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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMN-B&A-1993-11-29 - Budget Meeting BUDGET AND ADMINISTRATION COMMITTEE BUDGET MEETING 7 :30 P.M. NOVEMBER 29, 1993 MINUTES Present: Committee Members : Booth, Johnson, Berg, Romanowski Committee Members Excused: Daley Other Alderpersons Present: Blanchard, Golder, Schroeder, Hoffman, Efroymson Others Present: Mayor - Nichols City Controller - Cafferillo Deputy City Controller - Thayer Supt. of Public Works - Gray Asst. Supt. of Public Works - Ferrel Board of Public Works Chairperson - Reeves City Attorney - Guttman Police Chief - McEwen City Prosecutor - Costello Members of the media 1 . Opening Comments Chairperson Booth stated that the agenda for this meeting is as follows : A. Public Hearing B. Revisit various items : - Youth Bureau A/C Utility Amounts - Alderperson Schroeder's Capital Project Request - Department of Public Works Yard Waste Program - Unlimited Images Request - School Crossing Guard Requests - Southside Community Center Requests - Additional Parking Meters on Thurston Avenue Other Items � 1 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 2 . Public Hearing The Committee voted, 9-0, to open the public hearing on the 1994 Budget; no public comment was made. The Committee voted, 9-0, to close the public hearing on the 1994 Budget. 3 . Youth Bureau A/C System Utility Costs The Committee had asked Superintendent of Public Works Gray what the dollar impact on the 1994 Youth Bureau Utility budget would be if the new air conditioning system were in place for the summer cooling season. Gray explained that his department was trying to contact the designer of the system to get an estimate of the cost. He stated that he was concerned that the system might not be in place by the summer. No action was taken. 4 . Capital Project Request Alderperson Schroeder presented a request for a $5, 000 capital project to be placed in the 1994 Authorized Capital Projects list for the study and cost analysis of the following: A. Improvement of Tuning Fork at East Entrance to the City B. State Street Intersection Change - extend The Commons on Aurora Street (Restaurant Row) C. Continue Pedestrian Walkway in Six Mile Creek Area Schroeder explained that all of the above suggestions for projects were derived from the Transic Study. He stated that the $5,000 would provide the City with a project feasibility and cost proposal. It was noted that the Capital Project Review Committee gave this project a medium priority, but was not included by the Mayor in the 1994 Budget. Schroeder explained that the total project would cost approximately $240, 000 . A discussion regarding the project followed. Police Chief McEwen recommended that he and the Superintendent of Public Works be included in any traffic related items as a result of the project. Chairperson Booth felt the project was not needed at this time. The following motion was made: 2 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 RESOLVED, That a $5, 000 Capital Project be established to fund the feasibility and cost analysis study for the beautification and improvement of the said intersections and walkway. Voting results on the motion were as follows : Ayes (4) - Golder, Schroeder, Hoffman, Berg Nays (5) - Booth, Blanchard, Romanowski, Efroymson, Johnson The motion failed 5-4 . 5 . Yard Waste Program Superintendent of Public Works Gray and Assistant Superintendent of Public Works Ferrel presented the Committee with a memo outlining various yard waste programs for 1994. Ferrel explained that a weekly curbside yard waste pickup program would cost $40, 000, and a Spring and Fall collection of yard waste would cost $20,500 . Ferrel stated that, based upon the Mayor' s budget, he could not dedicate one crew to pick up yard waste on a monthly schedule, and other maintenance work would have to be put off. He explained that about half of the $20, 000 cost of a Spring and Fall yard waste pickup are not new costs to the City, but are displaced costs, including labor and equipment. Controller Cafferillo stated that the budget impact, if the yard waste program of a Spring and Fall pickup was established and did not alter existing maintenance schedules, would cost approximately $12, 000 . He explained that the City could hire part-time and seasonal labor to free up existing truck drivers to perform the yard waste collection. A discussion regarding hiring a private contractor for this collection followed. Mayor Nichols stated that the City should provide a Spring and Fall yard waste pickup program, using our staff and equipment to do the work. He stated that $12 , 000 should be added to the budget to perform the collection. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That $12, 000 be added to the General Fund Budget Account A9952 Transfers to Solid Waste Fund to provide for the implementation of a seven (7 ) weeks yard waste pickup program as specified by the Department of Public Works . Alderperson Berg was concerned that the City is not meeting the community's needs with a limited yard waste pickup 3 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 program. He made the following substitute resolution: RESOLVED, That $39, 686 be added to the General Fund Budget Account A9952 Transfers to Solid Waste Fund to provide for the yard waste pickup program as is currently done by the Department of Public Works . Voting results on the substitute resolution were as follows : Ayes (2 ) - Berg, Johnson Nays ( 6) - Booth, Blanchard, Hoffman, Efroymson, Schroeder, Golder The substitute motion failed 6-2 . Alderperson Romanowski was absent when the vote was taken. The following amendment was made to the main motion: Amend the Amount to $16, 000 and the time of the yard waste pickup program to ten ( 10) weeks . Voting results on the amended motion were as follows : Ayes (4) - Efroymson, Golder, Johnson, Hoffman Nays (5) - Booth, Blanchard, Romanowski, Berg, Schroeder The motion failed 5-4 . The main motion was passed 9-0 . Alderperson Blanchard stated that she would encourage the County to pay for the yard waste program. 6 . School Crossing Guard Hourly Increase Chairperson Booth stated that the School Crossing Guards should receive a $ .25 an hour increase for the important and quality work they do. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That Account A3120-120 Hourly P/T Police Department be increased by $1,250 to fund a $ .25 per hour increase to $5 . 75 for the City' s School Crossing Guards . The motion passed 9-0 . 4 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 7 . Unlimited Images Alderperson Johnson reported that the Human Services Committee reviewed the additional documentation from Unlimited Images, and took no action on the request. 8 . Tompkins-Cortland Labor Coalition A discussion concerning the Community Services funding for the Tompkins-Cortland Labor Coalition followed. It was noted that the current funding for the Coalition was $12, 600 . The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That Account A1012-435 Community Services Contracts be decreased by $2, 600 to reflect a decrease in the Tompkins- Cortland Labor Coalition funding for 1994 to $10, 000. Voting results on the motion were as follows: Ayes (4) - Blanchard, Booth, Romanowski, Hoffman Nays (4) - Schroeder, Efroymson, Johnson, Golder Abstain ( 1) - Berg The motion failed 4-4-1 . No other changes to the Tompkins- Cortland Labor Coalition were made. 9 . Southside Community Center (Police-Youth Program) Alderperson Berg stated that, based on recommendations from the Police Community Relations Task Force, a program to allow police officers to volunteer services, on a regular basis, at the Southside Center to participate in a Police-Youth Program needs to be implemented. He explained that the program will be established to improve the relationships between police officers and youths in the Southside Center neighborhood. Berg explained that Southside estimated that $9, 000 would be needed to support such a Police-Youth Program. He stated that the City is not ready to support the program for that much, but $2,000 would be a better starting amount. Berg explained that the funds would be used for: additional staff hours at the Center, materials, and transportation. Police Chief McEwen stated that he was in support of the program. Alderperson Romanowski and Chairperson Booth felt that the 5 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 funds should be derived from existing funds of $32, 000 in the Mayor's budget and $16, 000 in the 1994 County Budget. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That Account A1990 Restricted Contingency be increased by $2, 000 to fund the Police-Youth Program at the Southside Center subject to proposals by Southside Center on the outline of the program. Voting results on the motion were as follows : Ayes (7 ) - Schroeder, Blanchard, Berg, Johnson, Efroymson, Golder, Hoffman Nays (2 ) - Booth, Romanowski The motion passed 7-2 . 