HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1993-10-20 BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE
REGULAR MEETING 7 :30 P.M. OCTOBER 20, 1993
MINUTES
Present:
Committee Members : Booth, Berg, Romanowski, Johnson, Daley (late)
Others Present:
City Controller - Cafferillo
Deputy Controller - Thayer
City Attorney - Guttman
Building Commissioner - Eckstrom
Youth Bureau Director - Cohen
1 . Opening Comments:
Chairperson Booth stated that the following changes were made
to the agenda:
A. Building Department - Permit Fee Adjustment -
tabled
B. Personnel Department - Fringe Benefits for
Managerial Personnel - tabled until the November
meeting
C. Additional item - Clarification of City Day Care
Policy
Members of the Public were asked to speak; no members spoke.
2 . Committee to Proceed to Executive Session
The Committee voted, 5-0, to move into executive session
to discuss personnel items and litigation items.
3 . Report from Executive Session
After the Committee voted, 5-0, to move back into regular
session, Chairperson Booth reported that the following
actions were taken.
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BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1993
A. Building Department - Request to Hire Above Minimum
Chairperson Booth stated that the Committee voted, 5-0,
to approve a request from the Building Commissioner to
hire above Step 1 . Booth also stated that the actual
hiring step was not determined at this time, and the
request will be placed on the next COW Agenda.
B. City Attorney - Request Funds for Litigation
RESOLVED, That an amount not to exceed $5,000 be transferred
from Account A1990 Unrestricted Contingency to Account A1420-
435 Law Contractual Services to fund the use of outside legal
services for pending litigation against the City.
The motion passed 5-0.
C. City Attorney - Request Funds for Litigation
RESOLVED, That an amount not to exceed $4,000 be transferred
from Account A1990 Unrestricted Contingency to Account A1420-
435 Law Contractual Services to fund pending litigation
against the City.
The motion passed 3-1-1 .
4 . Youth Bureau
A. Request to Approve Season Pass Policy at City Pools
Youth Bureau Director Cohen presented a request to amend
a Council resolution from March, 1993 relating to Cass
Park Pool and Rink Season Pass policy. He explained that
a resolution was approved by Council in March, which
stated that only residents of the city would purchase
season passes . He explained that city residents and non-
city residents should be able to purchase season passes
for the rink.
After a brief discussion, the following motion was made:
RESOLVED, That seasonal passes for Cass Park Pool and the Alex
Haley Pool shall be issued only to residents of the City of
Ithaca, and residents of those municipalities participating
with the City in the provision of recreational services, and
be it further
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BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1993
RESOLVED, That seasonal passes for Cass Park Rink will be
issued to City residents and non-residents for the 1993-1994
skating season.
The motion passed 5-0.
B. Request to Amend 1993 Budget for Educational Grant
Youth Bureau Director Cohen presented a request to amend
the 1993 Budget by $2,298 as a result of a grant received
from the U. S. Department of Education to support a new
Student Mentor Corps Partnership Program. He stated that
the grant will expand the current Paul Schreurs Memorial
Program." After a brief discussion, the following motion
was made:
WHEREAS, the City Youth Bureau has received a grant in the
amount of $2,298 from the U. S. Department of Education to
support a new Student Mentor Corps Partnership Program, and
WHEREAS, this grant will allow the Youth Bureau to expand the
Paul Schreurs Memorial Program; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That the 1993 Budget be adjusted as follows for the
purpose of funding said grant:
Increase Revenue:
A4820 Youth Programs $2, 298
Increase Appropriations :
A7310-120 Youth Program - Hourly P/T 1, 768
A9030 Social Security 135
A9040 Workers ' Compensation 145
A9060 Health Insurance 250
The motion passed 5-0 .
5 . Planning Department
A. Request to Approve Architect's Contract for Cascadilla
Boathouse Project
Deputy Planning Director Sieverding presented a request
to approve an architectural contract in the amount of
$17, 600 for conceptual design work on the Cascadilla
Boathouse Project. He explained to the Committee that
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BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1993
the Cascadilla Boathouse stabilization project client
committee has recommended that Bero Associates of
Rochester, New York be selected to perform the conceptual
design work on the project for a fee of $17, 600.
Sieverding stated that the fee proposals ranged from
$12, 500 to $23,000. He explained that the conceptual
design work will include the following:
1 . Schematic Design
2 . Design Development
3 . Construction Documents
4. Bid Process Assistance
5 . Contract Administration
Sieverding stated that the client committee selected Bero
Associates for the following reasons:
1 . Demonstrated ability with stabilization of historic
buildings
2 . Experience with Environmental Quality Bond Act
3 . Confidence in engineering consultant
4 . Highest number of site visits
After a discussion regarding the contract, the following
motion was made:
RESOLVED, That the Mayor be authorized to sign a contract with
the architectural firm of Bero Associates in the amount not to
exceed $17, 600 for the schematic design, design development,
construction documents, assistance with bid process, and
contract administration for Cascadilla Boathouse
Reconstruction project, and be it further
RESOLVED, That said funds will be derived from Capital Project
#275 Cascadilla Boathouse Reconstruction.
The motion passed 5-0 .
B. Request for Wal-Mart Economic Impact Analysis
Deputy Planning Director Sieverding presented a request
to authorize the Mayor to execute a contract with RKG
Associates for $43,000 to perform an Economic Impact
Analysis regarding the proposed Wal-Mart Store in Ithaca.
