10-22-13 Personnel & Finance - Laserfiche WebLink

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PERSONNEL & FINANCE OCTOBER 22, 2013 5:12 P.M. Committee Members Present: Dr. David Varner, Valerie Schey, Karen White, Henry Davis Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Dr. Fred Ferlic, Oliver Davis (AB), Gavin Ferlic, Derek Dieter Citizen Members Present: Jack Smith (AB), Marc Brammer (AB) Other Present: Kathy Cekanski - Farrand, Tim Sexton, Jeff Rea, George King, Erin Blasko, Janice Hall, Crain, Keith, Mark Neal, Phil St. Clair, Christine Villaire, John Murphy, Mayor Pete Buttigieg, Kathryn, Roos, Eric Horvath, Cristal Brisco Agenda: Continuing Review of 2014 Budget Proposals To accommodate the number of department heads and other attendees Chairman Dr. David Varner moved the meeting from the Council Caucus room to the larger Council Chambers. However, due to technical difficulties the hearing was not recorded. The actual hearing began at 5:12 P.M. Mark Neal, City Controller with the aid of overhead projectors and two corresponding handouts (attached) made the presentation to the council. His comments were supplemented by Scott Ford, Director of Community Investment who outlined the cost and benefits of the City's "Smart Streets" initiative for the DTSB area. Next, Mark focused on the City's "deconstruction" initiative. In this he was assisted by Chris Fielding, Assistance Director of Community Investment. The "deconstruction" effort is one fact of the City's approach to the vacant and abandoned housing problem. Rather than demolition, salvageable houses would be deconstructed saving all salvageable materials for re -sale. If approved by the Council, the City would enter into a contractual partnership with Habitat for Humanity. They would hire and train about 30 city residents who displayed a need, a desire, and a work ethic to acquire basic construction skills. Salvaged items would be sold at a Restore outlet envisioned to be in the former K -Mart on Western Avenue. Mark outlined the financial commitments associated with the plan. During both presentations Councilmembers asked questions. Valerie Schey expressed concern over the cost of the "Smart Streets" program suggesting other cities had done similar projects at lower costs. Derek Dieter said better comparisons of projects undertaken elsewhere and more detailed financial projections were warranted. Tim Scott echoed those remarks. Karen White wondered what a realistic timetable for these projects looked like. Pending Council approval, the answer was a start in the spring of 2014. Karen also expressed a desire, shared by Valerie Schey that the curb and sidewalk program for neighborhoods be separate from the "Smart Streets" program and he expanded beyond the $720,000 allocation for 2014. Page 1 of 2