AGENDA FINANCE & Tuesday, June 5, 2007 8:30 a.m. Board Room County Administration Building 1) Public Comment 2) Consent Agenda All items listed under this item are considered to be routine by the Finance Committee and will be enacted by one motion. There will not be separate discussion of these items. If discussion is desired, that item will be removed from the Consent Agenda upon request of any Committee member and will be considered separately. a) Approval of the Minutes of May 15, 2007 b) Auditing of Checks and Purchase Order Activity c) Circuit Court / Family Division Budget Amendment 2007 Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Special Projects d) Community Corrections Authorization to Submit a Grant Application and Contract Approval Comprehensive Plan e) Prosecutor Submit Grant Application to Michigan Department of Human Services Cooperative Reimbursement Program f) Various Bid Award g) Various - CIP Expenditures 3) Facilities Management Revision to 82 Ionia Parking Ramp Fee Schedule 4) Fiscal Services Establishment of Voluntary Employees Benefit Association (VEBA) Trust 5) Fiscal Services Liquor Tax Intergovernmental Budget Amendment 6) Health Fee Change for Seasonal Food Licenses 7) Parks Wahlfield Park Land Acquisition Vogel Property 8) Miscellaneous 9) Adjournment The mission of Kent County government is to be an effective and efficient steward in delivering quality services for our diverse community. Our priority is to provide mandated services, which may be enhanced and supplemented by additional services to improve the quality of life for all our citizens within the constraints of sound fiscal policy.
DEPARTMENT: Circuit Court Family Division PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: Marvin Van Nortwick, Budget Manager Budget Amendment 2007 Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant Special Projects ED: Recommend to the Board of Commissioners to appropriate an additional $9,993 to the 2007 Juvenile Accountability Incentive Block Grant (JAIBG) FY 2007 budget in the Special Projects Fund. SUMMARY OF : The federal government has made funds available through the State for local governments to increase the accountability of juvenile offenders and the juvenile justice system. The program was started in 1999, and is now in its seventh year of operation. The JAIBG provides funding to the Family Division of the Circuit Court to support the Court-Community Policing Partnership. JAIBG funds will support a portion of the existing Juvenile Probation Officers to provide an accountability-based sanction program. Ninety percent of 2007 JAIBG funding comes from Federal grants; the remainder is from the County s General Fund and the City of Grand Rapids. The 2007 Budget was prepared using an estimated federal grant amount of $50,950; the Circuit Court has since received the annual allocation from the State in the amount of $59,944, an increase of $8,994. Requiring an additional $999 in local match, $622 from the County and $377 from the City of Grand Rapids; increasing the County s match to $4,245. Circuit Court has indicated the funds for the County s additional match are available in its 2007 budget. The Circuit Court is requesting that the $9,993 in additional funds be appropriated to its FY 2007 budget for future utilization, bringing the amended budget appropriation to $66,604. If grant funding ceases, the positions will be eliminated unless continuation funding is approved pursuant to the Fiscal Policy on Grants and Contracts. THIS RELATES TO AN ACTIVITY WHICH IS: MANDATED NON MANDATED AGREEMENT NEW ACTIVITY COST/FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: $9,993. Accept an additional $9,993 from the Michigan Department of Human Services; $377 from the City of Grand Rapids and transfer $622 from the Circuit Court s General Fund budget to the Special Projects Fund. No County General Funds are required.
DEPARTMENT: Prosecutor PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: Stephen Duarte, Deputy Director of Fiscal Services Submit Grant Application to Michigan Department of Human Services - Cooperative Reimbursement Program ED: Recommend to the Board of Commissioners to approve the Prosecutor s request to submit an application to the Michigan Department of Human Services for a FY 2008 Title IV-D Cooperative Reimbursement Grant; and to authorize the Board Chair to sign all grant documents. SUMMARY OF : The Michigan Department of Human Services provides funding to counties to operate a Cooperative Reimbursement Program designed to establish paternity as well as to secure and enforce support orders. The Prosecutor s Cooperative Reimbursement Program will continue with 19 full-time positions. In the event grant funding is eliminated or decreased, the positions will be eliminated unless continuation funding is approved pursuant to the Fiscal Policy on Grants. The grant period is October 1, 2007, to September 30, 2008. THIS RELATES TO AN ACTIVITY WHICH IS: MANDATED NON MANDATED AGREEMENT NEW ACTIVITY COST/FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: Total: $1,624,291; Grant Funds: $1,071,372; General Funds: $551,919; Program Income: $1,000. Apply for a $1,071,372 grant from the Michigan Department of Human Services.
