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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2009-05-28 TranscriptionMay 28, 2009 City Council Page 1 May 28, 2009 City Council Priority Setting Work Session 6:30 P.M. Council Present: Bailey, Champion, Correia, Hayek, O'Donnell, Wilburn, Wright Staff: Helling, O'Malley, Dilkes, Karr, Rocca, Mansfield, Lewis, Kopping, Craig, Tharp, Fosse Others Present: UISG Representative Shipley Reductions v. Revenues: Bailey/ All right. I believe that you have an outline of tonight's discussion in front of you, and we'll just start with the reductions in revenues, and I assume that that's this handout that...you gave us tonight, right, or the two handouts. Helling/ Yeah, two handouts. They're updated, um...reflective of your discussion the other night, and a little bit of input I've gotten from, uh, departments since then. IJh, anything that's underlined was either...added, well, anything that's underlined was moved up from...from the, uh, FY11 and beyond to the... Champion/ From B to A? Helling/ (mumbled) yeah, from the B list, yeah. Bailey/ Make sure what we have. Helling/ The, uh, down in the Library, down toward the bottom, you see the italicized number, that's the new number. strikine Transit parking subsidy. I think it was 8,311 or something before so...that number's a little lower. Um, and then on the next page there's another one underlined in Accounting that was moved up, so the...the total changes, and then anything that's struck through, like the Park and Rec, um, that was one you wanted...if you weren't going to look at anything, you wanted to look at closures at the, uh, downtown facility first (several responding) and I don't have those yet. I...I do have...I do have something, but I'm not sure it's correct, so I'll add that in (mumbled). Bailey/ Okay. Helling/ It's probably a little less than that, maybe 12,000 or 13,000 so it'll...um, H&IS, uh, reduced miscellaneous supplies -that was a double entry that I made, and that was my mistake. And then the Senior Center has asked that we take out the reduction of the program guide and Linda will be sending me something else to compensate for that. Um, the...the total reductions, those recommended and those possible for, uh, for FY11 and beyond, if you look at the top of the last page, that total is $573,064. With the revenues, again, a couple things were moved up from below. Uh, based on your discussion. And that increased that number to $170,000 so if you take that along with the $148,000...I...I This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 2 didn't total that, but it's about 2...it's a little over 300,000...310,000 (mumbled) to 320,000, uh, that's recommended. (several talking) So that can be pared back a little bit. Correia/ Well, cause actually I think we...well, I guess that's in fiscal year 11, but the pressure washing that... Champion/ Right! Correia/ ...City Plaza, we took that out, I thought. Helling/ Well, we...we put it on the B list (both talking) Correia/ Okay. I mean.. . Helling/ (mumbled) (laughter) Correia/ What did you say? Well, since you had crossed out Parks and Rec, the closing Scanlon, okay. Helling/ Yeah, because we're going to substitute something else for that. Correia/ Oh, right. (both talking) Hayek/ Does...does the B list start somewhere on page 3? Or is it scattered? Helling/ No, it's...it's the last, um, on page 3, if you go down to, basically Police. Hayek/ PCD? Helling/ Um, eliminate a second CSO. They're a little bit out of order, but um, that and then down to Police, Fire, and Park and Rec. Doc Services is not on the B list. Um...but all those were...were fairly low priorities. So, I just wanted to touch on that and make sure that we're looking at, generally your expectations of a combination of...of identifying revenues plus reductions in expenditures. Um.. . Bailey/ There was another one, other possible reductions. I thought we had an agreement that we would discontinue the...direct payment to ECICOG. Helling/ That we would or wouldn't? Champion/ We would. Bailey/ We would. O'Donnell/ Was that 20... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 3 Bailey/ That 20,000 that's on other possible reductions. Helling/ I missed that. So... Bailey/ Is there agreement in that? Champion/ I agree. Wright/ I'm fine with that, but I didn't realize that we had (several talking) Bailey/ Oh, I thought it was mentioned, but okay. Correia/ It was mentioned, but I didn't... Wright/ ...yeah, I don't think we... Bailey/ Okay. Is there agreement? Champion/ Yes. O'Donnell/ I agree. Hayek/ Uh-huh. Helling/ So you want to scratch that. That's not a possible anymore. Bailey/ No. We want to do it. Helling/ Oh! You want to do it! Oh! Correia/ Want to move it into the "yes." Bailey/ It's a "yes." As soon as possible. (laughter) Correial So that would be in the fiscal year 10 reduction. Bailey/ I'm not sure it...there was some discussion with JCCOG about when that could roll in. It might end up being 11 (several talking) Helling/ ...budget, it being in place, I think (mumbled) (several talking) Hayek/ I think we...we, I know that this issue's been, uh, on the table for a while, and so to speak fair warning, but to the extent that we're backing away from a commitment to another organization, I think we owe them the courtesy of allowing them to plan for it. I don't know what that means. If that means for FY10 we leave things intact. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 4 Bailey/ I think that was the discussion earlier, that we had, FY10 and this would give ample warning for FY1 l ...to enable the shift to happen, and do it more like Linn County. Helling/ Okay. The other thing with...with the FY10, the revenues and expenditures, again I just wanted to make sure that...we have some flexibility. We're going to essentially manage our way through this, um, we may...these numbers may prove to be different as we refine them and so forth. Um, and so...I'll need flexibility to make some minor adjustments as we go along. If it's anything that's significant in terms of a meaningful, in terms of reductions that you didn't expect or...or revenues, that type of thing, uh, we'll certainly let you know as we go along. Wilburn/ You mean for 2010, right? Helling/ For 2010, yeah, uh-huh. And we...we have quite a bit of flexibility there now, um, so as...as, again, as we refine these we may find something works better than the other and may bring it back down (mumbled) in that area. But certainly that's something you'll know sooner rather than later. Does that essentially work for you? Bailey/ Uh-huh. Go ahead. Correia/ Um...are we saying that what we just did is what we're (mumbled), is that (mumbled) Helling/ Well, I mean, if you have things that you want to address before we finalize (mumbled) Correia/ well, I thought we had talked last, or Tuesday, about some of these Parks and Rec fees, like the rides, the shelter rental, the sports field rental. Helling/ Uh, you want more information on those? You agreed to the cemetery fees and then we moved those up. Correia/ Oh, right, that's not there. Okay, fine. Helling/ The rest of'em... Correia/ Oh, gotcha! Bailey/ Uh-huh. Correial Sorry! Wright/ One thing we had...touched on earlier, and...(mumbled) talked about it the other night or not, was the, um, Council resolution for the confident...confidential... Bailey/ Administrative. Wright/ ...confidential administrative employees... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 5 Bailey/ We did not talk about. Wright/ ...salary increase. I'd like to... Karr/ I'm sorry. I'm unable to hear. If we could either move up the mics or speak a little bit louder. We just can't hear. Thank you. Wright/ The reso...the Council resolution from 07, uh, specified the, uh, step increases in salary for the confidential administrative employees. Um, we had talked about that at a work session... sometime ago. You know, I think that's probably something we ought to address for FY10. Helling/ That was...that was in the assumption. Wright/ That that would stay in place? Helling/ Yeah. Basically at 3.1%, or as negotiated, and then all the contracts open for (mumbled) Wright/ Right. The union contracts I understand we're...we're bound for those, um...I personally don't think this is...given the economy and the state of the City's budget that there's room for, uh, salary increases for employees whose contracts are not specified. Correia/ So they're non-union. Wright/ Non-union. We're bound to those contracts. You know, we have...there are people all over town that are not going to be getting raises this year, and I....I think the City staff need to be in that same category. Champion/ (feedback on mic) oops, I think we need to have an executive session to discuss this. O'Donnell/ L ..I do too. L . . Dilkes/ You can't. Champion/ You can't? Dilkes/ No. It's anon-bargaining. You can with bargaining employees, but not with administrative and confidential. Wright/ Given the economy, I...I just can't see doing that. Bailey/ And this was part of the assumption in FY10 budget that we approved, correct? Because the resolution goes through F10? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 6 Helling/ Yes, that's correct. That was my assumption, that everything would stay at 3.1 %, except those things that were negotiated otherwise, which (mumbled). Dilkes/ Connie, to the extent that administrative and confidential salaries would relate to your strategy in negotiations with the unions, then you could talk about it in executive session, but not (mumbled) Champion/ Okay, thank you. Shipley/ How big of a figure is a pay raise if (mumbled) or let that happen? Helling/ Uh...talking about for the non-bargaining? Shipley/ Yeah. Helling/ What would the number be? LTh...(several talking) Bailey/ Well here's a suggestion, Mike, I mean, this resolution goes through 10. We've created a budget and we've created savings for 10. Um, we're in good shape with 10. We'll have to look at another resolution for fiscal year 11 and onward. Perhaps that's when we make the adjustment, and so there's not the expectation. I mean, that's just a suggestion, but since we've...since we've approved a budget and have managed to make the appropriate reductions to the fiscal year 10 budget that we committed to, with these kinds of changes, and I think these kinds of changes are...I think we've done some really good things here, generally, I mean, there are some...there are some things I'm not wild about, but...another approach would be to look at the resolution that would be going forward. Or not have such a resolution. Wright/ Yeah. Bailey/ So there's another way to approach it. Helling/ And as Eleanor was saying, particularly I think if you want to talk about FY11, and I clear that...we should, to the extent that we can, to use an executive session for that, because it will reflect directly on (both talking) Bailey/ Let's plan on that! I think that might be a...a going forward approach. Are you comfortable with an executive session to talk about it to the extent we can as it connects with our bargaining strategies? Wright/ I'd be curious if anybody else is interested in pursuing it in the current cycle. Bailey/ In 10? Others? Champion/ I would be but I'm not. We've already approved those salaries. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 7 Wright/ You would be but you're not? Champion/ Well...I mean, I objected to the raise in the beginning. Wright/ Those are for the... Champion/ I think that determines what happens, and so I'm...I'm certainly willing to talk about it, as...regards to our (mumbled) bargaining units that are going to be rebargaining next year. Bailey/ Are you willing to talk about the tie to confidential and administrative? Champion/ Yes, exactly. Bailey/ Next year though? Champion/ Yes. Bailey/ So that's kind of what I said. You're interested in talking about it for 10. Are there others who are interested in talking about it for the current year that we're moving, or the year that we're moving into in a little over a month. Okay. It looks like we'll talk about it in an executive session, related to our bargaining approach for 11. Hayek/ I think philosophically, uh, the bargaining we do with non-bargaining employees is...is, uh, entirely related to, uh, the...the raises we approve for the rest of the institution, so I think they are linked, not necessarily legally, but...but in many other respects, and so I think they're tied together and I think that leads to (both talking) Wright/ I respectfully disagree, but... Hayek/ Yes. Bailey/ Okay. Wright/ I have no choice! Bailey/ Thank you (mumbled). Okay. Helling/ (mumbled) that is in the...in the (mumbled) FY10 budget. Champion/ Uh-huh. Bailey/ Right. Helling/ The...just wanted to inform you, if you haven't already heard, that the franchise fee legislation was included, it was not taking out of the (mumbled) bill, so it did pass. Um, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 8 and it is up to 5%, and there is that laundry list of uses, and (mumbled) more detail on that. Um, in fact, it's something that you may want to schedule for a work session at some point so we can get you details on...on just exactly what that option means. Maybe refine the numbers a little bit, and get those...those authorized uses on the table, as well, so you can really get a good handle on what you have there, and we should do that sooner rather than later. Bailey/ So there's interest I'm assuming. (laughter) Just checking! Hayek/ I think we have to explore it, but...but, frankly my knowledge level about franchise fee, what it means, what the scope is, etc., is...is quite minimal right now. Wright/ I think we could use a little education along with it, but I'm certainly interested in it. Helling/ Well, we have to educate ourselves too. Wright/ Yeah. Helling/ (mumbled) Bailey/ Yeah, good. But sooner rather than later so we can look at it for 11. If we're interested. Helling/ Yeah, and I don't...I don't know how long it would take from the time you'd want to do it to pass your ordinance, get the proper notices and everything, um, but I imagine that's a matter of months. So... Bailey/ Some of the research we need to do. Helling/ Yeah, so there's plenty of time (mumbled) Bailey/ Okay, good! Helling/ Okay, and I wanted to mention too that we are in the process of doing a fee study internally, and uh, I think that most of what we've done here is (mumbled) fees will be consistent with that, but we will have that probably, again, within a few weeks. We should have it finalized, and uh, so that's something that we'll want to (mumbled). Hayek/ You mean chargebacks or internal accounting? Helling/ Fees, uh, user fees, that sort of thing. We're doing a... Hayek/ Within the institution? Between departments. Helling/ Yeah. O'Malley/ No, not chargebacks. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Hayek/ Oh. O'Malley/ Charges to customers. Hayek/ Okay. When you said internally.. . Helling/ ...we do, and it's a comprehensive (mumbled) Page 9 Bailey/ I do have a question about an enterprise fund fee or rebate that we also, um, provide for people who use, whatever, SurePay or whatever. I think we should look at that, as well. I know it's an enterprise fund but...nobody else gets a benefit for that. So... Champion/ It saves a lot of paperwork for the City too. Bailey/ It does, but we are giving a dollar incentive for people who use it. I think nobody else gives a dollar incentive for web payments or anything else. I think.. . O'Malley/ There's no fee though. There's a fee for using the web. We have, we get charged 3.....2.85% when somebody uses the web, where it's free if we take it out of their bank. Champion/ Right. Bailey/ But I don't think we need to incent any longer is what I'm saying. Maybe when it was an early thing. Wright/ You say do away with the dollar.. . Bailey/ Do away with the dollar incentive. Champion/ I don't know. I've gotten several people to do it that way cause you save a dollar. Helling/ I think what Kevin's saying is originally it was an incentive, rather than mail your bill in. (several responding) Now it's an incentive to do that, rather than use the web because.. . Bailey/ I mean, I think a lot of people would continue to use it without the incentive. But...I mean, I think it's... Correia/ What are we talking about? (laughter) Champion/ If you have your water bill... Bailey/ If you have it sucked out of your checking account (several talking) dollar off. Champion/ You get a dollar off. It's $12 a year. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 10 Bailey/ See! Didn't even matter to you! Correia/ No! Bailey/ Right. Champion/ But it's, um, it's, you know, it's nice first of all, I mean, I love just having things paid automatically, and I like saving the dollar. It's not that I can't afford the dollar, but I've gotten a lot of people to do that just because they save a dollar. Bailey/ Well. Champion/ And it doesn't, it saves the City money actually. Bailey/ Well, it doesn't save the City money if we're also cutting it a dollar. Hayek/ Before we get into the merits of that (both talking) fee study. Bailey/ That's what I wanted to roll into the fee study. That's what I was just saying. I didn't want to have a discussion about it now. (laughter) Helling/ I think the fee study covered the enterprises too. It covers the whole... Bailey/ Okay, good. That's all I wanted to know! Helling/ Okay. Um, then I guess we...the fee study? Okay. (laughter) Bailey/ Unless anybody else (mumbled) (several talking) Helling/ Um, FY (several talking) um, just stress that in FY10 there aren't any employee layoffs in there. Now, you know, again, given the opportunities, if we have turnover and we want to look at something...we could ultimately maybe be looking at a reduction of a position or something, but if it wouldn't be for FY10, we wouldn't do anything that would force a current employee (mumbled) their job. Wright/ Well, we might not fill a position that comes open. Helling/ Right. Yeah. Correia/ It seems like it's always a good time when somebody's leaving...to assess. Helling/ We do assess, and you know, if we, and in that situation wanted to do some sort of reorganization and shuffle some people around, that would be, you know, that would be okay too. The thing is that we want to make it clear that there aren't going to be any This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 11 positions lost or anybody laid off (mumbled), unless something, you know, drastic happens between now and the end of the year. Bailey/ Don't let something drastic happen! Helling/ Okay, and then next there were just some topics that you identified that you wanted to have some more payment...or payment, some more discussion about. I was look at the first one. Um, and there...in the indented, uh, list there and so I guess we could go ahead and start, uh, monthly pay, uh, payroll monthly instead of, or semi-monthly instead of every two weeks. Uh, there's some discussion about that. I think, Kevin, you had some rough numbers anyway. Pay Monthly or Semi-Monthly: O'Malley/ Right, I, uh, I had my accounting people take a look at it and um, there might be a few union issues about, I think it's in the contract, and...but, I think the payback would be about two years to do something like that. Um, so then I happened to be talking to some people on the bus this morning about this issue because they're University employees and they said, no, people get paid bi-weekly there. So I went to (both talking) Wright/ Might be some of the merit staff, the union staff. O'Malley/ Right, so I went there and sure enough -they have bi-weekly and monthly. And so...it might be, it costs more to do...if some unions continued bi-weekly, there wouldn't be any savings going monthly for the salaried people. Bailey/ So, a two-year payback, what is...what's the difference? Cost...annually. O'Malley/ About 30...I think it was $36,000 was the rough numbers, throughout the City, if everybody went salaried. Bailey/ And since contracts are open next year (several talking) could be possible. Contracts are open next year, it could be something to discuss. Okay. Wright/ I think it should be on the table. Champion/ But everybody has to do it or it won't pay. You'll have two... O'Malley/ No, it won't pay, right, and from what I found at the University, all temporary employees all, um, certain ASCME positions and all salaried positions who are...have contracts with federal funding or something like that, they aren't quite employees but they might have two or three year tenure, they all are on bi-weekly. Dilkes/ I know there was some concern expressed at the staff meeting about dealing with, how that would affect temporary employees if we went to monthly with temporary, and This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 12 the...and getting those employees. I think there's a number of different things that have to be considered. Helling/ In terms of recruiting temps for seasonal temps they...it's very difficult to get somebody to come in and work for a month before they get paid. Dilkes/ And they potentially have to wait two months to get paid, and that's not the best incentive fora (both talking) Helling/ Kevin and I were also talking about, you know, you mentioned about the, uh, if we went to a situation like some employers have done where at least all new employees agree to be paid electronically rather than...that that would erase a lot of the savings. O'Malley/ Yeah, savings dissipate. Bailey/ Pardon me? O'Malley/ The savings would dissipate. Because everything'd be electronic. Most of the cost were in check printing and payroll (mumbled). Champion/ Do we have a lot of people who do electronic? O'Malley/ Yes we do, but we don't mandate it, and the law now allows us to mandate it, but we...we haven't chose...chosen to mandate it. Correia/ So how much would it save us if everybody received their paycheck automatically? Wright/ Electronically. O'Malley/ Probably about $15,000 a year. Wright/ (several talking) that's something also we (both talking) O'Malley/ ...good first step. Helling/ That's a habit if anything (mumbled) Correia/ Well, not everybody can get a bank account, I mean, there's that.. . Wright/ I'm sorry. Whafd you say, Amy? Correia/ Not everybody can get a bank account. Champion/ I bet you there aren't any City employees that don't have a bank account of some kind. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 13 Correia/ Maybe not permanent full time, but temporary, potentially. But, I mean.. . Helling/ Uh, typically what they did in a transition is (mumbled) Bailey/ iJh-huh. Helling/ And sometimes (mumbled). Wright/ That would definitely be...that's an easy saving. Bailey/ Any other discussion with that? Helling/ So my understanding is that probably a first step there would be to look at the electronic (mumbled) Bailey/ And then...and perhaps discuss the monthly, semi-monthly when we look at contracts, because it...because you, we have...everybody has to go. It's a contract issue. Helling/ (mumbled) if we can save it in one way versus the other.. . Bailey/ Right. Senior Center Services: Helling/ Next is the Senior Center services, and I think that's kind of a concept of how we provide our services at the Senior Center and...and I think that was Council initiated. Bailey/ Well, and I brought this up. I bring it up I think annually, um, to offer programming in ways similar to how we do it at the Rec Center, um, with special populations, and art programming, or similar to how the Library does their programming, and I don't, um, I don't see any...I think that we should continue to offer senior services or senior programming, um, this would provide an opportunity, however, to perhaps offer, um, integrated as well as segregated programming, as well, so it wouldn't...some programs wouldn't have to be only for seniors. I know that the Library is targeting seniors as a market. The Rec Center is targeting seniors as a market. I'm assuming some coordination is going on with the Senior Center, but I don't know that because it was mentioned in the Parks and Rec Master Plan to do some more coordination. So I thought it was something we should certainly look at for efficiencies, not to cut programming, but to...to offer it in a different model. Champion/ I couldn't find a copy...we did, we asked the Parks and Rec and the Senior Center to get together a couple years ago and discuss this very thing. Bailey/ I have a copy of the memo somewhere, but essentially, you know, as Parks and Rec and the Senior Center talking about it, it wasn't...and they didn't look at budget efficiencies really, or...or how that would impact programming, except um, well, no I can't find it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 14 I...had pulled it. Oh, there it is. Um, but it didn't talk about budget efficiencies much, and that's kind of what I'm, I mean, we have one person who does special populations programming at the Rec Center. It just seems like it's possible with livable communities and some partnerships within the community for senior services, that this might be a...another more efficient model for us. I mean, times are changing and uh, I'm not sure that this is, you know, an entire department for those kinds of services is really warranted, and it's always bothered me in a sort of equality sort of sense that we have citizens who have to, and I know that people voted in the Senior Center to do it, membership, rather than pay for everything, but you can use aspects of the Rec Center without paying, or being a member, because you're a member by virtue of being a citizen. Um, it seems to me that if you're a senior citizen, you should have access to certain, you know, certain sort of things like the Library that you...you have access to the Library. You have access to the Rec Center, but you don't have complete access to the Senior Center without being a member. And so that's always bothered me, that sort of membership sort of inequality. But...I think, I thought we should bring it up. Actually I had a former Council Member say, you know, you always brought this up. Perhaps...sent me an email and said perhaps with your budget challenges you should bring it up again, so I'm bringing it up again. Wilburn/ Um...just a little extra information on some of the other services. Um, in terms of that access piece that you talked about. That maybe the case, but there are examples where, uh, a particular group fundraiser or volunteers and they get priority over those who do not, like in Parks and Rec. Uh, Iowa City Girls Softball gets priority over, uh, the clubs, and, uh, even local clubs, and both are citizens. Bailey/ And that was something that Mike was talking about, with getting more fund...user fees from those kinds of groups the other night, right? Wilburn/ Yeah, well... Bailey/ Some of those groups would fall into those categories. Of...of special relationship with city. (both talking) Yeah. Hayek/ But...but that's, I mean, if...if, on that end of the institution some entities are...are paying in some fashion, fundraising or otherwise, to offset city costs, and thereby getting abetter priority, and we're talking about expanding that so that other groups do that. That's not consistent with dropping a membership fee. That's the opposite, and maybe...maybe philosophically that is the right way to perceive this. It's not a money- saving, uh... Bailey/ Right, but I...what I'm suggesting (both talking) is having one programmer in the City of Iowa City who does...specializes in senior programming. Not a center, that it's either under Parks and Rec or under the Library, or a combination of both, and you do arts and literature-types of programming, using that expertise of both of those departments, and you do rec programming, but it's not a...a separate department. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 15 Wright/ Yeah, I'm not sure it really needs to be a separate department, as long as we still have the same level of programming. Bailey/ Right. That's my point. Wright/ And, if we can keep that same level of programming...without a separate department, that should save us some substantial money. Bailey/ It's...