City Commission Study Session  

 

July 13, 2006

9:00 a.m. - noon

City Commission Room – City Hall

 

A G E N D A

 

Aligning the Budget with Commission Priorities and Goals

 

v      The 2007 Interim City Manager’s Recommended Operating and Capital Improvement Budget (must have internet access to view) was posted to the City’s website last week in anticipation of the City Commission’s budget deliberations at their July 13th study session.  The majority of items for City Commission consideration and direction are contained in the Transmittal Letter.

 

Enhancing the Efficiency and Effectiveness of City Services & Programs

 

v        Information that may be helpful to the City Commission in their consideration of proposals for additional staff for the Lawrence/Douglas County Planning Department and for dispatching services is provided below.  Per agreements, Douglas County funds 1/6 and the City funds 5/6 of the Planning Department annual operating budget.  Douglas County funds 33% and the City funds 67% of the costs associated with emergency dispatch services.

 

v        Planning Department

The budget proposal for the Planning Department included a request for funding of two new Planner positions.  It was anticipated that additional resources would be a recommendation from the Matrix review of the development process, hence the program improvement for additional staff.  Two major areas of emphasis for the new positions were envisioned: historic preservation and enforcement of proposed County subdivision regulations.  Costs for the two positions total $141,668.  The following options are available for funding of the two positions:

·       Option 1 – City pays 5/6 of historic preservation position and 0% of subdivision regulations position.  Total cost to the City: $59,029; total cost to the County: $82,639.

·       Option 2 – City pays 5/6 of both new positions.  Total cost to the City: $118,057; total cost to the County: $23,611.

·       Option 3 – City pays 5/6 of historic reservation position and 25% of subdivision regulations position.  Total cost to the City: $76,737; total cost to the County: $64,931.

 

v      Dispatching Services

A proposal to add four dispatcher positions involves an additional cost of $145,451 for these services, per the County Administrator’s office.  The additional costs for the City’s share are of dispatching services in 2007 are as follows:

·       No new dispatcher positions added in 2007 - $938,145

·       One new dispatcher position added in 2007 - $962,508

·       Two new dispatcher positions added in 2007 - $986,871

·       Four new dispatcher positions added in 2007 - $1,035,598

 

Additional Budget Information

 

v        Attached please find a summary of the 2007 budget requests from outside agencies.  Mayor Amyx and Commissioner Schauner reviewed these requests last month and provided some recommendations for the 2007 budget, which are noted on the summary and included in the recommended budget.

 

v        Please find below the key dates for the remainder of the 2007 budget process:

 

Thursday, July 13                     City Commission Study Session

                                                      9:00 a.m. – noon, City Hall

 

Monday, July 17                                    City Commission Study Session

                                                      7:00 – 9:00 p.m., Fire Station #5

 

Tuesday, July 25                       City Commission authorizes publication of 2007 Budget

 

Wednesday, July 26                 Budget material provided to Journal World for publication on 07/31/06

 

Tuesday, August 8                    Public Hearing on Budget – Budget Ordinance first reading

 

Tuesday, August 15                  Budget adopted by City Commission – Budget Ordinance second reading

 

Wednesday, August 16            2007 Budget filed with County Clerk   

 

Action Items Update

 

City staff has completed or is currently pursuing the completion of the action items presented and/or requested by the City Commission at previous Budget Study sessions.  Attached update.