HomeMy Public PortalAbout20040827budgetsubcommitteeminutesCITY OF JEFFERSON
Administration & Parks Budget Sub-Committee
FRIDAY, AUGUST 27, 2004
MINUTES
OFFICIALS STAFF
Councilman Bob Weber Rich Mays, City Administrator
Councilman Ken Ferguson Steve Schlueter, Director of Finance
Councilman Edith Vogel Gail Strope, Human Resources Director
Councilman Michael Berry Phyllis Gilpin, Chief Accountant
Councilman Kevin Brown Stephanie Adrian, Information Systems Manager
Terry Stephenson, Purchasing Director
Jeff Strubberg, Information Systems Coordinator
Nathan Nickolaus, City Counselor
Cindy Lambert,
Melva Fast,
The meeting was called to order at 9:02 A.M. by sub-committee Chairman Ken Ferguson. The administration
part of the budget was continued from the prior meeting with a review of the Self-Insurance budget the first to
be reviewed. The major discussion centered around the current claims experience for FY 2004 and what a bad
year in terms of cost to the City this year is having.
The next department reviewed was the Non-Departmental portion of Administration. Once again claims
expense and the cost of insurance was reviewed at length. One of the items under this budget was a funding
request for $25,000 to replace the sound system in the Council Chambers. After some additional discussion the
sub-committee decided to recommend to the Finance Committee the following:
1.Reduce the funding for the Sound System replacement from $25,000 to $5,000.
2.Review the proposals and need for the Lobbyist that is currently funded in the budget for
$15,000.
3.Review the cost to upgrade the grounds and landscape around City Hall.
4.Request that Mr. Mays write a memo to Mr. Lockwood regarding the grounds conditions around
City Hall.
The next department reviewed was the Finance Department. The Finance Director reviewed some of the budget
line items and highlighted the #1 priority on the pink sheets, the I-Series Computer System request. Stephanie
Adrian, the Information Systems Manager, discussed the potential associated with this new system and
explained the upgrades that will accrue to the City operation. Mr. Schlueter asked the committee to consider
adding additional funding to the Training & Education and Meeting & Conferences line items in light of the
major impact of funding tuition reimbursement from these line items.
The next department reviewed was the Mayor and City Council budget. The sub-committee agreed that an
additional look needs to be taken at the funding set aside for Travel and Dues.
The next department reviewed was the City Clerk’s budget. The only topic discussed was the election expense
line item and the fact that more money may need to be allocated in light of the potential for several election date
ballot items including the Use Tax issue being placed on the November, 2004 ballot.
The next item was an attempt by Mr. Mays to pass over the Administration budget but all members saw through
this move but all were amused at this blatant attempt. No recommendations pertaining to the Administration
budget.
The next department reviewed was the Law Department. The committee discussed the personnel needs of the
department and Mr. Nickolaus’ proposed reconfiguration utilizing part-time staff and the plans to utilize the
current secretary as a paralegal after additional training and classes. Mr. Nickolaus also expressed his desire to
have the committee review the Training & Education and Meetings & Conferences line items due to the impact
that paying tuition reimbursement from these line items have had.
The next department reviewed was the Municipal Court. Some of the major items pointed out by Mr. Nickolaus
were the increase in the volume of court cases, fines revenue and overall traffic of individuals going through the
Municipal Court. Mr. Nickolaus also discussed the possibility of increasing the salary level for the Municipal
Court Judge based on the aforementioned volume of activity. A suggestion was made to survey the salary level
of other Municipal Court Judges and Mr. Nickolaus stated he and his staff would conduct such a survey and
report back to the Finance Committee at it’s next meeting.
The committee concluded it’s review of the Administration and Parks budgets and adjourned at 11:10 A.M.