City Council

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL ROOM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 22, 2004 6:00 P.M. PRESENT: Commissioner Thomas Curley, DPS Michael Lenz, Mayor Commissioner Matthew McCabe, Finance Commissioner Thomas McTygue, DPW Commissioner Stephen Towne, Accounts STAFF PRESENT: Erin Dreyer, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Debbie Harper, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Alicia Wardell, Deputy Mayor Lynn Bochner, Finance Matthew Dorsey, City Attorney CALL TO ORDER Mayor Michael Lenz called the meeting to order at 6:15 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Mayor Michael Lenz opened the public comment period. John Krause, 227 Grand Avenue, said he was still concerned with the budget. He said whatever the rate offered tonight was it was not low enough. The rate should be close to $4.80. He gave a proposal to Commissioner Matthew McCabe. Even a 16 or 18 percent increase is excessive. The tax levy needs to be reduced between $500,000 and $600,000. There needs to be cuts and increases in revenues. A one percent decrease in the budget equates to about $300,000. New spending needs to be tied to revenue projects and should be monitored quarterly by the charter commission. How can the Council talk about affordable housingif it can’t bring taxes to a reasonable rate. It is time for the Council to stand up and be held accountable. Jay Verro, 33 Evergreen Drive, said he was concerned about a 27 percent tax hike. The budget is difficult to understand. He could not understand how budgets of $15 million could not find $50,000 to cut as Commission Stephen Towne suggested. It is hard to believe that there is no fat. It is hard for the seniors to maintain their homes and pay their taxes. They may be forced to sell. Commissioner Stephen Towne said he was misquoted in the newspaper. He said he adjusted his budget by $50,000 and said that other departments should do so proportionately. Commissioner Thomas McTygue said that to get to Commissioner Stephen Towne’s number personnel would need to be cut. He said if programs and services are cut, then personnel would also be cut. Expenditures between last year and this year are about equal. The County has a large surplus partly due to the OTB and Admissions taxes. The City gets only a small portion. His department continues to develop revenue streams. They do sidewalk replacements and also get funding from Community Development for sidewalk and drainage work. He said he has fewer permanent employees than he did 20 years ago. He said his budget for permanent employees salaries are at $3,157,400 but it should be at $3,225,733, therefore, there is a $68,000 shortfall. He said he would need to seek ways to generate funds to pay those salaries. He said other departments do not have the flexibility that he has to generate revenues. John Kauffman, 44 White Street, said elected officials are not spending money recklessly. It is no fun for them to raise taxes. The residents of this community have the privilege of living in a beautiful City and that comes with a cost. Commissioner Matthew McCabe worked hard on this budget and it will be worse next year Page 1 of 3 City of Saratoga Springs City Council Meeting Minutes Monday, November 22, 2004 because of the retirement payment. The real issue is a quality of life. The residents need to recognize that taxes need to be raised to protect their quality of life. There being no one else wishing to speak, Mayor Michael Lenz closed the public comment period. FINANCE OFFICE 2005 Budget (04-226) Commissioner Matthew McCabe said he hoped this was the final budget that he would present to the Council. Since the last meeting, there has been an adjustment of $660,000 and the rate has been brought down to $5.09. He said that the proposal by Commissioner Stephen Towne to get to $4.95 is unrealistic and unhealthy for the City. Commissioner Matthew McCabe said the rate was brought down due in part to the actual hospitalization rates being received on Friday, November 18. The health insurance increase was initially projected at 20 percent, however, that has been decreased to 15 percent. Also, each department came forth with expense cuts and revenue increases. DPW and DPS deserve special thanks for decreasing their budgets by an additional $62,000 since last week. Commissioner Matthew McCabe said he believed the goal had been achieved and the rate has been brought down to $5.09. Therefore, Commissioner Matthew McCabe moved and Commissioner Thomas McTygue seconded to adopt the 2005 preliminary budget as the 2005 adopted budget for the City of Saratoga Springs. Roll Call vote: Commissioner Stephen Towne no Commissioner Matthew McCabe aye Commissioner Thomas McTygue aye Commissioner Thomas Curley aye Mayor Michael Lenz no Motion carried. Commissioner Stephen Towne gave thanks to the Finance Department including Commissioner McCabe as well as Deputy Commissioner Gillmett-Brown and Lynn Bockner for all the work that had gone into a document regardless of whether we all agreed with the end result. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC WORKS Award of RFP - The Hub Parking Structure (04-227) Commissioner Thomas McTygue moved and Mayor Michael Lenz seconded to approve the contract with LeChase Construction for the design/build of the parking structure at a cost of $2,577,465, plus a contingency of $172,534 for a total of $2,750,000, contingent upon the review of the City Attorney. Commissioner Thomas McTygue wanted to remind everyone that weather plays a major role in construction and the structure would be completed when it’s completed. Mayor Michael Lenz said he believed this was a good firm. He said he wanted to keep this process moving and hoped to have a completed project by summer. Commissioner Matthew McCabe will continue to work on financing the project. Commissioner Thomas McTygue thanked all of the members of the committee. Page 2 of 3 City of Saratoga Springs City Council Meeting Minutes Monday, November 22, 2004 Commissioner Stephen Towne said his representative on the committee was satisfied with the process and the selection. He said his representative would also be glad to serve on the oversight committee. Commissioner Thomas McTygue said he recently spoke to Frank Parillo about using the paved portion of his lot behind City Hall. The owner will allow City Hall employees to park in this lot as long as the City plows and maintains the lot. He also noted that it was his intention to have the construction workers for the parking structure to park in the Excelsior Avenue lot and have them shuttled to the parking structure. He said he will work that out with the LeChase Construction. Ayes all. Rejection of Bid - Sand Commissioner Thomas McTygue moved and Mayor Michael Lenz seconded to reject all sand bids. Ayes all. DEPARTMENT OF PUBLIC SAFETY Other Commissioner Thomas Curley thanked Commissioner Matthew McCabe and his staff for a job well done. He said this was a difficult process. He said if there were more reductions to the budget, personnel would need to be cut. Staff is the reason City looks so good. Qualify of life is an issue. Mayor Michael Lenz and Commissioner Thomas McTygue also thanked the Finance Department for the many hours of hard work put into this budget process. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Michael Lenz moved and Commissioner Thomas McTygue seconded to adjourn the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Ayes all. There being no further business, Mayor Michael Lenz adjourned the meeting at 6:50 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Kathy Moran Clerk Approved: Page 3 of 3