Loading...
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. 1 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 2 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 3 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 4 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 5 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 6 r , 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. 7 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. 8