City Council

CITY OF POCATELLO, IDAHO CITY COUNCIL BUDGET DEVELOPMENT MEETING MAY 27, 2021 AGENDA ITEM NO. 1: Mayor Brian Blad called the City Council Budget Development ROLL CALL Meeting to order at 9:05 a.m. Council members present were Heidi Adamson, Roger Bray, Rick Cheatum, Linda Leeuwrik, Claudia Ortega and Chris Stevens. AGENDA ITEM NO. 2: Jim Krueger, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, gave a brief FISCAL YEAR 2022 overview of budget development items related to creation of the BUDGET DEVELOPMENT City’s Fiscal Year 2022 Budget. OVERVIEW Mr. Krueger gave an overview of upcoming budget development meetings and the topics which would be covered. He stated he received questions from Council members and that those topics would be addressed. Mr. Krueger discussed eligible expenditures related to ARPA funds and COVID relief funds. Council members discussed potential revenue regarding New Construction, repayments from the Northgate TIF district and COVID relief funds. It was recommended to not increase the property tax ask. Council members discussed the types of expenditures allowed for the use of COVID relief funds. AGENDA ITEM NO. 3: Heather Buchanan, Human Resources Director, and AJ Argyle, FISCAL YEAR 2022 GBS Benefits, Inc., gave an overview of the Fiscal Year 2022 EMPLOYEE BENEFITS employee benefits. OVERVIEW Mr. Argyle gave a short presentation regarding the 2021/2022 insurance renewal. He stated the City of Pocatello is fully insured through Blue Cross of Idaho, the largest carrier in Idaho. A proactive approach to managing the benefits plan including plan design and mandatory case/care management helps keep the costs low. Fiscal Year 2022 renewal shows a 7% increase in rates. Mr. Argyle discussed factors for the past two years which led to the City’s experience. Ms. Buchanan discussed the utilization of the “HealthJoy” app and the current high claims experience which may lead to another increase to upcoming years. In response to questions from Council, Ms. Buchanan stated that during Fiscal Year 2021, a reimbursement was received as a result of a premium decrease of 12.74%. AGENDA ITEM NO. 4: Mr. Krueger provided Mayor and Council salary comparisons FISCAL YEAR 2022 for Pocatello and 15 Idaho cities. PROPOSED MAYOR/ COUNCIL SALARY CONSIDERATION: Mr. Krueger shared data from Human Resources regarding Mayor/Council salary comparisons from other Idaho cities.  2 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT MEETING MAY 27, 2021 Ms. Leeuwrik recommended that for the purposes of budget development, that there be no change to the Mayor/Council salaries. Mr. Cheatum shared his support of the recommendation. Council members discussed compensation options and instructed staff that increases to the Mayor/Council salaries should not be considered for Fiscal Year 2022. AGENDA ITEM NO. 5: Jim Krueger, Chief Financial Officer, and City staff members were FISCAL YEAR 2022 present to discuss proposed fee changes for Fiscal Year 2022. He PROPOSED FEE announced that a public hearing would be held on August 5, 2021 INCREASES regarding the changes. Mr. Krueger noted that the changes include increases, decreases and elimination of fees, as brought forward by staff. Staff members responded to questions from Council regarding fee changes in the following departments: Animal Control, Fire Department, Parks and Recreation, Planning and Zoning, and Utility Billing. In response to a question from Council, Cindy Robbins, Utility Billing Manager, stated that on-site collection fees have been eliminated, as the option for customers to pay from home at the time of shut- off is no longer available. She stated that fairness to customers, safety issues to employees and payment verification difficulties led to the elimination of this option. Ms. Robbins clarified that customers who use a credit card to pay their utility bill are charged a flat fee of $2.50 by the credit card company and that fee is not recovered by Utility Billing. Council members discussed fees pertaining to land use, animal surrenders, home occupations and business licenses. In response to questions from Council, Levi Adamson, Water Pollution Control Superintendent, stated that fees for water and sewer services are based upon the rate study and based upon the elements of capacity. Rate negotiation with Chubbuck is scheduled to take place in 2022, or until capacity reaches a predetermined threshold. Mayor Blad called a recess at 11:29 a.m. Mayor Blad reconvened the meeting at 11:36 a.m. AGENDA ITEM NO. 6: Jim Krueger, Chief Financial Officer/Treasurer, was present to FISCAL YEAR 2022 give a presentation regarding community organization allocations. NON-DEPARTMENTAL BUDGET ITEMS Mr. Krueger distributed copies of financial information as provided by various community organizations which receive disbursements from the City. He indicated that some representatives of  3 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT MEETING MAY 27, 2021 those organizations were present to discuss possible options if there were to be reductions in the allocations. The following representatives were present: BJ Stensland, Aid For Friends; Sara O’Bannion, Family Services Alliance; Anita Valledolid, Senior Activity Center; Doug Wooley, Japanese Sister Cities Committee; Shantay Bloxham, SEICAA; and Sheri Joseph, Pocatello Free Clinic. Ms. Joseph answered various questions from the Council pertaining to the Pocatello Free Clinic services, operation and other COVID-related changes. Council members discussed funding for Pocatello Arts Council, Bannock Development Corporation (BDC), Regional Economic Development of Idaho (REDI) and Pocatello/Chubbuck Chamber of Commerce. It was clarified that funding for the Pocatello Arts Council has no budget impact. Council member Leeuwrik recommended that allocations to the above community organizations be in the same amounts as Fiscal Year 2021. Council member Linda Leeuwrik was excused from the meeting at 12:04 p.m. Council members discussed various items pertaining to economic development organizations and the economic value of each company. They recommended a 2.5% reduction in allocations to community partner organizations. Council members discussed department budget policies and procedures. AGENDA ITEM NO. 7: Roger Schei, Police Chief, and Jim McCoy, Deputy Chief, were FISCAL YEAR 2022 present to discuss the Fiscal Year 2022 Police Department Budget. POLICE DEPARTMENT BUDGET REPORT Chief Schei stated that the Collective Bargaining Agreement is in negotiation at this time. Chief Schei and Major McCoy answered questions from Council pertaining to the following topics: number of authorized positions within the Police Department; department organization; report processing; community outreach efforts; Animal Control and Code Enforcement organization; training efforts; safety equipment; and physical storage needs. Mayor Blad called a lunch recess at 1:43 p.m. Mayor Blad reconvened the meeting at 2:25 p.m.  4 BUDGET DEVELOPMENT MEETING MAY 27, 2021 AGENDA ITEM NO. 8: David Gates, Fire Chief, and Ryan O’Hearn, Assistant Chief, were FISCAL YEAR 2022 present to discuss the Fiscal Year 2022 Fire Department Budget. FIRE DEPARTMENT BUDGET REPORT Chief Schei stated that the Collective Bargaining Agreement is in negotiation at this time. In response to questions from Council, Chief Gates gave an overview of proposed budget items including clothing allowance; safety equipment; training needs; and wellness. AGENDA ITEM NO. 9: There being no further business, Mayor Blad adjourned the ADJOURN meeting at 2:35 p.m. APPROVED: BRIAN C. BLAD, MAYOR ATTEST AND PREPARED BY: KONNI R. KENDELL, CITY CLERK