Jan 03, 2023 City Council

[00:00:01]

THE HOLIDAYS. ALL RIGHT. ANYTHING ELSE IN THE COUNCIL?

[1. CALL TO ORDER]

CAN YOU PLEASE CALL THE ROLE?

>> WEATHER AND NOT WITH US TONIGHT. IF YOU WOULD PLEASE RISE FOR THE PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND THEN STILL REMAIN STANDING FOR A MOMENT OF SILENCE.

>> I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA. AND TO THE REPUBLIC FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION, UNDER GOD, INDIVISIBLE, WITH LIBERTY AND JUSTICE FOR

ALL. >> THANK YOU. THIS IS THE

[4. MAYOR AND COUNCIL COMMUNICATIONS]

>> WE ARE PROUD TO INTRODUCE YOU TO OUR JANUARY EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. I HAVE A MEMORANDUM HERE FROM THE COMMUNITY SERVICE

DIRECTOR OF THE CITY OF AUBURN. >> -- AS EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH FOR THE MONTH OF JANUARY. SHE BEGAN HER EMPLOYMENT FOR THE PARKS AND REC'S DEPARTMENT TO THE COMMUNITY SERVICE TEAM DURING THE CITY'S REORGANIZATION IN 2018.

LAQUETTA WARE IS RELIABLE, PASSIONATE ABOUT HER WORK , AND OFFER SUGGESTIONS ON IMPROVING THE APPEARANCE OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER COMEBACKS. SHE IS ONE OF THE FIRST TO ARRIVE EVERY MORNING TO PREPARE THE COMPLEX TO WELCOME PARENTS, CHILDREN, SENIORS, THE FITNESS CENTER, AND THE GYMNASIUM USERS, TENANTS, AND TEAM MEMBERS. LAQUETTA'S TEAM ETHIC AND ATTENTION TO DETAIL CREATE A CLEAN AND HEALTHY ATMOSPHERE.

THE PUBLIC AND CITY STAFF REGALLY COMPLEMENT THE CLEANLINESS OF THE COMMUNITY CENTER COMPLEX. DURING THE HEIGHT OF THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC, LAQUETTA, FOCUSED ON MAINTAINING A CLEAN ENVIRONMENT AT THE BOYKIN COMMUNITY CENTER COMPLEX AND CONTRIBUTED TO POSITIVE CASES ON SITE. LAQUETTA MAINTAINS A FRIENDLY, POSITIVE, AND RESPONSIVE CUSTOMER SERVICE ATTITUDE AND A CONSTANTLY CHANGING ENVIRONMENT. SHE APPROACHES NEW ASSIGNMENTS WHETHER SET UP, BREAKDOWN, OR CLEANUP FOR SPECIAL EVENTS, ENTHUSIASTICALLY AND WITHOUT COMPLAINING. LAQUETTA ENTHUSIASTICALLY GREETS GUESTS AND ASSISTS BOYKIN'S VISITORS. INTEGRITY, TRUST, RESPONSIBILITY, AND QUALITY WORK ARE AMONG HER TRAITS. FOR THESE REASONS AND MANY OTHERS, I BELIEVE LAQUETTA WARE DESERVES CONDITION AS AN EMPLOYEE OF THE MONTH. CONGRATULATIONS.

>> LAQUETTA WARE. ALL HER GREAT WORK FOR THE CITY OF AUBURN.

WE APPRECIATE EVERYTHING THEY HAVE DONE. YOU MIGHT HAVE RECOGNIZED ONE OF THOSE PHOTOS THERE AND CERTAINLY WE ARE PROUD OF OUR CITY MANAGER AND THANK YOU TO 25 YEARS OF

[5. AUBURN UNIVERSITY COMMUNICATIONS]

[7. CITY MANAGER’S COMMUNICATIONS]

YOU HAVE FIVE MINUTES. WE WILL MOVE AHEAD TO CITY MANAGER'S

COMMUNICATIONS. >> MILLER, ITEM 7A REQUIRES THE CITY ENGINEER PROVIDE A DETAILED WRITTEN REPORT TO THE MUNICIPAL GOVERNING BODY AT ITS FIRST MEETING IN JANUARY EACH YEAR. THEIR REPORT FOR FISCAL YEAR 2022 IS IN YOUR PACKET AND WILL BE ATTACHED TO THE MINT AND POSTED FOR PUBLIC REVIEW ON WHY THERE'S NO ACTION NECESSARY . I'M HAPPY TO REPORT THAT DURING FISCAL YEAR 2022, THE CITY RECEIVED 160,000 $837.25 IN REVENUE AND APPLY THOSE FUNDS TO THE FOLLOWING PROJECTS FOR A NEW ROAD AND COX AND THE ROUNDABOUT. AS MONO, THESE

