City Aiming To Improve 15-17-Minute Wait Time For 311 Calls; City IT Had Overlooked $500,000 Expense; Auditor Sewell Getting $8,000 Raise; Public Works Slashed

  • Tuesday, May 26, 2015

City officials said they are working to improve wait times averaging 15-17 minutes for citizens who call the city's 311 hotline.

City Chief Operating Officer Brent Goldberg said the city plans to hire a full-time bi-lingual employee, "who will serve our growing Hispanic population."

He said some temporary positions are being added to help man the phones.

The 311 budget is being increased 16.5 percent.

Mr. Goldberg said there formerly was a message that said the number "was currently receiving a high volume of calls," but he said that went away. He said steps are being taken to return that message so citizens can opt to call back later.

Also at city budget hearings before the City Council on Tuesday morning, Mr. Goldberg said the budget for the IT department is being significantly increased because last year it was under-funded by about $500,000.

He said that amount was left out of the budget for maintenance costs apparently during a transition between IT directors.

The IT budget is up 14 percent.

Mr. Goldberg said the budget for the internal auditor includes an $8,000 raise for Stan Sewell. He said that was recommended by the auditing committee and was backed up by a market study and other data.

Councilman Jerry Mitchell, who oversees the finance committee, asked, "Did the auditing committee put a glass in the middle of the table and contribute to that increase?"

But Council Chair Carol Berz said she felt the raise was "long overdue."

The budget includes $50,000 for the city attorney's office for the beginning of a study on a plan for retention of city documents. An outside firm is to be hired to come up with the plan.

The city debt service is up by $1.7 million - to pay toward $11 million owed the county schools due to the fact the schools for many years did not get their portion of the liquor tax.

Mr. Goldberg said the city contingency fund (rainy day fund) is below one percent, though he said it should be at least one percent.

The council was told that one way the budget was balanced and raises for employees assured was by making 11.18 percent in cuts to the public works department.

There were 18 positions frozen.

Cuts were made in street cleaning programs, though several council members said the appearance of the city needs to be spruced up.

Council Chair Berz said, "Trash affects children in the neighborhoods who live with it. It affects people who drive by and forth to the airport."

She said some city parks are looking "ratty" and said, "I don't want us to get like Atlanta. We can do better than that."

Mr. Goldberg said the city plans to hire someone who will be over park development and public spaces.

 

 

 

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