Loading...
Proof of Publication_City Council Proceedings 2 24 10CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OFFICIAL The Dubuque City Council met in special session at 6:30 p.m. on February 24, 2010 in the Historic Federal Building. Present: Mayor Buol, Council Members Braig, Connors, Jones, Resnick, Voetberg, City Manager Van Milligen Absent: Council Mem- ber Lynch Mayor Buol read the call and stated this is a special session of the City Council called for the purpose of discus- sing various City de- partmental budgets. Fiscal Year 2011 De- partmental Budgets were presented by staff from the follow- ing Agencies and City departments: Purchase of Services, Library, Health Services, and the Fire Department. Purchase of Services America's River Cor- poration: Speaking on behalf of the Corpora- tion, Convention and Visitors Bureau Direc- tor Keith Rahe re- viewed the America's River Festival and spoke in favor of con- tinued support. Re- sponding to questions from City Council, Rahe stated that the Ameri- ca's River Festival has made a profit the last two years. Helping Services for Northeast Iowa: Pre- vention Supervisor Claire Jones, 2728 As- bury Road, thanked the City Council for contin- ued support of the agency and described its purpose and budg- et. Hills and Dales: Exec- utive Director Marilyn Althof, 1011 Davis Street, thanked the City Council for contin- ued support of the agency and described its purpose. Opening Doors: Exec- utive Director Michelle Brown, 1561 Jackson Street, thanked the City Council for contin- ued support of the agency and described its purpose. Operation: New View: Community Action Agency: Communica- tion from Operation: New View Executive Di- rector Tom Stovall sub- mitting the agency's work plan. description staffing request stating that Library services have always been a Council priority and ex- pressed concern over cutting programs that seem to only impact low- income residents. Ms. Michalski stated she was in favor of a property tax increase. Tom Welu, 2609 Broadway, spoke in fa- vor of fully funding the Library comparing it to the importance of staffing the Police or Fire Departments. Welu stated he was in favor of a property tax increase to help with all City services. Library Board of Trustees President Diann Guns, 1715 Diane Court, spoke in favor of the staffing request on behalf of the Library Board. Ms. Guns stated that while the Library has been creative in meeting its staffing needs, the issue has been placed too low on the priority list for too long. Ms. Guns stated that the Library Board does not want the per- ception that a possible property tax increase is the direct result of the Library's budget request. Guns added that she believes pub- lic funding of a histori- cally free facility is an essential responsibili- ty. Dana Livingston, 808 Lacey Court, stated he is not in favor of mov- ing staff from other city areas to assist the Library as noted in a recent Telegraph Her- ald article. Mr. Living- ston suggested explor- ing successful public/ private collaboration as evidenced else- where in the city. He added that there are no alternatives in the private sector to com- pare with the quality of materials and services as provided by the Li- brary. He suggested applying user fees and alternative revenue sources. Buol noted that charging fees for Library services is pro- hibited by the accredi- tation process. Budget 'Director Jenny Larson stated that the proposal of an addi- tional 1% property tax increase would result in a $4.60 /per year in- crease to the average homeowner. When added to the original proposed property tax increase of 2.47% it STATE OF IOWA {SS: DUBUQUE COUNTY CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION I, Suzanne Pike, a Billing Clerk for Woodward Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher of the Telegraph Herald,a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the attached notice was published in said newspaper on the following dates: March 3, 2010, and for which the charge is $89.95. L.'t y1.1 Subscri d to before m Notary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa, this �/i day of .. �A� , 20 . otary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa. MARY K. WESTERMEYER Commission Number 154885 l Comm. Ex • FEB. 1, 201? CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA CITY COUNCIL port of the program and described its pur- pose, statistics and budget. Substance Abuse Services. Center, Exec- utive Director Diane Thomas, thanked the City Council for contin- ued support and de- scribed the Center.'s