WORK SE
MAYOR AND CITY COUNCIL
CITY HALL CONFERENCE ROOM
Tuesday, June 14, 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, Vickie Swink, Economic Development Coordinator; Jay Oliver, Community Development Manager; 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:
Ordinances as follows:
Second and Third Readings:
1. Ordinance No. 3531 – Providing for the annual appropriation for Fiscal Year 2006
2. Ordinance No. 3532 – Providing appropriations for various special purpose funds for Fiscal Year 2006.
3. Ordinance No. 3533 – Providing for the City Tax Levy for Fiscal Year 2006
4. Ordinance No. 3534 – Providing for setting of the rental registration fee by Order of the Mayor and City Council.
Vote on Second Reading and Third Reading:
1. Ordinance No. 3528 – providing for an appropriation for the water fund for Fiscal Year 2006
2. Ordinance No. 3529 – Providing for an appropriation for the sewerage fund for Fiscal Year 2006
3. Ordinance No. 3530 – Providing for setting and collection of rates for refuse collection
Mr. Repp asked for questions concerning procedure for adoption of the ordinances. There were none.
Comments:
Constant Yield Tax Rate
Upon direction from the State, comments are to be received regarding the Constant Yield Tax Rate due to the error in the newspaper advertisement for the Public Hearing.
Ordinances and Charter Amendment Resolutions:
Ordinances: (3 Readings)
Ordinance No. 3535 Repealing and reenacting, with amendments, sections of the code providing for water rates.
Ordinance No. 3536 Pay and Classification Ordinance
Charter Amendment Resolutions: (3 Readings)
1. Repealing and reenacting, with amendments, sections of the Charter providing for the closing of public right-of-ways.
Mr. Repp reviewed the ordinances and the CAR and asked for questions of Council. There were no questions.
PRESENTATION – COUNCILMAN REPHANN:
Councilman Rephann addressed the Council clarifying what he was advocating at the previous work session relating to the budget.
He reviewed that the budget was initially presented with an $83,000 deficit and Council’s task was to close the gap. The M&CC elected to use the revenue increase by the tax rate for trash for other uses. He reviewed the history of the trash fee and how it has been implemented over the previous four years noting that the entire trash fee has been removed from the tax rate this year with no decrease in the tax rate and a dumpster permit program implemented.
Councilman Rephann suggested:
· Transferring Hotel/Motel funds to the general fund
· Charging the rental registration fee to HUD rental units the same as non-HUD rental units
· Increasing the rental registration fee, taking into consideration affordable housing and the average monthly rent since some of this is passed on to tenants. He also suggested that inflation would factor in as the fee has not been changed in ten (10) years. He suggested a rate of $25 or $35 and presented comparisons with other municipalities in the State pointing out that Cumberland has one of the lowest rental registration fees.
Upon question from Councilman Hendershot, Mr. Repp verified there is a proposed $50,000 transfer to the Economic Development budget for implementation of the strategic plan and once that is adopted there may be economic development positions created. He noted there is nothing in the budget for creating the positions.
Councilman Rephann suggested changing the method for disbursement of Hotel/Motel funds requiring a project to contribute to tourism to be eligible. He also suggested designating a tourism committee to make funding recommendation articulating specific criteria for eligibility in a formal application and that funding not be viewed as a perpetual funding source.
Councilman Rephann also noted that tax and fee-wise the community is tapped out and the City has internal sources that could be reallocated to the County and other partnering agencies. With a movement for the County to hire a Planner, he suggested the City either use the services of that planner or buy into the position.
With CDBG funding shrinking and a smaller percentage being spent on street improvements, he stated there is a need to reverse the trend.
Councilman Rephann asked for consideration to be given his recommendation for a rental inspection fee in line with other municipalities in proportion to housing costs, to modernize the hotel/motel funding process, to increase planning and economic development capacity resources we have, to boost street allocations from CDBG, to study a pay per throw and recycling programs to see if it is feasible and would reduce inequities in the present system, and to look at how they can further reduce spending in some areas.
Mayor Fiedler commented that Councilman Rephann presented some very worth while things for them to look at He added that Jeff has already been given the assignment of looking at the housing program and agreed they need to look at a new process for Hotel/Motel funding for next year.
Councilman Hedrick asked Mr. Price if they could look at what they can do to have a better control on properties, suggesting that out of town landlords be charged a separate fee. Mr. Price stated they can’t treat individuals different and noted that most of the court cases are local property owners who do not take care of their property. Mayor Fiedler stated they need to look at the whole process setting policies that are the same for everyone and enforcing them.
