HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/06/91March 6, 1991
The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Special Session at City Hall Council
Chambers, Waterloo, Iowa at 7:00 p.m. on March 6, 1991. Mayor Bernard L. McKinley in the
Chair. Roll Call: Dell, Fox, Angel, Buck, Wright, Budak, Brown.
The members of the Citizens' Budget Review Committee were introduced and presented with
Certificates of Appreciation. Members present: Ruth Fairbanks. Other members of the
Citizens' Budget Review Committee include: Jim Kacher, Rick Young, Brad Condon and Ray
Dial.
97057 - Moved by Buck, seconded by Dell
that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on proposed Fiscal Year
1992 Budget for the City of Waterloo, as published in the Waterloo Courier on
March 1, 1991, be received and placed on file. Motion carried.
97058 - HOLD HEARING --This being the time and place of public hearing, the Mayor called
for written and oral objections.
Bruce Meisinger, Budget Analyst, provided an overview of the F.Y. 1992 Budget
expenditures of $64,147,656. A bar graph was displayed showing projected
current year end general fund balances of $400,000. Taxable values of each of
the property classes were reviewed. A pie chart was shown representing percent
of the total budget by program area includes: Community Protection (19.3
percent), Human Development (8.1 percent), Community Environment (53.9
percent), Administration (4.1 percent), and Debt Service (14.6 percent). Types
of revenues that the city receives include: property taxes, sale of bonds,
sales tax, and other revenues. The total proposed city property tax rate is
$18.70 per one thousand dollars of taxable value. The types of levy comprising
this rate include: general ($8.10), benefits ($4.05), debt service ($4.95),
transit ($.54), and other general ($1.06).
Mayor McKinley proceeded to review the activities comprising the budget. The
first was the Community Protection area. The Mayor called for questions and
comments and there were none.
Moved by Buck, seconded by Angel
that the Community Protection Activity in the amount of $12,371,056 be
approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
97059 - Mayor McKinley proceeded to the Human Development activity. Mayor McKinley
stated that subsidized outside agencies were being funded through a one line
item in the budget entitled "City Subsidized Agencies" totaling $95,209. This
amount is one-third less than the current year's allocation for these agencies
of $142,822. He stated that the Metro Funding Council has been working with
the Focus study group to determine the community's priorities for funding of
human service agencies.
Dan Yates, 1650 Golden Valley and a representative of Waterloo Baseball Inc.,
urged the Council to support capital improvements at the stadium and the
recommended stadium improvements in the F.Y. 1992 bond schedule. He stated
that the city and Waterloo Baseball Inc. have had a very good working
relationship in the past, including approximately $25,000 in capital
improvements.
A representative of the Northeast Iowa Council on Substance Abuse urged the
Council to continue funding of the agency's activities at $43,000.
The Fiscal Officer at the Northeast Iowa Council on Substance Abuse stated that
city funds have been used in the past to receive matching state funds.
Low-income individuals pay for services on a sliding fee schedule.
Bill Boesen, 405 Devonshire Drive, spoke in support of Waterloo baseball and
reported that supporters of baseball have spent many hours keeping baseball in
the community.
The past president of Waterloo Baseball Inc. stated that the sport brings many
people and dollars to the community.
March 6, 1991 Page 2
Gary Cook, 416 Oneida and Director of the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center,
stated that they could not afford a 33 percent cut in funding. He also stated
that agencies representing the black community will be eventually cut out of
all funding if funding requests are recommended by a select group such as
Focus. He urged the Council not to turn its agency's dollars over to the Metro
Council for distribution.
Martha Nash, 212 Ankeny Street and Director of the Martin Luther King Center,
stated that any cuts in city dollars could not be made up by increasing
clients' fees. She stated that in order to improve the economy of the entire
community, skills of all people in the community must be properly addressed.
She stated that the center currently operates on a shoestring and any cuts
would result in cutting their shoestring.
Kathy Oberle, 710 Forest Avenue, questioned the additional hotel/motel tax
revenues the city has received over and above the $210,000 cap that is
allocated to the Waterloo Convention and Visitors Bureau. She suggested that
this additional money could be used for human service agencies. She stated
that now is not the right time to cut human service agencies, particularly
those that deal with providing basic human needs.
Shirley Koslowski, 816 Archer Avenue, stated that she was not in favor of
funneling funds through the Focus group for distribution. Even though the city
has proposed reducing its allocation to these agencies by 33 percent, the need
has not been reduced accordingly.
