Agenda Item - 5/4/09 meeting

SPECIAL MEETING OF THE BOWIE CITY COUNCIL
MONDAY, APRIL 13, 2009

 

CALL MEETING TO ORDER

            The Special Meeting of the Bowie City Council was held on Monday, April 13, 2009 in the Council Chambers at City Hall.  Mayor Robinson called the meeting to order at 8:00 p.m. 

QUORUM

            In attendance were Mayor Robinson, Councilmembers Brady, Marcos, Polangin, Trouth, and Turner, City Manager Deutsch, Assistant City Manager Fitzwater, City Clerk Fleming, the Press, and the Public. 

PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG

            The Council led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag.

NEW BUSINESS:

            A.  Introduction of Ordinance O-1-09 – Approving and Adopting a Budget for the 2009-2010 Fiscal Year Beginning July 1, 2009 and Ending June 30, 2010 – Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved the introduction of Ordinance O-1-09.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried with a vote of 6-0.  

            City Manager David Deutsch reported that the budget is the plan and program of services for the fiscal year beginning July 1; is pleased that budget provides strong core services; despite difficulties in revenue, there is very little change in program offerings; this is more than a $43 million General Fund budget and includes transfers of $91 million; there are significant reductions in income tax and highway user revenue; the budget has been fashioned to keep the property tax rate constant and not increase the cost for taxpayers; many capital projects have been deferred, have tightened up elements of the expenditure program.   Mr. Deutsch said the expansion of the police department results in a 4.3 cent County property tax rate reduction; the combined tax rate of City, County, State, Park and Planning, Transit District in FY '10 will be the lowest since FY '03.   He then provided some highlights and said there will be only 2 new positions in the police department; an application had been submitted to the Department of Justice for grant funds under the COPS program seeking support for 10 officers; any officers that are funded will be a gain and the program provides for 3 year funding of full salaries and benefits without any restrictions; this will help in reaching the goal of staffing the police department; the only service change relates to the resurfacing program and suggest that Council reinstitute the use of slurry seal to stretch the dollars; slurry seal is about one third the cost of hot mix.  He said several items were looked at to try to curtain expenses: trimmed allocation for concerts by negotiating better rates and bringing in more military bands who don't charge; money has not been budgeted for storm debris clean up since there has been a decline in frequency of significant storms; the budget contains a $90,000 allocation for the support and creation of the business incubator; staff is working on several grants in relation to the stimulus package and some are ongoing, and the housing support program will be launched that was authorized in the FY '09 budget. 

            Mr. Deutsch announced that there will be two public hearings on the budget: April 20 and May 4; full budget document is the web site, hard copies are available in the Finance Department as well as on a CD.   He then said that Council received a memorandum that contains some good news; expenditures had been overstated in the budget document by $423,000.   He also reviewed the fiscal policies section beginning on Page 6.

            Mayor Robinson asked Councilmembers to provide their comments and noted this is a conservative, frugal, balanced budget; if any Councilmember wishes to propose a change or modification, it would be helpful if that change was combined with a cost off-set strategy. 

            Mayor Pro Tem Turner commended staff for the proposed budget.  He said the fact there will not be a tax increase is exemplary given the services that are provided and felt the citizens will be appreciative; the public safety sector is still on track for the 5 year plan to get to 57 police officers.  Mr. Turner said that one of the items that Councilmember Valentino-Smith, who could not attend this meeting, asked about was the staffing and how to manage replacing those who leave and new hires.  He was pleased with the firm commitment to move forward with the business incubator program, appreciative of staff maintaining Council's commitment to continue to study a new gym facility, and the two pilot programs for providing assistance to new homeowners in particular to police officers and teachers.  He asked for consideration to continue the program until the next fiscal year so there is a full year for evaluation.  The second pilot program is the capital matching grant program and would like to see the program continued and to control traffic with speed cameras.  Mr. Turner said he agreed with Mayor Robinson's comments that for any increase there needs to be a requisite decrease.

            Councilmember Brady commended staff in pulling the budget document together and said it reflects the reality of the current economic times, as well as the day-to-day job done by City staff.   He spoke about the sale of new homes being up.   He said staff has tightened the belt, kept quality services without increasing taxes.  Mr. Brady offered 3 items:  1) Animal Shelter - Set as a goal to study how can the City step forward to increase the number of pets who get a microchip, how to get them to registered and change the information when lost or given up so information stays current.  2) HB1210 which deals with the issue of plastic bags in the environment - asked that the City look at this issue to encourage the purchase of reusable bags and help defray the costs.  3) Asked that a marker be put down for the possibility of looking at drawing on some contingency funds if 3 things occur in this fiscal year: a) the task force reports out favorably on establishment of a shelter; b) the economy shows signs of bouncing back; and c) there are no other more pressing needs that the contingency fund would have to be used for.  Mr. Brady asked what would be a realistic number of officers to be looked at if the grant was obtained and what time would they come on board.  Mr. Deutsch replied that if the City is successful in getting federal funds for two officers, the City should declare a victory; the dilemma is although an appropriate application was submitted to by the Department of Justice, as of 3 weeks ago, applications had been submitted for triple the amount of the appropriation; there are a number of screening indicators regarding crime rate, a low per capita income, etc.; the expectation is that by the third quarter of this calendar year the City may be in a position to hire.

            Councilmember Brady then said he appreciated that the money for the business incubator is in the budget; however, his support is conditioned on other partners being critical to the City moving forward and cannot be a 100% City funded item.   He said he supported the need for the gym, but it is extremely prudent that the City complete the most significant capital improvement project the City has ever undertaken before another one is started.   He closed by saying that the City is resting on the laurels of not only staff, but past councils.

            Councilmember Marcos also commended staff and said he was pleased that the tax rates will remain the same; wanted to keep an eye on the business incubator.

            Councilmember Polanagin also commended staff and asked if the additional $423,000 could be placed in a "rainy day" fund because of increasing gas prices, etc.   She said she agreed with Councilmember Brady about the microchipping program.

            Councilmember Trouth said the staff did an outstanding job in preparing the budget; there will be no tax increase and will also get the tax differential from the County.  He said he had several items he wanted to talk about: Church Road Park - South Bowie Boys & Girls Club concession stand; Indoor Facility - recommended looking at getting a needs assessment in FY '10; Traffic Calming - speed cameras may be of help; Traffic assessment of Jenkins Mill Road; Must maintain core services.

            Mayor Robinson concluded the comments by Council by saying that the budget, as presented, is strong, solid and balanced; it shows once again the strength of long-term strategic planning and why Bowie can be proud.

            B.  Introduction of Resolution R-23-09 – Adopting a Capital Improvement Program for the Fiscal Years 2010-2015 - Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved the introduction of Resolution R-23-09.  Councilmember Brady seconded the motion and it carried with a vote of 6-0.

ADJOURNMENT

            Mayor Pro Tem Turner moved to adjourn the meeting into a Budget Worksession.  The motion was seconded by Councilmember Brady and carried unanimously.   The meeting adjourned at 9:05 p.m.

                                          Respectfully submitted,

                                                                                    Pamela A. Fleming, MMC
City Clerk