CITY COUNCIL AGENDA ITEM
ACTION REQUESTED:
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Receive the report on current City goals and priorities in preparation for the 2019 budget process
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DEPARTMENT: Finance Department
SUBMITTED BY: Rachel Mayer, Finance Director
BOARD/COMMISSION REVIEW:
N/A
BACKGROUND:
Throughout the past three meetings, staff has engaged Council in a policy discussion with the goal of bringing forward a 2019 budget that meets Council’s priorities. On September 18, staff was asked to provide a list of current priorities and goals as well as capital projects slated for 2019. The purpose of this report is to provide these goals, a list of significant additional projects the City will be undertaking in the near future, and an overview of initial proposed 2019 capital projects.
DISCUSSION:
City Goals
The City Council approved the City’s 10 goals in June 2018. The goals are as follows:
Financial Stability - Naperville will be financially stable and maintain a AAA bond rating.
1. In order to provide services that ensure a high quality of life for our residents through fiscal management and financial stability, the City will actively seek to reduce its debt by 25% in the next eight years.
2. In order to provide services that ensure a high quality of life for our residents through fiscal management and financial stability, the City will actively seek to increase its reserves to 25% in the next eight years.
Public Safety- Naperville will deliver highly responsive emergency services to provide for a safe community.
1. In order to maintain response times and reduce ongoing costs of service delivery, the City will evaluate fire station coverage areas and potential consolidation in 2018.
2. In order to reduce recidivism among the mental health community, the Police Department will certify 20 percent of officers and designated staff in Crisis Intervention Training (CIT) and the Fire Department will provide basic CIT to 90 percent of all members by 2019.
3. In order to reduce recidivism among the mental health community, the CIT will provide follow-up care to at least 75 percent of identified individuals within 30 days.
High Performing Government - Naperville will provide reliable, efficient and high-quality services.
1. In order to increase customer convenience, the City will provide or enhance the following online services by the end of 2019:
• Electronic payment options
• Building permits/inspections
• Service requests
• Registrations/licenses
2. In order to increase citizen engagement and transparency, the City will increase the number of datasets released to the open data portal by 15 datasets annually.
3. In order to maximize the value of the City’s existing investment in communications infrastructure, the City will establish strategic policies for the use, potential lease, trade and sale of fiber assets.
Economic Development - Naperville will be the location of choice for businesses.
1. In order to improve the vibrancy and increase retail sales tax, the City will actively seek to fill vacant spaces at Ogden Mall, Iroquois, Mall and the northwest corner of Ogden Avenue and Naper Boulevard.
2. In order to improve the vibrancy and increase retail sales tax, the City will increase overall occupancies at Riverbrook Plaza and Wheatland Crossings by 10 percent over the next three years.
Additional Initiatives
Along with the aforementioned 10 goals, the City is or will be working on the below major initiatives within the next two years. While not directly related to the stated City goals, each of these projects has a significant impact on improving our community and services and will require considerable dedicated staff resources to ensure successful completion.
1. 5th Avenue redevelopment
2. Water meter reading improvements
3. Computer Aided Dispatch /Records Management System CAD/RMS upgrade/replacement
4. Next Generation 911 (mandated by State of Illinois)
5. Litigations
6. Naper Settlement agreement
7. Administrative hearing implementation
2019 Capital Projects
Naperville’s Capital Improvement Program (CIP) outlines the City’s plan to maintain existing assets and provide a long-term financial plan for the City’s infrastructure. The CIP correlates strongly with the City’s financial principles, specifically principle #3 that addresses debt issuance. The current 2019 Capital Improvement Program (CIP) includes 102 projects with a total value of $69.25 million.
To address Council’s request for a list of the initial proposed 2019 capital projects, staff is providing two attachments that outline projects that currently have a dedicated funding source, as well as those without. Those projects without a dedicated revenue source most significantly impact the City’s debt reduction goal, as these projects may be funded through home rule sales tax, property taxes or debt issuance.
Overall, $14 million of home rule sales tax revenue supports the City’s capital program; to stay within the parameters set by the third financial principle, the City imposes an annual cap of $7.25 million on borrowing.
Next Steps
Staff will utilize the feedback received during the policy discussions to prepare and bring forth the 2019 budget. The budget will be released on Friday, October 19 in advance of the first budget workshop on Monday, October 29.
FISCAL IMPACT:
Based upon these discussions, staff will develop and present a budget that reflects the financial and service level priorities of City Council