HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/17/1997CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
February 17, 1997
4:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Mollenhoff, Krizek, Getty, Anders, Jordan, Murphy.
Members absent: Collier.
Moved by Krizek, seconded by Mollenhoff to approve the agenda as proposed. Ayes:
Four. Absent: Jordan, Murphy, Collier. Motion carried.
Mayor Rooff summarized the progress that has been made in preparing the F.Y. 1998
budget. The Mayor and city staff met with the State of Iowa Departments of Management
and Revenue last spring to gain their assistance in forecasting the changes to residential
roll back figures. Those meetings resulted in roll back projections for the next three
years, so the budget has been based on a three year outlook to try to prepare for future
needs.
Jordan now present at 4:06 p.m.
F.Y. 1998 rollback is to drop from 59.3% to 58.8% which will still provide the City with
a net gain in tax dollars of $800,000 from new value. However, projections for F.Y. 1999
show that the rollback will drop to a low of 56% which results in a loss of $200,000 in
taxes. This budget is being prepared to reflect the anticipated need to cover the loss of
property tax dollars in F.Y. 1999.
The department heads were directed to prepare their budgets with an additional three
percent for salary increases and increased health insurance costs of eight percent. They
were then asked to cut three percent from their contractual and commodities budget
totals.
Several departments were analyzed on a zero based budget for personnel costs. Those
departments are the police, fire, and public works departments. Mayor Rooff hopes to
implement zero based budgeting on a city wide basis by the fiscal year 2000.
The goals set to begin the budgeting process were to reduce the tax levy from $18.55 to
$18.50 for a one percent reduction in the overall residential tax bill. Plans include
funding the opening of fire station #6, creating a payroll reserve for the year 2000 when a
twenty-seventh pay period is experienced and anticipating the loss of tax revenue next
fiscal year.
After the budgets submitted by the departments were reviewed with Mayor Rooff and city
staff, it is believed that we can hit the target tax levy of $18.50.
Krizek asked how much the property tax levy has been reduced since the beginning of
their administration taking office. Meisinger reported that the property tax levy has been
reduced by $1.82. Anders stated that he isn't sure this administration gets credit for
reducing taxes if the other taxing bodies like the schools and county increase their burden
to the overall tax bill. Citizens have been informing Anders that they wouldn't mind
keeping the current tax rate stable if better service is provided.
Finance Manager Bruce Meisinger distributed copies of the Hotel/Motel tax distribution
recommendations from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. The council will be asked to
endorse the distribution list formally at a later date.
Mollenhoff suggested changing city payroll periods to semi-monthly rather than bi-
weekly to eliminate the twenty-seventh pay period problem. Staff will review the
bargaining agreements for any limitations.
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February 17, 1997
Murphy now present at 4:45 p.m.
Anders asked questions regarding several specific line item requests. Ambulance
revenues are projected to increase dramatically. Anders requested staff review the health
insurance amounts budgeted as they don't reflect the eight percent across the board
increase. Staff explained that anticipated retirements may also impact the figures above
the eight percent but that they would review each department's projections.
Finance Manager Bruce Meisinger reported that the Citizen's Budget Review Committee
is scheduled to meet during the next two weeks to review the overall budget and meet
individually with the fire, police and recreation department staff.
With no further discussion on the budget process, it was moved by Getty, seconded by
Jordan to adjourn the meeting at 4:55 pm. Ayes: Six. Absent: Collier. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk
City Council Work Session
February 17, 1997
5:00 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Mollenhoff, Jordan, Krizek, Getty, Anders, Murphy.
Members absent: Collier.
Moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan to approve the agenda as proposed. Ayes: Six.
Absent: Collier. Motion carried.
Fred Dock with Barton-Aschman Associates presented the results of the San Marnan
Drive Traffic Study to the mayor and council. The study included the intersections along
San Marnan from Ansborough Avenue to Highway 218. Traffic count results were
tabulated for three different periods during the weekdays and weekends.
The traffic count studies reflect three predominant patterns of traffic flow along San
Marnan Drive. Traffic flows from the 218 interchange into Crossroads and through to
Flammang Drive. The second pattern flow detected shows traffic coming off of
Flammang Drive and Hammond Avenue to San Marnan and along to Washington. The
third pattern of movement is traffic from Ansborough and Kimball Avenue onto San
Marnan Drive and exiting onto Hawkeye Road.
The studies indicate that traffic patterns are focused on turning movements rather than
moving consecutively from one segment to the next. Most of the improvements
recommended are at intersections to aid in turning movements. Storage lane needs for
turning movements are impacting the volume of traffic flow in the two existing lanes.
Additional queue storage is needed at several intersections in addition to signal control
improvements.
Future growth was projected through the year 2020 and Barton-Aschmna's
recommendations phase improvements through that time frame. The recommendations
for improvements were based on the criteria of balancing short and long term needs;
staging individual improvements incrementally into an overall plan; improving traffic
safety and enhancing access and mobility in the corridor.
Signal improvements or additional turn lanes are needed at the Ansborough, Flammang
and La Porte Road intersections. Dual left tum lanes are recommended at Hammond and
Flammang.
The frontage road was studied for possible improvements however there isn't enough
room in the intersections and it can't be moved because it would need at least three
hundred feet of easement which isn't available. The suggestions for improvements for
the frontage road and intersections is to create slip ramps off of San Maman to alleviate
congestion at the intersections and to channelize intersections for right in right out
movements. Another possibility would be to install interconnected traffic signal flow
controls to improve traffic flow through the intersections.
Several residents from the Hammond Avenue neighborhood association requested that
additional studies be completed for Hammond Avenue between Flammang and Ridgeway
Drive. Traffic is stacking up during peak periods from GMAC or on weekends from
residents gaining access to Crossroads. Residents find it difficult to enter onto Hammond
Avenue from side streets due to the traffic congestion along there.
City staff will be continuing to work with Barton Aschman on project details and will be
incorporating the Crossroads area study contracted by Dillards into the traffic study data.
Council Work Session Page 2
February 17, 1997
With no further discussion, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Mollenhoff to adjourn
the meeting at 5:59 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Collier. Motion carried.
Susan Fangman
City Clerk