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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/13/95COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 13, 1995 5:00 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Jordan, Murphy, Getty, Krizek, Collier, Mollenhoff. Airport Commission members present: Bob Peterson, Bob Heaton, Jack Swinehart, Mal Duncan, Camille Hogan. Moved by Jordan, seconded by Collier that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Mayor Rooff explained that the purpose of this joint session was to facilitate communication between the council and Airport Commission with regard to long range planning objectives and funding needs, personnel policies, and the need for fire service. Mal Duncan, Airport Commissioner, requested that personnel policies be the firstitem to be addressed. The City Council had a concern about the Airport Commission awarding raises to Airport personnel in excess of the increases established by the City Council. Mal Duncan stated that the Airport Commission has a committee assigned to this issue. Last June, the Airport Commission approved 3% raises to show their cooperation with the Mayor and Council's policy, however at the time of the decision it was agreed that salaries would be reviewed at the first of the year. Terry Lorenzen requested that his salary not be reviewed on January 1st. The Office Manager was awarded 3% in July and the Airport Commission approved an increase of one half of step #5 in her salary scale effective January 1st, 1995. This increase is a 5.65% salary increase. The step increase was justified because of the additional work done by the Office Manager that had in the past been done by an Assistant Director and a merit increase for completion of her education. Councilperson Krizek suggested a job reclassification be evaluated by the Personnel department before any merit raises are awarded in the future. Councilperson Mollenhoff requested that the Mayor direct the Personnel department to begin work on the reclassification process for this position. Mayor Rooff asked the Airport Commission to evaluate their fire service needs to allow for better utilization of fire staff at the airport. Terry Lorenzen, Airport Director, explained that on-site firefighters are required approximately eighteen to nineteen hours per day but are staffed for a twenty-four hour period. The Airport budgeted $102,000 for fire service reimbursement but actual costs to provide on-site firefighters is $118,000 for salary and benefits alone. The Airport could option to not have trained firefighters on-site by substituting maintenance staff trained and certified in Crash Fire Rescue service. FAA requirements stated that there needs to be a three minute response time to provide the CFR equipment to the airfield and be ready for rescue services. Bob Heaton, Airport Commissioner, explained that the CFR vehicle is designed as a one-man vehicle but the Commission felt it was a positive public relations step to have a professional firefighter as the operator. When the Airport station was re-established it was fully funded by the Airport at a cost of $72,000. However, the current requested funding is $118,000 which amounts to a 30% percent increased cost over last year. The current Airport budget may have problems supporting this increase. The Mayor asked if the Air National Guard could assist by providing this service. Terry Lorenzen explained that the Guard can supplement the Airport during their working hours but they aren't staffed twenty-four hours. Estimated costs of providing trained maintenance personnel for this duty is eighty to eight -five thousand dollars annually. Fire Chief Magsamen stated that the firefighters and Airport personnel are working together to address Council Work Session March 13, 1995 Page 2 the down-time by the firefighters. Tom Powers, International Firefighters Association representative, stated that they may be willing to address alternative assignments to make the system more productive. There has been one meeting held to address the issue and further meetings are planned. Councilperson Krizek raised questions whether the proposed development at the Airport will require additional fire support. Chief Magsamen informed her that it may result in a higher index but the regular fire service would be responsible for the development site not the Airport station. Councilperson Anders asked for a comparison of costs for fire service to other cities. Terry Lorenzen, stated that Dubuque maintains there CFR through trained maintenance staff and Mason City doesn't have any on-site personnel. Mal Duncan addressed the long range planning issue by stated that he had received the letter the Mayor sent regarding this issue and the Commission met and reviewed it today. A formal response will be forthcoming to address the items listed in the Mayor's letter. In summary, long range planning efforts include plans for a facelift to the terminal area, increasing customer awareness, increasing traffic flow and dealing with jet service. Mayor Rooff stated that the Council needs to be made aware of the funding expectations that are needed to complete the projects which are being planned. The Hughes-Koll study should assist with the overall direction in which development will be heading. Mayor Rooff asked if the Commission foresees a subsidy request in future years to assist with the Airport development. Bob Heaton stated that the most probable assistance that will be requested is bonding capacity. Projects should be funded at 90% if FAA approved but bonding for the 10% match could be needed. PFC funds are being charged to assist with the 10% match. Councilperson Getty asked if these boarding fees are the same to all residents. Terry Lorenzen informed him that the PFC charges must be the same for all passengers. Mayor Rooff thanked the Commission for their attendance at the work session and hoped that they understood the Council's need to look at the city globally in relation to all departments. He stated that the Council recognizes the Library and Airport Commissions autonomy but both Commissions have asked for funding from the City in the past. Mal Duncan responded that the Commission is in tune with working with the City and they feel that all will benefit by the growth of the Airport. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Mollenhoff that the meeting be adjourned at 5:55 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk COUNCIL WORK SESSION March 13, 1995 5:45 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Anders, Jordan, Getty, Krizek, Collier, Mollenhoff, Murphy. Moved by Getty, seconded by Collier that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved.. Ayes: Six. Absent: Murphy. Motion carried. Louis Cutwright, Building Official, presented the changes to the Dangerous Building Code that were requested by Council during last week's work session. Proposed changes are to amend Section 401.2, 3.3.1 and 3.3.3 to reduce the order for work or vacation from 60 days to 30 days. Section 401.2.6 will be added to allow the Building Official to order demolition in writing by publication and begin demolition 3 days after the publication if the owner fails to respond. These methods have been developed to assist in reducing the waiting period to force clean up of dangerous sites. Section 408.02 of the Dangerous Building Code allows the City to set up a demolition account which will fund these demolitions. Chapter 9 identifies funding recovery alternatives. Once the City orders demolition a funding mechanism will need to be identified. Community Development funds can be accessed in some instances but there are limitations on some of these funds to replace the structure with a like structure. Other methods of funding include tax assessment or income attachments. The Council approved these changes and thanked Louis Cutwright for his quick response to their request. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Collier, seconded by Mollenhoff that the meeting be adjourned at 6:06 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk