Public Outrage over City of Kalamazoo's TAX ANTICIPATION LOAN ponzi

Monday 12/7/15 at 7pm, the Kalamazoo City Commission will vote in the approval for the Allied site cleanup that they have decided on. In addition, they will approve a $250,000 "gift" to out of town developer NOMI for its cooperation on 508 North St. Further, the city will approve a "payday advance" of $3,000,000 to itself as a "TAX ANTICIPATION NOTE" to balance the 2016 budget INSTEAD of cost cutting in the City Managers office and the Community Planning departments. As a Reminder, the last commission approved hiring the Assistant City Manager at a starting salary of $110,000 per year. Then, her responsibilities were cut in half and a 2nd Assistant City manager job appeared out of nowhere, for an industry insider ALSO to be paid $110,000 per year. We have never had 2 assistant city managers at the same time and it is unjustifiable in these difficult financial times. It is wasteful spending like this that must be eliminated to cut costs in 2016 NOT a payday type loan borrowing funds AGAINST already short income. This one item creates BY DESIGN, a financial crisis in 2016 to force a City Income tax against its citizens to support the spending that is out of control. Agenda Regular Meeting of the CityCommission C i t y of K a l a m a z o o Monday, December 7, 2015 7:00 PM City Commission Chambers, 241 W. South Street A. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL B. OPENING CEREMONY 1. Invocation: Minister Doris Hope, Galilee Baptist Church 2. Pledge of Allegiance 3. Introduction of Guests 4. Proclamations C. ADOPTION OF FORMAL AGENDA D. COMMUNICATIONS 1. Calendar of Upcoming Meetings E. PUBLIC HEARINGS F. CONSENT AGENDA (Action: Motion to approve Items "1-18" and authorize the City Manager to sign all documents on behalf of the City 1. Approval of a professional service agreement with The Foster Group to provide consulting services with regard to water and wastewater rates and the Utiltiy Financial Plan in the amount of $140,000. 2. Approval of a contract to purchase Waterous fire hydrants from ETNA Supply Company for an amount not to exceed $257,050. 3. Approval of the purchase of one fully equipped IBAK brand Sewer Inspection truck from Jack Doheny Companies in the amount of $300,886.85. 4. Approval of a contract extension for the purchase of 200 dry tons of ferric chloride from PVS Technologies in the amount of $121,800. 5. Approval of a one-year contract extension with Rieth-Riley Construction Company for the purchase of asphalt paving materials in the amount of $322,900. 6. Approval of a one-year contract extension with Lakeland Asphalt Corporation for the purchase of 1,500 tons of asphalt patching material in the amount of $134,250. 7. First reading of an ordinance to regulate quadricycles. 8. Adoption of a RESOLUTION setting a public hearing for December 21, 2015 to consider the Proposed Fiscal Year 2016 Budget for the City of Kalamazoo. 9. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving an amendment to the City of Kalamazoo’s Brownfield Plan [Amended and Restated Brownfield Plan (Amendment No. 27)] implemented and recommended for approval by the City of Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority following a public hearing before the Brownfield Redevelopment Authority. 10. Adoption of a RESOLUTION authorizing the issuance of Tax Anticipation Notes in the amount of $3,000,000 for fiscal year 2016. 11. Adoption of a RESOLUTION approving the transfer of $250,000 from the Economic Initiative Fund to the City of Kalamazoo Brownfield Redevelopment Authority to assist NoMI Developers, LLC in the redevelopment of an obsolete and underutilized brownfield property at 505 & 508 North Street. 12. Adoption of a RESOLUTION recognizing the Kalamazoo Dream Center as a non-profit organization operating in the community for the purpose of obtaining a charitable gaming license. 13. Adoption of a RESOLUTION recognizing the Bronson Health Foundation as a non-profit organization operating in the community for the purpose of obtaining a charitable gaming license. 14. Approval of an amendment to the sale and purchase agreement with Kalamazoo Charter Township for a strip of land at 1720 Riverview for public right-of-way purposes. 15. Approval of the First Amendment to Purchase Agreement with JTM Management Inc. regarding the sale and purchase of Eastern Hills Golf Course. 16. Acceptance of a Wellhead Protection Grant from the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality in the amount of $60,000 and approval of the grant agreement. 17. Approval of a request from New Year’s Fest of Kalamazoo to publicly display fireworks from the Epic Center Parking Structure on Thursday, December 31, 2015 at midnight as part of the annual New Year’s Fest event. 18. Approval of the minutes from the City Commission meetings on November 16, 2015. G. REGULAR AGENDA 1. First reading of an ordinance outlining a text amendment to Sections 12.3, 3.7, 4.1 and 8.3.D. of the Zoning Ordinance to add outdoor sports/recreation lighting and noise regulations. (Action: Offer the ordinance for first reading and schedule a public hearing for December 21, 2015) H. REPORTS AND LEGISLATION 1. City Manager's Report I. UNFINISHED BUSINESS J. POLICY ITEMS 1. Adoption of a RESOLUTION supporting the United States Environmental Protection Agency’s Proposed Plan (Alternative 2D) for Clean-Up of the former Allied Site Landfill officially known as Operable Unit #1 of the Kalamazoo River/Portage Creek Superfund Site. K. NEW BUSINESS L. CITIZEN COMMENTS M. MISCELLANEOUS COMMENTS AND CONCERNS BY COMMISSIONERS N. CLOSED SESSION O. ADJOURNMENT