October 29, 2014 City Commission Meeting

City Council Meeting Summary - City, Oklahoma

📅 Announcements

• The City Manager's office will be coordinating a City Commission Retreat soon to discuss new initiatives and future opportunities.

Key Decisions & Notable Achievements

• Pension Choice Program: The City Council approved a new pension choice program, offering employees the option to switch to a defined contribution plan. This initiative is projected to save the city nearly 💰$1 million in its first year and provides greater portability for employees.
• Utility Rate Increases: Past water and sewer rate increases (part of a 5-year plan initiated in 2009-2010) were highlighted as crucial for funding essential infrastructure maintenance, including the establishment of a dedicated valve crew to improve responsiveness to water line breaks.
• Master Plans Approved: The Water and Sewer Master Plan and Parks Master Plan were approved, providing strategic direction for future resource allocation and development.
• Pool Renovation: The $4.2 million Pool renovation project was successfully funded, with 💰$1.2 million raised through community efforts, demonstrating strong public support.
• Kickapoo Street Project: A long-awaited Kickapoo Street improvement project is now underway.
• Animal Control Transition: The city is actively working to transition Animal Control euthanasia methods from gas to lethal injection, with plans to train in-house staff.
• Crime Reduction Initiative: The city is collaborating with the Attorney General's office, which is funding police overtime for targeted patrols in identified high-crime areas to combat rising crime rates.
• Online Payment Fee Removed: The fee for online credit card utility payments was removed as of 📅 September 2014 to encourage more electronic transactions.

Financial Matters

• City Attorney's Office Budget: The City Attorney's office operates with a budget of 💰$356,000, and the Court Clerk's office with 💰$564,000.
• Uncollected Fines: The city faces over 💰$2 million in uncollected fines, with a significant portion considered unrecoverable due to age, deceased individuals, or inability to pay (e.g., repeat public intoxication offenders). Efforts are underway to improve collection, including using a collection agency (which takes 30% paid by the defendant) and leveraging a new state program to deduct fines from tax returns.
• Expo Center Budget & Revenue:
  • Employee budget (including benefits) is over 💰$539,000.
  • The 2013 operating budget was 💰$620,000 with expenses of 💰$631,000.
  • The 2013 International Finals Youth Rodeo (IFYR) budget was 💰$612,000 (largely from entry fees), with expenses of 💰$581,000, indicating profitability.
  • The Expo receives 💰$100,000 annually from the city for Capital Improvements.
  • The Expo collects 💰$1 per RV for the hotel/motel tax, estimated to be 💰$30,000-$40,000 annually. RV rallies can generate substantial revenue, with one recent rally bringing in 💰$32,000.
• Utility Billing Revenue: Utility payment kiosks collected 💰$212,281.32 in 2013, a figure already surpassed in the first nine months of 2014. Aggressive collection practices for old utility bills generated 💰$44,000 in 2013.
• General Fund Challenges: The city's "third penny" sales tax, designated for Capital Improvements, is currently tight due to existing debt financing. This leaves approximately 💰$750,000 for essential purchases like police cars, lawnmowers, and building repairs. Key positions for a purchasing person, public information officer, and grants administrator were cut from the budget due to these constraints.

Public Comments & Commissioner Feedback

• Uncollected Fines: Commissioners discussed the challenge of collecting over $2 million in fines, particularly from individuals unable to pay, and explored options for writing off old, worthless fines.
• Expo Center Needs: Commissioners highlighted the urgent need for increased staffing and significant facility upgrades, especially roof repairs on older buildings, to prevent further deterioration and maintain the Expo's status as the city's top tourist attraction and a vital community asset for youth programs.
• Water Levels & Conservation: Concerns were raised about current lake levels, which are approximately two feet above the voluntary water rationing threshold (1066 feet elevation). Commissioners emphasized the need for public awareness regarding water shortages and suggested publishing regular updates on lake levels.
• City Clerk Storage: Discussion focused on the need for secure, accessible underground storage for historical documents, given past losses due to events like the 1970s tornado.
• Homelessness: A commissioner reported an instance of a van dropping off homeless individuals in the city, prompting a request for specific information to investigate such occurrences.
• Animal Control: Commissioners questioned the cost and timeline for transitioning to lethal injection for animal euthanasia and the police department's role in managing Animal Control, suggesting expedited training for staff.
• City Reports: Feedback was provided on the structure of city reports to commissioners, requesting higher-level status updates on new initiatives and ongoing projects rather than routine departmental details.
• PCEDA Frustration: A commissioner expressed frustration with the Pottawatomie County Development Authority (PCEDA) for a perceived lack of focus on attracting new customers.

Agenda Summary Table