HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-26-20 Personnel and Finance Budget Hearing #2OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK
DAWN M. JONES, CITY CLERK
PERSONNEL & FINANCE AUGUST 26, 2020 5:00 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Karen L. White, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Jake Teshka,
Shelia Niezgodski
Committee Members Absent: None
Other Council Present: Sharon L. McBride, Troy Warner, Henry Davis Jr., Lori
Hamann
Other Council Absent: None
Others Present: Dawn M. Jones, Bob Palmer, Bianca Tirado, Rachael Coates
Presenters: Dan Parker
Agenda: Budget Hearing Session #2 Baseline Spending
Committee Chair Karen L. White called the Personnel and Finance meeting to order at 5:00 nm.
Committee Chair White opened the meeting and proceeded to give the floor to City Controller
Dan Parker.
Dan Parker, City Controller for the City of South Bend with offices located on the 12th floor of
the County -City Building, South Bend, IN, served as the main presenter for the Budget Hearing.
Mr. Parker gave a presentation referencing a PowerPoint presentation (which is available on the
city website) that highlighted the Budget for 2021.
Mr. Parker handed over the presentation to Chief Scott Ruskowski, with offices at 701 West
Sample Street, South Bend, IN. Chief Ruskowski proceeded to go over the budget changes for
2021 concerning Police Personnel.
Mr. Parker highlighted a change under the Human Resource Department
concerning the current Director of Safety and Risk position title changing to the Manager of
Employee Safety. Mr. Parker made a thorough presentation concerning this new title.
Mr. Parker handed over the presentation momentarily to Denise Riedl, Chief Innovation Officer
for the Department of Innovation and Technology to go over the department increase for 2021
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•CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
budget.
Mr. Parker finished up the budget baseline spending portion of the meeting and yielded his time.
Committee Chair White opened the floor for questions or comments from the Committee
members.
Committeemember Rachel Tomas -Morgan asked if this is the first (1st) surge from COVID and
what happens in a resurgence that we are expected to have. Mr. Parker replies to
Committeemember Tomas -Morgan's question. Committeemember Tomas -Morgan asked a follow
up question concerning the lack of financial stability with Solid Waste. Mr. Parker gave her a
claryifying response stating the financial situation needed a rate increase inorder for Solid Waste
to move towards becoming financially stable.
Committeemember Sheila Niezgodski asked about the contract with DTSB and the City of South
Bend. Mr. Parker replies with an informative answer stating how the money flows between the
two (2) departments. Committeemember Niezgodski asked a follow up question for clarification
on what is a fleet truck. Mr. Parker clarified that the fleet truck is a needed trash truck.
Committeemember Niezgodski ended her questions by asking about tipping fees. Mr. Parker
handed the question over to Mr. Horvath.
Eric Horvath, Director of Public Works for the City of South Bend with offices located on the 13th
floor of the County -City Building, South Bend, In, replied to Committeemember Niezgodski's
question. He stated the contracted rate has gone up and tipping fees with solid waste has hit them
financially.
Committeemember Troy Warner, asked about changes with EPA to the CSO and do we know
from the Federal government how long on the plan. Mr. Horvath replies stating they are looking
at another two (2) months and hope to have a signed agreement.
Councilmember Lori K. Hamann asked if Solid Waste had gone through a process for cost
analysis. Mr. Horvath responded saying they have not done a formal process.
Councilmember Hamann asked a follow up question concerning the City taking on more debt. Mr.
Parker stated we have a lot of debt rolling off and believes we are in a good place to take on new
debt.
Councilmember Henry Davis Jr. asked if there will be Council follow up meetings in
understanding the budget. Committee Chair White stated there is time built into the schedule for
this purpose.
Councilmember Sharon L. McBride asked if she could get a list of the current City debts, and
DTSB versus the City payments.
Committee Chair White asked Mr. Parker to spend a couple of minutes explaining why we won't
be sharing a balanced budget this year. Mr. Parker gives a clarifying answer defending why the
budget will not balance this year. There is a five (5) million dollar spend down in the general fund
and the income tax fund. Committee Chair White asked a follow up question concerning the
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• CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK
percentage needing to be maintained in our cash reserves. Mr. Parker responded; it depends on
what fund and clarifies the differences between the funds.
Committee Chair White opened the floor for questions or comments from the Public. There were
none.
With no other business, Committee Chair White adjourned the meeting at 6:38 pm.
Res ec lly Submitt ,
K en White, Committee Chair
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455 County -City Building 1227WJefferson Bvld I South Bend, Indiana 466011 p 574.235,9221 If 574.235.9173 1 TrD574.235.5567 Iv .southbendin.gov