DEPARTMENT: Facilities Management PREPARED BY: Bob Mihos, Facilities Management Director SUBJECT: Revision to 82 Ionia Parking Ramp Fee Schedule ED: Recommend to the Board of Commissioners to approve amendments to the 82 Ionia Parking Ramp fee schedule effective July 1, 2007. SUMMARY OF : On March 1, 2005, Kent County purchased the 82 Ionia building which included a two (2) level parking structure that has a total of 122 parking spaces. Approximately 65 parking spaces are leased on a monthly basis by local area businesses and residents. The leases and rates for these parking spaces were assumed by Kent County from the previous building owner, SIBSCO, LLC. Annual revenue received by the County for the 82 Ionia parking structure is approximately $90,000. The City of Grand Rapids Parking Services, which owns and manages local parking ramps, evaluates their parking rates annually and adjusts them on July 1 st every year. The following table indicates adjacent City of Grand Rapids Parking Services Parking Ramp rates: Pearl Ionia Ramp $135.75 current rate, per month July 1, 2007 rate: $139.00 Monroe-Ionia Ramp $123.75 current rate, per month July 1, 2007 rate: $126.75 Kent County current monthly rate for the 82 Ionia parking ramp is $117.00 Facilities Management recommends an 82 Ionia monthly parking rate of $120 per space effective July 1, 2007. THIS RELATES TO AN ACTIVITY WHICH IS: MANDATED NON MANDATED NECESSARY NEW ACTIVITY COST/FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: None/No funding is required. GOVERNING/ADVISORY BOARD APPROVAL DATE:
DEPARTMENT: Fiscal Services PREPARED BY: SUBJECT: Stephen Duarte, Deputy Director of Fiscal Services Establishment of Voluntary Employees Benefit Association (VEBA) Trust ED: Recommend to the Board of Commissioners to approve the establishment of a VEBA Trust for pre-funding retiree medical insurance coverage; to authorize the transfer of existing funds to the VEBA Trust; and to authorize the Board Chair to sign all trust documents. SUMMARY OF : Pursuant to various agreements with its employees, Kent County allows retirees to participate in its medical insurance coverage at specified rates and it assumes the liability for any premium in excess of the employee payment. The Governmental Accounting Standards Board (GASB), which sets financial reporting standards for government, has issued GASB Statements 43 and 45 to provide guidance in accounting for and funding of other post employment benefits (OPEB) other than pensions. Fiscal Services recommends that Kent County actuarially compute and pre-fund its OPEB liability that will allow for a higher rate of return on investments. The IRS allows governmental bodies to establish a Voluntary Employees Benefit Association trust to manage money set aside for employee benefits. A VEBA trust will facilitate compliance with the pre-funding standards of GASB Statement 45. The adoption of the VEBA trust agreement in conjunction with Public Act 149 will allow the Kent County to invest trust funds in the same manner as pension funds thereby helping to mitigate its cost of providing postretirement heath care. Under IRS rules, the VEBA Trust is governed by a written trust agreement and an independent board of directors that shall include the County Administrator/Controller, the Fiscal Services Director and the County Treasurer, along with two other County employees appointed by the Chair of the Board of Commissioners. Corporate Counsel has reviewed and approved the attached agreement. THIS RELATES TO AN ACTIVITY WHICH IS: MANDATED NON MANDATED AGREEMENT NEW ACTIVITY COST/FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: No new funding is required. Funds for the Annual Required Contribution are available in the 2007 benefit accounts.
DEPARTMENT: Fiscal Services PREPARED BY: Marvin Van Nortwick, Budget Manager SUBJECT: Liquor Tax - Intergovernmental Budget Amendment ED: Recommend to the Board of Commissioners to reduce the appropriation of $1,605,027 to the FY 2007 General Fund Intergovernmental budget. SUMMARY OF : In 1985, the Michigan Legislature passed a statewide 4% Liquor Excise Tax that distributed proceeds to qualified local governments. One-half of county distributions must be distributed to the county s designated substance abuse coordinating agency for substance abuse treatment within the taxing unit. The FY 2007 Budget, as adopted by the County Board of Commissioners, included a $3,210,054 revenue estimate from the State Liquor Tax distribution. The FY 2007 Budget also included an appropriation of 50% of its annual Liquor Tax receipts, or $1,605,027 for distribution to Network 180 who serves as the State-designated Coordinating Agency for Substance Abuse. The State of Michigan has since eliminated its FY 2007 Liquor Tax distribution to counties. To offset the loss of Liquor Tax revenue, County Administration recommends the elimination of the $1,605,027 distribution to Network 180 and the use of $1,605,027 in Unreserved/Undesignated General Fund reserves to replace the County share. THIS RELATES TO AN ACTIVITY WHICH IS: MANDATED NON MANDATED AGREEMENT NEW ACTIVITY COST/FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: Eliminate the $3,210,054 Liquor Tax revenue; and eliminate the $1,605,027 appropriation for distribution to Network 180 in the FY 2007 Intergovernmental budget in the General Fund. The current Unreserved/Undesignated General Fund balance is $12,192,225. Reduce expenditures in the General Fund by $3,210,054 (which includes $1,605,027 in existing appropriations to Network 180).
DEPARTMENT: Health PREPARED BY: Wayman Britt, Assistant County Administrator SUBJECT: Fee Change for Seasonal Food Licenses ED: Recommend to the Board of Commissioners to approve a change to the Health Department s fee schedule for Food License Fees for seasonal vendors. SUMMARY OF : Public Act 368 of 1978 (the Public Health Code), as amended, allows a local government to.fix and require the payment of fees for services authorized or required to be performed by the local health department with the fees not being more than the reasonable cost of providing the service. The Michigan Department of Agriculture requires that only one comprehensive inspection be performed for seasonal food vendors who operate for nine months or less during a year. Food vendors operating more than nine months are required to have two comprehensive inspections throughout the year. Due to the fact that seasonal food vendors only operate nine months or less during the year, the Health Department is requesting to reduce the $400 licensing fee by one half to $200 for seasonal vendors. The number of seasonal licenses issued is 116. The reduced $200 fee will result in the loss of food license revenue of $23,200. Food license fees were due to the Health Department by April 30, 2007. The Health Department is proposing to refund $200 to seasonal vendors affected by this license reduction within 30 days of approval by the Board of Commissioners. THIS RELATES TO AN ACTIVITY WHICH IS: MANDATED NON MANDATED RESOLUTION NEW ACTIVITY COST/FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: None/No funding is required to reduce the fee. COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR: DATE: May 30, 2007
DEPARTMENT: Parks PREPARED BY: Mary Swanson, Assistant County Administrator SUBJECT: Wahlfield Park Land Acquisition Vogel Property ED: Recommend to the Board to purchase property located at 1229 Eight Mile Road, NW, Comstock Park for $130,000. SUMMARY OF : This action is part of an ongoing process which began in 1999 to purchase land contiguous to Wahlfield Park. The parcel is bordered by Wahlfield Park on three sides. The Parks Department has been pursuing this particular purchase since 2001. The property has recently become available and is being sold by the estate. The land meets the criteria of the Kent County Parks Department Recreation and Natural Areas Master Plan. The purchase price for the property, which includes two acres and a residence, is supported by an appraisal. THIS RELATES TO AN ACTIVITY WHICH IS: MANDATED NON MANDATED DISCRETIONARY NEW ACTIVITY COST/FUNDING RECOMMENDATION: $130,000 plus closing costs estimated to be $1,200. Funds are available in the Parks Acquisition and Development Fund.