It was announced last night by Commissioner Amoroso that the second event will take place in February 2014. There are so many people who work tirelessly for our city and this recognition is important.
There was nothing too startling about last night's agenda--everything passed with ease by the entire commission...There were 9 items on the consent Agenda. More and more city business is being pushed off to Consent. It was only recently that state law changed allowing the public to comment on these items and now it seems that more is on Consent. The City is only allowing us to comment for 2 minutes maximum on Consent items during public participation.
The city's property at 1105 2nd Avenue South and its lease to The Living Arts Foundation for $1 a year for 20 years minus one day was approved. The Living Arts Foundation, a 501 3c, gave a presentation and I must say they made a good sales pitch. They will be paying the equivalent of ad valorem taxes but it will be based on the Consumer Price Index.
Table of Annual Averages (2002-2013)
| Date | 2003 | 2004 | 2005 | 2006 | 2007 | 2008 | 2009 | 2010 | 2011 | 2012 | 2013 |
| Annual Average | 184.0 | 188.9 | 195.3 | 201.6 | 207.3 | 215.3 | 214.5 | 218.1 | 224.9 | 229.6 | 234.1 |
The property is worth $343,687 according to PAPA. They would pay this "tax" directly to the city (not the CRA). A private operating foundation is a private foundation that devotes most of its earnings and assets directly to the conduct of its tax exempt purposes, rather than to making grants to other organizations for these purposes. This corporation is a private operating foundation defined in the Internal Revenue Code under section 4942(j)(3). They don't have to pay taxes.
The sheriff contract was passed without one comment. People don't mind paying 70% of our operating budget for police but they do mind taking $9 million from our utility to augment the city operating budget. What happens when it become 80% or 90%? Will they be concerned then? Will they still be wanting to wean us off dependence on Utility revenue? If their general obligation bond for infrastructure and developing the park of commerce passes, and they seem to be confident, then it might be possible.
Last night Scott Maxwell said, "We can't keep doing the same thing over and over again and expect a different result." Saying that the 2020 Program will be the biggest undertaking, he wants us to plan for, obtain grants and/or do everything possible to get this 2020 Road/Infrastructure improvement program done. He talked about Shiny Objects again and said that we had gravitated towards them in the past, one of his favorite political sound bites and complaints.
When speaking about road infrastructure, the mayor said, "If we are going to get better, we have to be truthful about who we are. We can't afford to do this wrong. Right the ship; right the wrong...these are discussions...we are trying to do a clean-up here."
Commissioner McVoy said, "It needs to be a community discussion and a clear one. We have to be careful in what we promise with it."
If they want to obligate the citizens to tens of millions over 30 years and get this on the March 2014 ballot, they had better hurry in that discussion. So far, it has all been one-sided... "I want, therefore you will get."
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