[1. CALL TO ORDER.]
[00:00:08]
>> SPEAKER: WE WILL OPEN TONIGHT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR THE AUBURN CITY COUNCIL MEETING FEBRUARY THE 1ST 2022.
[2. MINUTES. January 18, 2022. ]
WELCOME TO EVERYBODY THAT IS JOINING US HERE TONIGHT.CITY COUNCIL SHOULD HAVE THE MINUTES FROM THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MEETING OF JANUARY 18. ANY ADDITIONS OR CORRECTIONS OR
A MOVE TO IMPROVE? >> SPEAKER: SO MOVED.
>> SPEAKER: SECOND. >> SPEAKER: MOTION AND SECOND?
[3. QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA.]
AND IMPOSE? MINUTES ARE PROVED.QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER? ANY QUESTIONS ON THE AGENDA FOR THE CITY MANAGER?
>> SPEAKER: I HAVE ONE. >> SPEAKER: GO RIGHT AHEAD.
>> SPEAKER: IN THE PAST MONTH HAS BEEN A VERY BLOODY MONTH FOR LAW ENFORCEMENT. THIRTEEN SHOT ACROSS THE NATION AND I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY ACTUALLY DIED.
MORE IMPORTANT THAN THAT, BLUE HAD EIGHT LAW ENFORCEMENT OFFICERS TOOK THEIR OWN LIFE. I WOULD LIKE TO REMIND EVERYONE WHAT OUR OFFICES GO THROUGH ON A DAY IN AND DAY OUT BASIS.
I SERVED AS A POLICE OFFICER FOR 25 YEARS FOR MYSELF AND I KNOW -- YOU GO FROM CALL TO CALL.
WE USED TO GET COMPLAINTS AT OFFICER DIDN'T SMILE ENOUGH.
MAYBE THEY LEFT THE SCENE WHERE AN INFINITE DIED AHEAD IT TO CONSOLE HER PARENTS. MIGHT BE LOOKING FOR A CHILD MOLESTER. KEEP THAT IN MIND.
I MISSED A LOT OF BIRTHDAYS AND A LOT OF CHRISTMASES.
THE ONE THAT STICKS OUT I MISS MY DAUGHTERS 16TH BIRTHDAY.
I FELT BAD ABOUT IT BUT I GOT TO THINKING ABOUT IT, NOT A DAY GOES BY THAT WE -- THAT BEING ON THE BEAT DOESN'T CROSS MY MIND.
HE OFTEN GOT TO THE CRAWL -- A CALL A BIT TOO FAST.
HE LIKED TO DRAW -- DRIVE FAST. I GOT UPSET BECAUSE I MISSED A FEW BIRTHDAYS AND WHATNOT BUT HE'S GOING TO MISS A LOT OF BIRTHDAYS. YOU WILL NEVER BE AT ANOTHER BIRTHDAY PARTY AGAIN, ANOTHER CHRISTMAS.
HE WILL NEVER HAVE A GRANDCHILD THAT HE COULD EXPERIENCE.
ALL BECAUSE SOME PERSON DECIDED HE WOULD TAKE HIS LIFE.
THIS YOUNG MAN, I HAD KNOWN THIS YOUNG MAN THE WHOLE TIME HE WAS AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT. I REMEMBER WHEN HE GOT HIRED.
ONE OF THE FINEST YOUNG MAN YOU EVER MEET.
ALWAYS HAD A SMILE ON HIS FACE. I REMEMBER AT THE HOSPITAL WHEN HE LOST HIS LIFE I WENT BACK IN THE ROOM WHERE HE WAS AT AND I TEARED UP AND I REALIZED, THAT SHOULD HAVE BEEN ME.
AND I CALL HIM MY OFFICERS BECAUSE HE WILL ALWAYS BE PART OF YOU WHEN YOU ARE A CHIEF. I OFTEN THINK IT SHOULD BEEN ME BECAUSE I HAD DONE MY CAREER. I'VE SEEN MY CHILD MARRIED AND I HAVE EXPERIENCED ALL OF THAT. SO IT'S SOMETHING YOU NEVER FIT -- FORGET. I SAID I WAS GOING TO GET EMOTIONAL BUT IT'S HARD NOT TO. WE HAD HIS MEMORIAL SERVICE IN THE CITY OF AUBURN TURNED OUT ON BELIEVABLE, THE STREETS WERE LINED DOWNTOWN ALL THE WAY FROM THE ARENA WAS PACKED TO THE GRAVESIDE. PEOPLE WERE STANDING AND WAVING AT THE PROCESSION AS IT WENT BY. WHAT CAN YOU SAY? IT'S GREAT TO LIVE IN A TOWN WHERE YOU THINK SO MUCH OF LAW ENFORCEMENT. I ASK YOU TO SUPPORT THEM EVEN MORE BECAUSE THEY ARE GOING THROUGH A LOT RIGHT NOW.
IT IS THE TOUGHEST JOB. LAW ENFORCEMENT IS NOT A JOB IT IS A CALLING. IT HAS TO BE A CALLING FOR FEE TO DO IT. WHO IN THEIR RIGHT MIND WANT TO GO TO GUNFIRE. A POLICE OFFICER HAS BEEN CALLED TO THE JOB WHEN HE PUTS ON A CALL FOR SHOTS FIRED YOU CAN SEE HOW FAST HE CAN GET THERE. WILL BE ONE OF THOSE GUYS.
HE WANT TO SEE HOW FAST YOU CAN GET THERE.
YOU GO OUT OF HIS BEAT TO COVER ANOTHER BEAT TO SEE IF YOU HELP SOMEONE. HE WAS ONE OF THOSE OFFICERS, ALWAYS IN A GOOD MOOD, EVEN WHEN I CHEWED THEM OUT ABOUT SOMETHING. HE SMILED AND SAID HAVE A GOOD DAY, LIEUTENANT. HE WAS ONE OF THOSE GUYS.
I HONESTLY CAN SAY PROBABLY SHOULD HAVE BEEN SOMEBODY LIKE ME, AN OLD MAN THAT IS THAT IS TIME AND EXPERIENCE A LOT IN LIFE THAT HE WILL NEVER GET TO EXPERIENCE.
THAT BEING SAID, I'VE BEEN TALKING WITH THE CITY MANAGER AND DIRECTOR AND CHIEF ANDERSON COMING UP WITH THE WAY WE CAN HONOR WILL BUGGER THAT WOULD BE FOREVER REMEMBERED.
I HAVE TO CREDIT MAKE IT ON THIS ONE.
I TOLD THEM THE IDEA AND CHALLENGED MEGAN HOW WE COULD DO IT. SHE HAS A GREAT IDEA TO NAME -- I WILL ASK THE COUNCIL. WE DISAGREE ON A LOT OF THINGS,
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MOST EVERY MEETING WE DISAGREE ON SOMETHING, BUT I GUARANTEE YOU TONIGHT WE WILL BE IN SOLIDARITY FOR THIS RESOLUTION I'M ASKING TO PASS TONIGHT. IN THE REGULAR MEETING.WE WILL BE UNITED IN THIS CAUSE. MS. CROUCH SUGGESTED WE NAME THE NEW CONNECTOR RODE FROM HIGHWAY 14 TO RICHLAND ROAD AND THAT'S A GREAT WAY TO MEMORIALIZE HIM. HOW MANY KIDS WILL BE GOING TO SCHOOL AND ASK THEIR MOM AND DAD WHO WAS WILL BITTNER AND THEY GET TO TELL THEM WHAT A POLICE OFFICER DOES AND HOW WE SET UP FOR THEIR LIVES. I THINK IT WOULD BE FITTING GOING TO A SCHOOL AREA BECAUSE HE LOVED CHILDREN AND HE WAS JUST A GREAT ALL AROUND GUY. SO WITH THAT BEING SAID, MEGAN,
YOU HAVE TO HELP ME DO THIS. >> SPEAKER: JUST NEED TO MOVE TO SUSPEND THE RULES TO CONSIDER A RESOLUTION UNDER OTHER BUSINESS ON TONIGHT'S AGENDA TO NAME THE RICHLAND ROAD CONNECTOR WILL BITTNER, I BELIEVE IT IS PARKWAY.
