05/11/05 Budget Study - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Budget Study Session May 11, 2005 explained the procedures and evaluation of dispatchers and the services they provide and commented upon the good services he believes are provided to citizens. He cited the importance of the tape recordings to providing that service. Ms. Brot asked about 727.03 and why there is such a big decline under the fire department which does not show under the police section. Mr. Ollendorff advised the City Council to turn to page C-96 and C-96, Central Garage. Then he explained the relationship of what is shown there with the charges under the fire department, which owns the fire vehicles. Ms. Brot said she did not understand the “drop.” Mr. Ollendorff said there had to be a change in the cost of operating that department’s fleet. Mr. Norfleet said the prior year’s amounts were used, because it was impossible to know exactly what would be needed, and he provided more specific examples and details. Mr. Wagner asked about the asterisk and to what it referred. Some discussion about how this item related to the Board of Education followed. 26.10 - Engineering There are no major changes to report for Public Works administration. The total budget is in several sections and administration is one of them. Streets, sanitation and sewer- lateral are excluded from this section. The only variances are in the supplies or equipment. Ms. Welsch asked if the sewer-lateral fund was separate and was advised yes, it is in a totally separate fund. 26.20 – Street Maintenance Division All staff connected to streets are included here. Capital out-lay for streets are contracted out. There are no major changes. Ms. Welsch asked how leaf collection impacted the budget. The City Manager advised that Item 714.00 showed that impact as did 721.10, and he provided specific figures and details relating to that issue. Ms. Welsch wanted to know if money was saved by omitting the early leaf pick-up and was advised yes. Pick-up time is compressed into a total period of eight weeks and is most intense over a period of about three weeks. Mr. Wagner said there were many disgruntled residents when the leaf pick-up was changed. The no-charge pick-up should have been available in October as well as November and December, he suggested. He asked what the policy for the coming year would be, and was advised that the Council could determine if October would be free- of-charge. Ms. Brungardt said it would be December and January, according to the City calendar. Some discussion about leaf free-bag pick-up followed. Sweeping up is much more expensive. Ms. Brungardt said it was actually November and December and more discussion followed. Mr. Wagner said March might be a good month to offer the Page 5