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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07.03.2003• COUNCIL WORK SESSION July 3, 2003 8:30 a.m. Council Chambers Members present: Mayor Rooff, Kincaid, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty. Moved by Getty, seconded by Kincaid that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss recommended changes to the FYE04 Budget. Mayor Rooff stated that $1.2 million needs to be recovered in the FY04 Budget either through additional revenue or cuts in the budget. while maintaining services and public safety. Mayor Rooff stated the council will want to stay committed to long-term solutions because we are faced with probably even more of an impact, maybe $1 million more for FY05 Budget. Mayor Rooff reported he sent a letter to all the representatives of the five unions asking them to provide to him by July 2, 2003 anything they are willing to do to lessen this problem, and he asked the Police Chief and Fire Chief to provide the impact on their depaitinent. Mayor Rooff reported that yesterday he met with the Chief DeBerg and Chief Jennings and union representatives from Firefighters and Police Protective Association. Mayor Rooff stated that there has not been a lot of support for charging a fee for funeral escorts, so the Police Department is facing $320,000 shortfall. The Waterloo Police Protective Association has offered to give up their uniform allowance, which totals about $50,400 and one paid holiday worth about $4,600 for a total of $55,000. The Firefighters Union has offered to give up $55,000 clothing allowance and one paid holiday worth about $26,000. The total offered by both unions is about $130,000. Mayor Rooff reported the unions are looking at some other considerations such as comp time, which could put the total amount at $150,000. In return for these concessions, the Police Protective Association and Firefighters Union are asking the city to provide a 5th year to their bargaining contracts. The two unions are asking the city to add one year to the current 4 year contract with a salary increase of 3.5 percent. Councilperson Getty stated that last week the council talked about not approving the 3.5 percent salary increase for non -bargaining employees, and he asked if there were any talk from the bargaining units about their 3.5 percent salary increase. Mayor Rooff stated he did not hear from the other bargaining units. Mayor R ooff r eported i f t he c ity m atches t he $ 55,000 c oncessions from t he P olice P rotective Association w ith $ 55,000 i n revenue or from the General Fund, and leave only three unfilled positions in the Police Department, we would come within $45,000 of the $320,000 shortfall in their budget. The Police Department would keep its full strength except for the three unfilled positions. Mayor Rooff reported if the city matches the $75,000 proposed concessions from the Firefighters with $75,000 in revenue or from the General Fund, plus the proposed $20,000 from increased ambulance fees, and leave only three unfilled positions in the Fire Department, we will be close to reaching the proposed $303,000 reduced expenses within the Fire Department. Mayor R ooff stated with the two proposals above, the city would commit $ 200,000 from the General Fund which will be money lost forever. Police Chief Tom Jennings reported the three unfilled positions in the Police Department will be patrol officers and would include the three officers now on military duty who will not return for duty until May 2004. Chief Jennings reported three officers are retiring in September and October and three are retiring in May and June. Instead of 21 officers on shift, there will be 20. Chief Jennings stated officially the Police Department will have 122 sworn officers, but only pay for 119. Council Work Session July 3, 2003 Page 2 Mayor Rooff stated the Chief has said the $320,000 impact would be the loss of three officers from the DART Program, three officers from the Street Crime Unit, one School Resource Officer and four patrol officers. Mayor Rooff stated with his scenario there would not be much of an impact on the Police Department budget. Mayor Rooff asked if detectives could be moved laterally. Chief Jennings responded that the detectives could be moved, but it would affect felony crime investigations. Mayor Rooff asked for council input on charging a fee for funeral escorts. Councilperson Welper s tated t hat n o matter what the council does, nothing will be popular. Councilperson Hurley stated he does not have a problem with charging a fee for funeral escorts, or maybe we don't provide the funeral escort services. C ouncilperson H urley s tated h e h as b een t rying t o leave p ublic s afety a lone. Councilperson Hurley stated if the council decides not to replace positions, then they need to remember that throughout the year. Chief Jennings discussed the number of officers scheduled per shift which range from 21 to 20 officers per shift. Chief Jennings noted that at any given time, seven officers are off per shift because of vacations or illness. Chief Jennings stated he uses detectives when necessary and has called for back up from the