08/27/2013 Minutes (2) CITY OF GRAND ISLAND,NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL MEETING
August 27, 2013
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Special Council meeting 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 August 27, 2013. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on
August 21, 2013.
Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 7:44 p.m. The following Councilmembers
were present: Vaughn Minton, Mike Paulick, Scott Dugan, John Gericke, Mitch Nickerson, Julie
Hehnke, Chuck Haase, Linna Dee Donaldson, and Bob Niemann. Councilmember Peg Gilbert
was absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Mary Lou Brown,
City Clerk RaNae Edwards, City Attorney Robert Sivick, City Treasurer and Finance Director
Jaye Monter, and Street Superintendent Shannon Callahan.
PUBLIC HEARINGS:
Public Hearing on Proposed Fiscal Year 2013-2014 City of Grand Island and Community
Redevelopment Authority (CRA) Budgets. Finance Director Jaye Monter continued the budget
discussions by answering questions received from Council regarding the possible revenue for
^^^ future budgets. Explained was the projected growth submitted on August 20, 2013 which
included the Food & Beverage occupation tax continuing through 2017. An updated projected
growth was presented with a 2017 ending cash balance of-$3,509,616. Property tax mill levies
from 30 cities for 2012-2013 were compared with Grand Island. Municipal Equalization Funds
were explained. Proposed 2013-2014 mill levy was .3021.
City Administrator Mary Lou Brown presented figures for an additional 4 mill levy increase on
property tax for FY 2013-2014. Also presented were figures for a 2% sales tax rate through
2017. Reviewed was future planning for capital projects and community objectives. Mentioned
was the possibility of extending the Food & Beverage Occupation Tax past 2015 and
implementing a wheel tax.
Councilmember Haase commented on the 1/2 cent sales tax passed in 2004. Mentioned was that
the sales tax increase was to be used for specific projects and he was not comfortable with it
going toward salaries. He commented on the financial policies and the sustainability of the
workforce and revenues.
Councilmember Nickerson stated the benefits of an increase in sales tax versus an increase in
property taxes. Councilmember Dugan stated funding the Police force was the first $10 million
but there needed to be more discussion regarding the rest of the $43 million budget.
Mayor Vavricek stated there were certain needs that had to be met and Public Safety was a big
part of this budget — 53% in the General Fund. He stated a sales tax election would need to be
held in May 2014 or a special election in order to be used for the 2015 budget. Mentioned were
Page 2,City Council Special Meeting,August 27,2013
the laws of comparability for salaries which the City was required to follow. Ms. Monter
reviewed the difference between the 2013 budget and the proposed 2014 budget.
RESOLUTIONS:
#2013-293 — Consideration of Approving 12.5 Full Time Equivalent Employees for 2013-2014
City Budget. Finance Director Jaye Monter stated that at the August 13, 2013 Study Session
FTEs were discussed. Recommended were 12.5 FTEs for the 2013-2014 budget in the amount of
$936,000.00. Reviewed were the 2014 payroll budget assumptions based on the new array and
existing union contracts. Ms. Brown stated the MPO Planning Manager would be under the
Public Works Department. Councilmember Dugan, who was a member of the MPO Board,
explained the reasons for this.
Street Superintendent Shannon Callahan answered questions concerning the surveyor position.
Parks & Recreation Director Todd McCoy commented on the need for a full-time position at the
HPSP. Human Resources Director Brenda Sutherland stated there were no comparables for the
HPSP. Explained was the difference in pay for a part-time to a full-time position. Mr. McCoy
stated the park was open year round, five days a week.
Utility Director Tim Luchsinger stated the dollar amounts for the additional utility personnel
proposed would not change the total budget figure as the work would have to be hired out.
Ms. Brown explained the process of creating the 2013-2014 budget. A lengthy discussion was
held regarding the 12.5 FTEs.
Motion by Gericke, second by Haase to postpone Resolution#2013-203 until September 3, 2013.
Upon roll call vote, Councilmember Paulick, Gericke, Hehnke, Haase, and Donaldson voted aye.
Councilmembers Minton, Dugan, Nickerson, and Niemann voted no. Mayor Vavricek voted no.
Motion failed.
Motion by Dugan, second by Hehnke to approve Resolution #2013-293 with the exception of
Community Environment & Leisure position and Public Works which will be brought back on
Thursday, August 29, 2013.
Motion by Nickerson, second by Minton to approve the five Police Officer positions and not the
two Community Service Officers. Upon roll call vote, Councilmembers Minton and Nickerson
voted aye. Councilmembers Paulick, Dugan, Gericke, Hehnke, Haase, Donaldson, and Niemann
voted no. Motion failed.
Upon roll call vote of the motion to approve Resolution #213-293 with the exception of the
Community Environment & Leisure position and the Public Works position which will be
brought back on Thursday, August 29, 2013, Councilmembers Minton, Dugan, Gericke,
Nickerson, Hehnke, and Donaldson voted aye. Councilmembers Paulick, Haase, and Niemann
voted no. Motion adopted.
Page 3,City Council Special Meeting,August 27,2013
OTHER ITEMS:
Review of Proposed FY 2013-2014 City Single Budget and Community Redevelopment
Authority(CRA) Budgets.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:56 p.m.
P.P\co,_
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk