EAU CLAIRE CITY COUNCIL MINUTES

FRIDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2011

CITY HALL COUNCIL CHAMBER                                  5:00 P.M.

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE AND ROLL CALL

Council President Kincaid called the meeting to order.  The following members were present:  Council Members Larry Balow, David Duax, Kerry Kincaid, David Klinkhammer, Kathy Mitchell, Mark Olson, Jackie Pavelski, Bob Von Haden, Thomas Vue, Dana Wachs, and Andrew Werthmann. 

2012 BUDGET

Finance Director Rebecca Noland presented the 2012 Program of Services and 2012 - 2016 Capital Improvement Plan.

The Council considered various motions to amend the proposed 2012 Program of Services and the 2012 - 2016 Capital Improvement Plan.

Council President Kincaid passed the gavel to Vice President Klinkhammer. 

ELECTRIC VEHICLE PROJECT 

A motion was offered by Council Member Kincaid and seconded by Council Member Wachs “to initiate a demonstration project called ‘The City Electric Vehicle Project’ through the purchase of one electric vehicle and one electric charging station (EV Station), to be installed in the City Hall parking lot; to be funded by a transfer from the General Fund fund balance and an Energy Efficiency and Conservation Block Grant in the amount of $7,500. The purchase price for the vehicle and charging station is not to exceed $45,000”.  After lengthy discussion the Council voted on the proposal.  Said motion passed by the following vote:  Aye:  Council Members Kincaid, Klinkhammer, Mitchell, Pavelski, Wachs and Werthmann.  Nay:  Council Members Balow, Duax, Olson, Von Haden and Vue.   

COMMUNITY TELEVISION

Council Member Kincaid withdrew her motion that the 2011 payment of $50,000 to Public Access TV for transition costs be carried forward to 2012.  The Finance Department has received a request from Public Access TV for the funding.

Vice President Klinkhammer returned the gavel to President Kincaid. 

COPS GRANT

A motion was offered by Council Member Mitchell and seconded by Council Member Pavelski “to accept the COPS Grant for the Eau Claire Police Department and appropriate the first year funding in the amount of $166,500 to be funded from the grant”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

SOUOURNER HOUSE

A motion was offered by Council Member Werthmann and seconded by Council Member Balow “to provide one-time CDBG funding to Sojourner House in 2012 in the amount of $9,100, which is equal to the Public Services limit of 15% of the amount that the RDA will repay to CDBG for North Barstow Street Properties”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

PUBLIC ACCESS TELEVISION

A motion was offered by Council Member Pavelski and seconded by Council Member Mitchell “that Public Access Television (PACT) provide the City Council with a 3-year business plan by July 2012 and annual reports thereafter”.  Said motion passed by the following vote:  Aye:  Council Members Balow, Duax, Kincaid, Klinkhammer, Mitchell, Pavelski, Von Haden, Vue, Wachs and Werthmann.  Nay:  Council Member Olson. 

NARROWBAND UTILITY

A motion was offered by Council Member Pavelski and seconded by Council Member Werthmann “that staff research the feasibility of establishing a utility to recover the cost of transitioning to and maintaining narrowband infrastructure and report back by July 2012”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

CITY ATTORNEY’S OFFICE STAFFING

A motion was offered by Council Member Olson and seconded by Council Member Balow “to allocate $15,000 from the 2012 budget from the City Manager’s office for a study of the future staffing requirements in the City Attorney’s office given the changes in collective bargaining for public employees”.  Said motion failed by the following vote:  Aye:  Council Members Balow, Duax, Olson and Wachs.  Nay:  Council Members Kincaid, Klinkhammer, Mitchell, Pavelski, Von Haden, Vue and Werthmann.

COMMUNITY ENHANCEMENT FUNDING

A motion was offered by Council Member Klinkhammer and seconded by Council Member Von Haden “to increase the Community Enhancement funding for the Chippewa Valley Museum by $2,100, the Eau Claire Chamber Orchestra by $500, and the Municipal Band by $600. The additional appropriations are to be funded by reallocating $1,600 from the Wayfinding Sign Program and the use of $1,600 in available fund balance”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

NORTH BARSTOW STREET PARKING LOT

A motion was offered by Council Member Duax and seconded by Council Member Von Haden “to direct staff to seek partners to defray the cost of resurfacing and maintaining the temporary parking lot on North Barstow Street”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

CITY HALL ARCHITECTURAL ASSESSMENT

A motion was offered by Council Member Duax and seconded by Council Member Mitchell “that the RFP for the City Hall Complex Update Analysis include an architectural assessment to identify historic features that may be preserved or restored, along with the associated costs”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

CITY HALL BELL

A motion was offered by Council Member Duax and seconded by Council Member Olson “to provide $1,000 for the relocation of the City’s 1875 bell by transferring $1,000 from the Wayfinding Sign Program in the Community Enhancement Fund”.  Said motion passed by the following vote:  Aye:  Council Members Balow, Duax, Kincaid, Mitchell, Olson, Pavelski, Von Haden, Vue, and Wachs.  Nay:  Council Members Klinkhammer and Werthmann.

