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HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.10.2003• • COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 10, 2003 3:45 p.m. Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Rooff, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty, Kincaid. Moved by Jordan, seconded by Clark that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. The council met to review the FY04 Budget. Councilperson Welper stated he was surprised to see that departments have added additional positions when Mayor Rooff reported that the budget contains no new positions. Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, responded that some departments requested new positions, but they were not filled. Councilperson Jordan stated he supports the proposed FY04 Budget, but he asked down the road what other fees will be increased besides parking and building permit fees. Ms. Weidner responded that there may be some fees increased in the Leisure Services and Cultural & Arts Commission budgets. Paul Huting, Leisure Services Director, reported that Leisure Services staff recommended no increase in fees, and these fees have already been approved by the council. Staff is now recommending that seasonal golf passes be increased $50 and the set aside amount for capital improvements be reduced. Mr. Huting stated this will result in no net subsidy to the General Fund. Mr. Huting stated that if the fees are not increased, he will have to find ways to reduce expenses. Mr. Huting stated he had projected lower revenue for his department, and Ms. Weidner said he needed to have the same impact in the FY04 Budget as the FY03 Budget, so using projected rounds of golf, he will need to increase fees or cut expenses. Mayor Rooff stated that the General Fund Budget has an increase of $500,000 for the Municipal Police and Fire Retirement System, increases in employee benefits, and liability and property insurance premiums have increased with the result that we are at the $8.10 levy and we are balanced. Councilperson Clark stated he feels this is a fantastic budget but asked about next year's budget. Mayor Rooff responded that the budget process will be tough next year. Councilperson Clark suggested increasing the FY04 Budget one/half a percent to increase our fund balance. Ms. Weidner responded she doesn't believe the city could do that unless we increase the employee benefit fund. Ms. Weidner stated that no employee benefits are included in the $8.10 levy this year as they all have been pushed to supplemental levies. If we increased our askings by one- half a percent, we could not use those amounts for anything but the special levies. Councilperson Jordan stated he would like to keep the budget as low as possible this year and look for growth in taxable property next year. Councilperson Welper stated that during last year's budget process, the council talked about getting rid of the sidewalk repair program. Ms. Weidner responded that the revenues ($50,000) are equivalent to expenses ($50,000) for the sidewalk repair program. Ms. Weidner reported that she would like the council to hold the budget hearing on March 3, 2003 in order to file the certified budget with the County Auditor by March 15, 2003. The budget hearing form must be to the Waterloo Courier by February 18, 2003. The summarized budget is published, and at the hearing the amounts can be lowered but not increased. Councilperson Hurley asked if three additional code enforcement officers have been budgeted in the Building Inspection budget. Lou Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance Administrator, responded no new code enforcement officer have been budgeted in the Building budget, just the current three positions funded in the Sanitation Budget. Mayor Rooff stated the positions are funded out of the Sanitation budget because of Operation Pride and the goal of the city to clean up the neighborhoods. Mr. Cutwright stated that code enforcement officers also handle junky yards and junk cars complaints. Council Work Session February 10, 2003 Page 2 Councilperson Hurley stated he has tons of questions so he will need to get with each department. Mayor Rooff stated that we can talk for many hours, but we cannot change the $8.10 levy. Mayor Rooff stated that the council will review the Road Use Tax, Sanitation and Sewer budgets on Thursday. Councilperson Clark stated he is perfectly fine with the General Fund Budget, Councilperson Jordan stated he is 100 percent behind it, Councilperson Kincaid stated that what he looked at it looks good. Councilperson Welper stated his main concern is about the sanitation budget and cleaning up the city. Councilperson Hurley stated he will track down each department and get answers. Mayor Rooff stated he and Ms. Weidner could meet with Councilperson Hurley to go over his questions. Councilperson Hurley stated the General Fund Budget is in his comfort zone, but he needs some clarification and would love to come in at no increase. Mayor Rooff stated that in order to come in at no increase, the council would need to reduce this proposed budget by $1 million. Councilperson Hurley asked about the $26,000.00 increase in the council's budget. Mayor Rooff responded that $16,000.00 is the lobbyist agreement and $10,000.00 is the Cedar Valley Coalition costs. Councilperson Hurley asked about the $1,070,000 increase in revenues in the Clerk/Finance Budget, and Ms. Weidner stated that is the grant money to be received from the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Commission, and this amount will be moved from the Clerk/Finance Budget at a later date. Ms. Weidner stated this is a one-time revenue that could be used for the sewer fund or the general fund, but she suggested the council save the money for the downtown project. Mayor Rooff stated that the lobbyist agreement and Cedar Valley Coalition costs were in his budget, but Ms. Weidner moved them to the council's budget. Councilperson Hurley stated that the airport budget reflects no change. Mayor Rooff responded that the airport costs have been put in the Airport Levy, which will require some organizational changes. Councilperson Clark asked where is the Riverfront Project and has Black Hawk County committed to funding. Mayor Rooff stated that an Urban Renewal District will need to be created. Don Temeyer, Community and Development Director, stated that the city will amend our Urban Renewal District and staff will be bringing that to council in the next sixty to ninety days. Mr. Temeyer stated that Black Hawk County is planning on bonding their amount, which could be subject to a referendum. Councilperson Getty asked why the Code Enforcement Officers are funded with Sanitation Funds. Mayor Rooff responded that nine years ago the Sanitation Department was under the Street Depailinent and the Operation Pride program was staffed through the Sanitation Department. Mayor Rooff stated that Operation Pride's function was to keep lots mowed and keep the lots clean. The Sanitation Department was separated from the Street Department, and the Sanitation Department worked to clean up the neighborhoods and code enforcement was a natural to put with that department and is a legitimate use of sanitation fees. Mr. Cutwright stated that the city started with two code enforcement officers and the Operation Pride person was moved under him last year. Councilperson Getty asked if the costs for the Code Enforcement Officers are coming out of the sanitation budget, why don't they work out of Mr. Shea's department. Mayor Rooff stated that we have better control having the Code Enforcement Officers under Mr. Cutwright. Councilperson Getty stated he feels the three officers should be moved to Mr. Cutwright's budget. Mayor Rooff responded if the officers are put in Mr. Cutwright's budget, we will have to reduce the General Fund Budget. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Welper that the meeting be adjourned at 4:34 p.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk • •