 Has all the documents been turned in council? Everyone got documents turned in signed. Well, Pat's going through them Couple alderman Need to floor for a few minutes. So I will start with alderman warner alderman warner. Are you ready? Yes? Thank you your honor I guess everyone knows I was Nathan here's uncle. So just have a little statement. I'd like to read for the family of Nathan Allen here. I would like to thank everyone for their kindness and prayers over the last few months Sonia and Jim Nathan's parents and Sarah Nathan's sister. May God bless you. Thank you. Thank you alderman warner Alderman ports Thank you, honor. First of all my condolences to the Nathan hair family This past week there was an article newspaper about a phone call that my wife had received the article did Result in the person calling up and apologized into both my wife and myself for the comment And he also asked me to apologize to the city to assure him that he's Christian and not a terrorist and he didn't mean what he said and it was a poor choice of words Thank you Are we ready? Okay, do we have any anyone else who needs to address the council? Let me as long as we have a minute then Let me go through the agenda for this week Obviously council this evening at 3 30 Friday afternoon. We'll have capital improvements At 6 o'clock Thursday evening will be the committee of the whole meeting And that's where this document will be discussed at length and it will be televised It will also be open to public correct alderman Ben Ekron And you will take all questions at that time Here all night, okay Well, okay and alderman Ben Ekron also inform me that if we do not get through the document Thursday evening We will have another committee at whole meeting that following Monday, correct Until we get through the whole document so everyone should have ample time to go through the document and Read with what's all in it and then if you have any questions, of course Staff so he's here. If you have a question in my office, please call let us know So that's the agenda Okay We'll call the 24th regular meeting of the common council to order Pat. Would you call the roll, please Bowman? D-Berg Eberg Doyle Manny Moody Perez Ports Schultz Stefan excuse D. Van Akron T. Van Akron Vandereel Wongamann Warner Winninger 15 present Cormes present alderman Van Akron. Thank you your honor. I move that the minutes of the previous meeting be Approved as entered on the record Move to the second that minutes of the previous meeting be approved under discussion Hearing none all in favor Opposed motion carried we have a young scout with us in the back Would you please come forward lead lead us in a pledge allegiance, please? You want to come right up here last time? We I had a call and people said they could not hear to pledge allegiance when we were saying it And that's because we never had the mics on so Okay, can you chop up here and just turn it off? Okay? I pledge allegiance to flag of the United States of America And to the Republic for which it stands One nation under God and of Israel with liberty and justice for all. Thank you I had to answer that question on a Jerry beater show Why we don't have our mics on for the pledge so Never thought about that way Okay, we have three hearings this evening. I Will read all three and if any interested Persons or parties wishing to be heard please step up the microphone give us your name Address in which hearing like be heard on first is the assessment for those benefit of properties against which assessments are proposed For the parking assessment district of number one Second is assessment for those benefit of properties against which assessments are proposed for the parking assessment district number two In the third hearing is assessment for those benefit of properties against which assessments are proposed for the parking assessment district of number four Any interested persons wishing to be heard are there any interested persons wishing to be heard Alderman Ben Affron your honor I move that the hearing be closed Move to the second hearing be closed under discussion Hearing none all in favor Opposed carried public forum Gary Dalmas Gary on a road mayor council members Ladies and gentlemen, I'm Gary Dalmas, and I'm president of the shawarma development corporation I'd like to take a moment this evening to least arrest this group regarding the development of the South Pier district As you may have read I wrote a letter which appeared in yesterday's shawarma press Regarding the building of a water park hotel restaurant and convention center My very first line in that letter was that the city of Sheboygan is at a very critical juncture. I Truly believe this I've stood here before this respected group a number of times Asking for you to support this project and asking for you to enter negotiations with the Great Lakes people and Commenting on this development with Great Lakes Tonight for the first time The detailed negotiations are going to be presented to you in document number 2461 It's right here at 64 pages long It's a lot of information This document did not occur easy. It was through the efforts of your mayor Your finance director mr. Gephardt Your city attorney Steve McLean