[8.b.1. MT 25:35, LLC. Approve license agreement for airspace encroachment into right‐of‐way. Property located at 145 East Magnolia Avenue]

[00:05:01]

>> YES, I WOULD LIKE TO PULL OFF 8 B 1. ANYONE ELSE? WE WILL GO AHEAD AND START WITH ITEM 8 WILL BE 1. FOR A LICENSE AGREEMENT THAT HELD AIRSPACE ENCROACHMENT INTO THE RIGHT-OF-WAY FOR AN AIR EXHAUST SYSTEM LOCATED AT THE BACK OF MAGNOLIA PLAZA OR YOU CAN CALL IT THE NORTH SIDE OF 145 EAST MAGNOLIA AVENUE THAT ENCROACHES INTO THE SOUTHERN PROPERTY LINE OF THE MUNICIPAL PARKING DECK. IN ESSENCE, IT HANGS OVER THE

SIDEWALK. >> MOVED TO APPROVE.

>> SECOND. >> WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

MAX, I WILL TURN IT OVER TO YOU.

>> I DIDN'T DO ABSTAIN FROM VOTING ON IT THAT YOU DENY. ANY

QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS ? >> JUST SOME CONFUSION THAT I STILL HAVE. YOU SAID IT HANGS OVER THE SIDEWALK . IS THE IN FRONT OF THE BUILDING OR BEHIND IT?

>> IT IS BEHIND THE BUILDING. THE MAGNOLIA PLAZA FRONTS MAGNOLIA AVENUE AND BEHIND IT IS AN ALLEYWAY THAT HAS GOT A PETITION BRIDGE THAT CROSSES UP ABOVE OVERT AND IS ATTACHED TO OUR MUNICIPAL PARKING DECK. EXISTING THERE IS A PICTURE IN YOUR PACKET OF HOODS THERE NOW BUT THIS ONE PROTRUDES OUT SEVERAL INCHES. IT IS ABOVE. YOU'RE NOT GOING TO HIT YOUR HEAD ON IT. IT IS MUCH TALLER. IT IS HOW MANY FEET UP?

>> 10 FEET. >> MAX IS ABOUT 10. IT IS

REALLY SEVEN FEET. >> THIS IS AN EXHAUST FAN WHERE BASED ON WHAT WE REALLY WANT TO WELCOME -- TO THE SPACE. THERE ARE SOME CONFUSION WHEN THE PREVIOUS TENANT LEFT THAT THE SPACE WAS NOT FILLED. IT WAS FILLED BECAUSE THE PROPERTY EVENTS HOLD AND PURCHASED FOR SOMEONE ELSE OR THEY LOOK AT OTHER EXHAUST SYSTEMS. TO ME , CODE IN THE VOLUME OF THINGS THEY ARE DOING, THEY MUST HAVE THIS TYPE. IF THEY WAIT FOR SOME DIFFERENT TYPE IT WOULD BE 9+ MONTHS IN FABRICATION WOULD SLOW DOWN THEIR OPENING. STAFF HAS BEEN WORKING WITH THEM FOR QUITE A WHILE TO GET THIS DONE. WE FEEL THIS IS THE BEST SOLUTION AT THIS TIME. SHOULD THIS PARTICULAR RESTAURANT NOT OCCUPY THE SPACE ANYMORE, THAT VENT HOOD WOULD HAVE TO GO AWAY. I WILL HAVE TO DO A DIFFERENT STYLE. BUT THIS IS A TESTAMENT TO OUR STAFF TRYING TO WORK TO GET A BUSINESS OPEN.

THE BUSINESS OWNERS HAVE WORKED HARD TRYING TO FIND A SOLUTION.

THEY WERE MORE THAN WILLING TO BUY SOMETHING THAT DIDN'T DO THIS. BUT NINE MONTHS DELAY IS NOT ACCEPTABLE IN THE STAFF'S

OPINION. >> WILL THIS BE A PERMANENT

SOLUTION? >> YES. IT WILL REMAIN THERE AS LONG AS IT IS IN OPERATION. WE HAVE THEM ALL OVER THE BACK OF THESE BUILDINGS IF YOU WALK AROUND THE CORNER. YOU SEE THEM BEHIND . THEY HAVE A DIFFERENT BENEFIT SYSTEM. ALSO DRAFT HOUSE AND OTHERS YOU SEE THEM. THROUGHOUT THE DOWNTOWN.

>> ANY OTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAVE A MOTION TO SECOND.

[8. CONSIDERATION OF CONSENT AGENDA]

>> MOVED. >> MOTION SECOND. OLIVEIRA,

[10. RESOLUTIONS.]

SAFETY TRAINING CENTER. >> SECOND. BACK MOTION SECOND.

ANY COUNTER QUESTIONS FROM THE COUNCIL?

