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05212009CouncilMinutes-Special WS CITY OF AMMON CITY COUNCIL MINUTES - SPECIAL WORK SESSION THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 AGENDA: CITY OF AMMON 2135 SOUTH AMMON ROAD CITY COUNCIL AGENDA – SPECIAL WORK SESSION THURSDAY, MAY 21, 2009 – 4:00 P.M. NOTE: 7:30 PM IS REGULAR SESSION CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1.4 – 5 pm Fire District 2.5 – 7 pm Strategic Budget Meeting Management and Council DISCUSSION ITEMS: 1. 4 – 5 pm Fire District: Councilmember Powell discussed with the Councilabout how Ammon can save if it was to join the Fire District. Last year the budget was $342,000 with the current wages/benefits at $266,000. He passed out the homeowner’s exemption worksheet showing the District’s mil levy collecting $99.00 and went through some examples of the charges. One example was if you have a $100,000 home the levy would collect $50 per year which includes the homeowner’s exemption. Councilmember Thompson stated that our mil levy is around 2.1% and they are 1.4% so this would be a 40-45% increase in Ammon City taxes. He passed out a letter from the Bonneville County Fire District as to what the City could keep, as far as assets, and not keep. Councilmember Thompson said a home at $200,000 is currently paying $220 per year since the homeowner’s exemption varies the price as the homes increase in value. Councilmember Bean asked what they get as value. Councilmember Waite said the City will have more money for the roads. Dan Gubler, 4765 N. 55 East, Iona, ID stated the District would bring manpower into the City and the City would have 9 men for 24 hours per day in Ammon. The District would take on the maintenance of the vehicles but the equipment would remain the City’s but when it was time to replace the equipment it would be replaced with District equipment and the City can do what they want with the old equipment. City of Ammon will help expand the District’s levy since Ammon is growing and taking away from the District. The City of Ammon’s fire equipment will respond to the City’s fire. Idaho Falls will still respond to the District’s. Councilmember Bean asked if our residents would be subsidizing Idaho Falls. Dan stated no. The City of Ammon would only respond outside Ammon with the mutual aide. Their intent is to make a mixed system and a first step towards a metro system. Stacy Hyde 4125 E. Wanda said sometimes our response time is longer since the volunteers have to get to the station from their jobs. The response time is now an average of 5 min 40 sec. Councilmember Powell asked what it would be if we were staffed. Stacy said it should be less than 3 minutes. The difference for a home fire would depend on where it occurs. A fire will double in size in less than 3 minutes. Stacy said there would be more consistent service when the call goes off, now you get three personnel during the daytime hours but after hours you could get 3 people or 20 people. Stacy said with the District it would be two people around the clock and then one person rotating (min 3 people). Councilmember Kirkham asked what you will say to the constituents to help support the District’s cause. Stacy said no one will see the benefit unless they need us. Dan said they aren’t prepared to put another station in Ammon within the next five years. Councilmember Kirkham asked if we join the District would that change. Dan said that would have to change. Dan sees the benefit in trying to merge the system. Councilmember Kirkham said she knows that a City can’t dictate for the future but with two people on the board it would give us a voice. Councilmember Kirkham said she does support a District Dept. but it’s a question of timing. We have raised the garbage fees, sewer and water – are we prepared to go to the citizens to pay an extra $100 per year. Councilmember Powell feels that for the future growth we need to do it. Councilmember Bean doesn’t disagree, if not now, when? Councilmember Thompson said we would basically more than double the budget for the fire dept., if we join the district. Councilmember Bean said with the sewer system growth will come. Councilmember Bean asked if the District could purchase the equipment from the City. Councilmember Kirkham said as it stands, no, only when it wears out. Councilmember Powell asked what the Council Minutes 5-21-09 Special Work Session Page 1 of 3 schedule would be. Dan said they are trying to extend out the life of the equipment. Per Dan, the City of Ammon does have some equipment that already needs to be replaced and they aren’t interested in them. Councilmember Bean said he feels there is some value to the equipment and maybe it should be auctioned off. Councilmember Bean asked if the station remains the City’s. Dan said if the City requires them to take it – he doesn’t feel this is a problem. Councilmember Thompson asked as a citizen, saying we are going to pay more and can you make this increase $50, which added to what we are currently paying gets us to the $100 for the District. Councilmember Powell said we have disintegrating roads which these funds can go to. Councilmember Bean said we would have to designate the funds, so they go to the roads. Councilmember Kirkham said as a group we can but future councils might change it. Councilmember Thompson said the fire dept is like insurance and how much do you want to pay. Councilmember Powell asked if anyone thinks this is a bad idea. Councilmember Waite said it’s