This Regular Meeting of Council was called to order on Monday, January 14, 2013 at 8:05 p.m. by Tim Claypoole, Council President.

Transcription

1 This Regular Meeting of Council was called to order on Monday, January 14, 2013 at 8:05 p.m. by Tim Claypoole, Council President. PRESENT: ABSENT: Regis Faivre, Tim Claypoole, Chuck Kocisko, Julie Field, John Ruediger, Bridget Pavlick, Julie Sanders ALSO PRESENT: Glenn Broska, Mayor Dave Maistros, Law Director Roy Mosley, Police Chief Robert Reinholz, Fire Chief Mitch Michalec, Finance Director Bruce Terrell, Engineering Director Bill Miller, Service Director Greg Mytinger, Parks and Recreation Director Katie Mathies, Senior Citizen Services Director Clay Morris, HR Director Caroline Kremer, Clerk of Council Disposition of Minutes MOTION: TO ACCEPT THE REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF SEPTEMBER 24, 2012, NOVEMBER 5, 2012, DECEMBER 10, 2012, AND THE ORGANIZATION MEETING MINUTES OF DECEMBER 10, 2012 AS PRESENTED. Moved by Mr. Faivre, seconded by Mrs. Pavlick. Upon voice vote, motion carried with Mrs. Pavlick abstaining from the vote for the December 10, 2012 minutes because she thought she was absent that night. Introduction of Legislation Containing Statement of Emergency T-5781 AN ORDINANCE PROVIDING FOR THE ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS FOR THE FISCAL YEAR ENDING DECEMBER 31, 2013, REPEALING ORDINANCE NO THE 2013 TEMPORARY ANNUAL APPROPRIATIONS, AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY SO THAT THE APPROPRIATIONS ARE ADOPTED AS REQUIRED BY LAW. Clerk read by title as directed. Mrs. Field said she wanted to pass a budget and work alongside the Mayor and Finance Director, but also wanted to look at little more closely at what was being proposed. She said after the last meeting and after meeting Mr. Michalec she felt the spending was reasonable, but the focus at the last meeting was not so much on spending as it was on estimated revenue. She noted that Chief Reinholz had explained how frugal the Fire Department was trying to be in their budget, but realized the Fire Department budget was actually increase by about 5% over last year s projected expenditures even with moving the fuel, telephones, and insurance to the Statutory account. She didn t want to take anything away from the safety forces; she wanted them to have what they needed, but when she looked at the other departments she saw that most all of them had somewhat of an increase, mostly likely salary increases, so she thought City Council needed to take a closer look at the spending instead of the anticipated revenue. She suggested starting with a conservative budget and then waiting 1

2 a few months until Council had a better idea on what the revenue would really look like, and then determine if increases to appropriations could be made, instead of starting with increased appropriations. She said there was an $800,000 increase in spending compared to She wanted to prioritize and pace ourselves and then later increase appropriations when revenue was clearer. She didn t feel she could pass this budget as presented. She wanted to sit down and talk more with Mr. Michalec. She didn t want this to drag out; she wanted the budget to be done, but she wanted only a $300,000 deficit. MOTION: TO MOVE THE BUDGET BACK TO FINANCE COMMITTEE. Moved by Mrs. Field, seconded by Mr. Claypoole. Upon roll call, motion failed with Mrs. Field, Mr. Claypoole, and Mr. Faivre supporting the motion, so the budget would stay in Regular Council. Mr. Ruediger understood Mrs. Field s position, but didn t support sending the budget back to committee. He didn t want to pass the legislation as emergency and suggested it be amended to go through three readings. Mr. Claypoole commented that if Council Members didn t vote to suspend the rules it would go through three readings anyway. Mayor Broska commented that Fuel, Telephones and Health Insurance were consolidated from individual departments into the Statutory account and the Statutory account had been decreased by almost 14%. Mrs. Field understood but felt the overall spending was too high. Mayor Broska added that this budget was similar to previous budgets over the last few years and there was a carryover due to cautious spending last year that was to be used as part of the ongoing budgeting process. He said they felt the 3.5% proposed revenue increase was very conservative and if the revenue came in higher at 5% or 6% the $535,000 deficit would be reduced dramatically to the $200,000 range that Mrs. Field and Mr. Claypoole would be more comfortable with. Mrs. Field wanted to take it slow because no one knew what the revenue was going to be in Mr. Claypoole mentioned that the Statutory account seemed decreased from 2012 because it didn t include the $1.2 million and $200,000 for the one-time purchases for the Beck and Rumsey properties, but was actually up from last year (mostly from the fuel, telephones and insurance that was now included from the individual departments). There had been a grant of about $1 million for the Beck property. Mayor Broska said the increases in 2013 included the new Economic Development Department, a full year of new Parks employees, an additional Police Lieutenant, and an Executive Fire Captain all of which were desperately needed because the City had done without in the past. He said if cuts were made to spending in the individual line items it would seriously affect the way the departments could run. He said if Council didn t want the construction or the staff in the Parks, just say so, but most of the departments had already cut to the bone. Mr. Claypoole said the overall increase over 2012 expenditures was too large at about $1 million or 10% and the deficit spending was outside his comfort level. He said the administration wanted to add new positions that didn t exist before and was trying to do it all at once, and these were continual added expenses (not one time purchases like the land purchases) and it was very hard to cut those type of expenses once you start down that path if the revenue didn t come in as expected. Mayor Broska responded that the administration was very cognizant of this and could stop the expenditures and trim if it came to that. They monitored and talked about the budget on almost a daily basis. Mr. Claypoole responded that the expenses that were being added were hard to remove because they were personnel/people. These were long-term committed future spending items. He added that the Mayor had already said the operating lines were already down 2

