MINUTES

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Wednesday, November 11, 2009
City Hall, Room 604

Immediately following Personnel which begins at 5 p.m.

 

 

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

 

OTHERS PRESENT:  Dawn Foeller, Bill Landvatter, Alderman DeWane

 

1.    Roll Call. 

 

2.    Approval of the Agenda.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried to approve the agenda.

 

3.    Approval of the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of October 13, 2009.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Theisen, and carried to approve the minutes.

 

4.    Request by Ald. DeWane for a report of what was done with the savings of $1.5 million that was taken from the 2009 Fire Department Budget and that this information be presented at the next Council meeting.

 

Finance Director Dawn Foeller compared the Fire Department Budget from 2008 with 2009 and noted a reduction of $828,000.  She explained that money is budgeted according to the needs and priorities of all departments rather than specific line items.  For example, technology was implemented at the Police Department.  Additionally, there was an increase in the Department of Public Works, specifically salt, tipping fees, and street lighting.  Park, Recreation, and Forestry saw an increase in the cost of fuel.  The Fire Department was also in need of equipment replacement.

 

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

 

5.    Report of the Purchasing Agent:

 

  1. Report of vending machine service.  An RFP was conducted and The Konop Companies scored the highest among three vendors who responded.  The Konop Companies was also the previous vendor who has provided our vending machines services for many previous years.  There is no cost to the City for the vending services offered. 

 

Dawn Foeller spoke on behalf of Purchasing Agent, Julie Van Oss, who could not be present.  She explained that a Request For Proposal (RFP) was conducted and the selection process came down to three vendors.  There were four individuals from the City involved in evaluating the proposals.  The process included walkthroughs of each facility and a scoring evaluation of each proposal.  The City asked for a three year contract with two additional one year periods with The Konop Companies to provide vending services to all facilities at City Hall, Transit, Police, and the City’s garages.  The Konop Companies has provided vending machine services to the City for many years, and there is no cost to the City for the vending services offered.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald. Weber, and carried to receive and place on file the recommendation of the Purchasing Agent and the review committee to award a 3 year contract with The Konop Companies.

 

6.    Report YTD City operations financial condition

 

Dawn Foeller summarized the City’s status through September.  Expenses are being controlled very well, but we are falling short in revenues, primarily in interest income, building permits, and land sales.  Therefore, the City is running very close to budget for 2009, with a possibility of overall expenditures exceeding revenues.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Theisen, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried to receive and place on file.

 

7.    Report of Overtime

 

Dawn Foeller reiterated the City’s attention to controlling expenses across all departments, particularly in overtime.  It is currently $712,422 under budget for overtime.

 

Ald. Weber drew attention to the Park, Recreation, and Forestry Department being over budget in salaries and under budget in overtime.  Parks Director, Bill Landvatter, explained that there are two vacancies in the department, but provided an example of how the overtime in Forestry is a result of higher emergency situations requiring the overtime of its workforce.  Therefore, it is circumstantial and not easily budgeted for.

 

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

 

A motion to adjourn was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Weber, and carried.  The meeting adjourned at 6:02 p.m.