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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes-06/26/2003• • June 26, 2003 The Council of the City of Waterloo, Iowa, met in Special Session at City Hall Council Chambers, Waterloo, Iowa, at 8:00 a.m. on Thursday, June 26, 2003. Mayor John R. Rooff in the Chair. Roll Call: Kincaid, Welper, Greenwood, Clark, Jordan, Hurley, Getty. 118464 - Jordan/Getty that the Agenda, as proposed, for the Special Session on Thursday, June 26, 2003, at 8:00 a.m., be accepted and approved. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 118465 - Getty/Jordan that copies of the Call for the Special Session on June 26, 2003, be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. 118466 - Mayor Rooff reported that the amount of travel budgeted citywide is about $121,000.00, with some of the travel funded through grants. Mayor Rooff stated he is sending a letter to all unions asking them to provide to the city in writing any and all concessions, and he talked with the Police Chief Tom Jennings and Fire Chief Ned DeBerg and asked them to provide by July 2, 2003 exactly what their plan is to operate public safety under budget constraints. Mayor Rooff reported he asked Michelle Weidner, Chief Financial Officer, to provide to him revenues, including General Fund balance, what we have committed to fund with the Solid Waste Commission grant and the sewer and garbage funds. Councilperson Greenwood suggested that we offer to unionized city employees price breaks in city services, such as garbage and sewer, for concessions in wage increases. We could offer those services to employees for one-half price or free pick-up of garbage. Mayor Rooff stated that this would also be extended to non -bargaining employees. Mayor Rooff reported that he invited representatives from the Iowa State of Associations of Counties and Iowa League of Cities to meet on July 25, 2003. We will discuss areas that will impact us in the future, such as property taxes, Road Use Tax, Tax Increment Financing and mandated relief. We will also look at ways counties and cities can work together. Mayor Rooff stated that he will be meeting next week with Black Hawk County to discuss sharing a Human Resources Director. Mayor Rooff reported that IPERS is looking at 14 percent increase in contributions either through the cities or cut in benefits for retirees. Mayor Rooff stated he asked Ms. Weidner for projections on the affect of the State of Iowa lowering the rollback figure from 51 percent to 47 percent. Mayor Rooff stated staff is looking at the enterprise funds and excess General Fund cash balance. We are also looking at charging a fee for public safety using the square footage of buildings. We are working to look at the number of buildings and square footage by taxation. Councilperson Welper stated he is uncomfortable laying off any employees as the city has been balancing the budget on the backs of employees. Councilperson Welper stated he cannot support lay offs. The city needs to either reduce programs that are not basic government services or increase revenues. Councilperson Hurley stated the target is not to lay off employees, but realistically we might have to do that as the long-term does not look any better. Councilperson Hurley stated if we are in a crisis then we need to make decisions and that could mean taking anything out of the budget that is non- essential. Councilperson Jordan stated that when the General Fund Budget is 80 percent personnel, we may not have any choice. Councilperson Getty stated he is hearing the Legislators will rectify what has happened. Councilperson Getty stated he is not in favor of raising garbage and sewer fees, but we need to look at public safety. Councilperson Getty suggested that the ambulance service be given back to the hospitals. Councilperson Getty stated we will need to have cuts in public safety and a few other departments. If the Police Department needs extra help, we have the Sheriff Department. Councilperson Getty stated the city has grown too big and we don't have enough people to operate, and suggested the city look at outsourcing. Councilperson Clark stated he does not want to use the Enterprise Funds to balance the budget. Councilperson Clark stated for the short-term, he would strongly favor using the $1 million grant from the Black Hawk County Solid Waste Commission. Councilperson Clark stated he does not favor raising fees or transferring money from other funds. June 26, 2003 Page 2 Councilperson Welper stated he is not in interested in raising fees, but we need to use our laws to fine people who do not follow our ordinances. Councilperson Greenwood stated that the Legislators said the cities need to look at programs and not just a short-term fix. Councilperson Greenwood suggested looking at a zero balanced budget and what services the city can afford to offer its citizens. Councilperson Greenwood stated we have to do a better job with the money we have, and look at what services we can offer at competitive prices. Councilperson Welper stated he wants to go completely across the board, get back to basics and eliminate services we cannot afford. Councilperson Kincaid stated he would like to look at all the budget numbers before laying off people and consider all the funds. Councilperson Getty stated he just wants to look at the General Fund. Councilperson Hurley stated he is opened to looking at both the General Fund and Enterprise Funds, but we need to focus on the General Fund. Councilperson Hurley stated he feels a big part of the process is missing, and he would like to have had a brain storming session. Councilperson Hurley suggested we get everybody's ideas on the table. Mayor Rooff stated if council members have ideas he would like them to commit them to writing. Councilperson Hurley stated he would like to also look at the Road Use Tax and Local Option Tax Funds. Mayor Rooff commented in the long-term, we do need to do brainstorming, but there is not enough time. Councilperson Jordan stated he would' like to look at all the funds. Councilperson Jordan stated he would like in writing what the proposed changes does those departments. Ned DeBerg, Fire Chief, explained that if he loses 10 or 11 firefighters, it could mean closing a fire station. If the Fire Department loses 6 or 7 firefighters, it could mean shutting down one engine. Tom Jennings, Police Chief, reported that if he has 9 less officers, the Police Department would have to eliminate the DART Program, the Street Crime Unit and reduce the number of SRO officers. It would mean there would only be 8 or 9 officers on the street. Chief Jennings stated the budget he submitted for the Police Department contained no fat, and no matter what decision is made it will mean people. Councilperson Jordan asked if the Library will be closed on Sundays. Mayor Rooff responded with no other possibilities this is what needs to be done. Departments have looked at their line items. Mayor Rooff stated the city will not close fire stations. Councilperson Getty stated he will not support the proposed changes without confirmation from the unions and department heads as it is a joint effort. Councilperson Getty asked if we have committed the $1 million grant from Black Hawk Solid Waste Commission. Ms. Weidner responded the council adopted a resolution to commit the $1 million grant to the Vision Iowa Project, and we have already spent $200,000 for the Eastside Ministerial Alliance project. Getty/Jordan that recommended changes to the FYE04 Budget be tabled to July 3, 2003. Ayes: Five. Nays: Greenwood, Clark. Motion carried. 118467 - Jordan/Hurley that communication from Human Resources Director transmitting recommendation of 3.5 percent salary increase for non -bargaining employees effective July 1, 2003, and contribution of $750.00 into a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association for each full-time non -bargaining employee payable January 1, 2004, be tabled. Prior to a vote on the above motion, the following comments were heard. Councilperson Jordan stated he would like to table the raises for non - bargaining employees to see what the unions are going to do. Councilperson Getty stated he feels the raises should be approved today in support of staff. • • June 26, 2003 • • Page 3 Councilperson Kincaid stated he works with unions, and any negotiated contracts, the unions do not normally give concessions. Councilperson Kincaid stated he is in favor of passing the raises for non -bargaining employees. Mayor Rooff stated he feels non -bargaining employees should be treated the same as bargaining employees. Mayor Rooff stated non -bargaining employees do not want to be singled out, and he doesn't feel that would be fair. Councilperson Hurley stated he does not agree with treating non -bargaining employees the same as people see the council giving non -bargaining employees raises but laying off public safety. Following comments a vote was taken on the above motion with the following result. Ayes: Three. Nays: Kincaid, Greenwood, Clark, Getty. Motion failed. 118468 - Getty/Clark that communication from Human Resources Director transmitting recommendation of 3.5 percent salary increase for non -bargaining employees effective July 1, 2003, and contribution of $750.00 into a Voluntary Employees Beneficiary Association for each full-time non -bargaining employee payable January 1, 2004, be received, placed on file and "Resolution approving said salary increase", be adopted. Ayes: Six. Nays: Hurley. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2003-449. 118469 - Getty/Welper that "Resolution authorizing transfer of $180,000 from Fund 290, Federal Projects Fund, to Fund 101, Tax Increment Financing Fund", be adopted. Ayes: Seven. Resolution adopted and upon approval by Mayor assigned No. 2003-450. 118470 - Mayor Rooff read a letter from Bill Bartels in opposition to the non -bargaining salary increases. Jordan/Clark that letter of opposition from Bill Bartels be received and placed on file. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. ADJOURNMENT 118471 - Getty/Clark that the Council adjourn at 9:20 a.m. Ayes: Seven. Motion carried. Nancy Ecl rt City Clerk