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Budget Study Session May 9, 2005 The city clerk described her position as an administrative function, not a financial one. Mayor Adams explained that in the city’s early history the city clerk was an attorney, but the day-to-day operation of the city clerk’s office was handled by a deputy city clerk and that person generated the minutes. The city attorney and city clerk eventually evolved over the years into completely separate positions. Ms. Colquitt asked about line 724.26 and whether it was included in the Legislative section. Mr. Ollendorff said part of it was and mentioned that every position covered by the insurance has a piece of the premium in his or her budget. Then Ms. Colquitt asked about 729.05 and was advised that this line covers the print shop. Ms. Brot asked why Central Garage and Ambulances fall under the Finance Department, and Mr. Norfleet indicated that for Ambulance, it was providing the billing services and collecting revenues. He said that there was a name change in the past few years, to Ambulance Account Clerk, and as for Central Garage, it is a division under the Finance Department. Mr. Ollendorff said the Director of Finance is definitely responsible for the City Garage. Ms. Brot wanted to know if this was unusual and the response was, “yes and no.” It is unusual in being such a full-service city, with such a huge fleet. Other cities do not have a central garage, the responsibility is de- centralized. Mr. Wagner said he was interested in the “unobligated fund balance” and commented that it was set at fifteen per cent for several years now. The GFOA website listed all the criteria for the operating reserve and asked Mr. Norfleet to re-do the analysis for this year. The national average is twenty-five per cent and University City’s is fifteen. 10.17 – Maintenance of City Property Mr. Ollendorff said that the Director of Finance’s other job is maintenance of city buildings. There are very few changes, but he had decreased electricity and natural gas, based on the premise that the rehab of City Hall should “in theory” save money. Some discussion about readiness, fuel prices and other matters ensued. Capital outlay is down somewhat, because current needs were included in the building this year. Some items were included in the Bond Issue. Ms. Brungardt commented that she had spoken with the Fire Department and learned some of their “hopes for the future’. While there she learned that they would like a different fire house arrangement, which they see as a necessity within the next five to ten years. She wanted to know how this future expense could be addressed. Ms. Colquitt asked about the distance in feet one fire house needed to be placed from another, and the City Manager said that for Class Three insurance rating, just recently achieved, fire vehicles must be so many feet from a dense apartment building, so many feet from a store, so many feet from a high-rise. Time is a second factor. He does not Page 8