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HomeMy WebLinkAbout08/03/92rTTy COUNCIL WORK SESSION August 3, 1992 5:30 p.m. Large Conference Room Roll call: Mayor Manning, Fox, Dell, Wright, Angel, Lemeke and Budak. Absent: Buck. The Mayor announced that the purpose of the meeting was to discuss staff recommendations for reduction of F.Y. 1993 Budget which includes a series of revenue enhancements and expenditure reductions totalling $359,120. The suggested list is as follows: 1. Police Charge for funeral escorts -- $50 per charge, approximately 500 escorts, per year. $25,000.00 Charge for large load escorts through the City. $10,000.00 2. Parks Department Increase golf revenue Park Board eliminating discounts on golf fees, i.e., senior and student discounts. *3. Clerk/Auditor's Department Increase meter revenue. Proposed increase is from 10t to 154 per hour or 2 hours for 254. Replace parking meters 600 block of Sycamore Street. *4. Planning and Development Division Create a plan review fee. This would charge the customer for reviewing the proposed plans for development. *5. Fire Department Increase ambulance fees. 6. Personnel Department To divide up the amount of the total personnel budget to be charged back per employee in each division. Transfer from other funds. 7. City Attorney's Office Charge back organizations for services rendered, i.e., Community Development and Waterloo Housing Authority. $50,000.00 $35,000.00 $20,000.00 $30,000.00 $10,000.00 $ 5,000.00 TOTAL REVENUE ENHANCEMENTS $185,000.00 EXPENDITURE REDUCTIONS: 1. Police Department Not filling two vacant uniform positions. $60,000.00 2. Fire Department Not filling two vacant uniform positions. $60,000.00 City Council Work Session August 3, 1992 Page 2 3. Clerk/Auditor's Office Reduce data processing expenses by eliminating some program rewrites. $17,000.00 *4. Planning and Development Administrative charge backs from street and sewer projects. $75,000.00 5. City Hall Maintenance Elimination of outside contractors with the filling of a second maintenance person. $ 6,100.00 6. Recreation & Arts Center Elimination of various programs now offered by the Recreation & Arts Center. $20,000.00 7. Waterloo Municipal Airport Increase pay back on the debt for the Airport. $10,000.00 8. Personnel Department Miscellaneous reductions. $ 2,000.00 9. Parks Department Delay seasonal hiring, thus shorter work season. $30,000.00 *10. Miscellaneous Reductions Reduce subsidy to the Waterloo Chamber of Commerce for housing administration. $ 9,020.00 Reduce non -conflict street lights, approximately 400 throughout the City of Waterloo. $70,000.00 TOTAL EXPENSE/SERVICE REDUCTIONS $359,120.00 *Requires city council approval. The following discussion was heard. Assistant Police Chief Alvin Meyer noted that the charge for funeral escorts is based upon the time taken and the number of men and cars required and will be based on an hourly rate. The question of providing escorts for indigent burials was brought to the table. Councilperson Wright stated that an indigent person should have the same services offered as other individuals. It was noted that police escorts are optional and must be requested. Larry P. Burger, Clerk/Auditor, noted that it was the staff's intention that each item be discussed and if agreed to in principle by the Council, those items requiring council action would be individually voted upon by the council. Details of each of the proposals could be discussed at that time. It was noted that the Park Board recently increased golf fees 50(t per round beginning P,ugust 1st. The proposed revenue enhancements also includes discounts for seniors and students which has not yet been acted on by the Park Board. The possibility of using the key card system for golf was discussed. Rick Tagtow, Director of Parks and Forestry, is compiling actual costs directly attributable to the golf operations. Due to the time and expense of changing the meter mechanism, Mr. Burger stated that perhaps a 20(P per hour fee would be more ales City Council Work .,ussion August 3, 1992 Page 3 feasible than 15(t. Replacing meters in the 600 block of Sycamore was also discussed. In response to a question from Councilperson Fox, Mr. Burger noted that each of the expenditures or revenues is based on a yearly sum and that any extensive delays in enacting them will result in lesser revenues generated or more expenses incurred. The creation of a plan review fee was discussed. This fee would be initiated to allow a certified plan reviewer to carefully comb the architectural drawings thus eliminating problems during construction phase. This individual would need to be certified and possibly paid a higher rate. Discussion was heard concerning hiring such an individual or schooling an existing employee to generate additional revenues. The net return to the general fund is estimated to be $20,000. The increase in ambulance fees from the current base rate of $85 to $105 per call would also include the increased cost of specialized equipment in the ambulance including cellular phones. A $10,000 transfer to the personnel department would be from services provided to departments. Not filling two vacant uniform positions in the police department will stabilize the department at its current strength but will short the department two officers on the street. Not filling two vacancies in the fire department will affect the number of vehicles in service at any time. Councilperson Dell stated he has some problems with cutting the police and fire budgets. Mr. Burger noted that the reduction in data processing services to his department is due to the county's rewriting of the payroll system and reducing our ongoing expenses of maintaining the old system. The $20,000 reduction in the Recreation and Arts Center budget reflects not hiring a maintenance individual. The increase in the pay back of the Airport's debt to the general fund is probably not realistic. The $2,000 reduction in the Personnel Department reflects the elimination of the travel budget and cutting back the number of standardized tests that are purchased. The reduction to the subsidy to the Chamber for housing administration included eventual move of the Housing Authority into city office buildings. Reduction of the 400 non -conflict street lights would be for mid - block lights. Mayor Manning noted that this list of recommendations was based upon a larger list of recommendations presented by department heads and agreed to by five or six councilpersons. It was noted that there were no proposed cuts in the Library budget. Mr. Burger presented an update on the campaign instituted by Don Miller. He reported that approximately 99 contributions have been received totalling $9075, plus an additional 28 city employees that have contributed a total of $2900. Councilperson Dell stated that he had problems with reduction in police and fire departments but that the council should move ahead with the proposed list as presented. It was noted that the F.Y. 1994 budget process will begin in October and that the capital improvements program will be presented to the council within the next few months. It was also noted that the Mayor's Citizens Reorganization Committee is City Council Work Session August 3, 1992 Page 4 currently meeting with city department heads, labor representatives and staff and that their deliberations are not final. It was also reported that the bargaining process will be beginning on an informal process with the appointment of an insurance committee to review current health insurance benefits. It was the general consensus of the council that the above list of revenue enhancements and service reductions be approved and that those items requiring council approval be brought to the council systematically in the very near future. No official action was taken by the council. With no further business before the council, the meeting was adjourned at 6:40 p.m. Larry P. Burger City Clerk/Auditor