Loading...
07/31/2003 Minutes I OFFICIAL PROCEEDINGS CITY OF GRAND ISLAND, NEBRASKA MINUTES OF CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING July 31, 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 31, 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 Marian 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: Councilmember Walker commented on the council's responsibility of approving the budget. Motion by Pielstick to approve the Police budget with the following changes: Contract Services Vehicles Vehicles Motorcycles $188,000 $187,000 $19,000 (Unmarked) $91,000 (4 Marked Vehicles) $14,500 (1 Motorcycle) Savings $112,750,000 $135,500,000 Computer Service Add Computer Service ($150,000) correction $4,000 Total $6,296,310 $6,297,340 I Second by Whitesides. Police Captain Pete Kortum was present to answer questions in the place of Police Chief Kyle Hetrick who was on vacation. Discussion was held concerning replacing the vehicles, motorcycles, and equipment. Councilmember Meyer stated he would like to see the $11,000 from Contract Services moved to Miscellaneous Equipment. Councilmember Gilbert suggested that all purchases of computer equipment be placed in a separate technology budget to I I I Page 2, City Council Special Budget Meeting, July 31, 2003 be reviewed by technology experts. Finance Director David Springer stated they had talked about that and thought it was a good idea. Councilmember Pielstick requested the following: 1) all new or expanded programs be put on hold 2) an independent audit be done of all programs 3) have the Police Department come to a Study Session as soon as possible with last year's revenue and expenses 4) invite Mark McCue from Ryder Rosacker McCue & Huston to the Study Session to discuss insurance 5) have the City Attorney provide a copy of the contract with the County given to each council member 6) Requested that the City Attorney inform the County by letter that if Spillman is not complete and running by the last meeting of April 2004, we would terminate the contract by terms listed in the contract with a 90 day notice Councilmember Whitesides requested each line item be discussed by Council on any new programs for the Police Department. Motion was made by Siefert to refer this issue to the August 12, 2003, Regular City Council Meeting for further discussion. Second by Pauly. Upon roll call vote, Meyer, Whitesides, Pielstick, Gilbert, Nickerson, Seifert, Pauly, Hornady, and Haase voted aye. Councilmember Walker voted no. Motion adopted. Building Department: Councilmember Nickerson questioned the line item for a new vehicle. Craig Lewis, Building Department Director commented on the need for adding another vehicle for the use of the Building Department inspectors. Building inspection fees were also discussed. Councilmember Nickerson questioned an inspection program for rental property. Mr. Lewis stated he had looked into this and there really was not a good way to do that. Motion by Nickerson to approve the Building Department budget as submitted. Second by Pauly. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Emergency Management Department: Howard Maxon, Emergency Management Director mentioned that this was a joint budget with Hall County and that Hall County had not had their budget hearings yet. Councilmember Haase questioned the 2006 amount of $285,000 for replacing the Outdoor Warning System. Motion by Nickerson to approve the Emergency Management budget as presented. Second by Seifert. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Human Resources Department: Councilmember Haase questioned the new PEHP Program or HRA program and whether it would be voluntary or mandatory. Brenda Sutherland, Human Resources Director commented that it would be mandatory. Motion by Walker to approve the Human Resource budget as submitted. Second by Whitesides. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. I I I Page 3, City Council Special Budget Meeting, July 31, 2003 Motion by Whitesides, second by Seifert to approve the process to go ahead and look into a PEHP Program or HRA Program for all non-union employees. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Library: Steve Fosselman, Library Director commented on the $7.3 million budgeted in 2006 for the library expansion and the seven-member Library Board who would come to a Council Study Session to present the plans for expansion. Also discussed was the Bookmobile, which was contracted through the County. Motion by Walker, second by Seifert to approve the Library budget as submitted. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Planning Depaliment: Chad Nabity, Planning Department Director was present to discuss the Planning Department budget. Mentioned was that this department was joint with Hall County. Motion by Whitesides, second by Pielstick to approve the Planning Department budget as submitted. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Utility Department: Gary Mader, Utilities Department Director reviewed the highlights of the Utilities budget. Mentioned were the continued growth of the city and that there would be no rate increases. Stated was the completion of the Downtown Underground Project. Mr. Mader mentioned the need for additional feeder circuits and the largest expense in the budget was the replacement of circuit breakers. Also budgeted was expansion in the Old Thompson building on North Front Street. Additional personnel were presented due to work load. Utility rates were discussed as being one of the lowest in the nation. Councilmember Gilbert requested a presentation conceming more information on underground projects. David Springer, Finance Director pointed out there were funds budgeted for an Omaha Public Power District agreement. Motion by Seifert, second by Whitesides to approve the Utilities budget as presented. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Water Utility Department: Gary Mader, Utilities Department Director mentioned several corrections in the Proposed Budget Book with regards to personnel. Motion by Pielstick, second by Walker to approve the Water Utility budget as presented. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Council took a 10 minute break at 7:40 p.m. Fire Department: Fire Chief Jim Rowell reviewed the highlights ofthe Fire Department's budget. Personnel correction of 15 Captains instead of 14 and 21 Firefighter/EMT's instead of 22 were noted. Equipment replacement of one ambulance for 2003/2004 was mentioned. Discussed was an increase to the Capital Outlay - Building Improvements for exhaust systems in the fire stations. Motion by Pielstick, second by Meyer to approve the Fire Department and EMS budgets as presented. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. Fire Chief Rowell commented about ongoing grant applications and monies received from grants. I I I Page 4, City Council Special Budget Meeting, July 31, 2003 Other Departments: Discussion was had concerning GITV transmitter for Channel 56. It was mentioned that the transmitter was supposed to be shipped at the end of next week. Several line items were discussed with regards to the Finance Department. Motion by Pielstick, second by Seifert to approve the rest of the department's budgets not discussed as presented. Upon roll call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted. City Administrator Marlan Ferguson commented on the timeline for approving the final FY 2003-2004 City Budget. The Police Department budget would be discussed at the August 12, 2003 Regular Meeting and Council would vote on the final FY 2003/2004 City Budget on August 26, 2003 Regular Meeting. The Mill Levy would be set on September 9,2003. ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 8:25 p.m. Respectfully submitted, QJ\~W~ RaN ae Edwards City Clerk