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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/07/1984 - Workshop Minutes City Council MINUTES WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 07, 1984 4:00 P.M. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: COUNCIL MEMBERS ABSENT: STAFF PRESENT: STUDENT GOVT. LIAISON: VISITORS PRESENT: Mayor Halter, Councilmen Anderson, Boughton, McIlhaney, Prause, Reinke, Runnels None Assistant City Manager VanDever, City Attorney Locke, Deputy Finance Director Schroeder, Fire Chief Landua, City Secretary Jones, Ambulance Supervisor Schaer, Council Coordinator Jones Hachtman See guest register. A~enda Item No. 1 - Closed session to discuss personnel [6252-17( 2)(~)] . A. Personnel [6252-17(2)(g)]. 1. Hearing on termination of employment. The Council moved to closed session and later reopened to the public. A~enda Item No. 2 - Council concerns. Councilman McIlhaney reported that several street lights in the Emerald Forest Subdivision near the intersection of Emerald Forest Drive and Appomattox are not working. Councilman Prause noted that the construction at the Hilton site on the corner of University Drive and East Tarrow Street is causing a large amount of dirt to accumulate on East Tarrow Street. A~enda Item No. 3 - Discussion of Council priorities for FY 85-86 Operatin~ Budget. Mayor Halter questioned how the Council wished to proceed with the discussion. The Council concurred to address the broader aspects of the budget and provide more detailed direction to the staff in writing. WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1984 PAGE 2 Councilman McIlhaney stated that the area she is most concerned with is streets. She questioned whether the street maintenance staff and the city's standards are adequate. She pointed out that there is a large number of new streets in the city that are deteriorating. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that this has been re- cognized as a problem. Councilman McIlhaney asked if street construction is done by sections. She questioned if the process of stabilization is a function of the surface. She asked if the problem might be remedied by addressing street standards. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that the problem is more in the area of inspection rather than standards. Councilman Boughton pointed out that lime stabilization was not included in the city's specifications until about one year ago. She noted that the number of personnel in the street department has been increased, and regardless of the number of street maintenance personnel the weather plays a large role in determining how much gets done. She questioned why the Council is getting involved in the budget process at this point. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that over the last several years the city has made a concerted effort to increase the street maintenance program. He noted that the city has acquired addi- tional equipment, but has not had it long enough to determine what effects it will have on the program. He pointed out that the staff level in the street, maintenance department is such that it allows the supervisory staff to provide personnel with activities to perform during bad weather periods. Councilman Boughton expressed her belief that in the next two years there will be a vast improvement in street maintenance. Councilman McIlhaney stated that drainage is another area that needs to be addressed. She suggested that a budget be developed for the proposed drainage committee. She stated that the city might be interested in hiring one full time staff person to work with the drainage committee and staff. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that Jennifer Sullivan, the intern in the Finance Department, has been researching a number of city budgets which have been awarded the Certificate of Conformance. He suggested that the goals and objectives for each department and division be included in the budget. 00/ 6 .2 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1984 PAGE 3 Councilman Prause asked if the goals and objectives would change annually. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that the goals and objectives would require yearly maintenance. The Council concurred with the idea. Councilman Prause stated that he is concerned with general maintenance of all city facilities. He expressed his interest in EMS training and suggested that this area may require additional funding. He also stated that more financial support may be needed for promotion of the Neighborhood Watch Program. Mayor Halter noted that a meeting had been held pursuant to Councilman Prause's statement on the ambulance transfer problem. Councilman Runnels reiterated concern over street maintenance. He stated that maybe some attention needs to be directed toward traffic control, specifically the uniform bureau. He suggested that some thought might be given to centralizing coordination of all construction projects under one department. He expressed his opinion that more efforts need to be devoted to long-range planning. He further stated that it might be necessary to shift the city's efforts from parks planning to parks maintenance. He pointed out the problem of water pipes breaking in older sections of the city. Councilman Reinke stated that more attention needs to be directed to the area of customer service for the Utility and Energy De- partments. She stated that more public relation programs need to be developed. She further stated that more emphasis needs to be placed on the street maintenance program. She suggested that more attention be directed toward developing additional public relations programs for the crime and fire prevention programs. She noted that parks ground maintenance needs more attention in next year's budget process. She suggested that more efforts be directed toward the street lighting program. Mayor Halter asked the staff to examine the question of whether the city should continue to collect city taxes or work out an arrangement to have the county office collect the taxes. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that this question has been investigated by the staff. He explained the proposed plan, which will require that all the functions relating to money collections be performed by the tax office, including making deposits, etc. He noted that this proposed plan will be accomplished with a shift in personnel. 00 6 3 WORKSHOP CITY COUNCIL MEETING WEDNESDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1984 PAGE 4 Mayor Halter asked if there are any PR advantages to the city's continuing to collect taxes. Assistant City Manager VanDever replied affirmatively. Deputy Finance Director Schroeder stated that the Legislature may pass a bill which will require centralized collections of all taxes. Mayor Halter requested that the Council create a separate divi- sion for the Municipal Court, now under Police, and move it under the City Secretary's Office as a division within that, and under the City Secretary's supervision. He stated that this move would be part of a broader separation between the Municipal Court and the Police Department, and suggested that in addition a physical separation should be made between the Police Offices and the Courtroom. Assistant City Manager VanDever stated that the Municipal Court is already a division for budget purposes and could be moved into the administration area. He recommended that the City Secre- tary's Office be split into a separate division, with the Council Coordinator and Municipal Court to come under the same new division. Mayor Halter stated that maintenance of the Municipal Courtroom is very important. Mayor Halter adjourned the meeting at 5:50 P.M. ATTEST :. ~ , Dian Jones,~ty Secretary _ Gary HaltS,~ Mayor