>> JUST ONE. THIS I BELIEVE I AM EXCITED ABOUT IT. WE ARE ALL EXCITED ABOUT THIS FACILITY. WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD VERY MUCH TO PROVIDING THIS FOR THE POLICE AND THE FIRE DEPARTMENT.

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT AND THE POLICE I SHOULD SAY. I GUESS WE WILL BE SETTING THIS THING ON FIRE AND LEARNING HOW TO REPEL UP AND DOWN. AM I CORRECT SO FAR?

>> MR. REGISTER. >> THIS ACTUALLY IS NOT THE BURN BUILDING. VISIT THE DRILL TOWER. WHERE THEY CARRY HOSES UP AND PRACTICE DOING LETTER MOVEMENT AND EXITING THE TOWER TO A LETTER. DOING THOSE KIND OF THINGS. THE BURN BUILDING WOULD BE A SEPARATE STRUCTURE. THAT WOULD BE AT A LATER POINT.

>> DOES IS ALSO FOR THE POLICE DEPARTMENT, IS THAT RIGHT?

>> ABSOLUTELY. THERE BE ABLE TO DO RAPPELLING FROM THE TOWER. S.W.A.T. TEAM. THOSE KINDS OF THINGS. MANEUVERS.

THERE WAS WALLS THAT CAN BE PUT ON AND TAKING OFF SO THEY CAN DO MOVEMENT INSIDE AND OUTSIDE THE BUILDING.

>> WE HAVE ALL SEEN ON TV. FORGIVE ME FOR ASKING THIS WHERE THEY HAVE A FACILITY SET UP FOR LIVE FIRE OR AT LEAST SIMULATED LIVE FIRE. IS THIS GOING TO HAVE ANYTHING LIKE

THAT? >> AGAIN, THIS PARTICULAR PIECE OF EQUIPMENT WILL NOT NECESSARILY BEFORE THE BURN

[00:10:07]

BUILDING PART OF IT. >> NO, I'M SORRY. WHEN I SAY

FIRE, I MEANT GUNS. BULLETS. >> KNOW. ALL OF THE FIRING IS DONE AT THE POLICE DEPARTMENT FIRING RANGE WHAT IS NOT AT

THIS LOCATION. >> NOT LASER OR ANYTHING. SO IT IS JUST RAPPELLING FOR THE MOST PART.

>> YES. IT IS MOSTLY RAPPELLING , AND AGAIN, THE FIRE DEPARTMENT USE WILL BE GOING UP AND DOWN THE LETTERS, TAKING HOSES UP AND DOWN, SPRING, USING THE LETTERS TO GO IN AND OUT OF THE STRUCTURE. PRACTICING THOSE MOVEMENTS.

>> THERE IS ALSO A DRAFT PIT, A BURN BUILDING, WE HAVE GOT APPARATUS FOR THE TRAINING BUILDING ITSELF WHERE THEY CAN RUN OBSTACLE COURSES AND DO ALL KINDS OF THINGS BOTH FOR TESTING AND FOR TRAINING. THERE IS MUCH MORE . THERE'S MULTIPLE PIECES OF EQUIPMENT AND MULTIPLE PHASES IN THIS

FACILITY. >> THANK YOU.

>> BUT THE COST IS ONLY FOR THIS?

>> CORRECT. >> THIS IS BUDGETED. YOU WILL SEE A CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN LAID OUT OVER A MULTIYEAR PERIOD ALL THE EQUIPMENT NEEDED FOR THIS FACILITY.

>> ANY OF THE QUESTIONS?. I DID ABOUT THIS FACILITY.

>> OLIVEIRA, PLEASE SAY AYE. >> THOSE ARE ALL THE ITEMS WE

[12. CITIZENS’ OPEN FORUM]

>> I PRESUME THE WEATHER IS OKAY. WILL KEEP PUSHING FORWARD. AT THIS TIME WE WILL OPEN UP FOR CITY CITIZENS OPEN FORM. PLEASE COME FORWARD AND GIVE YOUR NAME AND ADDRESS FOR

