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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1987-08-31city council minutesBook 28 Page 133 SPECIAL MEETING August 31, 1987 12:00 Moon The Meeting was called to order by Mayor Pete Cowles. The Roll of the City Council. was called with the following members present: Mal.lea„ winder, Jarboe, Raymond, Straight, and Carter. Absent: none. Mayor Cowles stated that he had one announcement that he would like to make before the Meeting continued. The City Engineer, Mr. Redmond, asked him to announce that there would be a Public Meeting tomorrow night, Tuesday, the lst of September at 7:30 p.m. in the Council Chambers. This was for the purpose of updating everyone on the Blaine Street sidewalk problem. An engineering firm was in place and the discussion would entail some of the options available for this project. The Council has been made aware of the report and this meeting will be for the public to present any input they might have. NEW BUSINESS (PRESENTATION OF THE TENTATIVE BUDGET) The Mayor then explained to the audience that copies of the tentative budget were available to anyone who cared to follow along with the figures. The City Council intended to discuss and answer any questions that might be presented in a straight forward and honest manner. Mayor Cowles then turned the presentation over to Councilman Raymond, the Chairman of the Finance Committee for this year. The Tentative Budget was presented by Councilman Raymond as follows: PROPOSED EXPENDITURES General Fund $ 3,328,583 _. Cemetery 147,054 Library 232,785 Street 1,321,074 Airport 307,180 Recereation /Pool 199,360 Insurance 175,000 Water C.T. 142,000 Sewer C.I. 186,000 C.I. Levy 224,075 Water 1,097,748 T.P. Operation Maintenance 988,632 Stadium 259,059 Golf -P.S. F.V. 409,046 Sanitation 742,500 Cemetery C.I. 6,500 Irrigation 297,990 Rehab 142,100 Revenue Sharing 692,000 Grant Funds 1,376,015 Total 12,274,701 ESTIMATED REVJ,fNUES -- Book 28 General Fund $ 2,702,244 Cemetery 114,678 Library 232,785 Street 839,891 Airport 88,664 Recreation /Pool 176,995 Insurance 175,000 Plater C.I. 77,000 Sewer C.J. 93,000 C.I. Levy 92,275 Water 674,200 T.P. Operation Maintenance 546,364 Stadium 223,500 Golf -P.S. F.V. 329,825 Sanitation 742,500 Cemetery C.I. 6,500 Irrigation 238,100 Rehab 10,000 Revenue Sharing 42,000 Grants 1,376,015 Carryover 3,493,165 Total 12,274,701 Page 134 Councilman Raymond explained that following the adoption of the Tentative Budget, the figures can be lowered, but they cannot be raised_ Councilman Raymond then stated that he would like to start at the beginning as to how the figures shown in the Tentative Budget were determined. In April, the Finance Committee met with Department Heads asking for their input as to the needs in their Departments. The Finance Committee felt that the Department Heads were more knowledgeable in the needs of the community than anyone else. During those meetings, the Committee emphasized that the taxpayer should be recognized in making the determination as to where the monies should be allocated. Commission members were also invited to present their input to the Finance Committee. The public was also encouraged to submit their remarks at the water Department in City Hall. one of the major challenges in this year's budget was to properly inform the three new Council members that were appointed in the spring. The Finance Committee relied on the Staff in putting this year's budget together and he would thank the Finance Director at this time for her efforts. Councilman Raymond further said that he would like to clarify a comment that appeared in the news as to the Mayor and City Council pay raises. Raises were never considered by the Finance Committee for either the Mayor or the City Council. The Mayor simply responded to a personal opinion question and someone misread that statement. With respect to Revenue Sharing, Councilman Raymond explained that this would be the last year for the City to receive these monies. It was necessary for the City to spend all of the dollars that are available in Revenue Sharing this year. In years past, the cities have been able to carry forward some of those dollars for future projects. There is now $692,000 available in Revenue Sharing monies which includes the figure recently given to the City following a court suit that the National Association of Cities filed. The proposed list of expenditures for Revenue Sharing monies was as follows: Carryover of existing projects: Book 28 Treatment Plant Digester Stadium Improvements Community Development Pool Renovation New Projects: Councilman Raymond pointed out that this list would have to be cut down as the total was too high. For purposes of this meeting, the Committee wanted to list all of the projects being considered. Copy