The Rock Island City Council met in reconvened session on Saturday, March 3 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, Margie Mejia-Caraballo , 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. Other staff entered the room at various times of the morning pertinent to their presentations. Alderman Daniel Rockwell was absent.

 

FOLLOW UP TO FEBERUARY 28TH MEETING

 

Finance Director Bill Scott opened the discussion by stating the names of the various Departments that had presented their 2007/2008 Budget on February 28th, 2007. Mr. Scott then read the scheduled times for the remaining Departments to present their 2007/2008 Budget. Mr. Scott noted that after the remaining Departments presented their Budgets, there would be a general discussion on any issues regarding the proposed 2007/2008 Budget.

 

PARKS & RECRATION

 

Parks and Recreation Department Director Bill Nelson entered the meeting at this time

along with Fred Dasso, Chairman of the Board.  Other Park staff present included John Gripp, Tom Hergert, and Dick Ewald.  Mr. Nelson pointed out that the Recreation Division would continue to concentrate on cooperative programming with the schools and sports offerings. The Administration will continue to work with the Ball Task Force in an effort to consolidate fields and decrease time required for maintenance. The HVAC improvements to the Hauberg Center are included the Recreation Division Budget along with $60,000.00 to repair heating and plumbing at the Hauberg Civic Center.

 

 Mr. Nelson discussed that Highland Springs, Saukie, the Pro Shop, and RIFAC are expected to operate from fees generated. Mr. Nelson noted that Golf is still in a slump nationwide.  With the increase in gas prices, the seniors are playing golf less often. As a result, Saukie took the brunt of less play. At Highland Springs, staff was able to complete the end-to-end cart paths, and Saukie’s is almost complete. Mr. Nelson mentioned that the cart path addition has protected revenue that would have been lost in the past. Mr. Nelson noted that this would be the first year for operation of a new software package for Golf.

 

Mr. Nelson affirmed that RIFAC is seeing some increase in membership as a result of marketing initiatives. This past year new support “I” beams were installed under the pool deck. Mr. Nelson noted that plans would be developed for an upcoming RIFAC expansion.

 

Mr. Nelson concluded that Whitewater Junction is entering into its 5th year of operation, and has had a normal year with an attendance record of 36,000 to 38,000. Also included in the 2007/2008 Budget is the expansion of the parking lot at Whitewater Junction and a new attraction for the following year.

 

Mayor Schwiebert commended the Parks Department for their great energy, creativity and friendly customer service and awareness.

 

PUBLIC WORKS

 

Public Works Director Bob Hawes distributed a brief outline of the Public Works budget and discussed the information on the handout. Mr. Hawes explained that in the area of Staffing, the full-time staff has been reduced from 116 to 115 workers. One position (Parking Enforcement Attendant) was eliminated through attrition due to the mid 2006 changes in the downtown parking system.

 

Mr. Hawes acknowledged that several program changes are reflected in the Budget.  Routine maintenance of City Hall will be increased by one additional seasonal worker for nine months to assist the Building Maintenance Engineer with day to day maintenance as well as various building projects including replacement of City Hall windows, cleaning the exterior stone walls and replacement of the old rooftop air conditioning units. Also, another program change in the Budget is the Enhanced Wastewater Collection System Maintenance, which will be improved by the addition of $150,000.00 contract for pipeline cleaning and inspection.

 

Bob Hawes affirmed that the 2007/2008 proposed Budget does not reflect the Sod Repair Program in which the work will now be performed in-house. Traditionally, this program had been undertaken by contract.  Mr. Hawes stated that the change is cost neutral, but will require adjustments including, hiring one additional seasonal worker for six months, increasing the allocation of small tools and materials, and eliminating the sod repair contract. The Utility Cut Repair Program traditionally undertaken by contract will also be performed in-house. This program will reduce street restoration costs for private citizens and City utilities. This change will also require some adjustments including hiring two additional City workers, hiring one additional seasonal worker for nine months, increasing the allocation for materials. Further adjustments include reducing the budget allocation for contract maintenance, reducing the General Fund revenue for payments from plumbing contractors to reflect the lower utility cut repair costs, and reducing the Water, Sewer and Stormwater Funds allocation for utility cut repairs.  

 

Mr. Hawes mentioned that the Water resources Advisory Committee and staff will

develop a draft of the next addition of the Stormwater Management Plan (March 2008

 through February 2013) and submit it to Council in mid-2007. Mr. Hawes stated that the Long Term Control Program was submitted to the US Environmental Protection Agency in June 2006 and should be approved soon. The Budget also reflects the start of the design of the Mill Street Sewage Treatment Plant expansion. The design should take approximately three years to complete.

 

Mr. Hawes concluded that the Rock Island Arsenal will be hosting an Industry Day to collect information about the possibility of purchasing water from a nearby utility rather than operating the water treatment plant on the island. The staff will participate in the event. However, Mr. Hawes noted that a time has not been confirmed for this event.

 

 MAYOR- CITYCOUNCIL

 

Niki Fallon Assistant to the Finance Director presented the 2007/2008 Mayor-City Council’s Budget. Ms. Fallon stated that the Budget reflects increased costs for additional newspaper and professional journal subscriptions. Monies have been included for the replenishment of pins and keys to the City. $1,500.00 is included in the budget for the purchase of City flags, which was not undertaken last year. The other category is up due to additional Council members joining the City health plan.

 

CITY CLERK

 

 Niki Fallon Assistant to the Finance Director presented the proposed City Clerk’s Budget to the Council.  Ms. Fallon explained that there are no major changes anticipated.  Ms. Fallon noted that personnel costs are up due to the hiring of a new City Clerk at a higher rate. Also there is a slight increase in supplies due to the general cost increase of supplies. The Other Category is down due to a reduction in codebook supplements.

