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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2013-04-29city council minutes BOOK 54PAGE 40  BUDGET VISIONING WORKSHOP APRIL 29, 2013 6:00 p.m. Attendance: Mayor Nancolas, Jim Blacker, Shannon Ozuna, Rob Hopper, Dennis Callsen, Mike Pollard, Terrence Biggers, Mark Wendelsdorf, Brent Orton, Brian Billingsley, Monica Jones, Debbie Geyer, Chris Allgood, and ElJay Waite. DISCUSSION ITEMS The Mayor provided opening remarks concerning the budget process. He outlined possible budgetary considerations for the upcoming budget sessions: The General Fund is capped for the City. Employee raises were not given last year; however, additional hours were given to employees for PTO usage. A SAFERS Grant was used by the Fire Department to meet the 2012-13 budget. Re-evaluation of the health insurance coverage is being researched by the HR Department. The Urban Renewal Agency sunsets in 2014. Research is still underway concerning funding the Caldwell Economic Development Council program. Shared revenue funding from the State of Idaho should remain the same. Human Resources Monica Jones reported on the following issues within her department: Medical premiums were increased last year. There will be a 6.2% increase in FICA taxes. Persi deductions will increase. Research is being conducted concerning the following employee benefits: City-wide employee increases have not been given since 2008. A potential 1% rate increase for all employees is being researched. Longevity pay. Pay for performance. Buy back for paid time program similar to Nampa and Boise. Health reimbursement fund similar to other cities. Long-term and short-term disability plans. Monica noted that an RFQ was sent to three companies concerning bids for insurance administration professional services. The results will be presented to City Council during the budget session workshops. Monica reported that the administration of the City Employee Wellness Program has been switched from St. Alphonsus to West Valley Medical Center. Donna Laird has been instrumental in the success of the program. Councilman Hopper suggested City Clerk Debbie Geyer reported on the following issues within her department: Looking to upgrade the Door-to-Door/Peddler license and Taxi Business process in providing professional badges to vendors. A badge machine with camera would cost approximately $3,000. Dues and association fees have increased and will be reflected within the budget. Police Department Chief Allgood reported on the following issues within his department: The current budget has been monitored very closely. Employees are doing an outstanding job. Crime rate has dropped again. Traffic school will begin this year and managed by the Traffic Division. The school will be self-sustaining. Animal Control Division is very active. Code Enforcement responsibilities have been split with the Planning & Zoning Department. Graffiti has deceased this past year. Î Proposed budget this year will be in line with the estimated revenue. Four new cars were purchased under the current budget. A used motorcycle was obtained from Ontario Police Department. Canyon County issues: Lack of jail space. Î Dispatch services. Î Retention rate of officers. The Mayor recommended that Chief Allgood organize a press release concerning the low crime rate findings. BOOK 54PAGE 41  Fire Department Chief Wendelsdorf reported on the following issues within his department: Working with Middleton Rural Fire Department and Caldwell Rural Fire Department concerning a potential consolidation plan. There is a positive working relationship with labor union officers. SAFERS Grant: a year and one-half is remaining. Capital purchases are being reviewed. Station #3 options are being reviewed. Fire/medical calls have increased and could be covered with the addition of this station. In July 2012 the firefighters statewide opted out from social security. Refunds have been paid to the firefighters. Status of the FRF retirement benefits was discussed. New actual stats will be available in August. Î Finance Department ElJay Waite reported on the following issues within his department: There has been a drop of 33% in assessed property values for the City. Discussion followed concerning the recent increase in property values by Canyon County and how this will affect the levy rate. Discussion was held concerning projects and revenue within the Urban Renewal Agency. There has been 140 golf passes sold to date. Discussion followed concerning this positive report. Planning & Zoning Brian Billingsley reported on the following issues within his department: The copier and laser printer needs to be replaced within the department. Bikes Routes & Pathway Committee requests: Upgrade the Caldwell Greenbelt on the south side of the river. Î Lake Lowell Bike Lanes and Pathways: A grant will be submitted this week regarding this project. Î This is a collaborative effort with Canyon Highway District/Nampa Highway District/Canyon County/City of Caldwell. Staff hours within the Code Enforcement Division are being monitored. Historical Society is working on projects which will need funding. th Safe Routes Project on 10 Avenue near Jefferson Schools has been activated. Signage has also been added for other school zone areas. Councilman Hopper suggested that ladder-style painting patterns should be considered for pedestrian walkways. Engineering/Public Works/Parks Departments Brent Orton reported on the following issues within his department: General Vision for Public