Buffalo City Council Meeting, May 3rd 2021

Coucilman Enter is not present today
00:01:00 - Fish Sunflowers with field owners
00:03:22 - Sue Dege, Question about larger flag which has been put up
00:03:50 - Flag is on agenda for the 17th, can the City Council do anything?
00:04:06 - Sue: Currently in Administrative Process
00:04:28 - Can go into criminal, or can go ahead into civil court process (have court issue directive to take the signs down)
00:04:54 - I currently don't advise going into criminal process as administrative is going forward, but it may be time to go into civil
00:05:29 - Councilman Downer: A thought I had was that this is a willful and repeated violation of city ordinance, with a bigger flag we perhaps need a bigger penalty
00:06:12 - Councilman Downer: I'd like to reason our way out, but I can't see a way out
00:06:30 - Mayor Lachemeier: I'd like to have other options but I don't see any
00:06:57 - Mayor Lachemeier: I agree with larger flag, larger fines
00:07:30 - Councilman O'Rourke: I think we need to pursue this. It's pursuing extremist ideas. It might attract people not from Buffalo
00:08:00 - Councilman Anderson: I've had several emails, and that's something different. I know there's a hearing scheduled. I think it's a good option to pursue the civil.
00:08:45 - Councilman Anderson: People who live in the area, you notice how large it is when it's in their front yards.
00:09:34 - Sue Dege: I'd like a resolution please
00:09:45 - Councilman Downer: I'd like to make a motion to pursue a civil court process. 4 AYE, 0 NAY
00:10:35 - Councilman Downer: Search for Utilities Director is ongoing
00:11:10 - Open Forum
00:11:21 - Additions/Deletions
00:11:25 - Laureen Bodin: Remove Ryan's Way discussion, we want to spend more time talking with owners
00:12:06 - Student Liaison Olivia: This is Teacher Appreciation week
00:12:40 - Councilman Anderson: Parks Board meeting attended, Park Bench Donation project
00:13:15 - Councilman Anderson: Capital Improvements Budget is being updated
00:13:46 - Councilman Anderson: Some talk on Ball Field advertising
00:14:00 - Councilman Anderson: Fast Pitch Softball
00:14:26 - Councilman Anderson: Arbor Day: 9AM-Noon Tree planting event
00:14:57 - Councilman Anderson: New Park in Greenbriar Hills - Swan Park
00:15:15 - Councilman Downer: Thank you all for your patience, getting ahold of us. We're working on it
00:15:30 - Mayor Lachermeier: Thanks to everyone for participating in the Vision Planning
00:16:32 - Consent Agenda Items: Motion to accept 4 AYE, 0 NAY
00:17:10 - Old Buisness: Cleanup Day Recap, Alison Matthees
00:19:02 - Vision 2040 Presentation and Adoption
00:19:16 - Mike Lamb: Second year of going through this process
00:20:15 - Mike Lamb shares screen
00:20:27 - Mike Lamb, highlights
00:23:21 - Mike Lamb: the big idea is that it's all about the lake, the village on the lake
00:23:50 - Mike Lamb: Want to reinforce that this is a place to hangout, a good place to shop and live
00:24:20 - Mike Lamb: Rooftop cafe areas are good examples (Hayes Public House, Coffee House)
00:24:50 - Mike Lamb: County is looking at how to redevelop government center
00:25:23 - Mike Lamb: Focus on Incremental improvements
00:26:01 - Mike Lamb: It's all about how to tie everything together
00:26:50 - Mike Lamb: Mid term, looking at HRA sites (Government Center) being absorbed into Buffalo
00:27:35 - Councilman Downer: No questions, I appreciate Mike leading us through this.
00:27:55 - Councilman Downer: It's nice to have a plan. Plans don't always stick, but having one is great
00:28:48 - Mike Lamb: I'd like the council to accept this Vision document as an amendment to the
00:29:31 - Mayor Lachemier: All of these things go together into making our Comprehensive Plan
00:29:50 - Laureen Bodin: That's correct, staff is looking to get in and talk with Mike soon.
