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HomeMy WebLinkAboutweekly newsletter Date: October 26, 2012 To: Mayor & City Council From: Mark A. Rohloff, City Manager WEEKLY NEWSLETTER Subject: LEAF COLLECTION UPDATE 1.: As a follow-up to discussion at Thursday evening’s Budget Work Session, I wanted to advise the Council that I’ve been contacted by Representative Hintz and Senator King regarding the city’s suspension of using our vacuum leaf collector systems. Additionally, Neenah Mayor George Scherck and I discussed the issue as well, and he has brought the issue to the attention of Senator Mike Ellis in his district. Although I have not been contacted by the Transportation Secretary’s office, we are hopeful that our local legislators will be able to assist us in this effort. Meanwhile, we are extending the hours of our green waste drop-off site until this issue is behind us. I am copying the Council with a hard copy of my letter to Secretary Gottlieb, as well as the press release regarding the revised leaf collection schedule. If you have any questions regarding this issue, please contact Public Works Director Patek. TAX LEVY CAPACITY 2.: As was discussed at Thursday evening’s Budget Workshop, there are various interpretations circulating around the state regarding the levy limits in place as a result of Acts 10 and 32. For Council’s information, Finance Director Steeno has provided us with a summary of tax levy increases that we are aware of throughout the state. As you can see, the increases, for the most part, are quite modest. In fact, if you factor back the levy that we lost for transfer of the Health Department, our levy increase would be approximately 0.5%. With these various interpretations going around, other communities are also considering what possible increases they may be able to look for in this new interpretation. For your information, please be aware that $34,200 is generated for each penny in the property tax bill. Finance Director Steeno is reviewing the different interpretations of the levy limit formula to determine what options may be available to Council as you finish your budget review. Once we have this information, we will forward it to Council immediately. FAIR SHARE COALTION 3.: As a follow-up to the presentation by Ed Huck at Tuesday’s Council Meeting, please find enclosed a draft resolution in support of a Constitutional amendment, asking for one-half of gas tax dollars to be returned to local governments. As I’ve previously indicated, I generally have a concern about recommending a legislative solution with a Constitutional amendment. However, there are other local governments that are taking this recommendation under advisement. Please review this resolution and please advise me if you have any thoughts about placing this on an Agenda for Council discussion and/or action. We can always consider an alternative to only recommending this change legislatively rather than through the Constitutional amendment process. Please contact me if you have any questions regarding this matter. Weekly Newsletter October 26, 2012 Page 2 DEPARTMENTAL REPORTS & UPDATES 4.: Other items I’m enclosing with today’s Newsletter include a press release regarding the automated garbage collection, which begins on Monday. Insofar as minutes are concerned, I’m enclosing the following: The minutes of the ndth October 2 Plan Commission meeting; the minutes of the October 17 Transit Advisory Board th meeting; the minutes of the September 24 Housing Authority meeting; and the minutes of the th September 27 Bicycle & Pedestrian Advisory Committee meeting. The last item I’m enclosing is the fall edition of the Crime Reporter. th UPCOMING MEETINGS 5.: Meetings I have scheduled for the week of October 29 include the th following: On Monday, October 29, I will be attending the annual Chamber banquet at 5:00 p.m. I am aware that other Council Members are attending, so we will be noticing this as a public st meeting. On Thursday, November 1, at 7:30 a.m., I’ll be attending the Storm Water Utility Committee meeting. At 12:00 noon on Thursday, I will be making a presentation to Tempo Fox Valley, a women’s executive professional group. I will be discussing the city’s recently adopted nd Strategic Plan. On Friday, November 2, at 9:00 a.m., I will be attending the Community Relations Board meeting. For the balance of the week, I will be meeting with Department Heads th regarding their capital improvement plans in anticipation of the November 5 Work Session. If you have any questions regarding my schedule, please do not hesitate to contact me. MAR/jdc Enclosures