Machine Land Acquisition Treatment Plant TV System Pool Cover Library Books Airoort Grant Match Irrigation Construction Mayor's Mayor's Car Greenbelt Police Recorder Retention Ponds RSVP Funding Request: Sr. Citizens Heat System Gravel Pit Site (Matching funds) Total Page 1.35 $ 100,000 225,000 10,000 12,000 18,000 100,000 45,000 15,000 30,000 50,000 40,000 3,000 10,000 18,000 50,000 2,000 11,970 50,000 789,970 Mr. Raymond also stated that one of the concerns in the times past has been uncommitted funds. In this budget, there was reserves of uncommitted funds in the amount of $1,225,000 which is approximately 11% of the total budget. These figures were generated from expenses through Jul- Y and anticipated as what will be spent through August and September so they could vary somewhat. Included in the proposed budget are contingency dollars in the amount of eight percent of the overall budget. Mayor Cowles asked if there was any comments from the members of the City Council, Councilman Gunder stated that with regard to the carryover monies, it was his understanding that the Attorney General's Office has recommended that most cities have at least a ten percent carryover factor in their budgets to help with the following year's budgeting process. This year the City had eleven percent. Councilman Raymond stated that he would open the discussion to the audience for any questions they might have. Alta Williams and William Ball were both recognized by the Mayor and asked several questions regarding the budget. During the discussion, Councilman Raymond explained how the City Council has utilized the Idaho Employer's Council in determining whether the City employee's salaries were comparable to other cities in the surrounding area. The survey was a very lengthy and detailed report of the salaries and it was found that Caldwell's were low. The figures were used in the Fire Contract negotiations this year. The Finance Committee decided to put eight a half percent in the budget process for possible salary increases this year. This would cover everybody - some employees would be minimal and others more. There was an employee meeting that afternoon to explain this to the City's employees. Mrs. Williams stated that she was not complaining about the salaries, but she was concerned that the Library was not included. Councilman Raymond assured her that the Library was included in the Study, but there would not be a property tax increase. Since the Library depends on the tax fund, monies were transferred over to help them and there was a need to address this as an ongoing process. Eventually, the Library will probably have to be included with the other City Departments. Book 28 Page 136 Mr. Ball commented that he was concerned that the Mayor and Council planned to approve a raise for themselves. Councilman Raymond assured him that this was not the case. None of them had even considered a raise. Mr. Ball also commented with regard to the irrigation problems in Caldwell. This tape will be held in the Office of the City Clerk for six months. Councilman Raymond MOVED and it was SECONDED by Tinder that the Tentative Budget as presented be adopted in the amount of $12,274,701. Councilwoman Mallea stated that she had trouble with this budget and she had trouble with the large increase in salaries and fringe benefits. Mrs. Mallea said that she did go over the survey from the Idaho Employer's Council and counted 77 employees, not counting the Library employees. She believed that the survey was flawed and had advised the Mayor of her belief because it only discusses other cities and not industries. The intent was that the local businesses be addressed as well„ As it is now, we are comparing to some cities that are already in trouble and unable to fix streets, and etc. because of a large salary. It seemed to her that the City was going too fast in implementing a study which she considered flawed. Councilwoman Mallea stated that she would not vote against the Tentative Budget, but she would hope to receive some citizen input. If the people were happy with the increase, then she would vote in favor to adopt the permanent budget. She also said that she would like to have exact figures so perhaps it could be lowered if that meets with people's opinion. Councilman Winder stated that he wanted to make i. perfectly clear to everyone that there was not one person on the Council that was not concerned about the budget. If the Finance Committee wasn't concerned, they wouldn't have spent days attempting to put the budget together. Unfortunately, there was periods when Councilwoman Mallea could not be there and participate in some of the discussion. she was there, however, when the Council received the report from the Idaho Employer's Council and it was agreed as a Council to proceed