2008-04-07 - Laserfiche WebLink

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8 SCHOOLS, AND FOR OTHER PUBLIC PURPOSES” was offered and carried over to the April 15 meeting for consideration. APPROPRIATION : ANNUAL BUDGET APPROPRIATION Mr. Huja disclosed that he is a member of the Jefferson Area Board for Aging Board of Directors, but is not paid and therefore does not have a conflict of interest. He said he thinks Mountainside is an excellent program, and suggested that the additional $1,661 be funded. Mr. Taliaferro said he supports the funding for Mountainside. He said former City residents reside there and they do a good job. He mentioned that he is a City retiree. Mr. Huja said he is also a City retiree. Dr. Brown said he agrees that Mountainside does a good job, but noted that most assisted living facilities are supported by the State. He said this is another example of the locality being asked to do the State’s responsibility. He said the same is true for the North Western Health Systems Agency. He noted that the Council does not determine how the Schools spend their money, it allocates a total amount. He said the City School system, as an urban system, has a lot of challenges. He said a lot of businesses support gym memberships for their employees, as do the City and County, but he said it is a small percentage of the membership fee, not the total amount. Ms. Edwards echoed the sentiments about Mountainside. She said we need to ask better questions about what we are getting for the money for schools, but that needs to be balanced with the need not to micromanage. She said we need to get answers regarding outcomes. She said we are not reverting to separate but equal with the African American Teaching Fellows Program. She said that program is one way to address the achievement gap. She said there is merit in having a diverse and culturally competent work force, and this program is one way to achieve that goal as well. Ms. Edwards said providing comprehensive recreational programs for our youth is a priority for Council. Mr. Huja said he supports the general idea of the wayfinding program, and agrees there is a need for improvement, but he does not support $1 million for it. He said the new proposal for a total of $450,000 is more realistic. He said the proposed welcome signs for $250,000 are redundant and not necessary, and he feels the design is less than adequate. He said he supports the package except those two signs. Mr. Taliaferro noted that staff thinks we can do adequate signage for $500,000. He said he thinks signage is important, especially as we do mall renovations. He said it is difficult to direct people to the mall. He said he supports the new proposal. Mr. Huja said he would like to introduce a new item in the budget, an energy conservation loan to families, with between $50,000 and $125,000 provided each year for the next three years. He noted that his proposal has not gotten a legal review. Mr. Taliaferro said he thinks Mr. Huja’s idea is a good one and will have a big impact. Mr. Huja suggested that the actual program be designed by the Environmental Sustainability Committee. Mr. Norris said a suggestion is needed about how to fund the proposed program. Mr. O’Connell said he thinks there are enough funds in the CIP contingency funds. He said Council can consider the program and can release the funds at a later date. He said we need to use care in how the program will be administered. Mr. Norris said he agrees with the intent of the proposal, and asked how it would relate to other things we are already implementing.