WORK SE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
Tuesday, May 31, 2005
6:15 P.M.
Present: Mayor Lee N. Fiedler, Council Members Floyd “Pete” Elliott, Edward C. Hedrick, Jr., Harold L. Hendershot, Jr., and Terance J. Rephann.
Also Present: Jeffrey E. Repp, City Administrator; H. Jack Price, Jr., City Solicitor; Kevin Hagerich, Director of Public Works; Jeffrey Rhodes, Director of Administrative Services, and Sharon S. Clark, City Clerk.
I. Public Meeting Agenda Review - Jeffrey E. Repp, City Administrator
Mr. Repp reviewed the public meeting agenda as follows:
Unfinished Business:
Ordinance: (Vote on second reading - 3rd Reading)
Ordinance No. 3524 – Providing a Schedule for Water Rates.
Public Hearings –
1. Constant Yield Tax Rate
Tax Rate is being set at .9479 per $100 assessed value. Mr. Repp noted there was an error in the newspaper advertisement of the public hearing, but that the information sent for the advertisement was correct. He reviewed a constant yield tax rate comparison for the previous four years and explained how the rate is established by the State and the hearing requirements.
2. Hotel/Motel Funding Requests
Mr. Repp advised funding requests had been received in the amount of $78,180.00 with $41,000 to be allocated. Tonight brief presentation by various groups for funding will be made with an opportunity for the Mayor and Council to ask questions. Mr. Repp requested council to complete the form provided for funding recommendations after the meeting and return them to him to compile and make recommendation for the next meeting.
Ordinances and Charter Amendment Resolutions:
Ordinance - Nine Ordinances for presentation as follows.
To be presented and adopted:
Ordinance No. 1 - Providing for the issuance of permits for placement of dumpsters in the City of Cumberland
Ordinance No. 2 - Providing rates and charges for use of the City sewerage system
To be presented for 1st and 2nd readings only, with adoption June 14th:
Ordinance No. 3 - Annual Appropriations for the Water Fund for Fiscal Year 2005-06
Ordinance No. 4 - Annual Appropriations for the Sewerage Fund for Fiscal Year 2005-06
Ordinance No. 5 - Providing rates for refuse collection within the City of Cumberland
Ordinance No. 6 - Annual Appropriation for the Fiscal Year 2005-06
Ordinance No. 7 - Annual Appropriations for various Special Purpose Funds for Fiscal Year 2005-06
Ordinance No. 8 - Providing for the City Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2005-06
Ordinance No. 9 - Amending the code for setting the rental registration fee
The adoption of this ordinance will change the establishment of the rental registration fee being set by ordinance to being set by Mayor and Council order. At the next meeting an order will be presented to establish the recommended $25.00 fee.
Councilman Hedrick expressed that he was not in favor of the increase from $15.00 to $25.00 because those individuals registering units probably also have to register them with the Md. Dept. of Environment. He suggested the following to help make up the $10.00 additional registration revenue:
1. Identifying individuals not registered and making them comply
2. Charging a fee when a unit is initially registered in the rental program
Councilman Rephann agreed they could do a better job bringing people into compliance; however, commented that in comparison with other municipalities the City’s rental rate will still be the lowest in the State and expressed that our current fee does not cover the administrative costs. He suggested they could have either a lower registration rate and higher taxes or a higher registration rate and lower taxes.
Mr. Repp explained that the City charges one fee for both registration and inspection, rather than like some others who charge a registration fee as well as an inspection fee.
Mayor Fiedler said he looks at this as Step 1, with additional steps needed as well as strengthening the department. He added he feels this should be a fee and not included in the tax rate.
Councilman Rephann suggested looking at charging the fee for Section 8 program participants as do other municipalities. Mr. Repp advised that was a conscious decision of the Mayor and City Council at the time the original ordinance was adopted. Councilman Hendershot elaborated on the decision to exclude those participants in the fee and agreed they may need to revisit that issue.
After further discussion of the subject, it was agreed there had been no change in ten years and there was a need to review the process over the next twelve months comparing our program with other municipalities and developing the best program to fit the City’s needs.
