11-23-2015 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

MINUTES CITY COUNCIL NOVEMBER 23, 2015 Keis stated the budget needs to be cut and the Council needs to address the declining registrations for activities. He noted the options are to cut the director's hours in half or cut a part-time programmer position. Even with cuts in staff, the phones will still be answered and questions will be answered. Torkelson stated he was more supportive of only cutting the director to 3/4 time instead and that would solve the budget issue. Fischer stated he has heard from many people not to make cuts to Parks and Rec, but no one has a solution for reducing the budget. He is concerned that if the Parks Director position is less than full-time, it will be hard to hire a good new person after Jim retires. Keis stated he would like to see the Parks Department staffing levels go down to 1.5 FTE. Montour stated he agrees with the 1.5 FTE, and maybe in the future, the strategic plan will show that the staff levels for Parks & Rec need to increase. Mcgraw said there is the equivalent of 2.0 FTE in the department now. He feels that duties equal to 0.5 FTE were shifted to the Public Works Director this summer, so there is actually only 1.5 FTE worth of duties left. He stated that if in the future the staffing needs increase, they can find the money or deal with it later. Keis stated that it appears that all of the Council is in agreement that $30,000 should be cut from the Parks & Rec budget and how to do that should be left to the Parks Director. Montour stated it seems that three members of the Council feel a full-time parks director is needed, and that person can cover the duties of the cut half-time position. Torkelson stated he doesn't know if that is feasible or not. Keis asked if there was consensus to keep the full-time director and cut a half-time person. Fischer agreed on the 1.5 FTE, but is not convinced about keeping a full-time director. Keis stated the consensus is that the Parks & Rec budget will be cut by a minimum of $30,000. Torkelson noted he disagrees with the amount to reduce, but knows he is in the minority. Keis stated the direction to staff is to focus on the dollar amount and the Administrator and Parks Director can decide how to do it. City Administrator clarified that at least $30,000 be cut and there can be discussion as to how to accomplish this. Keis stated that there will be discussion over the next few weeks as to what the staffing level should be, and the final decision made by the Council and City Administrator,. HAZARDOUS City Administrator stated that the city has acquired four houses at 30 Little MATERIAL Canada Road E., 56 Little Canada Road E., 331 Little Canada Road E., SURVEY and 2801 Country Drive. The houses are unoccupied and the city needs to PROPOSAL demolish them, but before demolition, a survey of the hazardous materials must occur. City Administrator stated that quotes were obtained from six rol