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HomeMy WebLinkAbout03/04/1987 FC minutesMINUTES FINANCE COMMISSION MARCH 4, 1987 Call to Order The meeting was called to order at 7:30 PM. Commissioners present were Richard Bachhuber, Paul Davies, William Holloway, Tom Pekras, and Ann Smilanic. Also present were Village Manager John Dixon, Fire Chief Ed Cavello, Deputy Fire Chief Del Ulreich, Deputy Fire Chief Lonnie Jackson, and Finance Director David Jepson. Commissioner Newt Hallman arrived at 7:40 PM, and Police Chief Ron Pavlock and Deputy Police Chiefs Tom Daley and Joe Bopp arrived at 8:00 PM. II Approval of Minutes The minutes of the February 19, 1987 meeting were approved as written. III Fire Department 1987/88 Budget Finance Director Jepson stated that the sections of the budget that would be reviewed at this meeting were the Fire Department and the Police Department. These two operations, along with the allocation for Central Dispatch make up the Public Safety service area. Net expenditures for Public Safety are budgeted at $7,057,350, or 21°0 of the 1987/88 budget. Mr. Jepson then introduced Fire Chief Ed Cavello and Deputy Chiefs Del Ulreich and Lonnie Jackson. Chief Cavello stated that total budget requests for the Fire Department for 1987/88 were $3,394,735 compared to $3,265,760 for 1986/87 representing an overall increase of $128,975, or 3.9°0. The increase can be attributable to a stepped-up schedule for replacing capital equipment and the installment payments for two pumpers purchased in 1986. Specific equipment scheduled for replacement includes a staff car and the shift supervisor's command vehicle. Additionally, there are provisions for firefighting equipment, breathing apparatus, paramedic equipment, hazardous - material equipment, turn -out clothing and radio equipment. Chief Cavello then mentioned that the Code Enforcement Division has been experiencing a much greater demand for inspections due to the level of construction activity and a more aggressive program of responding to code violations. The increased activity in new construction and code violations has resulted in falling behind in fire and health-related inspections. To help meet the increased demand for inspection services, one new inspector and one additional full-time clerical position is recommended in the 1987/88 budget. IV Chief Cavello also presented the budget for Central Dispatch Services which provides dispatching services for both the Fire Department and the Police Department. Northwest Central Dispatch is a joint -venture of Mount Prospect, Elk Grove,. Arlington Heights and Buffalo Grove which was established to provide dispatching of Police and Fire emergency apparatus throughout each community. The agency is funded by contributions from each of the communities. Mount Prospect's share of the budget for fiscal year 1987/88 is $329,710 compared to $296,800 for 1986/87. The increase is largely attributable to increased personnel costs. The Commissisoners discussed the various programs and changes that have taken place in providing fire suppression, emergency medical, and code enforcement services. Deputy Chief Jackson provided the following statistics to point out the increase in activity of Code Enforcement: Landlord/Tenant Inspections 1985 - 761 Inspections 1986 - 1,468 Inspections All Other Inspections 1984 - 2,145 Inspections 1986 - 6,849 Inspections It was also mentioned that the inspections of code violations is getting results. However, code violations are a continuing problem and become more serious as the housing stock of the Village ages. The Commissioners then discussed the paramedic program and the equipment replacement schedule. A copy of the Fire Department's five year schedule is attached. Police Department 1987/88 Budget Police Chief Ron Pavlock presented the budget for the Police Department. The Police Department budget request for 1987/88 of $3,440,655 represents an increase of $236,240 or 7.4°0' over the 1986/87 budget of $3,204,415. The increase can be attributed primarily to the replacement of 15 patrol vehicles and increases in personal services. The increase in the personal services area is due to step increases for sworn personnel per the existing labor agreement and the initiation of a revised salary compensation program for Community Service Officers. It was pointed out that the existing labor agreement expires on April 30, 1987 and that the provision for any general increases are in the Village Manager's budget. In the Contractual Services category, CAD Equipment Maintenance Account is up $5,760 and the Physical Examination Account is up $5,000. Only a partial year was included in CAD maintenance for 1986/87, whereas a full year is provided for in 1987/88. The increase in the Physical Examinations Account includes the cost of a proposed physical examination program for sworn officers of the Police Department. Under the program, each officer would have a complete physical examination every three years and a specific health maintenance plan would be established. The purpose of the program is to detect undiagnosed physical and health problems before they result in more serious illness or disability. -2- The capital expenditures category includes $185,000 for the replacement of 15 patrol vehicles. Currently, the Department replaces patrol vehicles on an eighteen month schedule with other departmental vehicles scheduled to be replaced in the off -years. The years in which patrol vehicles are replaced typically reflect higher capital expenditures than in other years. In the commodities category, the only noteworthy change is in the provision for gasoline. An increase of $8,100 reflects more expected use as a result of two patrol officers and two CSO's added in 1986. Although the 1987/88 budget shows an overall increase of 7.4°0', a more modest 3.5% is reflected when the increase attributable to the 15 patrol vehicles is deducted. Chief Pavlock then described some of the activities of various Departmental Programs: Administration - The Administrative section includes the Chief's Office, Deputy Chief for Administration, Records, and all general Departmental expenses. During 1986/87 a Commander was added to this section to implement the Accreditation Program. The accreditation process includes evaluating and updating all Departmental Standards to conform to a body of standards established by cooperating police associations. The process is a self -audit to establish and maintain the highest professional standards in Police operations. Patrol Division - The Patrol Division is responsible for all general police services including traffic enforcement. A total of 28,000 calls were responded to in 1986 resulting in 1,800 arrests. Crime Prevention - The Crime Prevention Unit concentrates much of its efforts on public education and focuses on working with children. Crime prevention techniques are demonstrated through the use of puppet shows and "McGruff" himself is usually present in person to interact with the children. On June 19, 1986, the Crime Prevention Unit was the recipient of Governor Thompson's Community Crime Prevention award for outstanding achievement and significant contribution to the field of crime prevention. Equipment Maintenance - This program shows the most dramatic increase in costs in the current budget year. $431,960 is budgeted in 1987/88 compared to $287,590 in 1986/87. The increase can be explained by the replacement of the 15 patrol vehicles previously mentioned. Also, included in this program are CAD equipment maintenance, radio main- tenance and the provision for the PIMS system. Of special note is $16,000 for the replacement of radios originally obtained in 1978. The Commissioners discussed the new Physical Examination Program with the representatives of the Police Department, and agreed that it was a worth- while project. Additionally, the duties of CSO's were discussed and it was brought out that the CSO's have been very active in traffic and parking enforcement. Their other duties include animal calls, incidents on private property, vehicle lock -outs and staffing the police desk. -3- The Accreditation Program was discussed at some length and again the Commissioners supported the concept. Some discussion followed regarding vehicle replacement plans with Deputy Chief Bopp explaining the necessity of following the existing schedule. A copy of the 84/85 through 91/92 schedule is attached. Commissioner Bachhuber inquired about the results of the jail study that had been included in the 1986/87 budget. It was explained that the basic requirements were covered in a Facilities Study originating with the Public Works Director. Many of the most pressing needs will be eliminated when the new Court Building in Rolling Meadows is completed in 1988 or 1989. The Commissioners expressed their approval of the Police and Fire budgets as presented. V Adjournment There being no other business, the meeting adjourned at 10:00 PM. The next meeting will be on Wednesday, March 18, 1987. DCJ/sm Attachments -4- Respectfully Submitted David C. Jepson, Finance Director The Mount Prospect Finance Commission Report to the Mount Prospect Board of Trustees on the Review of the Proposed Budget for Fiscal Year 1987-88 The Mount Prospect Finance Commission reviewed the proposed budget for the fiscal year 1987-88 at four meetings using the same procedure that proved to be so successful in the budget reviews for the last two years. At each of these meetings the Commission questioned each department head about certain items contained in the department's budget that seemed to require more explanation. While this new budget does provide for additional expenditures as compared to the current budget, the Commission feels that these additional expenditures are currently in the best interest of the residents of Mount Prospect. At the same time, it acknowledges that the years ahead will present a real challenge to the Village government to maintain and/or improve the level of service offered to the community without the imposition of additional taxes. The Village administrators appear to be quite aware of this situation and are already planning the strategy for the future. The Commission, however, has several comments and suggestions to pass on to the Village Board as a result of our study of this proposed budget. One that surfaced a number of times in our discussions was the method of providing the trans- portation needed by the various departments, including Police and Fire, in the performance of their assigned duties. We felt that consideration should be given to consolidating the maintenance of vehicles and equipment and to changing the method of charging operating costs of vehicles to each department that incur such costs. In addition, the purchase of such vehicles and equipment should be charged to a central account to avoid the swings in the annual budgets of some departments. The Commission also completely supports the plans to build a new, larger, and better located Public Works building. While this project will result in higher taxes, the past and future growth of the community requires this construction if the level of Public Works service to which we all have become accustomed is to be maintained. The high costs of liability insurance did present the administration with a serious problem. However, the Commission feels that the innovative approaches taken by the administration seem to have put that problem under reasonable control. The phasing -out of the Federal Revenue Sharing Program has created some problems which were addressed by the administration and solved to a large degree by reallocating budget funds and cutting back on some. Planned increases in licensing and inspection fees are now becoming effective in providing needed additional revenue. The increases in expenditures for the Public Works Department did not include any new programs but did reflect a significant anticipated increase in tree trimming costs and, particularly in refuse disposal. Increases in the Police and Fire budgets generally were the result of an increase in services to the public resulting from a changing population (an increasingly higher average age) and from the need for more building and health related inspections. The planned purchase of new police cars was also a large factor in the Police Department increase. The need for increases in the Human Services budget results from an increasing interest by the Village in the welfare of its older citizens as well as those who, for a number of reasons, are not able to properly take care of themselves. The proposed budget also allocates money to other organizations which serve people who may not be residents of the Village. In the previous budget examination, the Commission agonized at some length over this issue and made the recommendation that funds for Civic Groups be restricted to the Village operation. This year the Commission reaffirms that decision and suggests that the funds ($15,000) allocated to Civic Groups on page 204 be dropped from the budget, or, preferably, be added to the Human Services budget. The Commission was assured that these funds would add significantly to the services which could be offered to our citizens. The Commission feels that this budget was practical and lean - one that the Village Board would have no trouble defending to the Public. It is our opinion, also, that the Village finances are being properly managed and deserve the complete support of the Finance Commission and the Village Board. And a word of thanks to all of the Village professionals who handled our sometimes "dumb" questions with grace and dignity and a little humor. Respectively Submitted Richard Bachhuber Ann Smilanic -2-