CITY OF
PICKERINGTON
FINANCE COMMITTEE OF
COUNCIL
CITY HALL, 100 LOCKVILLE ROAD
THURSDAY, NOVEMBER
18, 2004
REGULAR
MEETING
7:30
P.M.
1. ROLL CALL. Mrs. Riggs called the meeting to order at 7:30 P.M., with roll call as follows: Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wright, and Mrs. Riggs were present. No members were absent. Others present were: Judy Gilleland, Lynda Yartin, Linda Fersch, Bob Mapes, Susan Crotty, Frank Wiseman, and others.
2. A. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF October 21, 2004, Regular Meeting. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wright abstaining, and Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
B. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF October 26, 2004, Special Meeting. Mr. Wisniewski moved to approve; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wright abstaining, and Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, and Mrs. Riggs voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
C. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 3, 2004, Work Session. Mr. Wright moved to approve; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs abstaining, and Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
D. APPROVAL OF MINUTES OF November 3, 2004, Special Meeting. Mr. Hackworth moved to approve; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs abstaining, and Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 3-0.
3. FINANCE DIRECTOR:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance amending appropriation ordinance 2003-97. Mrs. Fersch stated in the General Fund she was requesting an increase for the Building Department of $5,500 for BBS fees, engineering plan review and refunds, an increase of $3,000 for the Chamber of Commerce, and an increase of $500 for the Auditor/Treasurer Fees. In the TIF Old Town Debt Fund a decrease of $1,700 due to less receipts than originally anticipated. In the CDBG Fund and increase of $25,900 as the grant money for curb ramps will be received in December instead of January 2005. Mr. Wright moved to approve; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wright, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
B. Finance Director’s Report: Mrs. Fersch stated she had provided a written report to the Committee and she would be happy to answer any questions.
C. Review and request for motion to approve draft resolution designating financial institutions as public depositories and the declaration of immediate necessity and emergency so that Council’s action can be completed and effective prior to December 31, 2004, the expiration of the current contracts. Mrs. Fersch stated she had two independent reviews of the bank depositor analysis and both recommended that we stay with Fairfield National. She stated the courier service as well as the ability to use VISA for income tax were big perks. Mrs. Fersch stated we were also investigating doing something on-line, however, she would recommend we stay with Fairfield National and next year we look to see what we can do with on-line services. She stated you are allowed to have more than one active funds bank. She stated we do have the ability now to debit someone’s checking account if they request it. Mr. Wright moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
D. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance authorizing the City Manager to enter into a contract with the Local Government Services Division of the Auditor of State to assist the City in preparing a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report and the declaration of immediate necessity and emergency in order to meet the agreement deadline of the Auditor of State. Mrs. Fersch stated the recommendation this year was that we do a Comprehensive Annual Financial Report (CAFR) as it provides more information for people who are buying our bonds and notes. She stated this report is slightly more expensive, but is well worth it. Mrs. Fersch stated this contract is for the report to be prepared and she would like to get started the first of January. Mrs. Fersch stated the contract requests it be signed by November 30th, however, they are aware that Council does not meet until December 7th. Mr. Wright clarified this is separate from our audit which will run about $22,000. Mrs. Riggs moved to approve and forward to Council; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wright, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
E. Review and discussion regarding Estate Tax. Mrs. Fersch stated currently one-third of inheritance tax goes to Park Capital and two-thirds goes to General Fund. She stated estate tax is being phased out because the exemption is getting higher. She stated as Park Capital is now receiving more money from building permits and there is the possibility they will get more from impact fees, it is her recommendation that any funds received for estate tax remain in the general fund and not allocate any to Park Capital. Mr. Wisniewski moved to approve Mrs. Fersch’s recommendation and forward appropriate legislation to Council; Mr. Wright seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Hackworth, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
4. PERSONNEL DEPARTMENT:
A. Review and request for motion to approve draft ordinance adopting an Employee Pay Plan and Authorized Strength for 2005. Mrs. Riggs stated this item would be dealt with after the Committee’s executive session.
