Hamburg City Council - Preliminary Budget meeting - August 28, 2012

Acting Mayor Larry Mueller called the Special Meeting of the 2013 Preliminary Budget Workshop to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Steve Trebesch, Councilmember Chris Lund, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, and Deputy Clerk Sue Block were present.  Mayor Malz arrived at 7:15 p.m.  Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly was absent.

General Public

• David Chadwick was also in attendance for a short period of time.

The 2013 Preliminary Budget, as presented, reflects a zero percent Property Tax Levy increase which would be the same as the 2012 Budget.

General Fund Budget

• LGA - Local Government Aid
• LGA ($58,777) was added back into the 2031 Budget.
• County Road Aid for County Road 50
• Hamburg’s County Road Aid for County Road 50 was removed from the budget.  The County will keep the scheduled payment (each year until the cities portion of cost is paid) to the City and put it towards Hamburg’s portion of the cost to mill and overly County Road 50 through town.
• General Government Expenditures
• A three percent wage increase was built into the 2013 budget.
• Health Insurance was increased by ten percent.  Actual rates for 2013 do not become available until October/November 2012.
• Added a five percent increase for all other insurance rates.
• Utilities were increased by three percent.
• General Government Expenditures should be about $16,970 less than what was in 2012.  This is based on a three year average of the Cities expenditures and taking into account the $20,000 that was used to purchase the Ford Ranger in 2012.

Public Safety General Fund Budget

• Fire Department Relief Association – Cities Municipal Contribution
• In 2012 the Cities contribution was $24,337 and in 2013 it will be $24,383 roughly the same as last year.
• Fire Chief Droege agreed with keeping the Fire Department budget the same as last year.  The Fire Department would like to start saving for a new Pumper that will be needed in about five years.

Public Works Street Maintenance & Sidewalk Repairs

• Council will have to decide what to do about street repairs.  In 2012 there was $52,536 in the budget for street maintenance but roughly $8,000 or $9,000 of that was used for the Street Improvement Plan.  This left about $45,000 for the 2013 Street Maintenance and Sidewalk repair budget.
• Council discussed which sidewalks are in need of repair.  They decided that Louisa Street should be the first to be repaired and estimates should be obtained.
• Council also discussed what portion of street repairs would be assessed to the residents.  Council discussed having an assessment policy written up this fall.
• An estimated $45,000 was added to the 2013 Street Maintenance & Sidewalk Repairs budget and there will be about $6,500 to carry over from 2012.
• Council noted that when streets are redone it should take into account the tonnage weight.

Park & Recreation Budget

• The City is paying between $700 and $900 each year to rent a handicap portable restroom.  Council decided to put aside $2,000 in the budget (Future Capital Purchases) to add a handicap bathroom at the Bi-Centennial Park.   

Community Hall

• Repair or replacement the Hall steps and ramp was put on the Wish List.  Redoing the hardwood floors was also added to the Wish List.
• Council discussed the ceiling vent in the Hall, should it be repaired or taken out.  This item is on the Wish List and there is $500 in the 2012 budget to remove the vent.  Councilmember Trebesch will check the vent and report back to Council on his findings.

Equipment Replacement Funds

• Replacing the Bobcat is on the Wish List with last year’s estimate of $35,000 to replace.  Council decided to use the current Bobcat until it dies then replace.
• It was noted that by the end of this year (2012) the City will have $74,000 in the Equipment Replacement Fund and $57,000 in the City Maintenance Fund.
• Replacing the Exmark lawnmower was discussed.  The Exmark was purchased in 2010 and in 2012 a new motor was installed.
• Council decided that Work Orders should be requested before any work is done on any City equipment especially Bobcat repairs.  Council also decided that any estimate over $200 has to be approved before any work is done. 
• By having an estimate or work order Council could track repairs of City equipment to help budget for possible replacement.

Community Center Addition Fund

• Each year $2,000 is budgeted for a future Community Center addition.

Sewer Fund

• The sewer fund should have enough in the budget to repair the Liftstation which may cost $10,000 or more and this is excluding a new electrical panel.
• Currently there is approximately $300,000 in the Sewer Fund.

Water Fund

• Added into the 2013 Water Fund Budget is $19,870 to repaint the water tower.
• By transferring $12,000 from the General Fund, and not raising water rates, the Water Fund would run a loss of $20,000 for 2013.

Storm Sewer Fund

• Currently the monthly rate for Storm Sewer is $16.75, but to cover the Storm Sewer cost for debt and expenses the rate needs to be doubled to $33.50 per month.
• Council discussed if the business’s in town should be charged more than residential units.
• Council asked City Clerk Gruenhagen to bring the formula on how to equate the cost between businesses and residential to the next Council meeting.

If the City keeps the same tax levy there will be a net income of $33,131 and if no other large projects are added.  This does include LGA funding. 

There are three main issues Council will have to consider when setting the budget;

• One – Street Repairs
• Two – Water, Sewer and Storm Water Rates
• Three – How to balance the Enterprise funds and any major improvements.

Transfers Out

• Council discussed and decided to leave them as presented in the 2013 Budget.

LGA Funds

• Council decided to take the proposed LGA funds out of the 2013 Budget just in case it is not received from the State.  If Hamburg does receive LGA funding the money could be used for capital improvements and items on the Wish List.

The City of Hamburg has been running about a 52% cash flow which is higher then the recommended cash flow of 35% to 50%.  The City should have about $200,000 to $225,000 in their General Fund to maintain a 40% cash flow. 

 

Council continued to discuss the 2013 Proposed Budget and was asked to consider checking out higher interest return options on the Cities savings account.  At the present time the Savings account is only yielding .3% and .6% on its CD.

City Clerk Gruenhagen asked Council if the Community Hall savings account could be closed and the money transferred into the Cities Saving Account.  He could make a line item for this money to be used only for Hall Renovations.  The Hall savings account has been dormant for five years and either money will have to be transferred into the account to prevent service charges or transfer the money and close the account.

• Council decided to close the account and transfer the money as an added line item to the Cities Savings Account.

