08/05/2010 MinutesPage 7, City Council Budget Meeting, August 3, & 5, 2010
City Council Budget Meeting -Cont.
August 5, 2010
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a Regular 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 5, 2010. Notice of the meeting was given in The Grand Island Independent on
July 28, 2010.
Mayor Hornady called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. The following City Council members
were present: Councilmember's Meyer, Niemann, Gilbert, Haase, Carney, Dugan, Ramsey,
Zapata, Nickerson, and Gericke. The following City Officials were present: City Administrator
Jeff Pederson, City Clerk RaNae Edwards, Finance Director Mary Lou Brown, City Attorney
Dale Shotkoski, and Public Works Director Steve Riehle.
INVOCATION was given by Mayor Hornady followed by the PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE.
MAYOR COMMUNICATION: Mayor Hornady introduced Community Youth Council
members Katrina Molholm and Kaitlin Hehnke. Mayor Hornady read a letter from Lisa Katsburg
representative of the Grand Island Community Foundation stating the City was being awarded
$3,210.00 for three portable bleachers to be used at the Fieldhouse.
It was the consensus of Council to go until 10:00 p.m. tonight.
The City Council resumed review of the 2010/2011 proposed budget.
Public Hearing on Community Redevelopment Authority (CRA Budget. This Public Hearing
was continued from the August 3, 2010 City Council Special (Budget) meeting. Planning
Department Director Chad Nabity stated $425,000 was requested from the CRA for FY
2010/2011 the same as last fiscal year.
Barry Sandstrom, 2117 West Charles Street spoke in support of the CRA budget and thanked the
Council for their support of the CRA.
Motion by Gilbert, second by Ramsey to approve the Community Redevelopment Authority
(CRA) Budget.
Motion by Carney, second by Haase to amend the main motion to reallocate $400,000, $250,000,
$240,000 and reduce Land to $50,000 for a total of $890,000 to the Lincoln Park Pool.
Discussion was held regarding reallocating some of these funds to other areas. Discussion was
held on the legalities of this process. Mr. Nabity stated the Redevelopment Plan for the City
would have to be changed which would take 90 days. Comments were made concerning the short
use of the Lincoln Pool Park and the projects planned to be done by the CRA. Concerns were
raised about the future of the CRA. Other options regarding Lincoln Pool were mentioned. Mr.
Nabity answered questions concerning CRA monies being used for the Lincoln Park Pool
renovation.
Page 8, City Council Budget Meeting, August 3, & 5, 2010
Parks & Recreation Director Steve Paustian stated the amount to upgrade the pool was between
$1.1 and $2.4 million. The time to complete an upgrade would probably take up to two years to
complete depending on the State Health Departments and other approvals.
Upon roll call vote to reallocate monies, Councilmember's Niemann, Haase, and Carney voted
aye. Councilmember's Meyer, Gilbert, Dugan, Ramsey, Zapata, Nickerson, and Gericke voted
no. Motion failed.
Motion by Haase, second by Carney to amend the main motion to reduce the property tax request
by $425,000 and expenses by $425.00.
Discussion was held concerning the cash balance on hand. Reviewed were the decreases in the
CRA budget Councilmember Haase suggested. Mr. Nabity explained each of the line items
requested and how CRA arrived at those amounts. Explained was that CRA was a taxing entity
of its own and if this motion was approved this money would not be collected. Mr. Nabity stated
if the cash is not on hand CRA would not be able to do the projects like the demolition on South
Locust Street which would be used for parking during the State Fair. Mentioned was the tax rate
request for CRA for FY 2010/2011 would be less than last year. Comments were made about the
CRA not being part of the Program Prioritization.
Motion by Gericke to postpone this item until after further review of the budget. Motion died due
to lack of a second.
Upon roll call vote to reduce property tax and expenses, Councilmember's Niemann, Haase, and
Carney voted yes. Councilmember's Meyer, Gilbert, Dugan, Ramsey, Zapata, Nickerson, and
Gericke voted no. Motion failed.
Upon roll call upon the main motion, Councilmember's Niemann, Gilbert, Haase, Carney,
Gericke, Nickerson, Zapata, Ramsey, and Dugan voted aye. Councilmember Meyer voted no.
Motion adopted.
