City Council

July 12, 2017 Budget Session The City Council of the City of Idaho Falls met in Special Council Meeting (Council Budget Session), Wednesday, July 12, 2017, at the City Council Chambers in the City Annex Building located at 680 Park Avenue in Idaho Falls, Idaho at 1:00 p.m. There were present: Mayor Rebecca L. Noah Casper Councilmember Ed Marohn Councilmember Michelle Ziel-Dingman Councilmember Barbara Ehardt Councilmember Thomas Hally Councilmember John B. Radford Councilmember David M. Smith Also present: Pamela Alexander, Municipal Services Director Mark Hagedorn, Controller Kenny McOmber, Treasurer Brad Cramer, Community Development Services Director Darrell West, Director of Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO) Dave Hanneman, Fire Chief Michael Kirkham, Assistant City Attorney Kerry Hammon, Public Information Officer Kathy Hampton, City Clerk Mayor Casper called the meeting to order at 1:17 p.m. with the following: Opening Remarks: Mayor Casper stated Randy Fife, presenter for the Legal Department budget, is traveling and unable to make the meeting as scheduled. At her request, it was moved by Councilmember Marohn, seconded by Councilmember Smith, to remove the Legal Presentation from the agenda and move the presentation to the July 14, Budget Session agenda with the Good Faith reason due to unexpected travel delays. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Smith, Hally, Radford, Dingman, Ehardt, Marohn. Nay – none. Motion carried. Community Development Services (CDS) and Bonneville Metropolitan Planning Organization (BMPO): Director Cramer presented the following: Budget Overview Funding Sources 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $1,460,400 $1,412,400 ($48,000) Director Cramer stated the CDS budget includes Planning, Building, Code Enforcement, BMPO, Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), and the Business Improvement District (BID). He indicated most revenue comes from building permits and grants, and this year has seen a lot of building activity. Although previous year revenues have exceeded any anticipated amount, Director Cramer is hesitant to request any increase due to the uncertainty of construction activity. Expenditures 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $2,473,368 $2,555,006 $81,638 Director Cramer stated the majority of increase is for wages and benefits. Operational Expenses and Capital Outlay have decreased due to CDS staff being able to accomplish professional services versus outside resources. Priorities: One-time Cost Ongoing Cost 1. Code Enforcement Clerk $0 $57,582 1  July 12, 2017 Budget Session Director Cramer stated the Clerk duties would include in-office work, including submittal of letters and infractions. He reviewed the number of code enforcement cases from previous year to current year. Tree issues and weed control have moved from the Parks and Recreation Department to Code Enforcement to allow a one-stop shop. 2. Code Enforcement Officer from CDBG to General Fund $43,000 $77,229 Director Cramer indicated CDBG funding has changed which may not allow efficiency of the officer. 3. Salary adjustments for two positions $0 $13,600 Director Cramer is requesting promotion of a current staff member to assist with building inspections as well as increase of salary for the current Assistant Planning Director. General discussion followed infraction and misdemeanor fees/fines and the tracking mechanism for each department. Councilmember Dingman believes residents have expectations of code enforcement and believes Director Cramer is approaching the issue in a very efficient manner. Councilmember Marohn concurred. Mayor Casper applauds the Council’s desire to uphold high standards for the community. Mayor Casper stated the budget request from BMPO is very modest compared to the benefit and value that comes from coordinated planning entities within the region. Brief discussion followed, there were no concerns from the Council. It was moved by Councilmember Dingman, seconded by Councilmember Hally, to approve the tentative budget for Community Development Services as presented. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Smith, Hally, Radford, Dingman, Ehardt, Marohn. Nay – none. Motion carried. Municipal Services: Director Alexander expressed her appreciation to staff: Chandra Witt, General Services Administrator; Kenny McOmber, Treasurer; Mark Hagedorn, Controller; Kathy Hampton, City Clerk; and recognized the recent retirement of Thane Sparks, Chief Information Technology Officer. She then presented the following: Funding Sources 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $167,000 $585,600 $418,600 Director Alexander stated the majority of the increase is for a proposed grant, in the amount of $400,000, for the Civic Auditorium renovations. Expenditures 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $4,233,028 $5,663, 617 $1,430,589 Proposed increases: Administration includes funding for Public Information Officer (PIO). No supplemental requests. City Clerk includes estimated costs of the 2017 elections as well as supplemental request for cemetery tracking software. Information Technology (IT) includes capital items, including network equipment, storage, software, firewall maintenance, and maintenance contract. Supplemental request includes new technical position for database report writer. Treasurer’s Office, Credit Office and Utility Billing includes internship opportunity. No supplemental requests. Finance includes increase to external audit. No supplemental requests. General Services, Purchasing and Property Management includes intern request during Cayenta go-live phase. Equipment Maintenance includes two mobile lifts, not covered in MERF. Building Maintenance and General Buildings includes request for ongoing infrastructure needs. Supplemental request to fund City building infrastructure for City Hall building renovation projects. Director Alexander stated previous 2  July 12, 2017 Budget Session building infrastructure funding was utilized for ADA compliance. General discussion followed regarding potential renovations to City Hall, including additional ADA accessibility. Civic Auditorium includes replacement of fly rail system. Supplemental request includes $800,000 ($400,000 foundation grant/$400,000 City match) for Phase I renovations. Priorities: One-time Cost Ongoing Cost 1. Civic Auditorium funding $800,000 Total $0 $400,000 City $400,000 Foundation/Grant 2. IT database report writer (new position) $0 $92,533 3. City building infrastructure funding $0 $350,000 4. Cemetery