City OKs budget

By Ralph Pokorny

Nevada Daily Mail

"I'm proud to report the budget is completed," Nevada City Manager JD Kehrman told the city council before they voted 4-0 to give preliminary approval to the $14 million 2013 Municipal Budget. The council will hold the second reading of the budget ordinance during their Dec. 18 meeting.

The budget included $4.59 million for personnel cost, $5.31 million for supplies and services, $151,700 for capital outlays, $1.35 million for capital projects, $1.29 million for debt service and $1.35 for inter-fund transfers.

"I'm glad to see this before January. It's good to have it behind us," Mayor Brian Leonard said.

"It's good to break the status quo of 27 years of no sewer increase," Kehrman said.

In other business the council:

* Voted 4-0 to change the council meeting dates in January to Jan. 8 and 15 since the first Tuesday of the month falls on Jan. 1; and to give city employees Dec. 24 and Dec. 31 as paid holidays.

* Voted 4-0 to approve the purchase of replacement Aeries TR3101 CCTV sewer inspection camera for $8,500 from Burnup Equipment Co. Inc. The city did not solicit bids for the camera since Burnup is the only source for this camera. The current camera is nine years old and necessary repairs are estimated to be 52 percent of the cost of a new camera.

* Voted 4-0 to re-appointment Cathy Hissink to a second term on the Nevada Regional Medical Center board of directors.

* Voted 4-0 to postpone consideration of the 2013 street construction program until January pending additional information and discussion with the street committee and the airport board concerning paving the entrance road to the airport with transportation sales tax money.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance declaring a 1997 and 2003 Ford Crown Victorias, a 1988 Ford truck and a 1981 GMC truck as surplus property and are to be sold by sealed bids. After the second reading of the ordinance the vehicles will be advertised for about three weeks and the bids opened in mid-January.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance approving a contract for Troutt, Beeman & Co. P.C. to conduct the city's 2012 independent audit. The city contracted with Troutt, Beeman to conduct the audit in 2010 with the option of two additional years. The fee for this years service is $28,120, which is a 3 percent increase from 2011.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance releasing the Neighborhood Improvement District assessment against lot 1, block 7 of Barton's Meadow's addition since the $4,768.68 assessment against the property has been paid.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on second reading a special ordinance increasing the cost of taxi coupons for the elderly/disabled by 50 cents to $3.50 per coupon and coupons for the general public by 50 cents to $4.50 per coupon.

The increase will generate an additional $3,000. This increase will cover a cut of $3,000 in state and federal grants. Taxi coupon prices were last increased in 2009.

* Voted 4-0 to increase fees at five of the city's parks facilities.

About the water and sewer bill

The Nevada City Council OK'd three ordinances, on first reading, relating to city water and sewer billing, during a regular meeting, Tuesday. A second reading is required to fully enact the ordinances. The Council:

* Voted 4-0 to increase the sewer rate for the first 1,000 gallons from $7.15 to $10 and the rate for each additional 1,000 gallons from $3.76 to $4.70. This will raise the median sewer bill by $5.02 per month. This change in rates will increase the city's sewer revenue by about $71,000 per year.

* Voted 4-0 to increase the minimum water rate from $10.50 to $10.82 for the first 1,000 gallons of water and increase the rate for each additional 1,000 gallons from $6.18 to $6.37. This increase is needed to cover increases in operating costs and to establish the reserve funds needed to replace water lines and equipment. This will increase the median water bill by 76 cents per month. It will increase the city's total water revenue by about $55,000 per year.

* Voted 4-0 to pass on first reading a special ordinance repealing the minimum charge for large meters.