$800,000, $900,000 to run the Senior Center, I mean, with the, obviously you would need money for the programs and the programmer, but...it shouldn't cost us as much as the department costs us now, right? Helling/ Yeah, just to clarify, the Senior Center has already operated more as a division... Bailey/ Huh. Helling/ ...under the City Manager's office, and the director's paid at the division head level, rather than a department... Bailey/ Well, but it's still its own entity. Helling/ A lot of it's semantics, but it is...it functions as a division rather than a department. Bailey/ Okay. And it's a division under the City Manager, not the division under Parks and Rec. It could be a division under Parks and Rec. O'Donnell/ You know, I talked with Terry about that, and you know, I always thought it was important for the Senior Center to...to maintain their own identity. Um, I talked with...with Terry, and Terry, you know, I'm not certain that this should fall under Parks and Rec, um, and I really don't...you know, I can't recall everything Terry said, but I don't think he could really pinpoint any substantial savings, but I...I don't know. I just...it's something I've never been in favor of. I, for the identity reason. I think Senior Center needs to kind of stand by itself. Wright/ Pretty expensive identity! O'Donnell/ Well, but if you're not going to save money, Michael, why do...why change? Bailey/ We wouldn't save money, I mean, it's...it's $857,000 I think in fiscal year 10 for the entire budget. If you have one programmer versus an entire division.. . O'Donnell/ But you're going...who...who you going to cut at the, I mean... Bailey/ That wouldn't be for me to decide (both talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 16 O'Donnell/ It's going to take somebody to do the same job within the rec...within the Rec department. Bailey/ One person. O'Donnell/ We think. We don't know that! Bailey/ Well, one person does special populations programming, I think the, I mean...I don't know, but I'm suggesting in these times that that seems an appropriate consideration. Wright/ It might even be we have to have...we'd have two people doing special populations programming, but that would still be substantially less money than we're spending to run an entire center. You know, you have to remember that some of those services are part of our program anyway, like the congregate meals. Bailey/ Right. And livable communities has really come onboard as the resource aspect in the county, I mean, I think. I mean, other things have, I mean, the environment at Senior Center is what - 30 years old. The environment of senior services I think is changing. The environment of cities has changed. I mean, I think it merits some consideration. I know we looked at it a couple years ago, but I don't think we talked broadly about where the cost savings could come, and where the commitment, I mean, I don't doubt for any minute that all of us aren't committed to programming for seniors, whether we identify that as 50 and up or 70 and up, but um, I...maintaining the commitment while being more efficient with our funds is my concern. Correia/ I mean, I think, I mean...I would be interested seeing how senior services or Senior Center services have evolved over time in other communities, as well. I mean, I think the...the benefit of livable communities, that's not a funded program. There's not (mumbled) funding...with a small amount of funding from the County to help the initiative, I mean, the idea of that is to rally people around what...how can this community provide the best level of service, um, inclusiveness for seniors, um, I mean, it seems to me that there's opportunity, I mean, I think that...over time that the way the Senior Center has operated in Johnson County has evolved. I mean, there are a lot more active senior groups, most likely in the county, with programming happening not at the Senior Center for seniors, but in other, you know, in other, you know, senior advocates. ] know in Coralville there's an active senior, you know, rec groups that, you know, so I mean I think that there are...the ways that, that I think there's a, you know, an intergenerational and... Bailey/ Right. Correia/ And I think that other, you know, like the Rec Center and the Library are targeting programming towards seniors, so I mean I think it's an opportune time to really look at how...how is, what is the best way for the Senior Center to grow and evolve in this climate, you know, and...and... This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 17 Bailey/ And one of the assets of our Senior Center programming right now, and where are the gaps and who's covering those, and those sorts of things, that I don't think we've done, I mean, L ..we have programming from three departments right now. Correia/ Right. Bailey/ Rec, you know the Rec department, the Library, and Senior...it seems to me that we could gain some efficiencies by combining those. Correia/ Even when we had talked about this previously, even with scheduling. Bailey/ Uh-huh. Correia/ I mean, I don't...having, you know...one hub for scheduling. Champion/ I'm willing to look at the possibility, just because I would like to see more inclusive programming. I don't like separations of generations. I...I don't like it. Um, it doesn't appeal to me at all, so I'm interested in looking at this from a programming standpoint, and if there are efficiencies, I'm totally willing to look at it. Bailey/ But I...well, but I think if we look at it we can't look at it the same way we looked at it last time. It was really...reallytyith people with vested interested around the table. I think that we have to have some kind of neutral, um, efficiency analysis and programming analysis about it. I mean, what's being offered now and how could we offer this more...we have to ask different questions or we're going to get the same answer we got two years ago. Hayek/ Well, L ..I'm not wedded to any particular institutional organization structure, and whether, uh, Senior Center should remain as a division under the City Manager or be, you know, brought under the umbrella of another, uh, divis, uh, department, is certainly up for consideration, but...but the only information we have tonight is what we received a year or two ago, and at that time the message was there's really not any significant savings to that, um, and...and if that information is...is inadequate or needs to be revisited, okay, but we just don't have any information tonight to make that decision, and I can think of several..I can think of several topic areas that...that touch upon different departments already. I mean, look at our environmental work. You know? That falls within Public Works. It falls within, uh, Planning. Falls within, uh, you know, other departments as well, and so, and I can...you know, there's zillions of examples like that. So, L ..I'm certainly open to considering it, but I just don't think we have any information tonight to make any (several talking) Bailey/ Well, I didn't expect a decision to be made, but I think some direction and the question...and what question are we asking? I mean, I really do think, um, that last time the question that was asked was...was kind of unclear, I mean...what are we trying to get at with senior programming, I mean...those kinds of things. I mean, are we trying to get to a sort of segregated services programming, segregated building, and if so, we've got it This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 18 - why would we change? But if...if the key thing that we want to do in the City is offer programs to seniors, that span a broad range, I think we also have to look at the environment in which we're operating, which has changed in 30 years. There are more opportunities for senior programming from other institutions for profit, not-for-profit, and how can we do that in the most efficient and cost-effective manner. Wright/ And I agree with you. We're not prepared, we don't have data to make any decisions tonight, but I think it's a conversation that we need to have. Bailey/ Oh, yeah, I didn't expect a decision to be made tonight, but some direction, some questions to be framed so we can discuss it...for fiscal, for upcoming fiscal years. Wright/ For 11. Bailey/ Yeah, 11 or, yeah. Wright/ Even later. Bailey/ Yeah. Cause we've got a building too. So, is there agreement that we would look at this... again? Shipley/ I certainly agree on that, and with every opinion presented, I think they're all great, um, but in my experience, I think community programming, especially senior programming's better, you know, when it's organically formed with seniors who are very creative, um, and it doesn't (mumbled). It's just directive. I mean, I know I certainly have a couple senior events in my events (mumbled) and certainly intergenerational has to be considered, so....I think it's a good move. Dilkes/ I...can I, I don't think it's clear at all what question is being asked. There's been discussion about what is the best senior programming or way to offer senior programming, and then there's discussion about money. Now, do you want to address the first question? What is the best way to offer senior programming, and then once you make that decision decide what efficiencies you can identify? Or do you simply want to say, we want...I mean, I think we're in the same situation we were last time. Bailey/ My contention is that Iowa City needs a person in some department to do senior programming, and that would be sufficient to achieve the goals that we have for senior programming. That might be an extreme contention, but that's what I'm saying. I'm saying that we need similar to special populations, arts programming and rec programming, that we can accomplish this with a...a senior specialist or an elder services specialist, within the City of Iowa City. I don't know which department or...it would belong in, but that's what I'm putting on the table. Now, others may agree...that's a pretty extreme position, but I'm willing to take that for...for, you know, for a discussion point. Hayek/ Is that consistent with the level of...the lack, the level of Council involvement in programming and other areas? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 19 Bailey/ Well, I'm...I'm putting it forward from a budgetary position. Now, if we had all the money in the world... Hayek/ What...what I'm asking is do we, um... Bailey/ I contend that we could save money by...through this approach. Hayek/ But do we use that level of...Council level scrutiny in programming aspects of the institution, and (both talking) Bailey/ I don't care what programming is offered. I don't care if it's a Parks and Rec, um, strictly recreational programming. I'm not saying it should be strictly Library programming. I'm not saying it...it could be bus tours for all it is. I'm just saying that in the city, I contend that we need a person, not a division in charge of senior programming, to save money, and to achieve the same programming opportunities for our citizens. Hayek/ I'm not...I'm not here to defend the Senior Center, but...but it seems to me if we're going to look at...at that operation from a programming standpoint, why not look at programming in the other departments that do programming? To be consistent, I mean, there's programming done (both talking) Bailey/ Well, yeah, but...but I'm...right, and that's my point. There's programming done; why aren't we just targeting programming for seniors out of those departments? Why do we have a Senior Center is what I'm asking? It costs us in excess of $800,000 a year. We need to save money. Why do we have an entire center devoted to seniors? That's my question, and I'm willing to take that extreme position so we can at least frame a question to ask. It's...it's not against programming for seniors. It's just simply the question is, we have two departments that do good programming target...we could target with a...a special, one specialist within the City. Hayek/ LTh-huh. But we need...we need to... Dilkes/ Well, then to me it sounds...see, that's why I'm wondering what the question is here, because now as you talk more it sounds to me like the question you want to pose, Regenia, is does the Council want to place senior programming, not in the Senior Center, but with a person in the Library and a person in the...in the Rec Center. I'm just...I'm just, do you see what...I don't want to go away from this discussion the same way we went away from the last one and not know what the question being asked is. Bailey/ My point is to save money by not having this division, by having a person. A...a program run through a different department or division. Dilkes/ I understand that. So then we need to know if there are four people who want to do that. Bailey/ Right, exactly! To ask that question, not to do that, but to ask that particular question. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 20 Helling/ (mumbled) discussion tonight. Bailey/ Yes. Helling/ ...is there four people who want to...this is, this is...would involve a lot of time and... Bailey/ Right! Helling/ ...and it's fine if you want us to dig into it, but if it's not something that four of (both talking) Bailey/ Well, and I'm framing the question in that manner because last time we...we didn't get to that extreme. I'm asking the money-saving question. I'm willing to do that. If there aren't four who want to ask that same question, Eleanor's right -let's not go down that road again. O'Donnell/ What has changed from two years ago when we were told (both talking) Bailey/ ...didn't ask the money question. Wilburn/ Can I try something a little different (both talking) I guess it's kind of along the lines that Eleanor was saying. Um, there's...there's kind of one a half or two parts to this. Bailey/ Okay. Wilburn/ Are you saying let's get rid of the building, the Senior Center, and then how many staff people would it take to offer senior programming, is that what you're saying? You're...you're putting, you're interjecting...your presumption is that one person can do (both talking) Bailey/ Yes, I...I am already jumping to a conclusion, yes. Wilburn/ Right, and so my question would be, uh, the part that doesn't...um, so (both talking) part of it is the building goes away, and then in order to (mumbled) one person can integrate all senior activities into the remaining facilities that we have, and some people maybe saying, well, I'm not quite so sure that one person can do that. Everyone buys into the fact that the building itself disappears. Bailey/ Well, I...I didn't even mention the building so... Wilburn/ Okay. But, is that essentially what you're saying though? Bailey/ My...I'm...I'm more focusing on the services that we offer, I mean, part of that, the money that we spent, also is related to the building, but...yeah, if we didn't have that This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 21 division, I suppose we would have to look at the building question. So, yeah, I would be willing to frame the question like that. Wilburn/ And the reason I say that is because it's...it's challenging to imagine, um, for me, if the building stays and you're saying one person coordinates everything, then we've got people coming from...we have to have people coming from (both talking) Bailey/ Oh, right, it would be a way or a reuse. I'm not envisioning a programming coming out of that building, you're right. Your assumption is correct. Wilburn/ Okay. Champion/ The question that I...I'm going to ask a different question than you, Regenia. Bailey/ Okay. Champion/ L ..I love the building! Bailey/ I know. I love the building too! Champion/ Um, and I don't know if we've got enough space to fill that need in our present facilities. But the question that I'm willing to look at is, are we offering senior programming in the best way. That's the question I want to ask. Is it better to totally integrate it with other programs in Iowa City, or is it best to leave it like it is, where we have different programs doing (both talking) Bailey/ Well, and I think that goes to Matt's point about do we get into the programming question to that level of degree. I really want to look at... Correia/ Well, and that might be...but that...that might be leading into a question of...of...of what we talked about generally with departments is having...what are the performance measures that we want to have for a department to indicate whether that...this department is providing a level of service that is adequate, meets the needs, effective for the money that we're spending. I think that, I mean, and that's just moving, I mean that is a bigger policy question of how do we measure in all the departments that we're doing the things that we should be doing, and we're getting what we want out of them, our citizens are (both talking) Bailey/ So what I'm hearing actually is there aren't four of us who agree on the question to ask. Champion/ I don't think so. Bailey/ And so let's pass on. Okay. I told you I would if I didn't hear four, and I...Mike? Wright/ I was just going to say, I think we are dealing with two questions. Amy, you're talking programmatic view. Regenia...and Connie and Regenia and I are talking about how can This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 22 we best approach this, where we still have high-quality programming, but we save some money. Bailey/ Right. And I don't hear four who want to ask the money-saving question. So, I mean, I'm good and... Champion/ Well, I think programming, if we can...I think we could save money. That's my question...my question is also money (mumbled) is, are we offering senior services, senior programming, the best way we can and as efficiently as we can. I'm not talking about moving them out of the building. I'm talking about...I mean, I like the idea of the integrated programming, and maybe they already do that over there. I really don't know, but that's...that's my question, and I (mumbled) Bailey/ We're not four on the same question. Champion/ No, we're not. Bailey/ Okay. Maybe I won't even bring it up next year. Champion/ Oh, you probably will! Bailey/ No, I don't think so. Wright/ I can bring it up next year. Bailey/ Okay, thanks, Mike. All right, um, IT, um, information tech chargebacks. Information Tech. chargebacks: O'Malley/ Okay,1've got some handouts (mumbled) (several talking) Wright/ Does anybody not have one? Helling/ Second page we've already touched on. O'Malley/ Right. Bailey/ Oh (mumbled) O'Malley/ What this represents is the cost centers of how we track, uh, revenue, expenses through the ITS division. And for clarification, file servers and systems include all the major file servers and our current, um, mainframe applications of payroll, utility billing, um, general ledger accounting, payables, um, purchasing. Just as an aside, we're looking at replacing that system. Um, it's in the CIP. The next part, desktop support, is the 400 PCs, uh, that are throughout the City. Four hundred or so, and this 400 information PCs. There are some PCs throughout the City that are, uh, manufacturing...like manufacturing This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 23 PCs for just the water plant, for just the sewer plant operations that control all the PLCs, programmable logic controllers, that handle the processes. And then this does not also, uh, include the Library. Those two are kind of similar. People use their PCs and they store their data on file servers and they use special programming in the system. By the way, this is FY08 actual expenditures. Networks is, uh, three categories, and actually phone services is starting to converge into networks. They all use the same technologies, and uh, fiber optic utility is the utility plant that we have (mumbled) we manage and we also, uh, share with the University, the School District, and Johnson County. Web services, uh, are...is our web site and our Intranet presence, and includes all the programming and news releases, etc. (mumbled). Phone services, about seven or eight years ago we decided instead of contracting through, uh, Qwest to develop our own phone system and uh, and the payback, there's a 7-year payback and we finished paying off on that. It's come to fruition, plus the phone services have now gone to voice over IP, and that's what we're doing with converging, uh, issues where it's starting to use our network (mumbled). I'd like to back up on fiber optic. This was, uh, kind of an idea that, just to manage the phone system and since then it's branched out to manage our traffic light system and some of our other, uh, cameras that we have in the parking ramps, etc. Those are our operation...our operating accounts. The other two accounts below are equipment replacement accounts that we have to pay for the 400 PCs, the 25 file servers, the storage area network, um, and software that we have to buy on a, uh...user licenses for the city, and then we have a separate one for police equipment cause they have unique capital equipment. So, as you can see, uh, that year the net, uh, revenue over expenditures is $49,000, and that includes the interest earned on that, uh, those fund balances, and that...that interest now for FY09 is about half. So...not looking as healthy as it was last year. Anyway, that's the chargeback system. Wright/ Where would, well, essentially a utility like this basic Internet service for an office, is that charged back? O'Malley/ That's on the networks. Wright/ That's on the networks? O'Malley/ The networks was established, uh, $30 for email and $30 for, uh, the Internet. Bailey/ For every office? O'Malley/ For every office...for every desktop computer. Now there are breaks for interns, you know, we charge $30 for the intern and we only charge $30 for police officers and firefighters, because they don't have a standing desk. So they have email...they have email accounts. Wright/ So basically, if we just lump those two together, it's $60 a month per PC. O'Malley/ For that service. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the lowa C;iry c:iry i.;ouncii priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 24 Wright/ For the internet service. That seems really high! Champion/ I know it does! It seems really high to me too! O'Malley/ Well, that pays for the fiber optic and the web services. I could lower that and increase the other. (several talking) gets down to how do you charge a person, and...and who would I charge the fiber optic utility that everybody uses. So we take a piece of that, and we don't want to get too (mumbled) then they say you're charging for every nickel and for every nut and bolt. So, it was easy just to say, okay, we can count heads easier than we can count the traffic that goes out on the internet and the email, so it's easier to count heads. Otherwise we'd have to go with, okay, how many...how much bandwidth did you use, and to come up with a cost allocation system to determine how much bandwidth a person might use getting a lot of email in that might have pictures and graphics, versus somebody who mostly gets text, would be not cost beneficial. So you come up with a standard cost of $60 and hopefully that will meet the expectations. Champion/ Does that $60 cover replacement? O'Malley/ (several talking) No, this is service. Replacement is down below. Correia/ Does that include the phone? O'Malley/ No, the phone is down below. Bailey/ If I were a department head, how much would each PC cost me in my department? I mean, this is a given to my department budget, right? O'Malley/ Some...some people don't use the internet. Some departments don't allow their employees on the internet. Bailey/ How can that be? Wright/ How do they get email? O'Malley/ Well, they don't pay for the email, the $30. They don't pay for the net or a (mumbled) Champion/ Well, where does the equipment replacement money come from? O'Malley/ From...from users' equipment. So if you have a PC, we...we determine how many use...years of useful life it has and then every year we charge you one-fourth or one-fifth of the useful life, and then we keep that in...in the equipment replacement fund for when you need a new PC in four to five years, or a new printer or....any kind of hardware. Bailey/ So is this why that department...IT department, has a, carves over a balance every year? For replacement? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 25 O'Malley/ It...yes, it's just like an enterprise fund. It's internal service funds and enterprise funds are under the business type categories. They're....they're, uh, created to finance, uh, operations that could be done on the outside. Bailey/ And we couldn't do this more... Correia/ I mean, essentially couldn't you say we have, you know, an organization that requires certain employees to have access to email and the internet...and we...we know how much it costs. You know (several talking) it ends up, I mean that cost to the general fund back. O'Malley/ Not just the General Fund. All enterprise funds. Correia/ Sure. Oh! O'Malley/ Everybody gets charged. This is for the whole city, not just the General Fund. Bailey/ So when we do chargebacks within the General Fund to track the cost of doing business as a city. We could... O'Malley/ I'm sorry... Bailey/ We do chargeback, to the General Fund, so we are tracking the cost of doing business for.. . O'Malley/ Per department. Bailey/ Per department. Okay. Correia/ But...you'd think though, and I'll just...so you're saying $30 a month for email. We charge each department (several talking) O'Malley/ ...each PC. Correia/ ...I work for the City. I need email. It's $30 a month. O'Malley/ Right. Correia/ Right. There's no, I mean, most people don't pay $30 a month for email.. . Bailey/ In the open market. Correia/ ...in the open market, right, so why... O'Malley/ What...let me back up. I have Mediacom. I pay $42 a month for Internet and email. To get the Internet access, I have to pay $42 a month. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 26 Correia) Right. O'Malley/ And that provides me five email accounts. Once I get on there I can get free email from... from Google or somebody else (several talking) Correia/ ...for five email accounts (mumbled) Wright/ ...go to Yahoo! Or... O'Malley/ Once you get to the Internet, you can get unlimited. The question is, how do you police their email? How do you manage their email? How do...you have to manage...you have to manage it for viruses. You have to manage it for improper content. Uh...and other issues. That people at home don't have to manage. Wright/ We have time to manage people's email for improper content? O'Malley/ We buy software that catches viruses on the way in and certain.. . Bailey/ So you're saying that $30 is a value added, yeah. O'Malley/ Yeah, this is not just...there's a lot of overhead. We're like an ISP. It's different when you're an ISP versus, and you have 80,000 accounts versus 400 accounts. Bailey/ Seems like an ISP would run cheaper though. Because of bulk. Correia/ Is this sort of standard practice for a city IT services to operate this way? O'Malley/ Yes. Bailey/ Is there any way that it could cost less? That's the fundamental question that I have, because it comes in as a given to every department what it's going to cost them. I mean, they can make some configuration changes and say you can't have web access. You can only have email. You could make those decisions within the department, but baseline is...you're the...let's just use a market. You're the only vendor that they have access to. O'Malley/ Right. Bailey/ You set the prices and it's a given if you need web and email that your PC is at least going to cost the department $60 a month plus these other charges.. . O'Malley/ Right. Bailey/ ...in other categories. O'Malley/ Right. Just like a water bill. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 27 Bailey/ Right. O'Malley/ We're the only people that serve water. We're the only game in town (both talking) and because this is not a, uh, because this is amulti-organizational unit. We have Landfill, uh, Parks and Rec. A diverse thing -it's not clear, it's not, uh (mumbled) so it's not that easy to...to, uh, to have, say if the Landfill wanted their own way and Parks and Rec wanted their own way, and...Public Works went their own way, you'd have confusion and loss of control. Bailey/ So here's my question, and...and perhaps I'm just not understanding this correctly. As with all of our other departments, the greatest cost in IT interestingly enough to me is still personnel, rather than services or supplies, which I would have imagined it to be with, um, with the kind of department it is. So how is it that given some of these things, um, the personnel's still the...still the highest cost in this department, given that it's an IT department. I mean, so... Correia/ What are the services if it's not the personnel (mumbled) O'Malley/ Well, we have to provide...we have to get (both talking) Bailey/ Because...because we're charging for, I mean, the... O'Malley/ We have to get...we have to buy the pipes coming in. Bailey/ Right, but... O'Malley/ ...all the access points and fiber. Bailey/ I'm just trying to unmuddle this. Champion/ Does the $60 a month cover personnel? Does it cover the.. . O'Malley/ Yes. It covers all that. Actually... Bailey/ That's what I'm assuming is...is it's $60 a month because we have to pay for personnel, and it's not necessarily apersonnel-driven cost, but it covers personnel. O'Malley/ If you have your budget, it's on page 112; personnel is about 50%, less than 50% of the cost of running the division. Bailey/ And so... O'Malley/ So it is capital intensive also. Champion/ But it does cover the employees. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 28 O'Malley/ Yes. Champion/ That makes a huge difference on.. . Bailey/ But tell me what, okay, we only talked about...really we only talked about...technology. We didn't talk about employees. I mean, we have database administrator...I assume that's for the payroll utility, that falls into that line. O'Malley/ No, the database administrator actually does more web...web activity. Bailey/ Okay. So, in these line items, these different personnel services or personnel categories are also figured in. O'Malley/ I'm not...repeat the question. I'm not following you. Bailey/ In web services... O'Malley/ Right. Bailey/ ...your database administrator is...is figured in to the cost of...okay. O'Malley/ What happens is, a lot of activity happens out on the web now and we have to bring it in to our mainframes so that we don't have viruses corrupting our utility bills, and so our database administrators make sure that they build products that match...web products, that are info...that'll create buckets and they'll be sanitized. The data will be scrubbed and sanitized before it's put into our mainframe systems. Bailey/ So we have programmers on staff in most of these line items. O'Malley/ Correct. And we also have some administrators charge part of their time due to managing those. Champion/ That explains a lot. Um...that explains a lot. Hayek/ It seems to me if you're looking at this cost center and you assume that the capital outlays are what they are, meaning we're getting as good a pricing as we can, then it comes down to personnel, and then the question becomes, you know, is this something that can or should be outsourced, and you know, what would the cost be to that, and what would the...what would the downside of that be. I assume there are systems within the organization that require quite a bit of hands-on management and programming, not.. . O'Malley/ We have operations that are 24/7, besides, I mean, we also have financial applications, you know, we have $25 million in utility bills go out a year, um.