2013-09-09 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mr. Walker stated the only implication would be a two week delay. The other body for the Loop East District was considering this matter this evening and the desire was to work in tandem with respect to timing. If the Council decided the two week delay would be appropriate for whatever reason, he did not think the implication was that negative. Mr. Crow stated he has to follow up on Mr. Kraft’s suggestion, noting Council has been told twice that Council has allocated the funds, and was uncertain why it was even being discussed for a vote. Ms. Carr asked Mr. Walker when Council approved the money, did they approve for a specific use and was it in the budget. She asked when Council passed the budget, did they consider the approval of this funding. Mr. Walker stated it was in the budget, but not in particular with Armstrong and Teasdale. He asked the Director of Community Development Ms. Andrea Riganti to verify it. Mr. Carr stated for the FY 2013 budget, she specifically ask that Council to set aside money to evaluate the future use of the City Hall Annex. She asked if the RFQ had gone out as Council set that money aside. Ms. Carr said essentially Council can say the same thing, that money has been approved and by the time it is brought back, Council will approve it again. She stated she was confused about this; when Council approves and when Council does not, she felt like she was getting a song and dance. Ms. Carr asked when Council approved the general budget did it included a specific budget for the EDRST funding for that year. Ms. Riganti stated that the Economic Development Retail Sales Tax Board recommended approval of $40,000 for legal fees. The contract before Council needed Council’s approval because it exceeded the City Manager’s $25,000 authority limit. Therefore, she stated as with other contracts that exceed that amount, City Council has to approve the authorization for Mr. Walker to enter into this contract. Ms. Carr stated now we have conflated Mr. Walker’s budget transfer authority which is for $25,000 with this $40,000. She noted Council approved the budget of the EDRST and within that budget Council approved the expenditures. She noted Council did not do any line item vetoes, so now by coming to Council and asking us to spend it specifically for the lawyers from Armstrong Teasdale. Ms. Carr noted that now would be Council’s final approval and this would be Council’s chance to say Yea or Nay. Mr. Riganti stated we are just following the process, policy and protocol that have been established by Council in the past as the City asked for authorization for the City Manager to enter into a contract that exceeded a certain amount. Mr. Kraft stated his concept of how this might work was when the C.I.D. came back to Council again for a vote. The Council can then request a provision be added. Once the district is formed, would be asked to pay back the $40,000. He 7