Tuesday, July 25, 2017

Presiding: Mayor Thomas K. Butt · Called to order: 6:36 p.m. · 6 items · 13 votes · 12 public comments

What happened

The council approved $513,000 in grants to 21 local organizations for the current fiscal year. The vote was 5-1 with Myrick voting no and Martinez abstaining.

New rental property fees were approved that will charge landlords $47 per unit in 2016-17 and $98 per unit in 2017-18. Mayor Butt was the only dissenting vote on the 5-1 decision.

The council set procedures to fill a council seat vacancy that occurred on July 18, 2017, establishing a candidate filing deadline. Martinez cast the lone no vote on the 5-1 approval.

The council approved 8 routine items on consent, including purchasing 2 electric vehicles for parking enforcement at $50,000 and hiring AmeriNational to manage city housing program loans for $20,000. The council also unanimously approved joining a partnership to improve neighborhoods around Lovonya DeJean Middle School and supporting a state "Ban the Box" bill preventing employers from asking about criminal history on job applications.

Auto-summarized from official minutes and vote records

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Attendance

Ben Choi(Present)

Eduardo Martinez(Present)

Jovanka Beckles(Present)

Melvin Willis(Present)

Jael Myrick(Absent)

Tom Butt(Present)

6 items · 8 consent

Adopt new fees for residential rental properties

Passed 5-1Police & Community Safety

Approve $513,000 in grants to 21 local organizations

Passed 4-1Police & Community Safety

Receive presentation on Staying Power fellowship exploring housing crisis impacts

Housing & Homelessness

Consider joining partnership to improve neighborhoods around Lovonya DeJean Middle School

Passed 6-0Police & Community Safety

Support state bill banning employers from asking about criminal history on job applications

Passed 6-0Political Statements

Announce council seat vacancy and set candidate filing deadline

Passed 5-1Labor & City Workers

Approved as a group without individual discussion.

Biggest items: $128K Multi-year rental lease between Emplo... · $50K Purchase of two electric vehicles for... · $50K Fifth amendment to agreement with Cox...