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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09-23-2024 Personnel & Finance Committee Meeting Minutes o4 uTH 8 �` U �.I W PEACF. 1865 OFFICE OF THE CITY CLERK BIANCA L. TIRADO, CITY CLERK PERSONNEL& FINANCE September 23, 2024 4:17 P.M. Committee Members Present: Sheila Niezgodski, Troy Warner, Canneth Lee, Rachel Tomas Morgan, Angela Smith, Karen White Committee Members Absent: Ross Deal Others Present: Bianca L. Tirado, Elivet Quijada-Navarro, Matthew Neal, Samuel Turck, Bob Palmer, Sherry Bolden-Simpson Presenter(s): Kyle Willis, Caleb Bauer,Amy Hill Agenda: Bill No. 47-24 — 2024 Amended Non- Bargaining Salary Ordinance Bill No. 48-24 — Q3 2024 Budget Transfer Ordinance (Substitute) Bill No. 49-24 — Q3 2024 Additional Appropriation Ordinance Bill No. 50-24 — 2025 Annual Budget Appropriation and Property Tax Levy(Public Hearing Only) Bill No. 51-24 — 2025 TRANSPO Budget Appropriation and Property Tax Levy(Public Hearing Only) Members marked with an asterisk(*) are in virtual attendance. Please note the attached link for the meeting recording: https://does.southbendin.Gov/NVebLink/0/edoc/385749/09-23-202-4'%)2OCouncil%2OCommittees.m p4 Committee Chair Sheila Niezgodski called to order the Personnel & Finance Committee meeting at 4:17 p.m. Bill No. 47-24—2024 Amended Non-Bargaining Salary Ordinance INTEGRITY I SERVICE I ACCESSIBILITY Hivet Quijada-Navarro Mattliew Neal Samuel Turck CI III?I'DEPCTY CITY CLERK DEPum DIREcrOR OF POLICY DIRECTOR OF SPECIAL OF PROJECTS EXCELLENCE I ACCOUNTABILITY I INNOVATION I INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 1227 W.Jefferson Blvd.I South Bend,Indiana 466011 p.574.235.9221 1 f.574.235.91731 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK Kyle Willis, City Controller with offices on the 121h floor of the County-City Building, spoke regarding Bill No. 47-24. This bill will add an Admin Assistant One (1) to the Streets Division of Public Works. Public Works is consolidating two (2) part-time positions for this one (1) position. This position would also be cross-trained to cover shifts for the Payroll Clerk. Committee Member Canneth Lee asked for clarification regarding this new position's role. Kyle Willis stated that the role for this position is not completely flushed out. Committee Chair Niezgodski held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Member Rachel Tomas Morgan motioned to send Bill No. 47-24 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Vice Chair Troy Warner and carried via a vote by voice. Substitute Bill No. 48-24—Q3 2024 Budget Transfer Ordinance Committee Vice Chair Warner motioned to accept Substitute Bill No. 48-24, which was seconded by Committee Member Lee and carried via a vote by voice. Kyle Willis, City Controller with offices on the 121h floor of the County-City Building, stated that four hundred thousand dollars ($400,000) would be transferred within the Fire Department to outfit two (2) new recruitment classes that recently graduated. There will be a forty-five thousand dollar($45,000) budget transfer from the Sewage Works Fund number six hundred and forty-one (#641) to cover the purchase of a forklift. Committee Chair Niezgodski held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Member Lee motioned to send Bill No. 48-24 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Vice Chair Warner and carried via a vote by voice. Bill No. 49-24—Q3 2024 Additional Appropriation Ordinance Kyle Willis, City Controller with offices on the 121h floor of the County-City Building, stated that one million, seven hundred and fifty thousand dollars and eight hundred and forty-five dollars ($1,750,845) from the Public Safety Lit Fund number would be used to pay the Police and Fire Departments salaries. Five hundred and thirty-four thousand and five hundred dollars ($534,500) will be appropriated by the Innovation and Technology(I&T)Department to support outfitting the new City Hall. One hundred and four thousand,two hundred and fifty-five dollars($104,255)will be appropriated to improve the Century Center. Committee Chair Niezgodski asked if the Century Center improvements were included in the three hundred and thirty-nine thousand and five dollars ($339,009) line item for Century Center Operations. Kyle Willis stated yes. Committee Chair Niezgodski stated that the total appropriation is ten million, one hundred and nine thousand, one hundred and eighty-five dollars ($10,109,185). EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Blvd. South Bend,Indiana 46601 p.574.235.9221 f.574.235.9173 www.southbendin.gov • CITY OF SOUTH BEND OFFICE OF THE CLERK Kyle Willis stated that a little over