Should Batavia council pay $20,000 for planning retreat?

Batavia has been crying poor for months about its budget, saying that due to declines in revenues, all departments must tighten their belts.

Employees have had wages frozen and hours cut. Christmas decorations for the downtown were scaled way back. A fee has been instituted for brush and leaf pickup.

So why, cry anonymous online commenters, is the city spending $20,000 for a council retreat?

Actually, the retreat is not a done deal. The government services committee will resume talking about the proposal at 7 p.m. Tuesday at the Batavia Government Center, 100 N. Island Ave.

It first discussed the proposal to hire an outside firm, at a cost of up to $19,500, at its December meeting.

"It was quite a lengthy topic of talk at the meeting, because we have been belt-tightening," said Alderman Linnea Miller, chairman of the committee. "The figure was startling to most of us -- actually, all of us.

"We talked and talked and talked about how to cut that figure," she said, including suggesting looking for another facilitator. Administrative staff has contacted the Center for Governmental Studies at Northern Illinois University about services it offers, but did not have a proposal yet.

The retreat contract would include interviews ahead of time with the mayor and 14 aldermen; a three-hour Friday-evening session over dinner; an eight-hour session in a room donated by the Batavia school district; preparation of a report, based on what is determined in the sessions; and a follow-up meeting six months later to determine how the council is progressing on its plans.

The proposed contract would be with Sikich LLP, an Aurora accounting and advising firm. Things to be done include "Educate about the current community, organization, and governance process;" "Reflect on citywide opportunities and challenges;" "Reach consensus on priorities and desirable future directions;" and "document specific action plans to instruct staff and guide follow-through."

The last retreat was conducted in 2007. Nine new aldermen have been elected since then.

"We may think we just can't spend the money now," Miller said. "Is this the right time for it?"

She does think a retreat could be valuable especially because of the economic crunch. She expects making the 2011 budget will be even more difficult than the 2010 budget, as the assessed property value in town may decrease, sales tax may not increase or even continue to decrease, and permit fee revenue may remain stagnant. The council has guaranteed no layoffs of employees through 2010, but hasn't ruled out layoffs in 2011.

She also thinks having an outside facilitator may make for a better retreat than trying to do it in-house, because an outsider won't have some of the unintentional preconceptions and biases that could color the discussions.

"We really want to make this worth everybody's time," Miller said, saying she is leaning toward having an outside facilitator or not having a retreat at all.

"I don't know how it will turn out."