Statements by Brian E. Lewis
596 statements from meeting recordings, newest meeting first.
Machine transcript. Statements are matched to this official by machine and can be wrong. Check the recording.
Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Yes or no answer would be fine.
Play from 24:56Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Okay, I'm going to come back to you with my last question, but, uh, this question is for, uh, our finance director, Ms. Marney. Uh, at the October 28th Committee of the Whole meeting, um, my colleague Ms. Arndt asked an integral question, uh, with respect
Play from 25:38Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
back to uh the cost, who's going to pay for the signs? Um, so my question to Ms. Marney, I guess, would be um where would the funding come from for the strictly enforce signs? Uh through taxpayer dollars, uh are there any grants, or is it going to come out of the police budget?
Play from 26:12Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
So in your opinion, most likely it will come out of the police budget?
Play from 27:21Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Thank you. I have one more question for the Chief. And uh the question uh is actually the last page uh of the actual proposed ordinance and it would come under uh fines. So, as I look at this, it's under subsection A1 moving offense, non-moving offense. So, uh what would the actual fine be for uh clarification? Um is it a $10 ticket? Uh and then would it be classified under moving offense? Uh and what if the person, it's a two-part question, uh where would the uh actual fine be, number one? And number two, uh what if a person declines to pay the fine, uh how will it be collected?
Play from 27:25Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
So for clarification, and let me move on, maybe Ms. Marney can answer this, so in a situation like this, um since it technically don't fall under Title 21, um we utilize a collection agency to collect uh city ord-
Play from 29:19Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
dinances that are unpaid?
Play from 29:29Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
And that funding is stipulated that it could be used for signs?
Play from 30:10Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
So there's no guarantee?
Play from 30:19Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Other than that, it would have to come out of the police budget, correct?
Play from 30:21Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Okay. That's all I have as far as my questions pertaining to this ordinance. And, Mr. Anderson and Chief, you know, I'm not knocking you for trying to address the speeding issues in the city. I I just don't think that this ordinance is going to have that much of a an impact, and you know, the monies and the cost of the signs, I personally feel could be utilized for something that's going to make a difference, like another police officer, or you know, possible cameras attached to maybe the electronic speeding devices. That's That's my opinion, so respectfully I cannot support this ordinance. Thank you. I have no further questions.
Play from 30:24Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Yes, I would just like to, uh, put on the record that, um, I agree with, uh, Ms. Mayne and her comments 100%. Um, now if this was a proposal, uh, for speed cameras or, uh, dips in the road, uh, that I believe will actually, uh, you know, prevent or have repercussions, uh, for people that are speeding in these neighborhoods,
Play from 38:37Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
I would be carrying the banner for it, because those are some things we need. Or if it had to do with going towards hiring another police officer to enforce it, since the Chief has indicated, uh,
Play from 39:07Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
um kind of going to say in an up-and-down manner that he's either short-staffed or he has people available this month, but not next month, for uh speed and traffic enforcement. Um, but I think Ms. Maucher brings up valid points. Um, I could show the chief uh after we uh adjourn uh photos and videos of people speeding through my neighborhood, as I have a camera in front of my house, and I want to show him how quickly uh these vehicles are going down my street. And we have uh 25 uh 25-mph speed signs and the uh electronic speed monitor system. So I don't know how this little, you know, rinky-dink sign that says strictly enforced is going to have any impact at all. Again, I would like to see, you know, something, you know, that's going to be more cumbersome and, you know, uh useful to to stop the speeders. Uh, and that's all I have. Thank you.
Play from 39:19Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Mr. President, I would like to make a motion to suspend the rules for public comment.
Play from 42:53Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
100% no.
