PRESENT: Chairman Barr, Ald. Rackow, Phillips, Nealis, and Pazdernik

ALSO PRESENT: Mayor Wescott; Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice; City Attorney Molepske; Clerk Zdroik; Admin. Asst. Marciniak; Directors Van Alstine, Gardner; Schrader; Assessor Kuehn; Administrator Disher; Capt. Daubert; Ald. Walther; Kedrowski, Sevenich, Molski, Seiser; Finance Clerk Freeberg; Susan Kampmeier (Stevens Point Journal); Gene Kemmeter (Portage County Gazette); Dave Sowieja; Jim Clark; Shirley Suplicki; Betty L. Moss; Carol Moore; Jeanette Perkins; Sally Overholt; Jacqueline Elliott; Marcie Wilkes; Bob Ritter; Reid Rocheleau

ITEM #1 - ASSESSOR’S REPORT

Motion made by Ald. Nealis, seconded by Ald. Phillips to accept the report of the Assessor and place it on file.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #2 - LINCOLN CENTER EXPANSION

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated this went to the Plan Commission last week and they are recommending expansion on the current site with future review of final plans. He recommended that a cap be set on the project, just as the County did, at 1.5 million. He also stated that we may need to consider authorizing the committee, once it is formed and appointed by the Mayor, to hire an architect and start things going. That would also be funded at the 50/50 split. He stated that Director Gardner stated that would cost about $25,000.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Chairman Barr to approve the resolution to fund the Lincoln Center Expansion project using a 50/50 split with Portage County and authorizing the committee to hire an architect.

Ald. Rackow made many comments in support of the motion.

Ald. Phillips stated that he felt that the 50/50 split with Portage County was not fair due to the City taxpayers already paying 1/3 of the County levy. He stated he sent out a letter explaining his view and diagramming it. He stated that 24,000 people live in the City and the rest, about 64,000-65,000, live outside the City, so about 1/3 live in the City. It is a County program and they are the ones that appropriate the money for the program. City taxpayers are paying 1/3 of that already. He stated that using a 50/50 split, the City taxpayers are paying twice as much as the County taxpayers. He would like to see this 50/50 split changed. It was done a number of years back and needs to be readjusted because it is unfair to the City taxpayers. He stated it is too bad the Lincoln Center had to be what came up this time because he realizes that it is a sensitive issue, but it is not fair and as an Alderman elected by the residents of Stevens Point, he is given a responsibility to see that tax dollars are spent wisely. He stated that he wished the County would have came forward with a negotiation team to arrive at this rather than putting up the building first and then telling us that we are going to have to spend this much money.

Chairman Barr asked if the Mayor has had a lot of conversation in regards to this matter.

Mayor Wescott replied that he has met with the County Chairman, Janet Zander, and Supervisors Stevens and Clark, and the funding proposal of 50/50 was something that went to the Joint City/County committee and was part of the vote that came out of that.

Ald. Pazdernik stated that he agreed that the Lincoln Center needs expansion, but he agreed with Ald. Phillips that the 50/50 split is not fair to the City residents.

Ald. Phillips stated that using a 50/50 split consisting of 1.5 million being the County share and 1.5 million being the City share, it is not an accurate 50/50 split because the City is already paying 1/3 of the County’s 1.5 million, so the City is paying 1.5 million plus 1/3 of the County’s share. He suggested taking the 3 million and have the County share be $2,250,000 and the City share being $750,000 because when you take 1/3 of the $2,250,000 that the City would be paying anyway, the City would still be paying the 1.5 million total. (1/3 of $2,250,000 = $750,000 + $750,000 City share = $1.5 million taxpayer contribution) Another option he suggested would be a 60/40 split, but he noted that using this formula the City would still be contributing more than the County by $600,000.

Chairman Barr agreed with Ald. Phillips concept and arithmetic but he stated that he disagreed with Ald. Phillips because how the County is funded cannot be changed. The problem is for the State legislature to change how the County receives funds.

Ald. Phillips stated it can be changed here, they are asking for money and we just tell them that we will give you this amount of money.

Chairman Barr stated that as long as we are the size we are and the County is the size it is, we are going to fund 33% of County projects.

Ald. Phillips stated that we do and he is not objecting to that. We will always pay our 33% that is required, but then we should not have to fund half of their other projects because we are already contributing. He stated that Portage County took over the Ambulance Service, which is great, but where do they get 33% of their money from. He also stated that a survey was done on the Parks and it was found that 70% of the people who use Bukolt Park boat landings are from outside the City. He questioned how much money we get from the County for that or for anything in the City. He stated that he represents the taxpayers in his ward and it is his job, his responsibility, to watch out for their dollars and this is one way to do it.

Ald. Nealis stated that the senior politicians need to do something about double taxation and they are not. The issue belongs in the State legislature but until they do something about it, it is not fair but there is nothing we can do about it.

Motion amended by Ald. Pazdernik, seconded by Ald. Phillips to approve the funding of the Lincoln Center expansion using a 75/25 split.

Ald. Phillips stated that the reason he seconded the motion is because if the County contributes $1.5 million and we contribute $750,000 that makes it $2,250,000 which can still be a very nice addition to that complex. They will have to make some cuts and maybe streamline it a little bit and those dollars could be met.