5. DEVELOPMENT DEPARTMENT: Ms Crotty stated she had provided a written report to the Committee and she would be happy to answer any questions. Ms Crotty stated with regard to the impact fees, our consultant wanted to remind everyone that these impact fees are one-time payments that have to be proportionate and must benefit new development. Mr. Wisniewski inquired if there were any guidelines about when the fees can be collected. He stated sometimes they are collected with the initial application, and Ms Crotty stated it was her understanding that will be up to us. She stated you can collect the fees at the issuance of a certificate of occupancy. Ms Crotty continued that decision will have to be made. Ms Gilleland stated we will be looking at this, and the fees will be treated much like the utility funds or the TIF funds, we need to have a separate accounting. Ms Crotty stated when the ordinance for the impact fees is prepared a lot of specific guidelines and requirements will be laid out in it. Ms Crotty stated the impact fee analysis report should be completed by the end of this year. Ms Gilleland stated the actual ordinance for the fees is similar to writing the zoning code, so it will be a comprehensive document. Mr. Hackworth clarified the study being done by Mr. Plunkett has been provided to our consultant. Ms Crotty stated at some point in the future we will be looking at our water and sewer capacity fees to see if they need to be recalibrated based on potential new growth, however, that is not a part of this particular study. Mr. Hackworth stated then we could adjust our tap fees before this report is done, and Ms Gilleland stated that is correct. Mr. Hackworth asked if Mr. Plunkett would give a presentation on his study and Ms Gilleland stated he will give a presentation on the building inspection and all other fees to Service Committee. Ms Crotty stated impact fees create a contractual obligation to provide the capital facilities within a reasonable amount of time, which could be five to six years. Ms Crotty stated at the same time they are preparing the report for impact fees they are also working on a cost of land use analysis as part of the growth management assessment. She stated this would tell us what the typical cost of a certain type of development is and the revenues. She stated this is not an overall impact analysis because when looking at the type of development you want to encourage you need to take a lot of different factors into consideration. She stated this will tell us the cost of service versus the revenue generated. Ms Gilleland stated this report will tell us the cost of a particular development versus the revenue generated. She stated we know that a big box may produce 150 jobs at $5.15 per hour, etc., and that is not the information we will be getting. It will be a big box produces “x” number of trips, “x” number of police calls, “x” number of whatever the cost of services are to that particular development. Ms Crotty stated we have indicated the impact fee analysis was top priority so they are working on that first, but there is a lot of overlap among those two studies. Ms Crotty stated the cost of land use study should be done about February, so it is just a couple of months behind the impact fee study. Mrs. Riggs stated she felt when we receive the impact fee analysis it may be a good idea to hold a Council work session so everyone will know what is going on with it. Mr. Hackworth stated he thought the two studies would be combined, and Ms Crotty stated they are working on it together. Ms Crotty stated she was unable to get an updated list of commercial projects out with her report, but she had distributed one this evening.
6. LEGAL DEPARTMENT:
A. Monthly review of law director services. Mrs. Riggs ascertained the Committee had received a copy of Mr. Mapes’ monthly report and there were no questions.
7. CHAIRMAN: Mrs. Riggs stated she had nothing to bring forward.
8. OTHER BUSINESS: No other business was brought forward.
9. MOTIONS:
A. Motion for an Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(1)(b), Matters involving an employee’s or public official’s employment, Section 121.22(G)(2), Purchase or sale of public property, Section 121.22(G)(3), Conference with law director regarding pending or imminent court action, and Section 121.22(G)(4), Matters involving bargaining sessions with public employees. Mrs. Riggs stated an executive session was not needed regarding the purchase or sale of public property or pending or imminent court action. Mr. Wright moved for an Executive Session under Section 121.22(G)(1)(b), Matters involving an employee’s or public official’s employment, and Section 121.22(G)(4), Matters involving bargaining sessions with public employees; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Wright, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
Finance Committee adjourned to Executive Session at 8:15 P.M., and reconvened in open session at 9:05 P.M.
Mrs. Riggs moved to forward legislation to Council to authorize the City Manager to execute the contract for AFSCME for the next three years; Mr. Hackworth seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Wisniewski, Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Hackworth, and Mr. Wright voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
Mr. Wright moved to approve the ordinance adopting an Employee Pay Plan and Authorized Strength for 2005, including a 3.5 percent pay increase for all permanent non-bargaining unit employees and amending the Employee Relations Manual to provide for four personal days per year for non-union employees; Mrs. Riggs seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wright, Mrs. Riggs, and Mr. Wisniewski voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
Mr. Hackworth moved to forward the 2005 Budget and the 2005-2009 Capital Improvements Plan to Council; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Roll call was taken with Mrs. Riggs, Mr. Wright, Mr. Wisniewski, and Mr. Hackworth voting “Yea.” Motion passed, 4-0.
10. ADJOURNMENT. There being nothing further, Mr. Wright moved to adjourn; Mr. Wisniewski seconded the motion. Mr. Hackworth, Mr. Wisniewski, Mr. Wright, and Mrs. Riggs voted "Aye." Motion carried, 4-0. The Finance Committee adjourned at 9:10 P.M., November 18, 2004.
RESPECTFULLY SUBMITTED:
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