data and tracking solution $65,000 (estimate) $5,000 (estimate) Total $865,000 $447,533 Grand total budget priority request for 2017/18 = $1,312,533 General discussion followed regarding cemetery software, the IT services, and an app/alternative method for citizens to express concerns/issues. Councilmember Marohn stated there is a signed pledged from the foundation donor for the Civic Auditorium renovations, matched funding from the City would be required for two (2) consecutive years. This would be a direct impact to General Fund dollars. Councilmember Marohn is highly supportive of the request as he believes the Civic Auditorium would provide a community service. Councilmembers Hally and Dingman concurred. After brief general comments, it was moved by Councilmember Marohn, seconded by Councilmember Hally, to allocate a placeholder of $800,000 for the Civic Auditorium for the next fiscal year and to begin the legal paperwork to match the pledge from the foundation donor. Roll call as follows: Aye - Councilmembers Radford, Ehardt, Hally, Smith, Marohn, Dingman. Nay - none. Motion carried. Councilmember Marohn clarified the motions to approve the tentative budget are verification that the department budgets have been presented and received by the Councilmembers. He stated these are not motions to approve the final budget. It was moved by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Marohn, to approve the tentative Municipal Services budget with the possible reconsideration and adjustment to the MERF allowance to purchase new additions. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Dingman, Smith, Marohn, Radford. Abstain – Councilmember Ehardt. Absent – Councilmember Hally. Nay – none. Motion carried. Fire Department: Mayor Casper recognized the Fire Department staff: Deputy Chief Dave Coffey, Training Division Chief Jeff Parsons, and Emergency Medical System (EMS) Division Chief Eric Day. Chief Hanneman stated Deputy Chief Duane Nelson has been deployed, Fire Marshall, Scott Grimmett, will assist with additional duties during Deputy Chief Nelson’s deployment. Chief Hanneman indicated there will be cost savings related to this deployment. He believes the lack of staff will affect the wildland fire services in the upcoming year. Chief Hanneman stated there will be a major reduction of the budget in the coming year due to the completed construction of Fire Station No. 1. Overall costs for Fire Station No. 1 were approximately $100,000 less than the anticipated $4.7m. He then presented the following: Budget Overview – Fire General Fund Funding Sources 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $1,702,825 $1,718,785 $15,960 Chief Hanneman stated the increase to Inter-governmental is due to 1% increase to the Fire District Contract. Expenditures 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $9,877,623 $10,463,684 $586,061 3  July 12, 2017 Budget Session Chief Hanneman stated the Fire Training Division has been separated from the Fire General Fund. MERF increase is due to unexpected costs of equipment. The $500,000 request, as presented during the March budget presentation, will allow a catch up while not depleting the entire MERF balance. Brief discussion followed. Chief Hanneman stated priorities for the Fire Fund include the MERF request and the remodeling of Fire Station No. 5. Budget Overview – Ambulance Fund Funding Sources 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $6,701,720 $7,264,239 $562,519 Chief Hanneman stated Charges for Services increase is due to a proposed 5% fee increase for medication and equipment costs. He indicated there has been a 20% increase of emergency calls than the previous year. He stated there are approximately 12,000-13,000 annual calls for emergency. Expenditures 2016/17 Budget 2017/18 Proposed Budget Increase or Decrease Total $6,948,861 $7,660,368 $711, 507 Chief Hanneman stated Wages and Benefits increase will include paying the PIO position at 75%. Public Works will pay the reminding 25% PIO position. The PIO will also assist with fire education and has been assisting with emergency deployment. Chief Hanneman also stated due to approximately 82% of business occurring within the Ambulance Fund, there is effort to move several services/support to the Ambulance Fund. Operational Expenses increase includes a PulsePoint mobile app which enables a citizen to perform CPR. He briefly reviewed the app capabilities. Capital Outlay increase is due to ambulance replacement schedule, power lifts, and ventilators. Brief discussion followed regarding the recent ISO (Insurance Service Office) rating as well as Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act. Councilmember Marohn commended Chief Hanneman as he believes the Idaho Falls Fire Department (IFFD) is becoming a premium metropolitan Fire Department. Chief Hanneman stated a training center will need to be considered in the future. Collaboration is currently occurring with College of Eastern Idaho (CEI) as well as additional stakeholders. It was moved by Councilmember Smith, seconded by Councilmember Marohn, to accept the Fire Department tentative budget as presented. Roll call as follows: Aye – Councilmembers Marohn, Dingman, Ehardt, Hally, Radford, Smith. Nay – none. Motion carried. Follow-up Discussion: Mayor Casper briefly reviewed the updated calendar for July 14 to include the Legal Department presentation. She reminded the Council of the July 13 BMPO Belt Loop Study Meeting. She stated she recently attended a promotional event for Kyani and Idahoan regarding distribution of a potato pac. She indicated approximately 1 million pacs have been distributed throughout several countries to assist with world hunger. Director Alexander stated, to the response of a previous request, the placeholder for the property tax in the current budget is the certified numbers from the previous year. She briefly reviewed the budget calendar for July 14, July 18, July 25, and July 26. Councilmember Marohn emphasized once the final department budgets are presented, Councilmembers should be prepared to present arguments for or against budget items for the final budget approval. To the response of the Councilmembers, Mayor Casper stated the PIO discussion, travel budget, and community organization involvement will occur at the July 14 Council Budget Session during the Council budget presentation. Brief discussion followed regarding Councilmember membership dues for community organizations. There being no further business, the meeting adjourned at 4:40 p.m. s/ Kathy Hampton s/ Rebecca L. Noah Casper CITY CLERK MAYOR 4