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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-2000-10-10 - Budget Meeting BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE BUDGET MEETING 7:30 P.M. OCTOBER 10, 2000 MINUTES Present : Committee Members : Vaughan, Sams, Hershey, Blumenthal, Pryor, Farrell, Spielholz, Taylor Committee Members Excused: Manos, Glasstetter Others Present : Mayor Cohen City Controller Cafferillo Deputy Controller Thayer Fire Chief Wilbur Supt . of Public Works Gray Economic Development Director McDonald City Attorney Schwab Asst . City Attorney Dunn Information Technology Director Twardokus GIAC Director Fort IAWWTP Operator Eggleston Members of the public Members of the media 1 . Opening Comments Chairperson Vaughan stated that the agenda for this meeting was as follows : A. Mayor' s Budget Overview B. Public Comment C. Departmental Budget Reviews: Attorney' s Office Human Resources - Mayor' s Office 2 . Mayor' s Budget Overview Mayor Cohen presented the Committee with the 2001 Mayor' s Budget and the five-year Budget projections. The following BUDGET MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 2000 are a list of key points on the 2001 Budget and five-year budget projection presented by Mayor Cohen: City has been doing five-year budgets since 1997; - The five-year budget estimates incorporate a 3% annual property tax increase; The city has had a spending gap for a number of years and will continue to do so, however, Southwest revenues incorporated into the five-year budget reflect a decreasing spending gap projected for the next few years and a possible surplus; The budget incorporates the GEIS revenue numbers for the Southwest Area at a more conservative level, with revenue increases starting in 2002 ; Five-year projections incorporate 170 square foot revenue per store and included in the numbers; the transfer of business from old stores to new and the elimination of sales tax on clothing; Five-year projections incorporate a square foot build out schedule of 300, 000 in 2002, 200, 000 in 2003 and 200, 000 in 2004; - Three budget choices : Alternate #3 fill a 1 .3 million dollar budget gap in 2001 by a 5% workforce reduction or deletion of 20 positions; Alternate #2 incorporate a 12 .28% property tax increase to help fill the gap; Alternate #1 use additional force account capital program from DPW and Information Technology to help offset the gap; - Mayor has presented Alternate #1 force account Capital Program budget to help offset the budget gap, which reflects an increase in Capital revenue transfer to General Fund by $617, 270; Mayor stated this is a short-term plan to get the City to the increased revenue sources of the Southwest Development . If the revenues do not materialize, other major changes such as Alternate 2 and 3 will have to be implemented; a BUDGET MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 2000 - The annual debt impact will be $60, 000 to $70, 000 starting in 2002 if force account Capital Program is used; - 2001 Capital Program set at $2, 742, 919 with hope that previously authorized Capital Projects will be expended; General Fund incorporates a 4, 5% property tax increases; - Water and Sewer Funds incorporate a 5% user fee increase; - Solid Waste Fund incorporates no trash tag increases, but proposes a bi-weekly trash pickup - commercial trash pickup would still be weekly; New positions in the budget include: Human Resources Department Health and Safety Officer, Training Coordinator, half- time Civil Service Administrator, Deputy HR Director to full-time Information Technology Services - Systems Engineer, User Support Analyst and Administrative Assistant Building Department - Zoning Officer part- time - Youth Bureau and GIAC 110 accounts include salary increases related to CSEA contract agreement; - The GIAC 120 account has a $9, 200 increase to reflect program changes, which GIAC will detail at its budget meeting; - Funds in Human Resources for City-wide training; - Funds in DPW Garage account for hazardous materials removal; - Snow Removal includes changes to reflect the City' s new salt policy and use of ice ban magic; - The Contingency account includes the following: $100, 000 Unrestricted Contingency BUDGET MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 2000 $ 50, 000 Restricted - Contractual salary increases $ 35, 000 Restricted - Work Environment Task Force information $ 15, 000 Restricted - Recreation Partnership Facility Study $ 10, 000 Restricted - Ithaca Downtown Partnership Market Study 3 . Public Hearing Members of the public were asked to speak on the Budget and the items being discussed at this budget