IF YOU ARE OKAY WITH THAT INSTEAD OF BOULEVARD.
>> SPEAKER: THAT'S FINE. I MOVED TO SUSPEND THE RULE TONIGHT TO PURSUE THIS RESOLUTION IN THE REGULAR
MEETING. >> SPEAKER: I WILL SECOND THAT.
IS THERE ANY DISCUSSION OR FURTHER COMMENTS FROM THE
COUNCIL? >> SPEAKER: I JUST HAVE ONE QUESTION. FROM RICHLAND FOR YOU SAID RICHLAND ROAD CONNECTOR? WHERE'S THAT?
>> SPEAKER: IT IS A BRAND-NEW EIGHT TO $10 MILLION PROJECT THAT WE ARE BUILDING FROM MARTIN LUTHER KING DRIVE/HIGHWAY 14 JUST FOR GEOGRAPHIES SAFE, EACH OF THE CHINESE RESTAURANT.
PEOPLE KNOW WHERE THAT IS. GOING NORTH ALL THE WAY TO RICHLAND WERE. IT WILL COME OUT AT CREEKSIDE ELEMENTARY SCHOOL WESTERNMOST DRIVEWAY.
THIS PROJECT WILL BE OUT TO BID VERY, VERY SOON.
IT IS IMPORTANT. THIS IS A ROAD THE CITY IS HOVEY FUNDING WITH GENERAL FUND MONEY FOR YOU WILL A VERY NICE ROAD AND CONNECT TO SCHOOLS AND PARKS AND HOMES AND WILL VERY MUCH BE SOMETHING PEOPLE TRAVEL EVERY DAY AND WE WILL SEE THE NAME EVERY DAY. THIS IS ONE OF THE LARGEST ROAD PROJECT WE HAVE UNDERTAKEN IN MANY, MANY YEARS SO I THINK IT IS VERY FITTING THAT IT BE NAMED AS SUCH OF THE COUNCIL SO DESIRES. ONE OTHER SUGGESTION IS, WE HAVE WILLS WIFE SARIA AT HIS SON HENRY AND IT HAPPENS TO BE HIS THIRD BIRTHDAY. SARAH, IS THAT CORRECT? FOURTH BIRTHDAY. HE IS HAVING A GOOD DAY AND HE HAS BEEN TO THE FIRE STATION TODAY AND SO ON BUT I WOULD RECOMMEND IT IS HENRY'S BIRTHDAY AND I'M SURE THEY WOULD LIKE TO GET TO CELEBRATING THAT YOU MOVE THIS UP FURTHER IN THE AGENDA SO WE DON'T HAVE TO DO OTHER ITEMS OF BUSINESS.
IF THE COUNCIL IS WILLING TO CONSIDER THAT WHEN WE GET INTO THE REGULAR AGENDA WE WILL MOVE IT UP BEFORE CONSENT.
>> SPEAKER: ABSOLUTELY. >> SPEAKER: SO WE CAN GET THE
FAMILY MOVING ON. >> SPEAKER: CHIEF DAWSON, THANK YOU FOR BRINGING THIS FORWARD. YOU HAVE SUCH A UNIQUE PERSPECTIVE THAT NOBODY ELSE APPEAR HAS.
WE VALUE THAT PERSPECTIVE AND AUBURN IS BETTER BECAUSE WE HAVE YOU APPEAR WITH THAT PERSPECTIVE.
>> SPEAKER: DID YOU ACTUALLY VOTE ON THIS?
>> SPEAKER: NOT YET WE ARE STILL IN THE COMMENTARY PERIOD.
CERTAINLY TO WILL'S FAMILY, WE WILL NEVER FORGET YOU AND WE LOVE YOU FOREVER. THIS WILL BE VERY POIGNANT AND IT WILL DO WHAT IS IMPORTANT TO OUR COMMUNITY.
WE GET A LOT OF CALLS ABOUT TRAFFIC ON RICHLAND ROAD CONNECTOR AND ESPECIALLY EVERY YEAR WHEN SCHOOL STARTS.
AND SO STRATEGICALLY FOR OUR CITY THIS WILL BE A VERY, VERY IMPORTANT OPPORTUNITY FOR PEOPLE TO FIND OTHER WAYS TO GET IN AND OUTS OF THAT BUSY AREA OF OUR COMMUNITY.
I BELIEVE IT WILL BE WELL TRAVELED IN THE FUTURE WE HAVE DREAMS AND AMBITIONS AND A VISION THAT THERE WILL BE PLACES OUT THERE WERE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES WILL GO AND PLAY AND ENJOY THEIR TIME TOGETHER. I BELIEVE THERE WILL BE A LOT OF SMILES AS PEOPLE GO UP AND DOWN THAT ROAD AND IT WILL HAVE WILLS NAME ON IT FOREVER. IT IS A VERY PROUD MOMENT FOR OUR CITY AND I'M VERY PROUD AND THANKFUL FOR THIS COUNCIL FOR DOING THIS. I WILL HAVE TO GIVE COUNCILMAN GRISWOLD A LOT OF CREDIT. HE PUSHED AND PROMOTED THIS IDEA OF TRYING TO GET THIS ROAD BUILT AND ASKED FOR THE COUNCIL'S STRONG SUPPORT IN MAKING SURE WE FUNDED THIS TO GET THIS DONE.
HE SHOULD RECEIVE THAT CREDIT TOO THAT WORK AND WE ARE VERY PROUD TO DO THIS. AND THANK YOU FOR THE SACRIFICES THAT YOU CONTINUE TO MAKE. ALL IN FAVOR SAY AYE?
>> SPEAKER: AND HE OPPOSED? WE WILL MOVE THAT FORWARD AND SUSPEND THE RULES AND MOVE THAT TO THE AN ITEM ON THE AGENDA.
ANYTHING ELSE FOR TONIGHT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE?
>> SPEAKER: MAYOR, IF I MAY? >> SPEAKER: SURE.
>> SPEAKER: WOULD LIKE TO SEE IF THIS COUNCIL WOULD BE WILLING TO ON THE NEXT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE DISCUSS OUR SIGNED
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ORDINANCE WITH RELATION TO HOW IT IMPACTS COMMUNITY ARTS.AND SPECIFICALLY TO MURALS. I WOULD LIKE US TO POSSIBLY DISCUSS HOW WE CAN LOOK AT THE ORDINANCE AND ITS UNINTENDED CONSEQUENCES OF MAYBE PRECLUDING ART TO BE IN OUR COMMUNITY.
IF WE COULD, IF THIS COUNCIL IS IN AGREEMENT, I WOULD LIKE TO ADD THAT TO THE NEXT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR THE SECOND MEETING IN FEBRUARY JUST TO DISCUSS HOW WE WOULD GO ABOUT
THE PROCESS. >> SPEAKER: I AM ABSOLUTE
SUPPORT OF THAT. >> SPEAKER: EVERYBODY ELSE ON
THE COUNCIL OKAY WITH THAT? >> SPEAKER: SO WE WILL START A LITTLE EARLY THE NEXT MEETING. BETH, I WOULD SUGGEST THAT WE KIND OF MAYBE GET AN UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE DO ALLOW AND DON'T ALLOW AT THIS POINT IN TIME AND HOW THE RULE DOES MANIFEST ITSELF AND THEN WE CAN MOVE FORWARD IF WE WOULD LIKE TO SUGGEST POTENTIAL ALTERATIONS OR CHANGES.
>> SPEAKER: THAT CONVERSATION WOULD BE HOW DO WE GO ABOUT ANY ADDITIONAL RECOMMENDATIONS, WHETHER THAT IS A CHANGE IN THE ORDINANCE OR AN EDITION -- ADDITIONAL ORDINANCE THAT WOULD OFFSET SOMETHING IN THAT ORDINANCE.
BUT WE JUST HAVE HAD A SITUATION ARISE THAT SPOKE TO A MURAL IN OUR COMMUNITY AND I JUST WANTED TO MAKE SURE THAT WE ARE GIVING
ART IT'S PROPER DAY. >> SPEAKER: WE ALSO JUST QUICKLY THE PLANNING COMMISSION HAS LOOKED AT THIS JUST A LITTLE BIT AND THERE WAS A DISCUSSION AT THE TIME, ONE ABOUT RUHLMAN -- MURAL REGULATIONS AND ONE ABOUT THE ARTS COMMISSION.