THE RECORD. >> GOOD EVENING, MAYOR, COUNCIL . I HOPE THE HOLIDAYS BROUGHT YOU CLOSER TO YOUR FAMILIES AND YOUR FRIENDS. IT WAS A WONDERFUL HOLIDAY. I AM EXCITED ABOUT THE 2023 SEASON. I THINK THAT YOU ARE NINE MEMBERS WILL BE THE BIRTH OF A GREAT COUNSEL. I BELIEVE THIS COUNSEL WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN THE PAST BECAUSE I BELIEVE FOR THE LAST DECADES THEY RELIED TOO HEAVILY ON THE MAYOR AND THE CITY MANAGER AND THE CITY BUREAUCRATS. I THINK YOU WILL RELY MORE ON HER CONSTITUENTS AND THE PEOPLE IN YOUR WARD AND I BELIEVE THAT WILL MAKE YOU MUCH BETTER IN GENERAL. IN TWO WEEKS, YOU'LL BE VOTING ON THIS ORDINANCE. THAT DEALS WITH THE REVOKING OF BUSINESS LICENSES. IT WAS ORIGINALLY ON THE CONSENT AGENDA IN OCTOBER OF 2022. MAYBE IT JUST SLIDE BY WORD JUST TO HAVE -- BUT I HAVE A BIGGER QUESTION. WHAT IS THE REAL PURPOSE OF THIS BUSINESS REVOCATION ORDINANCE? MANY ARE OR MEGAN IS THERE ANOTHER REAL REASON THAT THINGS HAVE BEEN STATED? I BELIEVE THERE IS BUT MAYBE I'M

WRONG. >> I THINK WE ARE DONE AN EXCELLENT JOB EXPLAINING THE PURPOSE OF THIS IN OUR MEETINGS AND THE PRESENTATION. I BELIEVE THE COUNCIL HAS A CLEAR UNDERSTANDING OF WHAT WE ARE DOING AND WHY WE ARE DOING IT.

PRESENTATION , I WOULD HAVE TO DISAGREE WITH YOU, I APOLOGIZE, I THOUGHT THAT WAS A BAD PRESENTATION. I THOUGHT THE PRESENTATION DIDN'T GIVE ME MUCH INFORMATION. IT DIDN'T GIVE ME -- IT AND ANSWER ANY MY QUESTIONS. WELL, TO MY QUESTIONS I THINK IT KIND OF ANSWERED. I WAS TOLD THAT IT WOULD ANSWER ALL THE QUESTIONS. BUT IT DID NOT DO THAT. AND I THOUGHT IT WAS A BAD -- I PROBABLY SHOULDN'T USE THIS TYPE OF THING -- BUT THE WORD BAD IN THE DICTIONARY IS POOR QUALITY. INFERIOR, SECOND-RATE, UNSATISFACTORY,

-- >> THAT'S ENOUGH. YOU HAVE DOWNGRADED OUR STAFF , YOU HAVE CALLED THEM BUREAUCRATS, AND NOW YOU'RE SAYING THAT THEIR PRESENTATION IS BAD. THAT'S ENOUGH. OKAY? IF YOU WOULD LIKE TO SPEAK TO US, SPEAK TO US. WE ARE ALL APPEAR PREPARED TO LISTEN TO YOU. YOU CAN HAVE

ABOUT 25 MORE SECONDS LEFT. >> I DO APPRECIATE IT.

>> COUNCILMEMBERS, HOW MANY OF YOU HAVE HAD PEOPLE COMING TO YOU ON THIS ORDINANCE? 50, 40, 20, 30 , THREE? PROBABLY ZERO.

I DOUBT ANYBODY WANTS THIS ORDINANCE THAT IS COMING UP IN HIS NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. I SERIOUSLY DOUBT IT. WHO WILL THE ORDINANCE AFFECT? WILL IT AFFECT WALMART? IT WOULD AFFECT NORTH DAKOTA REALTY? I REMEMBER BEING HERE IN THE 70S.

OR THE BUSINESSMAN LIKES EIGHT CHARLES PICK OR SOMEBODY. NO.

IT WON'T AFFECT THEM. IT WILL AFFECT THE SMALL BUSINESS OWNER. THIS ORDINANCE WILL TAKE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF THE CITY AND WILL PUT IT ON THE SMALL BUSINESS.

>> MAYOR , YOU KNOW, MAYBE THE BEST THING WE DO IS JUST GET

-- >> GIVE HIM 20 MORE SECONDS.

25. I ALREADY SAID 25. I DID. I WILL GIVE YOU 25.

[00:15:04]

>> IN QUEUE. MAYOR, MAYBE SHOULD HAVE CALLED GOVERNOR IVEY AND SAID THERE IS AN EMERGENCY HERE WITH TWO BUSINESSES OUT OF 6100 NEEDED TO BE SURROUNDING THE BUSINESS SO THAT NO CUSTOMER TO GET IN THERE. AM I BEING SILLY? YES.

THAT IS HOW SILLY I THINK THIS ORDINANCE IS. VOTE NO ON THE REVOCATION OF A BUSINESS LICENSE AT THE NEXT COUNCIL MEETING. I APPRECIATE IT. I'M SORRY I OFFENDED THE STAFF, BUT I REALLY DID NOT THINK THEY DID A GREAT JOB. AND I HATED BECAUSE THEY ARE SO COMPETENT .

>> THEY ARE VERY COMMON APPEAR WE ARE VERY PROUD OF THEM.

ANYONE ELSE?

* This transcript was compiled from uncorrected Closed Captioning.