City Council

CITY COUNCIL CHAMBERS SIOUX CITY, IOWA FEBRUARY 8, 2025 A Budget Review Session of the City Council was held at 8:30 a.m. The following Council Members were present on call of the roll: Moore, O’Kane, Schoenherr, Scott, and Watters. Absent: None. Staff members present included: Robert Padmore, City Manager; Teresa Fitch, Finance Director; Sarah Swearingen, Budget Manager; Tiffany Bonnes, Budget and Financial Analyst; Nicole DuBois, City Attorney; Todd Behrens, Art Center Director; Helen Rigdon, Library Director; Steve Hansen, Museum Director; Wendi Hess, Communication Center Director; John Malloy, Chief Information Officer; Janelle Bertrand, Human Resources Director; Chief Rex Mueller, Police Department; Chief Ryan Collins, Fire Department; Matt Salvatore, Parks and Recreation Director; Mike Collett, Assistant City Manager; Jessica Ryan, Human Rights Investigator; Marty Dougherty, Economic and Community Development Director; Darrel Bullock, Inspection Services Manager; Jill Wanderscheid, Neighborhood Services Manager; Tom Pingel, Utilities Director; and Brad Puetz, Utilities Director. Update of the FY 2026 Budget Teresa Fitch, Finance Director, presented an update on the FY 2026 Budget. Discussion was held regarding the Levy and rollback details and explaining how the process works and will affect the citizens. A list of technical changes for all departments will be brought back to Wrap Up. Legal Nicole DuBois, City Attorney, presented the Legal budget. Scott requested discussion be brought back to Wrap Up regarding the use of TIF funds towards expenses in the Legal department. Art Center Todd Behrens, Art Center Director, presented the Art Center budget. Library Helen Rigdon, Library Director, presented the Library budget. Motion by Scott, seconded by Moore, to reduce the Library budget by $5,000: Moore, Schoenherr, and Scott voting aye; O’Kane and Watters voting nay. Museum Steve Hansen, Museum Director, presented the Museum budget. (February 8, 2025 - Budget Review Minutes) Page 1 WCICC - Comm Center Wendi Hess, Communication Center Director, presented the WCICC - Communication Center budget. Hess asked for reconsideration of the improvement request for a Communications Training Operator. Scott requested the discussion be brought back to Wrap Up. WCICC – IT John Malloy, Chief Information Officer, presented the WCICC - IT budget. Malloy asked for reconsideration of the improvement request to upgrade a Senior Systems Analyst to a GIS Manager. Discussion will be brought back to Wrap Up. Human Resources Janelle Bertrand, Human Resources Director, presented the Human Resources budget. Council recessed at 9:27 a.m. and reconvened at 9:35 a.m. Events Facilities Chad Smidt, General Manager, OVG360, and Nick Palmiotti, Sales & Marketing Manager, OVG360 presented the Events Facilities budget. Scott requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up comparing budget to actuals in FY 2023 and FY 2024 and FY 2026 budget details. Police Chief Rex Mueller, Police Department, presented the Police budget. Scott requested discussion be brought back to Wrap Up regarding the number of new police officers included in the FY 2026 budget compared to the anticipated number of officers that will be hired. Fire Chief Ryan Collins, Fire Department, presented the Fire budget. Chief Collins asked for reconsideration of the improvement request for an Assistant Fire Chief. Moore requested discussion be brought back to Wrap Up. Parks and Recreation Matt Salvatore, Parks and Recreation Director, presented the Parks and Recreation budget. (February 8, 2025 - Budget Review Minutes) Page 2 Administrative Services Mike Collett, Assistant City Manager, presented the Administrative Services budget. Airport Mike Collett, Assistant City Manager, presented the Airport budget. Transit Mike Collett, Assistant City Manager, presented the Transit budget. O’Kane left at 10:19 a.m. and returned at 10:19 a.m. A technical change will be brought back to Wrap Up increasing Transit grant revenue by $50,000. Council recessed at 10:26 a.m. and reconvened at 10:36 a.m. Schoenherr returned to the meeting at 10:37 a.m. Human Rights Jessica Ryan, Human Rights Investigator, presented the Human Rights budget. Motion by Scott, seconded by Schoenherr, to reduce the Human Rights budget by $18,409, all voting aye. Watters requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up listing the department expenses and revenues. Economic and Community Development Marty Dougherty, Economic and Community Development Director; Darrel Bullock, Inspection Services Manager; and Jill Wanderscheid, Neighborhood Services Manager presented the Economic and Community Development budget. A technical change will be brought back to Wrap Up removing $50,000 in payment to other agencies in Neighborhood Services budget. Wastewater and Environmental Services Tom Pingel, Utilities Director, presented the Wastewater and Environmental Services budget. Scott requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up comparing the rental rates for the scissor lift to the costs of purchasing the piece of equipment and whether other departments have a scissor lift available for use by the Wastewater Treatment Plant. Water and Underground Utilities Brad Puetz, Utilities Director, presented the Water and Underground Utilities budget. (February 8, 2025 - Budget Review Minutes) Page 3 Public Works Tom Pingel, Utilities Director; Brad Puetz, Utilities Director; and Teresa Fitch, Finance Director, presented the Public Works budget. Scott requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up regarding the snow removal budget. Scott requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up detailing the $7,500 increase in Engineering’s operating equipment account line. Scott exited the meeting at 11:28 returned at 11:30 a.m. City Council Robert Padmore, City Manager, presented the City Council budget. Schoenherr requested a discussion be brought back to Wrap Up regarding the improvement request for additional funding for Saturday in the Park. Moore requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up detailing the economic impact of the Saturday in the Park festival possibly provided by the Sioux City Regional Convention & Visitor Bureau. Tourism Discussion was had about changing the verbiage in the funding sources table from Property Taxes to Hotel/Motel tax. City Manager Robert Padmore, City Manager, presented the City Manager budget. Discussion will be brought back to Wrap Up regarding the improvement request for a Social Media Coordinator. Moore requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up listing the statistics for views/visits to the City’s pages on social media platforms. Finance Teresa Fitch, Finance Director, presented the Finance budget. Council requested discussion be brought back to Wrap Up regarding options for reducing credit card and electronic check fees charged to the City. Council recessed at 12:03 p.m. and reconvened at 12:21 p.m. Scott left the meeting at 12:16 p.m. and did not return. Overflow O’Kane requested a memo be brought back to Wrap Up stating the cost of one full-time police officer and how that affects the Police department budget. (February 8, 2025 - Budget Review Minutes) Page 4 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 12:24 p.m. on motion by Moore, seconded by Watters, all voting aye. ATTEST: ____________________________ _____________________________ Heidi Farrens, City Clerk Robert E. Scott, Mayor City Council agendas are available at www.sioux-city.org u:\City Agenda\Agendas and Minutes\Council Minutes\2025\020825m Operating Budget (February 8, 2025 - Budget Review Minutes) Page 5