one million dollars ($1,000,000) in the Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Grant is going towards new housing construction and a one million eight hundred thousand dollar($1,800,000)allocation for the Nursing Tree Network Project out of fund number two hundred and twelve (#212)the Department of Community Investment Grant. Caleb Bauer,Executive Director of DCI,with offices on the 141h floor of the County-City Building stated that the Department of Community Investments Grants Fund number two hundred and twelve(#212)will have a transfer of one million dollars($1,000,000)to fund new homeownership and home repair programs, and an allocation of one million, eight hundred and sixty-seven thousand, seven hundred and thirty dollars ($1,867,730) for the Urban Canopy Program from the Department of Acgculturer. These are two (2) separate federal grants the City has been awarded and will be fully reimbursed. A portion of these grants are appropriated with the annual budget, and then DCI will come to the Common Council when the exact entitlement amount is given from HUD. It fluctuates yearly based on a formula set at the Federal level. Historically, the total entitlement amount has been received in September or October. This allocation will allow DCI to advance and award contracts with the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) and Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) funds. Committee Chair Niezgodski held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Vice Chair Warner motioned to send Bill No. 49-24 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation which was seconded by Committee Member Lee and carried via a vote by voice. Bill No. 50-24—2025 Annual Budget Appropriation and Property Tax Levy (Public Hearing Only) Committee Chair Niezgodski asked Council Attorney Palmer if Bill No. 50-24 would require a recommendation from the Committee. Council Attorney Palmer stated yes. Kyle Willis, City Controller with offices on the 12th floor of the County-City Building, stated that after a review from the State, the City will have lower revenues than expected. The revenues that will be decreasing are property taxes and local income taxes. This assessment is due to the State characterizing the growth of 2022 as uncharacteristically high. Property and local income taxes typically lag a two (2)year. The General Plus Fund deficit will increase by about three million dollars ($3,000,000) to ten million and eight hundred thousand dollars ($10,800,000). Committee Chair Niezgodski asked if there was a presentation that Kyle Willis would like to share. Kyle Willis stated that he is giving a high-level overview of the budget and will give a more detailed presentation at the full Council meeting. Inflation continues to drive the budgeted deficit, along with expenditures like the Real Time Crime Center and increasing salaries and wages to retain staff. EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Blvd. South Bend,Indiana 46601 p.574.235.9221 f.574.235.9173 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BEND I OFFICE OF THE CLERK Citizen Member Smith asked for clarification regarding Bill No. 50-24 and whether the Committee should give it a recommendation due to all of the budget presentations not being completed. Committee Chair Niezgodski stated that this Bill was given a favorable recommendation in 2023. The Mayor's Office, City Clerk's Office, Diversity, Compliance, and Inclusion, Common Council, Transpo, and the Human Rights Commission budget presentations are still to be presented. Committee Member Tomas Morgan asked if the presentation could be shared with the Common Council. Kyle Willis stated that the presentation would be given to the Council before the full Common Council meeting. Committee Vice Chair Warner stated that after the meeting of the full Common Council, State law requires a vote to be scheduled no earlier than two (2)weeks. Committee Vice Chair Warner stated a preference of no recommendation moving forward; Mayor James Mueller will be presenting at the meeting of the Full Common Council. Committee Chair Niezgodski held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Chair Niezgodski stated that the budget vote is scheduled for October 14, 2024. Committee Vice Chair Warner motioned to send Bill No. 50-24 to the Committee of the Whole with no recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Member Tomas Morgan and carried via a vote by voice. Bill No. 51-24—2025 TRANSPO Budget Appropriation and Property Tax Levy (Public Hearing Only) Amy Hill, General Manager & CEO of Traspo, with offices at 1401 South LaFayette Boulevard, South Bend, IN 46613, gave an overview of the 2025 Transpo budget. Transpo has one hundred and six (106) employees. Transpo's fixed route and fixed route maintenance are members of the Amalgamated Transit Union Local 996. There are forty-four (44) employees in the Union. Forty- three (43) employees have opted out of the union, and eighteen (18) administrative employees. Transpo operates fifty(50)fixed-route buses and twenty(20)paratransit vans.The paratransit vans are designed for individuals who may, because of a disability, not be able to ride the regular fixed route service. There is an application process for that service that requires medical certification. 