05/14/97 BUDGET - Laserfiche WebLink

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SESSION 1696 MINUTES OF THE UNIVERSITY CITY COUNCIL MAY 14,1997 At a special budget study meeting of the City Council of University City held on the second floor, Room 6 of City Hall on Wednesday, May 14, 1997, Mayor Joseph L. Adams called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. In addition to the Mayor, the following members of the Council were present: Mr. Wayne I. Munkel Mr. Robert G. Wagner Mr. Lawrence Lieberman Mr. Paul E. Schoomer Mrs. Betty Thompson ABSENT: Mr. Hardy Ware. Also present was City Manager Frank Ollendorff, Finance Director Willie Norfleet and Assistant to the City Manager Gregory Rose. Discussion continued on the 1997-98 budget. It was the only subject discussed. The City Manager distributed copies of a memo from the Director of Finance listing sixteen cellular phones that are being utilized by City staff. He also distributed copies of the University City Residential Services (UCRS) budget for the new year. $52,804 was budgeted for them, however they requested $58,200, approximately a 10% increase, to give salary increases to their staff. Mr. Wagner feels that this increase is too high and hard to justify. He stated that they should receive an increase that is more in line with inflation, such as the 2-3% that the City will be using. He believes $55,000 would be an adequate budget for the UCRS. Mr. Schoomer moved to increase the UCRS budget to $55,000. Mr. Wagner seconded the motion. Mr. Wagner stated that the UCRS was a very worthwhile organization and commended them for their efforts and contributions. He further commented that the services the UCRS provides the City were well beneath the market price of an advertising agency. Mayor Adams feels they should do a better job marketing the northeast end of the City. Hopefully, with the possibility of an interactive web site, the UCRS can also use it to help them with their marketing efforts. Mr. Schoomer said that they follow up with all major corporate announcements, but could not say how successful they were in this area. Mr. Ollendorffsaid that they were not very successful getting these potential buyers to look at this area, because the UCRS deals with 90% rentals. All voted unanimously to increase the UCRS budget to $55,000. Mayor Adams asked if the cellular phones were being contracted out through one carrier. Mr. Ollendorffthought that most were being contracted through Ameritech, but was not sure if all were. Responding to Mayor Adams, Mr. Ollendorffsaid that each time a phone is added, it is priced to make sure the best package deal is being contracted. Mayor Adams inquired if the City had the property available to erect a cellular tower if approached by a University City carrier. He further stated that if they were able to erect the tower, then the City should be able to trade the use of cellular phones in exchange for utilizing City property for their tower. Mayor Adams said that the County was contracting phones in this matter. Mr. Wagner stated for the record that the Council is aware of the cellular phones being used by City staff and Council's expectation is that they are to be used only for business. He commends the City Manager for his tight control of cellular phone usage and hopes he continues to monitor it in the same manner in the future. Mayor Adams pays for his cellular phone personally. The City Manager said that the combined five items that the City recycles represents 12% of the waste stream. The yard waste the City collects represents 15%. The total for both is 27%. The state mandated a figure of approximately 40%. Mr. Ollendorffestimates that we are getting approximately one third of the recyclables on a voluntary basis. Mandatory