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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/09/94March 9, 1994 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 Wednesday, March 9, 1994. Mayor John R. Rooff in the Chair. Roll Call: Jordan, Collier, Krizek, Mollenhoff, Anders, Murphy, Getty. 102614 - Murphy/Collier that the Calls for the Special Session of the City Council at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, March 9, 1994, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 102615 - Mollenhoff/Anders that the Agenda, as proposed, for the Special Session on Wednesday, March 9, 1994, at 7:00 p.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. HEARING 102616 - Jordan/Getty that proof of publication of notice of public hearing on the proposed F.Y. 1995 Budget for the City of Waterloo, Iowa, as published in the Waterloo Courier on March 3, 1994, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 102617 - Mayor Rooff reviewed the proposed Fiscal Year 1995 Budget. The proposed budget totaling $70,333,199 is based upon a total regular city tax levy rate of $19.96 per thousand dollars of taxable valuation, which will generate a total property tax revenue of $25,118,301 compared to the currently budgeted property tax figure for FY 1994 of $25,380,180, or a one percent decrease in total property tax askings. The proposed FY 1995 Budget also includes, for the first time, the voted library levy of 27 cents per thousand dollars. This 27 cent levy will generate $335,077 for expanded library hours beginning next fiscal year. Mayor Rooff pointed out that the FY 1995 Budget of $70,333,199, or an increase of $3,719,049 over FY 1994, was due to the following: $ 414,160 Federal Police Hiring Grant $ 335,077 Voted Library levy for expanded hours $ 115,130 Increased federal funding of Community Development Block Grant Program $1,474,416 Increased federal funding of the Housing Authority Program $1,380,266 Increased federal funding for city capital projects, mainly Sixth Street Extension Mayor Rooff proceeded to review and explain the line -item activities in the budget, as well as the total overall tax rate levies. He pointed out various funding activities within each program. Community Protection Program of $13,666,108 includes the 13 new additional police officers through the Federal Hiring Grant and maintaining 110 fire fighters by annuitizing retirement expenses. Human Development Program of $5,392,152 includes expanded Library hours, operating in McElroy for three months before Young Arena is ready for occupancy, the new water slides at the two swimming pools and an increase to some outside agencies from the hotel/motel tax. Community Environment Program of $40,759,086 includes two new garbage trucks, a reduction of one parking maintenance employee, elimination of the Public Works Administration budget, reallocating some funding to the street maintenance and snow removal budget, and the start-up and design funding for the Water Pollution Control Plant to meet Department of Natural Resources requirements. Policy & Administration Program of $11,265,886 includes eliminating one deputy in the City Clerk's office, a $124,000 savings in lower Tort liability insurance costs, a $400,000 savings by refunding General Obligation and Sewer Bond debt, increase of $9,340 to Cable Commission and transferring the Administrative Assistant position to the Mayor's budget. Mayor Rooff reviewed various pie -charts and graphs for the public's understanding. These included the total property tax rates of all taxing bodies, a breakdown by program of City of Waterloo taxes and valuations of property since 1986, a graph illustrating the tax rate on a $50,000 home in FY 1994 as compared to the tax rate on the same home in FY 1995. Mayor Rooff presented to the Council for their consideration a plan he had discussed earlier in this evening at a review meeting, that another $198,000 could be saved by lowering the sewer fund balance, contributing it to city operations, which would lower the tax levy another 16 cents. This would lower the tax rate levy to $20.05 as compared to $20.06 for FY 1994. The Mayor stated this is a proper use as confirmed by the city's auditing firm, Hogan & Hansen. March 9, 1994 Hearing - continued Anders/Collier Page 2 that the City transfer a sum of $198,000 from the Sewer Fund Cash Balance to the City operating fund, thereby further reducing the amount of property taxes collected by the City in Fiscal Year 1995. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 102618 - Mayor Rooff closed his budget presentation by reviewing various commitments made by this Council. These include: 1. Outstanding department appointments started or made within 30 days. 2. Reviewing of all Boards and Commissions within 30-60 days. 3. Energy audit to save approximately $229,000. 4. Spending more money for pot hole repairs. 5. The intent of re -opening Fire Station #6. 6. Refunding of Sewer Bonds. 7. Instituting a budget "line -item" control for expenditures and revenues. 8. Re -organizing the City's accounting system. 9. Moving into centralized purchasing with Black Hawk County. 