ONE OF MY RESPONSES, I WASN'T AWARE AT THE TIME THAT THAT RECOMMENDATION IS BEING MADE FROM THE STAFF LEVEL, IS THE STAFF WE NEED TO LOOK AT THE CARTS -- ART TO MISSION SIDE WHICH WOULD REQUIRE MURALS THAT HAVE TO DO WITH OTHER THINGS SUCH AS ART IN PUBLIC PLACES WHICH IS A LONGTIME GOAL THROUGH OUR PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT FROM A CULTURAL STANDPOINT. WE ARE GOING TO TALK WITH YOU A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THAT IN THIS DISCUSSION AND TALK ABOUT SEPARATING THE TWO BECAUSE THEY ARE RELATED BUT DIFFERENT.
THEN MURALS RESIDE IN THE ZONING ORDINANCE AS PART OF THE SIGN ORDINANCE AND THERE IS MANY BENCHMARKING THINGS THAT CAN BE DONE TO LOOK AT OTHER CITIES AND HOW THAT IS DONE.
JUST SO YOU GET YOUR MIND AROUND IT, I WILL ASK YOU TO SEPARATE THE TWO MOVING FORWARD, OTHER THAN -- AND LET YOU KNOW THAT PLANNING COMMISSION HAS TAKING A LOOK AND SEE WHAT YOU HAVE TO SAY NEXT WEEK TO GET FOR THE DIRECTION OF HOW SOON YOU WANT PLANNING COMMISSION TO TAKE A HARDER LOOK AT THE MURAL PIECE.
>> SPEAKER: TWO WEEKS? >> SPEAKER: YES, WE HAVE A MEETING EVERY WEEK. TRYING TO HAVE YET ANOTHER
MEETING. >> SPEAKER: NOT A PROBLEM.
WILL ADD THAT TO THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE FOR THE 15TH.
ANYTHING ELSE RELATED TO THE AGENDA TONIGHT OR COUNCIL HAVE?
>> SPEAKER: WE HAD SOME INCIDENTS THAT EVERYBODY IS AWARE OF, SOME LOUD NOISE AND DISRUPTION THIS PAST WEEKEND.
I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT WE CAN DO DIFFERENTLY OR BETTER OR WHAT APPROACH WE CAN TAKE. I KNOW WE DON'T HAVE A NOISE ORDINANCE, PER SE,. PERHAPS THIS IS SOMETHING WE CAN ALSO DISCUSS AT THE NEXT COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE.
IF STAFF COULD MAKE SOME RECOMMENDATIONS ON HOW WE CAN PROCEED IN THE FUTURE THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
>> SPEAKER: I AM HAPPY TO DO THAT.
WE ALSO HAD A RESPONSE THAT WASN'T A RESPONSE THAT WE WERE COMPLETELY PLEASED WITH AND HOW SOMETHING'S HAPPENED.
WE DO HAVE A LOT OF COLLEGE STUDENTS IN TOWN.
WE HAVE A LOT OF NOISE AND CHIEF ANDERSON HAS MADE IT VERY CLEAR THAT MOVING FORWARD AND WE HAVE NOTIFIED THE UNIVERSITY THAT MOVING FORWARD -- I SENT THE COUNCIL AN E-MAIL ABOUT THIS -- OUR TYPICAL DEAL WITH NOISE AROUND TOWN IS PEOPLE GET ONE WARNING AND THEN WE COME BACK A SECOND TIME IT WILL BE SHUT DOWN OR THERE WILL BE CITATIONS ISSUED.
