him until most people had gone home.
