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HomeMy WebLinkAbout06.05.2003• • COUNCIL WORK SESSION June 5, 2003 8:30 a.m. Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Rooff, Kincaid, Welper, Clark, Getty, Hurley, Jordan. Members absent: Greenwood. Moved by Clark, seconded by Kincaid that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Four. Absent: Hurley, Jordan, Greenwood. Motion carried. Mayor Rooff updated the council on action of the state legislators. Mayor Rooff reported that the federal government gave $180 million to the state, with $80 million to go for Medicare and $100 to local governments. Councilpersons Hurley and Jordan now present at 8:35 a.m. Mayor Rooff stated that $40 million was to be given to cities throughout Iowa. The Iowa Senate proposed a new bill to use $40 million to fund Iowa Values Fund for the next couple of years, which will force the city to do things that probably needed to be done, but we must do now. The State is looking at requiring Internet sales to pay the state sales tax and using the money for the Iowa Values Fund to pay as we go. Mayor Rooff reported the legislators are looking at using square footage in the future for property tax purposes. Mayor Rooff reported that the following revenues were put in the FY04 Budget, but the council must take formal action: parking ramp and lot rate increase, building permit fee increase and using $1.25 of the $1.50 golf surcharge for maintenance. Mayor Rooff stated these items must be acted on by the council at the June 9, 2003 council meeting, and on June 16, 2003, we will review expenditures. Mayor Rooff stated that he and staff are looking at short-term solutions and then looking at the long-term at how we are providing services and forging relationships that will lower tax askings. Mayor Rooff referred to the strategic goals set out by the council. The airport renovations are underway, we have jet service, the Vision Iowa Project is proceeding, and work is going on at Logan Plaza. Some of these items don't impact the budget much as we use capital funds, such as the airport renovation where we use bond money and a federal grant, and we will be using bond funds for the Vision Iowa Project with back up from the Landfill grant. Mayor Rooff reported that the jet service guarantee is for one year. A meeting will be held in July to look at adding another jet. Mayor Rooff stated there is a budgeted economic development position that the council will need to look at on June 16, 2003. Mayor Rooff stated that we received input from the Town Meetings, he has asked city staff to submit suggestions by Monday, and he has asked the bargaining negotiation team to get together. We will be asking them for ideas on what they are willing to do, maybe consideration of salary increase delays. Mayor Rooff spoke about fund integrity. We are looking at $1.2 million in cuts, and the council will have to make a decision will we cut the General Fund only or spread the cuts over all five funds and transfer funds to the General Fund to save cuts. Mayor Rooff stated the city has been criticized for fund transfers, and if we do that he would like council's approval. Michelle Weidner reported that council members already approved the parking rate and building permit fee increases when the FY2004 Budget was adopted. If council does not approve these rate increases, we will have to come up with an additional $90,000. Ms. Weidner stated the building permit fees will bring us up with the same rates as other cities and will produce about $50,000 in revenues. Ms. Weidner stated $1.25 of $1.50 golf surcharge has been budgeted to be used for maintenance of the golf courses. The city currently uses bond money for golf improvements. The remaining twenty-five cents would be used for improvements. About $100,000 of the surcharge is already in the adopted FY2004 Budget. Ms. Weidner reported if the council does not approve these items, the FY2004 Budget will be short about $200,000. Council Work Session June 5, 2003 Page 2 Nancy Eckert, City Clerk, reported that the new legislation adopted by the legislators allows cities to increase parking fines. Ms. Eckert reported she is getting the figures together on the number of parking fines written in calendar year 2002 to come up with an estimated increase in revenues. Councilperson Getty stated he agrees with putting these three items on the June 9, 2003 council agenda. Councilperson Clark stated he remembers the building permit fee increase and $1.25 golf surcharge, but does not remember approving the parking rate increase. Councilperson Clark stated he would have trouble supporting a rate increase for parking in the ramps and lots as we want people to come downtown and raising the fees might drive people away from downtown. Councilperson Hurley commented if the council approves using $1.25 golf surcharge on Monday night, it would help Paul Huting if the council attends the Leisure Services Board meeting on Tuesday morning. Mayor Rooff stated this revenue was already approved in the FY04 Budget, it is not additional money. Councilperson Welper stated that a person attending the VGM Conference commented on how much cheaper parking is here than anywhere else. Doug Erpelding reported that the 1997 Building Code contains a schedule for building permit fees. We looked at Cedar Falls schedule and they rounded up the fees a little so the proposed increase is not exactly the 1997 Building Code schedule. Mayor Rooff stated he liked the idea of our building permit fees being in parity with Cedar Falls. Councilperson Jordan stated contractors have issues regarding building inspection that need to be shared and we need to get input from them. Mayor Rooff will asked Lou Cutwright, Building Official, to set up a meeting with the contractors. Ms. Eckert reported that the city issued about 2,300 dog and cat licenses in 2002, and she is proposing that the license fee be increased $10, which would add $23,000 additional revenue. The current fee is $5 for a neutered dog or cat and $10 for an unneutered dog or cat. Ms. Weidner reported that implementing a golf season pass increase effective January 2004 would bring in about $50,000 additional revenue. Paul Huting, Leisure Services Director, reported that raising the season passes $50 will have an estimated $50,000 impact. The Leisure Services Golf Improvement Committee has not approved this increase. Ned DeBerg, Fire Chief, reported that the EMS fees were increased not too long ago, but the Fire Department feels the fees could be increased and still remain competitive. By raising the ALS and BLS runs, we would receive approximately $20,000 additional revenue. The collection percent will probably drop, but net income would increase. Ms. Weidner reported the Fire Department has proposed matching the commercial property life safety re -inspection fee with the rental housing re -inspection fee. Currently a re -inspection for rental property costs $100, but a re -inspection for a business is $25 for the lst, $50 for the second and $100 for the third re -inspection. Ms. Weidner reported that the Police Department is often asked to provide escorts for funerals, and they are proposing enacting a fee for this service. Tom Jennings, Police Chief, reported the Police Department is proposing that funeral homes be charged $50 to provide funeral escorts. Chief Jennings stated some Police Departments no longer provide this service. Mayor Rooff stated that regarding funding integrity, we have funds with restricted uses. Mayor Rooff asked if restricted funds could be transferred is the council willing to transfer funds such as Road Use Tax. Councilperson Jordan asked will those transfers affect services, and if the council uses those funds, will they have to raise the fees. Councilperson Clark stated raising these revenues is a very small band aid that will hurt people using these services, but giving the city little revenue. • • Council Work Session June 5, 2003 Page 3 • • Councilperson Hurley asked if there is a venue for council members to throw ideas on the table and then grading them. Councilperson Hurley asked if it is imperative we have everything in place by July 1. Councilperson Hurley stated it may be necessary to look at the adopted budget. Mayor Rooff asked the council to give him and staff an opportunity to get the ideas together. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan that the meeting be adjourned at 9:26 a.m. Ayes: Six. Absent: Greenwood. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk