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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/09/2004 COW minutes MINUTES COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE NOVEMBER 9, 2004 I. CALL TO ORDER The meeting was called to order at 7:06 p.m., in the Village Board room of the Mount Prospect Village Hall, 50 South Emerson Street, by Mayor Gerald Farley. Present at the meeting were: Trustees Paul Hoefert, Michaele Skowron, Irvana Wilks and Michael lade/. Absent from the meeting were: Trustees Timothy Corcoran and Richard Lohrstorfer. Staff members present included Village Manager Michael Janonis, Assistant Village Manager David Strahl, IT Director Joan Middleton, Deputy Finance Director Carol Widmer, Public Works Director Glen Andler, Deputy Public Works Director Sean Dorsey, Village Engineer Jeff Wulbecker, Vehicle Maintenance Superintendent Jim Guenther, Street/Building Superintendent Paul Bures, Forestry Superintendent Sandy Clark, Community Development Director Bill Cooney, Human Services Director Nancy Morgan, Police Chief Richard Eddington, Fire Chief Michael Figolah and Fire Marshal Paul Valentine. II. APPROVAL OF MINUTES Approval of Minutes of October 26, 2004. Motion made by Trustee Hoefert and Seconded by Trustee ladel to approve the Minutes. Minutes were approved. III. CITIZENS TO BE HEARD No citizens were present wishing to address the Village Board. IV. 2005 BUDGET DISCUSSIONS Openinq Remarks Deputy Finance Director Carol Widmer provided a general Budget overview. She stated this Budget is approximately $69.7 million which is a decrease of 11.6%. She stated the operational budget is $48.2 million, a 3.3% increase. She stated that some revenue sources are rebounding and this budget includes no new staff. She also stated this budget includes a 4.8% Property Tax increase which is inclusive of the interest capitalization necessary for the Village Hal/. She stated the General Fund is balanced and includes the reinstatement of three vacant staff positions. She stated the planned $805,000 drawdown of General Fund from reserves will bring the reserve percentage to 25%. She also stated this Budget includes no capital improvement project financing. Finance Department Overview Deputy Finance Director Widmer provided a summary of the 2004 accomplishments and 2005 goals and objectives. She stated the Finance Department has sent out an RFP for banking and auditing services for possible change next year. She also stated the Department is planning to undertake a water/sewer rate study along with a review of the business fees and update the Long Range Financial Policy. She stated the Department includes 14.8% increase with the majority of the cost increase related to insurance and liability and Workers' Compensation coverage. Non-Departmental Review She stated the non-departmental Budget shows a 4.3% decrease due to the cancellation of the Randhurst lease. She stated that Community Services portion of the Budget remains intact. The Debt Service portion of the Budget decreases by 29% due to the completion of the Village Hall project. She stated the Village debt as a percentage of EAV is at 2.1 %. The Pensions for Police and Fire include an increase of 4.5% and less than anticipated health insurance increase of 10.2% versus the projected 15%. She also stated the Village is undertaking a new program whereby it will self fund its liability insurance coverage versus purchasing commercial insurance. Therefore, the existing funds for liability coverage will be redirected into such a fund. General comments from Village Board members included the following items: A request has been made by the Historical Society to reinstate their funding up to the previous amount several years ago which would necessitate an increase of $5,000. General discussion by the Board members regarding possible restoration of this funding. Consensus of the Village Board was to increase the Historical Society funding by $2500 for 2005 fiscal year. Villaqe Administration Budqet Assistant Village Manager Dave Strahl provided a general overview of the Village Administration budget. This portion of the Budget also included Public Representation, Human Resources, Public Information, Information Technology and TV Services. He stated the overall Budget for the Department is up less than 1 % and the only significant change in the Budget relates to increase in TV Services for equipment purchases scheduled for next year. Public Works Department Budqet Overview Public Works Director Glen Andler provided a summary of the Departmental activities for the past year. He highlighted the fact that the Department tracks its service requests and illustrated the number of service requests it processes on an annual basis. He stated there were 8.5 miles of streets resurfaced this year and to date, 16.6 miles have been reconstructed which brings the total up to 51 miles of streets that have been resurfaced. He stated a review of the street condition in 2003 found that 95% of the streets were rated as good or very good category. He also stated that 260,000 linear feet of sewer has been inspected with a projected cost of $14 million worth of work. He stated the Department is heavily involved in the Streetscape work throughout downtown and the improvements that have taken place on the civic block where the Village Hall and Library sit. He also highlighted the sandbagging efforts which really turned into a community effort along River Road in late May. He stated there were 75,000 sandbags filled creating a 2,300 linear foot wall in 30 hours. He stated the total cost of this work was $177,600 for which there is no FEMA reimbursement. He stated the overall budget includes a 1.4% increase among the capital projects that are slated for 2005 including the crack sealing of commuter parking lots along the tracks along with the resurfacing of the Public Works parking lot. 2 He also stated there is need to reseal the Police and Fire parking lot for next year. He stated the Solid Waste contract was extended for another year with a 4% increase. He also stated that there is a need for pond rehabilitation in the Kensington Business Center along with the rehabilitation of the Lincoln Street bridge for this spring. Budqet Wrap-Up Finance Commission Chairman John Korn spoke. He stated the Commission had provided its previous recommendations on August 8 to consider additional revenues and shifting of some revenue sources to other areas. He stated the Commission continues to recommend such a move and is willing to continue the dialogue necessary to implement those revenue changes. Among the recommendations the Commission has forwarded to the Village Board include a modification to the vehicle sticker funding by redirecting a portion of the revenue toward the street program. They also recommended an increase of $.01 per gallon of gasoline sold in the community. They also recommended the billing of ambulance service and increase in business licenses, He also requested that the Historical Society present its budget to the Finance Commission for general informational purposes so there is an understanding of their funding need. Consensus of the Village Board was to recommend a discussion between the Historical Society and the Finance Commission for informational purposes. The Village Board also suggested that the Budget wrap-up comments be held until the full Board is present. V. ANY OTHER BUSINESS Trustee Hoefert mentioned a new public/private parking lot to be constructed in the Kensington Business Center. Trustee Wilks commented on the automated commuter parking system and requested an update regarding the operation of the system. Public works Director Glen Andler provided an update to the Board regarding the parking system and some of the issues that have occurred to date regarding the system in the Village's effort to educate the users. VI. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business, the Committee of the Whole meeting adjourned at 9:11 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~ ¿;-¿(f David Strahl Assistant Village Manager DS/rcc 3