HomeMy WebLinkAbout2012 Annual Report - Personnel & Finance Committee 2012 Annual Report
of the
Personnel and Finance Committee
South Bend Common Council
Date: November 30, 2012
To: The South Bend Common Council
The Office of the City Clerk
From: Council Member Karen L. White, Chairperson
Personnel and Finance Committee
I am pleased to submit the following Annual Report of the activities of the Council's Personnel and
Finance Standing Committee which is a requirement of § 2-10 (i) of the South Bend Municipal Code.
2012 was a most busy year for this Council Standing Committee.
Background Information:
Duties: The Personnel and Finance Standing Committee is charged with:
"Overseeing the various activities performed by the Department of Administration and
Finance, salaries, budgets,fiscal matters and personnel policies and procedures of the City" pursuant
to § 2-10 (i) (7) of the South Bend Municipal Code.
Members: There were four(4) Council Members on this Committee:
Council Member Gavin Ferlic Council Member Dr. David Varner, Vice-Chairperson
Council Member Henry Davis, Jr. Council Member Karen L. White, Chairperson
and two (2) Citizen Members, Tamara McNally and Julaine James.
Meetings and Topics Reviewed and Discussed:
Meetings: The Personnel and Finance Committee held thirty-five (35) meetings this year,
which breaks last year's record of twenty-six (26) meetings. We will have another meeting scheduled
for December 1 Ofil to review and make advisory recommendations on the many appropriation and
transfer bills pending in this Committee.
The Organizational Meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee resulted in five (5) primary areas
which were recommended as Committee priorities. These included:
2012 Personnel and Finance Committee Annual Report
November 30,2012
Page 2
• That this year's city budget review process begin earlier
• That the Committee receive an update from the City Administration on implementation of the
block party regulations
• That discussion of City Plan be ongoing so that there is a heightened awareness of how it fits
into strategic planning for the City
• That a good working relationship continue to be developed with the negotiating teams
representing the SBFD and SBPD
• That there be greater transparency and sharing with Committee Members and herself as
Chairperson so that there would be `no surprises' when a Bill is sent to the Personnel and
Finance Committee [Source: February 8,2012 Personnel and Finance Committee meeting minutes]
In light of four (4) new individuals joining the Common Council, I thought it would be imperative to
have detailed background information provided by the new City Administration on a variety of budget
and financial topics. This resulted in a series of Financial and Budget Workshops which were held in
the Council Chambers which focused many topics including but not limited to civil city budget
overview; city funds; tax increment financing (TIF); municipal bonding & debt policies and
procedures; and economic overviews addressing revenue and expense forecasts.
Other topics reviewed in committee in addition to the budgets, appropriations, transfer and multiple
salary ordinances, with many being dedicated to 2013 Budget Review Sessions, including having the
St. Joseph County Auditor Peter Mullen provide vital financial information during these budget
reviews:
—+ Creating Fund#439 Certified Tech Park Fund [Bill No. 84-11]
—4 Reviewing a Council authored a Bill designating MLK Day as a City Holiday[Bill No. 12-11]
— Interviewing applicants to serve on the Redevelopment Commission
—+ Reviewing applicants seeking approval of scrap/junk yard licenses
—* Reviewing a Council authored Bill addressing Fuel Efficiency Initiatives
—* Reviewing a GLBT Bill [Bill No. 09-12]
—* Reviewing a Council authored Bill seeking greater transparency of Council appointees
to Boards and Commissions [Bill No. 12-25]
—* Reviewing a lease for the relocation of the Human Rights Offices [Bill No. 12-47]
— > Reviewing a Bill addressing nepotism [Bill No. 25-12]
—> Reviewing a Council authored Bill on Whistleblower Protections [Bill No. 20-12]
--p Reviewing the proposed TRANSPO Budget and proposed TRANSPO Capital Budget for 2013
which is a new requirement under the Indiana state law this year
2012 Personnel and Finance Committee Annual Report
November 30,2012
Page 3
The Personnel and Finance Committee also held two (2) outreach public meetings — one held at the
Robinson Center and the other held at the Charles Martin Youth Center, with.a good turnout of the
public for each of these meetings. The hard-work and dedication of the Personnel and Finance
Committee members, the Common Council, the Mayor, all department heads, and especially City
Controller Mark Neal and Deputy City Controller John Murphy resulted in all budget ordinances
being thoroughly vetted and passed by the state law deadline. The detailed review of annual civil city
budgets, proposed appropriations and transfers requires a lot of time, effort, and patience, to assure that
city priorities which are in the best interests of our community and its residents are being properly
addressed. This is perhaps the most important duty of all of the many duties and responsibilities of the
Council. A special word of thanks to all those who participated this year in this very exhausting task.
As part of the Council duties under the state law, the Council also provided leadership in the successful
labor negotiations with the City Advisory Negotiating Teams representing the Common Council, the
City Administration and the Board of Public Safety. The teams negotiated with the Union Teams
representing the South Bend Firefighter's Association Local No. 362 of the International Association
of Firefighters AFL-CIO and the Fraternal Order of Police South Bend Lodge No. 36. The negotiating
process was completed in professional and timely manners with both departments now having two-
year agreements in place.
The Committee made strides to achieve the majority of these priorities, however time did not permit to
have an update on the block party regulations and much more time needs to be spent on highlighting
City Plan. Both of these topics are recommended to be placed on the Committee's "To Do" list for
2013.
I would like to again thank all of the Council Members, and especially the Citizen Members Tamara
and Julaine who volunteered countless hours of their time as they served with me on the Personnel and
Finance Committee this year.
Ongoing discussing and tracking of the City of South Bend's financial goals and objectives against
measureable outcomes is a tedious task. Nevertheless, the benefits to our entire community, if such
goals are reached, would truly make our city a model 21st century city for other communities to
emulate. Thank you very much.
Respec submitted,
Coun it Member Karen L. Whit , Chairperson
Personnel and Finance Committee
cc: Mayor Pete Buttigieg
Mark Neal, City Controller
John Murphy, Deputy City Controller