 

Ms. Fallon concluded that services are down in anticipation of decreased hours for the temporary employee once the new City Clerk has settled in.

 

 

 

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

 

Nikki Fallon Assistant to the Finance Director presented the General Administration’s 2007/2008 Budget to the Council. Ms. Fallon stated that there were no anticipated changes.  The 2007/2008 Budget does however; reflect a decrease in supplies due to the office supply budget being reduced and an increase in other dues and memberships.

 

 

PERSONNEL

 

John Thorson, Personnel Director, presented the budget from Personnel to the City Council.  He stated that the overall fund for Administration would increase 2% this year.  Personnel Expenses are up 6% this year due to increases in wages and professional development costs.  The Other category increased 4% due to promotional costs for the Employee Service Awards held during the Holiday Luncheon.

 

Troy Larson, Risk Manager, stated that the Employee Safety Award Program was eliminated due to the cost, and belief that the safety program was ineffective in encouraging employee safety. Mr. Larson noted that there is a 60% increase in training in Ergonomics especially in Public Works. This Safety training is valuable in that it will save in worker compensation injuries. Mr. Larson affirmed that the City is still doing wellness for Police and Fire, also allowing all other employees to participate in these educational classes.

 

Mr. Thorson acknowledged that Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Illinois would be the new network/third party administrator becoming effective April 1, 2007. Mr. Thorson stated that changing vendors will lower the claim cost because of steeper discounting offered through BCBS and ties directly to one of the City Council’s high management priorities.

 

Mr. Thorson concluded that this year, the Insurance Division will enter into the twelfth year of the consolidated self-insurance program including all City agencies.

 

FIRE

 

  Fire Chief Doug Vroman, Fire Marshall Jeff Hindman, and EMS Coordinator Bob Graff entered the meeting at this time. Chief Vroman explained that in the area of Fire Administration there is an overall increase of 24% in administration. The 70% increase in Services is attributed to a major investment in infrastructure repairs including overhead doors replacement at three of the City Fire Stations, and the engineering and roof replacement at Central Fire Station. The 31% increase in the Other category reflects a raise in MABAS dues as well as one new membership added this year. In the category of Fire/Emergency services, the 238% increase in supplies reflects an upgrade of communication equipment, the initiation of a battery replacement program and other equipment. Chief Vroman noted that Services increased 10% due to inflation of repair and maintenance cost of communication and other firefighting equipment. Also, a 10% increase in the Other category reflects increase in the cost of reference materials upgrades and professional journals. In the area of Fire Prevention, Chief Vroman stated that this years purchase of digital cameras allowed for the elimination of the need for film and processing which caused a 17% reduction in Supplies.

 

EMS Coordinator Bob Graff explained that in the Ambulance Services category, Supplies would decrease 40% due to last year’s major purchase of defibrillators for each pumper for the paramedic pumper upgrade. In the area of services there is an 11% increase due to increases in automotive rental, and also a small increase in equipment maintenance and financial services.  Mr. Graff noted that MABAS Division 43 continues to provide the Cities in Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, the Rock Island Arsenal Bettendorf and the Quad City Airport an opportunity to obtain and share resources for emergency incidents. Mr. Graff also mentioned that MABAS is conducted every three months.

 

Chief Vroman concluded that construction of an $850,000.00 Regional Fire Training Facility on the Arsenal Island was completed in 2006, and continues to evolve to meet the varied needs of area departments.

 

 

 

GENERAL DISCUSSION

 

After the remaining Departments presented their 2007/2008 Budgets, City Manager John Phillips opened the general discussion addressing two issues: The issue of overtime for Fire Personnel and the addition of two more Police Officers for the Police Department. Mr. Phillips stated that it’s a concern whether the City would be able to afford more overtime for Fire personnel. It is a major concern if two additional Police Officers would make a difference. Mr. Phillips stated two reasons for his concerns, cost and taxes. Over the long term, overtime would mean an eventual debt. And, a debt has to be paid. Also, this would impact the City by driving up the citizen’s taxes. Mr. Phillips noted that Rock Island citizens already pay the highest property taxes compared to the rest of our neighboring cities. 

 

Mayor Schwiebert reiterated Mr. Phillip’s concerns, and added that a higher tax rate will drive the citizens out of Rock Island and would prevent potential citizens from wanting to live in Rock Island.  Mayor Schwiebert also added that the City of Rock Island has the best trained, well equipped and well compensated Police Officers and Firefighters, and they do a great job. The Mayor affirmed that the City has to be Budget Hawks whether it is looking at Fire or Police. The budget was prepared from the standpoint of reducing the property tax rate. And, the population in the City is not growing because of the property tax.

 

Alderwoman Murphy acknowledged that the Fire and Police Departments should be given the opportunity to solve the problem. Ms. Murphy also noted that she would not make the decision to increase the tax burden on the Citizens of Rock Island.

 

City Manager John Phillips stated that the proposed Budget and Tax Levy that supports the Budget and adoption would be discussed on Monday, March 5 at the Public Hearing.

 

Mayor Scwhiebert concluded that the proposed budget that was presented provided good information, everyone did a great job, and it is a good budget. “It is encouragement to the Council, so let’s get it voted on.”  

 

RECESS

 

Following discussion, a motion made by Alderman Conroy and seconded by Alderwoman Mejia-Caraballo to recess to Monday, March 5 at 6:45 p.m. CARRIED on a Voice vote.

 

The meeting was recessed at 12:24 p.m.

 

 

______________________________

                                                                                   Aleisha L.  Patchin, City Clerk