Your city planners Paulette Enders Tom Holt and your engineer your bond council coils and Brady your attorneys business and financial people from the sdc Your administration worked hard on this document and needs to be commended There's been some discussion as why hasn't this information been out to you earlier I Will share with you that negotiations change daily Weekly and sometimes even hourly the reason none of this was made public is that had we released any information it would have been the wrong information and Disclosure prior to getting this document could have stopped this project and No one wanted to take that risk Quite candidly every effort to put the city in a better position was taken Is there some risk? Yes, there is some risk But I believe when you see what has been negotiated for the city The guarantees that are on the table The gene that there is for the city it will far outweigh the risk The creation of jobs Taxes that are going to be generated Additional room tax a convention center that we've never had that people have lived through all their lives wish to have had and Construction jobs and the final product are excellent. I have had the opportunity to see some of those construction drawings This is not a fly-by-night organization. It's something. I think we could be very proud of One thing I have to make very clear and I have to make it very very certain No one from the SDC or the Friends of Sheboygan Are supporting this project? Because of any personal financial gain or benefit to ourselves The only gain we have is we want the city of Sheboygan and its residents To be happy to be content with the project and it's for that sole purpose that we've pledged our money in our time and our support hundreds and literally hundreds of hours and Hundreds of thousands of dollars have been given to support this project from the private sector The document you have in front of you is very complex Represents many hours of labor as I said prior. I believe it's a good document We would like to offer to anyone on the Common Council The expertise of our financial SDC business people to sit down with mr Gephardt and you and Examine it and an ant and answer any questions that you might have In addition, we pledge to support and assist in any week anywhere We can to make this development the best that has ever occurred in the city of Sheboygan in 150 years and One that this council can be proud they voted on This is a big decision to make we realize it you've got a lot of stuff on your plate right now But I'm confident that you will be in it as enthusiastic as supported it as a business community The SDC and the friends of Sheboygan We are and we hope you are and we hope you're pleased with the document in any way we can help We're willing to help We understand as a business community that the final decision is up to this group and his body We only ask that you look at it open-mindedly We know there's a tight time frame the tight time frame wasn't done intentionally It just took months and months and months and months of negotiations It wasn't done to ramrod anything through and It was when the final document is here as I said before we believe it's a good document We believe that you'll be happy with it With that we ask for your support and anything we can do to help you Please call on us and thank you for allowing me to speak to you this evening. Thank you. Thank you, Gary Okay Alderman Van Akron Thank you your honor. I guess I was expecting more people to speak to see me Um Concerned agenda That's correct. I Would move to file the communication accept and file all our O's accept and adopt all committee reports all Resolutions and general ordinances be put upon their passage move it in second and accept and Adopt all our C's accept and file all our O's pass all resolutions and ordinances And file communication excuse me That's from twenty one twenty four one through twenty four twenty seven Alderman Perez Thank you, your honor if I may I'd like to address Item twenty four fourteen and twenty four fifteen. Okay discussion Twenty four fourteen twenty four fifteen Okay, your honor this is an issue that came up last year. This is regarding the The things that we provide the John Michael Cora Art Center for the annual boat regatta We discussed this last year and really never really came to really sort of agreement although the Request was approved and again. I will vote in favor of this request tonight, but I'd like to make some comments towards that I am a frequent visitor and a big supporter of John Michael Cora Art Center I am particularly grateful for all the Art Center does for our wonderful community the Art Center Annual boat regatta is an excellent example of what they do for our community The event is truly a wonderful and much anticipated family event for years The Art Center has requested specific things they need to hold its annual boat regatta for years The city has graciously helped them Specifically we grant use of a city park we install fencing to specific area We supply 22 wooden tables two garbage trucks trash barrels trash removal Access to public to electricity temporary sanitary facilities and police security By concern is one of fairness These things at the Art Center is a question and we provide and never charge them for or the same things We charge other organizations for such as the JC's Kiwanis Club when they hold brought worst day and Lake Fest in our parks if we do it for one organization Why don't we do it for the others? I realize that perhaps some of the city's expense is justified in providing for the Art Center's boat regatta because the city holds It's own annual 4th of July celebration the same day and basically the same area However, the exact expenses attributed to each event have never been determined They have been commingled. We really don't know who's paying for what I Hope this council does approve this request. I also hope this council proceeds to establish standards They will govern its involvement in events that are not sponsored by the city I want us to be as fair as we possibly can with everyone we do business with thank you Alderman Vanderwill Thank you your honor. Um, I just have a question. I guess it'd be for Tom. How much money do we put into the The boat regatta. I don't know and I'll have the budget from me. I'll see can't tell you what the total is on that I know that it comes out of the room tax dollars far as the celebrations. It's part of the 4th dry celebration festivities Like it's we're out there anyways picking up garbage. That's mainly what we're doing or setting up barricades So I can't imagine it being more than a couple three thousand dollars for that. I can't say for certain Did you want to slow it on separately? Okay, if there's no other discussion Everything from twenty four one through twenty four twenty seven people to be put upon their passage. Would you call the roll, please? D-Bur e-Bur Doyle nanny moody Perez ports Schultz D-Van Akron T-Van Akron Vandereel Wongamann Warner Weninger Bowman 15 eyes motion carried 2428 to be referred 2459 we'll hold for 2457 I mean 2429, excuse me. We'll hold for 2457. Yeah, okay, that makes more sense doesn't it? 2430 lies over 2431 through 43 to be referred 2244 by Alderman Warner authorizing entering to contract for purchase of one police department cargo van Alderman Warner Thank you, honor. I need to ask for suspension of the rules Is there any objections to the suspension? I? I would be glad to do that what happened Is in this particular instance the van was ordered in October of 2002 and the People that the van was ordered from failed to deliver van is specked out in order to conversion van from a second party and In this case, we're coming up on the end of the of the year here in the Schmoyen Chrysler Center is offered offered to hold their price that they made and pass along a manufacturers allowance of Approximately $1,251 for a total price of $15,800 for the van which is below what it would have inspected prior to that the previous dealer for some reason was unable to meet the requirements In order to get it passed before the end of the year. We'd like to move this one through So that's money we're spending Okay, Alderman Warner proceed on that your honor Do we have to vote on suspension on that your honor would make a motion the resolution be put upon its passage? Move to the second resolution be put upon its passage if there's no further discussion Would you call the role please eberg? Doyle Manny Moody Perez ports Schultz Devin Akron TV in Akron Vanderbilt Wongamon Warner Weninger Bowman D. Bird D. Bird 15 I motion carried 2445 by Alderman T. Van Akron and Schultz authorizing attaining outside legal counsel in a matter of Tracy R. Holden Versus Daniel D. Deepridge Alderman Van Akron your honor. I move that the resolution be put upon its passage. I need suspension No, you need suspension I Move that we ask for suspension Second, and I'm gonna have to explain why is Is there any objections to suspension? Okay, Stevie, would you like to explain why we're suspending? This is a lawsuit that was filed several weeks ago Clock is ticking on file on an answer Sibmic has already been in contact with the Olsen-Cloak-Gundersen firm. They have tentatively already filed an answer I guess the hope is that We can give them authorization so that they can continue to defend the case Sooner the better wanted to get the answer in and Get the case rolling so Unfortunately, we didn't we this was going to be discussed at the risk management committee meeting it Last week and that meeting got cancelled. So rather than wait till the next risk management committee meeting and bring it into the next council meeting That's eating up valuable time as far as getting an answer Anybody want to object before we go on? And I'll move that the resolution be put upon its passage Moved in second a resolution be put upon its passage on your discussion Hearing none. What do you call the roll? Doyle, Manny, Moody, Perez, Ports, Schultz, Devin Akron, Teevin Akron, Vanderwill, Wongerman, Warner, Winninger, Fowlman, D-Burg, E-Burg, 15-Eyes Motion carried. You listen to that time 2446 by Alderman T. Van Akron and Schultz and Perez amending the bid operating plan for 2003 Alderman Van Akron. Your Honor, I would move that the resolution be put upon its passage Moved in second a resolution be put upon its passage under discussion hearing none all in favor Opposed? Motion carried. 2447 will lie over 2448 through 2456 to be referred 2457 along with 2429 by salary and grievance recommending internally filling various positions in the public works department Alderman D. Van Akron Moved in second a committee report be accepted and adopted under discussion hearing none all in favor Opposed? Motion carried 2458 to be referred Alderman Van Akron. Your Honor, did we file the Along with that that was part of the motion. Thank you Okay 2459 will lie over 2460 to be referred 2355 a resolution by Alderman T. Van Akron, Schultz, Perez, Doyle and Stefan transferring funds to provide monies to establish Estimator Revenue and Appropriation for TID number 10 Water Street Renewal Project. Alderman Van Akron Thank you, Your Honor. I move that the resolution be put upon its passage Moved in second a resolution be put upon its passage. Excuse me. I don't have it back Excuse me. Pat doesn't have it back. So who has it? Excuse me. We won't do that then You didn't sign it last time. I just gave it to you to sign 23 I don't have it. It's the second time it's missing Does anyone on finance have it by any chance? Yeah, I guess not. It should have a red roman numeral 11 on it. I found it Pat has it Miss file Who made the second one? Thank you Okay, would you call the roll please? Sure. I'll be happy to Oh, excuse me Alderman Van Akron What is 135 thousand dollars for is that for the tfw building? Alderman T. Van Akron Steve he asked me City Attorney It is for the vfw building. We're scheduled to close at 11 o'clock tomorrow And uh, Nancy won't write me the check unless this passes tonight. So So it has to pass tonight Check send a mail Okay, there's another discussion. Would you call the roll please mani moody Perez ports Schultz D. Van Akron T. Van Akron Vanderwill Wongamon Warner Weninger Bowman D. Berg E. Berg Doyle 15 eyes motion carried 2357 we'll go to public protection and safety 2343 By Alderman Warner Doyle Weninger Vanderwill and mani amending the no standing stopping or parking areas to add both sides of Georgia Avenue from one tenth of a mile west of black walnut Trail trail to a point one tenth of a mile west Alderman Warner I think your honor I would make a motion the general ordinance be put upon its passage Moved in second the ordinance be put upon its passage under discussion under discussion Your honor this came to our public protection safety committee meeting Uh, two meetings ago and the police license officer at Horace man middle school Officer Stephen Lockwood brought a concern for student safety to the public protection safety committee On wednesday february the 26th. It seems the drop-offs circle Which is north of the school is for buses only and a lot of parents are dropping their kids off right on the street And the kids were running across the street On georgia avenue and right to the buses and there actually is a place for them to unload on the other side of the school But this is creating quite a problem that he was concerned for the children's safety So public protection safety committee recommends passage. Thank you Okay, if there's another discussion pat, would you call the roll please moody Perez ports Schultz Devin Akron Devin Akron Bander wheel Wongerman Warner Wenninger Bowman Dberg Eberg Doyle Manny 14 eyes one no motion carried 24 61 We'll go to committee of the whole Steve You got a duress Uh, I don't think there are any others 20 yeah I have a You didn't get that stack of them 24 62 is a communication from tom jordan Relative to his concerns about building a new police facility and loaning money to developer for the south pier district And that will go to building use committee and redevelopment authority 24 63 is a communication from glen pilling relative to the proposed police facility And that will go to building use 24 64 is a communication received by the mayor from michael's featon of the schwoigen outboard club requesting extension of their lease with the city for boat island That will go to public works 24 65 is a resolution authorizing renewal the lease of the former hoarse man kindergarten school site to the schwoigen child care center for an additional 10-year period And that will go to public works. Did you want to make any comments? Dennis Hang on just one comment with respect to this Document the development agreement. This is a draft. We're still meeting. We've got another meeting scheduled tomorrow afternoon. This is As late as Incorporates changes as late as About three o'clock this afternoon But there will be some more changes So we hope to have Another version to you for the thursday meeting won't You know, it won't be another 64 pages. It'll be the basically the same but there will be some Some changes in it As I think gary dolmas proposed if you're reading through and you've got questions and They relate to the wording or something and feel free to give me a call if they're financial I'm sure rich be happy to take a call if they're Planning related you could call paulette or engineering related and the site related Talk to tom holton We'll all be here thursday It's anticipated the great lakes people will be here thursday as well and We'll take as long as it takes thursday and as as was