10. Working to lower taxes in Fiscal Year 1996. The Mayor asked for oral comments from the audience. Forest Dillavou, 1725 Huntington Road, stated he would like to thank everyone: Mayor Rooff, Council Members, Budget Review Committee and all department heads who worked on this budget. He stated this budget is wonderful for Waterloo as it is upbeat and we need more upbeats. As a taxpayer, he was very pleased with what was done. Herbert Lentsch, 715 Martin Road, feels the monies allocated to the outside agencies should be cut. He would rather see this money used on sanitary sewers and storm sewers that are badly needed on the west side as they are plugged up most of the time. Mr. Lentsch also feels the city does not need to re -open Fire Station #6. Charles Angel, 2144 Cardinal Drive, and Pierre Denault, 205 Lovejoy, spoke on behalf of the Cable Commission. Mr. Angel read a statement from the Commission telling the Council the additional money ($20,000) is needed to increase public access programming and improve cable operations in the city. He stated the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) intended that the franchise fee be used solely for cable operations and not used for General Fund operations as has been done over the years since its inception. Mr. Denault informed the Council that the FCC could eliminate franchise fees if it discovers cities are not using them for their intended purpose. Any subscriber paying their cable bill could say it goes somewhere else and sue the city for not using the money for its intended purpose. Bill Lemke, 149 Madison Street, stated there was a cooperative government group formed several years ago where the city, county and the schools got together and tried to work out things that they could do more economically together. He feels the Mayor and Council are on the right track in doing this and encourages looking further into this joint cooperation. Mr. Lemke is also in favor of the motor pool concept which the Mayor and Council are studying. Barbara Leestamper, 207 Highland Boulevard, was very encouraged that the city was looking into centralized purchasing, as a great amount of money can be saved by doing this. Ms. Leestamper also questioned volume -based garbage and how it works. Mayor Rooff stated they have not studied this yet as they have not had the time because they only had nine weeks to prepare this budget and get it certified. Now we can start looking into other money saving ideas. Gene Fluhr, 1317 Logan Avenue, questioned the street maintenance budget. He stated he has an alley where they have been trying to get a grader out and maintain it. He has also been working with the State Department of Transportation as the "blacktop" stops at the 1200 block, and they have a terrible erosion problem in the 1300 block of Logan Avenue causing him to replace part of his house foundation. Mayor Rooff asked City Engineer Eric Thorson to look into this situation and get in touch with Mr. Fluhr on his findings. John Wahl, 1820 Sager Avenue, suggested the city could generate more revenue by charging the Waterloo Diamonds Baseball more money to lease the municipal stadium. He stated he learned this evening during the Mayor's presentation, that Waterloo Baseball Inc. is a for-profit corporation and is in the process of selling the franchise for $2 million, and that they lease the stadium for only $1 per year. Where does the arithmetic come in, if we are leasing it to them for $1 per year, and they turn around and sell it for over $2 million. He further stated, "If they are going to take us to the cleaners, I think maybe we should do the dry cleaning." Mary Lichty, 535 West Wellington, stated she also feels the city should look into the lease agreement with the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, as the city is only receiving $50,000 to $60,000 per year. Tom Campbell, Acting Clerk/Auditor, stated the current lease requires them to pay the city 4.5 percent of their gross sales as rental and 1 percent for parking. Also, they are paying $12,500 per year for a maintenance agreement which is up at the end of the current fiscal year. March 9, 1994 Page 3 Hearing - continued Bob Smith, 2311 West Third, questioned the estimated $70,000 of property taxes that are used to fund outside agencies. He would suggest using this money to cover the $20,000 still needed this year to match the federal grant for the 13 new police officers. He stated he appreciates this budget much more than last year's and is encouraged by the Mayor and Council's action so far. He thanked them for their fine work on the budget, but challenged them to prioritize the city's needs in the future. Wayne Nathem, 548 Cloverdale, asked for a general layman's definition of the city's tort liability. Sue Fangman, Insurance Coordinator, stated it covers general property liability, auto liability, fire and damage for city buildings and professional (fire/police) liability. Getty/Krizek that the hearing be closed and oral and written comments be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 102619 - Murphy/Collier that the F.Y. 1995 Budget be approved, as above proposed, and that "Resolution approving F.Y. 1995 Budget for the City of Waterloo in an amount of $70,333,199, with a tax levy rate of $19.78 plus 27 cents voted Library levy for a total levy of $20.05", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 1994-74. ADJOURNMENT 102620 - Mollenhoff/Jordan that the Council adjourn at 9:00 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Tom Campbell Acting Clerk/Auditor