purpose, statistics and budget adding that the Center is celebrating its 35th anniversary. Washington Neigh- borhood Tool Library: President Tom Ober- hoffer, thanked the City Council for contin- ued support stating that the Tool Library is 100 percentnon-profit. Carnegie -Stout Public Library: Library Direc- tor Susan Henricks in- troduced the- Library Board of Trustees and staff and presented the Fiscal Year 2011 budg- et for this department. Responding to ques- tions from Mayor Buol, Henricks stated that minimally improve- ment packages 1 and 2 are the most critical. Except for the reduc- tion in Section 8 Vouchers and two po- lice officer positions, Voetberg supported elimination of several General Fund recurring improvement packages as recommended by the City Manager in or- der to fund Library re- quests ib, 2, and 7. He added that he is in fa- vor of funding some of the Library staffing is- sues and is willing to discuss other cuts to avoid a property tax in- crease. Mayor Buol stated that he could not see where any cuts could be made as all packages relate to and support City Council priorities. Braig stated that she was in favor of fully funding the Library's staffing needs and sup- ported a property tax increase in order to do so citing the reality of rising costs. Connors agreed with Braig stat- ing that Library staff- ing was a specific goal of the City Council. Resnick stated that he supports the Library but is against a tax in- crease, hard choices need to be made and questioned how essen- tial some programs are. Resnick also ques- tioned the need for several programs and requests and whether the cost of expanding programs is more im- portant than staffing the Library. Jones stat- ed that should an addi- tional one percent tax increase be agreed upon, the budget is still to the citizens' benefit. He stated that general- ly rising costs have re- sulted in a complicated budget, and he is not in favor of cutting other programs. Van ivlilligen stated the he will provide in- formation on the effect of the Library's request on the budget at the March 9 City Council meeting. Ann Michalski, 1520 Altura Street, spoke in favor of the Library's staffing request stating that Library services have always been a Council priority and ex- duced staff and pre- sented the Fiscal Year 2011 budget for this department. There were no comments from City Council. There being no fur- ther business, upon motion the City Council adjourned at 8:46 p.m. /s/Jeanne F. Schneider, CMC, City Clerk It 3/3 rnnnnrn nvnr der to fund Library re- quests lb, 2, and 7. He added that he is in fa- vor of funding some of the Library staffing is- sues and is willing to discuss other cuts to avoid a property tax in- crease. Mayor Buol stated that he could not see where any cuts could be made as all packages relate to and support City Council priorities. Braig stated that she was in favor of fully funding the Library's staffing needs and sup- ported a property tax increase in order to do so citing the reality of rising costs. Connors agreed with Braig stat- ing that Library staff- ing was a specific goal ofthe City Council. Resnick stated that he supports the Library but is against a tax in- crease, hard choices need to be made and questioned how essen- tial some programs are. Resnick also ques- tioned the need for several programs and requests and whether the cost of expanding programs is more im- portant than staffing the Library. Jones stat- ed that should an addi- tional one percent tax increase be agreed upon, the budget is still to the citizens' benefit. He stated that general- ly rising costs have re- sulted in a complicated budget, and he is not in favor of cutting other programs. Van lvtilligen stated the he will provide in- formation on the effect of the Library's request on the budget at the March 9 City Council meeting. Ann Michalski, 1520 Altura Street, spbke in favor of the Library's staffing request stating that Library services have always been a Council priority and ex- pressed concern over cutting programs that The Dubuque City seem to only impact Council met in special low-income residents. session at 6:30 p.m. on Ms._ Michalski stated February 24, 2010 in , she was in favor of a the Historic Federal Property tax increase. Building. Tom Welu, 2609 Present: Mayor Buol, Broadway, spoke in fa - Council Members vor of fully funding the Braig, Connors, Jones, Library comparing it to Resnick, Voetberg, City the importance of Manager Van Milligen staffing the Police or Absent: Council Mem- Fire Departments. ber Lynch Welu stated he was in