said If we need to go additional days, we'll do that All of my prayers Thank you, your honor. I I guess I just wanted to quickly echo. Uh, mr. Dolmas's words Thank you to your honor and to the team that you put together For the hard work that's gone into this obviously. I'm going to have a good night reading today, so I'll go ahead and read it. Thank you Alderman van Akron Your honor, thank you as steve said we are going to meet on this on monday of monday on thursday um six o'clock Please you know any questions you have if if you can get them to me right before six and we'll just Have it very informal if we spend The last couple nights i've been spending in madison till once we might as well do it here if you have any If you have any questions Let's let's get them out in the open and If something's brought up that night that you want to think about over the weekend and talk to constituents get input from them We're very open to the next week Monday to do it again If not this document is also going to finance and it will be discussed there and if you have any questions You're all welcome to come to finance that night and discuss the financial ends of it with the finance committee It's going to the capital improvements committee on friday Um, so if you really want to be informed There's three four different meetings that this document's going to be talked about at You're all welcome to be there and if anybody has any questions, please be Uh feel free to ask those questions at any time It's going to be a big decision. It's it's going to be a tough decision for us all to make So let's make sure we get all the right information and and make an intelligent decision based on correct information All of them been accurate. Yes before you say it's going to all of these committees Actually, it's just going to committee a whole right now unless you wanted to go to finance and everything I saw one of them going to capital improvements and we're going to be discussing the budget part of it at capital improvements But not to document this document. It's just If it gets referred to another committee, it's either a dual referral or a compact council then refer to another committee But we have that option So it also added it'll be introduced to the redevelopment authority on thursday as well They're having their regular scheduled meeting and as part of that they're going to be Reconvening over here to participate in the committee the whole discussion as well I'm just trying to make the point that that is going to be at many different places in the next couple days So you have lots of an opportunity to listen and hear and if you have any questions at any step of the any step of the process Feel free to ask those questions. Thank you. Alderman Berg. Yes. So thank you. I'd like to echo Alderman Perez's regards with the Negotiating staff and the stc and the friends of shabuigan in terms of putting this package together And now that it's a public document I wonder if this would be available through the clerk's office or through the library if we're interested public Who may wish to take a look at it is that those arrangements that we can make I have the original draft The only problem that we have is people have to pay for it and it's 25 cents a sheet So if they're willing to pay money to get it, I cannot finish it to everyone Here I think given the Significance of this document I wonder perhaps we could check with the library to see if they might be able to have this on checkout for interested parties who be Wished to look at this I'm sure that would create a problem That wouldn't create any problem You know the thing spare of mine is I anticipate to be a revised document thursday So this is just a draft as of today You know, I guess that's up to the library as to whether they're willing to do that Mr. Moves All the information all the time That becomes a I think that everybody in the city and in the counties might generally have all the information So if money was a difference between having that institution, not Who's we the friends or sdc you're done. Okay. Thank you. Thank you Okay, we will make copies Thank you, okay very good Thank you. Okay All of them in Warner I thank your honor I did have something prepared but I'll be much more brief than that I guess I would also like to thank the mayor and the staff in the city and the friends of shabuagan for what they've done To put this together and I mean all the friends of shabuagan all the people that worked on this Members of this council have taken the time to go to the meetings That were available and to ask questions of the staff as this went along on what was happening and questions of the mayor I bug them a little too often once in a while myself But uh, that's right. He always always tries to deal with me one way or the other And uh, I think this is going to be great for the city shabuagan, of course I haven't read the document yet and I have to see what's all in it And I think it is right there where we that we are cautious with this But I think the caution and risk management skills of the mayor the staff and the friends of shabuagan That have put these documents in our hands today are giving us a real opportunity for the future