New Kids on the Budget Chopping Block

It’s only $72,000 out of a $30-something million operating budget. That’s on the cost side of the budget equation. On the revenue side some worry that a big chunk of $14-or-s0 million in federal grants and appropriations might be at stake.

But the new DeKalb City Council made a big first impression. The newbies, newly elected David Jacobsen (1st Ward), Kristen Lash (3rd Ward), Monica O’Leary (7th Ward), and first term alderman Brendon Gallagher (4th Ward), voted to remove the funding for FY12 to pay for the lobbying services of the Patty Daley Group. Aldermen Tom Teresinski (2nd Ward), Ron Naylor (5th Ward),  and Dave Baker (6th Ward) voted against the measure.

“This is the most disappointing and shortsighted vote we’ve made in my 15 years here,” said Mayor Kris Povlsen, after the vote was tallied.

The $72,000 comes from the city’s economic development fund (supported by the city’s hotel/motel taxes). Fund 46 also pays for the DeKalb Area Convention and Visitor’s Bureau ($50,000) and the DeKalb County Economic Development Corporation ($45,000).

Hopkins Solutions, LLC, also provides economic development services and is paid ($75,600) from the general fund under the Planning and Economic Development Program in the Public Works department.

The Daley Policy Group has been retained by the City since 1994 to provide lobbying and grant writing assistance to secure federal dollars for street, water, and airport capital projects and programs. The Daley Policy Group has been successful in securing over $40 million dollars in funds that have been used for DeKalb’s  projects, according to staff reports. For FY12 about $14 million in federal money is sought.

Each of the three new aldermen had pointed to the Daley Group expenditure as a target for budget cutting at the various candidate forums during their campaign. Why the staff put the item up for action as the starting point of the proposed budget is puzzling.

Kristen Lash was the most outspoken candidate on the subject of the Daley Group. She brought copies of reports filed by the Daley Group to the political forums to illustrate what she perceived to be a lack of information provided. She pointed to President Obama’s tough talk against earmarks to question the effectiveness of a paid lobbyist.

Staff asked the new council for direction on whether to include funding for the Daley Group’s services in the FY12 budget. Lash took action to keep a campaign promise and made a motion to not fund the services. Jacobson immediately seconded the motion.  The funding was rejected. What else did they expect?

Even though council’s action removed the funding from the budget, staff is expected to try to reinstate it to the budget. It could be rehashed when the Daley Group’s contract expires. A source who asked to remain anonymous reported that immediately after the meeting was adjourned Povlsen and Naylor discussed the need to reconsider the vote.

From the City of DeKalb Municipal Code, Chapter 2

1. A vote or question may be reconsidered at any time during the same meeting, or at the first Regular Meeting held thereafter. A motion for reconsideration, once having been made and decided in the negative, shall not be renewed, nor shall a motion to reconsider be reconsidered. No motion to reconsider the approval or denial of the recommendation of an advisory body required to hold public hearings shall be entertained except at the same meeting at which the original action was taken or after the matter has been referred to the advisory body for a further hearing and recommendation.
2. A motion to reconsider must be made by a member who voted on the prevailing side of the question to be reconsidered, unless otherwise provided by law. Any member may second the motion.

There’s nothing in the municipal code for preventing the City from looking bad in the way it conducts its business.

Bonus Reading…

City of DeKalb Municipal Code

3.15 DEPARTMENT OF PLANNING AND ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT.

a) There is hereby created the Department of Planning and Economic Development for the City of DeKalb. This Department shall consist of the Director of Community Development and such other officers and employees as may be provided by the City Council. (10-38)

b) Director of Planning and Economic Development. There is hereby created the Office of the Director of Planning and Economic Development who shall be appointed and removed at the discretion of the City Manager. The Director shall have control and supervision over all officers and employees assigned to the Department subject to the control of the City Manager. (10-38)

c) Duties. The Director of Planning and Economic Development shall devote his/her entire time to the duties of the City at all reasonable hours and in particular shall: (10-38)

1. Exercise general supervisory responsibility for the enforcement of adopted developmental regulations, including, but not limited to: zoning, subdivision and planning regulations of the City of DeKalb.
2. Provide for and maintain a Comprehensive Plan and a Unified Development Ordinance for the City of DeKalb. (05-06)
3. Coordinate the current and long-term planning activities for the City of DeKalb.
4. Attend, or provide for a designee to attend, all regular and special meetings of the Plan Commission and any other boards or commissions as may be assigned by the City Manager, providing staff assistance to all such boards and commissions.
5. Provide for programs, activities and services to facilitate neighborhood improvement or preservation, address housing needs and facilitate orderly community growth and development.
6. Manage the activities of the department in a manner consistent with established policies and procedures pursuant to the direction of the City Manager.
7. Prepare an annual budget for submission to the City Manager; prepare an annual report for submission to the City Manager; and prepare any other studies or reports as may be required by the City Manager.
8. Perform other duties and responsibilities as may be required by the City Manager.
9. Whenever, throughout this Municipal Code, the title of Chief Planning Official or City Planner is used, such title shall mean the Director of Planning and Economic Development or his/her designee. (10-38)
10. Whenever, throughout this Municipal Code, the titles of any authorized Planning and Economic Development Department official are used, such titles may mean the Director of Planning and Economic Development or his/her designee. (88-92, 05-76, 10-38)