11-14-2016 Council Special Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION November 14, 2016 APPROVED 1 CITY Ur LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE November 14, 2016 5 TIME STARTED 7:20 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED 9*30 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT Council Member Rafferty, Kusterman, 8 Maher, Manthey and Mayor Reinert 9 MEMBERS ABSENT None 10 11 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Safety Director Swenson; 12 Community Development Director Grochala; Finance Director Sarah Cotton; City Clerk 13 Julie Bartell. 14 15 Finance Director Cotton presented new budget information developed since the council's 16 last review (distributed). New information and health care costs have resulted in some 17 new figures within the gap analysis. She noted reductions of $110,000 resulting in a new 18 tax rate of 45.5%, to be reflected in the tax rate statement that is distributed to property 19 owners. 20 21 Council Member Manthey noted that staff promised to keep working at reductions and he 22 sees that has happened and that the tax rate has been reduced. 23 24 Council Member Rafferty asked for a review of positions added within the budget. 25 Mayor Reinert asked for discussion of personnel across the board. 26 27 Administrator Karlson explained the new positions: 28 - A CSO position is included that relates to the Police Department's ACE program 29 and increased volume. Mayor Reinert recalled that there was to be a threshold at 30 which the position would go away but staff did not specifically recall that point. 31 Mayor Reinert suggested the position shouldn't be added without that 32 information. Director Swenson noted the amount of revenue to date for the 33 program and the cost of the position ($25,000) with no additional car costs. 34 Council Member Manthey said he doesn't recall a dollar amount but the council 35 could have that discussion now. Mayor Reinert indicated that without the 36 threshold he fears the position would never go away, even if the ACE program 37 slows. Council Member Kusterman asked if the threshold should be $75,000 38 considering the $25,000 cost of the position. Mayor Reinert suggested a direction 39 that the position shouldn't be added without the threshold established. Director 40 Swenson said pre-2016, based on his review, the revenue was $40,000. Mayor 41 Reinert said it suggested it should be somewhat higher — perhaps $40,000 plus 42 $12,500, Director Swenson suggested a $65,000 revenue point as the threshold. 43 It was clarified that the position is not considered permanent at any rate. The 44 mayor clarified that at that point ($65,000) the position goes away, no further 45 action required. The council concurred. it