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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - City Council - 01/10/2011CITY COUNCIL 10 JANUARY 2011 Draft The South Burlington City Council held a budget workshop on Monday, 10 January 2011, at 6:00 p.m., in the Conference Room, City Hall, 575 Dorset St. Councilors Present: M. Boucher, Chair; S. Dooley, M. Emery, J. Knapp Also Present: S. Miller, City Manager; R. Rusten, Assistant City Manager; Chief T. Whipple and members of the Police Department; Chief D. Brent and members of the Fire Department; K. Murphy, City Hall staff; D. Wilber, T. Moore, M. Boyer, J. Bard, D. Fleming, R. & R. Forsell, K. DeBreul 1. Review Agenda: Mr. Boucher reviewed what was discussed at prior budget sessions. Mr. Miller said they are continuing to “scrub” numbers, and there may be some up and/or down changes. One change may be a recommendation that if the city goes with a 20-year amortization, to add $60,000 to the plan. Also, some of the available revenues may change. Mr. Miller didn’t feel the general fund budget would be very different from what was presented. Mr. Miller also noted that he had met with CWD people and engineers regarding the Water Pollution Control numbers, and the Council will get more details for the Wednesday meeting. The first thought was a potential 16.6% rate increase for water, but this is now more like 10.7%. Water Pollution Control had proposed a 46.6% rate increase. This now appears to be more like 28%. Stormwater is still looking at about a 30% rate increase. Mr. Wilber noted that there is $6,700,000 in income not from taxes. He asked where that comes from. Mr. Rusten said it is from a variety of sources including the state, payments for education funding, fees for programs, grants, local option taxes, trade-ins for vehicles, and reimbursement from the 3 enterprise funds. 2. Budget Workshop to Review FY2012 Budget: a. Fire Department: Chief Brent noted that this was his first venture at budgeting personnel. In the past the numbers had been given to him. He also noted that in preparing this budget he was asked how much it really costs to run the department. There were a number of areas that were historically underfunded. Major changes to the budget include the “breaking out” of personnel costs such as holiday pay, wellness and fitness, etc. (The Chief noted that pension contributions are not calculated against holiday pay, etc.). The Chief also noted that in his Department, everyone does everything. There are no specialists for ambulance work, etc. Mr. Boucher also noted that this department has a 24/7 personnel need. The Chief added that Firefighters work a 56 hour week, not the usual 40 hours. The Department works on 3 shifts of 9 people each. Each shift works a 24-hours day. Only one person can be on vacation at any one time. The budget shows an increase in overtime pay. In the past, this area has always been overspent. The Chief noted that a number of Department members have been activated for National Guard deployment (5 at one time). There is a significant decrease in health insurance because of a change in carrier with agreement of the bargaining unit. Other increases include firefighting clothing to replace turnout gear; diesel fuel (budgeted according to actual use). The Chief noted that the existing Airpacks will expire for use in October 2013, and will become unusable then. There has been an increase in costs of maintaining these. Funds are being set aside so that there will be enough money for replacement. There is less money budgeted for vehicle repair than in the current budget. The Chief noted the excellent work Public Works people do to maintain vehicles; if they had to go to an outside vendor, it would cost significantly more. Fire Safety Equipment is a new line item. It will include purchase of turnout gear, SBCA first deposit, and pager upgrade (the city’s 20% match under a grant). The aerial truck and a ladder truck will be replaced with a “Quint.” The ladder truck is 21 years old and is very unreliable; Parts are expensive, if they can even be obtained. The cost of the “Quint” will be $750,000, amortized over 5 years. The Chief stressed that reliability is now a real stumbling block for them. Mr. Knapp asked the height of the “Quint.” Chief Brent said it is 75 feet. The current aerial is 100 feet. Mr. Knapp asked if it would be able to serve 3 or 4 story construction in the City Center. The Chief said it will. He noted that Burlington has one and another on order. It can do the 5 stories at the Sheraton without issue. Mr. Miller asked if there would be a personnel difference with the “Quint.” Chief Brent said it is unfeasible to operate it with fewer than 3 people. Mr. Boucher commented that sometimes it strikes him as inefficient to have town governments taking care of their individual needs. He asked if it might be possible to serve $60,000 people in Burlington/South Burlington/Williston without a new adder truck. He also asked about the feasibility of closing the Holmes Avenue station and of reconsidering the SAFER grant. With regard to the grant, Mr. Boucher said the Council did not anticipate the financial situation of the city when it put SAFER to a public vote. Chief Brent responded to all three questions as follows: 1. The Department has to live with the National Underwriters Rating. There are 15 buildings over 50 feet high in the city. To get a favorable rating, they must have 3 pampers and an aerial ladder or they would lose their insurance rating. They could share with Burlington or Williston but would have to have a written agreement that those towns would be required to send an aerial every time South Burlington needed one. The Chief said this would be hard to do on a regional basis. 2. The Chief said you can’t take back the need for services. He cited over 100 responses in the first year of the Farrell development on Shelburne Road, all of which are handled by the Holmes Avenue equipment/firefighters. 3. There were 8 public hearings regarding the SAFER grant, and 74% of voters supported it. It was thought there was a feasible way to fund it from the Sales & Use Tax. The Chief said he couldn’t recommend in good faith to do away with it. The Chief explained the personnel efficiencies with the “Quint.” They can roll immediately with “on duty” staff and can reduce the amount of “call back” for a percentage of responses. The Chief said he is willing to convene a committee to begin to work on this. Ms. Dooley asked the Chief for an estimate of savings with the “Quint” in terms of personnel. He felt the city’s hands were tied regarding the SAFER grant. Mr. Miller noted that if the grant is rescinded completely, the city would owe the federal government about $600,000. The Council could ask voters to revote on a funding program through 2017; that might give the Council more flexibility after 2013. There is also a ‘do nothing’ option. Mr. Miller said he would not put it to the voters this year. The Chief noted it is 1.3 cents on the tax rate for the 6 SAFER firefighters. Mr. Miller said there would be a fairly significant decrease in service without the SAFER firefighters, and they might not be able to meet the IFO response time. The Chief noted that the Department has not lost one day of work since the “SAFER 6” has come on. Mr. Miller said that is an excellent record, one for which the Department needs to be commended. The Chief cited the difference made by one additional firefighter on a vehicle. He noted there have been 3 fatal fires in the last 8 years, more than the total in all his other career years combined. All of these fires were in residential type homes. He stressed the significant risk. b. Ambulance Service: Chief Brent said overtime is now budgeted where it should be. The increase in Disposable Medical Supplies is to address previous underfunding. The additional office supplies are needed because the department is now doing the billing for the Town of Williston’s ambulance service. It is hoped there will be additional such customers in the future. Vehicle Repair is up because of the aging vehicles. An engine in the newest vehicle had to be replaced. One ambulance will be replaced in this budget year. They are also building a $10,000 contingency fund for training with the new paramedic system. Mr. Miller stressed that these funds will be kept separately. Mr. Rusten said he is still not sure that all costs for Fire/Ambulance are reflected in the FY11 budget. Mr. Miller said the Council is finally seeing the full cost of this operation. Mr. Rusten added that there are also additional revenues. Chief Brent enumerated revenues as follows: SAFER $75,990 Pager Grant 13,600 Fire Truck trade-in 100,000 Engine/pumper trade 7,500 Outside employment 6,480 Ambulance service billing $735,000 Vehicle trade-in 5,000 Tax Revenue 155,000 Williston billing 16,000 Mr. Boucher noted that one problem the city has had is letting vehicles get to the end of their lifetime without beginning to save for replacements. He was glad to see this is being addressed. Mr. Miller said they may have to do some modest borrowing, but he hoped to build vehicle replacement into the regular budget. Mr. Rusten added that they also will not “double book” the Rooms & Meals tax money. Casey Follensbee, President of the Firefighters Union, read a statement of concern for the possibility of eliminating the SAFER grant. He reviewed the history of trying to get safe and adequate staffing and cited research and the overwhelming voter support. The result of the added firefighters was felt immediately in a margin of safety noted by citizens and firefighters. The Department handles over 2000 incidents a year, and this number will continue to rise. Reducing manpower will put both citizens and firefighters at risk. There have been no Worker’s Compensation claims for the Department in the past 18 months, and this is attributable to having almost the proper number of people on a firetruck. Firefighter Follensbee said the Department is committed to helping out the city, and is willing to continue discussions, but not at the risk to citizens and firefighters. Mr. Wilber noted that $7,700,000 of a $10,000,000 budget is attributable to Fire and Police. He felt the city needs to go ‘where the money is’ to address fiscal problems. He cited the excellent work of both of these departments, but said perhaps the city can’t afford the quality it has enjoyed to date. Firefighter Vinci cited the extensive discussion regarding the SAFER grant, reflected in the Minutes, and the overwhelming public support. He said the Department will continue to educate the City Council and the community on this. c. Police Department: Chief Whipple began by enumerating some of this year’s accomplishments by the Police Department: 1. They were able to get a supervisor assigned to all shifts 2. They have utilized Front Page Forum and Nixle to inform the public of vital information 3. The Patrol Rifle Program was fulfilled with training. 