Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMINUTES-2009-10-19-20091 1 SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING BUDGET WORKSHOP LEVY CENTER October 19, 2009 7:10 P.M. ROLL CALL — PRESENT: A Quorum was present PRESIDING: Alderman Fiske Alderman Jean -Baptiste Alderman Wynne Alderman Wilson Mayor Tisdahl October 19, 2009 Alderman Holmes Alderman Tendam Alderman Grover Alderman Rainey Alderman Burrus A special meeting of the City Council was called to order by Mayor Tisdahl. She asked the City Manager Bobkiewicz to make his announcements. The City Manager, stated the budget presentation would be two parts, 1) "2009 — 10 2„d QUARTER REVIEW", and 2) "FY2011 — 15 Capital Improvement Program". Mr. Lyons, Assistant City Manger would make the presentation. Mr. Lyons prefaced his presentation by stating it was not unlike the first quarter review, both in form and content and it was a relatively stable 2nd quarter. Even though certain areas are increasing in their functions, other areas are displaying a decrease. Evanston's revenue is running about 5% below budget. TIF Funds, Parking, Water & Sewer funds are stable. Utility taxes and Telecommunication taxes are below projected numbers. Investment Income is projected to be $400,000 below budget. Council members commented on the presentations, and Alderman Rainey stated she wanted to go on record as fighting to the end of any over projection of revenue this year. There were also concerns about the Police and Fire Departments payouts which show their accounts over budget. A Hiring freeze will be initiated immediately; a spending freeze will be implemented, as well as decreasing temporary and seasonal employees where necessary. The potential savings will be $975,000 in Personnel, $750,000 in Fleet, and $700,000 in the Spending freeze. The cash reserves have been drained considerably due to the many liabilities that were paid out. There is $11.8 million dollars reserves in the General Fund as of today. This is the cash in the bank less the bills owed. The projection for the 2011 budget will be another 1% below what is being experienced presently. One solution to eliminate debt is to refinance. /IPZ October 19, 2009 After a fifteen minute recess the meeting was called to order again by the Mayor. The City Manager stated Mr. Lyons would show a slide not previously presented before going forward with his presentation. The slide would show projected anticipated savings. Mr. Lyons presented the Capital Improvement Program. The Capital Improvement Program is to guide the City through the goals that are set and will run together with the budget so everything will be known. Some of the projects were projected to begin but did not go forward because of grants or funds were not available at the time. The debt was already issued for the project in anticipation of it moving forward. The Council expressed a desire to have a list of all projects and cost associated with them. The City Manager stated it was staff s intent to come back to the Council with an itemized page for each project. There was also a concern of deferred maintenance and how was that included in the analysis. Mr. Lyons stated his concerns of whether the Capital Vehicles or Capital Projects if dropped it will increase the tax burden on the citizens. There were also concerns about the Police firing range and the camera at Foster and Dodge. Mr. Lyons stated the camera was a replacement, and the Police firing range was a project in process (phase I) but it was costing the City $70,000.00/year to go elsewhere until our range is operational. Mr. Lyons continued with his presentation and concluded with an open session for questions from the Council and the audience. The Mayor asked what would a 3% increase in the property tax garner? Mr. Lyons' response was 1.2 million dollars. The Mayor asked what would it cost a family with a house of $400,000.00? He asked if he could use $100,000.00 of the assessed value would be $40.00. The next question asked was when is the reassessment for Evanston? The answer was tax year 2010. The City Manager stated his desire to have input from the community as well as from the Council members on priorities they would like to be included in their prospective wards. The concern was expressed to have a list of all of the projects and the cost associated with them. The City Manager stated it was staff's intent to come back to the Council with an itemized page for each project. The Mayor asked if there were any questions from the audience and since there were none, she asked for a motion to adjourn, a motion was made and seconded followed by a unanimous voice vote. The meeting ended at 9:19 pm. Respectfully submitted, Rodney Greene City Clerk DVD recording of this meeting has been made part of the Permanent Record and is available in the City Clerk's office.