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WS Minutes 2022.09.13PRATTVILLE CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MINUTES TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER 13, 2022 6:01 P.M. The Prattville City Council held a Work Session on Tuesday, September 13, 2022, at 6:01 p.m. in the Council Chambers at City Hall. Roll was called with all Councilors recorded as present with the exception of Councilor Jackson and Councilor Gornto. Council President Boone declared a quorum present and called the Work Session to order. Mayor Bill Gillespie, Jr. and the Mayor's Executive Assistant Lisa Byrd were recorded as being present, in addition to the following staff: Fire Chief Terry Brown, Deputy Fire Chief Josh Bingham, City Clerk Paula G. Barlow, Information Technology Director Jose Figueroa, Public Works Director Dale Gandy, Police Chief Mark Thompson, Police Captain Jeff Hassell, Police Captain James Harry, Finance Director Daniel Oakley, Deputy Finance Director Carlee Sims, City Attorney Andrew Odom, City Planner Scott Stephens, City Engineer Robby Anderson, Parks and Recreation Director Kellie Cook, Chief Magistrate Charlotte Adair and Human Resources Director Lisa Thrash. Council President Boone opened the Work Session stating the purpose was to discuss the proposed FY2022-2023 Budget. She stated the Council would go through each tab and ask any questions of Department Heads or the Mayor. She reminded everyone that citizens were asked to email any questions or concerns prior to the meeting. There was no discussion on the General Fund budget tab. On the Executive budget tab, Councilor Striplin inquired about the details of the $100,000.00 allocation for the Economic Development Operating budget line item. Mr. Oakley stated that there were not many expenses to differentiate items out in the budget, but the expenses this year included travel to EDAA conferences, a certification and some renovation money. Councilor Striplin inquired about the Executive Department being under budget by $113,000.00 and the need to budget $100,000.00 thousand when they are under by more than that amount. Mr. Oakley advised there are purchase orders that have been entered for some of the money (i.e. the Bank Building engineering expenses, economic development projects), but the checks have not been cut yet so it still shows the money in the account. There was no discussion on the Legislative budget tab. There was no discussion on the Finance budget tab. There was no discussion on the City Clerk budget tab. There was no discussion on the Human Resources budget tab. On the Information Technology budget tab, Councilor Starnes inquired about the need for additional personnel. Jose Figueroa stated that the need is there, but there is a space issue of where to put an additional person at this time. Councilor Starnes inquired about Cyber Security and Mr. Figueroa stated the Information Technology Department was handling it in- house. There was no discussion on the Vehicle Maintenance budget tab. There was no discussion on the Debit Service budget tab. There was no discussion on the Engineering budget tab. There was no discussion on the Planning budget tab. There was no discussion on the Urban Management budget tab. There was no discussion on the Facilities Maintenance budget tab. There was no discussion on the Legislative budget tab. On the Public Works budget tab, Council President Boone inquired if the new Sanitation position was separated out of the Public Works budget and Mr. Oakley stated it was under the Sanitation budget tab. On the Police budget tab, Councilor Starnes inquired about the number of budgeted police officers versus the number of positions currently filled. Captain Harry advised the Police Department currently had 81 sworn officers. Chief Thompson advised there was a physical fitness test in the morning and on Thursday morning. Chief Thompson further stated they had two new officers starting Monday and the department is currently doing a social media hiring campaign. On the Fire budget tab, Councilor Starnes inquired about the number of budgeted firefighters versus the number of positions currently filled. Chief Brown stated the Fire Department has 87 sworn firefighters and is down one position. Councilor Starnes inquired about the ISO rating. Chief Brown stated the City currently has an ISO rating of 1 and he anticipates that we would be able to keep that rating with the addition of Station 4 and the anticipated personnel assignment in the new budget. On the Building budget tab, Mr. Oakley advised he wanted to clarify that under the proposed budget the Building Department would no longer report to the Fire Department. Mr. Oakley advised the Building Department would now report to the Planning Department. Mayor Gillespie replied that this change was due to a retirement. On the Parks and Recreation budget tab, Council President Boone inquired about the ice- skating rink being in this proposed budget. Ms. Cook advised it was not in the proposed budget, but rather it would be taken out of the current year's budget and is on the September 20th agenda. There was no discussion on the Creative and Performing Arts budget tab On the Community Initiative budget tab, Councilor Striplin stated he was thankful for the increases to Community Initiatives and questioned if the Prattville Area Chamber of Commerce (Chamber) has rules to access their funds. Mr. Oakley responded that the money was not for things that they already do, but that the uses were spelled out in the agreement with the Chamber. Mr. Oakley further stated that none of the current year's money has been expended. Councilor Striplin then inquired about the money for the Autauga County Board of Education (ACBOE) and expressed his opinion that any money going to the ACBOE should go through the Education Committee. Mr. Oakley advised that this money was for some equipment request that came in over a year ago, but had not been funded yet. Councilor Starnes and Councilor Chambers agreed with the thought that this money should not bypass the Education Committee. Mayor Gillespie advised that he requested the money be put into the budget but he would follow the will of the Council. Council President Boone asked if the $20,000.00 was coming from the one -cent tax fund. Mr. Oakley responded yes and further stated that this budget changes the funding for the School Resource Officers (SRO). Mr. Oakley further stated that the funding for SROs had previously been split with the ACBOE, but the City would now fully fund the SROs through the one -cent monies and this would free up money for the ACBOE to utilize elsewhere. Councilor Striplin inquired if the one -cent money would be funding the SROs even when school is not in session. Mr. Oakley advised he did not have a problem with paying for some of the salaries from the General Fund. Councilor Striplin then inquired if the personnel numbers in the budget were actual people or budgeted positions. Mr. Oakley responded they are budgeted positions and that the City has not attempted to discount wages in years past. Ms. Thrash stated the hiring market was not the same as it was prior to COVID. Ms. Thrash further stated that previously it would take approximately one -month to hire, now it takes much longer. Mrs. Thrash went on to state that Public Safety is taking up to 6 months to hire and the City is having to educate and advance our own CDL drivers because they could not find qualified individuals for the positions. There was no discussion on the Transfers budget tab. There was no discussion on the Gas Tax Fund budget tab. There was no discussion on the Capital Projects budget tab. On the Wastewater Fund budget tab, Councilor Striplin inquired if the shortfall for expenses of the $5.9 million in projects would come from the reserve account. Mr. Oakley advised there was money in the reserve account that would be eligible for these types of projects but cautioned that these were just the beginning stages of these projects and it would cost much more for the complete projects in years to come and that debt services would be used. On the Sanitation Fund budget tab, Council President Pro Tempore Strichik inquired about the new Department Head position and if it was in the current budget or in the proposed budget. Mr. Oakley advised that it was in the proposed budget but it only shows the difference in the promotion portion since the Superintendent's position was already budgeted. There was no discussion on the Judicial Fund budget tab. There was no discussion on the Debt Service Fund budget tab Council President Boone asked for the total amount of the budget. Mr. Oakley responded with approximately $100 million, but that for accounting purposes the resolution would show a smaller amount so that revenues were not counted twice. Council President Boone thanked Mr. Oakley and then asked Councilors for closing comments. Councilor Striplin inquired about renovations to the Council Chambers. Mayor Gillespie responded that several items have been discussed about audio/visual as well as safety concerns. The Mayor further stated the Council had set aside some State and Local Recovery Funds under the American Rescue Plan Act and there is some money budgeted for the renovations. Councilor Chambers thanked everyone for all of the work on the budget. Councilor Starnes advised everyone did a great job on the budget. Council President Pro Tempore Strichik inquired about the amount of increase over last year's budget and how much did the City have in reserves. Mr. Oakley explained the proposed budget was approximately $9 million more than the previous year's budget and the City had approximately $7 million in the reserve account. Mr. Oakley stated the City has a Reserve Policy and that he would like for the reserve account to be around $10 million. Council President Pro Tempore Strichik concluded by thanking the Department Heads for their work on the budget. Council President Boone concluded by informing the public that while the meeting lasted less than an hour, the Finance Department and Department Heads have been working on this budget for months. She further stated that Councilors have met with Department Heads and discussed the departmental budgets and addressed questions or concerns. Council President Boone stated it was her desire to have a budget in place prior to October 1st. With no further discussion, Council President Boone adjourned the Work Session at 6:52 p.m. APPROVED: Paula G. Barlow City Clerk Lora Lee Boone, President Prattville City Council 4