07-29-2019 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 46 Police, Capital Outlay — Purchase of computers/equipment for police department was 47 discussed; how equipment is used, where it is used and need for separate account. Staff 48 will continue perform analysis to make sure that copier purchase vs. leasing making 49 sense. 50 51 Fleet, Fuels — Director DeGardner noted his estimate of increased fuel costs in 2020. 52 Council Member Stoesz discussed the possibility of changing to private sources and Mr. 53 DeGardner explained the benefit to the City of utilizing its current private fueling system 54 with the discount it provides; when that system needs replacement, it would be smart to 55 discuss other options. 56 57 Government Buildings — The Mayor noted that costs are decreasing. The city hall 58 complex building has been well managed and staff aspires to continue the good 59 maintenance. 60 61 Council Member Maher asked staff to email her list of the chemicals used in the City's 62 water and the percentages. All council members will receive the information. 63 64 There was a high level discussion on capital equipment replacement (Pages 74 & 75). 65 Director Swenson said staff is interested in discussing timing of purchases. Currently 66 staff cannot order until bonds are approved by the council and this year and others it has 67 left the City at the back of the line for orders. The proposed process would put the City 68 at the front of the order line by allowing staff to move on the certificates once the council 69 approves the preliminary budget. Mayor Reinert remarked that the timing would still 70 have the ordering begin after the budget drilldown so he's okay with that change. Ms. 71 Cotton explained that capital equipment certificates have to be tied to actual purchases. 72 73 Also discussed at a high level was the 2019-2020 Utilities Department — CIP Purchases 74 (Page 120). Director DeGardner noted the purchases proposed for 2020 and asked 75 Utilities Supervisor Justin Williams to review them. Based on capital purchases that are 76 planned and scheduled, staff is proposing the possibility of replacing one truck and 77 purchasing the mounted jetter in 2019 when there are no other capital expenditures. 78 Mayor Reinert asked how often the City would use the jetter. Mr. Williams said they 79 would strive to meet an annual goal of about 20 miles (realistically they are getting a lot 80 less than that now) but would also like to have the unit available for emergencies (one 81 incident could conceivably pay for the machine). Council Member Stoesz asked about 82 the benefit of going to a trailer based unit. Mr. Williams said the equipment requested 83 matches the personnel they have that could put it to use. 84 85 Council Member Stoesz asked about the possibility of requiring new home construction 86 to have "smart" water meters that transmit information directly through an antenna (rather 87 than drive -by). Utilities Supervisor Williams explained that technology and the many 88 things that can be done with it but also explained that the City isn't in a place where it 89 could take advantage of all the technology. Mayor Reinert expressed concern about the 2