City Council

September 14, 2017 MINOT CITY COUNCIL – SCHEDULED MEETING – 6:30 P.M. ROLL CALL Members Present: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky Members Absent: None Mayor Chuck Barney presiding. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE Mayor Barney led the City Council in the Pledge of Allegiance. APPOINTMENTS AND REAPPOINTMENTS – APPROVED Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council appoint Jessica Ackerman to replace Nicole Gebeck to the Visit Minot Board with a term to expire December 31, 2018. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried by the following roll call vote: ayes: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky; nays: none ORDINANCE NO. 5224 - AMEND THE 2017 ANNUAL BUDGET- TRASH COMPACTOR (REC031) – SECOND READING – APPROVED Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council place ordinance no. 5224 on second reading to amend the 2017 annual budget to increase the Capital Equipment Purchase fund revenues and expenditures using Sales Tax Major Projects funds for the purchase of a Rear Load Pac-Man Garbage Compactor for the Minot Municipal Auditorium. Motion seconded by Alderman Olson and carried unanimously. Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council pass ordinance no. 5224 on second reading. Motion seconded by Alderman Olson and carried by the following roll call vote: ayes: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky; nays: none. PURCHASE OF 22’ ROLL OFF DUMPSTER (AIR065) AND 4-YARD DUMPSTER Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council approve the purchase of a 22’ roll off dumpster and 4-yard dumpsters for the Airport and authorize the Mayor to sign any documentation. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma. Dan Ruby, of Circle Sanitation, stated, there is currently an 8 yard dumpster with collection three times a week at the Airport. He said, he would like the opportunity to present pricing options before the service is cancelled. The Airport Director stated, staff has taken a careful look at all of the expenses and found it would be beneficial to purchase the dumpsters, which would then be owned by the City, and have Public Works haul the waste at a lower monthly rate. Alderman Wolsky commended staff for looking into solutions for available efficiencies. Whereupon a vote was taken on the motion by Alderman Jantzer, seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried by the following roll call vote: ayes: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky; nays: none 1|Page  September 14, 2017 ORDINANCE NO. 5227 – AMEND THE 2017 ANNUAL BUDGET – 22’ ROLL OFF DUMPSTER (AIR065) AND 4-YARD DUMPSTER – FIRST READING – APPROVED Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council place ordinance no. 5227 on first reading to amend the 2017 annual budget to increase the capital expenses account for the purchase of a roll off dumpster for the Airport and decrease the purchase property services garbage collection account. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried unanimously. Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council pass ordinance no. 5227 on first reading. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried by the following roll call vote: ayes: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky; nays: none The City Council recessed to a Committee of the Whole meeting at 6:37 pm. CITY COUNCIL RECONVENES The City Council reconvened following the Committee of The Whole meeting at 8:38 pm with the following members in attendance: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, and Wolsky. Mayor Barney presiding. PUBLIC HEARING ON PROPOSED 2018 BUDGET The City Council held a public hearing on the proposed 2018 Annual Budget. Mayor Barney opened the public hearing by asking for any public comment on the proposed budget. Brian Bowman, Director of Minot Hockey Boosters, thanked the Council for their support but listed his concerns about the current ice situation. He said the hockey program is responsible for about 5,000 hotel room nights per year, through games and tournaments. In the past, they have donated 2.6 Million in program funds with the intention they would have continued ice at All Seasons. He said their program has grown by 40% since 2012 and they use the ice 100% of the time they need it during prime practicing hours. He concluded by saying, losing the ice would be detrimental to the program. Adam Klein, of the Minot Fire Department and President of the local 1157 Union, came forward to discuss the proposed pay plan. He sent a letter to the Council members and explained the effects it would have on the Fire Department staff if the plan is not approved. He spoke on behalf of the firefighters and said they are in favor of keeping the current pay plan as proposed. He said, as Minot citizens, the employees pay the tax as well so they understand the concern on both sides. At the request of Alderman Podrygula, he explained the implications of not funding the pay plan. Mr. Klein stated, the department is currently four employees short which affects their morale. To replace the four employees and train them to the standard of the Minot Fire Department could take four years and is estimated at $72,000 per employee. If they can retain their employees, it will save costs in the long term. Scott Burlingame, Executive Director of Independence, Inc. came forward to talk about public transportation. He spoke to the Council about accessibility and was glad to see the buses using the ramps more frequently than in the past. He said there has been a commitment made as a city to help people with disabilities become a part of the community. He requested, if the staff is directed to find an additional $531,000 to cut, they do not negatively affect the bus drivers and he encouraged efforts to continue to improve public transportation. Robbie Boucher, a City employee, came forward with several suggestions to find budget savings. 2|Page  September 14, 2017 Scott Newcomb, of 3021 12th St NW, asked the Council about the total increase on property tax by the other entities as well as the City. The Mayor stated, the City only receives 27.5% of the total amount of property tax and does not know yet how the other entities will affect the property tax amount. He said the City portion will be completed by October 1st. Alderman Jantzer stated, there were letters submitted to the Council which are part of the public record and have been taken into consideration by the Council. Whereupon Alderman Jantzer moved the public hearing be closed. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried by the following roll call vote: ayes: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky; nays: none ORDINANCE NO. 5228 – 2018 ANNUAL BUDGET – FIRST READING – APPROVED Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council place Ordinance No. 5228, adopting the 2018 Annual Budget, on first reading. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma. Upon questioning by Alderman Podrygula, the City Manager said he is confident that with the help of the Department Heads, they should be able to find areas of the budget that can be reduced in order to keep the pay plan as proposed. However, he cannot guarantee there will not be impacts to city services. He said, he knows it is an important issue to the directors and the staff and he is ready to meet the challenge the Council offered. Alderman Olson also said, she is confident there will be enough money cut from the current budget to keep the pay plan intact. She said, she hopes the other Council members will support it next week after the changes are presented and they are not seen as additional cuts as well as the reduction in the pay plan. Alderman Podrygula stated, the pay and benefit plan is a priority. The current salaries are now comparable to other governmental institutions but where employees suffer is in terms of health insurance so the net comparison is very different. He said he hears the concerns from property owners but stated, the increase equates to the cost of a Starbucks per week in order to sustain city services. He said the pay plan is absolutely critical to his approval of the budget. Whereupon a vote was taken on the above motion by Alderman Jantzer, seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried by the following roll call vote: ayes: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky; nays: none Alderman Jantzer moved the City Council pass Ordinance No. 5228 on first reading. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried by the following roll call vote: ayes: Barney, Jantzer, Olson, Podrygula, Sipma, Straight, Wolsky; nays: none ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, Alderman Jantzer moved that the meeting be adjourned. Motion seconded by Alderman Sipma and carried unanimously. The meeting was adjourned at 8:58 p.m. ATTEST: APPROVED: _________________________________ Kelly Matalka, City Clerk Chuck Barney, Mayor 3|Page