He explained that the City will contract with RKG
Associates to perform the analysis, but Wal-Mart will
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BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1993
actually pay the $43, 000 fee. He stated that Wal-Mart
agreed on the consultant selected by the client
committee. A discussion regarding the fee payment
process followed.
Deputy Director Sieverding stated that both the City and
Wal-Mart are equally represented on the client committee.
He explained that the economic analysis will include the
following:
1 . Market study
2 . Source of sales
3 . Impact on City/Town/County
4 . Impact on City if the store was located outside the
city
The Committee discussed various concerns with Deputy
Director Sieverding regarding the Wal-Mart Store
location. The following motion was made:
WHEREAS, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. has agreed that an economic
impact analysis regarding its proposed store must be conducted
as part of the broader environmental impact statement which
Will be prepared for this project, and
WHEREAS, Wal-Mart and the City have agreed that an economic
impact analysis prepared by a consultant mutually agreed upon
by the City and Wal-Mart will give the planning Board an
objective analysis on which to base its decision, and
WHEREAS, both parties are represented on the committee
appointed by the Planning Board to solicit, evaluate and
select a preferred proposal from among the proposals submitted
by qualified real estate and economic consultants, and
WHEREAS, Wal-Mart has agreed to pay all the fees associated
with completing this aspect of the environmental review, said
commitment documented in the attached commitment letter from
Wal-Mart to the City, and
WHEREAS, the City intends to execute a contract with RKG
Associates, with the fees payable to RKG Associates to be
provided by Wal-Mart Stores, Inc . per the attached commitment
letter; now, therefore, be it
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BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1993
RESOLVED, That the Mayor, upon the recommendation of the
Director of the Department of Planning and Development and the
City Attorney, is hereby authorized to execute a contract
between the City and RKG Associates for a not to exceed fee of
$43, 000 .
The motion was not voted on by the Committee, but was placed
on the agenda for the next Common Council Committee-of-the-Whole
meeting.
6 . Finance Department
A. Controller - Purchasing Policy Discussion
Deputy Controller Thayer explained that the City Attorney
had just completed the review of the purchasing policy
and suggested some wording changes. Thayer stated that
the changes would be made, and the policy would be
brought back next month for discussion. No formal action
was taken.
B. Controller - Request to Support Proposed Amendment to
State Local Finance Law
City Controller Cafferillo presented a request to amend
the New York State Local Finance Law relating to the term
of Bond Anticipation Notes . He explained to the
Committee . that this amending legislation would allow
local governments to determine when an issue should be
permanently financed. He stated it would allow for
greater cost savings by use of lower short-term interest
rates, which are normally lower than long-term interest
rates . Controller Cafferillo stated that the proposed
legislation has been introduced in the State Senate and
the Assembly.
After a brief discussion regarding the bill and the
November election related to voter proposals, the
following motion was made:
WHEREAS, legislation to amend Sections 21 :00-B and 23 :00-B,
and to repeal Section 23 : 00-B-1 of the Local Finance Law in
relation to the maximum maturity of Bond Anticipation Notes
has been introduced in the State Senate by Senator Larkin
(Bill #5266) , and in the Assembly by Assemblyman Portum (Bill
#8225) , and
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BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1993
WHEREAS, this act would amend the Local Finance Law to
eliminate the current maximum five year limitation on the term
of Bond Anticipation Notes and renewals thereof for most types
of capital improvements, or purposes for which Bond
Anticipation Notes may be issued, and
WHEREAS, this amendment would allow local governments to
determine when an issue should be permanently financed,
thereby realizing considerable potential savings in interest
payable, in view of the fact that short-term interest rates
are consistently lower than long-term rates; now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, That the Common Council of the City of Ithaca hereby
endorses and recommends passage of said legislation, in the
interest of providing local governments with the home-rule
authority to renew and permanently issue existing Debt Service
at the most effective interest rates available.
The motion passed 5-0 .
C. Controller - Request Authorization to Cover Red Accounts
City Controller Cafferillo presented a request to allow
him the authorization to amend the 1993 Budget to cover
any over-expended individual account lines. He explained
that this was an annual resolution and that the overall
budget does not change as a result of this procedure.
After a brief discussion, the following motion was made:
RESOLVED, That the City Controller be empowered to make
transfers within the 1993 Budget appropriations, as needed,
for the remainder of the 1993 Fiscal Year.
The motion passed 5-0 .
D. Controller - Request to Clarify City Daycare Policy
City Controller Cafferillo presented a request to clarify
the City's current Daycare Policy. He presented the
Committee with a copy of the current City Daycare
. agreement. He explained that there has been some
misunderstandings of the policy relating to the daycare
reimbursement received by City employees . He stated his
opinion that the policy relates to a daycare
reimbursement on a per-child basis, and not a per-City
employee, with the same child, basis.
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BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE MEETING OCTOBER 20, 1993
The Committee discussed the daycare policy and strongly
agreed that the policy is based on a per-child basis and
not a per-City employee basis . They explained that only
City employees with qualifying children are allowed to
claim for the daycare reimbursement, and the same child
can not be claimed twice by two different City employees .
They explained that they are not changing the policy, but
clarifying the language. The following motion was made:
WHEREAS, the Common Council approved the City's Daycare
Assistance Program in 1989; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That Common Council reaffirms its intent that the
City Daycare Assistance Program allow this benefit to eligible
City employees on a per-child basis only, and be it further
RESOLVED, That all elements of said Daycare Assistance Program
remain as originally approved.
The motion passed 5-0.
The next B & A meeting was scheduled for November 22nd, after
the budget discussion.
The meeting adjourned at 9 :25 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.
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