2 11 10 City Council Proceedings Official_Special
CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
OFFICIAL
The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on February 11, 2010
in the Historic Federal Building.
Present: Mayor Buol, Council Members Braig, Connors, Jones, Lynch, Resnick,
Voetberg, City Manager Van Milligen
Mayor Buol read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called
for the purpose of discussing various City departmental budgets.
Fiscal Year 2011 Departmental Budgets were presented by staff from the following
City departments: Cable TV Division, Information Services, Five Flags Center,
Conference Center, Recreation Division, Parks Division. City Council had discussion
with staff following each presentation.
Cable TV Division: Cable TV Coordinator Craig Nowack presented the Fiscal Year
2011 budget for this department. Responding to questions from City Council, Van
Milligen and Nowack stated that recent issues with the local cable franchise agreement
do not necessarily threaten the revenue stream that could possibly fund an additional
staff person, but that less funding because of the state franchise law is more likely.
Information Services: Information Services Manager Chris Kohlmann presented the
Fiscal Year 2011 budget for this department. Responding to questions from City
Council, Kohlmann stated Ricoh is the brand of machines chosen for the multi-function
copier/printer project, and Internet reader cards are available for check-out by Council
Members while traveling with their laptop computers.
Five Flags Civic Center: Acting Leisure Services Manager Pat Prevenas presented
the Fiscal Year 2011 budget for this department. There was no additional discussion.
Conference Center (Grand River Center): Acting Leisure Services Manager Pat
Prevenas presented the Fiscal Year 2011 budget for this department. Responding to
questions from City Council, Prevenas stated that the Exhibit Hall carpet has held up
well and is scheduled for replacement in addition to repainting the hall. Durrant Group
has been hired to evaluate replacement of the wall coverings in the ballroom with a
more durable fabric and a wall mounting to make future replacement easier. Regular
exterior and interior facility inspections are performed, and a private vendor maintains
the interior plants.
Recreation Division: Acting Leisure Services Manager Pat Prevenas presented the
Fiscal Year 2011 budget for this department. Responding to questions from City
Council, Van Milligen stated he would reinstate Improvement Package #4 - Children’s
Wellness Kit for After School Programs. Prevenas stated that pool attendance was
down due to the colder weather last season, but utility and staff expenses must remain
steady regardless of the actual number of attendees. Van Millgen recognized the
director of the Multicultural Family Center, Tara Velez, for her good work at the Center.
Parks Division: Parks Director Bob Fritsch presented the Fiscal Year 2011 budget for
this department. Connors stated that the renovation of Burden Park has been well
received. Park and Recreation Advisory Commissioner Karen Lyness stated that it was
the recommendation of the Commission to suspend user fees for the Grandview
Avenue Pet Park until a second location for pet owners could be offered. Council
Members Braig, Connors, and Resnick agreed with Ms. Lyness. Van Milligen stated that
suspending the fees would create a loss of revenue, which would cause cuts from
elsewhere in the budget or a possible property tax increase.
There being no further business, upon motion the City Council adjourned at 8:05 p.m.
/s/Kevin S. Firnstahl
Assistant City Clerk
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