HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-27-04 Personnel & Finance 11Pr-
aornaniitz,z c.R42ott of fizz
1_!1_ LLL.«_ • 1_ •_ !_ •LL.[I_•l2 _ •_1_ _
The September 27, 2004, 2004 meeting of the Personnel and Finance Committee was
called to order by its Chairperson, Council Member Derek D. Dieter at 4:10 p.m. in the Council
Informal Meeting Room.
Persons in attendance included Council Members Dieter,Kelly, Coleman,White,Varner,
Kuspa, and Puzzello; Community & Economic Development Executive Director Sharon
Kendall, City Clerk John Voorde, City Attorney Charles Leone, Code Enforcement Director
Catherine Brucker, Don Inks, Isabel Gonzalez, Jack Dillon, City Engineer Carl Littrell, City
Controller Rick 011ett,Kathleen Cekanski-Farrand, Council Attorney; and members of the news
media.
Council Member Dieter noted that the first item on the agenda was to review Bill No.
54-04 which would levy taxes and fix the rate of taxation for 2005.
City Controller Rick 011ett made the presentation. He noted that the ordinance would
levy upon each $100 of assessed valuation of taxable property for the general fund the sum of
$2.2371; that the Park &Recreation Fund would be $0.3965; that the Firefighters Pension Fund
would be $0.0855; that the Policemen's Pension Fund would be $0.0786; and that the
cumulative capital development fund would be $0.0562 for a total civil city tax rate of$2.8539.
Mr. 011ett stated that the exact amount would be confirmed at a later date by as a result of the
tax assessment process.
Dr. Varner stated that the final assessment amount would be established by the Local
Control Finance Board which calculates the actual numbers.
City Clerk John Voorde stated that the rate would be known by the end of this week by
the County Assessor, and that bills would go out on October 22nd.
Following discussion, Council Member Kelly made a motion, seconded by Council
Member Puzzello that Bill No. 54-04 be recommended favorably to Council. The motion
passed.
Council Member Dieter then called for a presentation on Bill No. 55-04, as amended at
the last Council meeting, which would appropriate monies for the purpose of defraying
expenses of several departments of the civil city of South bend for fiscal year 2005 including all
outstanding claims and obligations.
Mr. 011ett made the presentation. He noted that this committee has held a series of
meetings on this bill and the other bills related to the 2005 budget. He had no changes to make
at this time and no additional comments.
Dr. Varner noted that there is a contention that once this appropriation is made that the
NFF is no longer accountable,however the NFF is accountable to the Council.
Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting of September 27,2004 Page 1
s r
eommittEE GREro'Lt of tI
• Lit • •_ _ I-4 • 1"11• •
Mr. 011ett stated that accounting is done by the submission of invoices.
Dr. Varner stated that the Council was not a signatory to the Interim Agreement and
therefore had no review of its terms and conditions.
Council President White noted that she has asked the Council Attorney to gather together
information which the Council has acted upon which is related to the Hall of Fame. She noted
that this information reveals that the Council did approve the initial lease agreement which
triggered the construction of the Hall of Fame. Her goal as President is to share as much
information as possible so that there are informed decisions being made. She suggested that
there be a future meeting where the Mayor, Bernie Kish, Mr. Leone, Mr. Nussbaum and others
could meet with the Council for open discussion on the Hall. She noted that Council Member
Kelly sits on the joint committee and that as a part of the regular updating to the Council will be
updating the Council on their activities.
City Attorney Charles Leone noted that he is the acting Mayor. He had a telephone
conversation with the Mayor this afternoon during a meeting with the Council President, Council
Attorney, City Controller and himself. Mayor Luecke urges the Council to pass the budget as
amended, because he does not want to put the city in jeopardy. The amended version of the
appropriation does not put the city in any violation of its leases or obligations.
Council President White stated that the Council Attorney will have her memorandum
available to the Council by this Wednesday which addresses the paper trail involving the Hall of
Fame and the Common Council.
Following discussion,Dr. Varner made a motion, seconded by Council Member Puzzello
that Bill No. 55-04 as amended be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed 4-0.
Council Member Dieter then called for a presentation on Bill No. 56-04 which would
appropriate monies for the purpose of defraying expenses from various enterprise funds for fiscal
year 2005.
Mr. 011ett stated that the enterprise funds include the building fund,parking garage fund,
Century City, Project Releaf, and the various funds involving solid waste, water works and
sewage all of which have given presentations to the committee.
Dr. Varner made a motion, seconded by Council Member Puzzello that Bill No. 55-04 as
amended be recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed
Council Member Di noted that he and Dr. Varner request that Bill No. 32-04 be
continued to the November Council meeting, in light of the many meetings on the budget
which have affected setting additional committee meeting on this Bill.
Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting of September 27,2004 Page 2
1 Y th
n i ,p
Comhaittt CREtiott of e
,p
Dr. Varner made a motion,seconded by Council Member Puzzello that Bill No. 32-04 be
recommended favorably to Council. The motion passed.
There being no further business to come before the Committee, Council Member Dieter
adjourned the Committee meeting at 7:55 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Council Member Derek D.Dieter,Chairperson
Personnel and Finance Committee
KCF:kmf
Attachments
Personnel and Finance Committee Meeting of September 27,2004 Page 3