Play from 45:29Nov 24, 2025, Regular Council Meeting
Well, he's the fun mayor. I'm the serious councilman. And I like to uh wish everybody a happy Thanksgiving in the city, and uh let's not forget those out in the community that are suffering, uh that are disadvantaged, that are out on the streets. Uh I implore uh some of you to get out to some of these shelters and and help serve, but you know, let let's not forget about um these unfortunate souls that are out there. And uh I'm not just talking about people. I'm talking about, you know, animals, too, like the SPCA runs a program where you can go there and feed them on Thanksgiving. So, uh you know, let's let's keep our hearts open during this holiday season. That's all I have to say. God bless.
Play from 47:44Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Actually, uh, Mr. Rocha brings up a good point with respect to the legal ramifications uh with a potential buyer, whether it be Neighborhood Partners or uh Habitat, uh if uh there's a lien put on that property, uh how are they going to take possession and move forward? Um Most of my questions have been answered with regard to um a potential uh sale of the property and uh the legal stance, uh but I have some questions for uh for Mr. Kopp, if you don't mind stepping up to the podium. And these are technical questions. Um you had indicated, Mr. Kopp, that uh the last inspection was in October?
Play from 39:40Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Okay, that's what I wanted to know. So uh when were these photos taken that you presented?
Play from 40:34Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Uh and as of this date, uh again, you said you were there uh last month, October, um has there any uh to your to your um I guess uh to your expertise, has there been any improvements uh made to this property?
Play from 40:45Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Understood. Uh and I don't know if you could uh answer this question, but uh again, it goes back to uh legalities. Uh if, in fact, um the current owner was instructed to uh demolish this property um by next week, and uh in between that timeframe uh the buyer uh takes possession or buys that property, uh is the uh current owner still responsible for demolishing it, or uh where does that fall under?
Play from 41:53Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
And another question, if you don't mind answering, how much does it cost the city to demolish one of these properties?
Play from 43:14Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
And another question is, I mean, this is taxpayer dollar that we're utilizing, correct?
Play from 44:51Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
And if the owner of the property declines to pay the demolition fee, how do we recoup that? Do we have to bring it to a superior court?
Play from 44:58Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Okay, understood. I think that's all I have at this time. Appreciate it.
Play from 45:27Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
At what point do you declare a property unsafe?
Play from 54:41Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Okay, and to piggyback off Ms. Arndt's question with respect to safety, um uh why hasn't it been thought of to uh put a fence around the property? I mean, you can board up windows and doors, but you're still going to have possible uh vagrants and uh homeless people maybe try to get in. So, why don't they put a fence around the whole property since it's uh uh I guess uh warranted unsafe?
Play from 55:13Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Even uh even even temporary fences uh that like construction sites use where you could post signs, you know, no trespassing, dangerous property? They're They're
Play from 56:08Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Okay.
Play from 56:19Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
So you leased it?
Play from 56:40Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Okay.
Play from 56:42Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
All right. No further questions.
Play from 56:43Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Copy that. I I yield, and I'm ready for the question.
Play from 1:05:59Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Yes.
Play from 1:06:25Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
My question is, uh has there been any communication with the property owner?
Play from 1:09:01Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Yeah, I'm a little a little surprised because uh the the general procedure in a situation like this, in particular a fire, unless the property was uninsured, would be that the insurance company would take uh over and demolish that property. But uh at this point, I don't know if you know if uh the property was insured, but it's just kind of uh suspect.
Play from 1:09:29Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Okay, no further questions. You pretty much uh made your case on that one.
Play from 1:10:28Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Yes.
Play from 1:12:28Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
Mr. Kopp, uh, when you conduct these, uh, inspections and such and, um, declare the property, uh, unsafe, um, and dangerous, uh, do do you, uh, look into whether or not there's any like, uh, if you can't make contact with the owner, if there's any like, uh, pending estate litigation or anything like that? Do you check with the the county, like the Register of Wills?
Play from 1:17:54Nov 20, 2025, Special Council Meeting - Violations of the Dangerous Building Ordinance (VDBO)
So so you did your due diligence in attempting to notify the owner or owners of this property, correct?
Play from 1:19:10