4. A retired citizen has taken over the alarms data base. The Department is also seeing revenue estimates met and a decrease in false alarms (14%). 5. The Neighborhood Watch Program was restructured. 6. The Department transitioned to the new facility at no cost to the community. The Department currently has 41 officers, 5 dispatchers, 2 records clerks and 1 administrative assistant in the FY2010 budget. There were 10,690 calls for service at the end of 2010. The Department’s case volume of 2055 is up from last year. Tickets are down. There have been 961 arrests of adults and 99 arrests of juveniles. There have been 187 drunk driving arrests (up from last year). Vehicle crashes are down. In the FY2012 budget, there will be a loss of 3 full-time positions. Two vacancies will not be filled, and there will be no administrative assistant. There will also be one fewer cruiser purchased (2 instead of 3). Overtime will be reduced by $20,000, and there is an anticipated increase in revenue due to more traffic enforcement. Items that will not have replacements this year are: tasers, radios and computers for an approximate savings of $300,000. Mr. Boucher asked how much bigger South Burlington’s Police Force is because of the amount of commercial activity in the city. Chief Whipple said that more than 60% of their call volume is from the retail industry. Mr. Boucher noted the city is also collecting from people that use city services and are on city roads (Rooms & Meals Tax and Sales/Use Tax). Mr. Miller said the Police Force is 40% larger because of traffic, retail hospitality, airport, etc. All of these activities relate to public safety. The uniform budget has been decreased by $4300 as the new uniforms are “wearing like iron.” There is also a savings of $20,510 because of the efficiencies in the new records management system. Chief Whipple noted it is costing more than anticipated to run 19 Gregory Drive. He also noted that some money he had asked to have put in the budget last year wasn’t put in. Electricity is running about $1000 more than anticipated, and they are working to go to half-lighting when most of the staff is not in the building. Ms. Dooley asked about tuition reimbursement. Chief Whipple said it is a contracted obligation and amounts to half the UVM tuition cost. Courses taken must relate to law enforcement. If the city pays for education and an officer leaves the city within 3 years, the city has to be reimbursed for the education costs. Revenues include increased ticket writing, the sale of a cruiser, 2 bequests, charges for Police reports, alarm fines, off-duty policing (a slight profit), and grants ($22,000). Mr. Boucher noted the absence of one form of income, rent at 19 Gregory Drive. Chief Whipple said the goal for the year is to rent the rentable space in the building. A federal agency recently toured the area. Chief Whipple commended members of the Department for stepping up to work with management to work on realignment of shifts. He stressed that officers understand the need to work collaboratively. Office Tom Fraga stressed that Police officers deal with very serious crimes and offenders, and they can be victims themselves. They are also very proactive in the community to keep crime down. He also cited the excellent cooperation of the community. He acknowledged that the City is going through bad times, and it will take a lot to support this budget. He stressed the need to be proactive and gain the support of the community. Mr. Moore cited potential bad community relations if the aim to solve the city’s problems by writing more tickets. He urged caution. Chief Whipple said they hear from the community that they aren’t writing enough tickets. He understood the need to strike a balance and noted that twice as many people get warnings as get tickets. Mr. Moore asked why hotels pose a policing problem. Chief Whipple said the drug trade often uses hotels for “business” so their homes won’t be seized if they’re caught. There are also guests who become drunk and accidents and car break-ins in parking lots. The Chief said none of this is the fault of hotel management; it is just the nature of a transient population. 3. Sign Disbursement Orders: Disbursement Orders were signed. 4. Executive Session: Ms. Dooley moved that the Council meet in executive session to discuss personnel, contract negotiations and legal matters and to resume regular session only for the purpose of adjournment. Ms. Emery seconded. Motion passed 4-0. 5. Regular Session: Council returned to regular session. As there was no further business Mr. Knapp moved for Council adjournment. Ms. Dooley seconded. Motion passed unanimously. Council adjourned. __________________ Clerk Published by ClerkBase ©2019 by Clerkbase. No Claim to Original Government Works.