Janet Zander, Department of Aging Director, stated that the negotiations between the County and City have taken place using recent figures. Her second comment was that it is wonderful for them to be working in a County where the County and City relationship is this strong because the County does not always operate the senior centers, in some places it is the City that operates all the senior centers. You cannot look at a building without looking at what it costs to operate the building. There are several elderly housing units in the City and they have taken a look at the users of the building and the fact is that it is more accessible to people who live in the City. There is the advantage of the Transit system and the taxi service, which are not offered on the same level of service throughout the rest of the County. She believes that it has been negotiated in good faith and that it has been a cooperative effort all along and that they do their best to serve the whole County, but the fact is that they are just able to do a better job here in the City. It is because we have such strong County and City support that we have a model program in the State and we do not want to lose that. It would be very short sighted of us to look at scaling back a building that has now been determined will meet our needs for ten years. The elderly population is growing very fast and we need to give serious thought to continuing the project the way it has been presented.

Marcie Wilkes, 3233 Yvonne Drive, representing the Advisory Board thanked the Board and stated how pleased they are that the Lincoln Center will stay where it is. She stated that she wanted to remind everyone of the social activities that take place and how it is a proven fact that they increase fulfillment for the senior. She stated she had a petition indicating the value of the Lincoln Center to the people who use it and hope that the City continues to support the expansion of the Lincoln Center because they do need more room.
Sally Overholt, 417 Mary Ann Avenue, stated she felt that the City residents benefit more from the Lincoln Center because it is in the City. She uses it more because she is a City resident.

Ald. Seiser stated there is a lot of people on fixed incomes and since there will be other building issues coming before us in the next couple of years, the cost needs to be taken into account.

Jacqueline Elliott, 3243 Yvonne Drive, stated that she moved to Stevens Point because of the Lincoln Center and she believes that other people will move here for the same reason.

Ald. Walther stated that he has looked at the numbers, looked at what is needed to improve the Lincoln Center, and has also toured the Lincoln Center. The numbers and the need cannot be disputed because there is a need and he is glad to see a plan that looks to the future, but he agreed with Ald. Phillips. He stated he is not comfortable with how the funding is set up. The plan and the expansion are needed and there are a lot of people out there who use it and need it, but he does have some reservations in regards to the figures.

Ald. Pazdernik stated that he is fully in support of the expansion but cannot ask the City taxpayer to pay anymore than they already are.

Ald. Nealis questioned what would happen if the item fails.

Mayor Wescott replied that they would have to start all over again and waste a couple years of work.

Ald. Phillips stated that he does not want it to fail, he wants the ratio to be different.

Janet Zander stated that Plover and some of the other municipalities in Portage County do contribute. In Plover, they use the Municipal Center for their meal site and other activities and they do not charge them rent. So there are other contributions from other municipalities above and beyond the County tax levy issues.

Ayes: Ald. Phillips and Pazdernik Nays: Chairman Barr, Nealis, and Rackow
Motion defeated.

Motion amended by Ald. Phillips, seconded by Ald. Pazdernik to approve the funding of the Lincoln Center expansion using a 66/34 split.

Ayes: Ald. Phillips and Pazdernik Nays: Chairman Barr, Nealis, and Rackow
Motion defeated.

Vote on original motion.

Ayes: Chairman Barr, Ald. Rackow, and Nealis Nays: Ald. Phillips and Pazdernik
Motion carried.

ITEM #3 - 4TH QUARTER ROOM TAX REPORT

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated that Major Projects is in the black and all other areas are tracking as scheduled.

Motion made by Ald. Phillips, seconded by Ald. Rackow to accept the 4th quarter room tax report and place it on file.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #4 - CONSIDERATION OF CLAIMS- BEVERLY SCHULTZ AND JOHN PLISKA

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice explained that both claims have been denied by Sentry Insurance and they recommend the City deny the claims. He also stated that Mr. Pliska is deceased but it needs to go through for estate purposes.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Pazdernik to deny the claim for Beverly Schultz.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Ald. Phillips to deny the claim for John Pliska.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #5 - IMPLEMENTATION OF GASB 34

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice explained that this will be one of the things that we will be required to do to modify our financial reporting and if we don’t it will be listed in all our audit reports that we are not in compliance and that could negatively impact us in the future. We are not required to get into it fully until 2003 but he is requesting it be done now because a major portion of the work that needs to be done is to inventory and price out our infrastructure, consisting of roads, curbs, sewer, etc. and Director Van Alstine has been here through all of the items that have to be inventoried and he would like it done before he retires in 2003. The actual changing of financial statements will be done with our audit team. It will cost less doing it now.

Chairman Barr commented that we are looking to authorize $7,800 and $10,400.

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated yes, over a couple of years.

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Chairman Barr to approve the implementation of GASB 34 in the amount of $7,800 to $10,400.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.


ITEM #6 - RESCIND PERSONAL PROPERTY TAX FOR PRODUCTION CREDIT ASSOCIATION

Comptroller-Treasurer Schlice stated occasionally these things happen and we do not have a choice in the matter.

Motion made by Ald. Nealis, seconded by Ald. Rackow to rescind the personal property tax bill for Production Credit Association.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #7 - APPROVAL OF PAYMENT OF CLAIMS

Motion made by Ald. Nealis, seconded by Ald. Phillips to approve the payment of claims in the amount of $295,809.08.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

ITEM #8 - ADJOURN INTO CLOSED SESSION PURSUANT TO WISCONSIN STATE STATUTE 19.85 (1)(E) FOR THE PURPOSE OF NEGOTIATING THE PURCHASE OF PROPERTY (APPROXIMATELY 10 MINUTES)

Motion made by Ald. Rackow, seconded by Chairman Barr to adjourn into closed session at
8:12 p.m.

Ayes: All Nays: None Motion carried.

Note: The Finance Committee decided that there was no necessary action needed so the Committee did not reconvene into open session.

Adjournment from closed session at 8:26 p.m.

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