Council will also be considering having the Cities checking account draw interest.

• City Clerk Gruenhagen will check with the State Bank of Hamburg on the Cities investment options. 

Councilmember Barnes moved to close the 2013 Preliminary Budget Workshop at 8:24 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Mueller and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

                                                                                                                        Submitted by:

           

                                                                                                                        Sue Block

                                                                                                                        Deputy Clerk

Hamburg City Council - Special Budget Meeting - September 5, 2012

Mayor Richard Malz called the 2013 Preliminary Budget Workshop to order at 7:16 p.m. Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Larry Mueller, Councilmember Steve Trebesch, Councilmember Chris Lund, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, and Deputy Clerk Sue Block were present.  Maintenance Worker Dennis Byerly was absent.

Highlights from the August 28, 2012 Special Preliminary Budget Meeting

• Removed LGA ($58,777), Local Government Aid, from the 2013 Budget.
• Removing LGA would leave the City with a net loss of $25,646 but by doing this the City would still have a projected balance of $250,000 in the General Fund.  Council could still set the 2013 Budget with a zero percent Levy increase, same as in 2012, while maintaining a healthy cash flow.
• Added $2,000 to 2013 Budget for (future) handicap bathrooms to be built in Bi-Centennial Park
• Street Improvement Projects for 2013.
• Trade in value of the 1993 Bobcat
• Council decided to run the Bobcat until it dies.
• Buy back and promotions to trade in the Exmark lawnmower.
• Council discussed and decided to use the current Exmark for another year.

Council requested to have Equipment Maintenance Logs created to keep track of any type of maintenance done on all city equipment.

• This has also been discussed and requested during employee staff meetings.

Equipment Fund

• Budgeted transfer of $12,000 to City Saving Account for purchasing City equipment (Future Capital Purchases).

Street Maintenance & Sidewalk Repairs

• Council discussed the prioritizing of city streets and went over the old street plan that was done in 1998 listing which streets were repaired and when. 
• Council decided that any LGA funds received would go towards street repairs or improvements.
• There is $45,000 budgeted for the 2013 Street Maintenance & Sidewalk Repairs budget.  The $45,000 could be reduced to $20,000 stating that when/if LGA is received it is to be used on Street Repairs and Capital Improvements.
• Council decided to reduce the Street Maintenance Budget Repairs from $45,000 to $20,000.  This leaves the 2013 Budget (General Fund) with a net loss of $5,646 while maintaining a healthy cash flow (6 months) for 2013.

Park Fund

• There is $1,000 in the budget for part time maintenance help and Council decided to leave this amount in.

Council Salary and Mayor Wages Increase – Add to Budget $600

• Mayor Malz and Council discussed increasing the Council and Mayor wages.
• Raise the Special Meeting pay from $25 per meeting to $30 per meeting per person. 

• Mayor salary up by $200, $1,200 to $1,400 per year.

City Employee Wage and Health Insurance

• Council discussed employee wages and health insurance but no decision was made at this meeting.

Water, Sewer, Storm Water User Fees

• Council discussed increasing user fees to have the Enterprise funds becoming self sufficient.
• City Clerk Gruenhagen will put together a spread sheet listing probable scenarios of what the fees could be by raising or lower different User Fees. 

2013 Budget Items to Consider – (Wish List)

• Mayor Malz requested the Wish List to be updated.
• Removed General Gov’t Buildings – Tables (Plastic)
• New Generator for Liftstation – move to Sewer fund and find quote received from Ziegler.
• Removed County Road 50 Overlay – Completed
• Removed Sidewalk Repairs
• Removed Paint Curbs
• Park Handicap Bathroom – added to Wish List – Added $2,000 to the 2013 Budget.
• Removed Someone to Spray Weeds ($800 per year)
• Update Replace Hall Doors to Replace Hall Door on the east side of Hall  

Councilmember Mueller moved to adjourn the 2013 Special Preliminary Budget Workshop Meeting at 8:15 p.m., seconded by Councilmember Barnes and motion unanimously carried.  All Council members were present.

                                                                                                            Submitted by:

           

                                                                                                            Sue Block

                                                                                                            Deputy Clerk

Obama budget defeated 99-0 in Senate

Obama budget defeated 99-0 in Senate

Since taking office, President Obama has not signed nor has Congress passed a single budget. It is the Constitutional duty for the Senate to pass a budget which only needs 51 votes to do. President Obama has routinely complained that Republicans in Congress have obstructed his abilities to get things done despite having nearly two years of control of both the House and the Senate.

Yesterday President Obama's budget was put to the test again and again it failed to garner just 1 vote in either chamber of Congress. Why might this be? And how can Democrats continue to say that Republicans are obstructing passage of crucial legislation? Soon we will need, Democrats will argue, to raise the debt ceiling. Which begs the question - Why have one if all we do is vote to raise it again? Gov. Brown of California is facing a $16 Billion short fall this year. Is the US Dollar going to be the next Euro to crumble? I as a Minnesotan do not  feel that my or any other Minnesotan's taxpayer dollars should go to bailout California. Sounds a lot like Greece to me!

President Obama Budget Proposal

Recently Rep. Ryan (WI-R) announced his proposal to reign in the deficit and this past week President Obama spoke to the Nation and laid out a vague look at his proposal. The entire speech can be seen here: http://www.whitehouse.gov/sites/default/files/omb/assets/budget/03_Presidents_Message.pdf. Some things I found interesting after going back and reading the comments are:

• "After nearly 2 years of job losses, America's businesses added more than one million jobs." – Is this President Obama finally admitting that his "stimulus" package failed to deliver? Remember that President Obama, and proponents, said we needed to go further into debt in order to create 3 million jobs and keep unemployment under 8%.
  
• "We do this by investing in and reforming education and job training so that all Americans have the skills necessary to compete in the global economy." – Okay, great sound bite but will President Obama get serious like Gov. Walker of Wisconsin did with freeing up the strangle hold Unions have on municipal and state budgets?
  
