Committee of the Whole

COLUMBUS COMMON COUNCIL COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE AGENDA TUESDAY, OCTOBER 4, 2022 1. Roll Call: Council President Gray called the meeting to order at 7:35 pm. Present: President Gray, Mayor Arnold, Alders: Albright Reid, Roelke (via Zoom), Steiner; Staff: City Administrator Ellefson, City Clerk Goebel, City Attorney Johnson, Lenz, Hazeltine, Bledsoe, Weiner, interested citizens. Motiff excused. 2. Notice of Open Meeting: Noted as posted. 3. Approve Agenda: Motion by Steiner, second by Arnold to approve the agenda. Carried voice vote. 4. Citizen Comments: None 5. Committee / Commission Minutes: placed on file: CUC 8/18/22, EMS 5/4/22, CHLPC 7/13/22, 8/10/22, PFC 8/4/22, 9/14/22, Tourism 8/8/22, 8/10/22 6. ARPA Funds discussion: CDA presented recommendations to the last COW meeting and the consensus of the council these were good ideas, they want to look at options to support residential development. Table until October 18 COW. 7. Updated Fee Schedule: City Treasurer reviewed the updated fee schedule with increases to building rental fees. Forward to October 18 Regular meeting. 8. 911 Joint Powers Agreement – Dodge County: Forward to October 18 Regular meeting. 9. Dodge County Humane Society Animal Contract – 2023: Increase in fees to the stray animal contract: lump sum of $1500 which covers up to 5 domestic stray animals, then $400 for each animal over 5, and the humane society must have approval before accepting any animal. Forward to October 18 Regular meeting. 10. Discussion of Municipal Court Transition: Staff looking for direction: reach out to other municipal courts or contact Eastern Columbia County Joint Municipal Court (ECCJMC) to re-join their court. The City belonged to the ECCJMC and they are willing to take us back. Consensus to look to re-join ECCJMC and not look to other courts. The current court will continue until April 30, 2023. Ellefson will reach out to ECCJMC to discuss re-joining and the transition timeline. 11. Presentation of City Administrator’s Proposed 2023 Budget: City Administrator Ellefson presented 2023 Budget: overall general fund increase of $35,826 and maintained or increased commitments to: EMS, Police, Fire; road maintenance, sidewalk repair/replacement, tree removals, stormwater repair & maintenance, pavilion maintenance, historic preservation. Planning/Zoning has moved to general fund, contingency funds increased. General wage increase is proposed at 3.5%, health insurance increased 10%, garbage/recycling fees increase to $194 annually, EMS Group increased 3%, Municipal Court will be funded for partial year and eliminated in 2024. Capital Projects include: city hall roof, Folsom Street reconstruction, DPW mini-dump truck, 72" mower, and 2nd annual payment to CWL for bucket truck; Fire Dept engine & pickup truck; sidewalks. There will be a budget public information meeting October 11 at City Hall. 12. Convene to closed session per §19.85(1)(e) deliberating or negotiating the purchase of public properties, the investment of public funds, or conducting other public business, whenever competitive or bargaining reasons require a closed session, specifically to discuss potential sale of property in the City of Columbus: Motion by Steiner, second by Roelke to convene to closed session at 8:19 pm. Roll call vote unanimous. 13. Reconvene to open session: Motion by Roelke, second by Albright to reconvene to open session at 9:01 pm. Carried voice vote. 14. Adjourn: Motion by Arnold, second by Roelke to adjourn at 9:01 pm. Carried voice vote. Submitted by: Pat Goebel, City Clerk