Loading...
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 6/13/2002 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO (Approved) MINUTES OF MEETING HELD JUNE 13, 2002 Mayor Slocomb called the meeting to order at 7:05 PM. Also present were Ald. Petfalski, Le Doux, Salentine, Madden, Patterson and Damaske, Clerk-Treasurer Marenda and Finance Director Gunderson (arr.7:25 PM). Ald. Sanders was absent. The Pledge of Allegiance was recited by all in attendance. The Mayor noted the meeting was noticed in accordance with the Open Meeting Law. Ald. Petfalski moved to approve minutes of the May 9, 2002 and June 6, 2002 meetings. Ald. Madden seconded; motion carried. OLD BUSINESS Review Status of Community Center Project Mayor reported a resolution was passed by the Council declaring a referendum will be held prior to any borrowing for or construction of a community center. Ald. Damaske asked about the wording for the referendum. It was noted that it would be determined after further discussions, the date hasn’t been set and it will have to be decided when and if to go forward. Concerned Taxpayers member Belinda Ricco of W151 S10178 Thode Dr. said the group was formed to help the Council understand the feelings of the public so they can be represented. She clarified that 90% of their members are not affiliated with the health club industry. They feel strongly the community needs a community recreation center/gathering place for youth and elders. They don’t feel government has any place in the private sector. With regard to the RecPlex, they don’t believe the comparisons have been apples to apples. Heard there was some land donated and money promised, and there are no health clubs in close proximity. They believe the census was biased. They’re glad the question will be put to referendum. They don’t understand the motivation to move forward with this. People at the Council meeting are interested and it’s important for the Council to represent them. If it goes through, there’s no guarantee it won’t affect taxes. The taxpayers are ultimately responsible for that bond. She believed if the center were constructed, the health clubs in the area would do everything they could to get more customers and retain existing customers, such as cutting rates. In fact they’re the experts in this type of business and the Council might want to talk with them. The question has been raised of where the $3 million came from, and that was the advise of the attorneys we hired to represent the group. She asked where the City got the $15 million from. Mayor stated that information would be provided in writing at the next Council meeting. Ms. Ricco continued that after talking to a lot of people they don’t think that either $15 million or $3 million is the right amount and maybe somewhere in the middle we can meet. She said she would like to know what the maximum public works projects have been in the past five years. We’re not trying to tie your hands and stop your business, but want something reasonable, and maybe $5-6 million is. She apologized for the negative outbursts made by some after the Council meeting. She said their intent is to be professional, communicative and as courteous as possible. We want a City we can be proud of and Council members we can respect and admire. She said she was personally heart warmed by the turnout of the community and said let’s do something together, something the people want and what’s best for the community, and represent the majority of the community. Committee of the Whole Page 2 Minutes of Meeting Held 6/13/02 Review Status of Old Muskego Settlement Centre Mayor reported the Old Town Hall is scheduled to be moved down Pioneer through the th City Hall parking lot to the Old Muskego Settlement Centre on Wednesday, June 19 at 9:00 AM. City Hall will lose power during the move. New Berlin Drainage and Stormwater Issues Ald. Salentine reported a joint council meeting will be held with New Berlin. Mayor noted it may not be until fall. The project could potentially start this winter to alleviate serious flooding in the Tess Corner area. The detention area will be approximately 100 acres. The cost of the estimated $2 million project will be split between New Berlin and Muskego. Muskego has been successful in obtaining a $947,000 grant, and New Berlin received a $37,000 grant. Discuss Streetscape - Gateways to City Ald. Le Doux stated the next Mayor’s Task Force meeting will be held at the end of June. Looking at a 1920’s style of development for the Tess Corners area. He will report any news to COW. Continued Discussion on Moorland Road Corridor – Janesville to McShane There is some rough grading in the area now. October is the date of substantial completion. Continued Discussion on Durham Drive – McShane to OO The Council passed a resolution Tuesday night to have R. A. Smith design the project. Lake Fees Study Committee Update Nothing new to report. Update on Power Plant Proposals Nothing new to report, other than what’s in the papers. Discuss