3 to bare bones, so if revenue didn t come in as expected and something needed cut if would have to be the operations or the people, which was very difficult. Mr. Claypoole felt this budget had too much of an increase over last year s spending. The City gave a level of service last year, and needed to add the Economic Development Department based on the November 2012 Charter change, but Mr. Claypoole would rather do a phased-in approach after the first couple months of 2013 for the other full-time positions to verify the revenue was coming in at expected levels. Mrs. Pavlick said this issue should never have come out of committee if this type of discussion was continuing. She said the City s costs were not fixed because, for example, the calls on the safety forces kept going up. The residents deserved and expected certain levels of service, but the City couldn t deliver the same level of service for the same cost each year because costs go up all the time (f uel, supplies, insurance, etc.). She would prefer a phased in approach too, but it had seemed City Council was pretty much in agreement, except for Mr. Claypoole, and now it was being discussed as if it was in committee again. Mr. Michalec agreed with Mrs. Pavlick. He added that if the income tax revenue only came in at 1%, then of course the City would lay people off. It was up to Council to decide if they wanted to move staff from part-time to full-time, or to create a position, but the appropriations were in place and if Council decided not to move staff to full-time or to create a position then the appropriations were not spent. Mr. Ruediger suggested that later in the year if money needed to be cut from the budget, it would be clearer what lines had not been fully spent and what lines might not need to be spent and could handle reductions, but he didn t want to cut lines at the beginning of the year not knowing what was ahead in the coming months. He said Council needed to have some faith in the full-time administration to monitor the finances daily; that s what they are here for. Brett McClafferty, 8261 Diagonal Road, said it was confusing to the audience to hear about a $1 million increase and a $535,000 deficit. He asked what was the expected cost for increased personnel in 2013 (Parks person part-time to full-time, add a FD Executive Captain and reduce a firefighter position, add a PD Lieutenant and lose a patrol position, and add the ED department). Mayor Broska said it was a minimal amount; probably less than $50,000. Mr. McClafferty said Council would have already authorized positions, but the short-term costs were what Council could control when a request was presented for an expenditure. So if the permanent salary type expenses were smaller Council still could control the larger non-permanent expenses. Mr. Claypoole noted that when the new FD Executive Captain and PD Lieutenant positions were added there didn t seem to be a corresponding reduction of a lower position salary in those departments, so he thought the money could still be spent because there were ordinances already in place allowing a certain number of employees in those departments. Mrs. Field said she wasn t focusing on the additional salaries, but on the overall spending compared to 2012 which had increased substantially and she had observed over the last year that pretty much whatever issue the department heads brought to Council tended to get passed. So she would rather start lean and cautious and then prioritize, so as the year went along Council would be able to say yes. Mr. McClafferty said it was up to Council to determine if the spending would occur and it was wrong to ask the Mayor to be Council and the Mayor. Chief Reinholz explained how the staffing in his department worked where all members of the fire service were able to go on calls. A Lieutenant would be promoted to the new Executive Captain position to be in charge of fire prevention and help in operations, 3