2024 is the first (l St) year with one hundred percent (100%) of Transpo's fixed route fleet fueled by compressed natural gas (CNG). The first (1 St) CNG buses will be eligible for replacement in 2026. The CNG buses are used for twelve (12) years before being replaced. The paratransit vehicles can be used for five(5)years before being replaced.The paratransit vehicles have doubled in cost over the last four (4) years. The CONNECT Transit Plan will start to be implemented in 2025. A fuel feasibility study is being conducted to be eligible for Federal grants. Technology upgrades include real-time information, bus tracking, and automated next stop/ American with Disabilities Act(ADA)announcements in 2025.Amy Hill stated that Transpo has been focused on EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Blvd. South Bend,Indiana 46601 p.574.235.9221 f.574.235.9173 www.southbendin.gov CITY OF SOUTH BENI) OFFICE OF THE CLERK expanding its ridership programs. The K-12 Summer Travel Program saw a record-setting thirty- seven thousand (37,000) rides in June, July, and August. Retaining fleet operators has been challenging, but Transpo is close to being fully staffed. The 2025 budget has increased by sixteen thousand dollars ($16,000) over the 2024 budget. Most of the tax revenue is from property taxes, about four million dollars ($4,000,000) annually. Two hundred and sixty thousand dollars ($260,000) come from the excise tax, and eight hundred thousand dollars ($800,000) from the local income tax. The Public Mass Transportation Fund (PMTF) funds all public transportation agencies state-wide. This funding has not been increased in ten (10) years. The Federal funding will be down nearly twenty percent (20%) in 2025. It is one dollar ($1) to ride the fixed route service and two dollars($2) for the paratransit service. It costs Transpo about eight dollars($8)for a fixed route ride and twelve dollars($12)for a paratransit ride.Leased revenue is down as Transpo has one(1)parking garage left that it leases to the City. That lease will end in 2025,and ownership of the parking garage will be turned over to the City. Seventy-seven percent (77%) of the Transpo budget are wages and benefits.Transpo has a four(4)year contract with the fixed route employees, which increases wages and allows employees to get to their cap in three (3) years instead of five (5)years.A fuel feasibility study is being conducted to be eligible for Federal grants that require a zero percent (0%) emissions fleet. Fuel expenses have remained flat. From 2021 through 2023, Transpo has had clean financial audits. The operating budget has increased as Transpo has come closer to being fully staffed.Amy Hill stated that funding uncertainty is always an issue. State and Federal funding for public transportation is uncertain in the next few years. Ridership continues to increase at ninety percent (90%) of pre-pandemic levels. Requests for additional services have been noted as a part of the CONNECT Transit Plan, and long-term funding is needed. There are plenty of employment opportunities in Transpo. Committee Chair Niezgodski thanked Amy Hill for the presentation. Committee Chair Niezgodski stated that she serves on the Transpo Committee and that Transpo is thorough with its budgeting. Committee Chair Niezgodski held the public hearing, and nobody spoke. Committee Vice Chair Warner motioned to send Bill No. 51-24 to the Committee of the Whole with a favorable recommendation, which was seconded by Committee Member Lee and carried via a vote by voice. With no further business, Committee Chair Niezgodski adjourned the Personnel & Finance Committee meeting at 4:55 p.m. Respectfully Submitted, r Sheila Niezgodski, Committee Chair NOTICE FOR REARING AND SIGHT IMPAIRED PERSONS Auxiliary Aid or Other Services maybe Available upon Request at No Charlie. Please Give Reasonable Advance Request when Possible EXCELLENCE ACCOUNTABILITY INNOVATION INCLUSION EMPOWERMENT 455 County-City Building 227 W.Jefferson Blvd. South Bend,Indiana 46601 p.574.235.9221 f.574.235,9173 www.southbendin.gov