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7 <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja said that he hopes staff will explore outside funding in the meantime. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro said he does not want to hamstring the process, he wants to do it <br />right. He said it is a high priority even if we cannot find private money. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja made a motion to support the concept outlined, and up to $10,000 in this <br />year, authorize an RFP for facilitation services, supported seeking other partners, and <br />including it in the proposed FY 2010 budget. Mr. Taliaferro seconded the motion and it <br />was approved by the following vote. Ayes: Dr. Brown, Mr. Huja, Mr. Norris, Mr. <br />Taliaferro. Noes: None. Absent: Ms. Edwards. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris agreed that the City should lead the way and should lead by example. <br />He said it is important to have leadership from the top down. He asked how we move <br />beyond the usual participants. <br /> <br /> Mr. Jones said we will try to be creative and have meeting out in the community. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris agreed with Mr. Huja that we should acknowledge, reference and build <br />on the previous efforts of the City, Martin Luther King, Jr. Committee, QCC, African <br />American Teaching Fellows, and Thomas Jefferson Memorial Church. <br /> <br />REPORT <br />: STORMWATER UTILITY PROGRAM <br /> <br /> Ms. Riddervold said that in November 2008 Council discussed the proposal for a <br />stormwater utility with a user based fee to provide a dedicated funding source. She said <br />Council indicated the need for more community dialogue and was concerned about the <br />timing. She said staff now recommends that the stormwater utility not be implemented <br />until economic conditions improve. She said compliance requirements and educational <br />efforts will continue. She said seven miles of piping have been identified as needing <br />replacing. She said staff recommends that available funding be identified to address the <br />crumbling infrastructure. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris noted that the CIP will include close to the same level of funding as <br />would have been raised by a new fee. <br /> <br /> Mr. O’Connell said the thinking is that we can meet the $600,000 a year for two <br />to three years, and Council can reconsider the fee when the economy is better. He said <br />that some property would have significant fees. <br /> <br /> Mr. Huja agreed with the recommended approach. He said he could not support a <br />utility at this stage in this economy. <br /> <br /> Mr. Taliaferro agreed, and suggested that it be reviewed by Council annually. <br /> <br /> Dr. Brown said he is pleased to hear agreement that Council will address this by <br />approving significantly more in the CIP. He urged Council to stick to its guns in the <br />budget. He noted that if we fully fund this it will be coming from the real estate tax <br />rather than based on impervious surfaces. He said a fee based program creates <br />incentives. He said the current proposal does not deal with the source of the problem. <br />He said it would be best in the long run to be fee based. <br /> <br /> Mr. Norris agreed with the sentiments of Dr. Brown that ultimately a program <br />with stronger incentives is the way to go. He said that looking at the increased fees many <br />property owners would be faced with this year persuaded him to hold off on a fee this <br />year. He said he is hearing general consensus that the proposed stormwater utility <br />strategy is the best long-term strategy, and suggested that the educational effort make it <br />clear that this is coming. <br /> <br /> The meeting was adjourned. <br /> <br />______________________________ ____________________________ <br /> <br />