4 which would cost about $6,000 more, and there would not be another firefighter or another Lieutenant. MOTION: TO SUSPEND THE RULES. Moved by Mrs. Pavlick, seconded by Ms. Sanders. Upon roll call, motion failed 4-3 with Mrs. Field, Mr. Ruediger, and Mr. Claypoole opposing the motion. This item would move on to second reading at the next Regular Council Meeting. T-5782 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A WATER SERVICE AGREEMENT WITH PORTAGE COUNTY; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY TO IMPLEMENT THE AGREEMENT. Clerk read by title as directed. MOTION: TO SUSPEND THE RULES. Moved by Mr. Faivre, seconded by Mrs. Pavlick. Upon roll call, motion carried MOTION: TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO Moved by Mr. Ruediger, seconded by Mrs. Pavlick. Upon roll call, motion carried T-5783 A RESOLUTION AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO AN AGREEMENT WITH CREATIVE MICROSYSTEMS, INC. (CMI) FOR THE 2013 SOFTWARE SUPPORT SERVICES; AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY TO EXPEDITE THE AGREEMENT. Clerk read by title as directed. MOTION: TO SUSPEND THE RULES. Moved by Mrs. Pavlick, seconded by Mr. Ruediger. Upon roll call, motion carried MOTION: TO ADOPT RESOLUTION NO Moved by Mrs. Pavlick, seconded by Ms. Sanders. Upon roll call, motion carried First Reading Second Reading Third Reading T-5764 AN ORDINANCE AUTHORIZING THE MAYOR TO ENTER INTO A CONTRACT WITH GPD 4

5 Clerk read by title as directed. GROUP TO PROVIDE ENGINEERING SERVICES FOR MULTIPLE DEPARTMENTS IN THE CITY AND DECLARING AN EMERGENCY TO EXPEDITE THE CONTRACT. MOTION: TO ADOPT ORDINANCE NO Moved by Mr. Ruediger, seconded by Mrs. Pavlick. Upon roll call, motion carried 6-0 with Mr. Faivre abstaining for possible conflict of interest. Citizens Comments Ken Claypoole, Gloucester Road, commented that at the last meeting it was said that the assessed values were up and Council had seemed surprised at that, so he submitted a public records request to Portage County. Within two hours Janet Esposito, the County Auditor, called him and said the valuations were not going up as stated at the meeting. She had provided Mr. Claypoole the information and the assessments overall were going down. Mayor Broska stated that what he and the Finance Director said last week was based on information provided to them from OMAC (not the County Auditor) which indicated that Streetsboro s property values had increased. He said the bottom line was that the money Streetsboro received from the County was going up about $13,262, although the property values may have decreased. There was no intent to mislead Council; they gave Council the information they had received from a reputable state entity. The budgetary figures presented to Council were based on figures provided to the City. Mayor s Report Mayor Broska appointed six people to the Master Plan Review Commission based on the Charter requirements [see attached list]. He said they would move expeditiously through the process. There would be a meeting Thursday, January 17, 2013 with Todd Peetz, from Portage County Planning Commission, to discuss what needed to be done for the Master Plan Review. He said there were only a few things that needed touched on and this process should move expeditiously as per the parameters set by the Charter. Mrs. Pavlick ask Mr. Maistros if Council could know exactly (get a copy of) the Master Plan starting point because in the past there had been some issue on what was voted on, so she wanted to be clear on the actual starting point for this Commission. Mr. Maistros said he would make sure Council got a copy of the document the Commission got as a starting point they would be working from. President of Council s Comments Council Members Comments Mr. Kocisko thanked the Council President for recommending him for a seat on the Master Plan Review Commission. He hoped it would move quickly. Mr. Faivre thanked those that volunteered to be on the Master Plan Review Commission to work to move the City forward. He asked about the snowplowing on Jennifer Lane. Mayor Broska said the City had back charged the developer once for an emergency, but the issue had been addressed. The property had been unpaved [and unaccepted by the City] for four years now. Mayor Broska noted that once the Master Plan Review and the Zoning Code Update were completed this kind of situation wouldn t occur again. Mr. Faivre wanted the issue resolved before the next snow season. Mayor Broska said the issue had been addressed with Saunders Creek and Mr. Neff and Mayor Broska was done with the 5

6 developers taking advantage of the City. He said it would be a team effort with the administration and Council Members. Reports/Communications from Dept/Boards/Commissions Mr. Mytinger reported that the Get Movin Streetsboro fitness campaign was going well with 127 likes on Facebook. Chief Reinholz reported that the Lucas Chest Compression machine purchased last year had saved two lives in January He also reported that the Night Scan Light Tower was donated from Fairlawn, which saved the City $5,500. Chief Reinholz reported that the County safety forces would get together in April for a practice HAZMAT disaster emergency drill. There was a meeting scheduled in January with the School Superintendent to develop a plan and arrange an exercise for a school shooter scenario. Mr. Maistros reported that the Name and Define New Park Property legislation that was previously discussed would be brought forward to the January 28, 2013 Regular Council Meeting. Announcements City Hall will be closed Monday, January 21, 2013 for Martin Luther King, Jr. Day. There will be a Finance Committee and a Regular Council Meeting on Monday, January 28, 2013 starting at 7:00 p.m. in Council Chambers. There being no further business to come before this Council, and upon motion by Mr. Faivre, seconded by Mrs. Pavlick, this meeting adjourned at 8:55 p.m. ATTEST: Caroline L. Kremer, Clerk of Council Timothy J. Claypoole, President of Council ck 6