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 29 Hayek/ But...but, you know, the operation of a PC within a, uh, within your department is different from (both talking) O'Malley/ Right. Hayek/ ...needs the water plant. (both talking) O'Malley/ And also from landfill. Hayek/ So... O'Malley/ ...Landfill was closed for two hours, you'd have trucks going all the way up to the highway. Hayek/ So I guess I don't know whether you could get those. services outside this organization and... O'Malley/ Oh, you can get the services. But I think they...my guess would be that they'd be two times as much. Bailey/ How's... O'Malley/ ...to get... Bailey/ Any aspects ever been outsourced of the IT department? O'Malley/ Yes. Actually, well actually the...the, it all used to be outsourced when...25 years ago, before PC...before personal computers (several talking and laughing) yeah! Bailey/ And they were as big as a room? O'Malley/ Right. But once people wanted the desktop power, then it became an issue of how do you standardize between different departments and how do you control the...the activities so that you don't create viruses from one disc or...or who wants to back up some software or who needs a file from some other place. You have to create standards, and once you create standards and...and people have...demand expectations, it...it evolved from a data processing shop to an IT shop over ten years. Wilburn/ There's also, in terms of, uh, if...if all of it were outsourced, um, cause I'm thinking like the School District, um, there's one system that they use for their database for the...for the entire, uh, it's called (mumbled), and um, depending on how many vendors they...how many other cities, for example, they have, uh, they may not be willing to, um, tailor or program something, until they get a request from, uh, you know, five cities or...or, uh, eight cities until they're willing to make...that's an issue the School District's facing with some of the databases like, you know, we need to generate a report because the public is asking for this information, and so we need to have the database be This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 30 reprogrammed to do this. And, they say thank you very much as soon as we get a certain number of requests we will go ahead and spend the time to do that, or we will charge you more to specially... O'Malley/ That's correct, Ross, and we had...actually the City is actually spoiled because we wrote our own programs and we're very flexible with what we...so any time anybody asks for something, we can do it, and that's adouble-edged sword. Now we're looking at, okay, these three or four programmers they're going to be retiring. One's going to be this year, one possibly next year, and the third one three or four years down the road. What do we do? Do we buy new software, okay, then you get your service outsourced. It's going to cost more than these bodies, uh, cause the cost of service, and then if you want to change, who knows if they can do it or not. Wilburn/ So sometimes you lose control. O'Malley/ Right. Wilburn/ Sometimes you lose control and it costs you more money, um... O'Malley/ That's been the case in this...in the other cities that have gone off of legacy systems, that I know of. Wilburn/ Okay. Bailey/ And the, um, the program that's in the CIP that we're re...purchasing, will there be, I mean, I'm assuming we're replacing that system for...because it's outdated or there are some cost savings that would ensue that we won't necessarily fill all of our programmer positions or... O'Malley/ iJh, we're going to... Bailey/ What's the objective there? O'Malley/ I think the objective is to get off of this system because the people are retiring, but it won't be any cheaper. It'll probably be twice as expensive. Bailey/ Well, thanks, Kevin! O'Malley/ The reason why is because the software that we have, nobody writes that. You would have to bring a person out of school and teach them to write in this language. Wright/ Yeah, that's why the...it is, as you point out, it's atwo-edge sword. O'Malley/ Right. Bailey/ Right. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 31 Wright/ An in-house database that does what you want but essentially nobody can maintain it. O'Malley/ Exactly. And so, this is the cheapest it's going to be done. In about five years I'd see this budget dollar being 50% more. Bailey/ We can't afford that! O'Malley/ Well, that's what I said ten years ago when I stopped the purchase. These employees are getting older. Bailey/ Okay, any other questions? So do we have a better handle on understanding the chargebacks...any other questions? I mean, I'm assuming that you, on a regular basis, like every other department that we do, we look for cost savings and...and you do what you can, so... O'Malley/ I mentioned to Dale, I do have somebody retiring this year and we're looking to lower some of the file server costs chargebacks. Bailey/ And... Wright/ Not replace the position you mean? O'Malley/ Right. Not replace the position. Bailey/ Okay. Champion/ All very complicated! Bailey/ It's all very expensive. Champion/ It's very expensive. Maybe paper and pencil (mumbled) Wright/ Maybe what? Bailey/ Paper and pencil. Wright/ Too late! Bailey/ Okay, any other questions about this? Keep going? Good. Need a break. Okay, A2 occupancies. Ross, you brought this up. A2 Occupancies: Wilburn/ Yeah, just...really just, um, I guess for a reaffirmation, um, related to the inspector, and if we want to have the inspector, then a presumption is that we're supportive of the This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 32 activities of the inspector, um, and in the past there's been some slight disagreements about some of the issues that are related to, for example, the A2 occupancy, um, I'm looking at already the report that was generated. For example, with the, uh, A2 occupancies the load over 209...299, there were six places identified that fit. This is related to the...getting the sprinkler, the mandate that we require, uh...there are four that have not communicated their intentions so, uh, that's just one of the areas and so one can presume that at some point the inspector's going to come to us and say, these places either have or they've asked for the loan to help get a sprinkler, or uh, they lobby the Council to say it's been a hard year and uh, the economy's going south and whatever reasons, um, we think you should, uh, change this...so I guess I'm just looking for affirmation that we, um, if we bring this inspector along that these set of activities, not that we would accept every recommendation, but that understand...that inspector's going to be inspecting and people are going to be in compliance or not. I guess that's really (mumbled) and if we're not going to be supportive of that set of activities, then why have that inspector. Why not get a general firefighter? Champion/ Well, I totally support it. Correia/ I mean, we have the...discussion of not adhering to our... Wilburn/ Just looking for affirmation, do we or not, I mean, because while, Amy, you can look at some of that discussion that was included (mumbled) you can see that there's...there's question about, uh, just how we ended up with, uh, the changes. Champion/ It's...I mean, I have been seriously talking about sprinklers in downtown since I've been on the Council. We finally have it done, I mean, have the ordinance in place. I think it's really essential, uh, for public safety, and for the safety of the downtown, and maintenance of the downtown, so I...I'm not going to back out of it at all. Bailey/ I'm not backing (several talking) Wright/ ...being committed to the... Wilburn/ End of discussion. Bailey/ You got what you need? Hayek/ Yeah, I...I just want to make clear that the question I raised several meetings ago about having us look at whether there are ways to, um, get...for lack of a better word, an economy of scale, in terms of sprinklers, uh, capital work. For example, a shared type or something...an example that I got, uh, a couple months ago was that maybe it's in West Des Moines, there's a city block that actually ran a...a, a water main through a whole series of buildings, sort of zigzagging, above the ceiling of the first floor and below the ceiling of the second floor, somehow they got that done and that allowed business owners to tap onto that, as opposed to break up the sidewalk and go under the street. That's the kind of thing I want us to look at, because this, although it is a worthy ordinance, and you This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 33 know, safety should be of paramount concern downtown, it's incredibly expensive for businesses, and if there is a way to lessen that cost, I want to look at that. It doesn't change my underlying feelings about the ordinance. It's more what can the City do to help. Wilburn/ Okay. Hayek/ Besides just, you know, do it alone. Champion/ What are we paying...we're paying to... Correia/ To bring it up to the... Champion/ To bring it up to the (several talking) to the door -we're paying for that! Bailey/ And then we're offering loans. (several talking) Champion/ We're paying to bring the water main to the door! Bailey/ I think much to Housing's credit, they recognize the cost to businesses and they brought forward the loan program idea, and...so... Hayek/ Well, I mean, I...we can look at that closer. I've been in contact with...with somebody downtown who recently went through that and (several talking) Bailey/ Did he apply for a loan? Hayek/ I think so, but I'm not...I'm not sure. But...the project itself seems inefficient, um, when you could potentially serve at least a couple of businesses when you're bringing in...when you're doing that kind of invasive work with the concrete and the street and sidewalk. It's not a subject for tonight's discussion. I just wanted to say that the concern I raised or the question I raised a few weeks ago, from my end, is still on the table and I hope we can look at that. We had talked about that a while ago. Um, just in terms of getting a memo or something. Helling/ We can certainly clarify that...the question about (mumbled) what do we pay up to the property line (mumbled) Champion/ Yeah, I'd like to (several talking) Helling/ Uh, but I'll clarify that (mumbled) um, and I think you had...I believe you got some information, yeah you did. How much of it's been used and how much of it's left, and um, so I guess I'm not sure what you're asking for beyond what's in the.. . Hayek/ Let me follow up with (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 34 Helling/ Okay, that's fine. Hayek/ I don't want to waste people's time tonight. We've got a lot on our plate. O'Malley/ I do know, Matt, that when we were discussing the mechanics of this that we're talking about, if we got enough people on one block, we would do the main, the whole main instead of cutting it four times, but I'm not sure we've gotten the applications (mumbled) Bailey/ And see, it might be a matter of business coordination, rather than, I mean, that might be the clarification question for the business owner.. . Wright/ (several talking) finding the least disruptive way to get...to get to it. Hayek/ (several talking) separate from this meeting. Bailey/ Okay. We're good. You're good, Ross? Wilburn/ Yep. Bailey/ Airport subsidy. Amy, this is always yours! (laughter) Airport Subsidy: Correia/ It's mine! (laughter) Um, you know, the Airport is the one enterprise fund operation in the City that receives dollars from the General Fund, um, I think that before I came on the Council there had been discussions about really wanting to bring that dollar amount down, but I don't know where it has been, um, before that. We have been hovering around $112,000 and then it did jump, and we brought it down to $112,000, um, it seems that, you know, in other...in looking at some of the services that are...that are provided, that you know, in other departments, and I'll just say...well, I'll just...look at Parking, um, you know, with parking we're increasing to $80 a month for a parking space, and you know, 800 square foot T-hangars renting at $141 a month. Um, I just...I would like to see more of an emphasis from the Airport Commission of working on a business plan and more aggressively looking at ways to raise dollars, um, you know, we...we charge parking on football Saturdays and we give tickets on football Saturday, and we get complaints for that, and folks that fly their plane in can park it all day for nothing. Um, at...at the Airport. So I think there are ways, and I don't think if we charge something for parking that people would...would deter people from flying their airplane in. I'm not...talking about being onerous, um, and I did have information that we, you know, part of the way we raise revenue is the selling of fuel and we sold about $30,000 revenue in fuel last year, and there were 30,000 take offs and landings, which is about a dollar. I don't know if...and I think that there are ways, and I don't know if it's...if it's us needing to say we are going to cap at $100,000 to the Airport and then that will force a need to raise additional revenue. I had a conversation with the Director of the, uh, Eastern Iowa Airport. He's willing to provide some consultation to our Airport Commission on helping This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 35 develop a business plan, um, and so you know Members of the Commission or, um, Michael can contact him. I think that there are challenges certainly for municipal airports, um, as there are challenges for other business enterprises in the city and I would like to see more of a focus on trying to capture additional revenue and decrease the General Fund support. Champion/ Well, I think you raise a valid issue, um, this has been talked about for years. It seems to me that if you fly an airplane into Iowa City it should cost you something besides fuel. Um, and I don't...but I agree with you. Maybe we should set a cap on how much we're going to give them, and let them figure out where they're going to get the rest. I don't object to supporting the Airport. I think it's a great economic asset -don't misunderstand me. I don't feel quite about it like you do, but I would like to see, um, see them get more independent, and maybe it's hangar fees, maybe it's parking fees, uh, I mean, we provide...part of that concrete and we do loans to the Airport to cover what they need to provide that's outside of the federal subsidy. Um, so I don't object to that at all. I think we should look at it. O'Donnell/ Did...did we ever determine why we don't charge a parking fee down there? Bailey/ LTh-uh. I think the business plan is a really actually a really good idea. Wright/ And we've seen the (both talking) Bailey/ Especially if Dan is willing to help. Wright/ The comments from, um, the Airport Commission (mumbled) they're willing to consider some ways of bringing in some revenue, and I think a business plan might be really a heck of a great start. Wilburn/ I've had a, uh, slightly different variation on that historically, um, because I've always felt that, um, and if I'm not mistaken it's still possible to do this. I've always felt that, um, the Airport operation should be brought under the City Manager, uh, that was (mumbled) a few years ago. Council did not want to go that way, uh, if we're going to have an Airport, there's going to be a cost with it. I'm not sure what, you know, that relative (mumbled) is going to be, uh, we can't close it because we'd have to pay back a lot of money (several talking) Correia/ Well I don't want to close it! Wilburn/ Not, but in terms of if the issue is, um, trying to, um, tighten up -what do you want to call it? Efficiency or whatever, that um, I...I don't...I don't know why it hasn't been under the hospices of the City Manager, as opposed to...what's that? Bailey/ (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 36 Wilburn/ As opposed, yeah, as opposed to negotiating, you know, and you know, it's...I'm not saying that there's anything wrong with the folks that are serving the Commission or uh, you know, but it's...as it's set up now, we...we hold the carrot out with, or the stick, with, well, we'll only give you this money and the condition is, you know, you've got to...we don't...we don't really have that, uh, that control over it, so, that's been my historical perspective. Bailey/ (unable to hear person in audience) Absolutely! Helling/ ...Mike come up here, I'll just remind you (mumbled) meeting with the Airport Commission to talk about (mumbled) south development and so if you wanted to (mumbled) questions (mumbled) Tharp/ The Airport, uh, did five years ago put together a strategic plan, uh, runs through fiscal year 2010 and we are, um, going to be working again with Jeff Davidson and Planning on putting together another five year, uh, business plan, and certainly one of the, the uh, objectives of that will be, um, better control or better measurable ways of reducing, um, the levy support. I think that's a primary objective of everybody. Um... Correia/ Well, and I think that the objective is more to how to increase revenues and become, I mean, I think when you frame it as reducing the General Levy, about something else, versus you know, raising sufficient revenue, and...and maybe it's just semantics, but I mean, I think that's sort of....a way of thinking about it. Tharp/ I think what, uh, and as we look at every year we look at hangar rates and, you know, it's a little different as a parking facility you've got, especially parking on an aircraft, these air...some of these aircraft or business jets, they're burning, you know, several gallons of fuel an hour. A business jet can typically take on 300 to 500 gallons of fuel, and at $4 a gallon, they're spending a significant amount of money on fuel in Iowa City. Um, some of that does roll back to the Airport Commission is flowage fees, and a lot of that keeps the, uh, the...the concessionaire staff that that's what they're getting, and the business jets are the people that are coming into Iowa City to do business, either...either they're building stuff in Iowa City, they're operating things in Iowa City, they're contributing to the University, and that's...a lot of the focus with, you know, the runway expansions and targeting these folks to make sure they're coming in here. I think parking fees...we've got a couple issues right now. We have no system of being able to, uh, track the aircraft that are coming in, um, as far as tail numbers, who owns it, getting, um, parking fees if you're not there and the concessionaire that we have that said they don't want any part of...of, uh, administering a parking fee set up, so um, that would be certainly a substantial cost to set up that system. Um, beyond that, if that's something that does work, that we can take a look at, I...I know the...there's certainly a willingness to explore all options, and uh, especially as we look at the south aviation land, uh, we've got, uh, a couple of pending things with the, uh, North Commerce Park that, um, will finish off the infrastructure note that paid for that, so we're...we're pretty hopeful some other things are moving, and anything that we can do to generate revenues, um, the biggest contribution of...of operation revenue is the hangar tenants. Uh, they supply I think about 50% of our This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 37 costs. Um, each year as the, uh, as the T-hangar leases come up, we...we do a, a study of the surrounding area -Cedar Rapids, uh, basically we pick a... an immediate 30-mile ring and then we focus on about an hour's drive, um, and those airports, got to compare not only, uh, the services that they get, the, uh, the um, you know, traffic mix, the general surrounding areas, why they're coming in, that sort of thing, basically a lot of demand issues. O'Donnell/ When's the last time we raised that, hangar rent? Tharp/ LJh, we raised them last year for a cost of inflation, uh, that would have been, uh, that took effect October of 2008. Bailey/ Well, I'm willing to say in fiscal year 11 I have the expectation that this budget will come in with $100,000 from General Levy. I mean, and I don't know if others are willing to cap, um, and that's an incent, you know, I'm not willing to roll it in, um, Ross, um, we've discussed that how many years ago? (several talking) I know, they do, but I'm willing to do that, I mean, it's a small cost savings and then let them figure out in their strategic plan or their business plan or whatever they're calling it, how...how to make up that difference. I mean, are others interested in that direction, at least for the development of fiscal year l l...budget? (several responding) Champion/ Yeah, I'm interested. (mumbled) discuss what else is going on out there. That might make a difference. I mean, I totally support the Airport. Don't misunderstand me. Bailey/ I think we all do, but I think that...I think we recognize that you have opportunities, and we'd like to see you avail yourself of those opportunities in a more aggressive manner I think is what Amy's been saying. Anything else on Airport? Do we need a break before we discuss the fire station, or are we still good? Just checking in with people. Okay, let's go. Fire Station #4. Fire Station #4: Hayek/ Let me, uh, let me start out on...on this conversation. Um, in part because I was, uh, the individual encouraged this group to push off the fire station a few months and lump it into this prioritization process. Um, I think we've got to decide this issue before we get into the FY11, uh, budget, and I want to make the pitch for biting the bullet and getting it done, um, and... and my comments have nothing to do with, uh, safety, response times, uh, level of protection. My sense is that there's not a lot of dispute over that, but we in general, if not all of us, agree that, um, that...that fourth fire station is needed; it's a matter of paying for it. Uh, and I want to go at this from an angle of economic development, because we've been talking about that...that quite a bit. In the north end of Iowa City there are over 3,000 employees at some of our finest, uh, institutions. Um, these, uh, are professional jobs, by and large. They're good-paying jobs. These businesses make tens and tens of millions of dollars of purchases every year locally. They pay millions and millions of dollars property taxes, um, and...and this is a huge source of revenue for the City. Um, I fear that if we fail to get this fire station done, that This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 38 that will chill economic development on the north end, and that is the singlest greatest thing moving me on this issue right now, and I want to use an example and that's ACT. We've heard from them before, uh, they wrote us a letter, spearheaded a letter, on behalf of that institution and others, uh, a while back, but this entity spends or pays upwards of $2 million a year in property taxes to the City...to the City, County, and School District each year, um, over the last decade they've made a...a heavy investment in their campus up there. They...they expanded quite a bit, and they're at a point where they are running out of space and need to consider further options, um, but as you know, they're frustrated with the City's, uh, lack of movement on the fire station, and the Board of Directors has decided that they're not going to expand further in their north end Iowa City campus until there's fire protection up there. Um, and yet they're expanding the business each and every year, and we...I know, and I think it's fairly common knowledge, they are...they are meeting their expansion needs in places other than Iowa City at this point, for specific departments. Um, and...and employees that would have been or would...would have been added to their Iowa City campus or would be added to their Iowa City campus in the near future are being shifted to other states, and Texas and Maryland are two sites where ACT is actively exploring an expansion of...of operations there to accommodate this need. LTh, those are jobs that are not coming to Iowa City, and we're talking about scores of employees and maybe even hundreds when you tally all of it over the period of several years. Um, that's a lot of expansion...up there, and...and I think it's not too late for us to...to stop what I would consider a disturbing trend in terms of a slowing down of economic growth, at least with respect to one...one company up there, um, the...a lot of the employers on the north end are exactly what we want in Iowa City. I mean, they're...they have minimal if any environmental impact. They have good-paying jobs. There's a...there's a scientific educational component to them that fits in with our academic community. We talk about expanding our commercial tax base. We...we're going to quibble over whether we should, you know, shave any money off our...off our commitment to the economic development fund, um, that's why...that's a drop in the bucket I think compared to the risks we face in terms of slowing economic development in that part of the city, or city wide for...without...without a fire station. Um, so I...I feel very strongly that we've got to do this. The timing is terrible -there's no doubt about it - um, you know, this is the worst financial climate in a generation. But we've been talking about a fire station for...for 10, 15 years or more. We can do it. It's just going to require some very difficult decisions, um, and so I feel strongly that we just have to make the commitment. Champion/ Thank you, you're right. Wright/ That was very eloquently put, Matt, and I...I agree, uh, and I appreciate the effort that you put into framing the economic development angle of the fire station, because that's something we haven't talked about. I think we're all pretty assured of the situation in terms of response time and the...the general safety need, that's a very persuasive argument, um...gives me more to use, probably a poor simile for the situation. It gives more fuel to my fire that, uh, we have to get this done, and I think we, as you say, we have to bite the bullet, and we have to figure out a way to do it. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 39 Bailey/ We've been handed an opportunity with franchise fees. Champion/ Yes, that's what I was thinking. I think we should just plan it and do it. Bailey/ I do too. (several responding) Champion/ Start it right away. We have to build it. It doesn't get built overnight. Wright/ We have to have a little discussion about the franchise fees too, but.. . Champion/ I'm done discussing it, I mean (laughter) Wright/ Um.. . Champion/ I don't think we have a choice. (laughter) Wright/ Even without the franchise fee, I think we would still have to do it. The franchise fee is going to make it a lot easier. Bailey/ The franchise fee will definitely make it to a certain degree easier, not easy though. Hayek/ Yeah, and I make this argument uh, with...with no knowledge of the benefit of a franchise fee, and if...and for all I know, we're not going to be able to exploit that opportunity, for whatever reason, um, we still have to do this. That's my point. Wright/ No argument from me! O'Donnell/ Well, we're all in agreement, um, then the question is what do we give up to, uh, achieve that, and that's what we're working on now. Hayek/ Yep. O'Donnell/ So... Helling/ Certainly my message, that changed from the last time we talked about it, um, in terms of (mumbled) I...I agree that the franchise fee is the opportunity, uh, to the extent to which you would have to dig so deep into operations to fund that, without the franchise fee, would...would make it an incredibly difficult situation. It seems to me that (mumbled) franchise fee (mumbled) to do that, and uh, it's...it's probably, other than the local option sales tax; it's probably the first meaningful option that we've gotten from the State in the last, what, 15 years? O'Donnell/ And we...and we can direct that, is that right? Helling/ We can direct that, that's correct. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 40 O'Donnell/ And...and if we direct that entirely to public safety. Helling/ Public safety is one of the (both talking) Wright/ ...my understanding is we can use it for personnel, correct? Bailey/ Right, I think it can go into (mumbled) Helling/ (mumbled) decided earlier you're going to...soon you'll have a discussion, a work session, on the franchise fee to be educated about (mumbled) in terms of what exactly it means and what options are available. Bailey/ Can we get this back on the track that it was on and get, I mean, we're a little bit behind on our construction schedule, but can we get back on track, if there's any...there seems to be an agreement tonight that we want to move ahead, I mean, I would be interested in moving ahead. Rocca/ The plans are virtually done. Bailey/ Right. Wright/ And we've been kind of keeping an eye out for stimulus (both talking) Helling/ We're watching to see if there's stimulus money that's going to be available to help us with the cost of the facility itself, um, we'll have to sit down and talk about (mumbled) as far as employing firefighters and...and that, that may well dovetail, I don't want to make assumptions here, but may dovetail with your decisions as far as when to (mumbled) Bailey/ But I guess my question is, with this decision tonight, do we...do we set the public hearing for bids if the, you know, if the plans are basically done, and do we move ahead, or what other things must occur before that moves? Helling/ Well, I think, before you make a commitment, you want to have your funding in place, and those decisions made. Um... O'Donnell/ That'd be good. Helling/ I wouldn't recommend that you make that commitment and then try to figure out how you're going to pay for it. Bailey/ So we're talking about franchise fees much sooner than later. Helling/ Not necessarily. Not necessarily. We're talking about that to fund the firefighters. And when we would start to hire, in order to be ready to...to uh, we have to find out what's the logical completion date for the facility, when can we move in, and how much in advance of that do we want to start hiring and training people, and that's...I don't think we can This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 41 decide that here