(Photo from The Cortland Voice's photo files).
Here is the agenda for Tuesday’s (December 19th, 2023) Cortland Common Council meeting. The meeting will take place at City Hall (25 Cortland Street, Cortland NY 13045) at 6pm. According to the City of Cortland website, the meeting will also be live streamed Via Zoom video.
Here is the Zoom Meeting ID: 923 566 4700
Agenda
Public Hearings
Public Hearing #1 - Proposed 2024 City Budget as Filed by the Common Council
Proclamations
Proclamation #1 - In Recognition of Vince Manilla’s Years of Service to the Fire Department
Call to Order
- Roll Call
- Salute to the Flag
- Moment of silence/reflection
- Privilege of the floor
- Mayor’s report
- Ward Reports
- Approval of Minutes
Supporting Documents
Resolutions
Agenda Item #1 - Adopt the 2024 City of Cortland Operating Budget and Adopt the Tax Rates for 2024
WHEREAS, in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-6 of the City Charter the Mayor submitted to Common Council on October 15, 2023, the 2024 tentative City budget; AND
WHEREAS, in accordance with Article XXI Section C21-8 of the City Charter, the Common Council adopted the 2024 proposed City budget on October 31, 2023 after holding three budget review meetings on October 19, 24 and 31, respectively; AND
WHEREAS, in accordance with the City Charter a budget public hearing and tax cap override budget hearing were held on December 5, 2023 and a second budget public hearing is scheduled for December 19, 2023; AND
WHEREAS, submitted with the December 19, 2023 agenda packet is a summary of technical adjustments made to the 2024 Proposed City Budget that resulted in no net change to the total of the budget; AND
WHEREAS, it is recommended that the 2024 General Fund Budget be approved for a total of $27,593,567, supported by a tax rate of 18.5461 per $1,000 of assessed value; AND
WHEREAS, it is recommended that the 2024 Water Fund Budget be approved for a total of $2,323,374, supported by the current rates and fees; AND
WHEREAS, it is recommended that the 2024 Wastewater Fund Budget be approved for a total of $4,430,811, supported by a rate increase from $3.75 to $3.93 per unit or a new minimum charge of $39.30; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the 2024 General Fund Budget is approved in the amount of $27,593,567 and Common Council adopts a tax rate of $18.5461 per $1,000 of assessed value; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, the Water Fund Budget is approved in the amount of $2,323,374 and the Wastewater Fund Budget is approved in the amount of $4,430,811, and revenues shall be appropriated, and expenditures budgeted on a fund and department as presented in the budget document; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, the Common Council authorize the following new positions be created or amended as presented during the budget development process and summarized in the table below:
AND BE IT FURTHER; RESOLVED, that the 2024 Budget includes the a partial year of Occupancy Tax estimates and staff are directed to file a home rule request with New York State to allow the City of Cortland to impose by local law, a tax on hotel and motel occupancy of up to 1% of the charge; AND
RESOLVED, that the Common Council authorizes a two percent salary increase for all full-time permanent employees not represented by a union and employed as of the December 19, 2023; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that Common Council authorize the appropriation of fund balance for carryover encumbrances approved in the 2023 budget; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that all outstanding encumbrances as of December 31, 2023, are reviewed and hereby reappropriated to the FY 2024 budget, to the same department or account, if funding is available, for the same purposed which they were encumbered in 2023, after review and approval by the Mayor or his designee; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that all unencumbered appropriations lapse for budget items other than multi-year capital projects and grants already approved and appropriated by City Council; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Mayor, or designee, may approve necessary accounting transfers between departments, projects, and funds to enable the proper accounting and budgetary adjustments for year-end close and encumbrance carryover transactions; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that City Department Directors are responsible for the appropriations authorized for assigned departments in the FY 2024 Budget and may expend up to, but shall not exceed, the total appropriated authorized for the assigned department; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that the Common Council hereby authorizes the systematic transfer of funds in accordance with the 2024 Adopted Budget, and as amended from time to time, through budget transfers and/or amendments for benefit charges, debt service payments, and inter-department billings to reimburse for services provided; AND BE IT FURTHER
RESOLVED, that pursuant to Article XXI Section C21-12 of the City Charter, four copies of the 2024 Adopted City Budget shall be certified by the City Clerk with one such copy to be filed in the Office of the Mayor and one each in the offices of the Director of Administration & Finance, City Clerk and one placed in the Cortland Free Library, and available electronically on the City’s website.
Agenda Item #2 - Adopt Capitalization Policy
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland currently does not have a capital assets or capitalization policy outlining thresholds for items based on total value and life of the asset; AND
WHEREAS, in the 2022 Financial Audit, the external auditors provided a management comment recommending a capitalization policy be created to ensure that all assets were being recorded consistently; AND
WHEREAS, staff prepared a capitalization policy with thresholds similar to other local governments and universities; AND
WHEREAS, the policy defines the thresholds for capitalization of assets and establishes the method of depreciation as straight-line based on the life of the asset; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby adopt the policy titled City of Cortland Capitalization Policy on December 19, 2023.
Agenda Item #3 - Adopt Investment Policy
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland currently has a large financial policies guide that contains a variety of financial policies which records indicate were last amended in March 2021; AND
WHEREAS, the City seeks to participate in low-risk investments through state-run organizations such as the New York Cooperative Liquid Assets Securities System (NYCLASS) investment pool; AND
WHEREAS, the City initiated a review of cash assets through a third-party vendorincluding a review of the current investment policy and recommendations to improve and bring the policy up to date; AND
WHEREAS, upon that review the current policy lacked some of the opportunities that New York State Law currently allows for low-risk investments for local governments; AND
WHEREAS, this policy establishes, in accordance with New York State General Municipal Law, available options for the City to invest in low-risk funds to generate additional investment earnings; AND
WHEREAS, the policy delegates authority to the Mayor to invest funds and the Director of Administration & Finance to be responsible for establishing internal controls and any required and requested reporting; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT
RESOLVED, that the City of Cortland Common Council does hereby adopt the policy titled City of Cortland Investment Policy on December 19, 2023.
Agenda Item #4 - Authorize School Resource Officer Memorandum of Understanding with the Cortland Enlarged City School District
WHEREAS, the Cortland City Police Department has had a full-time uniformed police officer in the position of School Resource Officer in the Cortland City School District since 2007, based upon an annual Memorandum of Understanding identifying the duties of the position and the cost sharing between the two entities and financial sharing for the position of the two entities; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland and the Cortland Enlarged City School District have seen the value of maintaining this position as a positive impact upon the students, faculty and families who enter school grounds; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland and the Cortland Enlarged City School District having previously entered into a Memorandum of Understanding relative to a part-time School Resource Officer upon receiving Council approval on February 1, 2022 to do the same; AND
WHEREAS, the above-mentioned Council approved Memorandum of Understanding has since expired; AND
WHEREAS, the City of Cortland and the Cortland Enlarged City School District are desirous of maintaining this position moving forward; AND
WHEREAS, the Cortland Enlarged City School District continues to be willing to absorb the total cost of a parttime School Resource Officer, alleviating the financial obligation of the Cortland City Police Department for this position; NOW, THEREFORE, BE IT,
RESOLVED, that the Common Council does hereby authorize the City of Cortland to enter into a new Memorandum of Understanding with the Cortland Enlarged City School District to maintain a part-time School Resource Officer position for a two-year period that shall commence on January 1, 2024 and expire on December 31, 2025.
