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456 <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton said it may be time to revisit giving individual neighborhoods <br />capital funds as has been suggested by Mr. Schilling, and putting a temporary <br />moratorium on traffic calming and shifting funds to street and sidewalk repair. She said <br />she consistently hears from residents about the condition of sidewalks. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling asked if there is a policy or reason why we are not enforcing <br />vehicles on the sidewalks. He said we may want to have serious rather than gentle <br />enforcement, and suggested that delivery companies be written and told that the City is <br />going to take a firm approach. Regarding sidewalk problems caused by tree roots, he <br />said he would like to have a sense of how widespread this problem is. He said we may <br />need to move trees or put trees in other locations. <br /> <br /> Ms. Mueller said that Neighborhood Development Services staff is looking at <br />recommending species of trees that will not cause the problem. <br /> <br /> Ms. Hamilton noted that seminars are offered on trees, power lines and sidewalks <br />which might be helpful. She agreed that enforcement of the ordinance should be firm. <br /> <br /> Ms. O'Connell said that we are realistically talking about maintaining the <br />increased level of funding forever. <br /> <br />Mr. Caravati said that part of the solution is getting funding from the State. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he is mindful of comments made earlier in the meeting about <br />pedestrians and bikes, and said we should think about what impacts these users and <br />prioritize based on that. <br /> <br />ORDINANCE: TAX CODE AMENDMENTS (2nd reading) <br /> <br /> Ms. Kelley said that at the last meeting the grace period for paying certain taxes <br />was discussed, and concern was expressed about why some taxes had a grace period and <br />others did not. She said she did not realize at the time that another section of the City <br />Code contains a grace period for the other taxes. She said that the ordinance was moved <br />with the inadvertent changes, and she renewed the request that the grace period be <br />restored. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lynch said that consistency does make some sense, though he is not a big fan <br />of grace periods. He said we may want to discuss why we have a grace period at all. <br /> <br /> Mr. Lee Richards, Commissioner of Revenue, said that the grace period began in <br />1982 when the meals tax was enacted. He said he feels a grace period is fair to taxpayers, <br />and noted that there is always a penalty for late payment. <br /> <br /> Mr. Brown said that if Council accepts the recommendation to reinstate the grace <br />period, the substitute ordinance should be moved, seconded and then voted on. <br /> <br /> Mr. Schilling made a motion to approve the substitute ordinance, and Mr. <br />Caravati seconded the motion. Council agreed to substitute the ordinance by the <br />following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. <br />Schilling. Noes: None. <br /> <br /> The ordinance entitled "AN ORDINANCE TO AMEND CHAPTERS 14 <br />(LICENSES) AND 30 (TAXATION) OF THE CITY CODE, TO UPDATE <br />PROVISIONS PERTAINING TO APPEALS OF LOCAL BUS1NESS LICENSE <br />TAXES; INTEREST AND PENALTIES ON VARIOUS TAXES; CLASSIFICATION <br />AND TAXATION OF TANGIBLE PERSONAL PROPERTY; AND <br />IMPLEMENTATION OF "FILING BY EXCEPTION' FOR RETURNS OF CERTAIN <br />PROPERTY," approved as a substitute ordinance to the one approved on first reading on <br />October 17th, was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Caravati, Ms. <br />Hamilton, Mr. Lynch, Mr. Schilling. Noes: None. <br /> <br /> <br />