HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCWkspMin_07Aug22Workshop of the Falcon Heights City Council
August 22, 2007
Members present: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Harris, Kuettel, Lindstrom, and Talbot, Administrator Miller, Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser, Finance Director Olson,
and Finance Intern Yard. Chuck Long, 1717 Albert St., was also present.
Mayor Gehrz began the workshop at 7:10 p.m. She started by asked Council member Talbot, who had to leave early, if he had any issues which to discuss. Talbot responded he was an advocate
of maintaining the health insurance benefit for employees.
Administrator Miller then went through the budget memo with the council, outlining the areas with impact on the levy. Among the drivers: forecasted health insurance increases of 11%,
PERA increases shared by the employee and employer, cost of living adjustment of 3%, and a public safety increase of 4.5% which was built into the SAPD contract.
Council member Kuettel asked about an increase to the fire contract, and Administrator Miller replied he would research this.
Miller stated some good news was a higher LGA amount for 2008, about an $85,000 increase over 2007.
Council member Kuettel asked if there was a way to recoup costs associated to additional law enforcement with the I-35W bridge closure. Miller replied that some money for traffic mitigation
was allocated, however he wasn’t certain the city could get money for increased calls, but he would identify the number of increased calls. Mayor Gehrz and Council member Lindstrom
asked if we could find out what the impact on SAPD has been.
Mayor Gehrz said that with a traffic increase on 280, we may well expect to see more calls to 280 for the fire department. She thought an increase in the fire call revenue was warranted.
The next item spoken about was conduit bonding. Miller explained the city was not planning on conduit bonding for 2008, and the city should be uncomfortable relying on it as revenue
when it’s not certain. Mayor Gehrz asked where the money would go if the city does get it. Miller replied it would go to the infrastructure fund, into reserves, which have been depleted
in the last several years when the council adopted a 0% levy increase. Olson and Miller said that spending operating money from reserves cannot continue to happen.
Two TIF districts will come onto the property tax rolls soon. In 2011 and 2013, staff speculated the city would see $25,000 from Bullseye and 1666 Coffman.
Council member Lindstrom asked if the City should re-think the $5,000 spent on the Housing Resource Center. Council members Harris and Kuettel asked if the city sees that much in return.
Administrator Miller is going to research this.
The council discussed the parks/rec expenditures on programs, and wanted to see more research on how much the city is subsidizing programming.
Council member Lindstrom clarified there would be a 3% COLA in staff salaries, based on performance.
The workshop ended at 8:40 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Kreuser
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk