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Budget Study Session May 11, 2005 service, but Mr. Ollendorff said it would be no savings for the City. Mr. Sharpe asked how it would be advertised and Mr. Ollendorff said by every possible means. Two items for street maintenance have increased. Street lighting, 725.02, used to be in a separate budget. Ms. Welsch commented about street lights and asked whether money left over from some enhancement fund could be used to purchase street lights for our side of the loop area to match those in the Loop East Area. Ms. Welsch mentioned that Joe Edwards had spoken at a Loop Special Business District meeting about this possibility. There was some question as to which fund was actually being referred to. The total cost of the lights is about two million dollars, but there is an amount of $50,000 which the Loop Special Business District wants used for street lights. Discussion of details and the enhancement grant followed. Ms. Welsch mentioned community development block grants, noting they may be cut, and asked about the decision of previous Councils to put these funds into Parkview Gardens Special Business District. If the money is received, she hopes some of it can be reallocated to the Loop. Mayor Adams said they will probably be abolished, but they may be available for one more year. In the past, all the block development grant money went into the Loop and Parkview Gardens, and now other sections of the city would like a share. It is the Council’s decision. Ms. Brot wanted to know if one or two lights could be installed with the available $50,000. Wiring and poles negotiated with AmerenUE are not desirable equipment, according to engineers’ reports. More research is needed before there is a purchase and discussion of light ownership followed. Mr. Wagner asked about 725.02 and what it pays for? He was referred to the street light budget on C-54, which indicated the types of lights and who owns them. AmerenUE bills the City each month for the lights which it owns. Only ten per cent of the charge is for electricity. Lights on private streets owned by the City pay two dollars a months for electricity and maintenance is shown under 725.10 and 726.03; one is for city repair and the other is for contractual repair. City repair is under 711.10. Item Five – Planning and Development There is one major change, and it is the addition of one major staff position for administrative-clerical-technical support. Building permits and plan review functions need an additional staff person to field the demand for review of permit applications, issue of permits and schedule of inspection, due to lack of office staff. Item 711.10 reflects the increased amount to add another person to the staff. A part-time staff person was not enough to meet the demand. Ms. Welsch mentioned the economic development staff person she would like to see added to the staff. She would like to see some money put into “escrow” for this position and she would also like to discuss reorganizing this department to free Lehman Walker Page 6