The Rock Island City Council met in reconvened session on Saturday, March 4 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, Information Technology Director Claire Gordon, 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.

FOLLOW-UP

Finance Director Bill Scott passed out an itemized list of follow-up items from the February 25 Budget Session to include the following: CED – to review budget for wetlands investments to insure that funds are budgeted in FY 2007 for projects that will not be completed in FY 2006; reviewing budget for placement of downtown art, adding $30,000 if not already budgeted; increase budget to light Black Hawk mural and outline of surrounding downtown buildings; modify TIF budget to provide funds for Martin Luther King Center monument lighting; research demolition of Case high-rise; provide an April report on retail; and consider additional staff that would specialize in retail attraction and development. Library – to prepare a report showing transactions on items loaned and received, as well as an update on Friends members. Police – to work with Fire Department to develop a program to interest area young people in careers in public safety and review the average age and tenure in police departments to compare with Rock Island. Public Works – to clarify whether or not water and wastewater budgeted revenues include the new rate increases and clarify whether or not the reduction in the services cost category is a reduction in capital spending.

He advised that there would be a Public Hearing regarding the Budget, as well as an Ordinance Revising the Property Tax Levy Ordinance on the Agenda for Monday, March 6, 2006.

PARKS

Park and Recreation Department Director Bill Nelson entered the meeting at this time along with Fred Dasso, Chairman of the Board. Other Park staff present was John Gripp, Cindy Dassow, Tom Haegert, Dick Ewald, and Bill Fetty. Mr. Nelson gave an overview of his department and highlighted a couple of misleading items in the budget documentation regarding an error in the number of department staffing, depreciation being listed as contingency, and an error in gaming issues which reported as an expense and should be a transfer. Alderman Conroy advised Mr. Nelson to make sure all errors are corrected in the documentation.

Mr. Nelson talked about the reorganization of office positions with an Office Assistant II and III, one of which was due to the longevity of a “temporary” staff position and noting the necessity that it should be made a full-time City position. He advised that marketing the Park facilities and programs continue to be a priority and the activation of the ePark Internet system and implementing the golf courses online with the timekeeping system is underway.

He advised the coming year will be spent preparing for improvements at RIFAC and Whitewater Junction, in addition to continuing to make improvements at Saukie Golf Course. He advised that Parks continues to hold the liability for the Botanical Center and the Sylvan Slough Natural Park for a total of approximately $410,000. Mr. Nelson also noted the budget includes the replacement of a playground at Hasselroth Park, construction of fence and parking for a ball field at Hauberg, some work on the boat launch at Sunset Park and the sealing of the drives at McKay and Longview Parks. There are also funds to replace two pickups and a one-ton truck, as well as replacing a full-time maintenance worker.

Mr. Nelson advised the recreation staff continues to work with community businesses, the school district and local associations to provide programs and services to participants at a fair price, comparable to other cities and businesses in the community. He advised that Whitewater Junction is going into its 4^th year of operation and the budget includes $130,000 for the addition of an overflow lot and $30,000 for design costs of a spray playground area. He advised that RIFAC is slated for some repairs and makeover enhancements and the golf courses continue to increase. He advised that the pass sales are high between Whitewater Junction and the golf courses and talked about a new FUN Pass, which would include RIFAC, Whitewater Junction and the golf courses.

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

PUBLIC WORKS

Public Works Director Bob Hawes, along with staff members Bill Woeckener, Jim Johnson, Dale Howard, and Randy Tweet entered the meeting at this time. Mr. Hawes distributed a brief outline of the Public Works budget and discussed the information on the handout, advising that the full-time staff of the Public Works Department has been reduced from 117 to 116 workers and that the number of seasonal workers has been increased from 23 to 29.

He discussed the major changes in the department’s service expenses noting that with regard to street maintenance contracts the annual distribution between contract maintenance (resurfacings) and construction (construction and reconstruction) varies from year to year. He advised the increase in infrastructure maintenance contracts is due to enhanced water and sewer utility maintenance investments, the decrease in horticultural service contracts is due to the Parks Department providing the downtown landscaping maintenance, the increase in automotive rental is due to fuel costs, and the decrease in storm water system maintenance contracts is due to the Rain Gardens program moving to “Contributions” in the administrative cost center.

Mr. Hawes pointed out the program changes, which includes a new City Storm water Engineer to provide storm water system master planning rather than a consulting engineer, this avoids outsourcing decreasing expenses. He advised that the cost of the solid waste collection and disposal services has dropped about $200,000 due to implementation of the new refuse collection system and the joint bidding of landfill services with the City of Moline. The Park and Recreation Department will provide downtown landscape maintenance instead of the Public Works Department. He advised that the routine water distribution system maintenance will

be increased, the water main replacement program will begin, and the routine maintenance of the wastewater collection system will be increased. The budget for traffic signal light power in FY2007 is $18,000, advising that prior to the LED conversion, traffic signal light power was costing about $58,000 per year.

Mr. Hawes then spoke about major issues and projects on the horizon, which includes submitting the Combined Sewer Long Term Control Plan to the USEPA in June 2006 and begin designing the combined sewer system improvements in early 2007. He advised that the recently adopted Five-Year Capital Improvement Plan calls for a $5 million general obligation bond issuance in FY07 to begin financing the improvements. He also advised of the continued aggressive promotion of the Rain Gardens for Rock Island Program. He informed that even though the program is less than a year old, 25 rain gardens have been approved for construction and 14 have already been constructed. He advised that staff will continue to pursue the acquisition of the Rock Island Arsenal as a potable water customer and that the implementation of the Water Service Repair Program is going well with 1,100 subscribers to date, informing that staff will propose a similar program for sewer services in FY07. He also advised that staff will propose a program to assist customers with emergency water and sewer services repairs in FY07.

FIRE DEPARTMENT

Fire Chief Jerry Shirk and Assistant Fire Chief Doug Vroman presented the budget for the Fire Department. He advised there is an overall decrease of 6% in administration, a 36% decrease in Supplies due to a reduction in purchases using Foreign Fire Tax funds, and a 27% decrease in Services due to no maintenance projects scheduled at the fire stations. There is an overall increase in personnel costs of 4% associated with GWI and health care benefits and he advised there are five to six pending retirements. He advised the per capita cost if $173.13 per citizen, compared to Moline at $198 and East Moline at $124 with 1,099 fire alarms last year and 1,200 this year.

Chief Shirk talked about the education required for individuals to be promoted within the department and combination training with other departments. He also advised on the EMS computer program and the operation with Trinity and their role in overseeing the Fire Department’s reports. He reported that Prom Night and Fire Prevention Week continues to be successful in educating the public. He advised that grant-wise the department will obtain their turnout gear in the near future and there is a FEMA grant for all new rescue equipment.

Assistant Chief Vroman discussed the MABAS program, which continues to provide the cities of Rock Island, Moline, East Moline, the Rock Island Arsenal, and the Quad City Airport with an opportunity to share resources for emergency incidents. The area-wide Hazardous material and Technical Rescue Teams has been a great asset to the community with little cost. He advised construction of a new training facility on the Arsenal will be completed by April 2006 and will greatly benefit the entire region.

COUNCIL

Assistant to the Finance Director Niki Fallon advised there were no personnel changes; however, there was an 18% increase due to two aldermen opting for the healthcare plan. There

was discussion with respect to Council possibly converting to a paperless system and using a laptop system. Mayor Schwiebert inquired about additional City flags for loaning purposes and there was discussion about building windows, curtains and exterior cleaning.

CITY CLERK

Assistant to the Finance Director Niki Fallon advised that personnel costs have decreased due to the retirement of the previous city clerk and services have increased due to telephone charges and supplies have increased due to general cost increases.

GENERAL ADMINISTRATION

Assistant to the Finance Director Niki Fallon advised that services have increased due to a legislative consultant being hired to assist the City in obtaining funds for upgrading aging storm sewers and other needed upgrades and personnel has decreased due to change in personnel at a lower salary.

PERSONNEL

Personnel Director/Assistant to the City Manager John Thorson, and Risk Manager Troy Larson presented the budget for the Personnel Department. Mr. Thorson advised that personnel expenses are up primarily due to increases in wage costs particularly health insurance and pension costs. He noted additional increases due to promotional costs for the employee service awards held during the holiday luncheon. He advised supply costs have increased due to the purchase of a digital camera for the risk management division. Mr. Thorson also advised of enhanced employee benefits pertaining to the Retiree Health Savings Plan and the ICMA Loan Provision Program.

Mr. Larson advised that it was an unusually high year for liability claims being paid. He advised that the City has hired a new broker for its self-insurance program and he is checking into whether or not the City can remove its third party administrator. He advised that legal services are up 12% and an RFP is being prepared for City Attorney and Labor Attorney agreements.

GENERAL DISCUSSION

City Manager John Phillips advised that the Budget hearing is Monday, March 06, 2006, as well as the Revised Tax Levy Ordinance.

RECESS

Following discussion, a motion made by Alderman Brooks and seconded by Alderman Conroy to recess to Monday, March 6 at 5:00 p.m. CARRIED on a Voice vote.

The meeting was recessed at 12:45 p.m.

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Cynthia A. Neiggemann, City Clerk