Ida Grove, Iowa
February 7, 2007

The City Council of the City of Ida Grove met in special session at the Council Chambers at 5:15 p.m. for budget workshop.Mayor Dennis R. Ernst presiding.Councilmembers present: William Carnine, Paul Bargar, Paul Cates. James Weary arrived at the meeting at 6:00 p.m.Councilmembers absent: None. Guests in attendance: Matt Salvatore.

Moved to approve the agenda as presented.

Approved unanimously.

Matt Salvatore appeared before the Council to discuss his proposal to be the Park and Rec Director for the City of Ida Grove.

The City Clerk provided a copy of Mr. Salvatore’s original proposal. The clerk also reported that currently the City has spent $10,115.57 this fiscal year on salaries in the park. Last year $16,055.15 was spent for salaries plus $2,151.39 in benefits. If $7,500.00 is added that would increase the salaries by that amount plus $1,027.50 in benefits. Last year the summer mower earned $6,671.92 plus benefits. Mowing cost for the city crew and the summer mower were approximately $11,348.00.

The City Clerk had questions for Matt and the Council. Who would hire the summer mower? Matt stated his recommendation would be he would review and interview the applicants and make recommendations to the Council. Would Gailen Wessel continue to mow the flood control? Currently the picnic tables are worked on during the winter at the shop. Did Matt have a different plan or did he want to re-think that responsibility? Matt stated he would want to re-think that item.

The City Clerk also passed out a list of areas that the City currently mows besides the City Parks and the Pleasant Valley Trail area. After review Matt decided decisions would have to be made on what areas the summer mower would take care of.

The City Clerk presented another alternative to relieving the shortfall in the Rec Center budget. She informed the Council that for the last two years the Auditor had recommended that the City levy for employee benefits which would free up dollars for the Rec Center’s operating budget.

The Clerk reported she had recalculated Matt’s employee benefits budget and figures it would be $19,415.00 for the benefits. This would be almost all of the $21,500.00 shortfall. The levy would increase by $.03583 per $1,000.00 of valuation.

After discussion the City Clerk was directed to figure both proposals so the Council could decide what they wish to do.

Matt Salvatore prepared a proposed wage of the outdoor pool and reviewed the proposal with the City Clerk before the meeting. The Clerk provided a copy for those in attendance.

The wages for lifeguards currently are $4.85 an hour. On April 1, 2007 it would go to $5.15 and on January 1, 2008 to $6.00 an hour. WSI Lifeguards currently earn $5.75 to $5.99 an hour and on April 1, 2007 it would go to $6.20 and on January 1, 2008 to $7.25 an hour.
Current raise: 2% for returning pool employees.

Proposed changes in pool fees were discussed. The following increases were proposed:

	Current	Increase
Passes
Family	$106.00	$115.00
Adult	$58.30	$70.00
Student	$53.00	$60.00
Lap Swim, Per Month	$26.50	Remove cheaper to buy adult season pass
Punch Card
Adult	$40.00 (20 punches @ $2.00)	$45.00 20 punches at $2.75
Student	$30.00 (20 punches @ $1.50)	$35.00 20 punches at $1.75
Water Walking	$25.00 20 punches at $1.25	Cards don’t carry over to next season
Daily Admission	Keep daily fees high enough to encourage purchase of pool pass or punch card, that way the money is received up front.
Adult	$3.18	$4.00
Student	$2.65	$3.00
Lap Swim	$1.59	$2.00
5 & Under Admission	$1.06	$1.00
Pool Party
50 people & under	$63.60 per hour (3 guards)	$75.00
51 people & over	$1.00 extra per person (4 guards)
Swimming Lessons	Already compete with private lessons
	$15.90	$15.00

* City of Ida Grove would have to pay the sales tax out of the money received

Other recommendations:

Close swimming pool when school starts.

Change swimming lessons to 4 one week sessions instead of 2 two week sessions.

Moved to approve the proposed wages, proposed rate increases and closing dates for the outdoor pool.

Approved unanimously.

The City Clerk presented figures for the use for the Hotel Motel Tax that has been received.

The Council discussed the split and noted they had received a request from the Library for part of the Hotel Motel monies also.

It was discussed and agreed by general consent to split the monies as follows: City $10,850.00, Outdoor Pool $2,283.33, Rec Center $2,283.34, Parks & Trails $2,283.33, Community Hall $1,500.00, Heritage Days $1,500.00 and Library $1,000.00.

The City Clerk presented information concerning a proposed wage increase for the upcoming fiscal year. The County gave a 3.25% increase in wages. The school hasn’t received the cost for their health insurance as of yet, so they haven’t done any thing and the Consumer Price Index is 3.6%.

The Council discussed the amount to be included in the budget and it was agreed to include a 4% increase.

The City of Ida Grove’s current per capita fee is $15.00 times the population 2,350 for $35,250.00. The Clerk reported she just received notice from the County Auditor that the Board of Supervisors raised the per capita fee to $20.00 per capita. This will raise cities per capita to $47,000.00.

Currently the City has a landfill fee charge of $2.75 on each water bill. That fee brings in $36,300.00. There are months that we don’t send out 1100 bills so we should be close to what we need. If the rate is increased to $3.60 it should bring in approximately $47,520.00.

The current charge for garbage collection is $14.75 and of that the City keeps fifty cents for the administration fee. According to the proposal we received from Ida County Sanitation when we were talking about staying with a transfer station at the landfill or direct hauling the fee to haul to the transfer station would be $16.65 per residence.

After discussion, the Clerk was directed to include those figures in the budget. If there are changes before the new fiscal year starts the ordinance will have to be changed to reflect the extra fees or lowered if there is a reduction.

The City Clerk informed the Council she had worked on the debt service levy for 2007-2008. The City had a $1,010,000.00 bond sale and of that Zobel’s Seventh Addition $239,945.70. The Clerk reported she has asked for TIF Funds in the amount of $42,127.00, which should cover the City’s principal and interest cost as well as the set aside. The remaining principal and interest is $86,089.90. If the Council were to levy for the remaining the levy would be $1.54417 and the airport bonds and coupons are $36,500.00 for a levy of $.65469. The total would be $2.19886 for debt service. The last payment for TIF West is covered by TIF funds that are on hand.

The Council has another alternative they could pass an ordinance to provide for a temporary increase in the water rates changed by the City of Ida Grove to pay for the water and sewer improvements that were accomplished in the last year. The four projects amount to $770,054.30. Previously the ordinance that was passed included an increase of $2.00 for the minimum usages and up to $13.00 for over 15,000 gallons. This charge brought in between $71,319.78 to $73,445.55 over three fiscal years. If the council were to pass this ordinance again the City would have to levy approximately $1,590.00, which would increase the levy $.24376. The total levy would be $.89845 or $l.30041 less than levying for the entire amount. If there is a user charge each residence, business or industry is paying from improvements they are using not just the property owner.

After discussion, the Council agreed by general consent to include the user fee in the upcoming budget.

The Clerk informed the Council she needs to have the completed budget to the paper by February 26th so it can be published on February 28th and the public hearing would be on March 12th.

Moved to adjourn subject to the call of the Mayor.

Approved unanimously.

/s/Dennis R. Ernst, Mayor

ATTEST:

/s/Diane F. Alborn, City Clerk