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| | | | Meeting Convened: 9:08 A.M. | | | |
Roll call
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040795
| 0 | 1) | Budget | Communication from Mayor Tom Barrett transmitting the 2005 Proposed Budget for the City of Milwaukee.
Minutes note: Also appeared: Mark Nicolini, Director (DOA-Budget), Wally Morics (Comptroller's Office), Marianne Walsh, Manager (Fiscal Review)
ERS-ADMINISTRATION & RETIREMENT PROVISIONS
Ann Bahr, Dennis Yaccarino and Jim Carroll appeared.
Mr. Yaccarino read his budget highlights. Mr. Carroll gave a summary of his fiscal report. Ms. Bahr appeared and gave an ERS - 2005 Budget PowerPoint Presentation. She gave a brief overview of the Employee' Retirement System's business functions and activities. She reviewed some of the 2003/2004 accomplishments. She explained the Pension Management Information System (MERITS). She discussed a report on ERS Returns, ERS Portfolio pie chart, and a chart relative to risk - return comparisons and, lastly, she explained the ERS's 2004/2005 Proposed Activities. (See Common Council File #030795 for presentation).
Ald. D'Amato referred to the pie charts in Ms. Bahr's presentation and asked if there are investments that are prohibited. Ms. Bahr replied that there are some, and currently they are checking into state statutes on certain investments that they can and cannot engage in. Ald. D'Amato then referred to the pie chart on real estate investments. Ms. Bahr and Ald. D'Amato discussed the real estate investments currently used by ERS.
Chairman Murphy commented that the benefit the pension fund provides is that the City hasn't had to contribute money to the fund in several years. He then commented about the sinking fund that was created several years ago and noted that the Mayor isn't contributing any money this year. He further commented that they had authorized the actuarial study last year and asked when will that study be completed. Mr. Yaccarino replied that it should be completed by the end of November 2004. He then asked what the current balance is in that fund. Mr. Yaccarino replied that it is $17 million.
POLICE ANNUITY & BENEFITS FUND
Bonnie Stahl, Mr. Yaccarino and Jim Carroll appeared.
Mr. Yaccarino gave his budget highlights. Mr. Carroll then recited his fiscal report.
Ald. Donovan asked how many officers are in the plan? Ms. Stahl replied that there are 201 members. Ald. Donovan asked if there will be an increase in the 2005 budget. Mr. Yaccarino replied "no", they will receive the same as they received in 2004.
Ald. Donovan asked what the average pension is for those members. Mr. Yaccarino replied that the bulk of the recipients receive $300-$800 per month. Ms. Stahl replied that the overall average is about $1200 month: A couple of them get $4000-$5000, several receive $1000-$2000 and the majority receive around $600 with the widows getting about $300.
TREASURER
Wayne F. Whittow, James Klajbor, Craig Kammholz and Jeff Osterman appeared.
Mr. Kammholz recited his budget highlights. Mr. Osterman then gave a summary of his fiscal report. Mr. Whittow appeared and addressed the Committee. He noted that they have met their budget allocation and asked that their 2005 Proposed Budget be accepted.
Chairman Murphy asked what is the amount of delinquent water bills. Mr. Whittow noted that the delinquent water bills are put on the property taxes. Mr. Klajbor replied the delinquent water amount is put into a special charge category, so they couldn't give a breakdown of just delinquent water amounts.
Ald. D'Amato asked what is the suspension of the work station replacement program. Mr. Whittow replied that they weren't going to replace computers in 2005. Mr. Klajbor noted that they usually replace 1/3 of their computers each year, which costs about $25,000-$30,000.
Chairman Murphy asked what is the reduction of 2000 temporary hours. Mr. Whittow replied that in the summer they use more temporary help, because most of the employees in his office have been there a long time and they have a lot of vacation time to use and they usually use it in the summer months. Chairman Murphy noted his concern about the wait time.
Chairman Murphy asked if they considered accepting payment for property taxes with a credit card. Mr. Whittow noted that there isn't a big demand for it, but they also couldn't absorb the service charge into the property tax bill. He did note that they are trying something new, by letting people pay their property taxes on line by check. He will be reviewing how well that goes for the 2004 property taxes and determine whether they will continue to do that.
Ald. Davis asked if there are any liens attached to tax delinquent properties in relation with payday loans or currency exchanges organizations. Mr. Whittow replied no.
HEALTH DEPARTMENT
Bevan Baker, Dr. Vivian Chin, Yvette Rowe, John Ledvina and Mark Ramion appeared.
John Ledvina gave a brief overview of his budget highlights. Mr. Ramion read his fiscal report. Mr. Baker appeared and addressed the Committee. He gave a brief overview of the Health Departments budget and their goals for 2005. He noted that their main goal is to enhance the health for every individual and every family in the City of Milwaukee, and to promote safe and healthy neighborhoods throughout the City.
Ald. Donovan asked how the progress is going with the Health Department's partnership with Plan Parenthood at the Northwest side site. Mr. Baker replied that it has been over a year now since they partnered with Plan Parenthood, and they have reached over 1600 clients. He noted that there is a cross referral between Plan Parenthood and the Health Dept. at that site and they have every intention to continue it. The goal was to reach 800-900 over this past year and it was met.
Ald. Donovan asked about the increased trend on the near south side regarding pushcart vendors and the safe health issues. Mr. Baker replied that they do have proactive initiatives that they have been doing in regards to pushcart vendors. He noted that they do have inspectors out there who do surprise inspections. They are also looking at how to house GPS units on pushcarta, which would help the inspector locate those vendors. Chairman Murphy asked if there is training provided to pushcart vendors and noted that there should be something put into the budget for the training. Mr. Baker replied that they do provide a handout which explains what they need to do regarding health issues.
Ald. D'Amato asked how the health department has been able to obtain a large amount of grants. Mr. Baker explained the process and procedures the Health Department uses to find out about the different grants that are available to them.
Ald. D'Amato discussed the infant mortality rate and noted that the latest numbers they have is for 2002 and asked if the 2003 data is available. Mr. Baker replied that data isn't published yet. Ald. D'Amato then referred to the Infant Mortality grant that is expired and the 2 positions lost or reassigned. He asked if the overall infant mortality efforts for next year are less then it is was for this year. Mr. Baker replied that they have seen an impact from the new position that they added. He further explained the responsibilities of that position and the data that person has already gathered in relation to infant mortality. Mr. Baker further explained that one of their goals is to change the way they do outreach in regards to infants. They are currently working with the Wisconsin State MCH Dept. to develop a special rate in Medicaid dollars to be used specifically for outreach, and they would hire 20-25 workers to work in the 9 worst zip codes in the city to do outreach for newborns. Ald. D'Amato asked if they have the staff in the Health Department to bring the infant motility rate down. Mr. Baker replied that he couldn't say whether he had enough staff, which is why he is trying to create an outreach.
Ald. D'Amato mentioned that the 2005 Proposed Budget eliminates 7 Public Health Nurse positions that are not filled. Mr. Baker replied that due to the budget they are forced to proritize; they chose to eliminate those positions, but they are also working on changing the workload so that the nurses handle less paperwork, etc.
Chairman Murphy commented that the Mayor plan was to put more nurses in the schools. He asked how this is supposed to happen. Mr. Baker replied that they are looking at grants and private funding to help provide the funding to do that. There are going to be more private nurses than public nurses in the schools next year.
Ald. D'Amato asked Mr. Baker to put together an estimate of what it would cost to put a nurse in every school. Mr. Baker replied that it would cost $7 million to support 100 nurses. Ald. Witkowiak commented that when kids claim they are sick and if there is no nurse available, the kids are automatically sent home.
Ald. D'Amato asked what is the alternative work schedule program. Mr. Baker replied it is a program offered to employees represented by Staff Nurses Council and if offers them a flexible work schedule. He further noted that it has been very successful.
Chairman Murphy asked what is the current status of funding related to the AIDS initiative, especially in light of CDBG funding not expressly provided in the 2005 Proposed Budget. Mr. Baker replied that out of the $11 million of CDBG allocation, $250,000 has been allocated for the AIDS Initiative. That is a $64,000 reduction from last year.
Chairman Murphy asked what is the new hazard analysis approach that allows the department to eliminate a health inspector position. Mr. Baker replied that they are transforming the way they do the work and are moving towards the use of new technology, called a mobile inspection system. He hopes the new technology will create efficiencies. Ald. D'Amato asked if the food fees pay for the food inspector positions. Mr. Baker replied that food fees generate $1.6 million and that fee offsets some of the cost of wages. Ms. Walsh replied that tax levy supplies some of the wages.
Sue Blaustein, President of Local 1091, commented on her concerns and effects of the elimination of the Consumer Environmental Department's Food Inspector's position and the changes in the Disease & Control Prevention Division. Chairman Murphy asked why the new technology that had been approved last year isn't in the field inspector's hand yet. Mr. Baker replied that they are still working on it and they want to make sure it works before they put it out there.
Judy Thorsheim, President of the Staff Nurses' Council appeared to advocate for the retention of the Public Health Nurse positions blighted for elimination in the 2005 Proposed Budget.
Ald. D'Amato asked Mr. Baker to put together a prioritized list of the positions that are proposed to be eliminated. Mr. Baker replied that he would do that. | HELD TO CALL OF THE CHAIR | Pass | 5:0 |
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