Jimmie Porter, 1322 Northey Avenue and representing KBBG Radio, stated that the
radio station serves the community in many ways by instilling pride in the
black people in the community. He also questioned the Focus group and asked
that the city distribute its own funds rather than allow the Focus group to do
so.
Pat Kuebler, 155 Norfolk Road and Executive Director of Operation Threshold,
expressed her concerns regarding the Focus group. She reported that her agency
provides service to the low income and brings many federal dollars into the
community, including the WIC Program (Women and Infant Children), emergency
assistance funds and others.
Mayor McKinley stated that tonight's vote would not give the money to the Focus
group. That decision will be made at a later time. Many human service
agencies continued to be funded by the city even after federal revenue sharing
was discontinued, which explains why the city continues to fund them.
Councilperson Dell stated that the Council is not in unanimous agreement to cut
funding to human service agencies. He supported keeping them in the city
budget and funding at current levels.
Roger Crimmins, representing the Waterloo Community Theatre, stated that the
Community Theatre works for everyone in the community. The funds received by
the city are used specifically for the disadvantaged and Partners in Education
Program. He was not in support of the Focus group.
Dave Swinehart, representing the Grout Museum, asked that the Council consider
funding the Grout Museum through hotel/motel tax proceeds since the Grout
Museum is a top tourist attraction in the area.
Dave Simpson, General Manager of Waterloo Baseball, asked that the Council
favorably view baseball in our community as it greatly adds to the quality of
life.
George Meeks, 609 East Donald Street and a member of the Human Rights
Commission, asked that the Council look very sensitively at taking services
away from the poor people in the community, particularly those subsidized with
city funds.
Mayor McKinley stated that as a former active participant in United Way
campaigns he was very understanding of the plight of poor peoples' needs.
Councilperson Fox questioned the yearly bond payment for the Civic Center debt
retirement and proposed use for excess funds.
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March 6, 1991 Page 3
Discussion was heard on funding the Municipal Band, Grout Museum,
Waterloo/Cedar Falls Symphony, and Cedar Arts Forum from the hotel/motel tax.
Moved by Dell, seconded by Wright
that all of last year's subsidized outside agencies, excluding Waterloo
Community Playhouse, Grout Museum, Cedar Arts Forum and Municipal Band, be
restored to last year's funding level and that the four agencies listed above
be funded out of excess hotel/motel tax proceeds after payment of debt service.
Prior to a vote on this motion, the following discussion was heard.
Larry P. Burger, Clerk/Auditor, questioned how these four agencies would be
funded if hotel/motel tax proceeds came in at less than the projected amount.
Councilperson Buck suggested the possibility of paying the subsidized agencies
on a quarterly basis and should the hotel/motel tax come in at a higher rate
than budgeted ($360,000), this money would be divided proportionately to each
of the agencies.
Gary Cook, representing the Jesse Cosby Neighborhood Center, stated that his
agency could not live with this scenario.
Merlin Biretz, 123 Prospect Circle, stated that perhaps the city should be
looking at other major increases in the budget, including sewer and garbage
fees. Mayor McKinley explained that these are enterprise funds and fees
collected for these services must be spent in the same area as collected.
With the approval of the mover and seconder, the above motion was withdrawn
from the table.
97060 - Moved by Buck, seconded by Budak
that for F.Y. 1992 all subsidized agencies funded by the City of Waterloo
during F.Y. 1991 be funded at two-thirds of that level (to be paid quarterly)
and that if the motel/hotel tax proceeds for the year exceed the budgeted
amount of $360,000, the surplus be divided proportionately among all agencies.
Ayes: Six. Nays: Brown. Motion carried.
97061 - The Mayor asked for additional comments on the Human Development activities.
Rick Tagtow, Director of Parks and Forestry, was asked how the proposed budget
decreases would affect his department. Mr. Tagtow stated that the decrease is
mainly due to a reduction in the road use tax transfers to his department.
Last year, these transfers were used for purchase of capital equipment, more or
less on a one time basis. The reductions will also mean that there will be six
less temporary staff members and no capital improvements for the department.
In addition, the department will gain approximately 2,000 additional acres of
public right of way.
Moved by Buck, seconded by Fox
that the Human Development Activity in the amount of $5,177,546 be approved.
Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
97062 - The Mayor announced that the time had arrived for discussion on the Home and
Community Environment activity.
In response to questions, Public Works Director John Meyer stated that the
increase in street cleaning costs was associated with the transfer of two
positions from the road use tax budget to the solid waste budget. These
positions were associated with street cleaning.
Moved by Buck, seconded by Brown
that the Home and Community Environment Activity in the amount of $36,336,186
be approved.
Prior to a vote on this motion, the following discussion was heard.
March 6, 1991 Page 4
Al Manning, 919 Fairview Avenue,
Planning and Zoning budget. Don
stated that the increases were due
Kathy Oberle, 710 Forest Avenue,
totaling $9.3 million.
It was explained that this amount includes the upcoming General Obligation
Bond issuance of $5.3 million as well as the $4 million in sewer revenue bonds
that are anticipated to be sold in the coming months. She also questioned
whether or not the F.Y. 1992 Budget included the first interest payment on the
city's debt. It was explained that the budget does contain this payment. She
also asked whether or not the Fifth and Sixth Street project was to be funded
with local option taxes. The Mayor stated that no local option sales tax money
will be used for the construction of the Fifth and Sixth Street Corridor.
Ruth Fairbanks, 708 Lorraine Avenue, clarified that the local option sales and
services tax can only be used for existing city streets.
The MET Transit levy was reviewed. The proposed amount of $648,269 was the
maximum levy limit allowed by the State of Iowa ($.54 per thousand dollars of
valuation). The City Council could then adjust the levy at any amount less
than this published amount.
Mayor McKinley stated that each penny increase in the levy limit would raise
approximately $12,000. An additional four cents would restore services to the
elderly through the Regional Transit Commission and an additional two cents
would allow the fare for the disabled to be decreased from its current $1.50
per ride to $1 per ride.
questioned the 9.2 percent increase in the
Temeyer, Planning and Development Director,
to insurance and personnel costs.
questioned the capital improvement projects
Moved by Budak, seconded by Angel
that MET Transit Authority budget be amended to reflect an increase of six
cents per one thousand dollars of valuation from the current F.Y. 1991 Budget
level for use by the Metropolitan Transit Authority Board of Directors, with
four cents being for service to the elderly and an additional two cent levy for
underwriting the cost to the disabled. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
97063 - Moved by Buck, seconded by Wright
that the Home and Community Environment Activity in the amount of $36,336,186
be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
97064- The Mayor announced that the time had arrived for discussion on the Policy and
Administration activity.
Councilperson Angel stated that the Cable Commission budget was recommended to
be funded in the F.Y. 1992 Budget at a level of $2,000. She stated that the
city has realized a considerable increase in franchise fees and that additional
funding to the Commission would not result in a tax increase.
Councilperson Buck suggested that the City Council's salaries be rolled back in
order to fund the Cable Commission's activities.
Councilperson Budak expressed his support of additional funds for the
Commission.
Al Manning, 919 Fairview Avenue, stated that he
of funding for the Commission.
Kathy Oberle, 710 Forest Avenue, stated that it
City Attorney's budget was to be reduced as was
by the Citizens' Budget Review Committee.
was in favor of a higher level
was her understanding that the
recommended several years ago
Moved by Buck, seconded by Angel
that the City Council's salaries for F.Y. 1992 be reduced by $5,500 with said
monies to be allocated to the Cable Commission.
March 6, 1991 Page 5
Prior to a vote on this motion, the following discussion was heard.
Chuck Angel, Chairperson of the Cable Commission, reiterated the contents of
his letter dated March 6 to the Council concerning their recommended budget
level.
Moved by Buck, seconded by Angel
that the current year's budget for the Cable Commission be augmented with
an additional $8,800 in funds from the current franchise fees, that $5,500 of
the City Council's anticipated salary increase for F.Y. 1992 be transferred to
the Cable Commission's budget and that the $2,000 recommended be approved.
Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
97065 - Moved by Buck, seconded by Budak
that the Policy and Administration Activity be approved at a level of
$10,225,775. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried.
97066 - Moved by Budak, seconded by Brown
that the F.Y. 1992 Budget be approved and that "Resolution approving F.Y. 1992
Budget for the City of Waterloo in an amount of $64,110,563", be adopted and
Clerk/Auditor instructed to certify said amount to County Auditor. Ayes:
Seven.
Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 1991-101.
97067 - Moved by Buck, seconded by Dell
that the Council adjourn at 9:35 p.m. Motion carried.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor