HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/22/93CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
February 22, 1993
5:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Roll call: Mayor Manning, Lemke, Budak, Wright, Buck, Angel and
Fox.
Members absent: Dell.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the formation of ADA
(Americans with Disabilities Act) Compliance Commission. Don
Temeyer, Planning & Development Director, reported that city staff
have been working with the Black Hawk Partnership on Disability to
prepare a transition plan to bring the City of Waterloo buildings
into compliance with said Act. Lou Cutwright, Building Official,
has done an inventory of city buildings and facilities and
identified specific needs. The Planning & Development Division
will provide staff support for the Commission which will sunset in
five (5) years.
Duane Kuenstling, Frank Hamlin, and Larry Schollenbarger were
present to express their support for the formation of said
committee. Said committee has spent considerable time surveying
city buildings and determining a priority schedule for compliance.
$50,000 is available from the current year general obligation bonds
schedule for city wide improvements. Funding of all projects will
be difficult and priorities will be established by the committee.
The first priority will be to provide accessibility to all
buildings and then provide accessibility within city buildings.
All disabilities are represented on the committee and minutes will
be available in braille and also for the hearing impaired.
No official action was taken by the City Council but general
consensus was to support the implementation of an ADA Compliance
Commission.
With no further business before the City Council, the meeting was
adjourned at 5:20 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
February 22, 1993
5:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Roll call: Mayor Manning, Lemke, Budak, Wright, Buck, Angel and
Fox.
Members absent: Dell.
The purpose of the meeting was to discuss the recommendations
contained in the report of the Mayor's Reorganization Committee
dated December 21, 1992.
Mayor Manning presented his proposal for implementation of said
committee's recommendations. There was discussion on whether the
remaining items in the citizens' report would be addressed and how
the committee's recommendations would be discussed and implemented.
Councilperson Fox stated that he endorsed approving the entire
report and then work on specifics of implementation. It was agreed
by council members that the report should be received and placed on
file and that plan specifics be worked on.
It was generally agreed that the recommendation to combine the
operations of the Waterloo Housing Authority with the Community
Development Board at the former East Side Library be approved.
The addition of the Community Development Board to the Planning and
Development Division was discussed. Councilperson Angel and Wright
did not support this idea. Dave Tyler, Chairperson of the Mayor's
Reorganization Committee, stated that the creation of six divisions
within city government and placing all departments under a division
was to address fragmentation concerns and would provide consistent
budgeting and future cost savings. Councilperson Buck supported
the idea that all departments should be represented by a division
head. The Mayor reported that this would not weaken the authority
of Community Development but would provide greater communication in
common areas including economic development matters.
Shirley Koslowski, member of the Mayor's Reorganization Committee,
supported the streamlining of city government and placement of each
department within one of the six divisions. Councilperson Angel
stated that she could not support adding bureaucracy to city
government and has never seen such an addition contribute to better
communication.
No decision was made on this item.
Councilperson Fox questioned fellow council members as to whether
they agreed with the philosophical foundation of the report to
create six divisions within city government. The Mayor stated that
he would not support the hiring of additional personnel to
accomplish the six division concept.
Public Works Director John Meyer responded to a question concerning
the efficiency of public works division. All of the departments in
the public works area are related but carry out different
functions. Their common thread is sharing equipment and people.
Department head positions within the division have been downgraded
as replacements have been hired. As time evolves, greater
advantages will be experienced. He supported the concept of
placing the Community Development Department under the direction of
the Planning & Development Director pointing to several areas of
mutual interest including neighborhood planning, building code
preservation and conservancy, and others. Six division heads
rather than many department heads also provides the Mayor with a
more efficient means of communication. Councilperson Angel stated
that she did not object to such a plan if it would not cost more
money for added personnel. Ms. Koslowski stated that the handling
of Community Development block grant funds should not be a problem
and that separate cost accounting measures would address these
concerns.
City Council Work Session
February 22, 1993
Page 2
No official action was taken on this item.
The establishment of a Parks and Recreation Division was discussed.
Councilpersons Angel and Buck did not object to such a plan.
Councilperson Wright stated that she was not ready to decide on
this issue. Discussions were heard among members of the Park and
Recreation Boards. Karon Keefe, member of the Mayor's
Reorganization Committee, spoke in support of the merger. Mr.
Tyler suggested that the council decide the policy issue of whether
the division concept would be implemented and then suggested that
the staff develop implementation guidelines. Dean Myhr, Director
of the Waterloo Recreation and Arts Center, urged the council to
allow board and staff members to work on the "how" of implementing
a combined division.
Informal approval was given to the Park and Recreation Departments
to prepare a plan on how such a merger would be implemented.
Councilperson Angel defended her right to descend on an issue and
to express opposition to others.
No official action was taken by the council, and the meeting was
adjourned at 6:44 p.m.
Larry P. Burger
City Clerk/Auditor