• "Growing the economy and spurring job creation by America's businesses, large and small, is my top priority. That's why, over the course of the last year, I pushed for additional measures to jump-start our economy: tax credits for businesses that hire unemployed workers; assistance to States to prevent the layoffs of teachers; and tax cuts and expanded access to credit for small businesses." Tax credits to hire unemployed workers? How about eliminating the health care mandate? As much as I appreciate the job of teachers, simply put not all of them are pulling their weight and need to be let go.
  
• "I am proposing a 5-year freeze on all discretionary spending outside of security." The CBO has already stated that we cannot sustain the current budget so why freeze it in place?
  
• "Moreover, for too long we have tolerated a tax system that's a complex, inefficient, and loophole-riddled mess." I agree with President Obama here. That is why we need total tax reform that scraps the current system and replaces it with a flat tax rate that also eliminates ALL tax credits and deductions. Going this route will address all three issues that President Obama has with the current system.
  
• "In addition, I believe that we need to act now to secure and strengthen Social Security for future generations." True. One way we can sure up SSN by taking it out of the General Fund and putting it back into its original separate fund. Also, we ought to give those under 55 years old the option to opt out SSN and allowing their SSN tax to be invested privately.
  

Since President Obama's speech, President Obama has laid out his proposal (http://www.whitehouse.gov/omb/overview). Here are the highlights:

Key Budget Facts

• The Budget includes more than $1 trillion in deficit reduction – two-thirds of it from cuts -- and puts the nation on a path toward fiscal sustainability so that by the middle of the decade, the government will be paying for what it spends and debt will no longer be increasing as a share of the economy.
  
• The President meets his pledge to cut the deficit he inherited in half by the end of his first term.
  
• Five-year non-security discretionary spending freeze will reduce the deficit by over $400 billion over the next decade and bring this spending to the lowest level since President Eisenhower sat in the Oval Office.
  
• 10-year Deficit Reduction:  $1.1 trillion, excluding war savings and not extending 2001 and 2003 tax cuts for high-income earners. Two-thirds are from spending cuts.
  
• 2011 Projected Deficit: $1.645 trillion, 10.9 percent of GDP; 2012 Projected Deficit: $1.101 trillion, 7.0 percent of GDP; 2015 Projected Deficit: $607 billion, 3.2 percent of GDP; 2017 Projected Deficit: $627 billion, 3.0 percent of GDP
  

Innovate

• $148 billion for R&D overall; robust investment in biomedical research at NIH ($32 billion, a $740 million increase over 2010 enacted level, post-transfers); more than doubles energy efficiency research, development, and deployment funds; and continues our efforts to double investments in key basic research.
  
• Supports the goals of: putting one million electric vehicles on the road by 2015; doubling share of electricity from clean energy sources by 2035; and reducing buildings' energy use by 20 percent by 2020.
  
  • Elimination of 12 tax breaks to oil, gas, and coal companies will raise $46 billion over 10 years to help pay for programs to reach these goals.
    
• Simplifies, expands, and makes permanent R&D tax credit.
  
• Establishes 20 new Economic Growth Zones, hard-hit areas that will receive expanded tax incentives to spur investment and employment.
  

Educate

• Maintains maximum Pell Grant award, helping 9 million students afford college.
  
  • Paid for with more than $100 billion in savings, including eliminating year-round Pell and graduate student in-school loan subsidy.
    
• Reforms K-12 school funding by supporting high standards, encouraging innovation, and rewarding success.
  
  • Consolidates 38 K-12 programs into 11 that emphasize competition and evidence of what works, while also eliminating 13 education programs outright.
    
• Expands the Race to the Top concept to early childhood education, school districts, university funding, and job training.
  
• Prepares 100,000 new science, technology, engineering, and math teachers.
  

Build

• As part of a six-year, comprehensive surface transportation bill at $35 billion per year, the Budget creates hundreds of thousands of jobs in the short term with a $50 billon up-front investment; establishes a National Infrastructure Bank to support projects of national importance; and brings access to high-speed rail to 80 percent of Americans within 25 years.
  
  • Consolidates 60 duplicative, often earmarked programs into five. Investment will only be made if bipartisan financing is found to ensure that it does not increase the deficit.
    
• Builds a next-generation, wireless broadband network to bring high-speed Internet access to 98 percent of Americans, and establish an interoperable network for public safety.
  
  • Plan is fully paid for, and the sale of spectrum provides nearly $10 billion for deficit reduction.
    

Responsibility

• A five-year non-security discretionary spending freeze that will reduce the deficit by over $400 billion over the next decade and bring this spending to the lowest level since President Eisenhower sat in the Oval Office.
  
• More than 200 terminations, reductions, and savings totaling more than $33 billion in savings for this year alone. Half of all agencies see their top line reduced from 2010 enacted levels.
  
• Sample cuts: Community Development Block Grants by $300 million; LIHEAP in half or by $2.5 billion, Great Lakes Restoration Initiative by one-quarter or $125 million; more than $1 billion in grants to large airports; $950 million to states' revolving funds for water treatment plants and other infrastructure.
  
• Cuts $78 billion from the Pentagon's spending plan over the next five years, bringing defense spending down to zero real growth. Including spending related to Iraq and Afghanistan, overall defense spending for 2012 is more than 5 percent below the 2011 request.
  
• Pays for the first two-years of "doc fix" -- which will prevent a nearly 30 percent cut in reimbursements to doctors in Medicare and keep them seeing patients -- with $62 billion in new, specific health care savings, including recommendations from the Fiscal Commission and recent bipartisan proposals, that will strengthen program integrity and increase efficiency and accountability. 
  
• Pays for a three-year patch to prevent an increase in taxes on middle-class families through the Alternative Minimum Tax (AMT) by limiting the rate at which high-income earners can itemize tax deductions. This would bring the rate back to where it was during the Reagan Administration.
  
• The President has called on Congress to work with the Administration on corporate tax reform that will simplify the system, eliminate special interest loopholes, level the playing field, and lower the corporate tax rate for the first time in 25 years – without adding a dime to the deficit.
  
