HomeMy WebLinkAbout02.28.2002 (2)•
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
February 28, 2002
4:00 p.m.
Council Chambers
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Hurley, Getty.
Members absent: Berry, Jordan.
Moved by Greenwood, seconded by Clark that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes:
Five. Absent: Berry, Jordan. Motion carried.
MET Transit Board Members were present. MET Transit operates as an authority with a Transit
Levy. MET Transit receives city, federal and state funds, with the city contributing the largest
single source.
The Fixed Rate is $1.50. Para Transit Service picks up the rider at his/her residence and takes
them where they need to go. This service is provided to the disabled and elderly. Over 5,000
individuals per year used the Fixed or Para Transit services.
The Mayor appoints members to the MET Transit Board. The transit levy is currently at .56 for
FY02. MET Transit received $100,000 additional funding in 1997, which carried into 2000.
The $100,000 was needed because of the delay in receiving transit funds. Carryover funds are
also used for capital purchases.
MET's proposed FY03 is $1,053,000, which is an increase of $172,000 or 19 percent increase
over FY02. There is nothing in the budget which can be reduced as everything is service related.
Last year, fares were increased from $1 to $1.50 for fixed route and from $2 to $3 for para transit
services.
Options are: a fare increase along with service cuts to reach $172,000, cut out mid -day services
or Saturday services. The City of Cedar Falls approved the amount requested by MET. The City
of Waterloo provides 85 percent funding while the City of Cedar Falls provides 15 percent
funding.
Federal funds are used to replace vehicles, which requires a 17 percent local match. The fleet is
aging which makes them expensive to maintain, with the oldest an 86 Orion.
Independent Living provides services when the buses are no longer in operation from 5:45 p.m.
to 5:45 a.m. Customers are charged $15, with the fee subsidized $10.
MET Transit has 53 drivers, with 2 bargaining units. There are 48 full-time and 5 part-time
drivers. The total budget is $2.9 million. Black Hawk County provides a little funding for the
disabled, the state provides $200,000, the federal government provides $766,000 and Hawkeye
Community College provides $23,000. One route is provided to Evansdale and they provide
$10,000 in funding. There are about 11 boardings per hour. MET has asked to reopen the union
contracts rather than lay off staff.
The Transit Levy is currently at .56, and MET would like to raise it to .65.
The council recessed at 4:45 p.m.
The council reconvened at 5:05 p.m.
Councilpersons Hurley and Greenwood stated they would like to honor MET's request for an
increase, while Councilpersons Clark and Welper would not.
The council reviewed the Proposed Budget Comparison form.
Mayor Rooff reported that the Black Hawk Solid Waste Commission has tentatively agreed to
provide $272,000 to the city.
Council Work Session ,
February 28, 2002
Page 2
The council discussed increasing sanitation fees which could provide an additional $647,000.
The following levies were suggested:
Hurley - 12 percent
Getty - 9 percent
Welper - 12 percent
Greenwood - 5 to 6 percent
Clark - 5 to 6 percent
Mayor - 6 percent
Discussed effect of taxes on the referendum on the Riverfront Renaissance Plan.
Discussed health insurance.
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Clark, seconded by Greenwood that
the meeting be adjourned at 6:25 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Berry, Jordan. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk