05-17-1999 - Laserfiche WebLink

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WORK STUDY SESSION WS.A. 1999-2000 CITY BUDGET City Manager David Ream expressed his pleasure at presenting the Council with the City's budget for the upcoming Millennium. He reviewed the City's purpose, vision, values and goals and briefly explained 14 objectives for the coming year including such projects as the widening and reconstruction of Bristol Street from Edinger to McFadden and implementing the first year strategy for the recently awarded Empowerment Zone. Ream stated the total annual City budget was approximately $240 million, discussed General Fund Revenue sources totaling approximately $145 million, presented charts showing Sales, Utility Users, and Property Tax trends and noted the City had suffered approximately $59 million in State budget cuts since 1990. Community Development Administrative Services Manager Gina Schuchard (former Budget Officer) presented the 1999-2000 Proposed Fees and Fee Adjustments, explaining such fees as "Kitchenette Rental" and an "Accelerated Plan Check for Public Improvements and Traffic Studies." She noted several fees such as a "Wild Animal Permit Fee" previously adopted by the Council were being incorporated into the Miscellaneous Fees resolution. Ream reviewed appropriations for the City's departments, noting Public Safety expenditures including Police, Fire and the Debt Service for the Police Building comprised more than 66% of the General Fund budget. He presented charts depicting a steady City population growth while almost no change for the same period in the number of City employees. In the course of the budget presentation, Councilmembers raised the following "Issue Bin" items that would require more detail to be provided at a later date: · Water Meter Test Fee · Wild Animal Permit Fee · Possible increase in the Adult Entertainment Business Land Use Permit Fee · Trench Cut Fee · Water rate increase · Employee compensation for new and reclassified positions including salary and benefits and a cost comparison of contract services versus in-house hiring · Breakdown of revenue, operating cost, and debt service for the City jail · Possibility of reconstructing one major street with concrete per year The following department heads provided justifications for proposed new, reclassified, and upgraded positions in their respective agencies and responded to Councilmember questions: CITY COUNCIL MINUTES 153 MAY 17, 1999