• The President lays out his principles to strengthen Social Security and has called on Congress to work on a bipartisan fashion to keep this compact with future generations.
  
• Includes important Fiscal Commission recommendations such as: federal civilian worker pay freeze, medical malpractice reform, PBGC reform, and a government reorganization initiative.
  

Reform

• Cuts more than $2 billion in administrative overhead like travel, printing, supplies, and advisory contract services.
  
• Embraces competitive grant programs based on the "Race to the Top" model applying it to programs from early childhood education through college; to allocate grants for transportation; to bring innovation to workforce training; and to encourage both commercial building efficiency and electric vehicle deployment.
  
• Sets up a process to quickly dispose of excess and under-utilized federal real estate.
  
• Starts a process to reorganize government so it is better able to serve the goal of a competitive America.
  
• Encourages new "pay for success" bonds in areas where government programs have too often failed. Taxpayers will only pay the programs if they produce results.
  

  
   

  Now where do we go from here?
  

2010 Final Budget Meeting for Hamburg, MN

Hamburg residents the following announcement is for you. I just received this myself; sorry for the short notice.

 

 

CITY OF HAMBURG

NOTICE OF SPECIAL MEETING

2010 FINAL BUDGET

2010 CITY FEE SCHEDULE

 

 

 

Notice is Hereby Given that the Hamburg City Council will hold a Special Meeting on November 30, 2009 at 6:30 p.m. at the Hamburg City Hall at 181 Broadway Ave, Hamburg, MN.

 

The reason for the special meeting is to discuss and review the 2010 Final Budget and 2010 City Fee Schedule. This special meeting will serve as a workshop to review the 2010 Final Budget and 2010 City Fee Schedule. The 2010 Proposed Budget will be finalized at the December 8, 2009 City Council meeting.

 

If you have any questions or concerns about this meeting feel free to attend the meeting, call the City Offices at (952) 467-3232 or write in advance to the City of Hamburg, 181 Broadway Ave., Hamburg, MN 55339.

 

 

 

 

 

                            Jeremy Gruenhagen

                            City Clerk-Treas.

 

 

 

Hamburg City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 2010 Proposed Budget – September 1, 2009

Acting Mayor Larry Mueller called the Special Meeting for the 2010 Proposed Budget to order at 7:00 p.m. Councilmember Trebesch, Councilmember Barnes, Councilmember Cummiskey, City Clerk Gruenhagen, Deputy Clerk Block, and Fire Chief Brad Droege were present. Mayor Malz arrived at 7:05 p.m.

 

The reason for the special meeting is to discuss and review the 2010 Proposed Budget. The 2010 Proposed Budget will be finalized at the September 8, 2009 City Council meeting.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen started off the meeting informing members of Council that what should be gone over tonight is what was discussed at the previous special meeting and council meeting on August 25, 2009. What Council had decided to include in the 2010 budget is what City Clerk Gruenhagen entered into the worksheet he handed out to Council. The following budget items are included in the budget for consideration:

• Desktop computer - $500
  
• New office chairs - $600
  
• Copier for city office - $600
  
• Redo driveway and sidewalk for city shop – scheduled for 2010 budget - $15,000
  
• City shop, driveway, and landscaping - $5,000
  
• New lawnmower - $3,000
  
• Tires for city 1 ton truck – Maintenance Worker Byerly getting prices – budgeted $1,000
  
• Tires for bobcat – one tire blew so four new tires were purchased on this years budget (2009)
  
• Tables (plywood) for Community Center - $1,000
  
• Projector screen – Council had decided to take this off the proposed budget
  
• Relief Association - Additional city contribution to relief - $2,000
  
• Trim trees in boulevard – Council had decided to remove this from the budget
  
• Street/parking lot repairs – overly, seal coating, striping - $6,000
  
• Picnic tables (parks) - $800
  
• Mowing contract for 2010 - $4,500
  
• Replacing or adding lighting for the Hall - $5,500
  
• Replace Hall doors - $2,000
  
• Tables (plywood) for Hall – 1,000
  
• Air conditioning for the Hall - $10,000
  
• Future building fund for Community Center addition - $2,000
  
• Equipment replacement fund - $2,500
  
• City maintenance fund (equipment) - $3,000
  

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen estimated a 3.89% decrease from last year's budget, as the budget was presented. The year is not over yet so Council would not want to go at a zero percent increase. The 2010 budget should be set at what Council is comfortable with for it could still be lowered but not increased. The 2009 estimate average budget numbers were derived from taking an average over the last three years. A lot of the estimated dollar amounts will depend on the economy.

 

The Net Income budgeted for 2009 was $45 but the possible net income for 2009 is estimated at $15,510. This amount could change depending on what happens yet this year. For the 2010 budget any surplus from 2009 should go back into the 2010 budget. Any surplus is taken out of the tax levy as long as there is a surplus and the city is hovering around the 50% thresh hold for cash flow. Right now the city is at about 52%.

• Mayor Malz asked if the surplus could help with the Fire Department pension increase.
  

  
   

  
   

  • City Clerk Gruenhagen answered that yes it can however, any amount taken out of the surplus would have to be replaced by increasing the tax levy.
    
• Mayor Malz asked if there is any money for the pension increase.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied yes, there is $2,000 budgeted this year to catch up the funding ratio. Whatever Council sets the 2010 pension increase at, this will not go into effect until the 2011 budget. You are always a year ahead, for budget reasons, because the 2010 contribution has already been figured based on the $1405.
    

Councilmember Barnes asked if there is anything set aside to help prepare for the I&I project as far as the budget goes.

• City Clerk Gruenhagen commented that in the handout on page 13 under 2009 Actual Contracted Services the city has already spent $145,000 in consulting fees. There will be additional costs especially when the city obtains the easements for the project and if the culvert by the drainage ditch has to be replaced.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen pointed out that Sewer and Water Funds should be self-sufficient. If there are large projects, expenses to be incurred, or increases the city should not look at increasing taxes but increase user fees.
  
