MINUTES

FINANCE COMMITTEE

Tuesday, March 9, 2010
City Hall, Room 604

5:30 p.m.

 

 

MEMBERS PRESENT:  Chairman John VanderLeest, Tom Weber, and Steven Deneys

MEMBERS EXCUSED:  Tony Theisen

OTHERS PRESENT:  Angie Dart, Julie Van Oss, Allison Swanson, Bill Landvatter, Jeff Roemer, Amy Kocha, Jerry Wiezbiskie

 

1.    Roll Call. 

 

Roll call was taken and all were present, except for Ald. Theisen, who was excused.

 

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 February 23, 2010.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys, seconded by Ald. Weber, and carried to approve the minutes of the Finance Committee meeting of February 23, 2010.

 

4.    Request by Green Bay City Clerk to travel out of state to Chaska, Minnesota with a City vehicle to accept and pick-up donated voting machines.   

 

City Clerk, Chad Weininger, explained this will require only one round trip with a City van.

 

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

 

5.    Report of the Purchasing Agent:

 

a.    Request approval to award Park Shelter replacement doors to LaForce Inc. the low responsive and responsible bidder the amount of $28,582.26 from the 410 Park & Rec. Acquisitions funding.  An additional $6,831.52 is being funded through a Community Development grant and brought before RDA, for a total order of $35,413.78.

 

Purchasing Agent, Julie Van Oss, explained that this was quoted out and LaForce Inc. was the lowest responsible bidder.  Farlin Park is eligible for grant money, so the committee need only approve the $28,582.26. 

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. VanderLeest, and carried to approve 2-0.  Ald. Deneys abstained from voting.

 

6.    Request by Ald. VanderLeest to discuss the recommendations for the structure and member orientation of the budget task force.

 

Ald. VanderLeest read through the outline he prepared for the committee, which is presented on the following page.

 

 

 

Budget Task Force Advisory Committee (BTFAC)

 

·         Appointed by the Mayor, confirmed by the Green Bay City Council

·         7 members, terms would be staggered at 2 and 3 years to begin

 

·         Composition would be made up of the following individuals:

o   1 City Council Member

o   1 Labor Leader

o   1 Small Business Owner

o   1 Business Leader on Health Care

o   1 Business Leader on Energy

o   2 City Taxpayers

o   Nonvoting Member – City Finance Liaison

 

·         Goals, Mission and Focus to be adopted by Committee, City Finance Staff liaison would be the resource for the BTFAC and facilitate information and research materials to the Committee.  Meeting minutes and public notice would be provided on all meetings.  Public input would be encouraged at all meetings.

 

·         Chair and Vice Chair would be voted on for 1 year terms beginning in April 2010.

 

·         Meetings would be held monthly, the date and time to be determined by the Committee.  Topics of discussion would be set for each meeting, with speakers invited with particular knowledge on that subject.

 

·         Each year in September, the BTFAC would give a written report on recommendations for the upcoming budget to the Finance Committee and full City Council.  Since budget deliberations start in October, the written report would have to be received by the full City Council by September 30 of each year.

 

·         The Committee is no way taking on any role of the Finance Committee, but would serve as a research tool for the City of Green Bay.

 

·         The BTFAC is an advisory, research committee to study how other communities are delivering services, how government entities can be more efficient and productive.  If ideas are garnered during the year that can produce real savings to the City taxpayer, the idea would be forwarded to the Finance Committee for implementation so the Finance Committee and full City Council are aware of the opportunity.

 

·         Each year as an appreciation for the committee’s time and work on behalf of the City taxpayer, the City would recognize each member with a Green Bay Taxpayer Award.

 

Ald. Weber supports the establishment of a budget task force but asked that this be referred to the Advisory Committee, and Ald. Deneys agreed. 

 

Ald. VanderLeest wants this task force to get started shortly after the April election.  The Advisory Committee is not likely to meet before the April election. 

 

Ald. Kocha questions the need for a budget task force when the City has trained experts on staff to handle such matters.  If the City is considering establishing a new committee, then the item should be referred to the Advisory Committee for approval.

 

Ald. VanderLeest explained that he brought the item to the Finance Committee first because the proposed BTFAC would bring its annual report to the Finance Committee, which would then in turn present to City Council.

 

Ald. Wiezbiskie stated he did not see a need for another committee, but also agreed that if it is to be established, it should go to the Advisory Committee.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Deneys and seconded by Ald. Weber to refer Ald. VanderLeest’s proposed structure and member orientation of a budget task force to the Advisory Committee. 

Further discussion followed.

 

Ald. Weber stated he believes there is a benefit to having such a committee that could add insight and alternative perspective to the City’s budgeting process.

 

Motion carried.

 

7.  Request by Mayor Schmitt to approve the 2010 Bond Issue.

    

Attachments detailing the 2010 Bond Issue follow the minutes.

 

Ald. VanderLeest stated he would have liked to have seen the City seek private donations as the primary funding source for the Bay Beach rollercoaster, as opposed to bonding the $2.4 million.  This will not keep him from voting for the bond issue at this time, but would like to see future funding of Bay Beach amenities done through private dollars.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried to approve the 2010 Bond Issue.

 

A motion was made by Ald. Weber, seconded by Ald. Deneys, and carried to adjourn.  The meeting adjourned at 6:10 p.m.

 

2010 Contingency Fund

$51,300.08