2004-05-12 Budget Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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Session 1920 May 12, 2004 code inspection tasks more efficiently and uniformly and to address what is perceived as "uneven code enforcement throughout the City." Mr. Ollendorff said that when property maintenance code changes, the City routinely sends inspectors to training courses. Ms. Welsch asked if the City was changing from BOCA to the International Code, and was advised that change is underway. Some discussion of code and its interpretation and application ensued. Mr. Ollendorff concluded this section by pointing out that additional part-time staff and additional staffing in Public Relations are the only two changes in this section of the budget. Sanitation Division - Here there are several changes due to decreases in cost: these include a new contract for the land fill, changing the pick-up routes, and fewer employees due to rerouting of trash routes. Other costs are up: health, hospital and medical insurance are up $16,000; cost-of- living increases for employees; maintenance of trucks in the Central Garage, up $40,000. Many cost increases result in the total cost of Sanitation being slightly less than the past year, even though there have been some cost savings. Revenue is around $2 million, but the expenses are over $2.3 million, and that is the reason for the suggested slight increase in the refuse rate, to help this system pay for itself. There is need for a "baler" which costs $47,000, to compact the recyclables, and which was not previously budgeted. It is the first priority for a grant, rather than using the General Fund to pay for it. Street Lighting - Most lighting is rented from Union Electric/AmerenUE, as shown on page C-56 line item 725.02 which is $576,000 for street lights. The City owns some 200 street lights, so $20,000 in the budget is directed towards staff time for maintenance of those lights and for inspecting the ones owned by Union Electric. Under Capital Outlay there are two items for consideration: 743.09 for new installations and for replacement of existing lights. There are two expensive needs in terms of new street lights: Eckert Park Walkway and the replacement of all of the City-owned street lights from Washington University at Forsyth Boulevard to Delmar Boulevard and to Vernon Avenue. Washington University paid for the replacement of the south half of these lights, but University City needs to replace the remaining ones. It will cost $200,000 to do this, but the budgeted figure is $27,000, to make a small start on Eckert Park Walkway. The second need is street lights for the University City Loop area which will cost about $2 million dollars. An Enhancement Grant is the only revenue source available to meet this need. The City has been advised to complete its first Enhancement Grant before applying for a second one; $50,000 of the first Grant remains to be spent. If this course is followed, the application would be submitted, and if funded, would become part of East-West Gateway's five-year plan, with money available three-five years from now. This plan is Page 4