• Councilmember Cummiskey added that the city usually puts $25,000 a year from the general levy fund into the water fund maybe this should be discussed and possibly lowered.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen pointed out to Council that he already decreased the amount from $25,000 (2009) to $20,000 for 2010. City Clerk Gruenhagen suggested that the transfer of money from the general fund to the water fund should slowly be eliminated. To break even, rates would have to be raised approximately 10%. This would include the elimination of the transferred amount.
  
• Councilmember Cummiskey commented that the additional funds should be collected through the water bills.
  
• Mayor Malz asked if the 10% would be every year, just next year, or how long?
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that just increasing the rate 10% next year would only put the sewer and water at a break even point. Then maybe only a 5% increase for the following years for operational costs.
  
• Council discussed how much the increase should be, how it should be done, and how much should be in the water fund as a cushion if something unforeseen happens.
  
  • Councilmember Barnes asked if this increase would be just for the water fund, the sewer fund would have to increase also?
    
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen responded that the sewer rates would have to go up 20% over the next three years to help fund the I/I project. Sewer rates will probably have to be doubled to pay for the upcoming I/I Project.
    
• Councilmember Cummiskey added that the Cities water tower will have to be replaced in the next few years too.
  

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen commented to Council that when the Financial Advisors are brought in for the I&I project they will be able to guide the city as what has to be done about the rates.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen proceeded with the meeting asking Council if they would like to add, change, or drop some of the items they discussed at the last Special Meeting on August 25, 2009. The following items were discussed:

• Trees for Park was added - $200
  
• Additional money for sidewalk repair.
  
• Money for City Signs – Welcome to Hamburg Signs
  
• Cleaning service for Hall.
  
• New Walk-in cooler for Hall.
  
• Blacktop trail in park.
  
• Small City pickup.
  
• Various other items were discussed.
  

 

Councilmember Barnes asked if the playground equipment for the park, by the Hall, was still in the budget.

• Councilmember Mueller replied that playground equipment is in the budget but no dollar amount is attached to it. He went on to add that more money should be put in the street fund and towards park equipment.
  
• Council discussed what type of playground equipment they would want in the Park.
  
• Councilmember Trebesch mentioned that the playground equipment in Brownton is up for sale. He suggested that Councilmember Cummiskey take a look at the equipment and find out if it is worth purchasing and putting up in the Park.
  

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen pointed out an error in the hand out on page 2 of 13, Property Tax Increase. 1% increase does not equal $3,958.97 this should be 1% increase equals $4,004.22.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen continued to inform Council if they would take that formula and apply it to the proposed 2010 budget there would be about $15,500 to work with if Council would want a zero percent tax increase.

• Councilmember Mueller suggested that more money could be put in the City Maintenance fund and the Equipment Replacement fund.
  
• Councilmember Barnes asked how old the city truck is?
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied: 2001
    
  • Council agreed that the truck is not efficient to just drive around town and short distances.
    

 

Mayor Malz commented that a 3% increase would add $12,000.

• City Clerk Gruenhagen responded that the city already has a projected surplus of $15,500 for 2009.
  
• Councilmember Mueller suggested forgetting about the $15,500 and leaving it in the budget.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen suggested leaving the $15,500 alone incase something comes up between now and the end of the year.
    
  • Councilmember Cummiskey mentioned that the reason the money is still in the 2009 budget is because some items that were budgeted for were not done this year.
    
    • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that the items not done in 2009 were added into the 2010 budget and are accounted for in the 2010 budget.
      

 

Council discussed adding a fire hydrant into the 2010 budget. Council decided to use the Equipment Replacement fund for this.

 

Council discussed what percentage the 2010 budget should be set at.

 

Deputy Clerk Block asked if the request for an electric pump was put in the budget.

• City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that it was included in the sewer and water fund budgets.
  

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen brought up the subject of addition mosquito spray this year for the mosquitoes are extremely bad this September. It is $255 for an additional spray.

• Council discussed and agreed to have Clark Mosquito come out to Hamburg and do one more spraying this fall.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen added that 8 sprayings are budgeted for each year. At this time the cities contract is locked in with Clark for 2009 and 2010.
  

 

Councilmember Mueller suggested taking funds from the Maintenance fund to purchase playground equipment.

• Mayor Malz commented that he liked the idea of looking at Brownton's playground equipment and the Council agreed.
  

 

Councilmember Barnes asked what fund snow removal comes out of?

• City Clerk Gruenhagen replied: the street funds. Every year the city has budgeted $6,500 and the last three years snow removal has come in under budget.
  
• Councilmember Mueller commented that he would like the amount doubled if the city could.
  
• Councilmember Cummiskey suggested putting snow plowing under street maintenance. If the city does not need the budgeted amount then the money could be used for streets or sidewalk repair.
  
  • Other members of council and City Clerk Gruenhagen thought this was a good idea.
    
• Council discussed how much money should be put into the street maintenance fund. There is $6,000 unspecified in the street maintenance fund for 2010. Council agreed to a 1% increase for this fund.
  

 

Councilmember Mueller asked if the city still receives money from the State Aid Fund for streets?

• City Clerk Gruenhagen stated the city does receive money however they never let him know how much it will be until he receives a check from them. Very difficult to budget for.
  

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen added that he included the following increases to the 2010 Budget: 3% wage increase and 3.5% increase for payroll taxes, Insurance 5%, Electricity 5%, and Natural Gas 10% and $2,000 for the Community Center expansion fund.

 

Councilmember Cummiskey asked about the Compost Grant, it has a question mark by it.

• City Clerk Gruenhagen responded that the grant money program may not be available next year. He always puts $2,800 in the budget each year because this is the maximum amount the city could receive. City Clerk Gruenhagen stated he also includes $2,800 in expenses to wash the amount out just incase the city does not receive/need the maximum amount.
  

 

Councilmember Mueller asked if picnic tables were put in the 2010 budget.

• City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that they have been added, $800 is included in the budget.
  

