12-14-2022 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL DECEMBER 14, 2022 go into the Equipment Fund at the City to purchase fire department equipment and vehicles. He noted they have donated over $500,000 to the city since 2016 McGraw introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOL UTION NO. 2022-12-142 — ACCEPTING A DONATION FROM THE LITTLE CANADA FIRE DEPARTMENT FOR $130,000 FOR THE FIRE EQUIPMENT FUND The foregoing resolution was duly seconded by Miller. Ayes (5). Nays (0). Resolution declared adopted. PRESENTATION — ORGANIZATIONAL STUDY GAP ANALYSIS Patrick Melvin, David Drown Associates Human Resources, stated that he has provided a report of preliminary findings of his staffing analysis. He noted that he is still working through more details, and will be looking at comparisons with other cities. Fischer stated that he would like to see the top few duties of each current staff person, and what duties any new positions would take on to better understand the overall organization. Torkelson asked what additional information will be included in the final report. Mr. Melvin stated he will include the specific questions that were asked of staff, and more details on answers. Torkelson asked what duties an Assistant City Administrator would do, Mr. Melvin stated having someone take on doing specific projects, such as the purchase and integration of new software. Torkelson stated that he was concerned about an Assistant Administrator taking on communications duties, and wondered if that was something that other cities were doing. Keis stated he thinks that once the final report is done, discussing this at a workshop would be a good idea. Torkelson stated that it is nice to confirm that the City's staff level is running too lean. Mr. Melvin cautioned that if the city is considering future additional services, be aware of the current level of staff. The City Administrator stated that doing this study came out of the Strategic Planning sessions when new initiatives were proposed, and then how and who was going to do them. PUBLIC HEARING —ADOPTION OF 2023 BUDGET & FINAL LEVY, The City Administrator reviewed the annual budget process and stated this final budget must be adopted by the City Council no later than December 26. He stated that approximately twenty-one cents of each property tax dollar paid comes to the City of Little Canada. He reviewed how the budget relates to the adopted Strategic Plan. He stated that the preliminary levy was adopted in September at a 12.85% increase, and since then, staff was able to reduce that to the proposed final levy of 11.75%. The Finance Director stated that there will be a public hearing held tonight, and the Council is asked to adopted the final budget, the final levy and the 2023 salary wage scale. The Finance Director stated that the 2023 tax rate will be reduced by 1.01 % from last year. He reviewed the other Ramsey County cities proposed property tax levies changes, and noted that in 2023 Little Canada will remain around the fourth lowest tax rate in Ramsey County. He reviewed the changes to property values, and showed how that will affect property tax amounts, and compared other 2