09/04/2007 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION September 4, 2007 APPROVED 1 Engineering Staff - Regarding the matter of a change to in-house engineering staff, 2 Community Development Director Grochala provided additional information comparing 3 budgets for in-house services versus by contract. Next year would be a transition year so 4 the figures for 2008 don't present a complete change. Some services such as plan review, 5 land use applications and development review could become in-house and would have a 6 revenue stream to the city's general fund. Staff has estimated the general engineering 7 costs to the city over the past three years because those costs are part of a larger 8 engineering budget. The average rate paid for contracted engineering staff is estimated at 9 about $98 per hour versus the proposed in-house budget of $53 per hour. The funding 10 source numbers used are very conservative. Director Grochala stated that he is basically 11 indifferent about the change since the city would be well served either way but there does 12 appear to be some potential for cost savings. He also added that TKDA has attempted to 13 present options to reduce the cost of their services to the city in reaction to the proposal to 14 go in-house. The proposal became a part of the budget when it was proposed by the 15 department as part of the 5 Year Plan. 16 17 The council debated the process by which a change was brought forward and the 18 appropriateness of staff including the change in the proposed 2008 budget. 19 20 There was some suggestion that discussion about a change had occurred without the 21 knowledge of the full council; Council Member O'Donnell requested that the record 22 reflect that he personally did not discuss the matter outside of official council sessions 23 other than to ask the city administrator one question the day previous. 24 25 The council did not reach a decision on the engineering item. Finance Director Rolek 26 confirmed that the proposed budget figures could stand with either option mainly because 27 2008 was budgeted as a transition year. The revenue changes would have to be worked 28 out. 29 30 The council will have a discussion of rebalancing the budget as all outstanding questions 31 are decided. 32 33 Charter Commission - Charter Commissioners were present with a request for addition 34 of $5,000 to their 2008 budget. Charter Chair Cori Duffy stated that the current annual 35 budget of $1,500 is not adequate for this year's work level even though they've been very 36 cautious with the funding they have. They are working on charter amendment issues and 37 may require some legal expertise. 38 39 The council concurred that the request is reasonable but confirmed that it wouldn't be an 40 eternal yearly addition to their budget. There may be an issue for 2007 funding and the 41 commission will inform the council when and if an adjustment is needed. 42