The Rock Island City Council met in reconvened session on Saturday, February 25 at 8:00 a.m. in the Personnel Conference Room of Rock Island City Hall. Present were Mayor Mark W. Schwiebert, presiding, and Aldermen Terry M. A. Brooks I, David A. Conroy, Dennis E. Pauley, Daniel Rockwell, Evelyn "Evie" R. White, Joy Murphy, and Charles O. Austin III. Staff present included City Manager John C. Phillips, Finance Director Bill Scott, and Assistant to the Finance Director Niki Fallon, Auditor Tim Banks, Information Technology Director Claire Gordon, Assistant IT Director Tim Bain, and Personnel Director/Assistant to the City Manager John Thorson. Other staff entered the room at various times of the morning pertinent to their presentations.

BUDGET OVERVIEW

Finance Director Bill Scott discussed the budget document, focusing primarily on budgeted expenses since City Manager John Phillips made a presentation at the February 13 Council meeting which focused on Revenues. He advised that for most departments there are minimal changes; however, the major cost category changes for next year is in Personnel, Services and Transfers. Mr. Scott advised the greatest increase in Personnel is due to Police and Fire pensions and rising health care costs. He indicated that Parks increase is due to downtown landscaping and taking on larger projects and not contracting the work out. Council inquired about the Transfers. Mr. Scott indicated transfers between funds are all internal with one of the larger transfers being repayment of the capital fund to the wastewater fund.

Mr. Scott discussed the various changes by category, department and type as well as the Enterprise Funds – Unrestricted Net Assets, Park Property Tax Supported Activities (Whitewater Aquatic Center, Golf and RIFAC), the General Fund Balance, and the Library Fund Balance. A Public Hearing on the budget is scheduled for Monday, March 6, and the budget is to be adopted March 20.

MARTIN LUTHER KING COMMUNITY CENTER

Jerry Jones, Martin Luther King Center Director, reviewed their budget and goals. He advised of major impacts with regard to the loss of a youth workforce development grant of $75,000 and one full time staff member. He advised they will continue to receive a grant from the Alcoa Foundation. He stated that the cut in CDBG funds will have a huge impact on the King Center. In reference to the $3 million expansion he noted that plans are to procure $1 million in federal money, $1 million in private contributions and $1 million in City funding.

Alderman Brooks inquired about lighting the monument at the Martin Luther King Center and after discussion it was determined that TIF monies could be used for this project.

POLICE DEPARTMENT

RIPD Chief John Wright, Captain Don Reichert and Captain Wayne Sharer entered the meeting at this time to discuss their budget. First off, Chief Wright acknowledged his major staff members for their hard work. He went over a chart indicating promotions, new hires and new appointments, most of which was due to a good number of retirements within the past six months.

He advised there is no change in the level of staffing for FY 06-07; however, one sergeant has been moved from the assignment with the Metropolitan Enforcement Group back to the Field Operations Bureau. He also advised that arrangements with the Parks Department continue to allow for the employment of one of the original COPS officers as part of the Community Enhancement Team. He advised there are four new hires at the academy and the police department is currently recruiting and will be testing in conjunction with the Fire Department allowing for monetary savings to both departments.

Alderman Brooks inquired as to the difficulties with minority hiring, and after discussion, suggestions were made for high school programs to be available similar to ROTC, recruiting police cadets from the schools or starting a City-sponsored Explorer Program. These suggestions will be further discussed at the joint meeting with the school board on March 14.

Chief Wright stated that with the closing of the City’s animal shelter, due to the new county-wide animal shelter, additional staff would be assigned to work on abandoned vehicles. This closing has also resulted in a reduction of expenses. He advised of some remodeling projects in the future and touched base on the new in car digital video systems for the patrol vehicles, The District digital video surveillance system, RICOMM radio system, enhanced customer service, homeland security issues, community policing (foot patrol), and establishing neighborhood groups with a liaison officer to assist with these groups.

Mayor Schwiebert commended the Police Department for their outstanding work and performance and welcomed the fresh, new ideas of Sergeant Jeff VenHuizen in his newly appointed position in the Office of Professional Standards.

COMMUNITY AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT

Community and Economic Development Department Director Greg Champagne, Planning Administrator Alan Carmen, Special Projects Manager Sally Heffernan, and Building Inspector Tom Ayers were present for this portion of the meeting. Mr. Champagne discussed their budget as the various aspects related to each of the Council Goals. He discussed some of the projects for the coming year, including implementation of the Columbia Park, River Vision, Armory Park, and New Neighborhood development plans; reuse of the Armory property; development of new retail business on the Blackhawk Road and Andalusia Road corridors and in the Southwest area; the Southwest Industrial Park and Wetland project; and continued implementation of the rental residential housing licensing and inspection program.

