07/21/2015 Minutes — - CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA
MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL(BUDGET) MEETING
July 21, 2015
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Special (Budget) 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 July 21, 2015. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent
on July 16, 2015.
Mayor Jeremy L. Jensen called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following Councilmembers
were present: Mitch Nickerson, Jeremy Jones, Chuck Haase, Linna Dee Donaldson, Michelle
Fitzke, Roger Steele, and Mike Paulick. Councilmembers Mark Stelk, Julie Hehnke, and Vaughn
Minton were absent. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Marlan
Ferguson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Interim Finance Director William Clingman, City
Attorney Robert Sivick, and Public Works Director John Collins.
Mayor Jensen introduced Community Youth Council member Rebecca Peterson and board
member Danna Burchess.
INVOCATION was given by Community Youth Council member Rebecca Peterson followed by
the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
SPECIAL ITEMS:
2015-16 Budget Planning Schedule: City Administrator Marlan Ferguson presented the 2015-
2016 budget schedule. The 2015-2016 proposed budget would commence at the regular City
Council meeting on August 11, 2015 with the Public Hearing. The Fee Schedule was approved at
the July 14, 2015 meeting and the Full Time Equivalents (FTE) the Capital Improvement Fund
(CIP) and the Socrata "Openspending" Website to be reviewed at this meeting. Interim Finance
Director William Clingman gave a demonstration on the expense side of the Socrata website.
The following proposed schedule was presented:
July 14, 2015 Council meeting: Fee Schedule
July 21, 2015 Special meeting/Study Session: FTE, CIP, Socrata
July 28, 2015 Council meeting: Approve BID budgets, assessments and set Board of
Equalization
August 11, 2015 Council meeting: Public Hearing on City and CRA budgets, Health
Insurance Contract, Salary Ordinance
August 17, 2015 Council Budget Session: General Fund Summary, Revenue/Expenditures
Analysis, Operating Cash Analysis, and General Fund Departments
Review
August 18, 2015 Council Budget Session: Continuation of General Fund Department
Review and Enterprise Funds
August 24, 2015 Utilities and other Department Review
August 25, 2015 Council meeting followed by Budget session if needed
Page 2,City Council Study Session,July 21,2015
September 8, 2015 Council meeting: Approval of 2015-2016 budget, 1% Increase to the
Restricted Lid Limit, setting the Mill Levy
September 20, 2015 Budget must be received by Nebraska Department of Revenue by this date
2016 Proposed Budget Presentation: Full Time Equivalent Positions (FTE): Mr. Ferguson stated
the Library and Fire Depai tment were asking for more FTEs than the Administration was
recommending. Interim Finance Director William Clingman gave the following summary of
costs by fund:
General - 100 $525,115
Enhanced 911 - 215 $ 6,572
PSC Wireless - 216 ($20,270)
Community Youth - 229 ($15,283)
VOCA Grant - 260 $ 42,323
Utilities - 520 $102,465
WWTP - 530 $ 9,765
These figures do not include proposed FTEs from the Fire Department.
Mr. Clingman stated the Finance Department was requesting 1 FTE for a cashier to start June 1,
2016 contingent upon the Utilities Customer Service Center opening on or around that date. The
cost impact to the Finance Department for 2016 was $12,838.
The Public Information Officer/Community Youth Council was requesting the 100%
consolidation of the cost to the General Fund effective October 1, 2015 with no FTE increase.
The Public Information cost impact to the General Fund would be $14,124 and a decrease of
$15,283 to the Community Youth Council (229 Fund). Discussion was held concerning the 229
Fund which was a grant fund.
Building Department Director Craig Lewis was requesting the reclassification of the
Maintenance Worker I and Maintenance Worker II positions to a single Building Maintenance
Worker position effective October 1, 2015. There would be no FTE increase and a cost impact of
$3,216 to the department. Discussion was held regarding the level of expertise between the two
job classifications.
Emergency Management Director John Rosenlund was requesting 1 FTE as a new swing shift
dispatcher to start January 1, 2016 with a $43,081 increase to the General Fund. Also requested
was shifting the allocation between the 215 and 216 Funds resulting in an increase of$6,572 to
Enhanced 911 and a decrease of$20,270 to the PSC Wireless Fund.
Parks & Recreation Director Todd McCoy was requesting 1 FTE for a Recreation Coordinator to
start November 1, 2015 and to transfer a Maintenance Worker from the Fieldhouse/Island Oasis
to Parks Operations effective October 1, 2015. Also requested was a part-time Seasonal
Greenhouse Worker. The total FTE change would be 1.20. Discussion was held regarding the
Fieldhouse hours of operation. Mr. McCoy answered questions regarding an Officer Manager at
the Heartland Public Shooting Park. He stated due to budget constraints he did not ask for that
position in this year's budget but would in the future.
