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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 3,2012 <br /> APPROVED <br /> 135 5. Five-Year Financial Plan - Finance Director Rolek noted that tonight's plan was <br /> �-- 136 a continuation of past discussions. As the council will recall, the draft Plan contains <br /> 137 increases in expenditures based on conservative assumptions. He suggests that the <br /> 138 council may want to discuss whether they feel the assumptions are proper. Changing the <br /> 139 assumptions would change the tax rate figures. The council confirmed that the draft Plan <br /> 140 assumes continuation of fiscal disparities. <br /> 141 <br /> 142 A council member suggested that the council discussion should be at a high level and <br /> 143 perhaps on the whether or not the council is comfortable having the increased costs <br /> 144 proposed by the Plan. When the Mayor asked if there is a way to accommodate a <br /> 145 somewhat more positive outlook, Mr. Rolek suggested that the assumptions can be <br /> 146 changed to reflect more optimism. <br /> 147 <br /> 148 The council confirmed that the Plan is called for by the City Charter but it's very difficult <br /> 149 to be accurate with a planning document such as this; the Mayor remarked that the Plan is <br /> 150 truly a draft at this point. Administrator Karlson suggested that management staff can <br /> 151 relook the Plan and prepare some changes based on somewhat different assumptions. Mr. <br /> 152 Rolek finished up by reviewing the capital projections and assumptions; he noted that <br /> 153 most cities do have a capital improvement plan forecast such as this and Lino Lakes also <br /> 154 adds the operational side. <br /> 155 <br /> 156 A council member suggested that some of the document should really be considered work <br /> 157 sheets. Mr. Rolek confirmed that Pages 1 through 9 could be considered the Plan and the <br /> 158 rest are actually work sheets; he added that the Charter is somewhat specific on what <br /> 159 needs to be included so that is a consideration. <br /> 160 <br /> 161 Staff will return to the council in February. <br /> 162 <br /> 163 6. Business Licensing (from P & Z)—Community Development Director Grochala <br /> 164 reviewed the written report. The council was asked by a business owner to consider <br /> 165 licensing massage therapy as a business and the council in turn forwarded the larger issue <br /> 166 of business licensing to the Planning and Zoning Board for their recommendation. The <br /> 167 Board saw business licensing as an additional and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. The <br /> 168 Board did have some interest in the idea of requiring a certificate of occupancy for <br /> 169 business changes to ensure ordinance requirements are met. A council member <br /> 170 expressed concern about adding a code compliance element that could be a business <br /> 171 deterrent and just another bureaucratic hurdle for businesses. Mr. Grochala added that the <br /> 172 Planning and Zoning Board is obviously less interested in a licensing program than in a <br /> 173 certificate of occupancy. He suggests that staff relook at the possibilities and report back <br /> 174 perhaps with examples of how a new program would look. <br /> 175 <br /> 176 7. Leasing of ECFE—Economic Development Coordinator Divine reviewed the <br /> 177 written report. This space at the City complex that will soon be vacant is being actively <br /> 178 marketed in all ways possible. She is interested in knowing if the council would like to <br /> 179 bring in a broker to assist with the marketing. The council concurred with the idea of <br /> 4 <br />