HomeMy WebLinkAbout03-14-16 Personnel and FinancePERSONNEL & FINANCE
MARCH 14, 2016 5:12 P.M.
Committee Members Present: Karen White, Gavin Ferlic, Regina Williams- Preston,
John Voorde
Other Council Present: Tim Scott, Randy Kelly, Jo M. Broden, Oliver Davis
Others Present: Jennifer Coffinan, Joseph Molnar, Kathleen Cekanski - Farrand
Adriana Rodriguez
Agenda: City Controller John Murphy, Office of Finance and Administration
Chairperson Karen White called the meeting to order with one item on the agenda.
John Murphy, City Controller with offices on the 12th Floor of the County -City Building, gave an
overview presentation of the Administration and Finance Department. The presentation began
with the senior members of the Administration and Finance staff introducing themselves to the
Council and explaining their roles within the department.
John Murphy went over the accomplishments of the department over the past year. They pride
themselves for their AA Bond rating which last year saved the city $5.6 million dollars in
refunding savings. Every report the department puts out is accessible online. Regarding human
resources, the big initiative has been the Health Clinic opening this past January. The department
is excited about the possibilities of cost reduction the clinic will bring and it has been a great
success so far. The employee handbook was revamped for the first time in a number of years.
Both the Human Resources division and the Human Rights division of the department have
hosted a number of events over the past year with great community involvement.
The Human Rights Commission handled over 5,000 inquiries last year and has worked with the
various departments around the City, especially the Fire and Police Departments, to help them
with their hiring practices.
The City has one of the lowest worker's compensation cost per person in the area. Overall
worker's compensation claims were reduced from 2014 to 2015 and the general trend has been
down over the past ten (10) years.
The department is aiming to move towards a priority based budgeting and the Council will look
at that in the future. It helps budget costs by program which are perceived as more meaningful
than just accounts and budgets. The department will also attempt a Popular Annual Financial
report which will be more citizen friendly in the terms of readability.
Chairperson Karen White thanked John Murphy for all the work his department put in during the
budget process last year. This was the first year she heard no comments from the community
about not having enough information or opportunity for public input. She thanked the team for
responding to the questions in such a fast and efficient manner.
With no further business before the Committee, Chairperson Karen White adjourned the meeting
at 5:25 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Karen White, Chairperson