To: - Al



[pic]

To: Birmingham City Council – COW

From: Steven W. Hoyt, Council President Pro Tempore

Re: Budget Proposal

Date: June 16, 2010

I propose the following:

▪ Return the budget in its entirety to Mayor and request increased revenue projections and/or projected turn around figures in the months that he is predicting the recovery; and that he find a way to fund the agreed upon goals/parameters of the Council:

✓ $16M to eliminate 10% employee pay cuts (specifically)

✓ Once we submit our proposals to the Mayor, he and staff will likely tell us why we cannot take the measures we have suggested. It is therefore incumbent upon the Mayor and his administrative staff to find a way to accomplish the goals of the Council and compliment our work product rather than us tearing apart his proposals and then staff picking apart our counter proposals. Implementation is solely under the Mayor’s purview even if the Council revises the proposed budget, what comes forth from the Mayor is at his discretion and I feel we can compromise by obtaining buy-in on a plan that accomplishes our goals.

▪ Find funding to replace/upgrade telephone system along with increased funds requested in IMS to increase employee productivity and access by the citizenry.

✓ Review a proposal for technology upgrade of existing outdated telephone services. Calls for $940,000.00 installation, hardware, software, training and program management over 6 month period to fully transition PBX, voice and facsimile services to VOIP.

▪ Fund all agencies at specified percentage or $800K with a planned reduction to $500K or total agreed upon in next fiscal year.

✓ Totally remove all outside boards and agencies from the proposed budget

✓ Start new application process at the beginning of the fiscal year (July 1) in accordance with the Council established policy that requires each applicant agency to complete a transparency and disclose other funding sources (resolution attached). That gives a six month window to establish and set policy on boards and agencies funding i.e., guidelines, locations, services provided, citizens served, economic development incentive requirements.

✓ Staff can develop process, review applications and present applicants for Council approval. Those approved would be forwarded to Mayor’s office to prepare contracts and get authorized signatures.

✓ All contracts will be awarded starting in January–May, 2011 which is mid-year and accomplishes three goals (1) time to create and adequately review requests; (2) we do not have to pay out funds until the majority of revenues have been realized and (3) each budget proposal infers a turnaround of the economy and possible increase in revenues - residually we will draw interest on those revenues as we would not have the immediate payout or burden of the obligations in the beginning of our fiscal year.

▪ Restore funding to economic development agencies; include funding for Disparity Study implementation; enhance HUBE policy by requiring our prescribed agencies to have enforcement and compliance authority when it comes to the goals and obligations in participation and maximizing inclusion.

✓ Increase proposed funding of direct economic development support agencies by 33%.

➢ Innovation Depot - $62,565 (Must add Birmingham City Seal to partnership in the building entranceway and on all print literature, advertisement and annual report.) Submit quarterly performance, occupancy and inclusion/outreach efforts to Division of Economic Development (OED) for presentation to Economic Development Committee. Goal to increase minority clients and diversify, roll out unfinished portions of building. Budget review.

➢ Development Solutions – NTE $51,557 provide space to work in City Hall each agency submit clients through OED and visits to Birmingham will be scheduled accordingly on an as needed basis. Providing technical services

➢ Birmingham Business Alliance - $277,357 – We need to be apprised of strategic plan and operational goals for BBA. Should report local and regional recruitment / retention activities to OED and information referred to ED Committee on quarterly basis. Review make-up of Board of Directors and Executive Committee. Update on transition merger comparison activities since inception. Budget review. Develop a working strategy to increase presence and participation in legislative matters in Montgomery in the area of incentives, local participation goals, and other legislative priorities of the City of Birmingham. Additionally, beef up the recruitment of the Film Commission and report on the benefits derived from current incentive legislation and marketing of City of Birmingham for filming feature length movies.

➢ Operation New Birmingham - $214,400 – (Requirements) though in recent years the focus of Operation New Birmingham has been contractually directed toward the City Center, additional outreach efforts should be expanded to include other areas in the City where suitable properties and opportunities are available. In non-beacon districts. Under the direction of OED, ONB should partner, venture with other agencies that provide economic services to the City of Birmingham to exchange and enhance the vitality of the entire City of Birmingham.

➢ Birmingham Construction Industry Authority - $260,000 – during these tough economic times we have seen a marked increase in the number of construction industry representatives requesting assistance. There is greater competition on projects. This is not the time to cut back, but time to help local contractors build capacity. This will generate permits and license sales, add occupational taxes. Although according to the Birmingham Plan, BCIA is our agency to assist in this regard, it is literally on paper only as they do not have any compliance and enforcement authority. This compliance and enforcement authority should be mandated in contractual agreements and should also be expanded to include Purchasing and Community Development as well. A staff person from BCIA should be dedicated to City Hall OED and regular reports should be made to ED Committee and B&F Committee on inclusion performance once City contracts have been awarded. Focus more on education, joint ventures, bid practices and building capacity for small businesses and sole proprietorships.

➢ Urban Impact - $107,200 - this area is plagued with vacant and abandoned properties and absentee landlords. Will research and attempt to facilitate enacting a vacant property assessment which should help us to eradicate a lot of the blight all over the City not just in the cultural district. With increased funding the agency will continue revitalization of storefronts on south side of 4th Avenue from 16th – 18th Streets and continue to assist with 7th floor renovations of Masonic Temple Building. Should report to ED Committee through OED – but work with COB Urban Design Dept to undertake a redevelopment plan for the district.

➢ Main Street Birmingham – (BEACON PROGRAM) – Move this agency under Economic Services with quarterly reporting mechanism through OED. As MSB is responsible for a much broader coverage of the city than other agencies i.e., ONB – City Center and Urban Impact – 4th Avenue business District.. Additional funds from the City will be used to leverage matching requirement on grocery stores and food initiatives grant received from CDC to identify areas in the City without adequate access to food and groceries and the implementation of solutions that include recruitment of grocery stores as well as public markets within the City of Birmingham. Funding this initiative should culminate in public policy changes, and additional incentives to attract and enable more solutions than rehashing of the problems in the communities that we know exist. Additionally, increased efforts to lobby the AL Housing Finance Authority to re-develop the Ramsey McCormack building into a senior independent living facility in downtown Ensley.

▪ Re-visit Ticket Biscuit proposal and establish a 3% set aside for cultural arts in the City and establish policy to administer and engage the greater cultural community in developing and disseminating funds and programming.

✓ Engage Keith Cromwell (Red Mountain Theatre) and others willing to assist the City in raising funds and perpetuating the arts and cultural sector in Birmingham. Creating a self sustaining entity comprised of a diverse group of directors.

✓ Lobby legislature regarding increased authorities in the City,

▪ Re-establish and invigorate audit team to receive reconciliation of program expenditures and perform meticulous on site audits verifying required guidelines and objectives have been met.

▪ Explore / enact Council recommended revenue enhancements, lodging tax increase, tipping fees, refuse collection, increased accountability at landfill, collection of outstanding assessments on users, traffic violations and etc.

▪ Request the breakdown from the Mayor/Director of Finance/ Director of Personnel an analysis of the Administrative Leave Days (research attached) – break out administrative leave days into service reduction for 24/7 operations such as Police, Fire and Corrections; those days would extend established holidays (5 out of 11) by taking the business day before or after without pay; For those employees earning between $40,000 – $49,999, 3 administrative leave days annually; $50,00- $99,000 4 administrative leave days; over $100,000 – 5 administrative leave days which will not adversely affect those employees earning less than $40,000. To address the pension and retirement estimates, the employee on administrative leave without pay will be deemed to be on a paid leave status.

▪ Commission employment assessment and right size the number of employees; develop an attrition schedule and a severance package; benefits assessment, review especially retiree benefits cost analysis.

✓ Specify reporting mechanism of Community Resource Officers back through Community Development Department within the prescribed guidelines by which those employees can lawfully operate under HUD regulations.

✓ Add two Council appointments to the benefits review committee

▪ Submit bid documents for Birmingham to Host NUSA Conference (bid package attached)

................
................

In order to avoid copyright disputes, this page is only a partial summary.

Google Online Preview   Download