07/19/2011 MinutesCITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL STUDY SESSION
July 19, 2011
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Grand
Island, Nebraska was conducted in the Council Chambers of City Hall, 100 East First Street, on
July 19, 2011. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on July 13,
2011.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Councilmember's
were present: Chuck Haase, Bob Niemann, Peg Gilbert, Mitch Nickerson, Linna Dee Donaldson,
and John Gericke. Councilmember's Larry Carney, Kirk Ramsey, Randy Gard, and Scott Dugan
were absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Mary Lou Brown,
City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Bob Sivick, and Public Works Director John Collins.
PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Vavricek introduced Community Youth Council
members Reyna Raymundo and Andrea Voss and Board member Craig Garrett.
OTHER ITEMS:
2012 Budget - Overview of City's Prioritization Based Budgeting Process.
Paul Wicht, 396 S. Kimball made several suggestions on how to save money in the 2011 -2012
budget. Mentioned were: new employees starting at a lower step, not hiring an Assistant to the
City Administrator, retirement of Parks and Recreation Director, and using in -house services for
designing Lincoln Pool.
City Administrator Mary Lou Brown introduced Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian from the Center
for Priority Based Budgeting to review the City's programs and quartiles. A brief overview was
presented.
Jon Johnson and Chris Fabian presented the following steps to successful prioritization:
• Determine Results
• Clarify Result Definitions
• Identify Program and Services
• Value Programs Based on Results
• Allocate Resources Based on Priorities
Larry Carney was present at 7:15 p.m.
The following five result maps were identified by the City:
• Stewardship of the Environment
o Provides for the renewal of the environment through recycling and reuse
Page 2, City Council Study Session, July 19, 2011
• Manages and mitigates factors that impact environmental quality and
sustainability
• Promotes and regulates a clean, orderly and ecologically balanced community
• Controls and abates threats to the environment caused by nature
• Encourages energy conservation and efficiency through education, incentives and
the provision of alternative solutions
• Quality of Life
• Provides opportunities and access to services that promote the health, safety,
wellbeing and basic needs of its citizens
• Supports and encourages access to quality employment and educational
opportunities to sustain the community
• Promotes and maintains an attractive place to live
• Provides opportunities and facilities for safe, inclusive and diverse recreational
activities
• Promotes cultural enrichment and diversity, supports the arts, and encourages
event sand activities that stimulate the community
• Develops and maintains safe, reliable and efficient roadway, storm water and
public transit infrastructure
• Safe Community
• Protects its citizens, proactively prevents crime and enforces the law
• Encourages a community that feels safe, accepting and connected
• Proactively prepares, promptly alters and swiftly responds to emergencies
• Protects the physical and environmental health of the community
• Facilitates and enhances safe transportation and mobility options
• Strategic, Sustainable and Maintained Development
• Enhances its identity as regional trade center and encourages tourism
opportunities
• Recruits, retains and revitalizes a business community that provides opportunities
for a skilled, quality workforce
• Encourages sustainable and affordable development supported by sufficient city
services and infrastructure
• Promotes well - regulated, strategically planned and future- focused development
• Leverages regional and community partnerships
• Governance
• Provides leadership and supports decision making with timely and accurate data
and analysis
• Enables and facilitates timely and effective two -way communication between all
involved stakeholders
• Protect and effectively manages the City's financial, human, physical and
technology resources
• Attracts, develops and supports an engaged and productive workforce
• Provides assurance of regulatory and policy compliance to minimize risk and
provide accountability
• Responds to the needs of the departments with timely technical assistance and
expertise
Page 3, City Council Study Session, July 19, 2011
Scoring each program was explained with a 4 being high and 0 being low. Mandated programs
were also scored with a 4 being high and 0 representing no requirement or mandate existed.
Demand for service was also scored with 4 being an increase in demand of 25% or more to a -4
representing a decrease in demand of 25% or more. Scores for cost of recovery of the program
and reliance on the City to provide the service was presented. Quartile groupings were defined.
Discussion was held regarding programs in the Governance category with the City deciding
where those programs should be scored.
Total reduction in the General fund for the 2011 -2012 budget was 3.65% with higher priority
programs having a less decrease than the lower priority programs. This avoided an across the
board cut in all programs. 21% of the revenues received were from program fees which was a
little lower than what they had seen in other communities. Ms. Brown stated the budget book this
year showed revenues for programs where fees were collected.
Comments were made concerning the peer review process and citizens survey. An interactive
model of the City's 2011 -2012 budget was presented and discussed. Mr. Johnson stated their
goal in the next six months was to make this interactive model available to the public on -line.
Mr. Johnson mentioned Grand Island was a model community and they used Grand Island's
results in their presentations across the country.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk