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PERSONNEL & FINANCE 8 -15 -12 4:02 P.M. 2013 BUDGET REVIEW — SESSION #1 Committee Members Present: Karen White, Gavin Ferlic (4:37), Dr. David Varner, Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Valerie Schey, Oliver Davis, Derek Dieter Citizen Members Present: Tamara McNally Others Present: Mark Neal, John Murphy, Rahman Johnson, Penny Price, Bob Allen, Bob Urey, Jan Hall, Kathryn Roos, Lonnie Douglas, Aladean DeRose, Mike Schmuhl, Kevin Allen, Kathy Cekanski- Farrand City Clerk Note: Minutes for 2013 budget hearings may be less comprehensive in terms of who asked or said what. The minutes will reference departmental budget schedules presented to Council for consideration. Specific issues or questions raised by Councilmember's will be a part of this compendium. Personnel & Finance Chair Karen White opened the 2013 budget review process by introducing Mark Neal, City Controller to provide a 2013 overview. Mark began by referencing the administrations goals, and objectives along with key performance indicators (handout #1) reviewing administration priorities the Controller spoke to the ongoing work of the Vacant & Abandoned Housing Task Force. This prompted President Dieter to ask if the primary focus was demolition and it the task force chair Jim Kelly was being paid. The answer to both questions was no. Neal said other housing stock measurements were being developed. They would allow objective criteria in matrix form to assist the overall goal of neighborhood stabilization and recover. Jim Kelly is volunteering his services as are other members of the task force. Regarding city employee salaries Neal said a 2% increase was incorporated in the 2013 budget across the board. Both David Varner and Tim Scott suggested a merit or a tiered scale which would reflect larger raises for the lower -paid employees. The logic being, a flat % gives a disproportionate increase to the top tiers. The focus then shifted to departmental presentations. Karen White allowed Lonnie Douglas, Director of the Human Rights Commission to go first. (see handout #2) Aladean DeRose, interim City Attorney, followed with a review of the legal department's budget (handout #3)