Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1992-12-16 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting 7:30 P.M. December 16, 1992 MINUTES Present: Committee Members: Daley, Berg, Romanowski, Johnson, Booth (late) Others Present: Mayor - Nichols City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy Controller - . Thayer Asst. City Attorney - Kennedy Superintendent of Public Works - Gray Youth Development Coordinator - Green Youth Program Coordinator - Bailey Members of the media 1. Opening Comments Vice Chairperson Romanowski stated that there were no changes to the agenda. Members of the Public were asked to speak; no members spoke. 2. DPW - 1993 Golf Course Rates - Report Deputy Controller Thayer reported to the Committee that during the 1993 Budget discussion, the Common Council and the DPW discussed 1993 Golf Course Revenues, Expenditures and Rates. He stated that Common Council adopted a $137,000 revenue budget for 1993 and directed the DPW to increase golf course rates appropriately to be sure that the projected revenue would be achieved. Deputy Controller Thayer explained that the BPW adopted the golf pro's recommended increase in golf rates for 1993. He explained that the increase in rates should meet the projected 1993 golf revenue amount. The Committee briefly discussed the golf course activity, but no formal action was taken. 3. Mayor - Working Group to decrease use of paper Mayor Nichols discussed with the Committee the formation of a working group to decrease the use of paper within City Departments . He explained that this working group was discussed at the last City Staff meeting. (Chairperson Booth arrived during this discussion) 1 rw BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 Mayor Nichols explained that the group will be formed to provide recommendations to Council to reduce the use of paper in all City departments. He stated that this will be a serious effort by the group. He also explained that Common Council must be prepared to implement the recommendations made by this working group. Nichols suggested that some of the items that will be in these discussions will be: A. Electronic Communications B. Increased use of computers C. Copier machines D. Reduced mail E. General City Department communications Mayor Nichols explained that the working group for the paper reduction is now being formed and the Deputy City Clerk is the Chair of the group. He asked for a volunteer from the B & A Committee to be on this working group. Alderperson Daley volunteered his services. No formal action was taken. The Committee suggested that the first paper reduction step can be taken by not mailing B&A meeting notices to the B&A Committee members unless there is a change in the time or place. 4. Committee to Proceed Into Executive Session The Committee voted, 5-0, to move into executive session to discuss personnel and litigation items . 5. Report from Executive Session After the Committee voted, 5-0, to move back into regular session, Chairperson Booth reported that the following had taken place in executive session: A. City Attorney - Discussion on Settlement Assistant City Attorney Kennedy briefly discussed a recent arbitrator' s decision and implications to the City. The Committee took no action on the item. B. Mayor - Personnel Item Mayor Nichols discussed a personnel item with the Committee, and no action was taken. 2 i BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 C. City Attorney - Request to Purchase Property on Beech Street After a long discussion regarding certain property on Beech Street, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, that $1, 000 be transferred from Account A-1990 Unrestricted Contingency to Account A-1420-435 Contracts for the purchase of property on Beech Street, and be it further RESOLVED, that the City Attorney be authorized to negotiate the purchase offer for the purchase of the property. The motion passed 5-0. D. City Attorney - Discussion on CSEA Admin Unit Contract Assistant City Attorney Kennedy discussed the upcoming contract negotiations with the CSEA Admin Unit with the Committee. The Committee took no formal action. E. 1993 Contractual Coverage for Individuals Not Covered by a Union The Committee discussed the 1993 Contractual Coverage for Individuals Not Covered by a union, specifically with respect to the fringe benefits portion of the contract. It was agreed that the employees not covered by a union will adhere to the City Executive Association fringe benefit section of the contract, except for the longevity provision. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That management employees not covered by a formal union bargaining agreement shall be granted fringe benefits as though they were members of the City Executive Association, with the exception of longevity provisions as provided by Part III, A(6) in said contract. The motion passed 5-0. F. Youth Bureau - Request for Employee Incentive Award The Committee discussed a request from the Youth Bureau to approve an employee incentive award for a Youth Bureau employee. The request for the employee incentive award was tabled. 