of shabuagan And we have to be very careful with this, but we also have to look forward not backwards. Thank you. Thank you Go ahead Just to give the alderman a name when reading the document Perhaps just a an overview So you get the big picture as you read it because it is very difficult to plow through. I know it By the time you get the 60th page, it's real difficult, but Uh, it's broken down Into a number of sections. There's there's an initial the first several pages is a project overview that gives A pretty good summary of what the whole deal entails Then there's about seven pages of definitions There's the basic commitments and ownership Then there's discussion of a number of sub documents that When we get to the closing will be complete. They aren't done yet those Those are our ground lease for the resort project. There'll be a ground lease for the condominium project There'll be a convention center operating agreement And there'll be a restrictive covenants and easement agreement those four And a reimbursement agreement Those basic documents have not been prepared yet But this document as the overriding development agreement kind of sets forth The basics as to what each of those sub documents will contain So you'll get to a section on the ground lease and it'll say that there'll be a ground lease and it'll contain The following provisions along with other provisions, but it gives the sense of what will be in each of those particular provisions Then there's a section on guarantees of the developer Then there's a couple sections that are entitled conditions precedent That's there's a conditions precedent on our part. There's conditions precedent on the developer's part Those are things that have to be done By both sides before we can close the transaction Then there are series of representations and warranties and covenants by the developer There's a section on damage or destruction of the facility There's default and remedy provisions Discussion of costs Cure provisions if in the event of default There's provisions with respect to Parking and water park operations and other uses of the district Then there's series of miscellaneous provisions that are that are shorter dealing with indemnifications and Real estate taxes name of the project insurance fire and safety hazards public improvements water rights and riparian rights City authorization condo construction The condo construction Is one area that we've been working on most recently That's near the end It was in the prior draft pages 55 to 58. I'm not sure exactly what pages that it's on now But that Will likely be a tweaked sum by the thursday Draft of the document the issue just Again shortly on the condominiums is a timing one The original concept was that 64 condominium units were going to be built at the same time as the hotel was built and it was In the discussions it was originally Contemplated that one lender would lend the developer money for the hotel and the condominiums Now it's it's evolved so that the lender will have or the The developer will have two lenders one for the resort and one for the condominiums And the condominiums The money will be lent based on a presale requirement so that the developer will have to Sell condominium units before the lender will then lend monies to construct The condos for every one unit that the developers sell The lender will lend To build two of the condo units So there's a timing issue and that's that's what's being addressed in the the condo construction portion It's it's not going to all be done as Necessarily at one time a lot of that's going to hinge on how the condominium sell and then there's There's hold backs and guarantees and things dealing with what happens if all the condos don't get built and A lot of A lot of nuances a lot of issues But that's kind of an overview of the document This is again, this is kind of the master document and there will be sub documents That will eventually be drafted and presented to you And that's all I'm doing. Okay. Thank you. So if you're not confused you will be by the time you get to it all But there's a lot of a lot of things in there. We have to go through so Be prepared for Thursday evening all of them in ports Uh, thank you. I just have a question for all the persons by an acronym And your statement that you just made it made it sound like we were supposed to give our questions to you Is that the way you want it or are we going to be asking them from the floor? Either either way, I guess if you have some beforehand You can give them to me before and we can just go through those questions So that they aren't duplicated by other people on the floor if you have some questions that you find And want those asked you can hand them to me Prior to the meeting or if you've got something as we're going through it you can ask that question either way Alderman vernacorn just before we Thursday night's meeting. Do you have someone take minutes for that meeting? The vice president usually takes Very good Just wondering Alderman Schultz Thank you, your honor as far as this document being available to the public I would think it'd only be a matter of a couple of keystrokes to put it on our website Uh, I realize that everybody