HomeMy WebLinkAbout03.05.2002o •
COUNCIL WORK SESSION
March 5, 2002
4:00 p.m.
First Floor Conference Room
Members present: Mayor Rooff, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty, Berry.
Moved by Jordan, seconded by Clark that the Agenda, as proposed, be approved. Ayes: Six.
Absent: Berry. Motion carried.
Councilperson Getty made the following suggestion:
1. Do not fill 6 positions at the Fire Department
2. Do not fill 4 positions at the Police Department
3. Do not fill 1 position in Building Inspection Department
4. Do not fill 1 position in Planning and Zoning Department
5. Do not fill 1 position in Human Rights Commission
6. Move floating Administrative Secretary to the Airport
Ned DeBerg, Fire Chief, stated that Fire Station 3 was out of services all day today because he
could not call back employees.
Discussion was heard on council members of the City of Des Moines voting to pass along
insurance increases to retirees.
Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, reported that if no positions are replaced in the Police
Department, they will be down four positions by May 1. There are currently 119 officers on the
payroll, and they budgeted 121 in FY02. With the proposed retirements, the Police Department's
strength will be at 117 by July 1 if we do not hire anyone.
Councilperson Hurley stated we budgeted $28 million for FY02, and if we have no growth and
no cuts, we still need over $31 million because of expenses out of the city's control. We have
raised fees. Councilperson Getty asked if the new fees are to help the departments or the General
Fund. Councilperson Hurley stated the council talked about fees to capture actual cost of
services. Councilperson Greenwood stated the fee increases were based on the cost of doing
business.
Councilperson Welper stated the council has spent four weeks going over facts and figures, and
now we are discussing basing the levy on the public's reaction, and they do not have the facts.
The council discussed the levy rates. Councilperson Hurley discussed loss of services, such as
police and fire, Cultural & Arts, and Young Arena. Councilperson Clark stated we need to bite
the bullet and make hard decision and hard cuts. Councilperson Hurley stated he is concerned
that at 4 or 5 percent level we will hurt not just employees but city staff.
Councilperson Jordan suggested that the city not bond for one year. Mayor Rooff responded that
$1 million in bonds relates to three cents on the levy. Councilperson Jordan suggested that the
city investigate selling the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center, and that he does not
support spending $750,000 at the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center. Ms. Weidner stated
there are hotel/motel funds that were budgeted in prior years for maintenance at the Five Sullivan
Brothers Convention Center, and bonds could be used for the additional costs to be paid off with
hotel/motel taxes.
Councilperson Berry now present at 4:59 p.m.
Councilperson Jordan suggested the city look at privatizing the Sanitation and Water Pollution
Control Departments. Councilperson Getty responded that every city he talked to that have
privatized says it sounds good the first year, they sell their equipment and then the companies
raise the cost to do the work.
Council Work Session
March 5, 2002
Page 2
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Councilperson Welper stated that he would like to discuss helping those who can least afford an
increase in taxes by giving them approved rate reductions.
Councilpersons Hurley and Clark stated they would like to look at Layer 3 before discussing
cuts.
Discussion was heard on cutting the lobbyist, the Mayor's Youth Initiative by $10,000, and the
Contingency Fund by $13,000. Ms. Weidner commented it is important to note that the Jr.
ROTC is funded $30,000, the Olympikids Fun Run is funded $17,500 and the Summer Sports
Program is funded $18,000 from the Mayor's Youth Initiative.
Discussion was heard on the Schools Resource Officers. There are currently five officers and
one sergeant based at the middle and high schools. The School District pays $140,000 for this
program. Councilperson Getty stated if the schools want this program, they should come up with
additional funds. Tom Jennings, Police Chief, stated that if the city pulls out of this program,
there still will be a necessity to have officers at the schools.
Ms. Weidner reported that departments have submitted $12 million for the CIP, and we are
planning $7.5 million. The proposed budget includes 22%2 cents for the CIP.
Councilperson Greenwood asked if the three maintenance positions were still in the Airport
budget. Ms. Weidner responded that at $12.66 levy the three maintenance positions were
removed from the Airport budget and $200,000 was left in the Airport budget for the firefighters.
Councilperson Hurley stated that an 8 to 9 percent in total property taxes collected is no increase
in the budget and does include vacancies included in the FY03 Budget, including positions at the
Airport, Personnel Director, the Financial Analyst, Golf Maintenance I and Forestry Foreman.
Council Members were at the following percent of increase in total property taxes collected:
Clark - 6 percent
Welper - 8.4 percent
Jordan - 4 percent
Getty - 8.4 percent
Greenwood - 6 percent
Berry - 8.4 percent
Hurley - 7.5 to 8 percent
Discussion was heard on reduction of the number of employees, including public safety. Council
Members were polled as to whether they were for or against cuts in public safety.
Hurley - no
Greenwood - no need to do time and motion study
Getty - yes, don't cut any deeper, don't replace retirements
Jordan - no unless at 4 percent
Welper - no
Clark - keep police at 117 and fire at 116
Berry- no, citizens do not want public safety to suffer
Councilperson Hurley stated he would rather cut the Mayor's Youth Initiative Program and the
lobbyist then Met Transit.
Clark stated he supported all of Layer 3 except for Met Transit.
Councilperson Getty stated he supports all of Layer 3 except Met Transit.
Met Transit's current budget is $881,000, and they are requesting $1,053,000.
The council recessed at 6:05 p.m.
The council reconvened at 6:17 p.m.
Councilperson Clark now absent at 6:17 p.m.
Council Work Session 11March 5, 2002
Page 3
The council reviewed the FY02 Amended and FY03 Proposed Budget Comparison.
Councilperson Berry now absent at 6:51 p.m.
Items discussed included moving maintenance of the Five Sullivan Brothers Convention Center
to hotel/motel funds, any land sale would be put in the General Fund, $171,000 additional funds
for Met Transit, and funding at the Airport.
Council Members were at the following percent of increase in total property taxes collected:
Jordan - 4 percent
Hurley - 7.5 to 8 percent
Welper - 6 to 8.4 percent
Getty - 8 percent
Greenwood - 6 percent
With no further business before the council, it was moved by Getty, seconded by Jordan that the
meeting be adjourned at 8:03 p.m. Ayes: Five. Absent: Clark, Berry. Motion carried.
Nancy Eckert
City Clerk