Sheriffs Department because of all the calls for service. Chief Jennings stated he is down four positions in the detective division and they don't have time to go out on patrol. Chief Jennings stated the officers are not taking breaks or getting time for dinner. Chief Jennings stated they are answering all the calls, but it might take longer. Chief Jennings stated right now he has 116 officers because of the three officers on military leave. Councilperson Welper stated he is against any layoffs because most of the complaints from citizens are speeding and running red lights. Mayor Rooff asked if the Police Department had 122 sworn officers would that be enough to cover everything. Chief Jennings responded yes that would keep everything going, but the three unfilled positions will impact patrol. Chief Jennings stated he cannot move one officer out of the Lab because then the Lab would have to be shut down for one shift. There is one vacancy in the Street Crime Unit because of a military leave, and a sergeant and two officers in the Street Crime Unit are paid with Brownfield funds. Councilperson Hurley asked about police patrol presence at public events. Chief Jennings responded that the department uses shift officers funded through Local Law Enforcement Block Grant. Councilperson Hurley stated the council has discretionary hotel/motel tax funds that could be put in the General Fund and used for public safety costs at public events. Councilperson Getty stated that the Police Department's strength could be reduced through retirement from 122 sworn officers to 119 sworn officers. Officers could be added if we need them or as funds become available. Chief Ned DeBerg explained the following cost reductions for the Fire Department that do not require council action. 1) Normally send three paramedics at around $24,000; 2) Use personnel hurt off duty for inspections or use at the Training Center for additional $10,000; 3) Allow more firefighters to use personal time rather than getting payout for personal time for additional $22,250; 4) Increase Haz Mat fees by $1,000; 5) Increase fee for inspection of new tanks at gas stations for additional $2,000. These suggestions could reduce the Fire DepaiIntent' s budget by an additional $ 65,000. C hief DeBerg suggested that the reinspection fees be changed so that commercial and residential fees are the same for an additional $26,000 in revenue and increase ambulance fees by 5 percent for additional fees of $20,000. Chief DeBerg stated that his department includes 108 on shift, four staff people, two secretaries, one inspector, and one mechanic for a total of 116. Chief DeBerg stated he normally schedules 36 per shift and needs at least 29 strength per shift. Five or six people are off on vacation each day and 1.67 people off with sickness or injury. Chief DeBerg stated that one of the things his department is looking at is taking the platform out of service, and one station with five on shift could be reduced to three on shift, but that any of the options will affect the department's ability • • Council Work Session July 3, 2003 Page 3 • • to respond. Chief DeBerg stated if his department ends up with three less firefighters, the Fire Department could operate as they do t oday. C hief D eBerg s tated c reating t he s elf -inspection program would help his department because they would not have to use the engines which would save on maintenance and miles on the trucks. Councilperson Welper stated that he does not think the Training Center is near its revenue source. Councilperson Welper stated he talked to the Water Works about paying the Fire Department inspectors to flush the hydrants. Jerry Stevens, General Manager of the Water Works, stated the hydrants are flushed on Thursdays, and if they are flushed m ore o ften t hat could throw citizens off. Mr. Stevens stated hydrant flushing is seasonal, and it doesn't seem like a long-term solution or impact. Chief DeBerg responded that they are looking for a Supervisor for the Training Center to do marketing of the center to increase business. Councilmembers discussed adding a 5th year to the current four year contracts with the bargaining units. Councilmembers were concerned that the cost for health insurance could increase dramatically for the 5th year. Tom Powers stated that the agreement with Iowa Laborers for health insurance coverage is for only four years, and after four years the city can find cheaper health insurance as long as the coverage is reasonably close. Councilperson Getty stated he does not think the proposal to add additional year to bargaining contracts is in the best interest of the city at this time. Councilperson Getty suggested that the Police Department be lowered to 119 sworn officers instead of 123 officers. Councilperson Getty suggested reducing the Fire Department by three firefighters per shift and r educing t he strength from 109 to 100. Councilperson Getty stated this would have been an idea opportunity to work with the bargaining units to forego the 3.5 percent salary increase at a savings of $500,000 along with the non -bargaining 3.5 percent salary increase would have saved $200,000 and would have cured our problems. Councilperson Clark asked if the unions would agree to extending the contracts one year, with the commitment to look at health insurance in the fifth year, Tom Powers responded that health insurance will be opened to find a provider, and that the only thing not opened is the monthly cost to employees which currently is $10 per month for family coverage and $5 per month for single coverage. Mr. Powers stated that the contracts have been collectively negotiated and are mutually a greed c ontracts. M r. P owers s tated approving t he fifth year could save the cost of negotiations. Councilperson Kincaid stated if we reopen the contracts, we could look at all areas of the contract. Mr. Powers stated they would need a letter of agreement to add the additional year. Mr. Power stated the Police Protective Association and Firefighters #66 are giving up the holiday pay and uniform pay for FY04 only. The meeting recessed at 10:05 a.m. The meeting reconvened at 10:19 a.m. Councilperson Getty stated he was against the one year contract extension. Councilperson Greenwood stated he agreed with all the scenarios except for a one year contract extension because we don't know what will be the cost for health insurance. Councilperson Welper had no opinion because that is too far out. Councilpersons Kincaid and Hurley did not support 5th year contract extension. Councilpersons Jordan and Clark supported one year contract extension with 3.5 percent salary increase but to reopen discussion on insurance. The recommended changes for all city departments were discussed. Animal Control -Hard to tell impact. Sandie Greco, Superintendent of Traffic Operations, suggested the contract be renegotiated as it is nine years old. Parking Facility Maintenance -Ms. Greco stated that the reduction in expenses was found through moving funds out of building maintenance and others and paying one person out of the Road Use Tax when he is performing work out of that program. Council Work Session July 3, 2003 Page 4 The council discussed the Mayor's Youth Initiative Program and the Junior ROTC Program. Human Rights Commission -Walter Reed, Executive Director, reported they are looking at reducing contracted services such as legal services to process claims, travel, supplies, etc. Center for the Art-Cammie Scully, Director of Cultural & Arts Commission, reported three part- time persons will be laid off, the Center will be closed on Sundays, the hours of two other employees will be reduced and over time will be eliminated. Councilperson Welper stated that a tremendous amount of literature is put out by the Center and asked the cost. Ms. Scully responded that the programs need to be marketed and promoted. They are looking at combining some literature, use the city print ship and use donated money for the literature. Library -Carol French Johnson, Library Director, stated that the Library will be closed on Sundays. The Levy just said we would increase hours, and the hours were increased from 39 hours t o 6 8 hours. If the Library is closed on Sunday, it will still be opened 64 hours. The Library will maintain its accreditation by being open 64 hours. Leisure Services -Bill Bachman reported Leisure Services will meet its reduction with two employees on military leave due back after January and not filling one vacant position. In response to a question, Mr. Bachman stated the city has 53 parks in various sizes and maintenance. Councilperson Welper stated he feels 53 parks are too many for a city with a population of 68,000. Mr. Bachman reported Leisure Services has about 300 employees in the summer, including summer and sports programs. Mr. Bachman stated there is a continuing erosion of services at Leisure Services. Councilperson Welper stated he feels corporations should help with the summer and sports programs. Planning & Zoning -Don Temeyer, Community Planning & Development Director, reported a vacant position will be downgraded to an entry level position, the Senior Planner position was downgraded to Associate Planner, and increasing fees. Central Garage -Mayor Rooff reported it has been suggested that Central Garage and Waste Management Services be brought together to save cost for personnel, but no decision has been made. Mayor Rooff reported that Cedar Valley Economic Development would be reduced $1,400, Mayor's budget reduced by cutting back on travel, the Council's travel line item has been reduced, the lobbyist contract eliminated, and the Cedar Valley Coalition reduced by $7,500. Facilities Maintenance -Lou Cutwright, Building Official/Maintenance Administrator, reported one maintenance position would be eliminated. Mayor Rooff reported that about $200,000 will be carried over in the General Fund. M ayor Rooff stated the council will need to look at additional revenues and the use of any fund balances. Mayor Rooff stated he will continue discussions with the unions and get the hard number on the year-end cash balance. The council will meet again next Thursday to approve the cuts and new revenues. With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Clark that the meeting be adjourned at 11:01 a.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Eckert City Clerk •