video #00000.MTS PRCC 12-07-09
Abruptly begins with approval of consent agenda items -- without discussion, a roll call vote is taken to unanimously approve the Council consent agenda
@02:33 mark -- Proclamation (and performance) - Emerson Middle School Jazz IMEA Trumpets begins and we learn either the Council chamber audio system or the video camera microphone were not designed to deliver concert-quality sound.
@12:28 mark -- Resolution 2009-84 – for Thomas Higgins of Lutheran General Hospital begins
@17:40 mark -- Recognition of District 207 National Merit Scholarship Semifinalists begins
@21:15 mark -- Mayor Schmidt begins his Statement regarding Amendment to Zoning Ordinance and the PRU Crew is forced to conclude not only is the Mayor's head half full of hair but also the Mayor's thinking is half full of bullshit. But we do commend the Mayor for speaking with "more than half" of the Planning and Zoning commissioners about this issue.
@23:54 mark -- Report on Executive Plaza begins
@33:50 mark -- Zero-based budgeting discussion begins
@34:32 mark -- City Manager Hock suggests budgeting by objectives, results, and performance is the most successful budgeting method. Translation = we don't want to have to justify every dollar we are spending.
@38:04 mark -- Alderman Bach says he wants to see "a business case" made for every expenditure. And we laaaaauuuuughed as we recall previous votes cast by Ald. Bach to increase funding amounts -- over budgeted amounts -- for community groups.
@40:19 mark -- Mayor Schmidt says he "won't accept an unbalanced budget" and promises to veto any unbalanced budget. The PRU Crew hopes Mayor Schmidt will manage to keep his word this time.
@41:05 mark -- Alderman Wsol not-so-fondly recalls Governor Jimmy Carter's efforts with zero-based budgeting and suggests a "modified" method
@42:16 mark -- Mayor Schmidt agrees with using a "modified approach" to budgeting
@43:12 mark -- Alderman Ryan says he doesn't understand zero-based budgeting and the PRU Crew is wondering if Ald. Ryan was an English major instead of an Engineering major
@45:13 mark -- Alderman Bach reveals he's a classist
@47:46 mark -- Alderman Bach continues to make frenemies with AFSCME
video #00001.MTS PRCC 12-07-09
Begins with continuing discussion of zero-based budgeting
@06:18 mark -- Alderman Sweeney inquires about the livability of the Heinze property and Director of Community Development Ms. Davis responds
@08:39 mark -- Mayor Schmidt says he "would like to see us enforce our ordinances." And we laaaaauuuuughed...really really really hard.
@15:08 mark -- Alderman Wsol suggests discussion of the Heinze property should be a listed agenda item before discussion continues
@16:06 mark -- City Attorney Buzz Hill makes a disclosure on behalf of Ald. Bach
@17:23 mark -- Alderman DiPietro inquires about billboards and the new zoning ordinance
@18:53 mark -- Mayor Schmidt thanks the Public Works Department for their efforts in regard to the Maine South Hawks parade
@19:38 mark -- City Clerk Henneman suggests cancellation of the January 4, 2010 meeting
@21:06 mark -- City Manager Hock tells the Council Wideopen West is interested in providing telephone and internet service in Park Ridge
@22:09 mark -- Mayor Schmidt reports the Liquor License Review Board voted to renew all but 1 liquor license, because one of the applicants packets was woefully inadequate
@23:15 mark -- New Business begins with Ald. Wsol requesting accommodation for election judges' access to the South Park polling place
@24:29 mark -- Alderman Ryan discusses his concerns about the development review process and homes being built "higher" than they should be. Ald. Ryan also inquires about the City's policy on signs and maintenance, as well as the inability of certain property owners to rent out ground floor space in the B4 zoning district
@28:28 mark -- City Clerk Henneman reminds people about voter registration
@28:54 mark -- Motion to adjourn
December 8, 2009
PRCC Videos 12-7-09!
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24 comments:
Thank you PRU.
When is the parade for the National Merit Scholars?
Anon@1:53 --
You're welcome -- thanks for the heads up.
Zero based budgeting is a good concept but I've got a bet none of the council, not even the mayor, understands what will really be needed to do it.
December 8, 2009 2:45 PM,
How hard could it be? There are things the city has to do and things the city doesn't have to do.
Whatever you have to do you should be able to account for pretty easy.
The optional expenses are where you have to really justify why you are spending.
I don't see any reason why taking a zero budgeting approach should be very hard to do.