tonight. Andy and I will have to get together and... and probably with Public Works, as well, and look at the...the completion date, cost, uh, timing and so forth. Bailey/ So we can get a sense of the timeline, what...maybe the, maybe in the next month? Helling/ I think...I think by the time you talk about the franchise fee, we'll also have that information for you. Dilkes/ Understanding.. . Helling/ ...into that discussion. Dilkes/ Understanding the mechanics of the franchise fee is...is very simple, I mean, it's not a complicated thing. Bailey/ Right, well, I mean, we've been talking about it with Metro Coalition. I feel pretty comfortable in my understanding of it. I think you could... Wilburn/ One of the things I was going to say is, uh, you know, very grateful that the Governor signed (mumbled) that out, but um, you know, and the work of our local delegation to Des Moines, uh, in the revenue alternative stream, but you know, kudos to the Council for recognizing the importance of trying to have a voice talking to Des Moines, related to giving cities another alternative. I mean, we felt like we were beating our heads against the door for several years, but there's an opportunity and I...I think we need to (several talking) Bailey/ Well, and like the local option sales tax, it's the...the opportunity we've called for, I think that we really, really need to go...to move forward on using this alternative revenue. I mean, I feel very strongly about that. Helling/ I think in your discussion we can refine that a little bit, and also we'll talk more about the issue of...of how that affects your local option sales tax, because the franchise fee, you can't impose a local option sales tax on the customers of the franchise, or the franchisee, um, so there'll be some loss to that fund and, you know, given your commitment in the local option sales tax election where you want to take a portion of any franchise fees you raise and (mumbled) other fund to...to make that whole, in terms of the amount (mumbled) specified project. Champion/ (several talking) have a problem with that. I think it's...I just don't want this to be drawn out, cause it's not really that complicated. Bailey/ Well, and to go to Matt's point, I mean, I think we've talked with people, I mean, I've certainly talked to the CEO of ACT and I think that they need something more clearly...a movement forward to understand that we are serious about this, so I would like to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 42 understand what our timeline is, and...and get moving on construction as soon as is possible, if we're all committed to moving ahead. Champion/ And it's spring, it's a good time to start. Hayek/ Well, I don't want to wed us to a date...a date certain if you're talking about days or weeks, I mean, I think if we're breaking ground, I don't know, within six months or less, you know, and...and committing to it, that that's the message that needs to be sent, and...and (several talking) still have to manage (several talking) Correia/ It seems like...in the next month....we have a lot of information already. (several responding) Because we've been talking about this for a while, so we have...within the next month we'd be able...from Dale and Andy, to get here's the timeline, here's how much it will cost, in that same...at that same time we'll get information about the franchise fee, the percent we might need to cover this...this public safety function, and then be able to initiate, and I think that, you know...(both talking) Bailey/ That's what I'm talking about, yeah. Correia/ ...June and we should be able to have that message, and then (both talking) get going. Champion/ And we have construction drawings, is that correct? Bailey/ Right. Hayek/ But what...oh, go ahead. Bailey/ We were going to put this out to bid like now. (several talking) Rocca/ Yeah, the last time we visited the, uh, construction drawings, we were at about 90-95% review. We've basically been on hold, awaiting your discussion. So it would be a matter of pulling people together, revisiting those drawings, get them to the 100%, get them out for bid, probably could happen in, over the course of the next 90 days. Little later than what we were hoping for, but nonetheless... Champion/ But now we have some way to pay you. Rocca/ Understood! (laughter) And I'm very thankful for that. (several talking) And I believe, uh, once the project would be started, it's a 14-month construction project, roughly. But give or take, given the time of year we start and if we have to go through the winter months, and those kinds of things. Champion/ And equipment, how would we purchase the equipment? Obviously you need a fire truck. Rocca/ We typically bond for those. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 43 Champion/ Okay. Bailey/ Capital. Champion/ Is there any stimulus money? When do we find out about that? Helling/ Well, that's...that's an important aspect, and I, you know, don't want to necessarily let the tail wag the dog. If we can...if the timing's such that we can, uh, get more stimulus money and build that with stimulus money, rather than with bonding ourselves and...and internal loans and that (mumbled) that's to our advantage, and if the timing is such that it doesn't make a huge difference, I think we want to (mumbled) Bailey/ But the challenge of that particular pot of money is it's a relatively small pot of money, nationally. (several responding) I mean, I think we have to recognize that. It's not...some of the other funds, but the pots are a lot bigger. Helling/ We'll look into that and what sorts of.. . Champion/ Well, I think we can assure ACT this is going to happen. I mean, I think we all feel really strongly about it. Hayek/ Yeah, and...and my point about timing is more along the lines of...it's going to take considerable massaging of the budget and...and finesse to implement this into our cost structures, and uh, you know, it looks like under your timeline scenario, this would be impacting us on a personnel basis toward the end of FY11? Champion/ Probably before (several talking) Hayek/ Okay. Helling/ We got a 14-month to completion...when it's finished, we want to be ready to move in. Champion/ You gotta have trained (several talking) Hayek/ ...well, in any event, at some time during FY11, it's going to impact us, and all I'm saying is from a budget planning perspective, you know, some reasonable, uh, accommodations to that need, uh, I think are called for. The point is, you know, jumping into the pool, I mean, we have to do it. That's my point. I'm not saying by...by.. . Bailey/ But if I were in ACT's position, we've...they've heard this before. Nothing says commitment like putting it out for bid. That's my perspective, and so the sooner we can get that started, I mean, we're in FY11 with personnel probably, you know, a month or two here with construction starts, so...if we're committed, let's go (both talking) Helling/ ...probably 20 to 24 months move in. (mumbled) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 44 Public Art: Bailey/ Yeah, but I...I say, if we're committed, let's move, and get this franchise fee discussed and go. So, I think that there's agreement. Okay. (several talking) You never know sometimes! Um, public art. This discussion, um, do you have anything or do you want me to...Dale and I talked a little bit about clarification. We were real clear about, you know, cutting back on the staff support, which means elimination of the commission, um, for this. Um, I had a question, I guess we had a question this afternoon, is whether we are intent is to continue some level of bonding for a public art program and...and approach this in a different way. One of the ways that we discussed, and this is just an example. It's not a suggestion. Is to, uh, have some money through, similar to a PIN grant or in addition to PIN grants so neighborhoods can...can have public art projects. They would obviously have to have matching funds, you know, like a $10,000 on top of our regular PIN grant program, or something, but the question is, are we also eliminating the bonding portion of public art, as well as the staff position? Correia/ I assumed that. Champion/ I assumed that too. Helling/ I think that was...what was talked about before, because that's the only way...if you...you couldn't bond and...and run the program the way it is now without the staff, and the staff... Bailey/ Right, but you could bond and get additional funds for a PIN grant like program, or other ways to incorporate this into CIP projects, or those kinds of projects, and that's some of what I was talking about. I have concern that elimination of public art, it will not come back in good times, and I think that that's...I'll use the word - a tragedy for Iowa City - because I think we've had a...we've had a stellar public art program. We've led the way for other communities, and I would like to find some way that we could maintain some element of that...notoriety. Correia/ Well, why couldn't we use, I mean, I think it's a bit problematic to use...to bond for public art. Bailey/ Because? I mean, it's capital, why wouldn't you? It's vertical infrastructure. Why wouldn't you? Correia/ Well, because we're borrowing money and having to pay back with interest and then we don't get... Bailey/ So where would...you would take it from internal loan funds? Correia/ Yes, we have other possible reductions and then we have this economic development, total $100,000 allocated, unless allocated to the City of Literature. I mean, why wouldn't, This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 45 if we...if part of, if we're thinking about public art as, um, you know, part of a creative economy that we would take $15,000 out of there for a... a PIN grant type thing. Bailey/ I wouldn't be interested in pulling it from that, would be my bias but...that would be...I'm just concerned that it's going to go away forever, and I think that that's a, that would be a shame, and so doing it in some way...I believe that once we have the SMID downtown that it will take care of itself in our central business district. Public art had moved into the neighborhoods, and I thought that was a nice development, and finding some way to continue that, you know, through neighborhood services. Let the neighborhood council do some additional granting, which would require some matching funds, or something, but if there's not support for.. . Champion/ Oh, I support it, I just (both talking) how to fund it. I totally support the idea and I'm willing to...like to think about it. Bailey/ Well... Champion/ Think about where the money's going to come from... Bailey/ ...like funding. Champion/ Well, I haven't had time to think about how I'm going to fund it, but L ..totally agree with you. It's a valuable thing to keep, and I also agree that if it goes it might not come back. Bailey/ Oh, I don't think it will. I don't think it will come back. Um, and, you know, we're not Des Moines. We don't have the large corporations to support it...in our, or in the central business district, so we're just going to have to find other ways, but if...if, the assumption was we're not bonding for it. I just wanted to confirm that. Sad night! City of Literature: Helling/ Um, City of Literature, uh, I just wanted to...to kind of give you an update, um, there's been some discussions apparently, that I wasn't involved with, but some discussion about how the fund (mumbled) um, promote us as a City of Literature, and you know, those types of things, and Susan's been involved initially, along with...with, uh, I think (mumbled) to some extent (mumbled) (several talking) Susan Craig, of course. Um, the...the structure as I understand it right now, there's been an agreement to, um, look at incorporating it into a 5013C, is that... Bailey/ C3. Helling/ Yeah. Um, and also to looking at appointing a Board of Directors, and so that's kind of getting off the ground. Um, there's...likely going to be some expectation that various entities will contribute to the (mumbled) starting that up with a director or something. I don't know. That's yet to be established. Um, so we're kind of waiting for this process to This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 46 take place and the board to be appointed, and then they start to formulate the direction they want to go and how they want to get there, and funding will certainly be a part of that. So I just wanted to...to make you aware of that, that that's something we'll probably be coming up, um, chances are, we11...I think there's no doubt it will come up during FY10 (mumbled) that'll come back to you, of course, for much the same (mumbled) ICAD, those kinds of issues that come before you. So just wanted to give you the heads up on that because it will have a budgetary impact. Correia/ Has there been any...talk amongst folks of trying to incorporate a City of Literature effort into some other SO1C3? I mean, we're very SO1C3 happy. Just, there's a lot of administrative, Imean, take on administrative costs (mumbled) Englert could take, Convention and Visitors Bureau, or some sort of collaboration between the City and the University, I mean, why... Bailey/ It is a collaboration between... Correia/ But why would you have to create a whole new SO1C3 that then requires some level of, without any, you know, funding that would... Bailey/ It was discussed. Hayek/ Is this, uh, would this envision an annual contribution from the City, along with other participating entities or... Bailey/ I think the concept, I hope the concept is seed money. Um, essentially. (several talking) Helling/ ...grant money out (mumbled) Bailey /I mean, we did talk to the State Department initially, or when we were in D.C. we talked to the State Department because, you know, we're once again engaged with UNESCO and um, we talked with Grassley's office, as well, um, we're one of two UNESCO cities, in the country, so it seems that federal funding would be appropriate. Hayek/ Did you just call Hillary? Bailey/ Um, actually, yeah. (laughter) Hayek/ All right, well, when do you anticipate us facing this, needing to make some decisions? Bailey/ Soon. Helling/ Fall. Bailey/ Yeah. When the incorporation goes through. Wright/ Does UNESCO have any requirements or guidelines? This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 47 Bailey/ Um, no, but you know that this is reevaluated, the designation is reevaluated, so I think that that's also seen as one of the benefits of the separate, I mean, I of all people would ask, are we SO1C3 saturated in this community, and it was determined that there wasn't a good fit, um, and it might get lost and that was a concern with the redesignation. Wright/ Can any of our contribution be in the form of in-kind? Bailey/ Oh I'm sure it could! Yeah. I mean, I know Susan's willing to provide space and all kinds of things, and it only seems right that it's run out of our Library, which is the best library in the state, so...makes sense. Champion/ Speaking of the Library, I just want to throw something out there. Bailey/ We're under other now? Champion/ Yeah, L..other under. Bailey/ I think we're done with the City of Literature. Other Possibles: Champion/ The Library...ticketed cars to the tune of $27,000 last year. I think they ought to be paid at least what we pay a meter person, um, I think they're paid $13.50 an hour. I think the Library ought to be paid back some of that money. O'Donnell/ There's seven spots. Champion/ Right. So one person.. . O'Donnell/ What is that, 10 minutes a day or 15 minutes a day? Champion /They're out there every half hour! O'Donnell/ Well... Champion/ Anyway, I'm just throwing it out there, that that's $27,000 that we probably would not have. They're very diligent about it. Believe you me! O'Donnell/ I understand Susan writes all the tickets (laughter) Champion/ Well, that would cost us more than $13.50 an hour! (laughter) I'm serious, I think we should just think about it, just think about it. If somebody else is interested, bring it up some time. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 48 Hayek/ Can we...can we move to a more macro level and (laughter) FY11 and for (mumbled) I mean, we've, you know, we've kind of dropped this fire station bomb, which is a...which is a significant burden.. . Helling/ ...that is the macro. Hayek/ Right, I mean that almost doubled the...the gap, or the delta. So now we're looking at, you know, going from a million to $1.75 million in gap we've got to meet, and we've gotten through FY10 with, you know, sort of nickel and dime things, and they're not nickel and dime if you're impacted by them, but they're relatively small in the scope of things, and we got to a quarter million dollars, so we're okay. We can walk out knowing that FY10 is...is covered, but you can't do that with a delta that big, and I want us to provide whatever guidance needs to be provided so that we are making appropriate headway, you know, and not beating our heads against the wall, or more importantly staff isn't beating its head against the wall, any more than necessary. So, we...we've got to talk about that. Wright/ And it's going to require...it is going to require a lot more difficult choices than the, what we've seen to get to our $250,000. Hayek/ Right. Wright/ Much more difficult. Helling/ And the more we have to cut, and the less we can make up with...with other revenues, the more difficult (mumbled) not that...not that increase in revenue (mumbled) that's a (mumbled) Champion/ So what...I mean, the income from a possible franchise fee. O'Donnell/ Is how much? Champion/ Is... Bailey/ 3.3. Franchise Fee: Helling/ The, uh, these are rough numbers. These came from, uh, Kevin got 'em from, uh, from MidAmerican, um, and it's...you can see a 1% on electric is about $490,000, and I think (mumbled) probably on a prior year's, uh, (mumbled) maybe some fluctuation because everything we're hearing is gas prices are actually going to be down this winter, versus in the past, so that...that will have an effect if that's the case, but we're talking about for a 1% on gas and electric would be about $850,000. And that's based on...it's going to be somewhere in that ball park, but...and you won't know, I mean, you won't know for sure exactly what it's.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 49 Champion/ Right. So, um, if we went fora 2%...we'd have to go fora 3, because we'd have to give 1 % back, right? Helling/ You don't have to, but that would be my recommendation. Correia/ The other thing is, can we, I know we, with the franchise fee for Mediacom, I mean, I know we made a decision in this budget not just take some of that franchise revenue into the General Fund and kind of do a chargeback formula, but are we at liberty to say we...want to use X dollar amount from the franchise fee from Mediacom to assist in General Fund services. That we.. . Helling/You are. You are. Correia/ ...could do that. Helling/ You have along-standing commitment to... Correia/ I understand. Helling/ Yeah. Correia/ Right, but I mean that would be, I mean, that is a potential revenue into other services that maybe identified as higher priority than a number of the services provided by.. . Helling/ ...not a problem with putting that money in...in the General Fund, and after you did it (mumbled) $100,000 in there, and some of that is still going in under the new formula. It'll be less a little bit, but there's still substantial amount. I think we figured it would... O'Malley/ It's down to 100 now. We...it was at 130. Helling/ Yeah. But...it'll, so we'll still wind up putting somewhere between 60,000 and $70,000 (mumbled) otherwise. Champion/ Well, I think when you talk about this franchise fee, it...I mean, MidAmerican isn't going to pay it. We are. Bailey/ Right. Customers. (several talking) Helling/ It will operate as apass-through. They don't have to...to charge this fee (both talking) Champion/ But they will. So, I mean, I...my only concern is that I'm only willing to use this franchise fee for public safety (mumbled) and that's the only (several talking) Bailey/ And I thought we were going to talk about the franchise fee at another work session. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session. meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 50 Champion/ I know, but we can't help talking about it! Bailey/ well, yeah, because you see the big dollar amount. Hayek/ We....we've got to walk out of here though with...with a sense of what we're going to do, relative to FY11, in terms of direction to staff, and...and maybe that's, uh, kick the can down the road a little bit, until we figure out the franchise fee, because that could be a big part of the solution, but at some point, and it probably has to be sooner rather than later for planning purposes, you have to know what we... Bailey/ Well, we've gotten some of the way there, and I think with the franchise fee discussion, we'll get a large portion of the way there, and then we'll have to look to staff to say, okay, we're only part of the way there. Where' s the gap, because we...we have looked at FYl 1 and beyond, to a certain degree. Right, it doesn't get us to our dollar amount, but with the franchise fee discussion, and the interest in preceding in that manner, um, there's opportunity. I mean, if people are only willing to do it insofar as it supports public safety, then we may have an additional gap to fill, and it sounds like we may. And.. . Helling/ Well, that sort of dovetails with the...with the, uh, the item that was skipped the other possible. Because the other night we...my recollection is anyway that we really didn't... Bailey/ Right, we didn't detail these in any...to any great degree. Helling/ ...about those, um, particularly the other, well, about the other possible, uh, reductions, if you will, um, and I don't know that we have to make decisions on that tonight either, but again, some general guidance and if...if there are things in there that, again, get a B rather than an A, that would probably be a good idea. Hayek/ You're looking at other possible reductions? Helling/ Yes, yeah. Correia/ Well, and I think there's, you know, in that...there is about $120,000 in the fiscal year 11 and beyond that we were (mumbled) on, that eliminate the CSO, eliminate the captain inspector, and no pressure washing of the City Plaza. I mean, I think that we were pretty much...that those (mumbled) weren't we? Helling/ For instance, no pressure washing on City Plaza is down at the very last. Correia/ Yeah, but I mean, you have those other two significant costs, those positions that are, you know, 110,000... Helling/ We did talk about those. Correia/ We did, but I mean, I think that there was some consensus on being...of being low priority to cut. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 51 Helling/ Uh-huh. Correia/ And um... Helling/ Yeah, but I was...I was primarily looking at the next page. Correia/ yeah, I know. Wright/ The possible (both talking) Correia/ ...make sure that, cause that's a lot of (several talking) Helling/ No, I think... in terms of public safety personnel, that's not high on your list at all. Correia/ Right. Bailey/ well, did you want to bring up deer, Mike? It's always yours. O'Donnell/ Gosh you know I've been beat to death on that, but we are (several talking) Bailey/ ...we all bring up our stuff. (laughter) Deer Management Fees: O'Donnell/ you cannot quit the program, because you'll just get back into the same situation we had. Bailey/ And this is the lowest dollar amount we can manage that we believe? Could we go every other year? Helling/ We could. Um... Bailey/ But it would just probably be $100,000 a year. Helling/ ...the numbers would probably go up a little bit, and I don't know...I'm sure Tony would be more than happy to provide us some...just some rough estimates of what would happen if we went to an every other (mumbled) we never know for sure from one year to the next (mumbled) Bailey/ I'm willing to look at it. That's more than you've gotten from me in six years. O'Donnell/ I think we should. Some...some type of maintenance program, or hire local hunters. Or let...you know, I...there's some very fine local hunters. Guys go out and they put whatever they do all over their face, and it smells like a deer, and they cover their bodies.. . This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 52 Champion/ We don't want'em to mate! We want 'em to kill! (laughter) O'Donnell/ I don't know what they do, but they sit under...they sit in a tree for four hours. That's a dedicated hunter! I think you could trust somebody like that. (laughter) Unless of course it was Michael! (laughter) No, no it's worth, it's worth talking about. Champion/ It is worth talking about. O'Donnell/ Probably won't go anywhere, but it's worth talking about. Champion/ No, I think it is...I think there, I however...I mean, I think about the safety. I don't...I absolutely could never agree to a bow and arrow hunting. I just...(several talking) not in the city limits, but maybe we should... O'Donnell/ ...223 in the city limits. 223 in the city limits. (several talking) Yeah. Hayek/ I mean, they're not using slingshots. (laughter) O'Donnell/ Maybe we should! Bailey/ We want to kill them. Not amuse them. Champion/ I keep seeing that deer running down Cedar Rapids with the arrow in its back, and I don't think that'd go over well in Iowa City. But I.. . Wilburn/ The other thing to consider, too, is that that's a controlled situation, with someone that the City contracted with, and even though the, uh, cities that do use, allow bow hunters and essentially there's no fee to them, uh, there are people who chose not to, who chose to go out of the restricted areas, cause I witnessed that myself, um, and another cyclist and I were a little concerned, some folks that were outside of the restricted area, so that's...that'spait of the give and take that you...it's not that there is no cost to it. It's are you willing to accept the deer running down the street and I...plopping down in front of some kid or...or um, someone choosing to go outside of a controlled area, or the allowable area, and uh, some type of hunting accident happen, so... Wright/ I'm willing to consider looking at an alternate year schedule. I..:I have serious reservations about having hunters, no matter how good they are. Hayek/ All right....you know, we've...we're where we are right now. We're a little bit in flux as to FYl 1 because we haven't had the franchise discussion, which was a huge, you know, contributor to that potentially. We've got a list of a dozen or so possible reductions in revenues. Does it make sense for us tonight to get into individual ones (mumbled) the merits of those, without...because we don't know what the spread is. We almost need a new set of data. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 53 Bailey/ Well, but if there...if there are, you know, low hanging fruit, things that people are willing to discuss on this list, I think throwing them out and giving staff some time to...to get some numbers from Tony or...or do those other things I think is...is worth discussing, I mean...yeah, we need to further identify the gap. Obviously, Dale said he would have a discussion with Lane about the crossing guards. I think...I think we probably can't completely eliminate that program, but... Helling/ And again, the timing for discussing these may have changed a little bit. We're going to talk about the franchise fee and we may want to talk about some of these in conjunction with that, because again, what you...what you ultimately would wind up with as a percentage of the franchise fee may depend on, you know, what you do otherwise to try to (mumbled) revenue. Bailey/ Well, and do you feel like you have the direction that you need so far, I mean, obviously in the fall we'll start FY11, we'll have to have a couple more discussions with this, but. when we do the franchise fee, we'll like further identify some gaps, we'll see the timeline for bringing on firefighters, what that looks like in 11. We'll have opportunity for assessments and some other numbers to change. I think that we've gotten pretty...I think we've gotten farther down the road than I expected in sort of setting this direction. Thanks to the Governor! Helling/ I'm comfortable with FY10, and as far as the...the uh, fire station, I think, you know, we've got pretty good direction there. I'm still going to need to do that middle part, the other $750,000 and franchise fee may come into that discussion, as well, as some of these other things, and so...I'm comfortable knowing that you're going to be talking about the franchise fee very shortly, to make it a, you know, a revenue, if you will, or a reductions (mumbled) some of these larger issues. Not going back to that. Bailey/ Right. Champion/ Are we going to try and set a date to discuss that franchise fee? Bailey/ We'll figure out where it fits best on the pending list, between the information that we have to get from Eleanor and Kevin and, I mean... Helling/ I'm hoping (mumbled) last meeting in June. Bailey/ Yeah, that's what I was thinking too, that we could do it by then. Helling/ Kevin did (mumbled) Bailey/ yeah, that's what I was figuring we would do, so...that gives us plenty of time. Timelines of course are part of the understanding of when we would implement and how long, how much notice I think is one of the things you mentioned, so...um, are you comfortable with that? (several talking) This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009. May 28, 2009 City Council Page 54 Hayek/ I'm comfortable if staff is comfortable. Cause they're the ones under the gun to plan an even tighter budget. (several talking) Bailey/ Is everybody comfortable? I think that then...do we have any other, or wrap up items? think we should go and enjoy the little bit of sunshine that's left. (several talking) Enjoy the twilight. Okay, thank you all. Thank you, staff. You did great work. This represents only a reasonably accurate transcription of the Iowa City City Council priority setting work session meeting of May 28, 2009.