Minutes 06-16-09
PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
CITY OF JANESVILLE, WISCONSIN
SPECIAL MEETING APPROVED: July 13, 2009
JUNE 16, 2009
VOL. 60
NO. 9
Special meeting of the City Council of the City of Janesville held at the Holiday Inn Express, 3100
Wellington Place, Janesville, Wisconsin on June 16, 2009. The meeting was called to order by
Council President Truman at 8:00 AM. Council President Truman led the Council in the Pledge of
Allegiance.
Present: Council President Truman, Councilmembers Brunner, McDonald, Perrotto, Rashkin,
Steeber, and Voskuil.
Brad Dutcher, Andy Richardson, and Bill Glass of the UAW Local 95 thanked the Council for their
support and efforts to retain General Motors.
Overview of retreat objectives
Council determined, by consensus, the objectives of the retreat to be:
1. Establish short-term and long-term goals.
2. Establish Note Issue ranking criteria.
3. Review the macro-projection for the 2010 budget.
Action to establish Council short-term and long-term goals
Council established their top four short-term goals:
1. Work through 2010 and 2011 budgets and establish guidelines for the
Administration to use in the preparation of the budgets.
2. Increase job availability; establish innovative ideas to jump start local economy;
and, consider small and medium investment opportunities in the community.
3. Establish facility maintenance plan.
4. Review and prioritize new or the improvements to the following City facilities: Fire
Station #1; Transit; Aquatics; Tallman House; Ice Skating Center; Riverside
Wading Pool; Jackson Street Bridge; Bike Tunnel; and, options for Lions Beach.
Council established their five long-term goals:
1. Provide assistance to citizens facing poverty, homelessness, and job loss.
2. Provide efficient, effective, and needs responsive services.
3. Work through 2010 budget; estimate fund balance and reserve fund balances;
review major capital improvements.
4. Initiate economic employment growth; establish long-term economic development;
work with Forward Janesville to attract high-paying non-manufacturing jobs, and
revitalize and support the downtown neighborhoods and the central business
district.
5. Review major capital improvements; initiate facility maintenance program; and
initiate comprehensive maintenance program.
Action to establish Council objectives for upcoming budget
2009 Note Issue:
Council prioritized their evaluation criteria from highest to lowest for the 2009 note issue as
follows:
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Health and Safety
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Fiscal Impact
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Sustain and Stimulate Local Economy
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Supporting Necessary Services
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Quality of Life
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Relationship to Other Projects
?
Outside Funding
?
Maintain Established Services
By consensus, Council established the following policies for the Administration to use in compiling
the 2009 Note Issue:
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Balance essential service needs and quality of life needs by allocating at least 20% of the
capital program to quality of life improvements, such as parks and recreation projects.
?
The City can further refine the priority order of capital projects based on eligibility and
availability of resources, specific funding sources or other factors. Fiscal constraint will
continue to influence the timing of projects, as can other unforeseen matters.
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Capital funding for engineering design should only be appropriated where funding can
also be made available for implementation in the following fiscal year.
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City Council should allocate funding for strategic land acquisition in designated areas of
the City based on Council priorities.
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Generally, plan to expend borrowed funds within 24 months.
General Fund/Operating Budget:
Council reviewed General Fund/Operating Budget macro projection for proposed 2010 budget:
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Revenue Changes ($ 864,000)
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Expenditure Changes $1,000,000
?
Projected 2010 Deficit for Operations without Tax Levy: $1,864,000
The projection includes the use of $1,231,000 in applied fund balance.
By consensus, the Council provided the following guidance to the Administration in preparing the
proposed 2010 budget:
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Place everything on the table for review and consideration.
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Approach the budget with the expectation of no or minimal tax levy increase.
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Consider employee furloughs instead of layoffs.
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Review revenues for possible fee increases, look for other sources of revenue, and
maximize investment opportunities.
?
Review consolidation of services with other governments and schools.
?
Schedule more budget study sessions.
Council requested information from peer cities on landfill fees, residential fees for trash collection,
and multi-family fees for trash collection.
City Manager Levitt requested Councilmembers turn in his six-month evaluation.
Councilmember Steeber moved to adjourn, seconded by Councilmember Voskuil and passed
unanimously.
There being no further business, the Council adjourned at 2:25 PM. These minutes are not
official until approved by the City Council.
Jean Ann Wulf
Clerk-Treasurer