Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1989-11-09 - Budget Meeting BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE BUDGET MEETING 7:00 P.M. NOVEMBER 9, 1989 PRESENT: Committee Members: Schlather, Hoffman, Killeen, Cummings, Romanowski Other Alderperson Present: Lytel, Johnson, Peterson, Nichols, Booth (late) Others Present• City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy Controller - Thayer Director, Planning 8 Development - Van Cort Deputy Director, Planning & Development - Mazzarella Building Commissioner - Datz Members of Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Members of the Media Members of the Public 1 . Overview of Budget Discussions Chairperson Schlather discussed the agenda for this evenings budget discussions. The Planning Department will be first and then Ithaca Neighborhood Housing and finally the Building Department. Chairperson Schlather noted that the Committee would also like to discuss the following items tonight: 1 . Contractual services related to the Planning Department 2. A Housing Planner 3. Housing Trust Fund 4. Set a meeting date for the Common Council's Special Meeting on Industrial Zone Amendments 2. Planning Department Budget Director of Planning and Development Van Cort and Deputy of Planning and Development Mazzarella presented their budget request for the Planning Depart- ment's 1990 Budget. The Planning Departments 1990 Budget request in total is $399, 163. This request is $72,665 over the Mayor's recommendation of $326,498 for the Planning Department. The real differences between the budget request and the recommendation by the Mayor is in the contractual expense lines. Planning Director Van Cort discussed the 1989 Contractual accounts in detail. Currently most of the accounts are still under budget with two months left in the year. However, the advertising account is currently over the 1989 budget because of more subdivision and addition of site plan review. The Planning Departments 400 series request was for $148,029 and the Mayor's recommendation was $102,000, a $46,039 difference. Planning Director Van Cort stated that in their request was a downtown study and if the Mayor's budget is approved, the study of downtown can not be done. Deputy Director Mazzarella stated that the Planning Department must look at the situation in downtown. Included in this study would be a parking study, the overall condition of downtown, the current store vacancies and the parking garages. Several recent fires have left many vacant buildings and because of this, major construction may result. A comprehensive study of land use in the downtown area is needed, long range planning is essential. BUDGET MEETING - PAGE 2 NOVEMBER 9, 1989 Alderperson Johnson asked if the $60,000 request in the 430 account included a parking study. Planning Director Van Cort stated the $60,000 request does not include the parking, but it does include the early stages of the downtown study. A discussion on the C.D. director's activities followed including emergency activities related to the Planning Department. Planning Director Van Cort noted the Planning Department is currently behind on the normal everyday Planning Department work and currently many different planning projects are in process. A discussion continued on the Central Business District study or the downtown study. Alderperson Romanowski stated that he felt the Planning Department should first clean up the in process projects currently being performed by the Department before a new study or project is started. Planning Director Van Cort stated the Central Busienss Study would probably be a 5 - 10 year committment by the City and the $60,000 request was just the first phase of the project. The 430 and 435 Contractual Service accounts were thoroughly examined by the Committee for the past 3 years. It was noted that about $17,000 annually is needed for the 435 Contractual Services account for normal contracts, this does not include extraordinary contracts. The Mayor recommended a total of $100,000 for the 1990 430 and 435 accounts. Chairperson Schlather felt that the Planning Department has enough projects going for 1990 and that a new project such as the Downtown Central Business District study will not be necessary in 1990. Chairperson Schlather recommended that $38,000 be deleted out of the total in the 400 lines. Planning Director Van Cort felt if any extra projects will be done in 1990 it will have to be set "aside in either a contingency account or a capital reserve account. A motion was put on the floor to reduce the 430 and 435 accounts to $20,000 giving a total 400 contractual expenses line amount for Planning of $68,039 and add $15,000 to the restricted contingency account for Planning. A discussion on further Planning items followed. An amendment to the main motion by Chairperson Schlather to transfer the $15,000 from restricted contingency and instead add the $15,000 to the Planning capital reserve account #25. It was the consensus of the Committee that the Planning Department is currently committed to many projects and should not take on further projects for 1990. A second amendment to the main motion was put on the floor to increase the restricted contingency account by $25,000 instead of the original $15,000. Amendment failed 1-7. A third amendment to the main motion was put on the floor to increase the restricted contingency account by $20,000 instead of the original $15,000. Amendment failed 2-6. The main motion as amended to include the $15,000 to the capital reserve account #25 passed 5-3. BUDGET MEETING - PAGE 3 NOVEMBER 9, 1989 The remaining Planning Department budget was discussed by the Committee. No other changes were made to the Planning Department budget. The Committee approved the Planning Budget as amended 7-1 . 2. Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Budget Members of the Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Services presented their 1990 budget request and a statement of their accomplishments during 1989. The INHS budget request is $80,000 for 1990. The Mayor's recommendation included $15,000 for account A8515 and an additional $5,000 set aside in the Human Services area. After members of the INHS staff and users of INHS services presented statements on current INHS programs, a discussion followed on many of the INNS services that are provided to low and moderate income individuals. It was noted that a HODAG repayment of $55,144.28 from the Eddygate loan was available for funding of the INHS budget. A motion was put on the floor to allocate the $55,144 from the Eddygate HODAG repayment and the $9,856 from the Iszards UDAG repayment to the Ithaca Neigh- borhood Housing Services and reduce the Mayor's budget by $5,346 in the Human Services Allocation to INHS. Motion passed 9-0. It was noted that the total $80,000 Department request by INHS is funded as follows: $15,000 from original Mayor's Recommendation $55,144 from Eddygate HODAG loan repayment $ 9,856 from Iszards UDAG loan repayment $80,000 total funded A discussion followed on the confirmation of the $55,144 repayment from the Eddy- gate HODAG loan. Planning Director Van Cort noted the money will be available in July 1990. A brief discussion on the Housing Trust Fund followed, but it was agreed that any further discussion would be concluded at a later date. 3. Building Department Budget Building Commissioner Datz presented the Building Department budget requests for 1990. Commissioner Datz stated that two areas he would like to focus on for the Building Department during the budget discussions are the potential increased revenue sources and a increase in staff for 1990. Commissioner Datz felt the Building Department should be classified as two areas; the new construction - Building Inspectors and the Housing Section - rental property area. Commissioner Datz then discussed the problem areas in the Building Department as follows: 1 . Currently not enough staff in the Building Department 2. The Housing section of the Building Department is not as strong as it should be. 3. Currently behind on building permits - the Department should be able to catch up in 1990. BUDGET MEETING - PAGE 4 NOVEMBER 9, 1989 Building Commissioner Datz then presented proposals to the Committee on potential revenue sources. Commissioner Datz presented a proposed Temporary Certificate of Occupancy fee schedule based on $100.00 per Temporary Certificate of Occupancy and 20% of the building permit fee. Commissioner Datz felt the 20o covered the staff time that is needed to process a temporary certificate. An estimate of an extra $35,000 a year could be generated by this increased fee. A discussion on revenue followed. It was agreed on by the Committee that Building Commissioner Datz would produce a proposed fee schedule and present that at the November 29, 1989 budget meeting. The revenue line A2555 Building and Alteration Permits will be increased by $35,000 in the 1990 budget to reflect the proposed increase in fees by the Building Depart- ment. Building Commissioner Datz requested four new positions in the Building Department for the 1990 roster. A lengthy discussion on Building Department positions followed. After the discussion the following motion was moved. Amend the Building Department's employee roster and A3620-110 Staff Salaries account by an additional $22,378 for two Housing Inspector positions, one for approximately nine months (April - December 1990), and one for approximately three months (October - December 1990), which is the equivalent of one new position. Amend the Building Department's employee roster and A3620-110 Staff Salaries account by an additional $6,300 for one half-time Account Clerk Typist position. Amend the Employee Benefits A9000 series by increasing various em- ployment benefit lines by $6,322 to reflect the related employee benefits for the new positions. Motion passed 9-0. A discussion on the Building Department personnel positions followed. It was moved to go into executive session to discuss this issue. Motion failed 3-6. A further discussion on Building Department personnel continued. Chairperson Schlather recommended further discussion on this topic should be done in executive session. It was moved to go into executive session. Motion passed 6-3. Following the executive session Chairperson Schlather reported no action was taken in the executive session. The remaining items in the Building Department's budget were discussed. No other amendments were made. A motion to approve the Building Department's budget as amended was made. Mot.ion passed 9-0. A brief discussion on Building Department revenue and code enforcement followed. No further action taken. 4. Budget Schedule changes The following change in the budget discussion meetings was made: The November 21 , 1989 budget meeting on Capital Projects, Capital Reserves, Revenues and Tax Rate was changed to Wednesday, November 29, 1989. BUDGET MEETING - PAGE 5 NOVEMBER 9, 1989 The Special Meeting for Common Council on the Industrial Zone Amendments was set for Tuesday, November 14, 1989 8:00 A.M. Meeting adjourned at 11 :00 P.M. REVENUES Mayor's Recomm. $20,269,696 55, 144 A2706 Contributions for Low and Moderate Income Housing, for Contract with INHS, from Eddy- gate HODAG Payback 9,856 A2706 Contributions for Low and Moderate Income Housing, for Contract with INHS, from Com- munity Development UDAG Payback on Iszards Building. 35,000 A2555 Building and Alteration Permits - Building Commissioner Datz will provide Council with a proposed fee schedule at the November 29, 1989 meeting. $20,369,696 100,000 Net Increase in Revenues ( 91 ,185) Net Reduction in Mayor's Budget AMENDMENTS TO 1990 MAYOR'S BUDGET APPROPRIATIONS Mayor's Recomm. $20,889,696 ( 80,236) Reduction Resulting from Reorganization 20,809,460 15,783 Net Increases in Finance, Personnel, Purchasing 20,825,243 ( 2,600) Decrease in Personnel relating to Arbitration 20,822,643 ( 200) Delete City Historian Position 20,822,443 700 Increased Staff Development and Travel and $20,823, 143 Mileage in Mayor's Office Budget ( 66,553) Net Reduction in Mayor's Budget from meeting of No vember 2, 1989 $20,823, 143 Balance prior to Budget Meeting of November 9, 1989 Planning Department Budget A8020 ( 34,286) Reduction in Planning Dept. A8020 435 Contractual Serv. 15,000 Increase in Restricted Contingency - Planning Purposes Low and Moderate Income Housing A8515 55, 144 Increase in Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Contract A8515 from Eddygate HODAG Payback Revenue 9,856 Increase in Ithaca Neighborhood Housing Contract A8515 from Community Development, Iszards UDAG Payback ( 5,346) Reduction in A010-435 for Ithaca Neighborhood Housing, Other Human Services included in Mayor's Budget. Building Department Budget A3620 22,378 Increase in A3620-110 Staff Salaries, for two Housing Inspector positions, one for approximately nine months (April-December 1990), and one for ap- proximately three months (October-December 1990) . 6,300 Increase in A3620-110 Staff Salaries, for one half-time Account Clerk Typist position. Employee Benefits A9000 Series 6,322 Increase various employee benefit lines for Building $20,898,511 Department positions described above. 75,368 Net overall increase in Mayor's Appropriation from November 9, 1989 meeting. 8,815 Combined Net Increase in Mayor's Budget after the November 2 and November 9, 1989 meetings