08-22-11 Regular Meeting of La Porte City Council

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City Manager Ron Bottoms and Council discussed residential solid waste rates and spreading the increase over a two -year period. It was the consensus of Council to increase the rates to $1.50 at one time instead of spreading rates over a two -year period. 7. COUNCIL COMMENTS - Matters appearing on agenda; recognition of community members, city employees, and upcoming events; inquiry of staff regarding specific factual information or existing policy — Councilmembers Zemanek, Leonard, Engelken, Mosteit, Clausen, Moser, Martin Kaminski, and Mayor Rigby. Councilmember Zemanek thanked staff for their work on the budget, wished Councilmember Moser and Park and Recreation Director Stephen Barr a Happy Birthday, gave condolences to the Beasley family and wished Christy Johnson and her family well and a speedy recovery for Ms. Johnson. Councilmember Leonard thanked staff for their work on the budget and condolences to the Beasley family. Councilmember Mosteit sent condolences to the Beasley family, thanked staff for budget preparations, their patience with Council and thanked citizens for attending the meetings. Councilmember Clausen sent condolences to the Beasley family, thanked the City Manager and staff for the proposed budget. Councilmember Martin also thanked the City Manager and staff for the proposed budget. Councilmember Moser thanked staff and the Finance Department for the proposed budget. Councilmember Kaminski thanked staff for the proposed budget and sent condolences to the Beasley family. Mayor Rigby questioned if the Step Program had been finalized during the budget meetings for Police Officers. City Manager Ron Bottoms responded it had not but gathered from Council discussions to apply $47,000.00 toward the Step Grant. The Mayor requested staff to look at the physical fitness program and confirm if it truly assists the Health Fund that continues to increase, directed staff on the agenda requests for Capital Improvement Projects to include benefits of projects if approved, and liability if not approved, and the effects on the budget in the next two years. The Mayor expressed his concerns that the budget numbers presented are not always the same as in previous years and requested future budgets include an amended column in order for the budget numbers to reflect what had been approved by City Council. 8. EXECUTIVE SESSION There was no executive session during the three meeting nights. 9. RECONVENE into regular session and consider action, if any, on items discussed in executive session. 10. ADJOURN There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 9:03 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Patrice Fogarty, City Secretary Passed and approved on August 22, 2011. Mayor Louis R. Rigby Page 7 of 7 August 8 -10, 2011, City Council Meeting Minutes