a great idea but is concerned with the timing. Councilmember Thompson concurred. Councilmember Bean said we need to do something about the streets and feels the constituents would concur. Leslie asked if there would be any savings in insurance. Stacy said going from 4 to 3 you won’t see any difference. Stacy said this is a start of something the community needs and will create a better economy of scale. Councilmember Bean would propose to ask the fire dept to put together a public relations program and see if they can sell it to the community. Dan said a couple of years ago there was a lack of information. Councilmember Kirkham said it probably was a lack of commitment from the commissioners but you have given us a plan. A good plan in place now will help with the growth of the future. Councilmember Kirkham said the Council needs to think about it for a week. Dan said he likes Councilmember Bean’s idea and feel the constituents will see that this is a good idea. Councilmember Bean asked why we are thinking about this. Councilmember Kirkham said we need to think if we will do it by resolution. Stacy asked if the Council wants him to do anything, at this point. Council stated no, they will think on it. Dan said we have time and there is no rush. 2. 5 – 7 pm Strategic Budget Meeting Management and Council : Councilmember Bean stated that Jennifer and he have talked and there are a couple of items that need to be reduced down for next year’s budget – one being foregone taxes. Increase magistrate court to $30,000 plus $5000 for parking. He will talk with Ron concerning some adjustments in the flood plain revenue, too. Councilmember Powell asked what we will do with the fire dept. grants. Stacy said they were almost completed. Councilmember Powell asked about the overage on the liquor appropriation but it will be down for the next year. Councilmember Bean stated the overages go into reserves. Councilmember Bean said the expenses are up to the dept heads and the councilmember over the dept head. Councilmember Kirkham said we have to look at fixed money and then look at discretionary items. Councilmember Powell said we have to look at the revenue and we are going to be approx. $300,000 short and we need to review the budget to balance it. Councilmember Kirkham said the dept. heads know what is needed and won’t expand so the Council needs to sit down with their depts. and examine their budgets to see where they can make adjustments. Councilmember Kirkham said the City is looking at maintaining status quo. Councilmember Bean said we currently budgeted for one year instead of 3-4 years. As an example let’s look at Ken, who does a wonderful job, but at what point and time do we run out of money with just maintenance. If the City keeps expanding parks, how much can we afford? Councilmember Powell said when you look at your budget, you look at what takes the most of our expenses and it is police. Councilmember Bean said they are looking at parity and are very close on the police dept. Councilmember Bean said the Council needs to determine what are our biggest needs – do we continue fund parks, IT, etc. Councilmember Powell asked why can’t we pay less for the police contract. Councilmember Kirkham said we can’t do it for less. Councilmember Kirkham said they made an interesting point and some apartment locations are causing an increase in crime. Councilmember Powell said where we are looking at cutting everywhere else why doesn’t the police get cut. Councilmember Kirkham said we are close to parity but they have the upper hand. Councilmember Powell asked what percent of the County’s budget comes from Ammon. Councilmember Thompson said the County’s budget is $7 million. Councilmember Bean said the County has asked for a three year phase out in their contract. Councilmember Bean said he is concerned about getting the police group together since he doesn’t know where they can get the money. Leslie asked can’t you have them help find the funds for the buildings and equipment. Councilmember Kirkham said she wants to sit down with the individual areas the Councilmember’s are in charge of and she would like to sit with those affected in general and find out what is fixed and then she will make an educated guess. Councilmember Powell said take the money for new capital budget that we don’t do anything with them and reallocate those to the streets. Lance said you won’t want to make an arbitrary cut, to cut capital is Council Minutes 5-21-09 Special Work Session Page 2 of 3 not a proper way of doing this. Lance said we have chip seal in our budget. Leslie stated that all the Dept. Heads th are on board to help with the street budget. Lance said the County has refused to chip seal 17 but he is going to talk with Kevin Eckersell, with the County, to see if he would do it. Mayor Ard said he doesn’t understand why st they are resisting. Lance said that most of the $300,000 will be spend on 1 Street design. Councils decided to st adjourn and meet with the Dept. Heads to help get the budget by June 1. Councilmember Kirkham motioned to adjourn. Councilmember Bean seconded. Roll Call Vote: Councilmember Kirkham – Yes, Councilmember Bean – Yes, Councilmember Waite – Yes, Councilmember Powell – Yes, and Councilmember Thompson – Yes. The motion passed. The meeting adjourned at 6:07 pm. ________________________________________ C. Bruce Ard, Mayor __________________________________ Leslie Folsom, City Clerk Council Minutes 5-21-09 Special Work Session Page 3 of 3