Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout01/17/95COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 17, 1995 3:30 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Jordan, Murphy, Getty, Mollenhoff. Members absent: Krizek, Collier. Moved by Murphy, seconded by Mollenhoff that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Krizek, Collier. Motion carried. Bob Stevenson, Administrative Director, reviewed the proposed list of fund transfers to various Capital Improvement projects with the council. The funds are being transferred to close out project accounts after completion of the project and to assist in the consolidation of funds where appropriate as requested by the City's auditor. A complete listing of the fund transfers will be available in the City Clerk's office for review by the public. Don Temeyer, City Planner, identified the funding arrangements for the expansion of the Park Avenue Ramp. Funds are available from an EPA grant, special assessment fund and available taxes from the Downtown Tax Increment Financing district. Downtown property owners have agreed to assess additional taxes for the ramp expansion through the special assessment fund. TIF funds will become available after FY 1996 when the Conway Civic Center Ramp debt is paid off. The $2,700,000 bond program combined with these other funds will complete the project as estimated. The importance of meeting parking needs to attract new businesses to the downtown area was discussed. Discussion was also heard on the potential to increase parking availability if a shuttle service with MET is developed. With no further discussion, it was moved by Murphy, seconded by Getty that the meeting be adjourned at 4:06 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Krizek, Collier. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 17, 1995 4:15 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Anders, Jordan, Murphy, Getty, Mollenhoff, Krizek. Members absent: Collier. Moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Krizek, Collier. Motion carried. Street Superintendent Dick Grimm presented two options for continuing operations in the Sanitation Department. Currently the department is understaffed and Manpower workers are being utilized to fill the gap. Four additional refuse collectors would need to be hired to return the department to a full service level. As a second option, Dick Grimm provided a demonstration tape of a proposed automated refuse collection system. The system includes the purchase of a one-man refuse collection truck and one roll-out container to be provided to each garbage customer for use on the automated routes. A cost comparison between the current refuse collection systems and the proposed automated system was presented and discussed. It is estimated that staffing requirements and their associated costs would be decreased with the use of the one- man automated trucks. Additional savings could be realized in a reduction of workers compensation costs, lost time due to work related injuries and a decrease in required supervision. The City of Cedar Falls is currently operating two routes using the proposed system and it is working well. Cedar Falls has staggered its collection fees based on the size of container utilized by the residence. The fees are as follows: 32 gallon container rate is $8.00 per month, 68 gallon container rate is $13.00 per month and the 95 gallon container fee is $19.00 per month. Approximately forty-five percent of the residents are using a 32 gallon container. Additional bags may be placed on top of the container for pickup if a sticker is purchased for a cost of $1.25 per sticker. The City of Waterloo would need to set up a volume based fee system to accommodate the changes in refuse collection associated with an automated system. It is being recommended that the City start with two automated routes and maintain the remaining routes with two man crews. Councilperson Krizek is in attendance at 4:55 p.m. Councilperson Jordan raised concerns with the costs as represented and the perception of using a volume based fee if the fees are not being reduced. It was felt that taxpayers would be unwilling to implement the system if the fees for the automated routes are established at a different level than the current garbage fee rate structure. It was suggested that a transfer station could be an option to cut the costs associated with service delivery. A transfer station would allow increased productivity as more residences could be serviced in one day. Councilperson Getty encouraged the Council to review the Cedar Falls automated routes as the City needs to make changes to the current collection system and this is the right time to make those adjustments. Councilperson Anders agreed that the decision to make a change needs to be done quickly so that if it is determined that no operational changes are needed four new employees could be hired or the change to automation could be started with the purchase of two new trucks as identified in the Capital Equipment program. Council Work Session January 17, 1995 Page 2 Councilperson Mollenhoff requested that the Finance Manager, Bruce Meisinger, review the material provided and work with the Street Superintendent to provide feedback on the cost analysis done by Mr. Grimm. Councilperson Getty included a request for an analysis of five fully automated routes being established with comparisons of costs and revenues included in the proposal. Moved by Mollenhoff, seconded by Krizek to direct Street Superintendent Dick Grimm and Finance Manager Bruce Meisinger to work together to prepare a GAAP cost analysis for the proposal and staff is directed to seek bids for both types of refuse trucks. Ayes: Six. Absent: Collier. Motion carried. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Mollenhoff, seconded by Krizek that the meeting be adjourned at 5:06 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Collier. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk