2 9 09 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 9, 2009 in
the Historic Federal Building.
Present: Mayor Buol, Council Members Braig, Connors, Jones, Lynch, Resnick,
Voetberg, City Manager Michael 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 2010 Departmental Budgets were presented by staff from the following
City departments: Human Rights Department, Finance Department, City Attorney’s
Office, City Manager’s Office, City Council, City Clerk.
City Council had discussion with staff on the following budget areas:
Finance: Braig inquired about the drive-by meter reading device requested in the
current year’s budget and why the two additional hours for the part-time Payroll Clerk
was not recommended. Finance Director Ken TeKippe stated that as part of the meter
change-out process, the device would no longer be needed. Van Milligen stated that the
amount for the additional hours was an example of a number of smaller requests not
recommended that could trigger a property tax increase. Resnick asked if outsourcing
payroll has been considered. TeKippe stated that it has been considered and believed
that outsourcing payroll would provide no benefit to the City.
City Manager’s Office: Resnick inquired as to how the salary for the proposed
Assistant Budget Director position was determined. Personal Director Randy Peck
stated that he had reviewed the duties and salary for the proposed position and
performs a state-wide comparison. Resnick also inquired about the additional hours for
the new Arts and Cultural Affairs coordinator. Neighborhood Development Specialist
Jerelyn O’Connor stated that the new position has been a definite advantage and that
the City has had marked success with its arts programs, but there is great potential for
doing more. Arts and Cultural Affairs Commissioner Ellen Henkels thanked the City
Council for their support both past and future.
City Council: Van Milligen stated that this year’s City Council budget includes an
annual membership in Sister Cities International.
City Clerk’s Office: Resnick questioned the increase in the supplies and services
expense. City Clerk Jeanne Schneider stated that the increase included this year’s
election expense. Braig questioned that with the reinstatement of the Peddler’s License,
if licensees would be provided identification for going door to door. Schneider stated
licensees would be required to wear identification issued by the City Clerk’s Office,
which can be readily observed by citizens and applicant information would be provided
to the Police Department. Braig suggesting posting a visual sample of the identification
on the City Clerk’s webpage for citizens to reference. Buol stated that he had received a
citizen inquiry regarding the proposed expense for agenda management software and
why existing programs wouldn’t suffice. Schneider explained that proposed agenda
management software includes an agenda building component and must be compatible
with the City’s Laserfiche document imaging/storage software as well as the Granicus
software used for cable broadcasting. Lynch further added that it includes a workflow
component, which allows electronic editing and routing by multiple users that other
products, such as Adobe Acrobat, do not provide.
There being no further business, upon motion the City Council adjourned at 8:03 p.m.
/s/Jeanne F. Schneider, CMC
City Clerk
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