2 23 12 City Council Proceedings Official_Special and RegularCITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA
CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS
SPECIAL SESSION
OFFICIAL
Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on February 23, 2012 in the Historic
Federal Building, 350 W. 6th Street.
Present: Mayor Pro -Tem Jones, Council Members Braig, Connors, Lynch, Resnick,
Sutton; City Manager Van Milligen
Absent: Mayor Buol
Mayor Pro -Tem Jones read the call and stated that this is a special session of the
City Council called for the purpose of discussing various City departmental Fiscal Year
2013 budgets.
Departmental Budget Review
Fiscal Year 2013 Departmental Budgets were presented by staff from the following
City departments:
• Water Department — Bob Green, Water Plant Manager
• Water & Resource Recovery Center: Jonathon Brown, W &RRC Manager
• Public Works: Don Vogt, Public Works Director
• Transit Division: Barbara Morck, Transit Manager
City Council had discussion with staff following each presentation. Carla Heathcote,
2529 Stafford Street, inquired as to why there are budget increases tied to wages, when
are incremental increases in utility fees prompted by such projects as the W &RRC
renovation projected to decrease, and if the City has looked at longer -term loan
financing as a way to prevent fee increases. Ms. Heathcote also asked for clarification
on the nine percent refuse fee increase. City Manager Van Milligen stated that projected
utility fee increases are anticipated to decrease after project debts are retired. He added
that employee wages (bargaining and non - bargaining) were frozen in the last fiscal year
and the recommended 2.5 percent increase is a result of union collective bargaining.
Resource Management Supervisor Paul Schultz provided information on the refuse
increase being tied to future vehicle purchases for the department. Sustainability
Coordinator Cori Burbach stated that the request for a new sustainability position to be
blended with Public Works and is expected to earn revenue for the City.
There being no further business, upon motion the City Council adjourned at 9:17 p.m.
/s /Kevin S. Firnstahl
City Clerk