FINANCE COMMITTEE 2011/04/18 Minutes
The City of Lake Forest
FINANCE COMMITTEE
Proceedings of the April 18, 2011 Meeting
6:30 p.m. – City Hall Council Chambers
I. Call to Order and Roll Call
Chairman Grumhaus called the meeting to order at 6:30 p.m. Present: Mayor Cowhey,
Chairman Grumhaus, Aldermen Novit, Moore, Morsch, Schoenheider, Looby and Palmer.
Absent: Alderman Widman. Quorum present. There were twelve people present in the
audience.
Staff present: Robert Kiely, Jr., City Manager; Kathleen Reinertsen, Finance Director; Louise
Breckan, Assistant Finance Director; Jeff Howell, Fire Chief; Ramesh Kanapareddy, Assistant City
Engineer; Carina Walters, Assistant City Manager; Diane Hall, Senior Accountant and Victor
Filippini, City Attorney.
II. Consideration of Minutes from the Finance Committee Meeting Held on March 21, 2011
Alderman Looby made a motion to approve the minutes from the Finance Committee
meeting held on March 21, 2011. The motion was seconded by Alderman Novit. The motion
carried unanimously by voice vote.
III. Consideration of an Ordinance Approving a Fee Schedule for Ambulance Transport for The City
of Lake Forest
Fire Chief Jeff Howell stated as discussed at the March 21st Finance Committee Budget
meeting, it was recommended to increase the ambulance transport rates. This
recommendation coincides with rate increases being instituted by numerous area
municipalities, while still remaining slightly over the average charged by same. Chief Howell
reviewed two rate options with the Committee and showed a pie chart of the type of calls,
ALS, BLS, etc., that Lake Forest handled in 2010. The Committee was interested in what the
cost per call would be in other municipalities. Mr. Robert Kiely, City Manager stated that staff
could find out those numbers. He added that there is a policy issue in every municipality as to
how much of the cost of service is to be recovered by a user fee.
Following discussion, Alderman Looby moved, seconded by Alderman Novit, to approve the
fee, which will annually raise the City’s ambulance transport rate to the average charged by
surrounding municipalities and recover an additional $100 per transport. The motion carried
unanimously by voice vote.
IV. Consideration of an Ordinance making a Supplemental Appropriation for the Fiscal Year
Beginning May 1, 2010 and ending April 30, 2011
Ms. Kathleen Reinertsen, Finance Director stated as advised by the City attorney, it is
recommended to approve a supplemental appropriation at the end of each fiscal year for
any fund that will exceed the original appropriation. The following funds require a
supplemental appropriation:
1. The Emergency Telephone Fund software implementation expense is more than
budgeted due to several unforeseen equipment and contractual service expenses.
These expenses are covered by revenue. A supplemental appropriation of $20,000 is
required.
2. The Elawa Farm Fund garden/market operation was transferred back to the Elawa
Foundation during FY11. The expense is covered by revenue. A supplemental
appropriation of $82,000 is required.
3. The Route 60 Intersection Fund refund expense was refunded to Conway Park for the
Route 60 /Field Drive intersection during FY11. The project came in lower than expected.
The expense is covered by revenue. A supplemental appropriation of $375,000 is
required.
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Minutes – April 18, 2011
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Following discussion, Alderman Looby moved, seconded by Alderman Novit, to grant
approval to the ordinance making a Supplemental Appropriation and corresponding
adjustment to the Comprehensive Fiscal Plan for the Fiscal Year Beginning May 1, 2010 And
Ending April 30, 2011. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
V. Opportunity for the Public to Address the Finance Committee: None.
VI. Other Business:
March 2011 Flash Report: Chairman Grumhaus reported there are no concerns at this time.
As this was Chairman Grumhaus’s last Finance Committee meeting, he stated that he
appreciated all of the staff’s efforts during his term.
Items from the April 18, 2011 City Council Agenda:
1. 2011 Annual Street Resurfacing Program Project: Mr. Ramesh Kanapareddy, Assistant City
Engineer stated that the City Council has approved a resolution appropriating $1,700,000
in Motor Fuel Tax (MFT) funds to pay for this project. He stated that city staff has briefed the
City Council previously on the Municipal Partnership Program (MPP), a program that takes
advantage of economies of scale, for securing low bid prices, among neighboring
municipalities who bid similar projects each year. This year, the City joined forces with
Highland Park and Lincolnshire to do a joint bid for the Annual Street Resurfacing Program.
Peter Baker & Son is the lowest responsible bidder for asphalt at $64.25 per ton. A year ago
the City paid $72.30 per ton. All three municipalities’ staff believe that this joint bid to be
fair. This item was reviewed at the Public Works Committee meeting which was held prior
to tonight’s Finance Committee meeting. The Committee requested that Mr.
Kanapareddy find out asphalt prices from the communities that did not participate in this
joint bid. Further discussion and the award of the contract will be conducted at tonight’s
City Council meeting.
2. Replacement of Capital Equipment: Mr. Michael Thomas, Superintendent of Public Works
stated that staff is recommending that the purchase of the core aerator and rotary mower
be awarded to the State Bid vendor, Reinders, Inc. He stated that there was only one bid
for the one ton dump truck chassis from Shepard Chevrolet and one bid for the one ton
dump truck body from Lindco Equipment Company. Staff is recommending awarding the
bid to Shepard Chevrolet and Lindco Equipment Company for the replacement of the
one ton dump truck. He stated that there was only one bid from Shepard Chevrolet for the
¾ ton pickup truck. Staff is recommending awarding the bid to Shepard Chevrolet for the
replacement of the ¾ ton pickup truck. These items were reviewed at the Public Works
Committee meeting which was held prior to tonight’s Finance Committee meeting. Further
discussion and approval of the replacement of capital equipment will be conducted at
tonight’s City Council meeting.
3. Cell Phone Contract: Ms. Carina Walters, Assistant City Manager stated that since 2005, the
City has engaged Sprint/Nextel for its cellular service. She stated that the City’s current
cellular services’ contract expired in October 2010. Staff assembled a Cell Phone
Committee which created a Request for Proposal. The City received five proposals. The
committee reviewed all of the proposals and decided to interview Verizon Wireless and
Sprint/Nextel due to their coverage, price, and the push-to-talk and/or direct connect
capability. The committee decided to re-engage Sprint/Nextel. Further discussion and
approval of contract will be conducted at tonight’s City Council meeting.
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Minutes – April 18, 2011
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VII. Adjournment
There being no further business, Alderman Looby moved, seconded by Alderman Novit to
adjourn the meeting at 7:28 p.m. The motion carried unanimously by voice vote.
Respectfully submitted,
Louise Breckan
Assistant Finance Director