6/28/13
Some highlights from the 6/23 Council Meeting:
- The auditors gave their report on 2012. The City added over $130,000 to its reserve fund in 2012. This was unexpected. So what to do with this windfall? Read on.
- Public Works offered a dismal review of the City's street sweeper condition. Seems it has been in the shop for repairs almost as much as it's been on the street this year. Staff recommended buying a replacement which Council approved at a $170,000 cost (there goes the $130,000). Of note is that the planned replacement for the sweeper was 2020. The Insider wonders how long the staff has known this sweeper has been in such sad shape and that replacement parts are often unavailable. The City has a staff mechanic. Doesn't this person report equipment condition?
- Council appointed Council Member Sundberg to serve on the South Shore Center committee. Staff reported that one of the other four owner cities (unidentified at this point) had appointed a person and Greenwood had placed the item on their upcoming council agenda. The Insider is anxiously awaiting the naming of the reps from the other cities. Just the discussions in the various council meetings leading up to appointments (or lack thereof?) should be informative. Keep reading this blog for more.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Friday, June 28, 2013
Saturday, June 15, 2013
South Shore Center - New Committee
6/15/13
During the 6/10 Shorewood council meeting, the Council reviewed a proposal by Mayor Zerby to form a committee to make recommendations about the Center's future. Council approved going forward and some details follow.
The committee is to be formed from appointees from the five cities that own the Center (Zerby said he wanted elected officials), one person from South Shore Senior Partners (they've been handling the senior activities for the last three years), one from the organization that supported the Center before Shorewood took over management (the Insider assumes this is Senior Community Services which the Insider hears is involved in running the Gillespie center in Mound) and supporting members of Shorewood's staff.
The plan is to hold meetings during the summer and to have a recommendation ready by September 9th.
It'll be interesting to see how much interest and involvement the other four owner cities bring forward. As reported in this blog previously, their interest has been near zero for the past three years.
One thing for sure that won't have any effect is renaming the Center as Bob Newman, president of the SSSP, is reported to be advocating (see this week's "Excelsior/Shorewood Sun Sailor"). Calling a horse a cow doesn't make it a cow.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
.
During the 6/10 Shorewood council meeting, the Council reviewed a proposal by Mayor Zerby to form a committee to make recommendations about the Center's future. Council approved going forward and some details follow.
The committee is to be formed from appointees from the five cities that own the Center (Zerby said he wanted elected officials), one person from South Shore Senior Partners (they've been handling the senior activities for the last three years), one from the organization that supported the Center before Shorewood took over management (the Insider assumes this is Senior Community Services which the Insider hears is involved in running the Gillespie center in Mound) and supporting members of Shorewood's staff.
The plan is to hold meetings during the summer and to have a recommendation ready by September 9th.
It'll be interesting to see how much interest and involvement the other four owner cities bring forward. As reported in this blog previously, their interest has been near zero for the past three years.
One thing for sure that won't have any effect is renaming the Center as Bob Newman, president of the SSSP, is reported to be advocating (see this week's "Excelsior/Shorewood Sun Sailor"). Calling a horse a cow doesn't make it a cow.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
.
Thursday, June 6, 2013
Parks Budget & South Shore Center
6/6/13
The Insider is seeing questions about the parks budget and its relationship to the South Shore Center costs. So, see the following.
The parks maintenance budget for 2013 is $153,000. Of this, $103,000 is for City staff compensation.
There is a Recreation budget for programs, etc. The total is $100,000 with $36,000 of this being for staff and $42,000 going to the park capital equipment fund.
So, totally, parks cost residents $253,000. This is about 5% of the total City expenditures.
Note that the parks costs are before subtracting revenues the City receives from sports teams, program participants, etc.
The South Shore Center cost the City $60,000 (after subtracting the revenues) in 2012, $47,000 more than budgeted. None of this is in the above parks numbers.
Of note is that supporting the Center would add 24% to the total parks cost.
So, take the Center costs out of existing parks budget? This'd cause major cuts in the parks system. Fold the Center into the Parks budget and increase taxes? Maybe.
The Insider would like to hear from readers if they think spending 24% of what is spent on the entire park system on the Center alone is how they'd prioritize.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
The Insider is seeing questions about the parks budget and its relationship to the South Shore Center costs. So, see the following.
The parks maintenance budget for 2013 is $153,000. Of this, $103,000 is for City staff compensation.
There is a Recreation budget for programs, etc. The total is $100,000 with $36,000 of this being for staff and $42,000 going to the park capital equipment fund.
So, totally, parks cost residents $253,000. This is about 5% of the total City expenditures.
Note that the parks costs are before subtracting revenues the City receives from sports teams, program participants, etc.
The South Shore Center cost the City $60,000 (after subtracting the revenues) in 2012, $47,000 more than budgeted. None of this is in the above parks numbers.
Of note is that supporting the Center would add 24% to the total parks cost.
So, take the Center costs out of existing parks budget? This'd cause major cuts in the parks system. Fold the Center into the Parks budget and increase taxes? Maybe.
The Insider would like to hear from readers if they think spending 24% of what is spent on the entire park system on the Center alone is how they'd prioritize.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Excelsior 4th of July Funding - More
6/6/13
Maybe a little late, but here is the report on what happened.
On 5/23. Council voted 4 to 0 to approve the budgeted $5,000 to support the Excelsior Chamber's 4th celebration.
The subject of council member Hotvet being the Chamber Executive Director and if she'd recuse herself from the vote was moot as she did not attend the council meeting. No reason was given for her absence.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
Maybe a little late, but here is the report on what happened.
On 5/23. Council voted 4 to 0 to approve the budgeted $5,000 to support the Excelsior Chamber's 4th celebration.
The subject of council member Hotvet being the Chamber Executive Director and if she'd recuse herself from the vote was moot as she did not attend the council meeting. No reason was given for her absence.
Happy Reading!
The Insider
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