Mr. Champagne advised the budget shows a slight increase due to the award of a three-year $1.9 million grant by the Department of Housing and Urban Development to address lead based paint concerns in older homes, by the City and other agencies. He discussed CDBG funding and the effects the cuts in this program will have on the Economic Development Department.

The discussion of the Rental Property Inspection was the next topic. Mr. Ayers noted that 2,222 registrations have been received of which approximately 1904 are billable. He advised that 418 exterior inspections have been completed and they are looking at ways to increase that number.

There was discussion regarding budget revision for funds for public art projects and various lighting projects, particularly the Black Hawk mural. Council also discussed research of demolition of Case highrise and addition of staff in the Community and Economic Development Department specializing in retail attraction and development.

LIBRARY

Library Director Ava Ketter and Assistant Library Director Amy Penry were present for this portion of the meeting. Ms. Ketter introduced the members of her Board who were present – Nancy Hass, Nancy Coin, Cindy Lukasik, and Russ Kennel, as well as Alderman White.

Ms. Ketter noted that the Library circulation is increasing in all three locations and that Rock Island Library is the second highest in deliveries, behind Joliet, Illinois, in the loaning library system and is the highest in the Quad City area. She advised that there has been no change in staffing and that any increases were due to increases in insurance costs and estimated salary increases for unionized employees and the UAW union contract remains to be negotiated so salary costs may vary, depending on the settlement reached. She advised that supplies were cut or eliminated across all cost centers whenever feasible and aged and inadequate computers were budgeted for replacement. She informed that the debt was retired on the 1986 Main Library renovation/expansion.

Ms. Ketter advised of upcoming priorities which includes renovation and enhancement projects at the Main Library to include a technology/research center for the public, as well as improvements to the appearance and usability of the building. Alderman Conroy inquired as to the sources of library funding. Ms. Ketter advised that most library funding comes from property tax and one district contract. She advised that revenues from fines, fees and the like have increased; however, library revenue sources are very limited. It was stated that the Friends of the Library is a great asset to the library system and their bookstore is staffed by volunteers. She advised of the merger of the QuadLINC computer system and consortium with similar nearby systems in the Prairie Area Library Systems which extends across the northern parts of the state and other state-of-the-art technology plans.

FINANCE

Finance Director Bill Scott, along with staff members Niki Fallon and Tim Banks were present for this portion of the meeting. Mr. Scott noted that one of the goals of the department is to have the GFOA award for the budget and audit. He explained that each year they send in the documents, the GFOA responds with suggestions for improvements and they attempt to incorporate them in the following year. He noted that they have received these for a number of years, more than other cities in the area.

Mr. Scott discussed the banking services, one of which now allow customers to pay their water bill through automatic withdrawal from their bank account. He talked about an electronic imaging and filing system to expedite and enhance accounts payable, collections, utilities, and a trial purchasing card system, which would provide a more efficient way for the City to make credit card purchases.

Mr. Scott advised of the addition of Roberto Medina, a Spanish-speaking employee, which has offered a more universal customer service, not only in the Finance Department but throughout the City.

INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY

Information Technology Director Claire Gordon and Assistant Director Tim Bain discussed their budget. They talked about IT’s goals and objectives for the coming year to include finishing the Public Safety Mobile Data Terminals (MDTs), continuing the communications infrastructure enhancements (finish Phase 2 and 3), video surveillance/wireless in The District, completion of the printer/copier consolidation (Phase 3), and continued document management. With the continued growing demand for IT services, Ms. Gordon advised of an impending addition to the department to include an Information Specialist Assistant for the Help Desk and clerical support, allowing existing staff to perform their technological duties.

Council inquired as to when the surveillance equipment would be operational to which Ms. Gordon advised June 1, 2006 is the scheduled completion date. She advised that WiFi has been a success and RiFi (Rock Island Freedom Infrastructure) is moving toward a total wireless downtown business district. She also advised of the e-park program, as well as the online tee-time golf reservation program and the City’s continued technical growth.

RECESS

Following discussion, a motion made by Alderman White and seconded by Alderman Rockwell to recess to Saturday, March 4 at 8:00 a.m. CARRIED on a Voice vote.

The meeting was recessed at 12:30 p.m.

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Cynthia A. Neiggemann, City Clerk