HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/11/1996City Council Work Session
March 11, 1996
5:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Getty, Jordan, Krizek, Murphy,
Anders, Mollenhoff, Collier
It was moved by Murphy, seconded by Jordan to approve the agenda as
proposed. Ayes: Six. Absent: Collier. Motion carried.
Collier now present at 5:38 p.m.
Mayor Rooff reviewed the proposed F.Y. 1997 budget documents.
Staff has recommended that budget items for social service funding
requests should be established in general programs such as the
Youth Initiative or Community Development rather than specific line
items in the budget document. Funding for the Boys/Girls Club has
been added to the Youth Initiative budget line and Community
Development has programmed funding for Gates Youth Basketball.
Mayor Rooff proposed that following this year all arbitrary social
service funding requests should be incorporated into programmable
funding areas.
Councilperson Mollenhoff raised the issue of the NEICSA funding
request. He stated his support of an increase in funding as
substance abuse programming is the number one problem in this
community. The city receives offsetting revenue from the state
generated by liquor licenses and the revenue should be dedicated to
assist in addressing this issue. Mayor Rooff agreed that the
funding request is valid but expressed the desire that funding for
social agencies should come from one of four areas; Community
Development, Youth Initiative, Hotel Motel Tax or contingency
funds.
Councilperson Mollenhoff asked if the golf improvement funds are
adequate to meet the capital improvement needs of the three
courses. Parks Superintendent Paul Huting indicated that there is
a shortfall in the funding level but the Park Board is looking at
addressing needs through a fund raising effort.
Councilperson Krizek requested that the Hotel Motel tax funding be
reviewed again and the Junior Hawks tournament funding be increased
to $3,100 with the resulting decrease in funding attributed to the
Waterloo Softball Association. Councilperson Murphy stated his
support of the WSA funding and pointed out that many tournaments
sponsored by the softball association bring twenty to thirty out of
town teams to the area for a weekend. It was moved by Anders,
seconded by Murphy to change the hotel motel tax funding by
decreasing the Waterloo Softball Association grant to $12,400 and
increasing the Junior Hawks funding to $3,100. Ayes: Seven.
Motion carried.
Councilperson Mollenhoff questioned the need to dedicate community
development funds to the Waterloo School District for ADA
improvements. Mollenhoff stated that he recognizes that the
improvements are badly needed but doesn't support one public body
funding another. Councilperson Anders agreed in concept but stated
that in the spirit of cooperation he would support this funding for
one year.
Councilperson Anders asked that a work session be set up with the
Black Hawk County Health Department regarding inspections, clean up
efforts, along with parking on the parking enforcement.
Councilperson Murphy suggested that the parking on the parking
enforcement penalty be strengthened in the downtown area to
increase the incentive to comply with the regulations.
Councilperson Anders stated his
Riverfront Stadium. There are
are needed before professional
returning to the Waterloo area.
concern about the underfunding of
several capital improvements that
baseball would be interested in
Paul Huting explained that there
Council Work Session
March 11, 1996
Page 2
is a balance in the stadium improvement funds but no ongoing
support. The majority of improvement have been provided through
the contract with the Waterloo Bucks. The Bucks have added box
seating, a new scoreboard and are working on new bathrooms.
Mayor Rooff presented a graph which indicates that there is an
estimated reduction to the Waterloo residential tax bill for a
$100,000 home of $291. The City of Waterloo is responsible for
$154 dollars of the reduction or fifty-two percent of the tax
reduction. The council and mayor's five year goal to reduce taxes
five percent, and increase the general fund balance to five million
dollars, along with a Moody's bond rating upgrade is on track to be
achieved.
With no further changes to the budget it was moved by Collier,
seconded by Jordan to adjourn the meeting at 6:45 p.m. Ayes:
Seven. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk