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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-CA-2004-12-22 CITY AbMINISTRATION COMMITTEE-1 L SCANNE [ Regular Meeting r: December 22, 2004 2005 taiiKS OFFICE Members Present: Alderperson Berry, Alderperson Coles, Alderperson Zumo , -��1=Ina mon Cogan, Mayor Peterson Members Excused: Alderperson Townsend Staff Present: Phyllis Radke (Building Commissioner), Larry Fabbroni (Asst Supt), Rick Ferrel (Asst Supt), Liz Vance (Deputy YB Director), Jackie Merwin (Youth Program Coordinator), Leslie Moskowitz (Mgr of OD), Steve Thayer (Controller), Scott Andrew (Deputy Controller), Schelley Michell-Nunn (HR Director), Denise Malone (Administrative Secretary) Others Present: Members of the Media Chairperson Berry called the meeting to order at 7:01 p.m. A. Chairperson Greeting & Opening Statement Chairperson Berry welcomed everyone to the meeting, explained the evacuation procedures, and thanked the Committee members and staff for their contribution to the City Administration Committee. B. Agenda Review and Amendments, Approval of Minutes & Announcements There were no announcements. Chairperson Berry requested that Item J (Building Department) be moved to Item G. The Committee reviewed the minutes from the November 2004 meeting. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the minutes from the November 18, 2004, City Administration Committee meeting. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Motion carried 4-0. City Administration Committee December 22, 2004 Page 2 C. Statements from the Public. None. D. Employee Comments. None. E. Common Council Response Chairperson Berry mentioned that Carol Shipe, Administrative Secretary in the Controller's Office, would be retiring December 31, 2004. Chairperson Berry read a poem that acknowledged and expressed appreciation for all Ms. Shipe's hard work and years of dedication. F. Affirmative Action Advisory Committee (AAAC) Update. None. 6. Building Department 1. An Ordinance to Increase Certain Building Department Inspection Fees The Building Department requested approval of an ordinance amending Sections 210-43.F(1) and (2), and 146-7.C(2)(a) of the City of Ithaca Municipal Code to increase certain building department inspection fees, which are listed in the resolution. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. H. Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities and Water & Sewer) 1. Water & Sewer - Request to Extend Personnel Service Contract for On-Site AutoCad Training Services The Department of Public Works (Water & Sewer) requested approval to extend the personnel service contract for On-site AutoCad Training Services for the period from January 1, 2005, to December 31, 2005. The rate to be reimbursed is $23.22 per hour, for a total contract extension not to exceed $24,155. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. 2. Streets & Facilities - Request to Amend Capital Project for Thurston Avenue Bridge Construction City Administration Committee December 22, 2004 Page 3 2. Streets & Facilities - Request to Amend Capital Project for Thurston Avenue Bridge Construction The Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities) requested approval to amend Capital Project #428 Thurston Avenue Bridge Over Fall Creek Rehabilitation by an amount not to exceed $6,989,688 for a total project cost of $8,200,000. This is with the understanding that the final cost to the City of Ithaca will not exceed five percent (5%) of the final approved project cost, currently estimated at $410,000 of the $8,200,000 authorized for this project. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Zumoff. Motion carried 4-0. 3. Streets & Facilities - Request to Amend 2005 Personnel Roster The Department of Public Works (Streets & Facilities) requested approval to amend the 2005 Personnel Roster by Deleting: One (1) Account Clerk (40 hours) One (1) Account Clerk Typist (20 hours) Adding: One (1) Account Clerk (20 hours) One (1) Account Clerk Typist (40 hours) After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. The Committee agreed that this item would be put on consent agenda. I. Human Resources 1. Retiree Health Insurance Co-Pay The Human Resources Department, in conjunction with the Controller's Office, requested approval to establish the 2005 monthly health insurance rate for retirees and those employees on leaves of absence at $187.17/month for individual coverage and $428.58/month for family coverage. This increase represents a r City Administration Committee December 22, 2004 Page 4 9.37% increase over the current retiree health insurance rate charged. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Cogan. Vote on the motion was as follows: Yea: (3) Zumoff, Coles, Cogan Nay: (1) Berry The motion passed 3-1. 2. Establishment of a Standard Workday for Elected Officials The New York State (NYS) Retirement System requires that a standard workday be established for elected officials for the purpose of retirement credit. A study of Common Council members' participating in the NYS Retirement System's monthly hours revealed that these members work an average of ninety-nine (99) hours per month on Council activities. The Human Resources Department requested Common Council to establish six (6) hour workday, five day work week as a standard work day for elected officials for the purpose of determining days worked reportable to the NYS Retirement System. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request and to authorize the Controller to make the appropriate applications to the Retirement System to change the current NYS Retirement Credit from sixty (60) hours per month to ninety-nine (99) hours per month. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. 3. Request to Amend the Personnel Rosters of Various Departments During the 2005 budget process, various departments had requested amendments to or were requested to amend their personnel rosters (i.e. changes in hours, addition and/or deletion of positions, etc.) Common Council approved the various amendments when it adopted the 2005 budget on November 3, 2004. The Human Resources Department requested that Common Council now needs to formally adopt the personnel changes for 2005 as listed in the resolution. After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to amend the personnel rosters of various departments as requested. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. The Committee agreed that this item would be put on consent agenda. • • City Administration Committee December 22, 2004 Page 5 4. Request to Transfer Funds Common Council set aside funds to implement the recommendations from the Work Environment Task Force (WETF) in 2000. The current balance of the WETF funds is $18,400. The Human Resources Department requested that an amount not to exceed $10,000 be transferred from account A1990 Restricted Contingency to account A1430-5120 Hourly P/T for the purpose of hiring an intern to work on the implementation of the WETF recommendations. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion to approve the request. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. 5. Director's Report. The Human Resources Director reported on the following: TCAT: The City has successfully completed impact bargaining with TCAT. There would be a few TCAT employees remaining with the City, bumping other employees or filling vacant positions. Employee Forum: There were three (3) employee forums held in December that were very well attended. Numerous feedback was received. Classification Study: Still underway. The Civil Service Commission will make final recommendations by February. Friday Brainteasers: Will start in February 2005. These are training sessions offered at no charge to the employees of the City of Ithaca, Tompkins County and the Town of Ithaca. Diversity Training: The Diversity Training was held in November and went well. Recruitment/Outreach/Interviewing Training: The training would be held in January 2005 for Senior Staff. Employees participating in the interview process would require this training. Newsletter: Was distributed today and contains a lot of valuable information. Safety Training: The Employee Health and Safety Coordinator has been City Administration Committee becember 22, 2004 Page 6 overseeing the safety training since October. There have been 54 training hours and 284 attendees. J. Youth Bureau 1. Impact of New Minimum Wage on Youth Bureau Budget Recently, the State Senate vetoed the bill regarding minimum wage, which now will cause an impact on the Youth Bureau budget. Effective January 1, 2005, minimum wage will increase from $5.15 per hour to $6.00 per hour. This increase would have a tremendous impact on services provided by the Youth Bureau, mostly in the Youth Employment Services (Y.E.5.) Summer Municipal Jobs Program. The Youth Bureau submitted two optional budget proposals for consideration. The Youth Bureau would like to avoid cuts in services but at the same time understands the realities of current budgetary constraints. The Committee reviewed both options. After discussion, the consensus of the Committee was to gather more information regarding the two options. As required by law, effective January 1, 2005, the Youth Bureau will increase the minimum wages of those currently working under $6.00/hour and will bring additional information to the next City Administration Committee meeting regarding the two budget options. K. Mayor 1. Health Insurance Contributions by Common Council The Committee discussed Common Council members and the Mayor contributing to the health insurance. After discussion, Alderperson Cogan made a motion that Common Council and the Mayor agree to pay into the health insurance program at the same sliding scale as managerial employees. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. L. Finance/Controller 1. January Resolutions City Administration Committee December 22, 2004 Page 7 The Controller's Office presented the Committee with the standard resolutions as follows: Designation of Official Newspaper: Resolved, that, pursuant to Section C- 113 of the City Charter, the Ithaca Journal be and is hereby designated as the official newspaper of the City of Ithaca for the year 2005. Finance/Controller - Collateral to Secure Deposits: Resolved, that the collateral deposited by the Tompkins Trust Company, Fleet Bank and M (ST Bank as reported, be approved as to form and sufficiency. Finance/Controller - Public Employee's Blanket Bond: Resolved, that, pursuant to Section 11 of the Public Officers Law, the following Bond, which is on file in the Office of the City Clerk, be, and is hereby approved in all respects for the year 2005 Faithful Performance Blanket $250,000 National Grange Bond Coverage Mutual Insurance Co. Finance/Controller - Designation of Common Council Meetings: Resolved, that the regular meetings of the Common Council, for the year 2005, be held at 7:00 P.M., on the first Wednesday of each month, in the Common Council Chambers, at City Hall, 108 East Green Street, Ithaca, New York, unless otherwise determined by Common Council. Finance/Controller - Designation of Official Depositories: Resolved, that, pursuant to Section C-34 of the City Charter, the Tompkins Trust Company, the Fleet Bank and the M & T Bank be, and they are, hereby designated as the official depositories of all City Funds for the year 2005 and are currently deposited as follows (as listed in the resolution). After discussion, Alderperson Zumoff made a motion to approve each standard resolution as requested. Seconded by Alderperson Coles. Motion carried 4-0. The Committee agreed that this item would be put on the consent agenda. , City Administration Committee December 22, 2004 Page 8 2. Controller's Report. The Controller reported on the following: Sales Tax Revenues: Two payments are still due the City this year. The City is projecting a shortage of at least $175,000 in revenues from sales tax for 2004. Controller Thayer updated the Committee on the status of store openings. The Controller's Office hopes that the City would make the 9% projected increase in sales tax revenue for 2005. Retirement Payment: The Controller's Office received two invoices for the Retirement payments, but was only able to pay one invoice by December 15, 2004. Paying one invoice saved the City $12,000. The Controller's Office will pay the second invoice by February 1, 2005. Selling Notes: The City will sell notes in January 2005. As a requirement of that, Moody called and will re-rate the City for a third time. The Controller's Office is making an attempt to get rid of the negative outlook placed on the City. Mr. Thayer stated that over the past year most of New York State municipalities' ratings have had a negative outlook. TCAT: Impact bargaining is completed. There will be some impact to the City. TCAT employees remaining with the City may bump other employees or fill vacant positions. Parking Rates: The Board of Public Works approved parking rates, the first two hours free for 2005. The City will monitor very carefully these rates and the revenues derived from these rates. The Controller's Office will keep Common Council, the Board of Public Works and the City Administration Committee updated on the City's position. 2006 may have a different rate structure. M. Reports 1. Mayor's Report. The Mayor reported on the following: Negotiations: Negotiations are still underway with the Police Benevolent Association and the CSEA DPW Unit. Both contracts have expired. The Mayor's goal is to resolve these contracts before they expire. City Administration Committee December 22, 2004 Page 9 Board/Committee Members: Ithaca Times printed an article on the need for more members for Boards and Committees. The Mayor received many responses and would be making appointments at the January meeting. 2. Sub-Committee Updates. None. 3. Council Members' Announcements. None. 4. Next Month's Meeting:, Wednesday - January 26, 2005. N. Adjournment With no further business and on a motion by Alderperson Zumoff, the meeting was adjourned at 9:04 p.m.