10-24-2012 Council Workshop Minutes

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL OCTOBER 24, 2012 The City Administrator suggested that in an effort to reduce reliance on Local Government Aid (LGA) in the General Fund, the City could consider allocating more LGA dollars to the General Capital Improvement Fund and transferring an equal amount of levy dollars to the General Fund. The Administrator indicated that the City is slated to receive $195,843 in LGA for 2013. The Administrator suggested that a reduction of LGA money into the General Fund of $86,685 plus the $31,562 already planned would reduce General Fund reliance on LGA by $118,247 or 60 %. These amounts would be offset by an equal reduction in the amount of levy dollars into the General Capital Improvement Fund. The Council discussed this recommendation and indicated their support. The City Administrator pointed out that on the expense side of the General Capital Improvement Fund, the fund is out of balance in 2017 due to the $200,000 budgeted for the lower Spooner Park shelter and the fact that revenue from the sale of Twin Lake Area land was removed from the budget. He noted that at the workshop held with the Parks & Recreation Commission the discussion about proceeding with the Old Fire Hall warming house improvement as well as one park playground improvement each year. The Administrator stated that it would be his recommendation to get the General Capital Improvement Plan in balance that the lower Spooner Park shelter be removed from the five -year plan. Blesener noted that the Troutbrook Trail improvement is being taken over by the County and that the County is asking the Met Council to give this trail regional status. Blesener noted the $140,000 budgeted to complete the water works trail segment, and suggested that perhaps the City only complete railroad crossing and let the County absorb the cost of the remainder of this trail improvement as part of the Troutbrook Trail. McGraw agreed and indicated that if this trail gets regional status, it should be the County's responsibility to complete the improvement. The Parks & Recreation Director felt it could be 10 years or longer before the Troutbrook Trail improvement proceeds, and noted that the water works trail has gaps in it within Little Canada. The Director felt completion of the water works trail would be beneficial to Little Canada. McGraw asked if other communities are completing the Troutbrook Trail segments within their cities. The Director was not sure. He pointed out that the City of Maplewood has no existing trail segments that would become part of the Troutbrook Trail system. Little Canada has segments close to where the Troutbrook Trail is planned. Blesener questioned where this trail would go once it reaches Rice Street given there will be no trail connection into Shoreview until the Rice Street bridge over 694 is replaced. The Director indicated that the trail would go to Rice Street and cross over to South Owasso Blvd and then over 694. It would not, however, connect to the Vadnais Lake regional system at this time. 2