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HomeMy WebLinkAbout[05] Minutes - January 15, 2009(a)C[TY [)F 1T. JQ1N1'li MEETING DATE: February 5, 2009 Council Agenda Item rJ AGENDA ITEM: Minutes -Requested Action: Approve the Council minutes of January 15, 2009 (a) SUBMITTED BY: Administration BOARD/COMMISSION/COMMITTEE RECOMMENDATION: PREVIOUS COUNCIL ACTION: BACKGROUND INFORMATION: It is typical to separate the minutes from the meeting on January 15, 2009, from the Old Council to the New Council. Therefore, under the consent agenda I have added the minutes from the new Council and after the consent agenda I have added the minutes for the old Council. It is done this way so that any new members can abstain from voting on minutes they were not part of. BUDGET/FISCAL IMPACT: ATTACHMENTS: Minutes of January 15, 2009 (a) REQUESTED COUNCIL ACTION: Approve the minutes of January 15, 2009 (a) January 15, 2008 (a) Page 1 of 2 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, the City Council for the City of St. Joseph met in regular session on Thursday, January 15, 2009 at 7:00 PM in the St. Joseph City Hall. Members Present: Mayor AI Rassier, Councilors Dale Wick, Renee Symanietz, Steve Frank, Administrator Judy Weyrens City Representatives Present: City Engineer Randy Sabart, Finance Director Lori Bartlett Others Present: Margaret Hughes Approval of the Agenda: Symanietz made a motion to approve the agenda with the following changes/deletions: Delete Minutes -November 12, 2008 Move Minutes -September 18, 2008 Move Treasurer's Report The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. ~.: Consent Agenda: Wick made a motion to approve fhe consent agenda as follows: a. Minutes -Approve the minutes of December 18, 2008: b. Bills Payable -Approve check numbers 041108-041215 and EFT numbers. 000443, 040436- 040445. c. Deleted The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Minutes -September 18, 2008: With respect to the minutes of September 18, Frank asked for clarification on the discussion regarding Alternative Sound under his Council Report. Weyrens stated that he was referring to sound devices for; the Council Chambers. Frank made a motion to approve ttie minutes of September 18, 2008. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously: Treasurer's Report: Frank stated that he had some additional questions regarding capital expenditures. Frank stated that he is worried about the budget and added that the City may need to cut back on capital expenditures and he questioned Weyrens as to how it is determined which expenditures are most critical. Weyrens advised Frank that the Department Heads will review this again after everything for 2008 has been closed out-and the same process will be done in 2009. She advised the Council that the audit will begin in March and, as a result, that will be done in the middle of March. Frank questioned Bartlett as to whether or not there are any alarms or yellow flags to which Bartlett stated that there are not. Rassier suggested that if there are any further concerns, they should talk to the department heads to get clarification on their needs. Frank made a motion to approve the December 2008 Treasurer's Report. The motion was seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Labor Contracts: Weyrens stated that the negotiating committee has been meeting with AFSCME on a tentative labor agreement for the calendar year 2009. Weyrens presented the Council with a summary table illustrating the negotiation process. Weyrens stated that she met with representatives of LELS, the police union, and presented the Council with a summary table of requested items and final resolutions. The contracts before the Council highlight all changes. Due to economic conditions both AFSCME and LELS have agreed to execute a Memorandum of Understanding whereby the Unions agree to a wage freeze for 2009 with the understanding that after the January 15, 2008 (a) Page 2 of 2 Legislature is completed the City will consider re-visiting wages. The opening of wages will be dependent upon the amount of LGA the City receives in 2009. The MOU clarifies that employees eligible for step increases will still receive the step, but there will not be a cost of living increase. Frank thanked Wick as he brought valuable insight and comments. He stated that they tried to make the best out of a bad situation. Right now, it is a lose-lose situation. He thanked all employees as well as Weyrens and Wick for their assistance. Wick stated that the City will see what happens this year in the legislature and go from there. Symanietz made a motion to authorize execution of the labor contracts and Memorandum of Understandings, for the contract year 2009 between the City of St. Joseph and AFSCME and the City of St. Joseph and LELS. Further, before execution of the final MOU between the City of St. Joseph and AFSCME, Wick and Frank review the final MOU. For the year 2009 all employees, union and non union will not receive a cost of living adjustment and employees, union and non union will be eligible for step increases in 2009. The motion was seconded by Wick and passed unanimously. Adjourn: Wick made a motion to adjourn at 7:25 PM; seconded by Symanietz and passed unanimously. Judy Weyrens Administrator