COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE -Minutes 20100810
COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE (COW) – CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved
MINUTES OF MEETING HELD AUGUST 10, 2010
Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 6:31 p.m. Present were Ald.
Schaumberg, Soltysiak, Werner, Borgman, Harenda and Snead, Director of Finance
and Administration Mueller, and Deputy Clerk Blenski. Ald. Fiedler was absent.
Various Department Heads were present for their items as reflected below. The Deputy
stated that the meeting was noticed in accordance with the open meeting law.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES
Ald. Borgman moved to approve minutes of October 8, 2009. Ald. Soltysiak seconded;
motion carried. Ald. Borgman moved to approve minutes of July 27, 2010. Ald.
Soltysiak seconded; motion carried.
NEW BUSINESS
Mayor Johnson reminded those present to pay close attention to the Budget Timetable.
A meeting is scheduled for September 21, which is the third Tuesday of the month. He
stated he would like to follow the same procedure as last year. The Committee will
review and discuss each Capital Budget item and then a straw vote will be taken. This
gives staff direction, as well as the Committee.
The Mayor requested clarification regarding the role of the newly established Public
Safety Committee as to the budgets for the Police and Fire Departments. Ald. Werner
stated he believes the Committee should review and discuss the items and then come
to the Committee of the Whole with a recommendation and the rationale. The Mayor
agreed and stated that a recommendation by the Committee provides a better track
record. If an item is not recommended, the Department Head knows he or she should
come to the Committee of the Whole for further discussion. Several aldermen
requested that even if there is a favorable recommendation from a Committee, the
Department Head should be present when the COW is reviewing an item that pertains
to that department.
The Mayor stated that the COW would review the 2011 Capital Budget items with Ms.
Mueller to review the Five-Year Capital Plan at the end. The projects/items beyond
2011 are “wish lists.”
Ald. Snead stated that the budget process involves give and take. Discussion should
take place now and not at the time of the public hearing, or when the Council is ready to
vote on the budget.
PARKS AND RECREATION DEPARTMENT
Director Anderson was present.
Capital Project/Item Cost Comments
Commercial Out-Front Mower $16,500
Would replace 2001 mower, which has
approximately 1,600 hrs. of use.
Dept. currently mows 55 + acres of
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August 10, 2010
parkland, plus open space, lake accesses,
and along recreation trails.
Equipment that is purchased is also used
for snow removal.
Price includes trade-in value of $1,500 for
tractor portion only.
Discussion:
In response to a question regarding subcontracting all the mowing work, Mr. Anderson
stated he has part-time seasonal employees that are paid $10/hour. Outsourcing the
work would cost a lot more.
Consensus Regarding Request: 6 in favor.
ASSESSOR
Assessor Laura Mecha was present.
Capital Project/Item Cost Comments
Digital Imagery for Real Estate $28,000
A digital image of each improved real
Parcels
estate parcel would be collected.
Digital imagery would be downloaded to a
software program.
Property owner would be able to see
pictures of comparable properties for
assessment purposes.
Appropriate time to begin project - two
years before 2013 revaluation.
Alternative $12,000
The image collection could be assigned to
an in-house staff person reducing that cost
($24,500) to $8,500.
Discussion:
Ms. Mecha stated that with today’s technology, this is becoming more in demand.
Several other communities already utilize it. It helps the property owner better
understand the assessment. The pictures would be good for many years. New pictures
would only be needed for new construction or if a property dramatically changed. If the
collection were done internally, Ms. Mecha stated she would have to purchase a
camera, which she could do with funds from this year’s budget. Ms. Mecha stated she
prefers to have the image collection done professionally for $24,500. It will be a better
quality product and the work would be done in a six-week timeframe. She is willing to
consider the alternative. IS/GIS Director Wisniewski stated that the employee on his
staff would be capable of doing the image collection. Ms. Mecha stated that she does
not intend to initially have the information available on the Internet.
Consensus Regarding Request for the $28,000: No
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August 10, 2010
Consensus Regarding Alternative ($12,000):
4 in favor: Snead, Borgman, Werner, and Schaumberg
1 no: Harenda
1 undecided: Soltysiak
IS/GIS DEPARTMENT
Department Head Wisniewski was present.
Capital Project/Item Cost Comments
Microsoft Office Upgrade $33,856
City is currently using Microsoft Office
2000, which is four versions out of date.
Licenses to be purchased:
Mainstream support ended in 2004.
100 standard $31,641
Extended support ended in 2009, which
30 academic $ 2,214
means Microsoft will not take any
measures to remedy any security
vulnerability.
100 staff computers would be licensed as
well as 30 public access computers at the
library.
Other less expensive alternatives were
explored, which did not provide the
necessary functionality for staff.
Consensus Regarding Request: 6 in favor.
ADJOURNMENT
Ald. Snead moved to adjourn at 7:31 p.m. Seconded by Ald. Harenda, motion carried.
Minutes taken and transcribed by
Jill Blenski, CMC
Deputy Clerk