meeting. The following individuals spoke : Fay Gougakis - urged Council to look at Cornell University and Ithaca College for revenue sources to help with the 2001 Budget and reduce the property tax increase. Joe Harlin - urged Council to support development in the Southwest Park Area. 4 . City Attorney' s Office Budget Review The Mayor proposed a 2001 Attorney' s Office Budget in the amount of $301, 196 . The Mayor explained that the only changes from last year' s budget include the following: Contractual salary increases - Full-time City Attorney for the entire year An additional $5, 000 was placed in the contracts account for unforeseen outside contracts City Attorney Schwab and Assistant City Attorney Dunn explained that they could operate within the budget footprint that the Mayor proposed. After a discussion concerning the budget and 50H hearings, no budget changes were made. 5. Human Resources Department Budget Review The Mayor proposed a 2001 Human Resources Budget in the amount of $584, 807 . Mayor Cohen explained that the Human Resources Department has several changes from the previous year. The changes are as follows: BUDGET MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 2000 An increase in staffing levels netting to approximately 3 full-time employees The Civil Service functions, which are currently performed by the 27-hour deputy position will be adjusted and made into a half-time ( . 50) Civil Service Administrator position A new Deputy position will be established at full-time An additional Educational/Training position full-time would be established - position will identify training needs, design training, conduct training An additional Health & Safety Coordinator full-time would be established - position will coordinate health, safety, wellness and workplace violence $12, 000 was added to the Staff Development account for City-wide training initiatives $35, 000 in Restricted Contingency for Work Environment Task Force Human Resources Director Nunn' s vision for the Human Resources Department is to have a work environment that will allow for City employees to grow and develop, and work as a team to maximize their potential . A discussion concerning the requested positions followed. The additional positions will be needed to help meet the vision, which will take some time to transition into. GIAC Director Fort and IAWWTP Operator Eggleston discussed with the Committee the need for the Work Environment Task Force and implementation of their work. Fort urged Council to support the Mayor' s proposed budget, which includes $35, 000 in Restricted Contingency for work environment task force recommendation implementation, and $12, 000 for City- wide training. She explained that the Work Environment Task Force recommendations will be presented in detail at the Human Resources Committee meeting on November 27th. A discussion concerning the task force followed. Fort noted BUDGET MEETING MINUTES OCTOBER 10, 2000 that work environment funds will be needed on an annual basis. After a discussion regarding the Human Resources budget, no changes were made by Council . 6 . Mayor' s Office Department Budget Review The Mayor proposed a 2001 Mayor' s Office Budget in the amount of $119, 294 . Mayor Cohen explained that except for contractual salary increases, the only other budget change was a $900 decrease in the Contracts line. The Mayor did state that he has a new administrative secretary, Linda Thornhill . Alderperson Hershey suggested to Council that the mayor' s salary be increased to $45, 000 . Hershey explained that the mayor' s salary has not been increased in seven years. Hershey further explained that if the salary had been adjusted by the annual management salary increases over that time period, the mayor would make $46, 701 in 2001 . The mayor' s salary is currently at $38, 000. Mayor Cohen stated, while he appreciated the request, he would oppose any change this year due to the budget constraints. He added that he would not make any changes to the mayor' s salary without making changes to Common Council' s salary, which also has not been changed for seven years. The Mayor also stated that the City Administrator issue needs to be addressed prior to the council and mayor salary adjustment issue. A discussion concerning the request for mayor and council salary adjustments followed. It was decided that this item would be placed on the additional discussion budget list and revisited during the budget discussions. Many council members suggested that the mayor and council salary issue should be discussed in conjunction with the City Administrator position. No action was taken. The meeting adjourned at 10 :45 P.M.