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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-11/04/1996CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 4, 1996 5:45 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Mollenhoff, Getty. Members absent: Moved by Getty, proposed. Ayes: Collier, Krizek. Murphy, Jordan, seconded by Jordan to approve the agenda as Five. Absent: Krizek, Collier. Motion carried. Finance Manager Bruce Meisinger reviewed a sample local preference policy as prepared by staff. There are three major points to the policy. The policy sets out the definition of local as Black Hawk County, establishes the option to use State bids and sets a 5% inflation factor for comparison of low bid. Mayor Rooff asked if the definition of local should differentiate between home office location versus salesman working from offices in their residences. Councilperson Jordan agreed that there needs to be the ability to look at tax base benefits but also sees the need to include salespersons who are residents operating within Black Hawk County. Councilperson Getty stated that he would just like clarification of what local is defined as. Anders indicated that he feels Black Hawk County is overly broad as a definition. It should be ranked somehow with preference to Waterloo business, County, State and Federal layers. Getty agreed that the original concept was to support Waterloo businesses first. Superintendent of Sanitation Dick Grimm pointed out that if there is only one local bidder then the policy would allow business owners to add up to five percent onto each bid. This could add many dollars in the purchase of large equipment. Mollenhoff asked if staff had looked at what other cities do about local preference. Meisinger reported that a survey was done five years ago and could be updated. He knows that Dubuque has a local preference policy and Des Moines does not. Mollenhoff asked that inquires be made into what cities are using as definitions for "sales offices". Getty stated that he would prefer to see the policy left unwritten. The finance committee has the ability to use common sense in their discretion over awards of bid. This way the policy is a discretionary function and won't paint the officials into a corner with hard and fast rules. Anders requested that an analysis on past purchases be done to illustrate the affects such a policy might have. With no further discussion on the matter, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Mollenhoff to adjourn the meeting at 6:10 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Krizek, Collier. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION November 4, 1996 5:30 p.m. Large Conference Room Members present: Mayor Rooff, Anders, Mollenhoff, Murphy, Jordan, Getty. Members absent: Collier, Krizek. Moved by Jordan, seconded by Murphy to approve the agenda as proposed. Ayes: Five. Absent: Krizek, Collier. Motion carried. Administrative Director Bob Stevenson reported on the progress of the City-wide Computer Plan. The purchases for the first year of the plan are approximately fifty percent complete. The report updates the council on the progress of the plan, the amount of money spent and the associated funding source. The Computer Technical Review Committee is monitoring all costs associated with the project and will report any deviations from the budgeted amounts to the Finance Committee. Anders requested that this report be provided on a periodic basis and that the next version indicate those items which have changed from this report. Getty asked if MIS Manager Jim Quint is able to communicate with all city departments. Quint explained that the plan calls for communications to departments to be completed within the three year plan. At this time connections have been made to the CJIS/Police network, city hall, Carnegie Annex and Black Hawk County. Murphy asked if bids are being taken for all purchases. Quint is always seeking at least one local bid and one bid direct from the manufacturer. At this time the local companies have not been comparable to the bids received by ordering direct. With no further discussion, it was moved by Jordan, seconded by Anders to adjourn the meeting at 5:55 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Krizek, Collier. Motion carried. Susan Fangman City Clerk