doesn't have uh access to the internet But many people do and they should have that option to uh view it on the website If it could be done Alderman moody. I don't know if it can be done or not, but We can Okay He didn't he didn't agree to that Alderman moody I'm just gonna say the same thing Alderman Schultz said when the final draft is ready could a synopsis be put on the city's website An understandable breakdown so that people can't get over If that's possible the final draft you're asking well the final draft is what we have to vote on Alderman would want a synopsis Let's talk about that and see what we can do. Okay. Thank you Okay before oh Alderman van Aker No, yes Not on this discussion on something else if you're done Go ahead You know, all right. I guess I would just like to um in the next couple days And where our country may be headed like to uh, express our concern And blessings to all of the people from shabuigan that may be serving in the armed forces Our prayers and thoughts are all with them. Thank you Before we leave this evening, please bear with me for a few moments. I'd like to read you something Since governor Doyle on on veiled his budget proposal It has become apparent our community will face on peril physical challenges in providing the services we have come to expect While continuing our tradition as a progressive community Full of hope opportunity and optimism The proposed 840,000 reduction in state shared revenue when combined with continued continuing Double digit increases in employee health insurance costs Anticipate a wage demands and necessary capital outlay expenditures equate to a multimillion dollar challenge for this body It is a challenge created out of necessity to repair a state budget shortfall Projected to be a staggering 3.2 billion dollars Most important. It is a challenge not beyond our abilities. We will respond Unite as a community to the challenge before us Resolving to persevere united in our purpose clearing our vision and focused on our future While the immediate challenge of an 840,000 reduction in shared revenue demands are prompt attention We must also fight all attempts by some state officials to cut deeper into shared revenue Clearly the challenge is before us and this council must not only look for immediate list for immediate solutions But also lies a framework for long-term solutions that will solidify our financial future A goal I put before you tonight To retain essential city services by minimum Retain city essential city services minimize manpower reductions and continue our progress towards a new police facility and development of the south pier district To accomplish this all city departments all city employees and all our residents must become part of the solution In times of our greatest challenges participation is not an option. It is a necessity Through negotiations. We are asking all city employees to increase their current contributions to health care costs One city union has already agreed to do so and I urge the remaining union leadership to step forward and follow suit Such a commitment would result in cost savings to our community in the excess of a hundred thousand dollars Furthermore, I'm asking all city employees to offer suggestions to their department heads on ways to reduce costs Identify reoccurring problems improve quality eliminate delays and generate additional revenue within their department Those employees who feel uncomfortable going to their immediate supervisor may submit their recommendations directly to me I will personally work with the department heads in reviewing each suggestion I am also asking this council to review all currently funded but unfilled positions within our city's table of Organization I anticipate that some vacancies across all departments can be eliminated if we Eliminated if we can take this bold yet necessary step. I project the savings Exclusive of benefits to be in a neighborhood of three hundred thousand dollars I have asked each department head to review their individual budgets to determine the impact of an across the board seven percent reduction I will utilize this information as a preliminary Evaluation tool to determine the impact of these cuts upon the our organization and our city services How we will construct budgets in the months ahead and how it affects city staffing will be determined later I also hope to use the information provided to determine those positions which can be combined with others or eliminated through attrition I am also asking our finance department and our human resource department to develop a proposal Which will allow city employees to utilize retirement credits They have previous previously earned to leave city employment at an earlier age I am asking this council to freeze the current will tax at a current rate of six dollars per vehicle per year And apply these revenues estimated at two hundred thousand dollars to our general fund There are other initiatives that is a community both city and county We must begin to explore The possibility of a countywide library system must become a reality The city simply cannot continue to subsidize library services For non residents a suggestion has been made to charge everyone