HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/17/1997COUNCIL WORK SESSION
November 17, 1997
5:30 p.m.
Large Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Getty, Krizek, Mollenhoff, Anders,
Collier, Murphy.
Members absent: Jordan.
Moved by Collier, seconded by Mollenhoff that the Agenda, as
proposed, be approved. Ayes: Five. Absent: Jordan, Murphy.
Motion carried.
An application with the U.S. Department of Energy and the Iowa
Department of Natural Resources for a Partnership Agreement to
support and participate in the Rebuild Waterloo Energy Efficiency
Initiative was reviewed. The goal of the program is to stimulate
economic development and vitality through a comprehensive energy
efficiency effort and to further test the concept of a community-
wide energy efficiency project as a means to promote Waterloo's
vast amounts of products and services. The community of Waterloo
will be responsible for promoting the overall benefits of the
project by meeting with community and business leaders, promotion
through the Chamber of Commerce and promotion through the public
and private school systems.
Murphy now present at 5:32 p.m.
The City and The Energy Group will also promote the program to
individual customers. This will include customer mailings and
telemarketing. All commercial and industrial business in the city
will be eligible for this program along with all schools and multi-
family apartment units. The financing for the improvements will
come from either Iowa Energy Bank Program or through local lending
institutions/banks. Moved by Getty, seconded by Anders that said
application be recommended for approval and forwarded to the full
council for approval. Ayes: Six. Absent: Jordan. Motion
carried.
The Mayor/Council Goals Number 24 though 37 were reviewed.
Item No. 24 --Continue to lower taxes to become more competitive on
taxes. A property tax goal will be established by rate and tax
bill impact as a specific priority at the beginning of each budget
preparation cycle. Continue to utilize multi-year projections,
rollback estimates and five year financial modeling to manage the
property tax levy from year to year. Continue to identify and
achieve cost -efficiencies in all city operations to contain growth
burden on future tax levies.
Item No. 25 --Tighten budgets and provide finance teams to assist
with individual department financial functions. Finance teams will
continue with department reviews. The Finance staff will be
restructured to maximize review and analytical staff availability.
Consulting services will be contracted as needed to address
specific targeted areas under review. Zero -based budgeting methods
are being initiated with FY99 Budget.
Item No. 26 --Maximize service from MET Transit subsidy. Bank debt
was retired in July ten months ahead of schedule for $12,000 cost
savings. The FY98 Budget should end with a fund balance.
Item No. 27 --Open Fire Station No. 6. The Fire Station was opened
on June 14, 1997.
Item No. 28 --Support and build the public safety programs. The
Fire Department has developed several service programs such as the
Learn Not to Burn Program, and the Safe Haven Program. The Police
Department is at 100 percent manpower. The vehicle fleet is in
excellent shape, mobile video cameras have been installed, new
Council Work Session
November 17, 1997
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radio system and five new radar units have been funded by state
grant programs.
Item No. 29 --Continue with after school clubs and incorporate
police and fire participation. The city has entered into an
agreement with UNI to evaluate positive impact for after school
programs, which will be a tool when applying for grants.
Item No. 30 --Staff report continuation with more effective and
timely responses. The staffing process is working.
Item No. 31 --Hire an affirmative action officer and promote
minority hiring and recruitment. The Administrative Secretary has
been promoted to Personnel Analyst. The Affirmative Action Plan is
being updated.
Item No. 32 --Raise salaries of Mayor's staff. The Mayor's staff is
reviewed annually.
Item No. 33 --Encourage employee relationship throughteamwork and
acceptance of responsibility. The city is a member of the Cedar
Valley Labor/Management Council and meetings are held when
necessary.
Item No. 34 --Have a more visible and receptive police department.
Twenty-one marked patrol cars on the fleet make the Police
Department one of the most visible of the city departments. The
department now has a horse patrol, motorcycles and bicycles which
makes the department very visible to the citizens.
Item No. 35 --Public safety issues. The issue of having fourteen
uniformed officers on the street at all times is being analyzed.
The new street enforcement unit is actively working on zero
tolerance for drug trafficking and drug houses.
Item No. 36 --Complete automated garbage routes. This should be
completed by August 15, 1998.
Item No. 37 --Restoration or demolition of Klinefelter Building.
Main Street Waterloo has advertised the building nationally in
Preservation Magazine. To date the advertisement has generated
twenty-seven inquiries. Out of these inquiries three developers
have indicated interest. Two developers have visited the site, and
one developer plans to visit the site again next month. Main
Street Waterloo suggests that before any decision is made
pertaining to the demolition of the building, that the demolition
cost, estimated around $75,000, be pledged as an economic incentive
to save the building.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by
Mollenhoff, seconded by Krizek that the meeting be adjourned at
6:09 p.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Jordan. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk