11-16-2016 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP NOVEMBER 16, 2016 The City Administrator reviewed the Parks & Recreation Commission's capital improvements priority list. He noted that some items are included in the 2017 budget and others are planned for future years, and some items could be paid for from other funds, such as the City's 10% gambling fund. He explained that Local Government Aid is a big source of revenue for the capital improvement fund, but the City does not add these funds into the budget more than a year out due to the uncertainty of receiving this money from the state. He stated that typically City Staff and the Council have set the capital improvement priorities, but they want the Parks & Recreation Commission to be more involved. The City Administrator stated that the 400 Fund budget right now projects a $547,000 deficit at the end of 2021. He explained that the budget should not show a deficit, and the best scenario is for it to be positive, and there are many options on how to address the deficit. He stated that there is $200,000 in the 2017 budget for the Old Fire Hall to redo the entire exterior, a Spooner Park entrance sign, Gervais Mill improvements, Pioneer Park improvements including a drinking fountain and playground equipment, repurposing tennis courts into Pickleball courts, and Staff added paving the overflow lot at Spooner Park. He stated that there is also $250,000 in the Public Works capital improvement fund for a new street sweeper. He explained that currently the City shares a sweeper with Falcon Heights, but both cities want to end the sharing contract and Falcon Heights would buy out the sweeper and we would buy a new one. The City Administrator reviewed the Parkland Acquisition Fee Fund and stated there is about $1,100,000 in it. He stated there are a few needs left to purchase property for parkland and trails which would leave about $600,000. He noted it has been the Council's policy for over 30 years ago to use these funds only to purchase land for parks, but now that need is minimal so maybe the Council wants to consider also using the money for park improvements. He stated the Parks & Recreation Commission has recommended the Council change this policy. He suggested being conservative by only using $300,000 from this fiend in the five-year CIP budget. Miller clarified that there are no funds in the budget dedicated for the Veteran's Memorial. The City Administrator stated the Veteran's Committee has funds for some of the remaining items, but are still fundraising. Sanders stated a lot of the additions to the Veteran's Memorial are long-range items. The City Administrator stated the City has already been doing the maintenance, mowing and snow removal there. McGraw stated that projects come up during the year, and he does not want to spend the $300,000 all at once. He noted the Council wants the Parks & Recreation Commission to be more involved in the budget process. Keis suggested only replacing the brick front of the Old Fire Hall