2014-06-23 Reg - Laserfiche WebLink

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N. NEW BUSINESS RESOLUTIONS 1. Resolution 2014 – 33 Approval of Fiscal Year 2014 – 2015 (FY 2015) Budget for the City of University city and appropriating said amounts was moved by Mr. Jennings, seconded by Mr. Sharpe. Mr. Crow stated that there were a number of street projects in the 2014 budget and asked for an update on the streets that have been completed. Director of Public Works & Parks Richard Wilson stated that, with the exception of George Street, have asphalt contracts have been awarded on all streets listed, and the work is scheduled to be performed by late summer. He stated that George Street will be advertised for bids sometime in July and the work should be completed prior to the end of the year. Mr. Crow questioned whether the comment, “The general fund expenditures are moving from 2014 to 2015 because they were not completed,” referred to this exact picture. City Manager Walker stated that it was the same. Mr. Crow then expressed concerned over the fact that the travel budget for Council continues to increase and yet updates and the benefits that these seminars brought to the City were not being provided by his fellow colleagues. Mr. Crow asked for the specific amount of Economic Retail Sales Tax (EDRST) money that had been allocated to the Chamber of Commerce and whether it had been designated for specific projects with measurable deliverables. Director of Community Development Andrea Riganti stated that the amount recommended by the EDRST Board was $49,427. She stated that the funds are to be used specifically for projects with deliverables, such as helping City staff to develop and maintain a property database for Olive Boulevard, identifying and building local leadership on Olive Boulevard, developing a Retail Sales Committee for Olive Boulevard, and marketing/training activities that her staff and the library will partner with the Chamber on. Mr. Crow asked that Council receive updates on these projects throughout the year. Ms. Riganti stated that updates would be provided. Mr. Crow asked Ms. Riganti if she could provide him with a better understanding of the monies allocated to the Media Hub Collaborative. Ms. Riganti stated that there are two separate entities, the Loop Media Hub and the Collaborative. She stated that the recommended funding is $45,000 for the Collaborative and $44,280 for the Loop Media Hub. Mr. Crow stated that he had received a packet regarding the Collaborative and it appeared every partner in the Collaborative is a 501(c)(3) or a stakeholder, so he was concerned about who the $45,000 was actually going to be paid to. Ms. Riganti stated that the Collaborative was incorporated specifically for this project and therefore the money would be paid directly to them. She stated that there were no other stakeholders listed in the application, although they do have a number of partners that will be involved in performing the study. Ms. Riganti further explained that monies allocated for the Loop Media Hub is for design and engineering associated with the fiber. Those funds will be paid directly to the engineer associated with the cost of the project. Mr. Crow asked whether the engineering firm had already been selected. Ms. Riganti stated that to her knowledge it has not been. Mr. Crow then asked what specific entity would be providing services for the Collaborative. Ms. Riganti stated that the partners within the Collaborative are listed in the Articles of Incorporation, along with the subcontractors that will be involved in the project. She informed Mr. Crow that the President of the Collaborative is Eric Friedman and the Vice President is Michael Mindlin. Mr. Crow asked if anyone else would be making contributions to the Collaborative or if it was being totally funded by University City. Ms. Riganti stated that it is her understanding that the Collaborative will be seeking additional funds from other entities, although to date