Works: Service through performance Î Advocate approach to customer service: More succinct and logical approach to project planning. Interdepartmental effort to leverage resources and save money. Prepared for emergencies: Fuel. Fiber to public work structures. Financial: Î Maintain appropriate fund balances. In budget project delivery (doing well now always from for improvement). Inform estimates with most recent bids. Maintain database, bids, and actual costs. Document failings to lead to change orders to mitigate in future contracts. Efficient and usable data collection and maintenance balancing. Time savings data collection method. Powerful geographic information system analysis. Logical basis for requirements on development (nexus and proportionality). Engineering Department Vision: . Î Service to other departments. Î Multi-level training to staff. Î Design substantially in house. Î Department of Building Safety Advocate approach to customer service. Î Conscientious code (no traditionalism). Î Ready for backup development team. Î Maintaining service without increasing staff. Î BOOK 54PAGE 42  Will acquire temporary staff as needed Î Increase the level of certifications among staff. Î Increase quality of inspections. Î FY-2013 revenue exceeded by end of Q2. Î Expense budget for 2013: $423,679. Î Mapping & Modeling Department Multiply the usefulness and availability of date in our GIS. Î Water Model Inform planning to greater level of detail. Î Continue the acquisition and maintenance of Pictometry orthophotography. Î Water Department Utilize Water Master Plan and Modeling to balance rehabilitation with expansion. Î Data collection to protect water rights (date loggers at all our wells). Î Consider acquisition of a surface drinking water priority date for future water needs in long term Î future. R.A.F.N. (Reasonable Assessment of Future Needs) under 1996 Idaho Legislation. Î Emergency preparedness critical facilities must have water. Î North Area Î Purple Sage Elementary. Golf Course Developable Property. Near River Demands. 2013 Current Projects: Î Mainline maintenance along the Boulevard. Water main work leading the Ustick & Indiana Roundabout Project. Pressure seer main from life station across Chicago Boise River Bridge to receiving manhole (Caldwell Housing Authority Project) 2014 Projects: Î CHA Pressure Main. North Area Service. rd W/L 3: Blaine to Paynter. th W/L 5: Harrison to Paynter. th. W/L Irving: Kimball to 5 th. W/L Grant: Paynter to 5 thth. W/L Dearborn: 12 to 20 rd W/L 3: Chicago to Galveston. Irrigation Department: Prepared for future (Gravity System). Î Persist in excellent level of service. Î Pilot SCADA (Supervisory Control and Data acquisition increased automation). Î Master planning effort on regional pressure irrigation system with Engineering. Î LID requests. Short water year. Street Department: Supporting sustained chip sealing program: 7 year cycle. Î Chip prices. Crushing from our own pit. Much less damage than possible from freeze. Gravel roads paved programs to pave the five miles. Î Local Improvement District. City pave center 24 ft. LID to complete? Seal coat/maintain any city-owned asphalt. Î Pathways. Parking Lots. Fuel station concept. Î Projects for 2014. Î Pedestrian self-evaluation & transition plan (Mapping conducting evaluation). Bike & Pedestrian Facilities. MS4 Permit. Interstate 84 Business Loop Receipt- effects of sequestration. Sewer Department - Consider future of operation contract: WWTP has improved consistently. Î Seek expended automation with SCADA. Î Anticipate future expenditures (being testing now). Î BOOK 54PAGE 43  Digester infrastructure. Phosphorous limitations. Other metal or permit limitations. Add a drying bed for side stream. Bio-solids to Class A. Dual sand filters for tertiary treatment. Caldwell Industrial Airport Declare City-owned hangars surplus and sell. Î Transfer from Seattle ADO to Hellena ADO. Î Springbrook integration and automation of billing interoperable with geographic information Î systems. No longer based on already approved agreement. Î Airport Café Î Some expense there due to building problems. Street Lights Consider LED fixtures that will fit our existing lighting system as the bulbs fail study longevity. Î Sanitation Allied Waste contract has been renewed. Î Parks Department Automate building lock and unlock systems. Î Cost: $7,500 per year to lock & unlock restrooms. YMCA Values Park Another Phase? Î Rotary Park Well? 19.4 irrigation acres. Î In capital improvement budget this year. Î Capital Improvements Simplot Stadium walks. Î Proposed: Thin set to repair concrete spalling (used on Dallas Cowboys Stadium). Î . Î It was determined that comments from the City Council Members regarding information presented tonight by the department heads will be discussed at the next budget workshop. Items for further discussion: Possible uses and the acquisition request from the Caldwell School District for the Carnegie Library building on Cleveland Boulevard. Property abutting the Knie Property along the Boise River for purpose of developing an Oregon Trail Historical Pathway. Funding for the Caldwell Economic Development Council (CEDC). It was suggested that a separate workshop date be established for the City Council Members and Î the Urban Renewal Agency Board Members to discuss this matter as it pertains to long-range planning. The meeting adjourned at 9:48 p.m. APPROVED AS written THIS 20th DAY OF MAY , 2013. Mayor Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson Councilperson ATTEST: City Clerk