 

Councilmember Mueller brought up the subject of spraying the city park for dandelions; there is money in the 2009 budget to do this. It was not done this year however it was done late last year. Spraying for dandelions is recommended to be done in the fall.

• Councilmember Cummiskey added that the city does have a sprayer and Maintenance Worker Byerly would have time yet this year to spray the park.
  
• Councilmember Mueller replied that Greg Schultz could do the job in one third the time it would take Maintenance Worker Byerly to do it. Greg has a 12 or 14 foot boom and could be done in one hour. Maintenance Worker Byerly would take three weeks to do it.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen commented that it cost the city $300 to have the city park sprayed last year.
  
• Council discussed and decided to have City Clerk Gruenhagen set up an appointment to have the city park sprayed for dandelions.
  

 

Councilmember Trebesch asked if they were above zero percent, where is the City at with the 2010 Budget?

• City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that nothing really has been added except $4,000 to streets. He asked Council where they would like to put the tax levy at. The Council discussed increasing the proposed tax levy 4% for 2010.
  

 

Councilmember Trebesch commented that he would like some money added to the Community Center expansion.

• Council discussed and one suggestion would be to have this fund for engineering/consulting fees for the expansion would have to be bonded anyway due to the cost.
  
• Councilmember Mueller brought up the installation of an air conditioning unit at the Hall. This would be the same situation for you will have to have a consultant. The bids that come in are not the same; a consultant would eliminate this problem.
  
• Council discussed and City Clerk Gruenhagen suggested putting it under Legal/Consulting Fund.
  
  • Council discussed how much money should be put in the fund. $4,000 was suggested.
    

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen asked Council where they would feel comfortable in setting the 2010 Proposed Budget. You can go high now but not later. What percentage did they feel comfortable setting the budget at for now?

• Councilmember Cummiskey – 4.25% that would give Council 8% over what is one the budget now.
  
• Councilmember Trebesch asked what last years was? Was it 8%?
  
  • Members of council responded the final budget was 2.8%. Last year's proposed budget was set at an 8% increase then lowered to 2.8% increase on the final budget.
    
• Council discussed what the amount should be and what the percentage would come out to. They want to be fair to everyone. With the economy the way it is it would be nice to keep the budget low for the next few years. The following amounts were added to the 2010 Budget:
  
  • Street Maintenance Fund - $4,000
    
  • Equipment Replacement Fund - $4,000
    
  • Legal/Consulting Fee Fund – 4,000
    
• Councilmember Mueller suggested putting money in the Park Fund.
  
  • Councilmember Trebesch commented that if money is put in the Park Fund then later it could be moved to the FD Relief Fund (City Contribution).
    
  • Councilmember Mueller replied that he was not in favor of putting more money into the FD Relief Fund.
    
    • Council discussed how many other cities in the state are 100% vested and how much other Fire Departments receive in pension payments.
      
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen asked Council if they wanted to set up something separate for park equipment or did they want to add another $4,000 into the equipment replacement fund.
    
    • Council discussed and decided to put $6,000 in the street maintenance fund and $6,000 in the equipment replacement fund. An additional amount of $4,000 was added to the 2010 budget.
      

 

Council continued to discuss how much the budget levy should be set at and decided on 3.99%. Council discussed previous levy amounts and how this increase would or could affect city residents.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen informed Council that he will enter the dollar amounts they decided on and get the update to Council before the September 8^th, 2009 meeting.

 

Councilmember Cummiskey brought up the subject that there will be a tree action Saturday, September 12^th if anyone would like to go and pick up some trees for the city.

• Council discussed what type of tree to purchase, who could go, and how many trees could be purchased for $200. Council decided to wait until spring when the price of trees is usually cheaper.
  

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen reminded Council that he will be out Friday, September 4^th, 2009. He also informed Council that Maintenance Worker Byerly just informed him that he will also be out Friday. He is going to Iowa for the weekend.

• Councilmember Barnes questioned that City Clerk Gruenhagen asked Maintenance Worker Byerly several times if he could cover for him.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen responded that Maintenance Worker Byerly does this every year around this time. He asks Maintenance Worker Byerly if he will be around and then at the last minute he will inform you that he will be out. City Clerk Gruenhagen reported that he told Maintenance Worker Byerly that it is his responsibility to find a replacement.
    
  • Council discussed who would be available to cover for Maintenance Worker Byerly (rounds).
    

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen commented to Council that tonight's meeting is just a workshop and the 2010 Proposed Budget would be set at the September 8^th meeting. This would give City Clerk Gruenhagen time to submit it to the County Auditor. The preliminary budget has to be submitted by September 15^th.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen informed Council this morning he again asked Maintenance Worker Byerly if he needed anything. Once again all he could think of was batteries for the floor scrubber and batteries for the generator. City Clerk Gruenhagen put Maintenance Worker Byerly request for batteries under the maintenance fund.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen made the comment that Council made only three changes to the 2010 Proposed Budget.

 

Councilmember Barnes made a motion to adjourn the City of Hamburg 2010 Proposed Budget Workshop (Special Meeting), seconded by Councilmember Trebesch and motion carried.

 

 

                                        Submitted by:

 

    
 

    
 

                                        Sue Block

                                        Deputy Clerk

 

 

 

Hamburg City Council Special Meeting Minutes – 2010 Proposed Budget Workshop – August 25, 2009

The reason for the special meeting is to discuss and review the 2010 Proposed Budget. This special meeting will serve as a workshop to review the 2010 Proposed Budget. The 2010 Proposed Budget will be finalized at the September 8, 2009 City Council meeting.

 

The Special Meeting Workshop was held at 6:00 p.m. on August 25, 2009 in attendance were Councilmember Larry Muller, Councilmember John Barnes, Councilmember Steve Trebesch, City Clerk Jeremy Gruenhagen, and Deputy Clerk Sue Block. Councilmember Brian Cummiskey arrived at 6:07 p.m. and Mayor Malz arrived at 6:17 p.m.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen started off the meeting informing members of Council what he would like to go over the Budget tonight and then meet again next week once he has entered the numbers (added) that Council would like in the 2010 Budget. At the September 8, 2009 Council Meeting the proposed budget could then be approved.

