Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996.0619.TCSM.Minutes TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL BUDGET MEETING OF THE FOUNTAIN HILLS TOWN COUNCIL JUNE 19, 1996 A public meeting of the Fountain Hills Town Council was convened and called to order by Mayor Miles at 6:30 P.M.,Wednesday, June 19, 1996, in the Fountain Hills Town Hall Council Chambers, located at 16836 E. Palisades Blvd., Building B, Fountain Hills, Arizona. ROLL CALL - Following the pledge to the flag and the invocation by Paul Nordin, roll call was taken. Present for roll call were the following members of the Fountain Hills Town Council: Mayor Jerry Miles, Vice Mayor Lawrence and Councilmembers Bill O'Brien,Marianne Wiggishoff, Sid Apps, Al Poma and Penfield Mower. Also present were Town Manager Paul Nordin, Town Attorney Bill Farrell, Town Clerk Cassie Hansen, Director of Community Development Gary Jeppson and Town Engineer Randy Harrel. AGENDA ITEM#2-REVIEW AND CONSIDERATION OF THE PROPOSED BUDGET FOR THE TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS FOR THE 96/97 FISCAL YEAR. ALL ASPECTS OF REVENUES AND EXPENDITURES WILL BE DISCUSSED AND CONSIDERED. Street Department Town Manager Nordin stated the largest share of the Street Department budget was for street maintenance expenses. He said there was a request for an additional street maintenance worker. He referred to a colored line map which indicated medians, who maintained them and areas destined to be transferred to the Town. Town Engineer Randy Harrel pointed out the various major street maintenance projects planned for the next fiscal year which included curb repairs, crack filling, asphalt patching and reconstruction, overlays, minor drainage improvements and slurry seal coating work. Councilman O'Brien MOVED to approve the Street Department budget. Councilman Poma SECONDED the motion. Mayor Miles pointed out several line items under the salaries and benefits which were found to contain errors. Town Accountant Julie Ghetti straightened out the line items which contained errors where numbers had been entered in the wrong lines. There was no change in the total figure. Mr. Harrel pointed out the increase in engineering fees relating to public works projects from nothing to$45,000 because the residual funds had diminished. Mayor Miles asked if the $945,000 transfer from the General Fund to the Street Fund was a typical figure for future budget requests. Mr. Harrel said the transfer included monies earmarked from sales tax revenues. The motion to approve the Street Department budget CARRIED unanimously. Administration Mr. Nordin reviewed several clean-up items in the Administration budget. In response to Mayor Miles' suggestion, he proceeded to explain the possibility of appointing former Councilman Wally Hudson as a volunteer Risk Manager. This position, being volunteer, would only increase the workmens compensation line item amount by$200. He said the Town Attorney had advised him this appointment would not violate any state statutes. Councilman Poma MOVED to amend the Administration budget by including an increase of$200 to the workmens compensation line item and to authorize the hiring Wally Hudson as a volunteer Risk Manager. Vice Mayor Lawrence SECONDED the motion which CARRIED with a 6-1 vote. Councilman Apps cast the nay vote. Mr. Nordin reviewed changes to correct figures relating to previously approved amounts in merit monies and the adjustment in Magistrate Court salaries line item to include the wage increase for the Magistrate. He provided the Council with budget sheets reflecting the corrections. The general fund expenditure summary sheet reflected all amendments the Council had made to date in the budget. Councilman Mower MOVED to approve the minor SONY Minutes of the Special Budget Session of the Town Council 06/19/96 Page 1 of 5 changes as presented. Councilwoman Wiggishoff SECONDED the motion which CARRIED unanimously. Computers Peter Putterman, Information Systems, said he had analyzed five software packages he had requested regarding computers for accounting packages which included modules to accommodate Parks and Recreation needs. He said the prices for modules were approximately $10,000 to $17,500. He said interfacing was possible. Parks & Recreation Mr. Nordin presented an analysis of the existing salaries and explained the additions for the next fiscal year. Robin Goodman, Director of Parks & Recreation, called attention to an error relating