a nominal fee for library card However, that would require a state statutory change Which is currently being investigated. Correct alderman van Akron I ask this council to redouble its efforts to consolidate with the county wherever possible Consolidations with the county would bring saving through elimination of duplication But would also include a shift of some cost to county government For instance, since many sheboyin county residents use maywood environmental park I feel transferring of this park to a county facility is only appropriate I also endorse a countywide recycling program and a countywide refuge disposal effort Which would provide opportunities for savings I challenge each of the alderman and committees to immediately address these topics and to beginning working with our county supervisors And reducing the cost of local government The process for consolidation with the county must begin now for those agreements. We will reach we We reach will serve as a long-term solution to reducing the cost of government While I have addressed the budget, I am also going to address our ongoing efforts to build a new police facility I wish to be clear on one point Despite the current state budget crisis the construction of a new police facility remains a top priority We are currently working with county officials to purchase property for the construction of our police facility This last proposal is one I support since it will not only save taxpayers dollars But also allow for the future consolidation of law enforcement services We have been working on a financial plan for this facility Which would involve a 20-year bonding issue That includes borrowing of 680 thousand dollars in 2004 and 6.7 million in 2005 Such borrowing would increase our debt service less than 200 000 per year from 205 to 207 And less than 100 000 after 207 The cost to each resident in the first two years of this project would be 33 cents per month In the following years following 207 this amounts falls to 15 cents per month I believe such a plan is feasible responsible and a small price to pay for our safety of our community Much has been said in recent weeks concerning our ongoing negotiations with great lakes regarding the proposed south pier development Unfortunately too much of the focus has revolved around criticism over a perceived lack of communication and information being made available To release information before tonight Before there is even any contract to discuss would have been irresponsible Changes occurred with every proposal put forth Sometimes with each ring of the phone To discuss every detail every phone conversation and every idea put forth would have been impossible and delayed the proposal To discuss an issue we need a proposal to discuss and up to now there hasn't been one Tonight you receive that proposal which was briefly reviewed by the city attorney and will be discussed in greater length at a committee of the whole meeting on thursday To keep our citizens informed We will make arrangements to have the meeting televised Responsible governance and leadership does not take place in editorial columns or headlines And I encourage each of you to thoroughly review the proposal before you And be ready to discuss it in depth thursday evening Some individuals have questioned the timeliness of such a project given the state's budgetary crisis In reality if we want to avoid a local fiscal crisis And the need to make dramatic cuts in future city budgets We must develop the south pier property to generate additional revenue The cost of doing nothing is overwhelming The south pier development has the potential to generate additional 1.2 million annually in the tax revenue and additional 2 million in annual development in the area Great lakes development projects the creation of two additional 250 jobs in our community Furthermore the project does not jeopardize our self-imposed 3 percent borrowing cap Even with the construction of a police facility This project has the potential to create opportunity and showcase our community as one of the finest along the western shores of lake michigan It complements our marina our downtown and many of the ongoing projects around sheboygan county The decision we will be facing in the coming weeks will not be easy However leadership requires us to make such decisions The alternative to doing nothing or to say it's impossible is unacceptable Our goals of maintaining essential city services and infrastructure Planning and budgeting for a police facility and developing the south pier project While meeting the budgetary constraints what before us will require the efforts ideas and hard work of everyone in our community I call on everyone to share in the sacrifices necessary Be a part of the solution and to take pride in the successes our future holds Time and time again because of the efforts of a united community Sheboygan has led the way in its growth vision and standard of living Let us once again lead the way and over the and overcome the challenges we now face. Thank you Move to secondary. Yes I think you were doing the right thing But I think we all needed a chance to look at the information, but I'm for you. Thank you Thank you. All in favor