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HomeMy Public PortalAbout2002_04_19budget work session Town Council Budget Workshop April 19, 2002 BPjAmoco Room, 25 West Market Street, 8:00 a.m. Mayor Webb presiding. Councilmembers Present: George Atwell, Mervin Jackson, Leonard McDonald, David Schmidt, Kristen Umstattd, Robert Zoldos, and Mayor Webb. Councilmembers Absent: None Staff Present: Town Manager Robert Noe, Deputy Town Manager Phillip Rodenberg, Chief of Police Joe Price, Director of Information Technology Michel Agujia, Director of Parks and Recreation Kaj Dentler, Director of Engineering and Public Works Tom Mason, Airport Director Doug McNeeley, Director of Human Resources Dona Wolf, Director of Finance Paul York, Utilities Director Randy Shoemaker, Deputy Director of Utilities Aref Etemadi, Chief of Comprehensive Planning Randy Hodgson, Budget Officer Mike Freda, Police Captain Clagget H. Moxley, Police Captain Jeff Van Gilder, Capital Improvement Manager Nagi Elsewaissi, Recreation Facilities Manager Rich Williams, Tourism Coordinator Marantha Edwards, and Assistant to the Clerk of Council Debi Parry. AGENDA ITEMS A. Opening Remarks and Questions Bob Noe outlined the supplemental Capital Improvement Project information provided by Mike Freda. He stated Council has 5.1 million dollars to spend, the handouts suggested ways to spend the money, but Council could move the money where they would like. He further stated the real estate tax rate could be dropped to 18.5 percent, but nothing new could be funded, including no additional police or Ida Lee staff. He also stated that 1.9 million is needed for the airport. Mr. Noe reported a transfer of excess bond money from the airport to the CIP budget would free an additional 400,000 for General Fund requests. Further, there is an additional 397,000 to spend from an insurance policy that doesn't have to be paid. Mayor Webb confirmed that two million would fund the Town Manager's recommended list thru number 9 for staffing needs and thru number 3 for CIP. Councilmember Schmidt asked if the town would have to fully fund the airport terminal. Doug McNeeley stated that the state would provide 1,000,000, but the Town has to fund the additional 2.1 million. Paul York stated there is $400,000 in residual bond funds after the airport. By using the bond to fund CIP projects, Council could free up $400,000 of General fund money that could be used to fund other items on the Town Manager's list or any other items Council would like to fund. Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002 Page 2 Mayor Webb confirmed that the additional money could fund 1 through 11 on the Town Manager's list, at a real estate tax rate of 22 cents and no meals tax increase. B. Capital Improvement Project Presentations a. Engineering and Public Works Department Projects Tom Mason outlined the Engineering and Public Works Capital Improvement Projects. Those included were, Wilson/Pershing Drainage improvements, South King Street Bridge improvements, Update of the Stormwater Master Plan, West Market Street sidewalk and storm drainage design, Fort Evans Road improvements, Town Branch improvements, East Market Street widening improvements, Battlefield Parkway, and widening Catoctin Circle, NE. Councilmembcr Atwell asked staff to look into the possibility of funding the update of the Stormwater Master Plan with the residual bond funds. There was extensive dialog from Council regarding the Catoctin Circle, NE widening and improvements to neighboring streets. It was the consensus of Council to direct staff to conduct a survey of residents regarding the types of improvements they would like to see on their streets and then to schedule a public hearing after the results were in. Council members McDonald and Atwell asked staff to schedule CIP evaluation meetings in the fall to allow more time for consideration of the impact on future years from funding projects now. b. Utilities Department Projects Randy Shoemaker outlined the Utilities Department's Capital Improvement Projects. Those included were, Wastewater Plant capacity expansion, Odor Control efforts and the interconnection with LCSA. Mayor Webb asked staff to evaluate the long-term costs of ground water storage as opposed to elevated storage. c. Municipal Airport Projects Doug McNeeley outlined the Municipal Airport's Capital Improvement Projects. Those included were, security perimeter fence, land acquisition, and the South Apron Expansion. Mike Freda reported the runway overlay project has been moved out one year and the funds set aside for that project could be used to offset the $80,000 cost for the land acquisition. C. Additional Capital Improvement Projects Council member Schmidt suggested adding the Harrison Street sidewalk to this year's CIP Councilmember Zoldos suggested approving the Catoctin Street Trail project to avoid returning the $100,000 grant. Mike Freda added that any surplus funds from the Ida Lee addition project could be used to fund the trail. Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002 Page 3 Kaj Dentler stated that if construction is not approved for the Catoctin Street trail this year the grant will have to be returned to the state. Councilmember McDonald suggested that Council look at the General Fund operational issues first and then return to the projects. Councilmember Schmidt and Vice-Mayor Umstattd asked that the town branch stormwater projects be placed for consideration as well. Mayor Webb asked staff to create a sheet to show the impact in later years for design projects funded this year, the debt service and what the tax rate would have to be to accommodate those additions. D. General Fund Staffing Requests Mayor Webb stated that if the tax rate remains at 22 cents and with no meals tax, Council could fund positions 1-11 on the Town Manager's recommended list. Mike Freda stated that for every penny the tax rate drops, Council would have approximately $500,000 less revenue. Councilmember McDonald suggested adding the Planner, and a $25,000 sole source contract for the administrative needs of the Planning Division. Councilmember Zoldos supported Councilmember McDonald's recommendations and suggested adding the Zoning Inspector position. Councilmember Jackson asked to add the Public Works Senior Engineer. Councilmember Schmidt stated he would like to see funding for the Bradfield Streetlights added. Councilmember Zoldos stated he would like to add a second Planner position as well. Tom Mason explained how the funding for the Traffic Calming Measures breaks down. Councilmember McDonald suggested not funding the two Sergeants and one Lieutenant, and one of the Communications Technicians positions for the police department. He further suggested cutting $142,000 from the Parks and Recreation staff request. Councilmember Schmidt stated that he does not support cutting the Sergeants and Lieutenant positions, but would rather cut more from the Parks and Recreation budget. Kaj Dentler stated there would be a $53,000 savings by delaying the opening of the expansion by eight weeks, and a $40,000 savings from an error in the utilities costs. He further stated that if the fees for classes were raised by 5%, an additional Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002 Page 4 $40,000 would be added for a total of $133,000 in revenue. Councilmember McDonald verified that the County does not provide any funds to the airport. Councilmember Schmidt suggested increasing the tax rate on aircrafts to one cent per $100 of assessed vplue. Doug McNeeley stated that some owners would be upset by the increase, but would not be chased away by it. Councilmember Schmidt suggested eliminating the fee reduction for eight or more reserved parking spots in the Town Garage. Mike Freda stated that he would have to report back later on the in potential revenue from this. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated that she would like to lower the tax rate and eliminate all requested positions for the parks expansion except the lifeguard position. Kaj Dentler stated he could not open the expansion and run it at the current level of service with such limited personnel. He further stated if Council does take that route, he would have to double the workload of all employees, decrease the services provided and cut the hours of operation. There was no Council support for the Vice-Mayor's recommendation. Vice-Mayor Umstattd stated that she is impressed by Councilmember McDonalds arguments on behalf of the planning positions. She further stated that she is not convinced of the need for two Sergeants and one lieutenant, but would support the addition of police officers if they are needed to reduce street crime. Chief Price stated that the additional five police officers are his top priority. Council set a date of May 1st at 7: 30 p.m. for their next budget workshop. Council member Atwell asked that Council look at the non-departmental funding. Mayor Webb asked Vice-Mayor Umstattd to continue the discussion of non departmental funding in her absence. E. Non-Departmental Funding It was the consensus of Council to eliminate funding for the Marshall Foundation and to redistribute funds to the Fire Department, Rescue Squad and Loudoun Caregivers Association. Council member Schmidt stated his support for the YMCA and suggested moving $5,000 from the Bluemont Concert Series. Town Council Budget Worksession Minutes for April 19, 2002 Page 5 Council members Zoldos and McDonald stated they could not support moving $5,000 from Bluemont. It was the consensus of Council to return to the YMCA at a later date. Councilmembers Atwell and McDonald suggested reducing the funds to the Loudoun County Visitors Association. Marantha Edwards reported their funding has been cut by the County, and does not recommend cutting the Town's funding to them. Councilmember Schmidt suggested cutting the funding to the Library Foundation. Council member Atwell stated a lot of their funding goes back to the Balch Library and he could not support cutting their funds. Council member Jackson stated the Town is not getting the ridership for the money given to the Loudoun Transportation Authority and expressed his concerns in their operations. Councilmember McDonald stated they are looking at ways to improve their operations and could not support a cut in their funding. Council member Zoldos suggested giving staff specific instructions for improvements and route changes. The meeting adjourned at 11:55 a.m.