towards a goal of approximately eighty -five percent of parity. By parity, we are talking about the average salary paid to the ten cities that were included in the study done by the Idaho Employer's Council. Realizing that a one hundred percent was probably not attainable and recognizing also that with the exception of one or two departments in the City, the City appeared to have pretty good employee morale and not very much turnover. There are some Departments that need to be looked at very seriously. The Fire Department has a different factor because of the Union being involved. There was a situation in the Police Department that needed to be looked at strongly. The fact that we budgeted eight and a half percent for salary increases doesn't mean that we have to spend all of the money that is budgeted. It simply means that we have the funds there to look at employee by employee and department by department and then ma'xe the decisions necessary. I would hope that Councilwoman Mallea and other members of the Council will be as involved as Councilman Raymond and I have been in attempting to reach those decisions as we continue on. This does not mean that because we approved the tentative budget today that all of those dollars will be expended in the manner that they are set up. Mayor Cowles then asked for a roll call vote on the motion as made. Those voting yes: Raymond, Straight, Carter, Mallea, Winder, and Jarboe. Those voting no: none. Absent and not voting: none. MO`PION CARRIED Councilman Raymond stated that the Council now had the responsibility of setting a public hearing for the purpose of allowing testimony from the public. It was his request that it Book 28 Page 137 be scheduled for Thursday, September 10th at 12:00 Noon. There would also be some discussion if requested at the Regular City Council meeting on September 8th at 7:30 p.m. Written input will be accepted concerning the budget through 11:00 a.m. September 10th, 1987. Councilman Raymond further commented that he would anticipate that the Appropriation Ordinance would be accepted following the public hearing. Ile also pointed out that the budget for this year was one million plus below the 1986 - 87 budget level. This will. not show at this time because at the next meeting the Council will re -open this year's budget to accept some grants that the City plans to spend in this budget year. Councilman Raymond stated that the Revenue Sharing monies will be addressed during the public hearing along with the proposed budget. Councilman Winder was recognized by the Mayor and asked to report briefly on the Blue Ribbon Committee. Mr. Winder explained that the Mayor appointed a committee in dune composed of five members of the business community in the downtown area. The purpose of the committee was - to take a good look at the downtown area and see what kind of recommendations could help Caldwell in revitalizing the downtown area. The Committee met three different times in June and independently each member made a recommendation based on twenty items that were discussed in the three previous meetings. Mr. Winder further explained the recommendations as follows: 1. Expand the Sewage Treatment facility. The Council has included funds in the budget to provide for a new digester in order to provide for additional sewage. 2. Provide some free public off street parking in the downtown area. 3. Downtown lighting. Some areas of the City do not have any lighting. Also, provide better lighting in areas other than the downtown where the lighting is below standard. 4. There was a need for new sidewalks with lower curbs and repair of sidewalks where it is difficult for pedestrians to walk. 5. Improve City services regarding litter and street cleanliness in the downtown area. There was a variety of other items discussed. The Caldwell Merchant's Association is holding a meeting at noon on Tuesday and have requested that the Committee present their recommendations. The Merchants also have been requested to submit their ideas at that time to the Blue Ribbon Committee. Mayor Cowles added that the City is willing and ready to help with the Dlue Ribbon Committee's recommendations, but the downtown merchants must also make a commitment to do their part. Councilman Raymond also commented that these recomendations from the Committee were considered while preparing the budget figures. Mayor Cowles informed the City Council and members of the audience that copies of the spread sheets for the budget were available to be checked out. fie also expressed his appreciation for the work done by the Finance Committee in preparing the budget. There being no further business, the Meeting was adjourned at 12:40 p.m. APPROVED AS September written THIS 8 th DAY OF 987. Co Counc°lpe,,r 'Couricilper do _ ATTEST: City Clerk �/