Orders (Consent Agenda) - Nine (9) orders discussed as follows:
Order No. 24,210Awarding a demolition contract for 336 Baltimore Avenue to Brabson Demolition - $5,550
Order No. 24,211 Providing for a fee for rental registration
Order No. 24,212 Authorizing the City Comptroller to make payment to Belt Paving, Inc. for emergency work performed on waterline repairs on Industrial Boulevard - $13,306.93
Order No. 24,213 Accepting the bid of Kiddy’s Contracting, LLC for the Evitts Creek Stream Crossing for the Cumberland Country Club - $20,630
Four bids were received for this project, with the low bid being Kiddy’s Contracting. Mr. Repp updated Council regarding the status of the project to date with staff’s recommendation to accept the bid.
Ms. Terri Socha asked how many condominiums were currently under construction. Mr. Repp said there are none under construction and explained the original proposal assumed the city would recoup their value when the condos were built with the assumption being they would be constructed. Mayor Fiedler stated they have just completed the agreement with the Club and the most recent information he has is that they are planning to break ground in July or August. Ms. Socha asked if there would be water or sewer impact fees collected to which Mr. Repp replied that the city does not charge impact fees for connecting to the water or sewer systems. Mr. Price added that it factors into the rates.
Councilman Hendershot questioned if there were problems with the bids to which Mr. Repp commented there were not and that three of the four bids were in line with each other.
Order No. 24,214 Authorizing appropriations to various groups from Hotel/Motel funds for Fiscal Year 2006
Recommendations were based on feed back received from Council since the last meeting. Mr. Repp asked for questions concerning the allocation method. Councilman Hendershot asked how Mr. Repp would envision they study this process for next year in light of Councilman Rephann’s recommendations Mr. Repp said he has always left it to the Mayor and Council to judge the merits of each group’s presentation and to decide if the group furthers tourism. He said they could bring in a group to make allocations or have more stringent requirements in their submittals. Mayor Fiedler suggested they come up with certain criteria they expect in exchange for project funding.
Ms. Socha suggested they make a list of criteria so everyone applying for funding addresses the same questions.
Order No. 24,215 Accepting bids for Property and Casualty Insurances and Related Services
Mr. Repp reviewed the bids received and staff’s recommendation. Councilman Hendershot asked the reason for the significant increase in police professional liability insurance. Mr. Repp responded, and Mr. Price agreed, it is the nature of the insurance and not attributable to the City’s exposure. Mr. Repp explained that CBIZ solicits for rates and provides their bid based on the best quote they receive.
Order No. 24,216 Accepting the quote of Ambrose Enterprises, Inc., to install an addition to the existing Grace enclosure to cover the bulk storage tank - $13,396.19
Order No. 24,217 Authorize encroachment agreement regarding Louisiana Avenue
Order No. 24,218 Authorize execution of Historic Preservation Commission Recommendation
Mr. Repp reviewed information provided him by the Historic Planner and the Commission relating to their recommendation to endorse the application for the Rolling Mill Historic District designation.
Letter:
1. From MDE providing the City with a $350,000 grant for assisting with the $2,500,000 Ridgedale Reservoir Replacement project. Mr. Repp reviewed the project and briefed Council of the process.
II. Analysis of Impediments to Fair Housing – Courtney Thomas, HRDC
Ms. Courtney Thomas gave a brief presentation of the Analysis of Fair Housing Impediments Study performed by the Allegany County Human Resources Development Commission, Inc. She provided background information, reviewed preparation work for the study and the methodology used, the contents of the study, impediments identified in the study, and recommended actions.
Introduction of Guest:
Ms. Lynette Irlmeier, Executive Director of the Family Crises Resource Center, who joined the Center on June 11th was introduced to the Council.
III. Sustainable Economic Development Strategic Plan – Vickie Swink, Economic Development Specialist and Peggy Dalton, Economic Development Commission Member
Ms. Swink and Ms. Dalton jointly presented the update to the Strategic Plan performed by Wallace, Roberts, and Todd with specific goals to target market niches, to be consistent with stable growth looking at the entire community to provide economic development growth that is advantageous to all aspects of the community, and to develop strategic actions. Each goal was reviewed with strategic actions needed to accomplish those goals. The 5-Year Action Plan was reviewed as well as steps necessary to implement the plan.
Mr. Repp stated the intent of the presentation was to provide Council with an overview of the Plan, of which hard copies were previously distributed, giving them approximately 30 days for review and to formulate questions or comments, after which they would meet to address questions with possible adoption of the plan the end of July.
Ms. Swink stated the plan will be posted on the web site and written comments will be accepted via e-mail or in person by appointment. Mr. Repp added there would be a hearing/meeting for public comment prior to adoption of the plan.
IV. Proposed Changes to CDBG Allocation Formula – Jay Oliver, Community Development Manager
This item was postponed until the Work Session of July 12th.
V. Adjournment:
With no further discussion, the meeting adjourned at 7:29 P.M.
Respectfully submitted,
Sharon S. Clark
City Clerk