UPCOMING AGENDA SESSION

I have received my email copy of Monday night’s Council agenda and am confused. While some might claim that is a normal state for me in my senility; I still retain my ability to count.

The agenda summation notes 18 resolutions and 7 Ordinances. I count 19 Resolutions and 6 Ordinances.’ Two Ordinances are up for second reading and should be accepted (No voting can be done at the agenda setting meeting; approval is for action at the business meeting). Of these two; one that is for approval of changes in zoning per the master plan is long overdue. The other is for a bond issue of $3mil for capital improvements for Police and Fire departments including equipment; Playground improvements at Sidler Field, Rushmore Ave and Rock Ave, and some for the Library including an IT sponsored change over from the present telephone equipment to Voice Over.

There are SIX new Ordinances f0or first Reading(1) Authorizing City jurisdiction over the roads and parking lots at the armory property which will become a charter school;(2)Amending the salary and wages for the Fire Department according to the negotiated contract which will be accepted by a resolution to be offered earlier in the agenda;(3) anew and more detailed ordinance relating to excavations and openings of streets (which includes driveways and sidewalks; and (4) another Bond Ordinance for $4,845,000for capital improvements.

Perhaps the phantom 7^th will be introduced at meeting time.

Of the 18/19 Resolutions 4 are “ceremonial” and 3 are for approximately 129K refunds of tax money for various reasons. There are two resolutions correcting errors in previous resolutions. There are resolutions of interests;(1) approval of a street opening on South Ave (repaved 2012) to change gas piping to an apartment house that is converting from oil heat to gas, and one on Roosevelt Ave. (repaved 2011) to install a new sewer connection. These resolutions are needed in accordance to the City Code requirement for pavements five years or less old.

Two Resolutions awarding professional services contracts can be discussed later; the scarcity of “bids” is of interest and in one there is no mention of any of the submitted bids.

There is another month’s (June) Temporary Budget to be approved. It should be noted that for almost every segment of our municipal organization over 50% and most near 60% will have been spent by the end of the six month of 2013. That is something the Council will have to work with while tweaking the presented budget which will be up for a public hearing that evening. An outstanding item noted is that the Division of Economic Development will have expended 170% of its allocated 2013 budget which is 40% higher than 2012.

There may be some discussion about some of the requests (6+) for permission to conduct various events. One of the most interesting is from Edison Garcia owner of a night club in the old 1^st National bank building to hold a Fiesta celebration Sept 15&16 with closure of Parking lots 8 and8A in honor of Central America Independence Day. I believe that he has run this popular event for the past two years without incident.

Mr. Garcia has made a similar request for July 5, 6, and7 in celebration of American Independence. This would also be a repeat production which has been well received.

Once about a time the Fourth of July celebration was a well organized community affair. Its disintegration is another monument to the present administration.