Review of Proposed FY 2010/2011 City Sin lg e Budget_
The following people spoke:
• Kent Coen, 2604 South Stuhr Road spoke in support of the Heartland Public Shooting
Park and all parks within the City
• Timothy O'Conner, 2112 West John Street spoke in support of public/private partnership
with regards to the Heartland Public Shooting Park
• Steve Hornady, 2323 West John Street spoke in support of parks and recreation areas in a
community
• Ralph Naber, 4017 West Capital Avenue wanted to speak about the Capital Improvement
Projects
Council took a recess at 8:35 p.m.
Council reconvened at 8:50 p.m.
Page 9, City Council Budget Meeting, August 3, & 5, 2010
QUARTILE 3 PROGRAMS:
City Administrator Jeff Pederson explained the reductions and efficiencies throughout the
process of Program Prioritization. Finance Director Mary Lou Brown gave an in-depth overview
of the reductions in the Finance Department, Human Resources Department, and PW -Traffic
Control Signals, Signs, Pavement Markings.
Discussion was held concerning the Finance budget cuts in the General Fund and reduction in
the IT Allocation.
Finance Director Mary Lou Brown continued the review of the FY 2010/2011.
Accounts Payable Processing
Q. Explain the increase in personnel services costs.
A. Reduction in computer services change - no material impact.
Utility Cashier Services:
Q. Does the utilities department in the long run pay for the window clerk or is it totally
supported by the General fund? Have we taken any precautions on protecting the employees
behind the window up front from dissatisfied customers, other than just adding locks to the
doors?
A. FTE reduction will lead to the closing of the drive up window. Customers will still be
able to drop their payment in the drop box, but we will not staff the position. With the
implementation of online payments, we anticipate a reduction in the number of face-to-face
payments.
Discussion was held concerning closing the drive-thru window. Comments were made
concerning where the reduction was made, utilities fund or general fund.
Safety Training Option Pro rg_am (STOP
Q. Operating expense in total for legal increased from a projected 2010 amount of $37,966
to a 2011 proposed budget of $45,780. What is the driver of the overall increase?
A. Increased expenses in payroll and increased volume of traffic tickets.
Juvenile Diversion Pro rg am:
Q. This program is run by the County. What is the City spending money on?
A. Personnel time and expenses to review juveniles in the diversion program.
Park Maintenance Community Parks - (restrooms etc.
Q. Describe the impacts of this program change more thoroughly.
A. Less day to day maintenance and turf inputs.
Detention Cell Maintenance -Irrigated and Non Irrigated Areas and Boulevards:
Q. How will this program change impact the drainage of the detention cells?
A. Less watering, less mowing, less inputs.
Discussion was held concerning conditions in the detention cells and problems related to less
maintenance.
Page 10, City Council Budget Meeting, August 3, & 5, 2010
Lincoln Pool:
Q. The proposed 2011 budgeted FTE number has been corrected. Why is there an
operational budget when this is the last year we can operate it?
A. Correction was made. No visible impact.
Summer Adult/Family Programs -Grand Island Games Summer Concert Series'
Q. The proposed 2011 budgeted FTE number has been corrected.
A. Correction was made. No visible impact.
GITV City and Other Government Se mg ents:
Q. The FTE has dropped slightly; why does the personnel services increase? What does the
graphics template package do that makes it so costly?
A. The Public Information budget has moved .15 FTE to the Community Youth Council
budget to cover the costs of salary and benefits for the Community Youth Council coordinator.
This change allowed the Public Information budget to include a graphics template package for
GITV.
Discussion was held concerning GITV Channels 6 and 12. Public Information Officer Wendy
Meyer-Jerke stated Channel 12 was a public information channel and Channel 6 was video. City
Attorney Dale Shotkoski stated the cable franchise agreement with Charter made the channels
available to the City. There would be no cost savings to have just one channel.
GITV Educational:
Q. Same questions regarding the graphics template package.
A. Same answer as above.
Pavement Maintenance -Grade Alleys:
Q. How will traffic flow and safety be affected if there is a ban on alley garbage service,
especially on streets that typically have cars parked at curb most times of day or on busy streets
like Broadwell and Eddy that have only 1 traffic lane?
A. This cut can only be made if garbage collection is changed to curb service only.
Discussion was held regarding garbage service in the alleys. Public Works Director Steve Riehle
reported the cost savings to not grade the alleys was estimated at $25,000.
Motion by Niemann, second by Meyer to leave the garbage collection in the alleys. Upon roll
call vote, all voted aye. Motion adopted.
ADJOURNMENT: The meeting was adjourned at 9:50 p.m.
RaNae Edwards
City Clerk