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen also informed Council that the laws have changed and a Truth in Taxation meeting does not have to be held so the 2010 Budget can be approved at a council meeting.

• Councilmember Larry Mueller asked when the 2010 Proposed Budget has to be submitted.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied by September 15^th, 2009.
    

 

City Clerk Gruenhagen asked Council to go over the list and decide what they want or do not want in the 2010 budget. Council will also need to decide on an amount of money or percentage of the amount they want for the 2010 budget tax levy. The biggest factors to figure into the 2010 budget would be wages and health insurance.

• Councilmember Mueller asked what the tax increase was last year.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied 2.8% increase.
    
• Councilmember Mueller commented that a 1% increase is the same as $3,895.16.
  

 

Members of Council and City Clerk Gruenhagen discussed the following budget items and preliminary amounts listed in the pamphlet handout:

 

Wages

• Some of the options are to freeze wages, increase wages usually at a 3% increase, or do a combination of a 3% increase with furloughs. City Clerk Gruenhagen added that this is up to Council as to what they want to do.
  
• Councilmember Mueller made the comment that in his opinion employees need a raise, some type of an increase.
  
• Mayor Malz added that the decision of a wage increase should also be included with health insurance, include them both as a package.
  
• Councilmember Cummiskey commented that Deputy Clerk Block does not receive health insurance so her wages should be considered separately.
  
• Mayor Malz decided to leave wages as they are for now until we know how the rest of the budget comes out.
  

Health Insurance

• City Clerk Gruenhagen stated that the city employee's insurance coverage should be looked at. Council will have to make the decision on this also.
  
• Mayor Malz questioned the 10% Health Insurance increase. He questioned if Health Insurance really goes up that much per year.
  
  • Other members of Council stated that it usually does.
    
• City Clerk Gruenhagen added that he does not know how much insurance costs will rise because he does not receive the rates for next year until the end of October. There are numerous options available for the council to decide on what they want for their employees.
  
• Mayor Malz asked if the Health Insurance Representative could attend a council meeting to explain the different options.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen will ask Bill Singer from AT Group to attend a meeting.
    

Workers Comp. Insurance and Property & Casualty Insurance

• City Clerk Gruenhagen informed Council that he normally takes an average of what it has been going up over the years. What coverage Council decides tonight will dictate what the amounts will be also for 2010.
  
  • Workers Comp. Insurance average over the years is at 5%.
    
  • Property & Casualty Insurance average over the years is 2%.
    

Natural Gas Expenses

• With the economy the way it is the cost of natural gas will be very unpredictable for the coming year. Council decided to increase Natural Gas expenses by 10%.
  

Electricity Expenses

• Council decided to leave the 5% increase from 2009 to the 2010 budget.
  

New Desktop Computer ($500) and Chairs ($600)

• City Clerk Gruenhagen mentioned that the office computer is about 4 years old and about every 3 to 5 years is usually when they are replaced. The office chairs are getting old and more should be purchased. Right now chairs from the Fire Department are borrowed for use during the City Council meetings.
  
• Council agreed to keep $500 for a computer and $600 for new chairs in the 2010 budget.
  

Office Copier

• City Clerk Gruenhagen informed Council that the office copier is getting old and will need to be replaced in a year or two. He also mentioned that he would like the new copier to have network capabilities and a scanner.
  
• Council agreed to add $500 to the 2010 budget for a new copier when the one we have now is no longer operational.
  
• The copier will be listed in the 2010 budget under Municipal Clerk – Office Supplies or Office Equipment.
  

City Shop Driveway

• City Clerk Gruenhagen asked if Council wants to keep this as a budget item. Move the $15,000 to the 2010 Budget and add to it. The money could possible go towards fixing the water problems at the City Shop.
  

Tri-City Police Plan (Hamburg, NYA, and Cologne

• Hourly pay for Hamburg's policing time is $18,141 with $500 dollars of overtime built in.
  
• Hamburg pay for CSO coverage was $3,250 last year it went up this year to $3,700. Hourly rate increased from $25 last year to $28.46 this year (2009).
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen suggested that the City could cut some money from the budget by lowering CSO time from 2.5 hours per week to 2 hours per week. This would save the City approximately $750 dollars per year.
    

Southwest National Drug Task Force Team

• The cities contribution was $2,000 now the Task Force Team is asking for $2,100.
  
  • Councilmember Mueller commented that this is something the city already has. They will be in town looking for drugs whether the city contributes or not.
    
  • Councilmember Trebesch asked if this was a contribution or a requirement.
    
    • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that this is something all the municipalities are asked to contribute to but not required to do so.
      
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen contributed that if the city goes along with what the County is asking for in coverage this would be a minimum of less than $200 from the 2009 Budget to the 2010 Budget. In 2009 the cost was around $23,772 and for 2010 the cost would be around $23,941.
    

2010 City Contribution to Relief Association ($42,101)

• City Clerk Gruenhagen informed Council that $42,101 is the amount the city is required to contribute to the Fire Department Relief Association. In the past Council has agreed to contribute each year an additional $2,000 to help improve the funded ratio.
  
  • Councilmember Cummiskey added that currently the Fire Departments relief fund is roughly 60% to 70% vested. By contributing the additional $2,000 per year the relief fund will become 100% vested as it should be. This is a 10 year plan to get the fund 100% vested.
    

Medical Exams for Firefighters ($1,100)

• City Clerk Gruenhagen reported that in 2009 half the Hamburg firefighters had medical exams and in 2010 the other half will have them done. The $1,100 was budgeted in 2009.
  

Donald Avenue (Seal Coating)

• This item if for seal coating Donald Avenue or any street in Hamburg.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen also mentioned that the next item on the list, Street Repairs, is for any street that would need patching or some type of repair.
  
• Councilmember Mueller asked if the Donald Avenue item point and Street Repairs could be combined.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that he will combine them.
    
• City Clerk Gruenhagen mentioned that there is $3,000 in the budget now.
  
