Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2005-02-01Members Present: Staff DRAFT CITY ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE Regular Meeting February 23, 2005 Alderperson Berry, Alderperson Coles, Alderperson Zumoff, Alderperson Townsend, Alderperson Cogan, Mayor Peterson Present: Leslie Moskowitz (Mgr of OD), Rick Ferrel (Asst Supt of Public Works), Lauren Signer (Police Chief), Larry Fabbroni (Asst Supt of Public Works), Steve Thayer (Controller), Scott Andrew (Deputy Controller), Schelley Michell -Nunn (HR Director), Denise Malone (Administrative Secretary) Others Present: Members of the Public, Members of the Media Chairperson Berry called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. A. Chairperson Greeting & Opening Statement Chairperson Berry welcomed everyone to the meeting and explained the evacuation procedures. B. Agenda Review and Amendments, Approval of Minutes & Announcements There were no announcements, additions or deletions to the agenda. The Committee reviewed the minutes from the January 2005 meeting. After discussion, Alderperson Coles made a motion to approve the minutes from the January 26, 2005 City Administration Committee meeting. Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff. Motion carried 5 -0. C. Statements from the Public. None. D. Employee Comments. None. E. Common Council Response. None. City Administration Committee February 23, 2005 Page 2 F. Affirmative Action Advisory Committee (AAAC) Update Alderperson Townsend reported that the Affirmative Action Advisory Committee has been changed to the Workforce Diversity (WFD) Committee, that the Police Officer exam results were available, and that the WFD Committee would soon roll out the Workforce Diversity Plan. The WFD Committee would introduce the Workforce Diversity Plan first to Senior Staff and, then, to the Administrative Support Group. G. Mayor 1. Request to Amend 2005 Budget for Community Celebration Grant Tompkins County notified the City of $1,000 in grant funds from the County to the City to be used for the Ithaca Community Celebration Funds. The Mayor's Office requested approval to amend the 2005 budget to accept the $1,000 in Community Celebration Grant Funds from Tompkins County. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 5 -0. The Committee agreed that this item would be put on consent agenda. H. DPW /Streets & Facilities 1. Request to Amend Personnel Roster The Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities) requested approval to amend the 2005 Personnel Roster by Deleting: One (1) Automotive Mechanic Adding: One (1) Automotive Mechanic Supervisor After discussion, Alderperson Coles made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Townsend. Motion carried 5 -0. City Administration Committee February 23, 2005 Page 3 2. Request to Re- allocate Position The HR Department evaluated the current responsibilities of the Working Supervisor - Sanitation position and determined that the appropriate salary grade is 32. The Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities) requested approval to re- allocate the Working Supervisor - Sanitation position from salary grade 31 to salary grade 32 in the CSEA DPW Unit Local 855. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Townsend. Motion carried 4 -0. (Alderperson Townsend was absent from the vote.) I. DPW /Superintendent's Office 1. Request Funds to Cover Demolition Cost The Building Department determined that the building located at 413 E. Lincoln Street is in imminent danger of collapsing and represents a danger to the community. The property owner was notified to correct the defects and make the building safe. The property owner has not responded, resulting in the Building Department notifying the Superintendent's Office on January 27, 2005, to have the building removed and the site made safe. The Superintendent's Office requested $35,000 to cover all costs including asbestos testing and removal. After discussion, Alderperson Coles made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Motion carried 5 -0. J. Police Department 1. Request to Temporarily Fill Positions Currently, the Police Department has two (2) vacant Lieutenant positions, one (1) vacant Sergeant position, and two (2) vacant Police Officer positions. Due to promotions to the positions of Lieutenant and Sergeant, five (5) Police Officer vacancies have occurred. The Police Academy begins on April 4, 2005, which would not allow the department to proceed through the promotion process and hire Police Officers in time for the academy. The Police Department has three (3) unfunded positions that may be temporarily funded in order to allow the department to fill all five (5) Police Officer positions in time for the Police Academy. The Police Department requested approval to temporarily fund three (3) Police Officer City Administration Committee February 23, 2005 Page 4 positions until June 1, 2005. After discussion, Alderperson Coles made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Townsend. Motion carried 5 -0. K. Finance /Controller 1. Request to Authorize contract with Advantage Energy, Inc. for Electricity Tompkins County and other municipalities authorized the Municipal Electric and Gas Alliance (MEGA) to bid for electricity on their behalf. Tompkins County awarded the contract to Advantage Energy, Inc. The Controller's Office requested Common Council to authorize the Mayor, on behalf of the City of Ithaca, to enter into a customer agreement with Advantage Energy, Inc. for electricity. After discussion, Alderperson Coles made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff. Motion carried 5 -0. 2. Clothina and Footwear Sales Tax Exemption Controller Steve Thayer reported that this is a State offered program. To participate in this program, the City must make a decision by March 1, 2005. At this time, Tompkins County would not be participating in the clothing and footwear sales tax exemption. Controller Thayer recommended that the City not participate in the clothing and footwear sales tax exemption. To participate, the City would lose about $100,000 - $150,000 in revenue based on the $110 dollar clothing and footwear tax exemption. Mr. Thayer stated that should the County decide to participate in this program, a special meeting would be scheduled for March 1. 3. Controller's Report. The Controller Steve Thayer reported on the following: Sales Tax Revenue: The City budgeted an 8% increase and has collected 3% above last year. Mr. Thayer would continue to look at the revenues to see how Wal -Mart and other stores are impacting the City's sales tax. Parking Rate /Revenues: At the end of last week, the parking revenues collected was about $57,000 as compared to last year's $41,000. This was a 39% increase in revenues. The City budgeted a 45% increase for 2005. Mr. Thayer reported that there have been problems with implementing the new meter changes. Some of the problems were due to the adjustments of the meter heads, the software for the City Administration Committee February 23, 2005 Page 5 meter heads, and the cold weather. Now that the new meters are in place, the Controller's Office would be able to see how the meters are reacting to the change. Cayuga Green: The first required payment of the $480,000 was made. The City is also making the monthly payments for the garage. A full report would be given at next month's meeting. Revenues: The Controller would make a report at next month's meeting. Retirement: On February 1, 2005, the City made the 2nd payment to the Retirement System. The entire amount was booked on the 2004 balance sheet for revenue and expenditure operations. Cash Flow: The first half of the tax collection was completed in January, which allows the City to make payroll and pay bills. L, Human Resources 1. Director's Report. The HR Director Schelley Michell -Nunn reported on the following: Executive Session: The HR Director requested that an Executive Session be added to the Common Council agenda. The Executive Session would be to discuss collective bargaining. First Fridays: The HR Director reported that she is a member of the Diversity Consortium. The Consortium, consisting of area employers, focuses on recruitment and retention of diverse groups not only into our workforce but also into the Ithaca area. First Fridays, which has been in hiatus, is under new management and has been revitalized. The purpose of First Fridays is to bring diverse groups together for networking and socializing. The next community event would be March 4, 2005, at Olivia's, starting around 8:00 p.m. Women's History Month: March is Women's History Month. There will be an event "Sister Friend - Celebrating Sisterhood" on March 29, 2005, at the Women's Community Building from 11:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. This event would include a lunch City Administration Committee February 23, 2005 Page 6 and entertainment. Tickets, which will not be sold at the door, are available until March 22. The cost is $15.00. Performance Evaluations: The HR Director reported that the HR Department is currently working on the Performance Appraisal and Competency Evaluation (PACE) for the City Executive Association. Part of the PACE process deals with making a decision on whether employees would get incentive or merit increases. To do this, Ms. Michell -Nunn suggested contracting with Mary Hall to audit what is currently in place to ensure that the process is objective and to develop a merit matrix. Ms. Michell -Nunn proposed that some of the money previously transferred into the HR Department account for an intern be used to hire the consultant. The Committee agreed to allow the funds to be used as proposed. M. Common Council 1. Common Council /Mayor Salary Increases The Committee discussed salary increases for Common Council and the Mayor. Questions raised were: Should the number of Common Council members be reduced and the status changed to full -time? Should the number of wards be increased? Would these types of changes require a change in the Charter? What would be the impact on the budget? Should a sub - committee be created to gather data on salaries for elected officials from similar municipalities? The Mayor stated that this information could be obtained from the New York Conference of Mayors (NYCOM). The Committee would continue to discuss this item at the next month's meeting. Comments or suggestions by Common Council members should be e- mailed to Chairperson Berry. N. Joint Activity 1. Request to Sign Contract and Amend 2005 Budget for Grant The Ithaca Area Wastewater Treatment Facility (IAWWTF) was awarded a $261,629.84 grant from New York State Energy and Research & Development Authority (NYSERDA) to research Fenton Reagent as part of the sludge digestion process at the IAWWTF). The City will receive $196,447.20 in NYSERDA Funding and $65,182.64 in local matching funding through the IAWWTP. Alderperson City Administration Committee February 23, 2005 Page 7 Cogan suggested adding language in the second Whereas to show that the Special Joint Sewer Committee met on February 16, 2005, and approved the City of Ithaca acting as lead agent on the contract governing the NYSERDA grant. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 5 -0. O. Reports 1. Mayor's Report. Mayor Peterson reported on the following: Parking: The Mayor is aware and interested in the parking issues. The Mayor would continue to follow the reports. Performance Evaluations: This month, the Mayor completed the first two performance evaluations for department heads. The Mayor, in conjunction with the department head, looked at the department's goals to see how they coincided with the City's direction. Goals were set for next twelve (12) months. Eventually, the goals would be tied into a City report card. Sub- Committee: The Mayor and four (4) Common Council members serve on the sub - committee that is looking at issues surrounding a new Water Treatment Plant. Recreation Facilities: The City and the Town of Ithaca have been discussing 2005 payments for recreational facilities and looking at what the inter - municipal relationship should be regarding youth recreational facilities. Ithaca Urban Renewal Agency (IURA): IURA is reviewing applications for requests for money. Planning Committee Meeting: The Mayor would put a resolution in Common Council packets regarding President Bush's initial budget proposal on the severe cutbacks in Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. Ciminelli Contract: The Legal Department is drafting the agreement from the sponsor agreement with the Ciminelli, Seneca Place Building, and our parking agreement in the new garage and Seneca garage. City Administration Committee February 23, 2005 Page 8 Healthy City Initiative: Last Friday, the Mayor held a kickoff meeting for the Healthy City Initiative. The meeting was well attended and minutes are forthcoming. Plan Unit Development Forum (PUF): The first Mayor's community forum would be on March 10, 2005 - 7:00 p.m. - Women's Community Building. The forum topic is plan unit development. 2. Sub- Committee Updates. None. 3. Council Members' Announcements Chairperson Berry wants to talk with Common Council members about the proposed cuts in CDBG grants and Pell grants. Mayor Peterson reported that she would participate in a panel discussion on Women in Leadership. The event would be held in Seneca Falls on March 19. 4. Next Month's Meeting: March 30, 2005 P. Adjournment With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Cogan, the meeting was adjourned at 8:30 p.m.