 by the clergy from this well all over the area of Sheboygan and They would like us to put it up here in the council chambers or somewhere in City Hall So what I will do is I will have it put up in a council chambers here somewhere where everyone could see it when they come In a door and I thanked them for it and Alderman Manny would you like to say a few words you were there last night excellent job your name is on there and thank you very much Okay with that we'll call a special Common Council the order Debbie would you call the roll please Corms present Alderman grow up By the city clerk submitting the communication from LTC and closing their 2003 tax levy report and at 1631 Which is a RO by the city clerk submitting the tax levy certification for the 2003 2004 school year from the village of Kohler and 1632 Which is an arrow by the city clerk submitting the communication from the SASD along with the 2003 school and recreation? Tax levy to be used in 2004 that all three of those RO's will be accepted It moved in second to file all 16 30 31 32 of the RO's under discussion Hearing none, would you call the roll please I Motion carries all McGraw Thank You your honor This time I would move that 1646 which is an RC by strategic fiscal plan Recommending additions of 227,354 to the proposed general fund balance Proposed general fund budget for capital outlay approach Appropriations that are that are that RC be accepted and adopted It's moved in second at 1646 and 7 you said just 46 46 who seconded Alderman Warner Be accepted to placed on file under discussion Adopted excuse me adopted not filed rate. It's been accepted and adopted All in favor opposed Motion carried 1647 You know I'll move that that RC by strategic fiscal plan Where it's recommending reinstatement of appropriations to the budget of 26,286 for the city assessor and 20,000 for police communications that that RC be accepted Let's move to second that RC be accepted and adopted on 1647. Is there any discussion? Hearing none on that all in favor opposed motion carried Alderman got Thank You your honor 1544 resolution 17704 by Ordering the 2004 budget appropriations for the city of Sheboygan funds. I would move that that resolution you put upon its passage Moved in second a resolution 1544 be put upon its passage under discussion Alderman rain flesh Thank You your honor I moved to restore the $19,000 in funding for the boys and girls club Second it's been moved in second to restore $19,000 for the boys and girls Under discussion first, I'd like to address the issue of cost regarding the boys and girls club It would cost us $19,000 to keep a program running that gives hundreds if not thousands of children a place for amusement entertainment Education and most importantly a place where they all of them right before you go too far. Yeah, hang on a minute Sure, we need this for the next document 1545 so can you hang on it? I will want one more just hang on a minute. Okay? Thank you Okay, if there's another discussion at 1544 I need a roll vote roll call Would you call the roll, please? Motion carried all of them grab thank you your honor under 1545 resolution number 1780304 by the finance committee Part of the 2004 budget appropriations and the 2003 tax levy for use during calendar year 2004 I would move that that resolution be put upon its passage Move the second resolution be put upon its passage under discussion your honor if I may I'd like to amend the appropriations to include a revenue adjustment of special assessments fund assessment sidewalk $80,000 be taken from there and move to special assessments be moved to assessment sidewalks $80,000 I believe which has that and that included in that adjustment There is 56,935 of that amount Moved into fire department revenue state municipal services pain It's on page four There was a More stated by $57,000 so our proposal here is to move the sidewalk assessments all the assessments except for gaming are in the 2003 budget We're proposing to lead the sidewalk assessment in 2004 in the general fund and move all the other ones for this year So the $8,000 would be retained in the general fund And that would act as an offset for that adjustment We have to make a $57,000 in quite a revenue. Okay Do I have a second? Okay, we have a motion before us under discussion all the way Stefan are you speaking on them? Okay, obviously we've got a $57,000 adjustment. We need to make Wouldn't it make more sense to just move $57,000 of it and leave the other remainder in there? And you couldn't just put the first $57,000 there the next 23 Okay, if there's no other discussion on amendment, would you call the old place? I Motion carry all the one right flesh now The budget to restore the $19,000 in funding for the boys and girls club Thank you the second to restore the $19,000 for the boys and girls proceed. Does anybody mind if I start over again? Okay, I Like to address the issue of costs regarding the boys and girls club It would cost us $19,000 to keep a program running that gives hundreds if not thousands of children a place for amusement entertainment education and most importantly a place where they gain a sense of belonging The club is a place where they learn how to be members of our community. It is a place where they develop their constructive skills What are the costs if the boys and girls club no longer existed? We could expect an additional 180 new gang members in Sheboygan for kids join the club in order to get a sense of belonging that a gang may otherwise provide Taxpayers cost increase with the need to deal with the gang members destructive behavior with additional policing costs with graffiti cleanup costs And vandalism repair costs and in the other costs of crime Thursday at the budget hearing we heard a quote from retired general Colin Powell Which I too would like to recite from the choice is very simple. We either build our children or build more jails It's time to stop building jails and get back to what we know how to do as Americans and that is build our children Next I'd like to talk about funding. I did have a recommendation that We could fund this without having to raise taxes, but I understand that through some other appropriations that those funds are no longer there I still like to make this recommendation because I do think it's important I do want to stress that hopefully we can find a way of doing this with your help your honor without raising any the tax level your tax rate We have already dedicated ourselves to beginning working to begin working on next year's budget right away The budget for 2005 may be even more of a challenge than this one has been more cuts may need to be made But it's important to keep the boys and girls club operating again for another year If we cannot support the club next year to the same degree We currently do now the club will then have a full year to try to replace these dollars by additional fundraising if need be However, until then I hope you all will support me in keeping such an important asset to our community open in 2004. Thank you Yes, I'd like to address this issue. I Apologize to all the right place. She wasn't here last year. He couldn't know that the finance committee pretty much told him that last year I think Paul that's got a document that points out that we give the boys and girls club Last year we gave them $10,000 in community block grant money when they came in this year They asked for 17 specifically because they knew they had been told the general fund money might not be there and probably would not be there So we've done that and that's one clarification. I want everybody to understand They knew it wasn't like we dropped it on them now and they didn't know for you know Their whole budget process starts in January or something They knew that you know and obviously just I think any department had knew all years They were doing their budget that anything they had wasn't guaranteed with the current fiscal prices were in I want to be clear I'm a huge fan of the boys and girls club But you know, I served on the United Way Executive Board. I served on the finance committee for the exit night away We looked at every agency Wonderful agency, but who's to say that they're any better than the Red Cross the Salvation Army Children's Service Society Reach hotline the mental health association the big brothers and big sisters safe harbor for abused women the literacy council We've got the senior center. We've got the library. I agree. You know, absolutely. They perform a wonderful wonderful service But we're talking about eliminating our own dare program. We're talking about eliminating our own police liaison officers Every other nonprofit group has been told We have the money. We have the allocations from the federal government go to the community block grant and Paul Ed has told them She's told the other old men that have taken the time to ask we think it's a pretty good organization We would recommend them getting this additional money above what they're getting now They can't guarantee it because nothing's guaranteed until the committee meets that we have, you know, the mayor's appointments And it's a different Budget cycle it goes from I think April to April or something like that. So you can't guarantee it But staff is certainly supportive of them If we approve this tonight and they get approved for what they've already got They've got 19,000 and they've got 17,000. That's 36,000. That's a hundred fifty percent of what they've ever gotten from us So I you know, I love the organization, but I just can't support giving them this kind of money I think if we're going to start being fiscally responsible, we've got to say, okay We've got an avenue for you and it's a community black man. And that's that's where we should send them And I you know, like I said, it's nothing personal. It's not that they're a wonderful organization But we've made you know Decisions that we can't fund this out of the general fund anymore And I understand that you know with the movement tonight it would come out of the assessments for the sidewalks But it's the same thing, you know, who's to say we couldn't find that 20,000 and give it for sets sets So excuse me Sunday bus service, you know or give it back to the library and let them stay open that data to close You know, these are decisions that we get paid to make and I just I thought we made this one a month and a half ago When I you know, I'm a little upset that now we're coming back and everybody's like oh, yeah, they're wonderful agency And they are wonderful agency, but we've made cuts. We've made hard cuts. We've been cuts that frankly, I didn't want to make But we've done it. I don't think we should be backtracking now and I'm certainly not going to support this Thank you all of them and Stefan all the way down. Yeah, I sort of wish to reinforce what Bill said I have six reasons for voting against it First the budget planning has been going on for more than a year and heroic last-minute efforts to spend more money should be denied Number two our budget figures for next year are set if the council funds this request either the tax levy has to be increased Some request has to be cut from the budget or this money has to be taken from some contingency fund All of these options are bad and will hurt some deserving program like the police or the fire or other department third The Boys and Girls Club is a worthwhile charity, but we need to control our spending not increase it There are at least a hundred charities in this community that could come here and give you a wonderful reason why life would be Infinitely better in Sheboygan if they just had more money, but we are not the United Way We're the common council. We are not funding nonprofit organizations. That's up to the United Way churches and other groups Fourth the taxpayers expect their taxes to be used for city infrastructure They do not want us to play generous with their tax money If you Alderman wish to support Non-profit groups outside of that use of your own money write out a personal check. Don't be so generous with other people's money number five Last year's finance committee agreed to provide the Boys and Girls Club with general fund money for one more year 2003 they were told that 2003 was the last year of support from the general fund And if they wanted further city funding they would have to get it from block grants at that time We also discontinued the graduation money and related charitable organizations So if you want to the city to support the block grant the I'm sorry the Boys and Girls Fund I encourage them to do it through the block grants Finally the mayor has said that there's going to be no increase in funding this year We have an opportunity as a council to actually live up to that and stop spending one way We can do it is just to say no the budget set. Let's move on. Thank you Thank you Alderman Longman Just to reinforce again what the I can't possibly support, you know increasing the funding to them The taxpayers have made it loud and clear that they want us to hold a line on the budget And we can't do that by increasing spending for any reason We've been called on to make a lot of difficult decisions and of Unfortunately the Boys and Girls Club is on that list No one doubts their Usefulness or their validity that's not in question at all But again, it's just another one of the tough decisions. We're going to have to make This has been a very difficult year, but the years coming up are going to make this year look like a Sunday school picnic compared to What's ahead of us? So things are going to get tougher and tougher Thank you. Thank you Back to Alderman growth Thank you your honor. I Will support this this motion. That's why I seconded it but There are some things that need to be cleared up. I was not on the council last year So I was unaware of what finance committee did then and I don't know if if everybody on the council last year knew That happened or not because I don't know if there was a note made of that or not, but Right now on this floor we can say, okay, this is the last year. You're gonna have to go back to redevelopment or Development community development block grant funds and get any additional funds that you want We did make some tough decisions next year and Alderman Wegman was right The next couple years is going to be even worse This funding without raising taxes Could be taken from the assessment Sidewalks that we just moved into the general fund. It could take 19,000 dollars out of there leaving approximately $10,000 left in that fund for any other Items that may be necessary true the this is a contribution to a Group, but what do they do they serve our? Our young people in this community oftentimes you hear how there isn't anything that the city is doing right now friend of the young people and This is a program that helps them keeps them off the street as Alderman Ryan Flesch had said on keeps them from becoming gang members gives them a place to go and a purpose to go to So I will be supporting this and I I hope the majority of the council will support putting this back again It will not increase the taxes Thank you because you're using it from an assessment for correct All of us Okay, Alderman Warner The thank-you honor as someone who grew up in Sheboygan in the 60s I remember quite well what it was like to live in a city that had no place for for the kids to go when they were Teenagers and there was no place At all in the city Sheboygan for kids to go other than to school and home and Downtown and walk the streets basically of course the world's changed a lot And I think it's even more important that we have a place for kids to go in the city Sheboygan and I think the Boys and Girls Club meets that need I guess Think that we need to find a way to come up with these funds. I would have supported that if we could have figured out Anyway, I think that if we take it out of the the money that's already in the budget Through a transfer such as this I Will support that completely and some of the reasons I truly believe that the Boys and Girls Club It is an essential part of our community The part that provides positive results that are difficult to measure today, but results that become apparent in the future This is truly an investment in the future of Sheboygan You see Alderman Ryan pleasure smiling because I agree with him today. That's a good thing But I think that the club teaches our youth that there is a difference between right and wrong The club teaches our youth that it's cool to be responsible Respectful and honest The Boys and Girls Club provides opportunities for youth to learn leadership skills That will help them for the rest of their lives in their education employment and future as responsible adults in our community The skills and knowledge they gain at the Boys and Girls Club will benefit them and our city for many years to come and Yes, the participation and involvement of our young people at the Boys and Girls Club does save taxpayers a lot of money It does this by lowering the cost to deal with gangs property crimes violence and of course drugs The kids at the Boys and Girls Club are not going to become future criminals and drug users They will become responsible tax paying citizens of our community and that is the goal and the vision We should see as we unanimously support the Boys and Girls Club and its contribution to Sheboygan's future These kids and and a place for them to go is very important And yes, it's a difficult budget year and we've caught and slashed everywhere we can We've squeezed pencils or departments are probably gonna have to bring paper from home for Pete sakes But when it starts at the bottom with our kids and giving them a place to go I think this is something we have to think about a little differently. It's not just dollars. And yes, Alderman Groff is right CDBG funds next year come back for that full amount from community development block grant That's what I would tell the Boys and Girls Club for 2005 come back to CDBG funds community development block grant funds that come from the federal government, which is our money anyway and Ask for more money from them for that program. But for this year, let's get them through this We've had presentations by the police department the drug unit We know what the problems are in the city if we can help some of these kids and give them a place to go I think we should do it and I think we should support this It's not increasing taxes. It's money. That's there We're gonna do is it someplace and I think this is a good place Let's let's face it that money is not gonna just sit there and get bigger We're gonna use it someplace else and I think this is a good place to use it Alvin Burke Excuse me for not rising. That's right, but I will support this program too because if these Boys and girls clubs can prevent any juvenile from being shipped out of this county to Lincoln Hills Because right now it costs between 45 and $50,000 a year that costs a taxpayer To ship these kids to Lincoln Hills. So for this $19,000, I think we're pretty well off Thank you Alderman Gough or Alderman Ryan flesh, whichever would you please add to your motion and amendment to this that you're taking the money out of the Dead fund because tomorrow I'm not going to be Looking for the money. Okay All right Rich so we know that's where it's coming from Increase in general fund appropriations, okay Does everyone understand that but then in turn the revenue that we put in will offset that that $80,000 It Well, it It basically balances out if we take it out of that sidewalk assessment that we just moved into revenue It should have no effect on on it except raising the Expenditures Right. Okay. Thank you Okay Thank you All of it's definite So I want to be clear. I mean what we've done we've done But if we do this we are increasing taxes, but not as much as I mean if we wouldn't do anything with it It would date taxes would go down, correct? If we would make the other changes, but not this one taxes would go down So we really are increasing taxes by doing this so it's not fool people I just want to say I agree with all three of the statements made by the gentleman But nobody's answered the two core questions and that is why not funded from community block grant I want to be clear because Alderman Werner made a statement. Now Paulette. It's my understanding. We haven't allocated the 2004 Block grant program, right? So by telling them to go to community block and we're not saying go in 2005 We're saying you can get in 2004 if you're approved What happens is the applications went out in the mail and we'll be reviewing applications in January, February and then that goes before a Citizen committee and staff makes recommendations to that committee and then they vote on those Appropriations and then that actually they actually get funded. It's usually late summer early fall, right? But I mean it would get that money this year it would be under you know Like I said, it's a goofy system because it's not January to December like us. It's You know July to July or made a receive 2003 funds in October of this year, right? I mean so they would get it for their 2004 budget year, so I guess that's what I'm trying to say I'm not saying they don't deserve it. I'm not saying all the kids at Lincoln Hills We're not saving money. We are but the fact is we can do it through the community