Consolidated Dispatch Mayor reported consolidated dispatch is being pushed ahead by the county at too rapid a rate. There needs to be three phases – first need to have everyone talking on the same radio system. Menomonee Falls is not on yet. Costs have to be reviewed carefully. Menomonee Falls said they will join, but it appears it would only transfer the same costs from the Village to the County. New Berlin has indicated they will not join. Mayor De Angelis sent a letter to the County indicating we’re looking at this from a very cautious standpoint and additional data is needed before Muskego would decide to participate, and it was not to be considered an endorsement. Ald. Petfalski noted newspaper articles state all communities but one are interested in participating. He would like another letter sent making Muskego’s position more clear. Mayor recommended waiting until we get the numbers first before making a final decision. Ald. Petfalski asked that at least the City’s position be clarified with the newspapers. Mayor reiterated the first step is to get the 800 trunked system countywide. Second is Records Management. There is also a big Human Resource problem which needs to be addressed. Once working then consider consolidating dispatch. Mayor noted he has been checking other consolidated dispatch areas and has found that generally service levels drop. In concept it has the potential to be a benefit, but the way it’s being rushed Committee of the Whole Page 3 Minutes of Meeting Held 6/13/02 through may doom it to failure and should be pursued in phases. Police and Fire Commission President Michael Kuwitzky provided additional updates on the process. The facility is still scheduled to be open in June, 2003 whether we’re a part of it or not. Discuss Governor’s Proposal Relating to State Shared Revenues Mayor reported this issue is through the Assembly and Senate and now sits in Joint Committee with many issues to be resolved. Not expecting them to finalize this year. Suspect it won’t be addressed until after the fall elections. Don’t anticipate major cuts. Believe there will be a state tax hike to cover the deficit. Update Regarding Community Development Authority Mayor advised by next Council meeting he should have all the names to submit for appointment to the CDA. Believe it will be working very closely at least for the first year with the Mayor’s Task Force. Their first task will be to designate the areas which will be eligible for CDA funding and support and then determine the timing, plans and borrowing for those areas. The CDA must come to Council with details of the projects and approval of the funding with Council doing the borrowing. Ald. Damaske asked how the Plan Commission would be affected. Mayor responded it will not be altered, but the development and area designations by the CDA and detail will come through the Plan Commission and this does not side-step the Plan Commission. Finance Director Gunderson noted the CDA acts as a component unit because the Council will have members on it. Their advantage as a financing tool is their double tax exemption. Ald. Petfalski noted the CDA also has authority even the Council does not, such as condemnation for re-development. Dawn stated the CDA issues the debt with the approval of the Common Council. That debt does not go against the City’s borrowing capacity. The City is restricted on the amount of borrowing to obligate the taxpayers, and the CDA borrowing is outside of that. Ald. Patterson questioned if the ordinance up for second reading at next Council regarding borrowing would require the dollars borrowed by the CDA to be part of the City’s limitation. Mayor responded he had that conversation with Atty. Molter and in all likelihood since it is the Council that is authorizing the debt it is all part of our borrowing. The premise of the borrowing is for public works projects, and even though some of them may be private in their nature it’s looked at as being part of the same limitations, even though it doesn’t go against the City’s debt capacity, which is 5% of equalized value. Dawn added that Moodys would do a separate bond rating for the CDA like our utilities. Mayor stated if we put a cap on our borrowing it is probably very reasonably prudent that a court would recognize that is borrowing that the City is authorizing and therefore would fall under that cap. Ald. Patterson asked if there was any way that a CDA borrowing could be structured so it wouldn’t come under that limitation. Mayor stated from a legal standpoint he didn’t know of any. NEW BUSINESS 2003 Budget Planning Mayor asked for input from COW as to what items and activities that we currently undertake that we want to maintain and/or increase emphasis on, or de-emphasis. Also to come up with some of the ground rules for the budgeting process this fall, for both capital and general operating budgets. Mayor reviewed goals he would like to pursue: Committee of the Whole Page 4 Minutes of Meeting Held 6/13/02 (1) Take state shared