  • Council agreed to add $3,000 to the 2010 budget, increase to $6,000.
    

Spray Weeds ($500)

• This year (2009) no one was paid to spray weeds, Maintenance Worker Byerly did the city spraying.
  

Pop Machine Proceeds (HIP) Group

• City Clerk Gruenhagen added this item just to show that the pop machine proceeds go to the HIP group.
  

Air Conditioning for Community Hall

• Council discussed at length the type of air conditioning and amount this would cost to have installed. Councilmember Malz suggested hiring a consultant to figure out what type of air conditioning would work the best to lower the temperature in the Hall during summer events.
  
• City Clerk Gruenhagen suggested setting up a fund to contribute towards air conditioning over a period of years. He has received one estimate for $36,000.
  
• Councilmember Barnes asked if the money that has been set aside for the expansion of the Community Center could be used for Hall repairs instead. The electrical wiring in the Hall needs to be redone badly.
  
  • Mayor Malz and the other members of council agreed that expanding the Community Center is a space issue not a safety issue.
    
• City Clerk Gruenhagen checked the current budget accounts for the Community Center and Hall. The money for the Community Center is in a savings account so technically that money could be used for the CC. He reminded Council that there is $6,500 in the Community Hall Renovation fund. The electrical boxes are being replaced at $3,500 using the renovation fund.
  
• Council decided to add $10,000 in the 2010 budget for AC. At the next budget meeting Council will decide to lower or raise this amount.
  

Hall Repairs for 2010

• Add Community Center funds with Hall repair fund.
  

Tables for Hall ($1,000)

• No discussion on this item.
  

Transfer to Water Fund ($25,000)

• City Clerk Gruenhagen informed Council that each year $25,000 is transferred from the General Fund to the Water Fund. This transfer is to help off set water fund losses and to keep water rates down.
  

Equipment Replacement

• City Clerk Gruenhagen and Councilmember Mueller asked Maintenance Worker Byerly to price Bobcat tires and truck tires.
  

City Maintenance Fund

• Councilmember Mueller suggested adding a 1 horse sump pump to have on hand for possible sewer backups. The pumps usually cost around $800.
  

Community Center Addition

• No decision was made.
  

Lawn Mowing Contract

• Council discussed if the lawn mowing contract should be renewed for 2010 or if Maintenance Worker Byerly should do the cities lawn mowing instead.
  
  • Councilmember Trebesch suggested hiring a contractor for the city park and having Maintenance Worker Byerly do the other areas that need to be cut.
    
  • Council thought this was a good idea and would save the city some contracting money but yet get the mowing done.
    
  • Council also decided to open bids for the lawn mowing at the city park.
    

New Lawnmower

• Council discussed that the money saved by cutting the contract price in half ($9,000 to $4,500 per year) could be put towards a new lawnmower.
  
• Councilmember Mueller asked Maintenance Worker Byerly to price some lawnmowers and not just John Deere's. He can report back at the next budget meeting.
  

Radio and Truck Replacement Fund used to make 2009 Fire Department Tanker Payment

• City Clerk Gruenhagen noted to Council that $7,500 was set aside for this fund however now this amount is used to help off set payment for the new Tanker.
  

Wish List

• This list is for additional items that Council may want to include in the 2010 budget.
  

Consultant Fees (Update Zoning Ordinance)

• City Clerk Gruenhagen informed Council that the consulting fees could be lowered for 2010. The zoning ordinances should be completed by the end of this year.
  

Attorney Fees

• Councilmember Mueller asked about attorney fees.
  
  • City Clerk Gruenhagen replied that they may have to be increased.
    

Sidewalk Repair in front of Parkside Tavern (490 Henrietta Avenue)

• Councilmember Mueller suggested adding a money amount in the 2010 budget for repairing the sidewalk in front of Parkside Tavern.
  

Signs for edge of town

• Council had removed this from last years budget and decided to keep it out of the 2010 budget.
  

 

Councilmember Mueller moved to close the 2010 Preliminary Budget Workshop at 7:00 p.m., Councilmember Barnes seconded and motion unanimously carried. All Council members were present.

 

 

Submitted By:

 

 

 

Sue Block

Deputy Clerk

Correlation: Mayor Party affiliation and City?

According to the US Census Bureau, 2006 American Community Survey, August 2007 the top ten poverty stricken, major cities 250,000 or more people, was:

1. Detroit, MI – 32.5%
2. Buffalo, NY – 29.9%
3. Cincinnati, OH – 27.8%
4. Cleveland, OH – 27.0%
5. Miami, FL – 26.9%
6. St. Louis, MO – 26.8%
7. El Paso, TX – 26.4%
8. Milwaukee, WI – 26.2%
9. Philadelphia, PA -25.1%
10. Newark, NJ – 24.2%

The mayors of the above cities have one thing, with one exception, in common over the past 20 years; Democrat Mayors. The last non-Democrat mayor in Detroit, MI was Louis Miriani (1957-1962). Chester A. Kowal (1962-1965) was the last non-Democrat Mayor of Buffalo, NY. Arnold L. Bortz (1983-1984) was the last non-Democrat Mayor of Cincinnati, OH. George V. Voinovich (1980-1989) was the last non-Democrat Mayor of Cleveland, OH. Miami, Florida is the lone exception with an independent Mayor since 2001; Manny Diaz. The last non-Democrat Mayor for St. Louis, MO was Aloys P. Kaufmann (1943-1949). El Paso, Texas has never elected a Republican Mayor. The last non-Democrat Mayor of Milwaukee, WI was Frank Zeidler (1948-1960) a Socialist. The last non-Democrat Mayor was Republican Bernard Samuel (1941-1952). In Newark, NJ last elected a non-Democrat Mayor in 1903 when Republican Henry Doremus served from 1903-1907.

Lately Republican leadership has led the party down the road that blurs the ideaological line between the two major parties in the United States. With Congress approving President Obama’s $2.1T budget, along party lines, should Americans be concerned by the potential correlation that exists with poverty rates of major cities and party affiliation of the Mayor?