Committee of the Whole

COLUMBUS COMMON COUNCIL – COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE COUNCIL SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING – OCTOBER 22, 2019 – 6:00 PM MINUTES 1.) Call to Order: Council President Traxler called the meeting to order at 6:02 pm. 2.) Roll Call: Present: Gray, Johnson, Reid, Ryan (arrived at 6:10), Theilen, Thom (leaving early), Traxler; Finance Director Manley, City Clerk Goebel, Recreation/Aquatics Director Meyers, DPW Director Navin. 3.) Approval Agenda: Motion by Thom, second by Gray to approve agenda. Carried voice vote. 4.) New Business: 1.) Budget Reviews: a.) Recreation Department: Amy Jo Meyers, Director, presented her proposed 2020 budget for the Recreation Dept. New this year Meyers is requesting part-time help at 20 hours a week. Suggested to make the pay rate a range. Also requested using a different vendor for residents to enroll and pay for programs, concessions; schedule rental for various city buildings, etc. All City departments would be able to use the vendor at no additional cost. b.) Aquatic Center: Amy Jo Meyers, Director, presented her proposed 2020 budget for the Aquatic Center. She has reviewed pricing for family and care-giver pool passes. Also reviewed needed repairs to the slide, decking. Meyers is still waiting on an additional assessments and answers for the pool leak this past summer. Current plan is to winterize the pool early November. c.) Public Works: Zach Navin, DPW Director presented his proposed 2020 budget for the Public Works Dept. Garage: Consider purchase of a plow setup that would fit the new end loader to help with snow removal, eliminating need for the rental of a John Deere tractor. Salt shed roof needs repair. Administration: increase in professional services for interpreter services; increase phone to cover cost of crew leader cell phone and ipad use in the field. Streets: continue street improvements, apply for funding to assist in mill and overlay work; work with Columbia County to re-stripe W James Street and decorative sidewalks; traffic control lights. Forestry: increase for tree removal due to emerald ash borer; add new account to track honor tree donations; decrease tree purchase funds to focus on removal of dead trees. Concerned storm water is not being addressed as it should. Commented fees need review. d.) Parks & Athletic Fields: Zach Navin, DPW Director presented his proposed 2020 budget for the Parks & Athletic Fields: increase tree trimming to keep park safe and nice looking. Move $850 from Recreation to Athletic Fields for set up and & maintenance. e.) Hillside Cemetery: Zach Navin, DPW Director presented his proposed 2020 budget for the cemetery. Would like to move $500 from planting to trees & trimming; move $2500 from repair & maintenance to tree trimming. Carry over $2500 of unused funds from monument repairs to tree trimming. 5.) Old Business: 1.) Continue to Discuss and consider the General Obligation Note borrowing for 2020: Manley reduced Mill & Overlay from bonding; removed Police squad – money found in current budget – but kept Police radio replacement; included slide repair, paint, decking at Aquatic Center. 6.) Adjourn: Motion by Gray, second by Ryan to adjourn at 8:32 pm. Carried voice vote. Submitted by: Pat Goebel, City Clerk