MINUTES

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, May 13, 2008
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:  Doug Daul, Dawn Foeller, Mark Delaski, Linda Dupuis, County Treasurer Kerry Blaney

 

1.  Roll Call.  

 

The Finance Committee meeting was called to order at 5:30 p.m.; all members were present. 

 

2.  Approval of the Agenda.

 

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

 

3.  Approval of the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of April 22, 2008.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Weber and carried to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of April 22, 2008.

 

4.  Request of the Treasurer to renew the agreement with Brown County to collect taxes on behalf of the City of Green Bay.  This agreement will cover tax years 2008 and 2009.

 

Treasurer Dawn Foeller presented a contract renewal with Brown County for tax collection for the 2008 and 2009 tax years.  County Treasurer Blaney was in attendance, and a discussion was held that this arrangement has been a success for both parties.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber and seconded by Ald. Deneys to approve the request of the Treasurer to renew the agreement with Brown County to collect taxes on behalf of the City of Green Bay for tax years 2008 and 2009.  The motion carried.

 

5.  Request for approval to draft a letter to the Wisconsin Dept. of Administration asking to continue to receive the distribution of the lottery tax credit and the school tax credit.

 

Treasurer Foeller discussed the ramifications of ACT 190 and stated that she needs authorization by Council to send a letter to the Department of Revenue requesting that the State disbursements be sent directly to the City.  Holding these disbursements for a short period of time generates more than $10,000 annually for the City.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys to approve the request to draft a letter to the Wisconsin Dept. of Administration asking to continue to receive the distribution of the lottery tax credit and the school tax credit.  The motion was seconded by Ald. Theisen and carried. 

 

6.  Request by Ald. VanderLeest to establish guidelines that ensure a competitive process for all City purchases and award of contracts whenever possible.

 

Ald. VanderLeest read a draft proposal for addressing single source or multi-phase projects.  Purchasing Manager Linda Dupuis explained that the City does much of this already.  Ald. VanderLeest mentioned that the Honeywell contract was reduced once competition was introduced.  A long conversation ensued about written City policies and procedures.

 

A motion was made by Ald. VanderLeest and seconded by Ald. Weber that the request by Ald. VanderLeest to establish guidelines that ensure a competitive process for all City purchases and award of contracts be referred to staff for development of a policy and establishment of a monetary threshold.  The motion carried.

 

7.  Request by the Finance Director to approve bonding for the joint City/County fiber optic project.

 

Finance Director Daul presented a new cost recovery projection noting that this purpose must be repaid in 10 years and presented a pro forma showing the payback.  IT Director Mark Delaski gave the Committee assurances that this is a correct long-term investment for the City.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried to approve the request by the Finance Director to bond $1,310,000 for the joint City/County fiber optic project.

 

8.  Report of the Purchasing Agent:

 

a.  Award of Bay Beach one-year meat contract to Melotte Distribution for $13,781.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried to approve a.  Award of Bay Beach one-year meat contract to Melotte Distribution for $13,781.

 

b.  Street snow plow with wing for Public Works from Monroe Truck Equipment for $20,344.

 

Mrs. Dupuis noted that she bid steel and an alternate called a “poly” plow.  The poly-plow is recommended by DPW staff for quality and performance. 

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald.Weber and carried to approve b. Street snow plow with wing for Public Works from Monroe Truck Equipment for $20,344.

 

c.  Two snow plows, reversible, for Public Works from Monroe Truck Equipment for $18,738.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Weber and carried to approve c.  Two snow plows, reversible, for Public Works from Monroe Truck Equipment for $18,738.

 

d.  Official Newspaper designation for 2008-2009 to Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers, DBA:  Green Bay Press-Gazette.

 

Finance Director Doug Daul presented the Gannet bid and noted the bid is a 33% cost increase over last year; however, the bid is still only 56% of what the Press-Gazette can legally charge per Statute.

 

A motion was made by Ald. VanderLeest to approve d.  The contract with Gannett Wisconsin Newspapers, DBA: Green Bay Press-Gazette and to forward the previous resolution regarding official newspaper designation to the State of Wisconsin.  It was seconded by Ald. Weber and carried.

 

e.  Approval to modify the current City Hall cellular tower lease agreement contract.

 

The Committee may convene in closed session pursuant to Sections 19.85(1)(e), Wis. Stats., for purposes of deliberating or negotiating the sale or lease of public properties, investing of public funds as necessary for competitive or bargaining reasons.  The Committee may thereafter reconvene in open session pursuant to Section 19.85(2), Wis. Stats., to report the results of the closed session and consider the balance of the agenda.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber to go into closed session pursuant to Sections 19.85(1)(e), Wis. Stats., for purposes of deliberating or negotiating the sale or lease of public properties, investing of public funds as necessary for competitive or bargaining reasons.  The Committee may thereafter reconvene in open session pursuant to Section 19.85(2), Wis. Stats., to report the results of the closed session and consider the balance of the agenda.  It was seconded by Ald. Deneys.

 

Roll call was taken, with all voting “aye.”  The motion carried.

 

Closed Session followed.

 

The Committee reconvened in open session to make the following motion.

 

A motion was made by Ald. VanderLeest, seconded by Ald. Weber and carried to approve e.  Proposed amended cellular tower lease agreement by Black Dot contingent upon obtaining a 60-month rent guarantee.  

 

9.  Report of the Finance Director:

 

a.  Request by AT&T for a cable franchise license in the City of Green Bay.

 

Mr. Daul explained the new cable franchising law and the fact that AT&T is requesting a franchise from the State to operate in Green Bay.  Franchise licenses are now granted by the State Dept. of Administration.  Staff will soon meet with AT&T regarding implementation.  Mr. Daul just wanted to notify the Council at this time.  He will keep the Committee abreast of developments.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Theisen and carried to receive and place on file the request by AT&T for a cable franchise license in the City of Green Bay.

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Theisen, and carried.  The meeting was adjourned at 7:10 p.m.

 

 

Ald. VanderLeest cancelled the second Finance meeting for the months of May through August.

 

2008 CONTINGENCY FUND

$109,930.00

 

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.