Loading...
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 10/11/2001 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved MINUTES OF MEETING HELD OCTOBER 11, 2001 Mayor De Angelis called the meeting to order at 7:03PM. Also present were Aldermen Slocomb, Patterson, Le Doux, Petfalski, Salentine, and Finance Director Gunderson. Aldermen Sanders and Wichgers were excused. The Mayor noted the meeting was posted in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. REVIEW MINUTES OF PREVIOUS MEETING – Will be distributed at a later date. CONTINUING REVIEW OF 2002 OPERATING AND CAPITAL BUDGETS Mayor De Angelis turned the meeting over to Finance Director Dawn Gunderson who explained that she had provided to each of the members a copy of the Special Revenue Fund proposed budget. She reviewed with the committee each fund and what it represents. Parks Dedication Fund detail is funds from boat launching fees, subdivider’s fee, interest income and transfers in from landfill. The detail of expenditures is what is being identified by the Parks & Recreation Board as to what the funds will be used for. A discussion was held as to difference in boat launching fees between the two lakes. Special Assessment Fund is funds left over from TIF projects and are planned to be transferred into the Capital Improvement fund, which is what we use for purchasing computer equipment. Recycling Fund Grant Fund – the change is the revenue for the allocation of fees between refuse/recycling with recycling receiving an increased percent of the fees. The recycling fund is now reflecting the Metro Landfill funds. The SEPI rebate is in the refuse Operating Budget. Revolving Loan Fund reflects interest on loans, fund balance and administrative expenses. EPI Standing Committee Fund that receives money from Superior Emerald Park that will be increased according to the contract. Priority Lakes Grant Fund is the estimated cost and projects to be supported next year. The Cable Fund is where franchise fee from Time Warner Cable is receipted in and expenses for cabling city facilities; transfers are to finance Cable Club approved capital budget purchases for 2002. Landfill Funds will have a correction made under Transfer to Capital Projects Equipment Fund because of funds available from forfeited assets for two capital purchases. The Mayor discussed the fact that currently do not have an officer on staff for the drug enforcement program and that means we do not expect to receive the proportionate of these funds in the future; there will also be an adjustment to the interfund transfer for compensated absences because of other uses of landfill dollars. EPI Drainage Fund that has been earning interest. The auditor’s recommendation is transfer this balance of $59,404 into the Landfill Fund account and remove this from the special revenue fund list. Lake Denoon Fund is another we would like to phase out which is actually money held for the Lake Denoon Association. Future Parkland Landfill Committee are funds used for administration. Well Testing is for the reserves for future well testing. Land & Open Space Conservation are funds coming from landfill by contract with exception of the Plan Department looking for application for a stewardship grant which is projected in this budget. Storm Water fund was established in 2001 with a $100,000 transfer out of landfill fund which was used to purchase the Somogji property and costs incurred for demolition along with capital projects for storm water planned for 2002. Rescue Fund established in 2000 to track our rescue service cost outside of operating budget; the fund is projected to support itself in 2002. Capital Improvement Fund is the fund that we are using to pay for our replacements and upgrades of computer equipment. The Tax Incremental District Fund is comprised of any property tax received, along with interest, and expenses for auditing fees. Sewer Utility Fund for sewer Committee of the Whole Meeting Page 2 October11, 2001 connection fees, special assessments, etc. Grant Fund for any miscellaneous grants used that we account for outside of our operating budget. Urban Forestry Fund is anticipating that grant eligibility is decreasing because of recent grants received; Plan Office will be requesting a transfer from Contingency because of the deficit. Blue Chip Grant is dependent upon receipt of any grants. Compensated Absence is in reserve for unpaid sick and compensation due employees. Dawn discussed with the Committee the Operating Budget for 2002. She verified that it takes approximately $15,000 to make a penny change on the tax rate and $75,000 to make a percent change on the levy. She explained that our debt service levy increase is $472,534. Last year the debt levy was lower because of additional revenue from TIF. The total dept service expense is lower, with the drop in the Water and Sewer obligations, a greater portion of the debt is related to city expenses; these debts include new Library, renovation of Police Department and City Hall. The rate of $.84 per $1,000 of valuation is related to the debt levy and $4.94 is for general operating expenses. Transportation Aids came in lower than first reported. Road Program Budget is currently $400,000; it is proposed to be $450,000 for 2002 ($50,000 for non-road resurfacing projects). Dawn then compared existing budget with proposed 2002 budget. New hires include the st engineering position, civil-tech part time position, Associate Plan position (with a April 1 starting date), Conservation Intern part-time, upgrade of existing plan assistant, part-time st building inspection, community prevention officer (with a June 1 starting date), the Human Resource/Assistant Administrator position and the increase in hours for the voter registration clerk. There is also an anticipated increase of 20% in health insurance. This results in an increase in personnel costs of 4%. A discussion was held regarding the status of the proposed 2002 budget; possibly transferring file cabinets into capital budget; questions on GIS costs. Ald. Petfalski presented Chief Johnson’s thoughts on Police Department new position. The position could be put off, but would like to present some ideas at the next meeting. He could utilize current staff and gain benefits of the program by waiting and adding staff next year and therefore ease into program. Ald. Petfalski questioned whether any part of the work proposed to be done by the new Associate Planner position could be charged out. Mayor explained that this position would be taking the workload off the existing personnel trying to do GIS projects. Ald. Patterson questioned if we could proceed slower with the GIS process. Mayor De Angelis stated the City has spent better part of $600,000.00 rolling out getting internet access for st 2002. Ald. Petfalski proposed changing the Associate Planner position’s April 1 date to June st 1. Ald. Petfalski questioned the Mayor on the need for the Human Resource/Assistant Administrator position. Mayor stated that he felt it was the most opportune time to be added. Next year we will be reevaluating all jobs descriptions and with the increase in full time personnel, there are more programs to be offered. Ald. Patterson asked if we could back up st Associate Planner position and it was agreed that it should be a June 1 employment date. Dawn advised that we still have to look at our proposed borrowing that will also affect the amount of debt. Committee of the Whole Meeting Page 3 October11, 2001 Ald. Patterson asked if we removed HR position and community policing new position and transferred $100,000 from fund balance would that help to bring us to a lesser impact? The committee discussed potential impact with different scenarios. Ald. Patterson felt that we are adding five new positions and adjusting two positions and he feels that it is too much in one year. Ald. Patterson proposed moving the $12,000.00 for filing completion out of Operating Budget into Capital Fund with landfill. Ald. Slocomb questioned the MVFCo $56,900 for radios and pagers and felt some of that should be capitalized, as well as possibly landscaping and paving costs. The committee would like a breakdown from the department of radios and pagers. Communications and any other business as authorized by law Mayor De Angelis indicated that, per the committee’s request, he has been trying to secure information on the fire department’s request for heavy equipment. To date, he does not have the information. The committee clarified that the information that they want to receive is whether or not the existing jaws equipment could be used for training by both departments. Ald. Salentine stated that she wants both departments to work together on use of equipment, being on special units such as Dive Rescue, etc. Mayor explained that he was trying to secure information from the county and other communities. The question is, “can the existing jaws be used by both departments for training”? Ald. Petfalski feels that we first have to secure information as to whether or not the existing equipment can be used for this training purpose; are they the same size and interchangeable and also to check if the equipment could be standardized. Adjournment Ald. Salentine moved to adjourn at 10:00 PM. Seconded by Ald. Petfalski, motion carried 5-0. Respectfully submitted, Dawn R. Gunderson Finance Director