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
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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:
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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
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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 .
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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
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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:
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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,
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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
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B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993
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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:
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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.
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B & A COMMITTEE - BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 29, 1993
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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
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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
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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
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