BID BUDGET AMENDMENTS

A motion was offered by Council Member Werthmann and seconded by Council Member Balow “to amend the 2012 Recommended Program of Services by increasing the North Barstow / Medical Business Improvement District appropriations by $10,000 to a total of $54,000, funded by the North Barstow/Medical BID fund balance”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

A motion was offered by Council Member Von Haden and seconded by Council Member Pavelski “to amend the 2012 Recommended Program of Services by increasing the West Grand Avenue Business Improvement District appropriations by $4,000 to a total of $17,000, funded by the West Grand Avenue BID fund balance”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

RATIFYING MOTION

A motion was offered by Council Member Duax and seconded by Council Member Klinkhammer “ratifying and confirming various motions amending the resolutions adopting the 2012 Program of Services and the 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Plan, approving the related changes in estimated revenues and appropriations, and authorizing the city staff to incorporate the changes in the 2012 Program of Services and the 2012-2016 Capital Improvement Plan”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote.

GENERAL FUND

The City Council considered a resolution adopting the proposed budget and appropriations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 for the General Fund.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Olson and seconded by Council Member Mitchell “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

LIBRARY

The Council considered a resolution adopting the proposed budget and appropriations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 for the L.E. Phillips Memorial Public Library.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Wachs and seconded by Council Member Werthmann “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

CITY / COUNTY HEALTH

The Council considered a resolution adopting the proposed budget and appropriations for the fiscal year ending December 31, 2012 for the City - County Health Department.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Vue and seconded by Council Member Pavelski “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

CITY AGENCIES & UTILITIES

The City Council considered a resolution adopting the following proposed budgets for various agencies and utilities of the City of Eau Claire for fiscal year 2012:

Economic Development                     Community Enhancement

Downtown Fund                                 Cemetery Maintenance

Hazardous Materials Response          Debt Service - General Fund

Debt Service - TID #6 (Northeast Industrial Area)

Debt Service - TID #7 (Soo Line Development Area)

Water Utility                                      Sewer Utility

Storm Water Management                 Parking Utility

Public Transit                                     Hobbs Ice Center

Outdoor Pool                                      Risk Management

Central Equipment                             Landfill Remediation

Redevelopment Authority. 

Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Von Haden and seconded by Council Member Duax “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

TAX LEVIES AND RATES

The City Council considered a resolution establishing the 2011 tax levies for taxes collectible in 2012 and setting the tax roll for all governmental units within the City of Eau Claire.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Klinkhammer and seconded by Council Member Olson “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

The Council considered a resolution levying tax rates for all taxable real and personal property in the 2011 tax roll of the City of Eau Claire located in Eau Claire and Chippewa Counties.  There-upon a motion was offered by Council Member Mitchell and seconded by Council Member Wachs “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

SPECIAL ASSESSMENTS 

The Council considered a resolution levying special assessment charges and extending annual installments of 2011 special assessments.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Werthmann and seconded by Council Member Balow “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN

The City Council considered a resolution approving the 2012 - 2016 Capital Improvement Plan for the City of Eau Claire.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Vue and seconded by Council Member Pavelski “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

ISSUANCE OF BONDS AND OFFICIAL INTENT 

The City Council considered a resolution authorizing the issuance of bonds and authorizing an officer to declare official intent for federal income tax purposes.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Von Haden and seconded by Council Member Duax “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

BUSINESS IMPROVEMENT DISTRICT BUDGETS

The City Council considered a resolution approving the 2012 Budgets for the Business Improvement Districts within the City of Eau Claire and authorization to levy special assessments: 

• South Barstow Business Improvement District
• West Grand Avenue Business Improvement District
• Water Street Business Improvement District
•  N. Barstow / Medical Business Improvement District

Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Klinkhammer and seconded by Council Member Olson “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

FEES AND LICENSES

The City Council considered a resolution amending the City of Eau Claire Schedule of Fees and Licenses, effective January 1, 2012.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Mitchell and seconded by Council Member Wachs “to adopt said resolution”.  Said motion passed by the following vote:  Aye:  Council Members Duax, Kincaid, Klinkhammer, Mitchell, Olson, Pavelski, Von Haden Vue and Wachs.  Nay:  Council Members Balow and Werthmann. 

SEWER RATE INCREASE

The City Council considered an ordinance amending Chapter 15.04 of the City Code of Ordinances, entitled “Sewerage Service Charge”, to increase the sewer user charges as proposed in the 2012 Program of Services.  Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Werthmann and seconded by Council Member Balow “to adopt said ordinance”.  Said motion passed by unanimous vote. 

PAY PLAN

The City Council considered an ordinance amending the pay plan for the City of Eau Claire, specifically those parts thereof pertaining to Local 284, CTSEA, Confidential and Temporary employees.   Thereupon a motion was offered by Council Member Vue and seconded by Council Member Pavelski “to adopt said ordinance”.  Said motion passed by the following vote:  Aye:  Council Members Balow, Kincaid, Klinkhammer, Mitchell, Pavelski, Von Haden, Vue, Wachs and Werthmann.  Nay:  Council Members Duax and Olson. 

ADJOURNMENT

A motion was offered by Council Member Duax and seconded by Council Member Klink-hammer “that this meeting does now adjourn.”  Said motion was adopted by unanimous consent.

Adjournment:  November 4, 2011                                                                 Time:  7:50 p.m.

  /s/  Kerry J. S. Kincaid, President

ATTEST:

  /s/  Donna A. Austad, City Clerk