3 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 6. Finance Department - Controller/DPW - AMSA Contract For Meter Money Collection City Controller Cafferillo discussed with the Committee the possibility of approving a contract with AMSA for the collection of money from the City's parking meters. He explained that a Capital Project has been established and approved for the acquisition of 1,000 parking meter lock boxes . He stated that when this project was discussed, the possibility of using AMSA for parking meter collection was also discussed. Controller Cafferillo explained that the applicable bargaining units were made aware of this contract possibility. He stated that the units are still discussing this possibility. He did mention that the current parking meter employees have agreed that the AMSA contract would be beneficial to the City. He explained that AMSA has held their price on the contract. Superintendent of Public Works Gray stated that the AMSA contract was a good idea. He discussed some of the possible effects on the current staff of the Parking Meter Department if this contract were approved. After a brief discussion, Controller Cafferillo explained that no action is needed now. He stated that continued discussions will be made with the applicable bargaining units . No action was taken, and the discussion will be put on a future B&A Agenda. 7. Building Department A. Request to Adjust Zoning Variance Fees. Building Commissioner Eckstrom presented a request to adjust the current .zoning variance fees for the City of Ithaca. He explained that currently the zoning variance fee charged is $15.00. Commissioner Eckstrom suggested that the fee does not properly cover all the costs related to the zoning variance procedure. He recommended that the fee should be raised to $50.00 . Commissioner Eckstrom presented to the Committee a survey of surrounding variance fees being charged in other municipalities . The fees ranged from no fee to a fee of $100 . 00 . A discussion followed on the variance fee. 4 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 The Committee felt that the fee should be established as follows: 1 . Zoning variance fee for owner occupant of residential property which contains no more than two dwelling units shall pay a fee of $50.00 . 2 . Zoning variance fee for commercial rental property shall be $75.00 The new fees should be established to offset the cost required for the legal notice and other incidental expenses. Commissioner Eckstrom stated that a public hearing would have to be held for this ordinance. After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, That Ordinance No. 93 entitled "An Ordinance Amending Subdivision C of Section 325-41 of Chapter 325 entitled "Zoning" of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code" , regarding the procedures of the Board of Zoning Appeals, is hereby introduced before Common Council of the City of Ithaca, New York, and be it further RESOLVED, That the Common Council shall hold a public hearing in the matter of the adoption of the aforesaid Ordinance to be held at the Common Council Chambers, City Hall at 108 East Green Street in the City of Ithaca, New York on Wednesday, February 3, 1993, at 7 :00 p.m. of that day, and be it further RESOLVED, That the City Clerk shall give notice of public hearing by the publication of a notice in the official newspaper, specifying the time when and the place where such public hearing will be held, and in general terms describing the proposed Ordinance. Such notice shall be published once at least fifteen (15) days prior to the public hearing, and be it further RESOLVED, That the City shall transmit forthwith to the Tompkins County Planning Board and to the City of Ithaca Planning Board true and exact copies of the proposed zoning ordinance for their report thereon. 5 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 ORDINANCE AMENDING SUBDIVISION C OF THE SECTION 325-41 (PROCEDURES OF THE BOARD OF ZONING APPEALS) , CHAPTER 325 ENTITLED "ZONING" OF THE CITY OF ITHACA MUNICIPAL CODE BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, New York, as follows: SECTION 1. AMENDING SUBDIVISION C OF SECTION 325-41. That subdivision C (4) of Section 325-41 is hereby amended to read as follows : "C. (4) The appellant shall, at the time of filing his/her appeal, pay to the Building Commissioner a fee of seventy-five dollars ($75) [fifteen dollars ($15. ) ] to help defray the cost of the required legal notice and other incidental expenses . However, the owner occupant of residential property on which are located no more than two dwelling units shall pay a fee of fifty dollars ($50) , and an officer or administrative official of the City of Ithaca acting in his/her official capacity shall not be required to pay said fee. " SECTION 2. EFFECTIVE DATE. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately and in accordance with law upon publication of a notice as provided in the City Charter. The motion passed 4-1 . Alderperson Daley voted against the motion. B. Request to Adjust Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Fee Building Commissioner Eckstrom presented a request to adjust the current Temporary Certificate of Occupancy Fee. He explained that the current Temporary Certificate of Occupancy fee is $100 plus 25% of building permit fee. He suggests that the fee is too high and should be lowered to $28 .00 plus $28 . 00 for each hour of inspection, review or analysis . Commissioner Eckstrom explained that the fee is out of line with the other Building Department fees and is not in line with the actual cost of the issuance of the Temporary Certificate of Occupancy. 6 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 Commissioner Eckstrom also explained that the impact on revenues should be minimal. He stated that if the fee were lowered there would be more TCO's issued. He stated that the lower fee will encourage individuals to use the TCO. After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: AN ORDINANCE AMENDING SECTION 146.7 (c)2 OF CHAPTER 146 ENTITLED 'BUILDING CONSTRUCTION' OF THE CITY OF ITHACA MUNICIPAL CODE BE IT ORDAINED AND ENACTED by the Common Council of the City of Ithaca, New York, as follows : Section 1. That Section 146 .7(c)2 of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code entitled "Building Permits - Permit Fees" be and the same is hereby amended to read as follows: 2(a) . Permit fees shall be paid before permit review can commence according to the following schedule: Temporary Certificates of Occupancy [$100 .00] $28.00 plus [25% of building permit fee] $28.00 for each hour of inspection, review or analysis Section 2 . Effective Date. This Ordinance shall take effect immediately. The remainder of the Permit Fee Schedule shall remain the same. The motion passed 5-0. 8. Finance Department - Controller A. Request Funds for Supplemental Portion of City Code Deputy Controller Thayer presented a request for payment of the latest supplement invoice for the revision of the City Code. He explained that the bill is $3,909 for 100 sets of the latest supplement. 7 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 Deputy Controller Thayer explained that the budget is only able to pay for $1, 625 of this bill. He stated that a transfer of funds from the Unrestricted Contingency Account is needed to make the payment or a transfer from another account at the end of the year can cover the bill. The committee agreed that the Controller will cover the expense by the use of the end-of-year transfers. No formal action was taken. B. Bond Resolutions City Controller Cafferillo explained that he will prepare a bond resolution for the next Common Council meeting relating to the 1993 Capital Project borrowing and other borrowings that are currently needed from previous years' projects . Controller Cafferillo stated that he may seek either long-term or short-term bonds depending on the rates. He explained that he is currently trying to change the local finance law that states that municipalities can not remain in one-year borrowings and must, within five years of the issue, borrow permanently. He noted that over the past ten years the City has received a much lower short- term rate. He felt the current rates for short-term borrowings were approximately 2 .5% and the long-term rate borrowings were approximately 5.0% Controller Cafferillo stated that he will bid both long- term rates and short-term rates and recommend which rate to select. He stated that he will have all the resolutions ready by the next. Common Council meeting. No formal action was taken. C. Building Department Budget Transfer Request City Controller Cafferillo explained that Council has allowed him to make transfers up to $5,000 within the 200 and 400 lines of the City Budget. He noted that when a department requests a transfer from the 100 lines to the 400 lines, he brings the request to the B & A Committee for their concurrence. 8 BUDGET & ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING DECEMBER 16, 1992 Controller Cafferillo explained that the Building Department wants to transfer $800 from its 100 Personnel line to the 435 Contractual Service line in 1992 . He also stated that the Building Department wants to transfer $1,500 from its 100 Personnel line to the 435 Contractual Services line in 1993. He explained that the Building Department has requested these transfers to provide funding for a temporary employee to perform the currently vacant secretary duties for a month until a new secretary is hired. It was explained that the Controller hired the Building Department's Administrative Secretary to fill a retirement, and the Building Department promoted their secretary to Administrative Secretary, leaving a vacant Secretary position. The Committee agreed with the transfers, and no formal action was taken. 9. Committee to Proceed Into Executive Session The Committee voted, 5-0, to move into executive session to discuss the status of other current City contract negotiations. 10. Report from Executive Session Chairperson Booth reported that the Committee was given a status update on the current City contract negotiations and no formal action was taken. It was agreed upon by the Committee that the next B & A meeting would be January 20th at 7 : 30 P.M. The meeting adjourned at 11 :00 P.M. NOTE: In many cases the actual texts of the resolutions presented in these minutes were prepared following the Committee's deliberations and decisions on the matters involved. The resolutions presented here are in complete accord with decisions made by the Committee. 9