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07/30/2003 Minutes I OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING July 30, 2003 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 30, 2003. Notice of the meeting was given in the Grand Island Independent on July 23, 2003. Mayor Jay Vavricek called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. The following members were present: Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Seifert, Pauly, Hornady, Walker and Haase. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator Marlan Ferguson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Public Works Director Steve Riehle, City Attorney Doug Walker and Finance Director David Springer. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE was said. RESERVE TIME TO SPEAK ON AGENDA ITEMS: No individuals reserved time to speak on agenda items. I DEPARTMENT REVIEWS: MarIan Ferguson, City Administrator reviewed the discussion from last night's meeting concerning the Outside Agencies funding. Mentioned was the need to take action by the Council to give direction to City staff in completing the budget. Motion by Pielstick, second by Meyer to fund the Outside Agencies as follows: Community Humanitarian Resource Center Convention and Visitors Bureau Council for International Visitors Crisis Center G.I. Dive and Rescue Team Retired and Senior Volunteer Program Senior Citizens Industries, Inc. Total $ 4,500 $10,000 $ 1,000 $12,000 $ 2,500 $10,000 $15,000 $55,000 I Motion by Hornady to amend the original motion to eliminate the G.I. Rescue Team funding in the amount of $2,500. Second by Whitesides. Upon roll call vote, Whitesides, Pauly, an<;i Horandy voted aye. Councilmembers Meyer, Peilstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Seifert, Walker, and Haase voted no. Motion failed. I I I Page 2, City Council Special Budget Meeting, July 30, 2003 Upon roll call vote on the original motion, Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Seifert, Pauly, Walker, and Haase voted aye. Councilmember Hornady voted no. Motion adopted. Motion by Whitesides, second by Seifert to approve the following: Central Nebraska Humane Society $150,000.00 Upon roll call vote, Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Pauly, Hornady, Walker, and Haase voted aye. Councilmembers Siefert voted no. Motion adopted. Councilmember Haase commented on funding the Central Nebraska Humane Society more than the Health Department. Councilmember Pielstick requested that in the future the Humane Society budget not be discussed with the Outside Agencies as it was part of the Police Departments budget. Motion by Whitesides, second by Seifert to approve the following: Central Nebraska Health Department $125,000.00 Councilmember Nickerson made a motion to amend the original motion to include an additional $10,000 for the Central Nebraska Health Department. Second by Seifert. Upon roll call vote, Gilbert, Nickerson Seifert, Pauly, Hornady, and Haase voted aye. Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, and Walker voted no. Motion adopted. Upon roll call vote on the original motion with the amendment of $10,000 included, Councilmembers Gilbert, Nickerson, Seifert, Hornady, and Haase voted aye. Councilmembers Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Pauly, and Walker voted no. Mayor Vavricek exercised his Mayoral right to break the tie vote by voting in favor of approving this motion. Motion adopted. Public Works Department: Steve Riehle, Public Works Department Director reviewed the capital projects for the Public Works Department. Presented were projected requests for drainage projects in the amount of $175,000. Discussion was held concerning moving $150,000 for Storm Water Planning - Land Acquisition to 2005 and 2006. It was the consensus of the Council to move the Platte Valley Industrial Site, Cells to Wood River in the amount of $372,000 to 2005. $181,000 for 2004 and 2005. Cottonwood Lake Improvements in the amount of $40,000 was lowered to $20,000. Major Drainage Development in the amount of $200,000 was moved to 2005. Line Drainage Concrete Ditch in the amount of $50,000 was reduced to $35,000. Moores Creek Ditch in the amount of $140,000 and Wood River Bridge Replacement at Blaine Street in the amount of $80,000 were left as requested. Stolley Park Road Widening on Highway 281 to 1;4 mile west in the amount of $600,000 was left. Finance Director David Springer mentioned that this project was part of an agreement with Case New Holland. South Locust Bridges in the amount of $2,430,000 was discussed as part of the Nebraska Department of Roads and matching funds. Councilmember Whitesides commented on the I I I Page 3, City Council Special Budget Meeting, July 30, 2003 importance of the South Locust interchange project. Annual Paving Program in the amount of $400,000 was discussed and left as requested. Paving districts would be created with assessments being charged to the property owners. South Locust from Stolley Park Road to Fonner Park Road in the amount of $1,050,000 should be $1,200,000 of this amount $150,000 would be returned through the CRA. Councilmember Walker requested this item be moved to 2005. Mr. Riehle stated the contract had been awarded about a month ago. Annual Sidewalk Projects - $50,000 was left as requested. Landscape Gateway - $25,000 was moved to 2005. Discussion was had by Council concerning traffic issues along Highway 281 with regards to flashing traffic signals. Council consensus for Traffic Signal Improvements - $25,000 was increased to $45,000. Discussion was held concerning Fiber Optic Connections in the amount of $150,000. David Springer, Finance