Police Chief Steve Lamken requested 1 FTE for an Evidence Technician to start May 1, 2016; 1
FTE as a Police Records Clerk to start August 1, 2016; and 1 FTE as a Victim Witness Advocate
Page 3,City Council Study Session,July 21,2015
to start January 1, 2016. This would be an increase of $41,277 to the Police Department and
$42,323 to the VOCA Grant Fund 260. Discussion was held regarding the VOCA Grant. Chief
Lamken stated we have had a VOCA grant for well over a decade.
Street Superintendent Shannon Callahan reported the Streets Division has requested 2 FTEs as
Equipment Operators to start October 1, 2015 with an increase of $169,922 to the Streets
Department. Discussion was held regarding contract work. Ms. Callahan stated some projects
needed to be done in-house such as weed spraying, drainage work, and snow/ice control. Street
sweeping was mentioned.
Wastewater Treatment Plant Superintendent Marvin Strong stated they were requesting an
increase of.25 FTE as a Maintenance Seasonal Worker to start May 1, 2016 with an increase of
$9,765 to this department.
Utilities Director Tim Luchsinger requested 1 FTE for a System Technician to start October 1,
2015 with an increase of $102,465 to the Electric Utility Fund. Questions were answered
regarding the type of support that was needed. Mr. Luchsinger stated with the implementation of
a new management software, which included additional mobile electronic devices to the utility
distribution, an additional System Technician was needed.
Library Director Steve Fosselman requested 1 FTE for an Assistant Library Director to start
October 1, 2015. Also requested was to reclassify 1 Library Assistant Ito an Assistant II, move 2
part-time Library Assistant 1's to full-time, and increase seasonal worker and Library Page
hours. The net increase of 2.4444 FTEs would impact the Library Department by $170,570.
Council commented on the outstanding job the Library had done. Mr. Fosselman answered
questions regarding the National Standard for libraries, certification, and extended hours at the
library.
Human Resources Director Aaron Schmid stated FTE proposals for secretary and administrative
assistant positions throughout the City would be postponed for approximately 60 days to further
review, analyze and understand proposals.
Fire Chief Corey Schmidt gave a background on the EMS services and the need for a third
ambulance. He was requesting 3 FTEs as Firefighter/EMTs for an increase of$223,191 and 3
FTEs as Firefighter/Paramedics for an increase of$239,835. Reviewed was EMS background,
changes in Grand Island, call volume, National Standards, response capability, Fire and EMS
coverage, call trending, overlapping calls, and benefits of hiring additional staff. Mr. Schmidt
answered questions regarding the number of ambulances (7) and when recalls of personnel
happen. Discussion was held regarding the number of calls with regards to big events in the City.
Chief Schmidt stated the additional FTEs if approved would be based out of Station 4.
Presentation of 400 Capital Improvement Projects for Fiscal Year 2015/2016: Public Works
Director John Collins reviewed the 2015 Capital Projects in progress. $2.7 million was supposed
to come over from last year but did not so several projects were delayed. Reviewed were the
completed projects and the delayed or cancelled projects.
Mr. McCoy commented on the Ryder Tennis Court facility upgrade. Phil Maltzahn, 1 Ponderosa
Drive and Ron Bender, 1434 Howard Place representing the Tennis Association spoke in support
Page 4,City Council Study Session,July 21,2015
and explained the need for the new courts. Discussion was held concerning the cost of the entire
project. The current courts could not be used because they were in such bad shape.
The following Proposed Capital Projects for 2016 were presented:
• ADA—4th Street & 5th Street CDBG Project - $400,000
• Adams Street Paving District- $2,250,000
• Blaine Bridge Replacement w/Culverts - $495,000
• Capital Avenue; Webb Road to Broadwell Avenue(includes trail) - $950,000
• Faidley&Diers Traffic Signal - $136,500
• North Road at 13th Street Intersection Improvements - $750,000
• Pavement Condition Survey- $140,000
• Sterling Estates Paving District- $300,000
• Stolley Park Road Restriping/Rehabilitation - $420,000
• Swift Road Paving District No. 1263 - $2,500,000
• South Front Street Over Sycamore Underpass Rehabilitation - $80,000
• Waugh/Broadwell Relocation- $100,000
• Eagle Scout Detention Cell—North of Eagle Scout Lake - $75,000
• Moores Creek Drain Extension—(Old Potash Hwy to Edna Dr) - $50,000
• Northwest Flood Control Project- $900,000
• Fieldhouse Turf Replacement - $275,000
• Miscellaneous Park Projects - $195,000
• Ryder Tennis Court Facility Upgrade - $280,093
• Sterling Park Phase 2 - $150,000
• Alternate 911 Emergency Center- $200,000
• Final Phase of GITV—HD Implementation - $80,000
The total Capital Project requests were $10,726,593. Discussion was held concerning the funding
from Sales Tax that was dedicated to the Capital Improvement Projects. Mr. Clingman stated he
would get the infoiivation to Council. Grand Generation projects were mentioned. Mr. Lewis
stated everything was going very well. Roofing, restrooms, replacing valves, lights, etc. were
being done.
Mr. Ferguson stated this was the beginning of the budget process. The infottuation presented
here would be plugged into the budget for further action by Council.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:14 p.m.
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RaNae Edwards
City Clerk