City of Naperville City Council met Nov. 22.
Here are the minutes provided by the council:
A. CALL TO ORDER:
Chirico called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m.
Present: 8 - Mayor Steve Chirico
Councilman Jennifer Bruzan Taylor
Councilwoman Patty Gustin
Councilman Paul Hinterlong
Councilman Ian Holzhauer
Councilman Paul Leong
Councilwoman Theresa Sullivan Councilman Benjamin White
Absent: 1 - Councilman Patrick Kelly
Also Present
City Manager, Doug Krieger; Deputy City Manager, Marcie Schatz; City Attorney, Mike DiSanto; Director of Community Services/City Clerk, Pam Gallahue; Fire Chief, Mark Puknaitis; Police Chief, Jason Arres; Director of Finance, Rachel Mayer; Director of Human Resources, James Sheehan; Director of IT, Jacqueline Nguyen; Director of TED, Bill Novack; Deputy Director of TED, Jennifer Louden; Director of Public Utilities - Electric, Brian Groth; Director of Public Utilities - Water, Darrell Blenniss, Jr.; Director of Public Works, Dick Dublinski; Budget Manager - FSD, Ray Munch; Senior Budget Analyst, Kyle Moss; Budget Analyst, Sherrian Kelly; Budget Analyst, Michael Gerton
Daily Herald, Naperville Sun, NCTV-17
B. INTRODUCTION:
Chirico gave an update on the City’s curbside leaf collection program and stated that one additional cycle will occur during final full week of November.
C. PUBLIC FORUM:
D. PRESENTATION:
2022 Annual Operating Budget and Capital Improvement Program Workshop #3 Krieger gave an overview of the workshop agenda.
Mayer discussed revenues, expenditures, and anticipated margins of the overall 2022 budget. She then provided a summary of 2022 expenses and revenues and an overview of the City’s major funds.
Council discussed SECA Grant Fund revenue for 2020 and the Settlement’s increase to the property tax levy.
Mayer discussed the decline of the Food and Beverage revenue in 2020, that the Settlement appears to be setting the levy to support operations, and that the amount being requested is not anticipated to be a one-time increase. She reviewed the City’s compliance with the three financial principles, gave an overview of the levels of cash balance and debt reduction, and highlighted the City’s cost of living in comparison with several other communities. Mayer then provided the Council with a follow up on questions from the second workshop and noted the City has added 21 positions since 2019, including eight requested for 2022, but 90 positions (both filled and vacant) have been eliminated since the 2008-09 recession.
Council requested clarification on the reason for the elimination, whether the 90 positions included public safety, whether contracted services have been used to fill in for eliminated positions, the number of staff per 1,000 residents, and the appropriateness of conducting a staff audit to ensure the City is right-sized.
Mayer explained the 90 positions were fully removed from the budget, that public safety positions were included in the reduction, that outside resources have been used to manage responsibilities that were previously done in-house, and estimated 10% of the eliminated positions are covered by an outside contractor. Mayer also showed that the City is in the lower range of staffing levels per 1,000 residents and stated a consultant may suggest adding staff.
Dublinski gave an overview of the proposed beautification plan and discussed options for the City’s 23 entry points.
Council discussed increasing the amount from the requested $100,000, soliciting input from local civic organizations and the high schools, expanding efforts into south Naperville, a timeline to replace signs, a complete list of items to be considered as part of the initiative, and the appropriateness of hiring a consultant to develop a plan.
Mayer discussed several key items related to the 2022 budget and requested a straw poll to determine which items may need to be adjusted before a final budget recommendation is presented to the Council for formal approval in December.
Council discussed that a consultant should be hired to determine whether the requested positions are necessary.
Novack discussed the TED Building Inspector request, explained that an increase in permits is driving need, and that staff has adjusted permit fees to help support the cost of the additional position.
Council discussed the council-manager form of government and confidence in staff’s recommendations.
By consensus, Council supported the requests for the TED Building Inspector, the Network Engineer, the Security Engineer, the Communications Specialist, the Senior Civil Engineer, the Utility Specialist, and the Sustainability Assistant.
Council did not support the request for the Training Assistant.
By consensus, Council supported increasing the beautification proposal to $250,000 for the potential hiring of a consultant, the downtown streetscape improvements planned for Jefferson, Main and Jackson streets, and the addition of $50,000 for the Downtown Naperville Alliance for marketing efforts to help offset downtown streetscape improvements.
Council discussed whether the financial principles should be re-evaluated and the appropriateness of the proposed 3% employee merit pool.
Krieger explained, unlike other communities, Naperville does not provide a cost-of-living increase and the proposed increase factors the anticipated inflation for 2022 in addition to a merit increase.
Council thanked staff for their work and reiterated the need to maintain a structurally balanced budget.
E. ADJOURNMENT:
The CY22 Budget Workshop #3 was adjourned at 8:18 p.m.
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