02-25-13 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 4, 2013 DRAFT 4 5. Five -Year Financial Forecast – Finance Director Role k reviewed the updated 134 forecast. He noted changes in assumptions to the operating forecast and discussed 135 questions as follows: 136 137 - tax capacity rate increase; 138 - assumes a successful referendum under the current charter; 139 - no impact under the Governor’s b udget proposal; 140 - discussion of YMCA debt and how long it would be in place; 141 - tax base in 2014 changes from flat to a moderate decrease; 142 - capital equipment replacement grows after 2013; 143 - recreation complex – assumes only funding to pay on the debt; 144 - ro ad reconstruction – assumes some funding and no change to the city charter; 145 - the capital improvement program includes programs included in the comp plan and 146 utility plan. 147 148 Staff is looking for direction from the council on the forecast. The mayor noted that he 149 sees the need to do what is necessary to keep a handle on the levy; a fifteen percent 150 increase over the next five years he doesn’t see. The mayor would like to also see a 151 forecast b uilt on different assumptions; how can rates go up when the revenu e is going 152 down? Council Member Roeser suggested that revenues as well as economies and 153 te ch nology would be a good plan. Council members suggest ed something like going out 154 for bid on information technology services. The council would like to see a docum ent 155 that better highlights priorities and the mayor recommended setting up a special session to 156 gain a more comprehensive approach to a forecast. The mayor would also like to include 157 discussion on next year’s budget; he needs to understand what the overal l figures 158 represent. Other council members spoke in favor of looking for consolidations, 159 efficiencies and outsourcing. 160 161 7. Charter Commission Expenditures – Mayor Reinert explained that he attended the 162 last Charter Commission meeting (following last fall ’s elect ion). A commission member 163 said that the commission should be paying attention to the vote that occurred on the 164 charter amendment – in that a majority voted for a change. There were some ideas raised 165 by commissioner members and some wanted to forw ard those ideas to the council. A 166 vote was taken and there were comments from some saying they did not want to work 167 with the council. Commissioner Storberg said that she sees value in the amendment and 168 she moved for a joint meeting with the council to di scuss the amendment or other 169 suggestions to move forward. May or Reinert said such a meeting c ould be facilitated by 170 someone not on the council or the commission. The mayor has spoken with Charter 171 Commission Chair Chris Lyden, confirmed the motion to have a joint meeting and 172 confirmed his support to have atto rneys for both groups present and that their attorney be 173 paid outside of their $1,500 annual budget (just for this one meeting). The mayor said he 174 also hea rd that the commission has a standing concern about losing their minute taking 175 services (Timesavers) and he would support having that service again. A council 176 member replied that if there are to be two attorneys at a joint meeting , it should be agreed 177