block grant And I think we also have to remember what was the total they got last year was that 22,000 12,000 In community block grant. I believe in 10,000 in the general fund. That's 22,000 dollars now They're getting 17,000 dollars this year in a community block grant fund odds are they would get that next year You're throwing another 19. You're gonna get in 36,000 If you if you give it to them this way and that way they're getting 36,000 I don't think that any any citizen is thinking We're cutting every other department of our own departments and we're gonna be given 150% raise to this group I mean like I said, they're a wonderful group. Don't get me wrong And if you want to give them 150% in community block grants Because some other agency isn't performing. That's fine because you're still spending the same amount of money in community block Grants you've got that much money to allocate Allocated as you will it but that's a fairer way because they're they're up against all the other agencies that do wonderful things So I want to be clear that, you know, they still have an opportunity to get this money this year in their budget for this year So it's not like they'd lose it If they're worthy, I'm sure they'll get it and like poet has said two or three times Her staff is gonna recommend it because they do feel they do a wonderful job All the press did you want? Oh, I thought you motioned before to speak I Guess what I was saying is I Were supposed to rise we speak. Yes, I was just gonna say that I was just gonna tell them that next Alderman right flesh Thank you, your honor just a point of clarification Paulette then what did they receive from the general operating funds last year And what did they receive from the community block grant last year? I think in 2000 from CDBG in 2002 they received 10 to 2003 it was 17 Okay And respond to Jerry Doyle they received 17,000 from block grants. We heard and 19,000 from From general so we're actually not giving them any more than they already got last year though. Is that correct? $7,000 The total loss of general funds is what the anticipation was Okay, I Guess I Would like to discuss then the opportunity with rich that what do we give them that keeps the levy at? zero cents per thousand and still gives them approximately what they got last year Combined between the community block grants and general operating funds I mean, I'm not looking to raise the amount of money giving them to the total and make sure that they stay operating it for this point in time What dollar amount with these totals that we're looking at Do we give them that one gives them the same combined total that they got last year from community block grants Which is only a recommendation. We don't know if we're gonna get that 17,000 or not Let's assume a 17,000 Plus what they got from general operating last year What do we need to take out of this transfer to equal that dollar amount without raising? The levy by that one cent per thousand No Since they started receiving the block grants that increased their appropriations in total From the 20,000 up to the 36,000 this year But I do agree with what was stated before by Alderman, Stefan, and Alderman Doyle, the finance committee, I think the Chair, Terry Van Ackerman, stated that it was to be given with a very Definite statement that this would be the last year that general fund would fund that appropriation Alderman Van Ackerman How much did they ask for in this year's block grant for They didn't come in yet for 2004 that'll happen in January or February Okay, we have a motion before us an amendment for the money For the Boys and Girls Club. Would you call the roll please? I vote would be for the amendment No vote obviously is against amendment Winninger Motion carried Alderman Graf the honor as amended I would move that the resolution be put upon its passage Move this second a resolution be put upon its passage. Is there any discussion? Alderman Stefan You know I would as an amendment to this could we send a letter and tell them that we're not gonna do it again I would make some move just so it's clear and everybody knows they're not getting the money out of general fund anymore Apparently that was someone you know some of the alderman felt that it was not fair So I guess if that's appropriate I'd make that motion at this time that we send a letter to them saying this it's our understanding This will be the last year you get it obviously the next council could change your mind But clearly they'd be notified and we wouldn't have to worry about any misunderstandings. Who's a The boys and girls club. No, no, who do you want to send the letter? I Don't really care if it's a council or the finance committee or you or whatever Yep It it could come a letter could come from counsel saying I'm excuse me from from finance committee saying Your appropriation that you received for 2004 will be the last appropriation that you get from the general fund And we can send it out of finance if that would be acceptable All right, is there any discussion on that all in favor of finance sending a letter Hi post motion carried Okay now Motion is there you call the role, please The motion to to accept the budget the way it is has amended as amended. Could you call the role, please? Winning Motion carried moved a second adjourned under discussion hearing not all in favor