MINUTES

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, August 14, 2007
City Hall, Room 604

5:30 P.M.

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Chairman John VanderLeest, Ald. Tony Theisen, Ald. Steven Deneys, and Ald. Tom Weber

 

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  None

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Dawn Foeller, Allison Swanson, Linda Dupuis, Chief Stauber, Mark Delaski, and Others

 

1.  Roll Call.  

 

Chairman Ald. Tony Theisen called the meeting to order at 5:40 p.m.; all members were present except Ald. John VanderLeest who arrived at 5:45 p.m.

 

2.  Approval of the Agenda.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys and seconded by Ald. Weber to approve the Agenda as presented.  Motion carried.

 

3.  Approval of the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of July 10, 2007.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of July 10, 2007.

 

4.  Request by the City Comptroller to review final year end for the City of Green Bay.

 

Comptroller Dawn Foeller introduced Tom Karman from Schenck Business Solutions to discuss the audit for the City of Green Bay.

 

Mr. Karman stated that all of the information that needs to be included is included in the report.  Nothing was left out.  The management letter states that everything is in line except Workman’s Comp reflects a negative fund balance of $550,000.

 

Dawn Foeller stated that there is an earmark in the general fund in the amount of $100,000 and there is a plan to increase the levy as well to make up for the difference.  The main reason for the difficult year was a death and an injury sustained by a police officer during a search at a private home for the East HS incident.

 

Mr. Karman also went on to state that there is a new accounting standard which will be put in place for the next year.  The city is aware of the new standard that will go in effect for year end 2007.  All of the year-end balances are correct as well.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber to receive and place on file the Comptroller’s final year-end review for the City of Green Bay.  It was seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried.

 

5.  Request by the City Attorney to submit the quarterly report of the Claims Committee.

 

City Attorney Allison Swanson stated that everything seems to be in line.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried to receive and place on file the quarterly report of the Claims Committee. 

 

6.  Request by the Finance Director to refund the Series 1999E and 2000A bond issues.

 

Comptroller Dawn Foeller explained that there will be a net present value savings of $86,135 or 2.8% of the interest expense value for the 1999E bonds and a net present value savings of $78,154 or 2.1% for the 2000A bonds.

 

Claire Peterchak from Baird provided an Issue Summary and stated 2% is a national standard when looking at advance refunding of debt issues since an advance refunding can only be done once on a bond issue.  The advance refunding is a negotiated sale, which gives the City more flexibility in completing the transaction.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen and seconded by Ald. Deneys to approve the request by the Finance Director to refund the Series 1999E and 2000A bond issues.  The motion carried.

 

7.  Request by the Finance Director for a parameters resolution to allow refinancing of debt issues.

 

Ms. Peterchak from Baird stated that most companies use a 2% parameter in order for municipalities to react quickly to major savings.  This saves time because the large savings is time sensitive and would not need to go to committee for approval.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber and seconded by Ald. Theisen to allow staff to draft a resolution allowing the Finance director a 2% parameter for refinancing of debt issues and to bring that resolution back to the next finance committee meeting to approve.  The motion carried.

 

8.  2007 Budget Status Report.

 

Dawn Foeller stated that everything is on track.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to receive and place on file the 2007 Budget Status Report.

 

9.  Report of the Purchasing Agent:

 

a.  “Letter of Intent” to order twelve squad cars and one supervisor’s car for $275,920 from Ewald Automotive pending Council approval of 2008 budget (2008 vehicles for 2006 pricing).

 

Purchasing Agent Linda Dupuis stated that the last order was just received in March 2007.  This request was made from the 2006 budget surpluses designation, which will be taken up at the time of the 2008 budget.  The vendor has agreed to allow the City to utilize the 2006-pricing quote.  The Purchasing agent signed a letter of intent to purchase these vehicles pending Council approval of the surplus.  Should that approval not be obtained, the order will be voided. 

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys and seconded by Ald. Theisen to approve a:  “Letter of Intent” to order twelve squad cars and one supervisor’s car for $275,920 from Ewald Automotive pending Council approval of 2008 budget (2008 vehicles for 2006 pricing).  Motion carried.

 

b.  Fire truck corrosion repairs (pumper #461 and ladder #461) from Marion Body Works Inc. for $71,451.

 

Chief Jeff Stauber stated that it is necessary to do the improvements on the ladder #461 truck now.  If it is not approved to repair the pumper #461 this year, next year it will need to have the body replaced instead of repaired.  Chief Stauber is prepared to bring in an analysis of the cost and life of the pumper if repairs are completed now versus waiting until next year.  When a new utility box will be required versus just repairing the corrosion now.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber and seconded by Ald. Theisen to approve b:  Fire truck corrosion repairs on ladder #461 from Marion Body Works Inc. for less than $41,533 and bring back an analysis of the repair for pumper #461 to a special finance meeting on September 4, 2007.  Motion carried.

 

c.  Seven thermal imaging cameras for the Fire Dept. from Environmental Safety Group for $62,950.

 

Chief Jeff Stauber stated that the original request was for 9 thermal imaging cameras.  Georgia Pacific and Edison Middle School each donated one thermal imaging camera to the fire department.  He also explained that the camera allows fire fighters to see heat behind walls as well as bodies in a smoke-filled room.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen and seconded by Ald. Deneys to approve seven thermal imaging cameras for the Fire Dept. from Environmental Safety Group for $62,950.  Motion carried.

 

d.  Three-year Microsoft Enterprise agreement for a not-to-exceed figure of $435,163.

 

Mark Delaski explained that Microsoft no longer supports the software currently used by the City of Green Bay because it is out of date.  The major benefits to entering into the agreement would be online training, home access and technical training for our IT department.  The reason that home access is important is because it would be part of the pandemic emergency plan.  It would allow employees to work from home if necessary.

 

There was a discussion about funding possibilities.  Staff has been preparing for this purchase by placing $116,223 into the IT capital project budget over the last two years.  The remaining City portion of $156,223 would need to be funded in the 2008 – 2009 budget.  The remaining balance of the contract, $46,494, will be charged to the City’s enterprise funds and housing authority.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Theiesen and carried to approve d:  Three-year Microsoft Enterprise agreement for a not-to-exceed figure of $435,163.

 

e.  Computer equipment (26 units) for Police from Insight, Inc. for $18,689.

 

Mark Delaski stated that this is a request that is made every year to keep the computers as up to date as possible.  The amount was budgeted in the 2007 budget.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Theisen and carried to approve e: Computer equipment (26 units) for Police from Insight, Inc. for $18,689.

 

f.  Two servers from Hewlett Packard Company for $24,826.

 

Mark Delaski stated that these two virtualized systems would replace seven of our current servers.  The amount being requested was budgeted for in 2007.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to approve f:  Two servers from Hewlett Packard Company for $24,826.

 

10.  Report of Overtime.

 

Dawn Foeller stated that the overtime is currently on budget.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys and carried to receive and place on file the Report of Overtime.

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried.  The meeting was adjourned at 6:45 p.m.

 

2007 CONTINGENCY FUND

$189,700.00

 

Any person wishing to attend who, because of a disability, requires special accommodation should contact the Mayor’s office at 448-3005 at least 24 hours before the scheduled meeting time so that arrangements can be made.

Please take notice that it is possible that additional members of the Council may attend this committee meeting, resulting in a majority or quorum of the Common Council. This may constitute a meeting of the Common Council for purposes of discussion and information gathering relative to this agenda.