10 . Parking Meters on Thurston Avenue Alderperson Berg stated that for many years a proposal has been made, but never acted on, relating to additional parking meters on Thurston Avenue. Berg stated that the additional parking meters would have a positive cash flow on the City' s Budget. Superintendent of Public Works Gray presented the committee with estimated budget amounts for the additional parking meters project. Gray stated the following: A. The project would purchase and install 119 parking meters for Thurston Avenue. B. The total annual cost of the project would be $69, 000, including $40, 000 for the installation and $29,000 for the operating expenses . C. Estimated annual revenues would be $90, 000 . D. The installation and operation of the meters would not be completed until September, 1994. A discussion concerning the meter project followed. The consensus of the Committee was to adjust the revenues and operating costs to reflect a four-month period (September to December) . Controller Cafferillo suggested that a capital project should be established for the purchase and installation cost of $40, 000 for the project. The following motion was made: 6 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 RESOLVED, That the following Appropriation Accounts be increased to reflect the operation portion of the Parking Meter Project on Thurston Avenue for a four-month period: Increase Appropriation Accounts : A-3120-120 Police Hourly P/T $ 4,500 A-3120-425 Police Office Expense 1, 600 A-3120-477 Police Equipment Parts 2,400 A-9030 Social Security 344 A-9040 Workers ' Compensation 500 A-9060 Health Insurance 656 $10, 000 Increase Revenue Account: A-1740 Parking Meter Fees $30, 000 and be it further RESOLVED, that a Capital Project be established in an amount of $40,000 to fund the purchase and installation of 119 parking meters on Thurston Avenue. The motion passed 9-0 . Board of Public Works Chairperson Reeves stated that in the future there may be a request from the Bicycle Commission to remove some of these new meters because of a proposed bike route in that area. 11 . Neighborhood Trash Program Alderperson Efroymson presented a request to place $2, 000 in restricted contingency to allow various City neighborhoods to pick up trash and receive free trash tags from the City to tag the garbage. He explained that residents would come to the Chamberlain' s office to get the trash tags after they collected the trash. He stated that the funds would be placed in the Chamberlain's budget after a final plan is established. A discussion concerning the program followed. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That Account A1990 Restricted Contingency be increased by $2, 000 to fund a neighborhood trash tag program, 7 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 subject to a final plan presented by Alderperson Efroymson. The motion passed 9-0 . 12 . Limited Public Planting Program Alderperson Efroymson presented a request to place $1, 000 in restricted contingency to allow neighborhood beautification by the use of limited plantings in the City. He explained that a plan would be established by the Department of Public Works to allow city residents to plant various flowers to help beautify the City. After a brief discussion, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, That Account A1990 Restricted Contingency be increased by $1, 000 to fund a limited community planting by various City neighborhoods subject to a final plan by the Department of Public Works. Voting results on the motion were as follows : Ayes (8) - Efroymson , Blanchard , Schroeder, Johnson, Golder, Berg, Romanowski, Hoffman Nays ( 1) - Booth The motion passed 8-1 . 13 . School Crossing Guard Funding Police Chief McEwen presented a request to fund an additional School Crossing Guard at the Belle Sherman School in the amount of $2, 875 . McEwen stated that Belle Sherman is an unusually dangerous area for students to walk to school, and he has received several requests for a school crossing guard. Alderperson Schroeder stated that he would like to have the Police Chief look at the city-wide school crossing guard situation, and determine if other areas need a guard. McEwen stated that this request was for the Belle Sherman area only. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That Account A1990 Unrestricted Contingency be increased by $2,875 to fund an additional School Crossing Guard at Belle Sherman School. Voting results on the motion were as follows: Ayes (5) - Booth, Johnson, Golder, L 8 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 U Efroymson, Berg Nays (4) - Romanowski , Blanchard , Schroeder, Hoffman The motion passed 5-4. 14 . City Prosecutor Budget The Committee voted, 8-0, to move into executive session to discuss a personnel item concerning the City Prosecutor Department. Alderperson Golder was excused for the remaining portion of the meeting. After the Committee voted, 8-0, to move back into regular session, Chairperson Booth reported that the Committee voted, 7-1, to approve the City Prosecutor Department personnel item, and that the details will be released at the Common Council meeting. 15. Sales Tax After a brief discussion concerning the Sales Tax Revenue amount, the following motion was made: RESOLVED, That the Sales Tax Revenue account be increased by $67, 500 to reflect the original two percent inflation factor as proposed by the Mayor. The motion failed for lack of a second. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That the Sales Tax Revenue account be increased by $33, 750 or a total 1 . 5 percent inflation factor. Voting results on the motion were as follows : Ayes (2 ) - Schroeder, Hoffman Nays ( 6) - Booth, Blanchard, Efroymson, Romanowski, Johnson, Berg The motion failed 6-2 . 16 . Acceptance of Budget/Tax Rate Deputy Controller Thayer stated that the Committee has increased the budget by a net of $86, 123. The following motion was made: 9 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 RESOLVED, That the 1994 Mayor' s Budget be accepted as amended by a net increase of $86, 123 . The motion passed 8-0 . A discussion regarding the 1994 tax rate followed. It was noted that if the net increase was covered by property taxes, it would represent a 1 .2 percent increase in taxes. City Controller Cafferillo stated that if the increase is held to the current level, or around the current level, he will appropriate additional available fund balance to cover the increase and maintain the tax rate at 7 . 962 per $1,000 assessed value, or a zero increase in the tax rate. Cafferillo stated that the Court System has ruled against the State on the contribution method for the Retirement System. He explained that the State Retirement System will increase the rates over a five-year period, instead of a one-year increase. He stated that this will allow the City to cover the net increase to the Mayor's budget with appropriated fund balance. The following motion was made: RESOLVED, That the 1994 City Tax Rate will be established at 7 . 962 of $1, 000 assessed property value, which represents a zero percent tax increase from the 1993 tax rate. The motion passed 8-0 . The meeting adjourned at 10 :40 P.M. 10 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 U REVENUES Mayor' s Recommendation $24, 869,204 Net reduction in Mayor's Revenues through 11/23/93 (41, 930) Mayor' s Adjusted Revenues as of conclusion of 11/23/93 B&A/COW meeting $24, 827,274 Action taken during meeting of 11/29/93 : Increase Account A-1740 Parking Meter Fees to reflect additional parking meters on Thurston Avenue $30,000 Mayor' s Adjusted Revenues as of conclusion of 11/29/93 B&A/COW meeting $24, 857,274 Net Change in Revenues from 11/29/93 meeting $30, 000 Combined Net Reduction in Mayor's Revenues after 11/11, 11/16, 11/17, 11/22, 11/23, 11/29/93 meetings ( 11, 930) Combined Net Increase in Mayor's Budget (Revenues and Appropriations) after 11/11, 11/16, 11/17, 11/22, 11/23, and 11/29/93 meetings $86, 123 11 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 APPROPRIATIONS Mayor' s Recommendation $25, 350, 767 Net increase in Mayor's Budget Appropriations through 11/22/93 38, 697 Balance Mayor's Recommendations prior to Budget Meeting of 11/23/93 $25, 389 ,464 Action taken during meeting of 11/29/93 : Interfund Transfers Increase Account A-9952 Transfers to Solid Waste Fund to fund yard waste program (corresponding increases in Solid Waste Fund Revenues and Appropri- ations) $12,000 Police Department Increase A-3120-120 Hourly P/T to fund School Crossing Guard $ .25/hour increase $ 1,250 L Increase A-3120-120 P/T to fund 16 week Meter Checker hours for additional parking meters $ 4,500 Increase A-3120-425 Office Expense to fund Ticket Admin. for additional parking meters $ 1, 600 Increase A-3120-477 Equipment Parts to fund maintenance for additional parking meters $ 2, 400 City Prosecutor Increase Account A-1110-110 Salaries Staff for position reclassification and upgrade $ 4, 371 Restricted Contingency Increase Account A-1990 Restricted Contingency to fund Police-Youth Programs $ 2,000 Increase Account A-1990 Restricted Contingency to fund Neighborhood Trash Tag Clean-up Program $ 2,000 Increase Account A-1990 Restricted Contingency to fund Limited Community Planting Program $ 1, 000 � 12 B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993 Restricted Contingency (continued) Increase Account A-1990 Restricted Contingency to fund additional School Crossing Guard at Belle Sherman $ 2, 875 Employee Benefits Increase Account A-9030 Social Security related to additional Parking Meters staff hours $ 344 Increase Account A-9040 Workers ' Compensation related to additional Parking Meters staff hours $ 500 Increase Account A-9060 Health Insurance related to additional Parking Meters staff hours $ 656 Capital Projects Establish a Capital Project for $40, 000 to purchase and install parking meters on Thurston Avenue $ -0- Mayor's adjusted recommendations as of conclusion of 11/29/93 B&A/COW meeting $25,424, 960 Net overall increase in Mayor' s Appropri- ations from 11/29/93 meeting 35,496 Combined Net Increase in Mayor's Budget Appropriations after 11/11, 11/16, 11/17 , 11/22, 11/23, 11/29/93 meetings $74, 193 13