City Council

APPROVED 05/18/2015 SPECIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP MINUTES MAY 7, 2015 THE SPECIAL BUDGET WORKSHOP OF THE RICHMOND CITY COUNCIL WAS CALLED TO ORDER AT 5:30 P.M., ON THURSDAY, MAY 7, 2015, BY MAYOR RIX. ROLL CALL Present: Greene, LaFore, Misteravich, Rix, Roberts, Schultz, Yaroch Absent: None Others: City Manager Moore, City Clerk Stagl, City Treasurer Hatfield Visitors: City Planner Jeschke, Library & Recreation Director Kammer, Cable Coordinator Robbins AUDIENCE PARTICIPATION None received. ADOPTION OF AGENDA City Manager Moore informed Council that the Code Enforcement Budget was not listed as one of the budgets that would be reviewed tonight, but the information is in the packet and should be reviewed after the City Manager’s budget Motion by Yaroch, seconded by Greene, to adopt the Agenda as presented. All yeas Motion passes ITEMS FOR CONSIDERATION 1. Review of the Manager’s Proposed FY2015-16 City Budget Review of the FY2015-16 Budget began with: Manager Moore informed Council that no changes were made to the budgets being reviewed tonight. SCM: 05/07/2015 Page 1 of 5  APPROVED 05/18/2015 The Parks and Recreation and Library Budgets being presented tonight still reflect the combined Director position. 101-103 Cable Television Committee – Council was informed that TIFA had approved to provide the funding for the purchase of standard definition cameras for the new City Council Chambers. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. 101-400 Planning Commission – Council was informed that we currently provide funding for a group membership to the Michigan Association of Planners – this can be reduced to only pay for an individual membership, which is $60.00. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS REDUCED, TO REFLECT ONLY AN INDIVIDUAL MEMBERSHIP TO THE MICHIGAN ASSOCIATION OF PLANNERS AND NOT A GROUP MEMBERSHIP. 274-ALL Housing and Urban Development Fund – COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. 101-790 Lois Wagner Memorial Library – Discussion on moving forward with getting the penal fines from the Richmond Township. It was stated that we should receive an additional $1,000.00 in revenues next year in penal fines. Discussion on whether we can request the Suburban Library Cooperative to consider reducing the non-resident Library Fee of $200.00. Reducing this fee may actually increase the number of township residents who would be willing to pay for Library Services. It was agreed that Council would further discuss the separation of the Department Director Position, as recommended by the Library Board, at the Monday, May 11th, Budget Workshop. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. 508-ALL Recreation Department – Council was informed that we intend to have the tennis courts re-done this year. Also proposed in the FY15-16 budget, is a new pool slide. Further discussion on whether the pool slide was a necessary expense. Recreation Director Kammer informed Council that the elimination of the pool slide would have an impact on pool use. SCM: 05/07/2015 Page 2 of 5  APPROVED 05/18/2015 Some Councilors were concerned with the purchase of the slide – have been making cuts to every department – questioned if the pool slide could be funded by TIFA. Councilors agreed that this should be a TIFA project. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. Discussion on implementing the cost sharing of utilities with other organizations that use the park - the proposed budget reflect a $4,000.00 reduction in utilities, but we may not realize the entire savings in FY15-16. It was agreed that Council would further discuss the proposed separation of the Director Position. Council would also discuss the reductions proposed by the Recreation Board and their proposal to address the Director position, at the May 11th, budget workshop. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. Council recessed at 6:34 p.m. Council reconvened at 6:45 p.m. 101-172 City Manager – COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. 101-326 Code Enforcement – Funds to cover the cost of mowing grass if a property owner does not take care of the violation – the cost is charged back to the property owner. Extensive discussion on code enforcement. Councilors agreed that we need to be more proactive. The City has many repeat offenders. Currently there does not appear to be any enforcement of ordinance and we need to begin more code enforcement. Council agreed that the Police Department needed to be more proactive on code enforcement. Yaroch commented on uneven code enforcement. If we become more proactive, he suggested that we target specific areas of concern – we need to stay away from discretionary enforcement. Council agreed that the following were the specific areas of concern: - Inoperable vehicles - Unlicensed vehicles - Blight - Campers, Boats parked in the street or driveway SCM: 05/07/2015 Page 3 of 5  APPROVED 05/18/2015 Signage was also noted but it was agreed that enforcement of the sign ordinance would have to be phased in. Discussed the success with the part-time officer assisting Richmond Township Code Enforcement Officer. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED 101-448 Street Lighting – Discussion on changing the street lights to LED. City Manager Moore informed Council he was getting a price from DTE for the removal of the Cobra lights from Oak Street to Forest. DTE has been very slow getting prices. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. 101-462 Capital Improvements - COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. 101-890 Contingencies - COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. 251-ALL Tax Increment Finance Authority – The City Manager was recommending a limit on the TIFA capture through our tax base sharing agreement. His recommendation was to reduce the TIFA capture by $153,866. The proposed TIFA budget including funds for: - Lighting at the Library - Tennis Court - Pool slide The Proposed TIFA fund balance at the end of FY15-16 is lower than we have seen, but this amount could increase based on actual completed project. Yaroch – brought up the issue of condemning the property next to the bus garage. City Manager Moore informed Council that the City has made reasonable offers to purchase the property, which have been declined by the property owner. It was stated that this is a blighted, vacant house. It was suggested to have the City Attorney speak with the owner of the property. Discussed the membership dues for the Macomb Orchard Trail. City Manager Moore informed Council that we may decide not to remain members. COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. SCM: 05/07/2015 Page 4 of 5  APPROVED 05/18/2015 APPENDIX – Five Year Capital Outlay Plan - COUNCIL WAS IN GENERAL AGREEMENT WITH THE BUDGET AS PRESENTED. COUNCIL COMMENTS None. ADJOURNMENT Motion by Schultz, seconded by Misteravich, to adjourn the Special Budget Workshop at 8:10 p.m. All yeas Motion passes Respectfully submitted: Karen M. Stagl City Clerk SCM: 05/07/2015 Page 5 of 5