HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/21/1989CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
February 21, 1989
4:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor McKinley, Angel, Buck, Wright, Fox, Dell,
Brown, Budak.
The Mayor announced that the purpose of the session was the
presentation of the FY 1990 budget by the Citizens' Budget Review
Committee. Shirley Koslowski, Facilitator, introduced the
committee members, including Kathy Oberle, Jack Geist, Bill
Lemke, David Richter, Leon Mosley, Marion Hutchison, Greg Barkow
and Allen Quentin. Ms. Koslowski stated that the committee had
diligently reviewed the budget requests and spent approximately
440 hours in preparation of this report.
Together with Jack Geist, Shirley Koslowski presented the budget
report, including funding for exterior agencies, general
recommendations for exterior agencies and general recommendations
for City departments and policies. A minority report was also
filed concerning several issues. A copy of the Citizens' Budget
Review Committee report and minority report is available in the
Clerk/Auditor's Office for review.
The floor was opened to questions from City Council Members.
In response to a question from Councilperson Angel, it was stated
that the committee's recommendation for use of Community
Development Block Grant Funds for housing instead of street
improvements was based on the fact that the committee felt that
it was more important to concentrate on housing rather than
streets. It was felt that the impact would be greater if monies
were used in this manner.
Councilperson Wright expressed her concern in receiving the
committee's report at such a late date. She thought that the
report should have been distributed to Council Members prior to
the meeting to give them an opportunity to review the report
before the committee's presentation. Shirley Koslowski stated
that the report was held so that it could be presented to the
Council by the committee instead of the Council receiving
information via the media.
Councilperson Buck commended the committee on a very complete and
comprehensive report. The committee's recommendation that the
Human Rights Commission establish a provision for client
complaint procedure was explained. Discussion was also heard on
the recommendation to lease the South Hills Golf course.
Councilperson Dell asked for an explanation on the committee's
recommendation to establish a Board of Commissioners. It was
explained that this commission would act as a board for those
departments that are currently not governed by a board or
commission, i.e.. Public Works Department, City Engineer, etc.
Councilperson Buck asked for further explanation on the
recommendation that an ID Pass be developed for low-income
persons to gain entrance to the Recreation Center and also riding
MET. It was explained that federal transportation dollars are
often determined on ridership and that offering free passes to
low-income persons would assist in boasting the ridership at no
cost to the system.
Councilperson Brown stated that several community organizations
are working on solidifying funding to exterior agencies.
Councilperson Brown noted that the committee had not made any
recommendations on the continuation of the ice program at
McElroy. The City's financial obligation for maintenance of
McElroy was reviewed.
City Council Work Session
February 21, 1989
Page 2
The recommendation that the Recreation & Arts Department act as
an umbrella for future funding requests dealing with culture and
art agencies was discussed.
Mayor McKinley stated that the Council may want to consider an
additional work session to further review the Citizens' Budget
Review Committee's report as well as the administrative staff's
budget recommendations.
Discussion was heard concerning the committee's recommendation
that the Food Bank not be funded for the coming year.
Councilperson Buck stated that the City could have realized an
immediate savings on the issue of paying health insurance for its
retired employees if the recommendation of the committee was
enacted.
Leon Mosley defended the committee's decision to delay release of
the report until tonight's meeting. He also reported that
Councilperson Wright had not attended any of the departments'
budget presentations.
A recent article in the Waterloo Courier reported on the cash
carry-over of the state's ten largest cities indicating that the
City of Waterloo's cash carry-over is the lowest of these ten
cities.
Bruce Meisinger, Budget Analyst, presented the time frame for
adoption of the budget, including the need to publish the budget
prior to the hearing.
The vote on the minority report was discussed. Further
explanation was provided concerning chore services funded with
Block Grant Funds to allow contracting with Operation Threshold
and the Jesse Cosby Center to hire low-income teenagers.
The position of Risk Manager in the Clerk/Auditor's Office was
also discussed.
Mayor McKinley stated that the recommendations of the committee
are very beneficial to the City and hoped that many of them could
be implemented. He thanked the committee for their generous
contribution to the City and thanked them for their diligence.
The Council agreed to meet again to discuss the City's FY 1990
budget on Monday, February 27, 1989.
With no further business before the Council, the meeting was
adjourned.
Larry P. Burger
Clerk/Auditor