Councilman Rephann asked if there would be an opportunity to amend ordinances prior to their passage to which Mr. Repp said there would be. Mr. Price advised they could be amended on the second reading.
In discussion of the budget ordinances, Mr. Repp advised that in accordance with Mayor and Council direction, he has removed the $254,000 currently budgeted in the general fund for trash collection and moved it to the trash fund using the savings as follows:
1. $82,000 to offset the personal property tax increase
2. $50,000 to Economic Development for Strategic Plan Implementation
3. $121,000 for creation of a Street Improvement Program
Mr. Repp then reviewed the FY 2006 General Fund budget in light of the changes as well as the trash rate increase in the amount of 30%.
Councilman Rephann asked how the dumpster permit fee was established and suggested they come up with the annual cost to a City resident for hauling trash and establish that as the dumpster fee. Mr. Repp explained the fee for the dumpster is to cover the enforcement of the ordinance as well as to cause the hauler to contact the City when a dumpster contract is terminated so the City can begin for trash pickup.
Councilman Rephann questioned the rate for dumpster vs. the cost for making the service available to customers. Mr. Price said he would consider it like a utility, where a minimum is not charged if the service is turned off. Councilman Rephann suggested there be a fee paid for making the service available whether or not the customer chooses to use it. There was discussion over whether or not there should be a charge and what it should be.
Orders (Consent Agenda) - Seven (7) orders on the consent agenda. Orders were discussed as follows:
Order No. 24203 Authorizing Jeffrey E. Repp, City Administrator, to execute a Grant from the Tony Hawk Foundation to assist in the construction of a non-profit Skate Park - $1,000.00
Order No. 24,204 Rescind Order No. 24,166 and accept the proposal of Criswell Chevrolet for One (1) 2006 model dump truck - $39,035.76
Order No. 24,205 Authorizing Jeffrey E. Repp, City Administrator, to execute documents for CareFirst Blue Cross Blue Shield for rates effective July 1, 2005
Order No. 24,206 Making appointments to the Downtown Development Commission
Order No. 24,207 Establishing Dumpster Permit Fees
Order No. 24,208 Authorizing Jeffrey E. Repp, City Administrator, to execute a Grant Agreement between the Dept. of Housing and Urban Development and the City of Cumberland for a Fair Housing Education Outreach Project - $100,000.00
Mr. Repp explained that this $100,000 grant is between HRDC and the Human Relations Commission and will be administered through the HRDC and Community Relations staff.
Order No. 24,209 Accepting the proposal of ARK Systems, Inc. for a Card Access Security System for the Public Safety Building - $44,200.00
Mr. Repp explained the County has received $60,000 from Homeland Security Funds for implementation of the video system presented to Council a few months ago, and reviewed the funding for this project.
Budget Ordinance Discussion:
Councilman Rephann questioned the allocation of the funds taken out of the general fund previously designated for trash pickup saying he wasn’t entirely comfortable with it. He requested they look at decreasing spending and find a way to close the $81,000 gap. Mr. Repp explained the budget ordinances are being introduced this evening with the opportunity to amend them at the next meeting if there is a consensus to do so.
Mr. Elliott expressed concern with it being so close to approval of the budget, and suggested obtaining input from the Street Department regarding streets.
Mayor Fiedler commented the goal was to charge a fee in an amount to cover the trash pickup, and stated that the Strategic Plan wouldn’t be approved until July. He said his position is if they don’t approve the plan, they put another $50,000 into street improvements since there has been nothing done with the streets for some time and it is catching up with them.
Mr. Rephann commented that the property tax base has increased, and highway user funds have been largely replenished. Mr. Repp elaborated that they had had three years of flat assessments, three years of reduced highway user funds, and in those years to balance the budget they pulled form fund balance. He added that they can’t continue to do that but need to begin replacing the fund balance. Mr. Rephann stated he realized they had to submit a balanced budget with using fund balance, but doesn’t feel you maintain lean services by piling up fund balances. He added that they need to be more frugal.
V. Adjournment:
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 6:55 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon S. Clark
City Clerk