00:30:25 - Motion to Accept 4 AYE, 0 NAY
00:30:41 - Lease Purchase Bids
00:32:04 - Motion to accept from Old National Bank - 4 AYE, 0 NAY
00:32:20 - Sale of Street Department Equipment
00:32:28 - Administrator Bodin: Street Department has old equipment which is outdated, we want to sell them at auction
00:32:55 - Motion to accept - 4 AYE, 0 NAY
00:33:15 - Amend IRS Resolution Authorizing City Adminstrator to Sign Declaration of Official Intent
00:34:10 - Motion to accept - 4 AYE, 0 NAY
00:34:38 - Procedure for Public Input
00:34:47 - Administrator Bodin: New specific process being requested to be used for future items. It will be placed on each agenda
00:35:32 - Mayor Lachemeier - How does the council feel about this? In past, the only time that the public could give input is during public hearings, this would open it up
00:36:15 - Councilman Downer - I like the Roberts Rules, I don't like item 4
00:36:30 - Mayor Lachemeier - Robert's Rules is that the public don't speak unless it's a public meeting
00:37:03 - Mayor Lachemeier - The public look at agendas, talk to staff, staff talk to council/mayor
00:37:33 - Councilman Downer - I give you credit (Mayor) for letting people speak, but we need to have order.
00:38:15 - Councilman Downer - We can try this, but I prefer the Robert's Rules
00:38:40 - Mayor Lachemeier - Everyone can talk to staff, but it's a little different with having Zoom. The podium is there, but you can't go into zoom.
00:39:24 - Councilman Anderson - We have the open forum, people should use it. Talk to us. I'm not in agreement with number 4.
00:40:04 - Councilman O'Rourke - Neutral on the idea.
00:40:40 - Student Liaison Olivia - It may seem tedious to open to the public, but public input is good.
00:42:00 - Mayor Lachemeier - I agree, but people need to review the agenda ahead of time. We must, and it keeps things efficient.
00:42:35 - Mayor Lachemeier - We have to have a process. Robert's Rules of Order are old, but they're good.
00:43:10 - Mayor Lachemeier - Our staff is willing to talk at any time, but we want to do it in the proper way
00:44:03 - Mayor Lachemeier - We want our staff to know what to do, if we do this, what is a public hearing?
00:44:30 - Mayor Lachemeier - Staff has been concerned about how things are going, want some direction
00:44:50 - Councilman Downer - I don't want anyone to ever think that we don't want to hear from them. But it's a matter of doing things in the proper way.
00:45:20 - Councilman Downer - I think you've (Mayor) bent over backwards to let people talk
00:45:41 - Councilman Downer - If someone wanted to, we could let someone talk forever. It would be disruptive.
00:46:16 - Meredith Johansen - I've been coming to council meetings for many years
00:47:02 - Meredith Johansen - Different commission meetings are sometimes run differently than council meetings
00:47:30 - Meredith Johansen - If you were coming into this new, you might find this offputting and it wouldn't help you build confidence in how this is done.
00:48:30 - Meredith Johansen - There have been very long and raucous meetings
00:45:48 - Meredith Johansen - We can find a compromise, we can take it off your shoulders
00:49:17 - Meredith Johansen - We understand you don't want to be here for hours
00:50:19 - Meredith Johansen - I think it would be damaging if people don't think that they can contact their leaders
00:51:33 - Meredith Johansen - Somehow we need a civics lesson for this city so we all know the rules
00:54:05 - Mayor Lachemeier - Maybe we trial it for a few months and use a time limit?
00:55:20 - Administrator Lundeen - Do you want to take resident questions now?
00:55:42 - Jeremiah Patrick - Can we have Robert's Rules of Order in the agendas? Can we have the agendas earlier?
00:56:51 - Administrator Lundeen - We post the agendas on Thursday or Friday.
00:57:14 - Administrator Lundeen - We could link to the Robert's Rules of Order
01:01:21 - Councilman Downer - This isn't the US Senate, we're not playing Parlimentary Orders
01:02:11 - Mayor Lachemeier - Staff, please put something on the agenda to say that we may or may not take public input on each issue
01:02:49 - Officer Josh - Polar Plunge
01:03:40 - Officer Josh - Nothing else to report
01:05:15 - Joe Steffel - Nothing to report
01:05:54 - Fire Chief Don - Building is coming along
01:06:33 - Fire Chief Don - Buffalo FD is looking to hire 5 new Fire Fighters. Contact me or the city.
01:06:57 - Fire Chief Don - Details coming up soon, we tell you what's all involved, requirements
01:07:32 - Alison Matthees - No updates
01:07:41 - Jennifer Nash - No updates
01:08:17 - Justin Kannas - Swan Park design is ongoing
01:08:43 - Justin Kannas - Reporting on behalf of the water department, Hydrant flushing is complete. Let us know if discolored water is still coming through.
01:09:17 - Ashley Hansen - No updates
01:09:29 - Administrator Bodin - No updates
Meeting Adjourns to May 17th, Budget Meeting in the Council Chambers @ 5 PM