City Council

CITY OF SARATOGA SPRINGS CITY COUNCIL MEETING CITY COUNCIL ROOM MONDAY, NOVEMBER 24, 2008 7:50 P.M. PRESENT: Scott Johnson, Mayor John Franck, Commissioner of Accounts Ken Ivins, Commissioner of Finance Ron Kim, Commissioner of DPS Anthony Scirocco, Commissioner of DPW STAFF PRESENT: Michele Boxley, Deputy Commissioner, Accounts Eileen Finneran, Deputy Commissioner, DPS Kate Jarosh, Deputy Commissioner, Finance Shauna Sutton, Deputy Mayor Joe Scala, City Attorney ABSENT: Pat Design, Deputy Commissioner, DPW RECORDING OF PROCEEDING The proceedings of this meeting were taped for the benefit of the secretary. Because the minutes are not a verbatim record of the proceedings, the minutes are not a word-for-word transcript. CALL TO ORDER Mayor Johnson called the meeting to order at 7:50 p.m. PUBLIC COMMENT PERIOD Mayor Johnson said the public comment period is limited to a total of 15 minutes and individuals are limited to two minutes each according to the rules approved in February of 2004 by the City Council. Mayor Johnson opened the public comment period at 7:51 p.m. John Krause of 227 Grand Avenue stated it is a challenge to speak to the budget tonight. He wished the percent relationship of increases and decreases for water and sewer budget were mentioned. He asked if there is any way a resolution could be passed to give themselves until December 15th to pass the budget. The reserve or the surplus of $4 million was a surprise to everyone a year ago. You are taking some of that money out now for this budget which will leave $2.7 million in the reserve. We have never had a reserve of $4 million, so there should be strong consideration for using that money and keeping the taxpayer whole. He thinks the VLT money as stated in the budget should be as it is because we certainly aren’t going to get the full amount. He likes the idea of a consultant come in to look for productivity savings and review of staffing. He stated the Council did an excellent job of getting 3 RFPs in and getting the presentations scheduled. The presentations were informative. He would like to think this can be kept on one of the ‘burners’ in 2009 and not forget about this possibility and need. A lot of time and effort by the contractors went in to the proposals and presentations. He congratulated the Council again on their open dialogue and their thinking outside the box. City Council Meeting 11/24/08 Frank Barrone of 91 Van Dam Street stated he works for DPW and asked if the negotiations of the new contract been taken into account with this budget. Mayor Johnson stated by agreement between DPW and the City, it was agreed not to discuss the status while negotiating. Albert Calucci of 9 Lexington Road stated he agrees with using the reserve fund to bring it to 0%. He also agrees with Commissioner Franck that minus 5-10% of sales tax might be a reality. He asked why he doesn’t see a line item for the balance of the department or comp time. Commissioner Ivins stated the handout reflects only the changes. The overtime did have a change; comp time and overtime together equals $840,000. Albert Calucci asked if there was any form of an agreement to provide local police in the event the state police backed out as they have. Commissioner Kim advised there was no agreement. Saratoga Springs Police Department jurisdiction includes the Racino. When the state troopers were there, there was no reason for us to patrol that area. If an arrest was made the state troopers brought the prisoner here. Once they left it left a void for the City. We deal with it much like we do Caroline Street. It is on an as needed basis. They haven’t found it to be as big of a burden as they thought it was going to be. Mr. Calucci confirmed that there are no people devoted to the Racino on a day to day basis. Commissioner Kim advised they do not exclusively. They do once in a while when they have an event. They will send a patrol car for a presence for crowd control. Mr. Calucci stated some of the comments from Commissioner Scirocco and Commissioner Kim to leave the numbers as they are and if we see things differently down the road to make the adjustments then. He sees this as being reactive. He would think there would be a plan A, a plan B, a plan C; better efficiently, better productivity, better scheduling; that all becomes part of the entity. He doesn’t see any of those being proposed. People who are in contact with him are looking for this. In the last 14 days, the leaf crew has gone through his block 11 times. Do we need that, no. In the summer I can put twigs out every day and they will be picked up every day. That is outstanding service and he credits the department for it. During these crucial times, wouldn’t twice a week be more adaptable. We have to start thinking of ways to save money. He hasn’t heard that come up. He gets the feeling that the entity and the City are not the number 1 priority. We have the ‘sandbox’ mentality. We talked about change in the last election and itstill hasn’t come and we still have the ‘sandbox’ mentality. Commissioner Kim stated we are putting $1.8 million in the budget and bidding against ourselves. Mr. Calucci stated we may be down to zero next year so we need to start planning now. Somewhere along the line someone has to say this is the budget – make it happen. In 2006, the first year of the Racino revenues, we had $421,000 in comp time, 2007 was $545,000, and we are budgeting $525,000 this year. What would have happened if we didn’t get the $3.6 million? So we took the $3.6 got fat and happy instead of concentrating on budgets and now we don’t have anything. That is unfair to the taxpayers of this City. We had 3 weeks of solid rain this summer and the water crew was out every day. By union contract you can’t send them home, but it looks ridiculous to people. You have to understand the perception. He