THAT IS PROTOCOL WE WILL FOLLOW. ARE POLICE OFFICERS DO A WONDERFUL JOB OF TRYING TO BALANCE COMMUNITY NEEDS, UNIVERSITY NEEDS AND SO ON. WE HAVE CLARIFIED SINCE THE INCIDENCE OF LAST WEEK AND PUBLIC SAFETY OFFICER REGISTER MAY HAVE SOMETHING ELSE. WE HAVE CLARIFIED WHAT OUR PROCEDURE IS AND CHIEF ANDERSON HAS BEEN VERY CLEAR AND WE HAVE ALSO MET WITH THE UNIVERSITY ABOUT IT SO THAT EVERYONE IS ON THE SAME PAGE. I DON'T WANT TO PICK ON FRATERNITY PARTIES. THEY ARE ONE PIECE OF IT.
PEOPLES DOORS PEOPLE HAVE PARTIES, CITIZENS, STUDENTS AND OTHER GROUPS. WE WILL BE HAPPY TO GIVE YOU MORE INFORMATION BUT I WANT TO BE CLEAR WHERE WE STAND ON THAT POLICY. WE HAVE INFORMED THE UNIVERSITY STUDENT AFFAIRS IS VERY AWARE. DID I MISS ANYTHING?
>> SPEAKER: I THINK YOU COVERED A VERY WELL.
IF WE HAVE ANY FURTHER QUESTIONS I WOULD BE HAPPY TO ANSWER.
>> SPEAKER: ONE THING IMPORTANT TO POINT OUT, AND I APPRECIATE YOU BRINGING IT UP, WHAT I READ FROM OUR ASSISTANT POLICE CHIEF WHO PUT IT OUT, TOOK FULL OWNERSHIP OF THE PROBLEM AND ADMITTED WE PROBABLY COULD'VE DONE BETTER.
AGAIN AS A COUNCIL I APOLOGIZE. I WILL DEFEND THE POLICE
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DEPARTMENT TO NO END, BUT SOME THINGS COULD'VE BEEN DONE DIFFERENTLY AND I THINK OUR SENIOR STAFF HAS REALIZED THAT AND I KNOW THEM GUYS ARE DEDICATED AND I REALLY WOULD BE SHOCKED IF IT OCCURRED AGAIN. WITH THE COMMAND STAFF WE HAVENOW. >> SPEAKER: WE HAD SIMILAR CHALLENGES IN THE FALL AND THEY WERE HANDLED THE WAY THAT WE PLAN TO HANDLE THEM NOW. ONE OF THE THINGS THAT IS CHALLENGING LIVING IN A COLLEGE TOWN'S PEOPLE EXCEPT NOISE EVEN THOUGH SOMEBODY COMPLAINED ABOUT IT FROM A FOOTBALL.
ON A REGULAR NIGHT PEOPLE GET EXCITED AND ALSO IN THE WINTER WE HAVE MORE ISSUES WITH LEAVES OFF THE TREES.
NOT AN EXCUSE BUT WE WOULD BE HAPPY TO TALK WITH YOU ABOUT IT IF YOU NEED ADDITIONAL INFORMATION.
>> SPEAKER: I HEARD OUT ON COX ROAD.
>> SPEAKER: BELIEVE ME, I'VE HEARD THINGS THAT WE HAD A COMPLAINT IN THE FALL THAT WE HAD PEOPLE ON THE OTHER SIDE OF THE INTERSTATE COMPLAINING AND OUR POLICE TRIED FOR TWO HOURS TO FIND THE SOURCE OF THE NOISE AND FOUND IT AND THE SOUND OF TRAVELING FIVE PLUS MILES. PEOPLE WERE COMPLAINING ABOUT IT. NEIGHBORHOODS IN BETWEEN.
WE ARE WORKING ON THAT BUT I DON'T KNOW IF THE VOLUME IS UP, TOPOGRAPHY IS DIFFERENT OR WHAT WE ARE LOOKING INTO ALL ANGLES.
>> SPEAKER: I THINK THE EQUIPMENT IS STRONGER.
>> SPEAKER: I THINK THE EQUIPMENT IS STRONGER.
YOU ARE GOING TO RUN A RISK OF IF THE EQUIPMENT IS STRONGER AND TO USE IT TO ITS FULL CAPACITY AND MAY NOT HAVE A PARTY MUCH
LONGER. >> SPEAKER: ANYTHING ELSE ON THE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE?
* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.