Committee of the Whole

COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES MARCH 14, 2016 Present: Mayor Burns, Ald. Burghart, Bruno, Cummings, Kilburg, Maladra, Marks, Radecki, Simonian, Singer Absent: Ald. Seno Staff Present: McKittrick, Dawkins, Babica, Tymoszenko, DeGroot, Mexin, Einwich, Nash, Prakash, Landers, Wright, Van Gyseghem, Passarelli 1. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Burns called the meeting to order at 7:00pm, noting that Ald. Seno was absent. 2. APPROVE COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE MINUTES FROM FEBRUARY 22, 2016 AND FEBRUARY 29, 2016. Moved by Ald. Singer, second by Ald. Marks V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. 3. ITEMS OF BUSINESS a. Recommend Approval of Special Event Application – Fox Valley Marathon on September 18, 2016. Moved by Ald. Cummings, second by Ald. Marks V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. b. Recommend Draft Resolution Requesting Closure of Traffic Lanes on State Route 31 and State Route 38 for Fox Valley Marathon September 18, 2016. Moved by Ald. Cummings, second by Ald. Marks V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. c. Recommend Draft Ordinance Amending Title 4 (Business & License Regulations), Chapter 2 (Liquor Control), Section 4-2-11 (Classifications) of the Geneva City Code (Geneva Park District Playhouse 38) Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Cummings V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. 1 d. Recommend Draft Resolution Proposing Redevelopment Plan and Project For, and the Designation of, the Geneva Fox River Redevelopment Project Area and the Adoption of Tax Increment Allocation Financing Therefor, Convening a Joint Review Board on April 7, 2016 and Calling a Public Hearing on May 2, 2016 in Connection Therewith. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Singer Dir. Tymoszenko provided background on the status of the project and what would take place going forward regarding hearings. On a question from Ald. Kilburg, Tymoszenko stated that the council could determine the length of time the district would be in effect. On a question from Ald. Bruno, Tymoszenko stated that the city’s other taxing bodies were made aware of intent at the most recent East State TIF Joint Review meeting as well as earlier discussions. V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. e. Recommend Draft Resolution Authorizing Farm Lease with Steve Pitstick for 2016 and 2017 Crop Seasons at Prairie Green Preserve. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Bruno V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. f. Recommend Draft Resolution Authorizing Contract Addendum in the Amount of $6,479.72 with Bollinger, Lach & Associates for River Lane Reconstruction Project. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Singer V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. g. Recommend Draft Resolution Authorizing Execution of Amendment to Operating Services Agreement with ISC, Inc. a Subsidiary of the Indiana Municipal Power Agency. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Bruno V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. h. Recommend Draft Resolution Authorizing Execution of a Contract with Walter E. Deuchler for Sanitary Sewer Flow Monitoring. Moved by Ald. Marks, second by Ald. Bruno V/V: 9-0 Motion carried. i. Recommend Approval of FY2016-2017 General, Electric, Water/Wastewater, Capital, Tri- Com and Miscellaneous Fund Budgets, Classification and Compensation Plan. 2  Admin. McKittrick stated that the budget presented was based on the Feb. 29th Special COW discussions and the March 7th City Council presentation. McKittrick noted that the hearing notice would be published later in the week with a public hearing scheduled for April 4th at 7pm. Several line items were brought up in discussion. Ald. Simonian presented his own spreadsheet with his calculations related to percent changes vs. estimated budget totals. Simonian sought support from the council for the elimination and/or changes to several budget items (see Exhibit A). After presenting his information, Ald. Bruno asked if it had been given to staff in advance of the meeting. Simonian stated it had not. Ald. Cummings was concerned with the inflated budget from year to year, noting that the council needed more opportunities to review the numbers. Ald. Radecki also stated his desire to change the budget process so more review of the line items could take place prior to the committee meetings. Admin. McKittrick stated that she has invited the council each year during the budget process, to be present at the 35 different meetings that professional staff attends when drafting the budget. Ald. Maladra stated that it would be in the best interests of all parties to continue the discussion at the next City Council meeting based on the fact that staff was not given time to respond to Ald. Simonian’s 3 page memo that was presented minutes prior to the meeting. Mayor Burns urged the aldermen to reach out to the department directors to become more educated on their roles, responsibilities, and expertise in their fields. Burns especially urged them to do so before the next meeting. Discussion on the steps involved in proposing a referendum for a citywide sales tax increase was also heard. McKittrick stated that staff would look into it, noting that the city would need to spend many months educating the public on the proposed referendum. The committee, by consensus, continued the budget discussion to the March 21st City Council meeting under “Committee of the Whole Items of Business”. 4. NEW BUSINESS Ald. Bruno thanked the Geneva High School Urban Studies class whom he visited recently to discuss the Marquette Development. 5. ADJOURNMENT On a motion by Ald. Simonian, second by Ald. Marks, the meeting was adjourned by unanimous voice vote at 8:51pm. 3