asked the question why they were watering during a rains storm and received the response they were only going to give it a little because they didn’t have anything better to do. We need to become more proactive and be prepared 6 months in advance rather than 6 months after the fact we will be back here next year looking at a 10% tax increase. Commissioner Scirocco stated Mr. Calucci made a lot of good points. You may not see those people come down your street 2 or 3 times and that looks like that’s the direction we’re going. The people of the City need to know that’s what is going to happen. That is his concern tonight. He stated he will work with this City Council to whatever extent he feels that they are not going to put the City in jeopardy as far as Page 2 of 4 City Council Meeting 11/24/08 public works issues are concerned. He grew up here and lived here all his life and he knows the people of this City are spoiled. They want the services and as soon as you don’t provide them he gets the calls. Commissioner Franck stated if anyone thinks the Governor or the legislature cares if we have this money in the budget or out of the budget, you are mistaken. We have to be proactive here. It is no better than a 50% chance that we will get the $3.8 million VLT funding. We would get sued in real life if we put that money in the budget. We are going to fight hard to get it. It really has nothing to do with what the State is going to do. Our year and the State government’s year are different. It won’t know until June if we get the money. If we put the VLT revenue in and we don’t get it, then we are already 6 months of contingency and in a very bad position. The Council is correct not putting that money in. If we get it then great, we can put the money in contingency as he advocated in 2006 and 2007. He said since day one that this money was not going to be long term. Commissioner Kim stated one issue he would like to know where the City Council is going is with the RFPs. He is concerned that there is no process at this time about how they are going to deal with them. Commissioner Franck stated he feels as soon as the budget is done this should be the top priority in December. We should work with Commissioner Kim’s group because they have the expertise. He doesn’t see how they can count the second proposal as revenue because that proposal only provided the shell for the police station. Therefore, the money is going to go back in to build the inner guts of the police station. The last page lists all the things that aren’t going to be in there. The third proposal didn’t have all the upfront money, but the guts were all done inside the police station. If he is correct, there really won’t be much revenue until down the line. The reason for getting the proposals in before November 30th was to see if they were going to need to bond any money. As he thought they don’t have to bond any. Commissioner Kim stated proposal 3 did require $3.5 million of bonding. This budget we are passing today we don’t put the $3.5 million. Commissioner Franck stated we need to review the proposals more closely. Commissioner Kim stated if they excluded anything they excluded the court because the Court Administration will furnish that. Reading from the proposal, prior to closing, development costs are expected to be paid by a City from proceeds of a bond anticipation note. The band will be issued by the City to defray the predevelopment costs and fees incurred by High Rock. His understanding that was the $3.5 million. If we are to do this in the timing contemplated in the proposals, you have to put that in the capital budget. Commissioner Franck confirmed that a band is the same as a bond; only borrowing short term. Commissioner Ivins stated it is borrowing short term but eventually you have to pass a bond before you can do a bond anticipation note. Commissioner Franck read some of the exclusions listed in the RFP. He also mentioned the need to renovate the current police facility. Commissioner Kim stated one proposal is stating it is going to give us $4.5 million and the other 2 aren’t. Commissioner Ivins stated he doesn’t have a problem setting up a workshop and get the processing going. MAYOR’S DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time. ACCOUNTS DEPARTMENT Page 3 of 4 City Council Meeting 11/24/08 Discussion and Vote: Addition of AED (Automated External Defibrillator) to City Hall (08-228) Commissioner Franck moved and Commissioner Ivins seconded to approve the Mayor to sign the required paperwork to add a City Hall AED to the current City Program. The City Council has been provided current policy and protocol regarding the City's current AED Program. As Marilyn Rivers indicated, this program is sponsored by the City Safety Committee, Fire Department and Risk and Safety. Risk and Safety has agreed to manage the City Hall AED in partnership with the Fire Department. Ayes – All Discussion and Vote: Award of Bid for Sale of Used Vehicles (08-229) Commissioner Franck moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded the award of bid for the sale of used vehicles. Upon recommendation of the Department of Public Works he moved to award the bid for the sale of used vehicles items #1 & #3 to General Services. The amount of item #1 is $2,297.00 and item #3 is $257.27. Item #2 to Daniel J. Marcotte for $2,500.00. Ayes – All FINANCE DEPARTMENT Discussion and Vote: Adopt 2009 Budget - This item was pulled from the agenda. PUBLIC WORKS DEPARMENT Nothing at this time. PUBLIC SAFETY DEPARTMENT Nothing at this time. ADJOURNMENT Mayor Johnson moved and Commissioner Scirocco seconded to adjourn the meeting. Ayes – All There being no further business, Mayor Johnson adjourned the meeting at 8:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Lisa Ribis Clerk Approved: 12/16/08 Vote: 5 - 0 Page 4 of 4