Director recommended lowering this amount of $100,000. Additional funds in the amount of $125,000 was added to the 400 Fund for Non-Departmental - Transfer of Land. Council took a 10 minute break at 7:45 p.m. Parks and Recreation Department: Steve Paustian, Parks and Recreation Director reviewed the Parks and Recreation Department's 400 Capital Funds. CAAP Land Development (rifle range)- $400,000; Misc. Park Projects - $50,000; and Resurface Various Park Roadways - $35,000 were left as requested. HikerlBiker Trails - $500,000 (contingent upon 80% funding from the State for trails to Hall County Park and South Locust Street). Mr. Paustian requested that if grant funding was not available, he would like to be able to use $200,000 for the trails. Motion was made by Whitesides, second by Seifert to maintain the $500,000 appropriation as had been done in the past. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Asphalt for Cemetery - $30,000; Soccer Fields, Fencing, Parking Lots, Trees - $150,000; Ball Fields - $100,000; Chevron Park - $100,000; Shoemaker Park, 5 acres - $150,000; Community Picnic Shelter - $90,000; and Arboretum - $60,000 were left as requested. L.E. Ray Lake was discussed with no capital funds proposed for 2004 budget. The Parks and Recreation Department Operating Funds were reviewed. Gregg Bostelman, Parks Maintenance Superintendent answered questions concerning mowing versus mulching. Motion by Pielstick to approve the Parks and Recreation Budget with the exception of replacing 3 mowers. Approval to replace the two older mowers only. Second by Meyer. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Public Works Operating Funds: Steve Riehle, Public Works Director presented his requests for the operating funds for the Public Works Department. Mentioned was the removal of a vehicle in the amount of $18,000 for the Engineering Division. Discussed were changes in operating expenses due to GASB, which were in the capital funds last year. Mr. Riehle stated his operating expenses for the Public Works Department were off-set by the gas taxes received from the state. I I I Page 4, City Council Special Budget Meeting, July 30, 2003 Motion by Pielstick, second by Walker to approve the Public Works Street & Transportation and Engineering Budgets minus the vehicle purchase for $18,000. Upon roll call vote, all voted ayes. Motion adopted. Wastewater Treatment Budget: Steve Riehle, Public Works Director discussed the request for additional employees and equipment. Stated was that this was an Enterprise Fund. Fleet Services Division: Steve Riehle, Public Works Director briefly reviewed this budget. This division provides for City owned vehicle/equipment repair. Council took a 10 minute break at 9:30 p.m. Police Department: Police Chief Kyle Hetrick reviewed the Police Department's operating fund. Discussed was the Union Contract for 3.5% increase in personnel costs. Mentioned was a $150,000 error in the budget with regards to computer services and an $11,000 reduction in contract services. Miscellaneous operating equipment was budgeted at $65,000. Chief Hetrick requested an increase in this line item to replace existing police equipment. Requested was the transfer of $11,000 from the computer services line item to be added to this line item for a total of $76,000. Capital outlay was discussed with replacing 7 marked cars, but the budget reflected 8 marked cars for a total amount of $249,000. Chief Hetrick stated $172,750 $125,500 could be reduced in this budget. Discussed by the Council was police car replacement which currently was on a two year rotation. Councilmember Whitesides recommended that Council take a good look at the following programs and whether these should be funded: 1) Bicycle Patrol 2) SWAT 3) Spillman Computer System. Chief Hetrick explained overtime expenses were due to Airport security issues, which were refunded to the City. 25% of overtime costs were due to Court appearances by the Officer's. Mentioned was that this was a 24/7/365 operation. Whitesides recommended hiring an independent study to look at the Spillman Computer System to see if this was the best system for the Police Department. City Administrator MarIan Ferguson stated this issued needed to be looked at closely. Councilmember Walker recommended that a Study Session be conducted regarding the programs being conducted by the Police Department. Councilmember Pielstick questioned whether the Spillman System was operational. Chief Hetrick stated it was except for the lack of tower cells which affected the computers in the cars. Councilmember Horandy questioned if the problems were with the system or the vendor. Chief Hetrick stated it was the slowness ofthe project. Councilmember Walker questioned who decided to implement these extra programs. City Administrator, MarIan Ferguson stated if there were monies involved they should come before Council. Some of these programs had been approved by the City Administrator. Councilmember Gilbert mentioned the overtime issues and questioned if it was driven by a lack of officers. Chief Hetrick stated he did not feel this was the case, but that it was just the nature and demographics of the City. I I I Page 5, City Council Special Budget Meeting, July 30, 2003 Councilmember Pielstick and Whitesides requested that we hold off approving this budget until tomorrow night's meeting to give Council a chance to think about these issues and visit with other Department Director's. It was recommended that all Department Director's be present at tomorrow night's meeting. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 10:30 p.m. Respectfully submitted, QDaL ffiw~ RaN ae Edwards City Clerk