MINUTES
FINANCE COMMITTEE MEETING
Tuesday,
September 26, 2006
City
Hall, Room 604
5:30 P.M.
MEMBERS PRESENT: Tom
Weber, Tony Theisen, and Steven Deneys; *Chairman John VanderLeest arrived
shortly after
MEMBERS EXCUSED:
None
OTHERS PRESENT:
Doug Daul, Dawn Foeller, Jerry Hanson, Rob Strong, Tom Lesperance, Dan
Kryzanek, Linda Dupuis, Recording Secretary Ginny Mamrosh, and others
1. Roll
Call.
Vice Chairman Theisen called the
meeting to order. Roll call was taken,
and all were present except for Chairman VanderLeest who arrived shortly
thereafter.
2. Approval
of the Agenda.
A motion was made by Ald. Weber and
seconded by Ald. Deneys to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried.
3. Approval
of the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of September 12, 2006.
A motion was made by Ald. Deneys and
seconded by Ald. Weber to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting
of September 12, 2006. Motion carried.
4.
Report of the Purchasing Agent:
a. Impact fee needs assessment award to
Virchow, Krause & Co. LLP for $12,200.
City Attorney Jerry Hanson explained
that the City currently collects about $200 in impact fees for each lot that is
developed, but said a recent change to Chapter 236 of the State Statutes made
it illegal for the City to impose these fees under that chapter. A different section under Chapter 66,
however, allows us to impose impact fees on lots if a needs assessment is
performed first. Information gained
from the needs assessment would be used to make a recommendation to Committee
at a later time as to the amount to charge for these fees. He said the assessment is the starting
point, and that several other communities have already done such assessments
and now charge considerably more than the City. Fees collected go into a Parks Dept. fund to be used for park
purposes only. This task was bid out,
and funds would come from the Parks Dept. Operating budget. Atty. Hanson said this assessment is done
only once, and when completed, a recommendation would be brought to Committee
along with a request to implement the fee schedule.
A motion was made by Ald. Weber,
seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to approve a: Impact fee needs assessment award to Virchow, Krause & Co.
LLP for $12,200.
b.
Sale of surplus land at the corner of Irwin Avenue and Radisson St. to
Teresa Faubert for $14,000.
Purchasing Agent Linda Dupuis said
the estimated fair market value of this land is $14,700, but that amount was
discounted because a number of conditions exist on the property.
A motion was made by Ald. Deneys,
seconded by Ald. Weber and carried to approve:
b. Sale of surplus land at the
corner of Irwin Avenue and Radisson St. to Teresa Faubert for $14,000.
5. Review the
report and possible action on weights and measures shared services agreement.
Planning Director Rob Strong said Green Bay is the
only community in Brown County with full time staff to perform weights and
measures services. Municipalities with
populations of more than 5,000 are required to have these inspections done and
many contract with the State or private agencies for the service. Inspection Superintendent Tom Lesperance
contacted those communities about the possibility of a cooperative agreement
for services provided by the City, and found that many were interested but have
contracts already in place that must be honored. Wrightstown and Ledgeview, with populations of less than 5,000,
also expressed interest.
Sealer Dan Kryzanek said the Department of
Agriculture, Trade and Consumer Protection (DATCP) has only 12 inspectors for
the whole State of Wisconsin and is unable to perform more than the bare
necessities. That department determines
the number of days required to do the job and charges the municipalities $400
per day. Appleton has four inspectors
and offers these services, and more, at a slightly lower cost. The Village of Ashwaubenon expressed
interest in a cooperative agreement with Green Bay but is already under a
three-year contract with Appleton.
The report provided by the department showed a
comparison of estimated hours and fees for services performed by the City
versus those currently assessed to the communities by DATCP. Estimated City fees were based on a charge
of $40.99 per hour, a figure arrived at that covers salary and fringe costs
only, not depreciation of trucks, equipment, gas, etc. Mr. Lesperance said State Statute specifies
that we cannot charge more than what our operating expenses generally cost.
*Ald. VanderLeest arrived.
Ald. Weber asked if businesses in the other
communities pay an annual fee, and Mr. Lesperance said we invoice individual
businesses, while surrounding communities do not. A follow-up is included in our fee, but re-inspections are
extra. The report provided by Mr.
Lesperance shows what our charges would be if the business were located in
Green Bay, based on the minimum number of inspections required, compared to
what the State provides for those same services. Mr. Kryzanek said Green Bay businesses gets a package deal that includes
scanners, labeling, package checking, etc., while in other communities we would
certify their devices only, because that is what the State contract
provides. We could provide more
services to the other communities, but would charge more for those services.
Ald. Weber said the staff recommendation should be
for a rate higher than the $40.99 per hour, so all expenses would be
covered. Mr. Strong asked for a
boilerplate agreement showing what we have to offer to take to the
communities. It should include an
escalator for replacement equipment, gas, etc.
A motion was made by Ald. Weber to refer this matter
back to staff to come back with a proposal for an agreement with other
municipalities on shared services for weight and measures. It was seconded by Ald. Theisen and carried.
Mr. Strong asked that it be brought back in November
or December so as to be in place by January.
A motion to adjourn was made by Ald. Theisen,
seconded by Ald. Weber, and carried.
The meeting was adjourned.
2006 CONTINGENCY FUND
$180,778.00