to the expenditure figure for the 14 new programs. She said it should appear as $33,181. She stated at present 29 programs were offered and that three programs had been proposed to be cancelled. She explained that engineering consultant fees were for the high school campus lights in the amount of$4,500. Vice Mayor Lawrence MOVED to approve the Parks & Recreation budget. Councilwoman Wiggishoff SECONDED the motion. Director Goodman explained the procedure regarding the selection of new programs. Councilwoman Wiggishoff stated the present programs only funded 68% of the costs and that self-funding programs were needed. She suggested a future goal be implemented to improve the percentage to cover expenses. Councilman Poma suggested fees for programs needed to be raised to cover costs. Wendall Oliphant suggested childrens programs should be funded by adult ones and volunteers needed to be expanded. He asked questions about expenditures for lights,continuing education expenses,conferences,and cellular phones. He commended Brian Hughes for his dedication to summer programs. Director Goodman replied to the questions by stating the cellphone expenses were included to enable children to call their parents in the event payphones were broken or unavailable. She explained the various educational classes and seminars for employees as well as certification in CPR and first aid. The motion CARRIED unanimously. Golden Eagle Park Salaries & Benefits Mr. Nordin explained that the budget amount for the line item Capital Outlay-Phase IV did not contain an amount but would be funded by a combined $900,000 transfer from the Grant Fund to enable financial tracking. He said a revised budget page would indicate this transfer mechanism. He reviewed the proposed construction plans for Phase IV which included four lighted tennis courts, two lighted basketball and sand volleyball courts, three horse shoe pits, paved parking lot, pedestrian foot bridge and landscaping. He stated the engineering fees line item was divided between expenditures of$20,000 for completion of last year's contract and$20,000 for this year's inspection services for the Phase IV construction. He proposed an additional person to assist the present maintenance worker. Director Goodman referred to a memo which detailed the Golden Eagle Park budget and compared the number of employees required from various communities. Councilman Poma MOVED to approve the Golden Eagle Park budget. Councilman Mower SECONDED the motion. Mayor Miles asked for clarification of the increase in the salary line item. Mr. Nordin explained that the salary line item for 96-97 provided for a full year's salary for the present worker along with an additional worker. The 1995-6 figure only represented a partial year's salary because the present worker was hired in mid-year. Mayor Miles asked Mr. Nordin to provide more exact figures representing salary and benefits costs. Vice Mayor Lawrence asked what Minutes of the Special Budget Session of the Town Council 06/19/96 Page 2 of 5 the completion date was projected to be for Phase IV. Director Goodman said the start date was for sometime in November or December and completion date of April-May. He suggested the hiring of an additional worker be delayed until the completion of Phase IV. Vice Mayor Lawrence AMENDED the motion to delete the request for the additional park maintenance worker. Councilwoman Wiggishoff SECONDED the amendment. Mr. Nordin assured the Council that in the event the park was completed prior to the end of the fiscal year, sufficient funds could be provided for a worker from the contingency fund. Wendall Oliphant supported the amendment. The amendment CARRIED unanimously. Capital ExpenditureNehicles Vice Mayor Lawrence AMENDED to delete the $17,000 budget allocation for an additional truck. Councilman Poma SECONDED the amendment which CARRIED unanimously. Mowing/Landscape Maintenance Vice Mayor Lawrence questioned the annual mowing contract expenses of$15,000. Director Goodman stated the mowing contract was approximately$12,000 with an additional$3,000 for miscellaneous expenses including seeding. She stated the bids for the mowing contract were pending. Park Equipment Councilwoman Wiggishoff AMENDED the motion to delete the John Deere utility vehicle, spreader and aerator and pursue renting of this machinery. Councilman Mower SECONDED the amendment. Vice Mayor Lawrence suggested the acquisition of these items be delayed until the completion