2:45:
The mayor and the council don't have to understand what to do, that is the city mgrs. job.
I think it's a good idea. It would give us taxpayers a better chance of not getting hit with more tax and fee increases. I'm sick of paying for everybody's idea that comes along.
These guys never run out of ideas for spending our money. I want to see them have to tell us why they want to spend it.
I will bet you ZBB wasn't the mayors idea.
I agree with anon 2:45. The concept sounds good but I have my doubts about how this would go. People have different ideas for what the city needs to spend money on.
The flooding problems are a good example. Some say we need to give homeowners money to install flood controls. Some say we don't. How do you decide what money you realy need to spend?
anon 3:49:
Very well said! As you point out, the issue is really identifying what the city "has to do".
If I were their only customer there would be no budget problem but I am very low maintanence. As an example, I would love to know what todays minor snow cost in labor and materials.
Anonymous at 3:49,
I think you're mashing up the concept...
Are private flood controls needed? The answer is yes...but that need does *not* translate to a "need" to publicly fund *private* flood control devices...in or on private property.
3:08 PM
If you watch the video, by process of elimination it's not Hock's and not Wsol's. Allegretti wasn't there, so scratch him. And Ryan was there but doesn't understand it, so he's out, too. Sweeney sounded a little shaky on it, so let's scratch him, too.
That leaves Bach, Carey, DiPietro and Schmidt. I put the betting line at: Bach, 2-1; Carey, 5-1; DiPietro, 10-1; and Schmidt 4-3, if only because he got the ball rolling and Bach sounded more "me too"-ish.
Anonymous at 4:04,
Cute treatment...
I'll give Mayor Schmidt credit for having "got the ball rolling"...publicly.
...but there's no doubt in my mind he had "encouragement."
Bean:
If zero-based budgeting is good for the city, or at least worth a try, then who cares whether the idea came to Schmidt in a dream, or from whom he may have begged, borrowed or stole it?
He's the first person in city government to bring it up, so it should be viewed as his (as opposed to anyone else's) idea.
Anonymous at 4:38,
bwaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhaaaaaaaaaaaaaa...
Well, you sure seem to care who...read, Mayor Schmidt... gets "credit" for it!
I was simply remarking upon something said up-thread...which was a "cute treatment", though oddly detailed, in response to another up-thread throw-out comment.
Why anyone would have bothered to respond to Anonymous at 3:08 in the first place, I find..."interesting."
You have successfully given Schmidt credit but you forgot to throw in the blame for Frimark. If you can do both in the same paragraph you get extra points!!!!!
Bean,
3:49 here,
I understand what you are saying but I still see people having different ideas about what the need to spend is.
Too much spending is the problem!!!
Government spending is out of control from Washington DC all the way here!!!
Obama wants to spend even more!!!
The Aldermen want to spend even more!!!
When will tax payers get a break!!!
Anon@5:51 --
When they stop allowing special interests to buy their representatives?
We're just guessing.
I think zero-based budgeting is worth attempting, if for no other reason than the budgeting the city has been doing until now isn't working.
But try as I might, I just can't see how we are going to get ourselves back on track (as in getting our sewers back into shape, addressing the flooding problem, etc.) after recent years of deficit budgets and the TIF district sucking up cash rather than producing it, without some kind of tax increase.
Unlike Daley, we don't have a Skyway, an airport, or even thousands of parking meters to sell off in lieu of a tax increase. And I don't see our public officials finding a way to cut $2-3 million from next year's budget.
On the other hand, if you give those people extra cash it's gone without a trace. So it looks like we're between a rock and a hard place, zero-based budgeting or not.
Before the Council meeting started last night the crowd and City officials were treated to a very nice selection of Christmas carols by a community organization that wrapped up by thanking the City for spending money to support the arts. Shortly thereafter, the topic of zero-based budgeting came up. Just a little irony.
As long as public officials love hearing compliments for doing stuff like supporting the arts, budget discipline will be an unattainable dream.
Mr. Mayor:
I appreciate you saying you won't accept anything but a balanced budget. I hope we agree on what a balanced budget means.
I hope you don't let government accounting for money owed from one fund to another to be part of the balancing act governments perform with their bookkeeping.
HIT A NERVE!
LOL!
I know one thing they could cut. They could forgo the parade for a high school sports team where the have to pay overtime to firemen, cops, and public works guys.
anon 8:33:
IDIOT!!!
5:51,
Why are you blaming Obama? He's doing all he can to be fiscally responsible after the mess Frimark left.
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