Mayor Buol read the favor of a property tax call and stated this is a increase to help with special session of the all City services. City Council called for Library Board of the purpose of discus- Trustees President sing various City de- Diann Guns, 1715 Diane partmental budgets. Court, spoke in favor of Fiscal Year 2011 De- the staffing request on partmental Budgets behalf of the Library were presented by Board. Ms. Guns stated staff from the follow- that while the Library ing Agencies and City has been creative in departments: Purchase meeting its staffing of Services, Library, needs, the issue has Health Services, and been placed too low on the Fire Department. the priority list for too Purchase of Services long. Ms. Guns stated America's River Cor- that the Library Board poration: Speaking on does not want the per - behalf of the Corpora- ception that a possible tion, Convention and property tax increase Visitors Bureau Direc- is the direct result of tor Keith Rahe re- the Library's budget viewed the America's request. Guns added River Festival and that she believes pub - spoke in favor of con- lic funding of a histori- tinued support. Re- cally free facility is an sponding to questions essential responsibili- from City Council, Rahe t stated that the Ameri- ca's River Festival has made a profit the last two years. Helping Services for Northeast Iowa: Pre- vention Supervisor Claire Jones, 2728 As- bury Road, thanked the City Council for contin- ued support of the agency and described its purpose and budg- et. Hills and Dales: Exec- utive Director Marilyn Althof, 1011 Davis Street, thanked the Cify Council for contin- ued support of the agency and described its purpose. Opening Doors: Exec- utive Director Michelle Brown, 1561 Jackson Street, thanked the City Council for contin- ued support of the agency and described its purpose. Operation: New View: Community Action Agency: Communica- in a $4.60/per year in- tion from Operation: crease to the average New View Executive Di- homeowner. When rector Tom Stovall sub- added to the original miffing the agency's proposed property tax work plan, description increase of 2.47% it of programs, and budg- would result in a total et information, and tax increase of $18.22 thanking the City for the average home - Council for their sup-, owner with a home val- port. ued at $130,000. Project Concern: Ex- Health Services: Pub- ecutive Director Nancy lic Health Specialist Lewis, 1789 Elm Street, Mary Rose Corrgian thanked the City Coun- Presented re a dsthe Fiscal cil for continued sup- $Olbudget for port for its three pro- this department. Re - grams: Child Care Re- sponding to a question ferral, Foster Grand- from City Council, parent Program, and Corrigan stated that Information and Refer- the increase in coyote ral. Ms. Lewis descri- management costs is bed each program's due to increased heli- purpose and budget. copter expenses cou- Retired Senior Volun- pled with the differen- teer Program: Director ces in reimbursement Deb Bell, 350 North tags for harvested coy - Grandview Avenue, ote. thanked the City Coun- Fire Department: Fire cil for continued sup- Chief Dan Brown intro - CITY OF DUBUQUE, IOWA CITY COUNCIL PROCEEDINGS OFFICIAL Dana Livingston, 808 Lacey Court, stated he is not in favor of mov- ing staff from other city areas to assist the Library as noted in a recent Telegraph Her- ald article. Mr. Living- ston suggested explor- ing successful public/ private collaboration as evidenced else- where in the city. He added that there are no alternatives in the private sector to com- pare with the quality of materials and services as provided by the Li- brary. He suggested applying user fees and alternative revenue sources. Buol noted that charging fees for Library services is pro- hibited by the accredi- tation process. Budget 'Director Jenny Larson stated that the proposal of an addi- tional 1% property tax increase would result STATE OF IOWA {SS: DUBUQUE COUNTY CERTIFICATION OF PUBLICATION I, Suzanne Pike, a Billing Clerk for Woodward Communications, Inc., an Iowa corporation, publisher of the Telegraph Herald,a newspaper of general circulation published in the City of Dubuque, County of Dubuque and State of Iowa; hereby certify that the attached notice was published in said newspaper on the following dates: March 3, 2010, and for which the charge is $89.95. Subscri d to befre m��ota Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa, this dayof / 2/124Zp7e. otary Public in and for Dubuque County, Iowa. MARY K. WESTERMEYER Commission Number 154885 My Comm, Ex FEB, 1, 201t