of Phase IV. He suggested a comparison between leasing and acquisition of these vehicles and accompanying costs incurred over a 10-12 year period. Councilwoman Wiggishoff AMENDED her amendment to include the deletion of the three items and direct staff to do a more complete buy vs. lease analysis. Councilman Mower SECONDED the amendment to the amendment. Wendall Oliphant made suggestions regarding park equipment. The amendment CARRIED with a 6-1 vote. Councilman O'Brien cast the nay vote. The motion to approve the Parks & Recreation budget CARRIED unanimously. Town Marshal Town Manager Nordin noted the largest increase in the Marshal's budget was for the Sheriff's Department contract line item of$180,000 which covered the service change from 1.55 beats to 2 beats. Also included in the budget was a replacement vehicle. Marshal Gendler stated that 68% of the Marshal's budget goes toward the contract with the Sheriff's Department. Councilwoman Wiggishoff MOVED to approve the Town Marshal's budget as presented. Councilman Mower SECONDED the motion. Marshal Gendler pointed out that this was the second in a three-year contract with the Sheriff's Department. Mr. Nordin explained that discussion was likely to be held at the annual retreat sessions in September regarding the setup and starting costs for a full time Police Department. He estimated July 1, 1998 as the official start date. Marshal Gendler explained the quantity and quality of the present police vehicles in the department. Councilman Apps asked about the expenses of acquiring a 24-hour dispatch operator. Marshal Gendler said his investigation into this possibility had yielded a cost of$91,550 based on 27 dispatch shifts. Mr. Nordin stated Captain Sheridan of the Sheriff's Department had been looking into providing more dispatch service. Councilman Apps asked if the officer who was receiving training for the proposed gang task force could stay in the department. Marshal Gendler stated it was possible. The motion to approve the budget CARRIED unanimously. Minutes of the Special Budget Session of the Town Council 06/19/96 Page 3 of 5 Debt Service Mr. Nordin said the Debt Service provided for the approval of payments for obligations of the Town. Vice Mayor Lawrence MOVED to approve the Debt Service budget. Councilman Apps SECONDED the motion which CARRIED unanimously. Grants Mr. Nordin explained that $509,500 be transferred to the Grant Fund to serve as matching funds for Phase IV for Golden Eagle Park. The Marshal's grants were included as well as several other minor grants. Director Goodman stated Phase V and VI for Golden Eagle Park would be included in the 1997-98 estimated at$450,000. Councilman Mower MOVED to approve the Grants budget including the transfer from the General Fund of$509,500 to the Grant Fund. Councilman Apps SECONDED the motion which CARRIED unanimously. Mr. Nordin said the cost estimates for Phase IV were based on estimates provided by the consultant, E Group. The project has not been bid to date. Community Facilities District Mr. Nordin explained that the Community Facilities District was not a financial part of the Town's budget. He said a separate budget would be published for the purposes of paying the debt for the bond issues of the District. No action was necessary at this time. AGENDA ITEM #3 - CALL TO THE PUBLIC. (PUBLIC COMMENT IS ENCOURAGED BUT PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT THE COUNCIL HAS NO ABILITY TO RESPOND OR DISCUSS MATTERS BROUGHT UP DURING THE CALL TO THE PUBLIC AS SUCH DISCUSSION IS PROHIBITED BY THE ARIZONA OPEN MEETING LAW.) There was no comment from the public. AGENDA ITEM #4 - ADJOURNMENT. Councilman Mower MOVED to adjourn the meeting. Councilman Poma SECONDED the motion which CARRIED unanimously. The meeting adjourned at 8:45 P.M. Minutes of the Special Budget Session of the Town Council 06/19/96 Page 4 of 5 TOWN OF FOUNTAIN HILLS By: i Je Miles, or ATTEST: rr Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk PREPARED BY: . Linda D. Lemmen, Administrative Assistant CERTIFICATION I hereby certify that the foregoing minutes are a true and correct copy of the minutes of the Regular Session Meeting held by the Town Council of Fountain Hills on the 19th day of June, 1996. I further certify that the meeting was duly called and that a quorum was present. DATED this 11th day of July, 1996. 61.44.4:4. Cassie B. Hansen, Town Clerk Minutes of the Special Budget Session of the Town Council 06/19/96 Page 5 of 5