05/09/05 Budget Study - Laserfiche WebLink

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Budget Study Session May 9, 2005 increase from $12,000 to $15,700. He had not studied the request. Ms. Brot asked some additional questions about some items and whether they are needed. Mr. Wagner mentioned a “hand-shake agreement” with the UCRS director, Jim Thomas, that he would work to decrease their budget, which had been increasing over the years. He agreed to decrease it ten per cent per year, which he accomplished for a second year. He is nearing the level for his function, so it is not necessary for it to be lowered for next year. Then he asked if Mr. Thomas had asked for $2000 for maintenance repairs? Ms. Welsch asked about her suggestion to have a person on staff to focus on Senior Issues. She would like additional information about the Senior Service Board and their outreach programs. Mr. Ollendorff responded that in an informal way, several departments have outreach with seniors in the community, but there is not an overall City responsibility. Mr. Sharpe mentioned a proposed part-time position discussed earlier to work in this area. He expressed his opinion that the Senior Center is under- utilized because there are no activities to engage the participants. Ms. Brot said that she brought (as an employee of Mid-East Area Agency on Aging) some of the programs there, but she would really like to see the City Council meet with people conducting programs, perhaps at a study session, to learn about what they do and how they do it. Ms. Welsch commented that the City Council discussed this in the past, but no change evolved from the discussion and she expressed her interest in following up on this issue. The city clerk described her position as an administrative function, not a financial one. Ms. Brot commented on UCRS and how they functioned in the past. She commented that the younger generation uses the internet almost exclusively and feels that the City should include more information online about available apartments and housing. Ms. Colquitt asked it charging for their services would then be done online? Mr. Ollendorff said if UCRS needs to provide better service for the landlords, then they should approach the landlords. If they want items listed on the net, it should not be subsidized by the City. Other funding sources need to be found to contribute to the costs. Ms. Brot commented that her point was that the current way to do thing was to “put it on the net.” Mr. Ollendorff said the City listed commercial property and not residential property. Some discussion on the relationship between the City and UCRS ensued, with focus upon its mission, its future, and its purpose. Ms. Colquitt asked why the cadet program was under “Administrative Services” and Mr. Ollendorff said there was not any good reason. Most of the personnel costs for the cadets are in the police and fire department budgets, but it started as an Affirmative Action program in the City Manager’s department and some of the expenses remain there. Ms. Colquitt asked if it should be moved. Page 6