revenue out of general operating and have it applied to the capital budget as a revenue source. The reason is what happened this year with the governor’s proposed cuts. That revenue will have to be replaced or programs adjusted. The school debt is not going to hit the tax roll next year unless the bond markets go haywire and they are forced to get a rate that’s reasonable. In 2004 they’ll have $0.90/1000, so don’t want to see any hit from the City. State shared revenue will be cut but we don’t know when. There may also be some levy caps and so with this year’s budget we need to look toward the next few years. Ald. Petfalski noted the operating costs would add another $0.50/1000. Mayor stated he believed we have to work into this budget a way to come up with $1 million - $1.2 million, to cover the $800,000 shared revenue, insurance increases and salary adjustments. (2) New Hires. Want 80% cost recovery, that is billed to developers and capital projects, etc. (3) Mayor and Dawn will meet with fire departments prior to budget time to be more pro-active. Also will be meeting the judge ahead of time. (4) Refuse and Recycling. Currently billed once a year. Notices are sent in October with payment due November 1, or it goes on the tax bill. The issue is it’s causing some problems in workload in the Clerk-Treasurer area. Want to consider putting on quarterly utility bills. Aldermen Patterson and Petfalski preferred the current method. Jean was asked to provide additional information at the next COW meeting. (5) Capital Funding – change the level of a capital item from $1,000 to $5,000 so it’s run through on the general levy and taxed so as not to borrow for items that may last only two years. Dawn added a couple other items: (1) Allow Library to budget to assure that we maintain federated library funding. (2) Encourage department heads to look at services they provide that have a potential to be charged a fee, or an increase in fees. Mayor stated currently the Capital Budget Committee is made up of the Mayor, Finance Director, and a member of the Plan Commission, Public Works Committee, Parks and Recreation Board, and Library Board; a citizen-at-large (police department) and two additional citizens-at-large. Realizing everything that goes to capital budget committee also goes to COW and historically each committee has been basically in agreement, do we want to keep the capital budget committee, and is the make-up of the committee appropriate. Ald. Salentine noted that usually all the aldermen go to the capital budget meetings and then review everything again at COW. Ald. Petfalski believed it’s a “feel good committee”. Ald Patterson asked about adding more citizens to the committee to get their input. Ald. Petfalski stated he wasn’t strongly against having the committee and there are a number of committees made up of citizens, but this is completely different. The capital budget committee goes through a lot of work and then COW does the exact same thing, which is redundant. It’s important that people still have a say in the process and they can attend our meetings. Aldermen Petfalski and Salentine recommended elimination of the capital budget committee. Ald. Patterson expressed concern about eliminating the citizens from the process. Ald. Le Doux reiterated they can still attend and give input without voting. Ald. Petfalski recommended that the specific capital requests of the departments be listed on the COW agendas. An Committee of the Whole Page 5 Minutes of Meeting Held 6/13/02 ordinance will be presented to Council to amend the Municipal Code to delete reference to the Capital Budget Committee. Discuss status of hill and grassy area behind Library building Ald Le Doux has received complaints about the weeds behind the library. It was designed to be prairie grass, but there are mostly weeds. He asked that the Conservation Committee consider providing direction to Tom Zagar to have it turned into low prairie grass. Initiate Planning to Establish Future Goals of the Council Ald. Petfalski commented he thought all the aldermen have goals they want to see accomplished in the City. The public doesn’t always know we have these goals and we don’t always work as a group. He asked that at a future COW meeting each alderman bring a list of goals. Examples he provided were: more recreational paths; new business park; attract family restaurant. Then categorize all the goals and prepare a plan. Mayor stated he would like the meeting prior to budget time in case costs are involved that need to be funded. It was determined that the next COW meeting would th be held on July 25 at 7:00 PM and would be a planning meeting to review goals. Miscellaneous Business Ald. Le Doux explained plans have been finalized to have a horse-drawn wagon available for the aldermen for the Muskego Community Festival parade. Adjournment Ald. Petfalski moved to adjourn at 9:35 PM. Ald. Damaske seconded; motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Jean K. Marenda, CMC Clerk-Treasurer