08-26-2019 Council Special Budget Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION hPPRQi'EII 46 47 Fire — Capital Outlay — Public Safety Director Swenson noted that the reduction of 48 $18,200 would delay for one year replacement of the hose and nozzles on Aerial 11 49 (believed to be approaching 20 years old). The council discussed the proper life of that s0 type of fire equipment. 51 52 Director Cotton mentioned that staff is proposing the transfer of an additional $100,000 53 from the Closed Bond Fund. The results of the proposed reductions and that transfer 54 would result in an overall 7.99% increase in the preliminary tax levy and a reduction in 55 the tax capacity rate as noted in the written staff report. 56 57 Mayor Keinert asked the Finance Director to review the City's fiscal disparities position. 58 Ms. Cotton displayed her preliminary figures for that area of the budget. The City has 59 always been a receiver but for the first time this year that would change to a position 60 where the City contributes. Mayor Reinert asked staff if that trend will continue and Ms. 61 Cotton said she expects it to remain where it is for a while; affect is tied to commercial 62 industrial development. 63 64 Mayon- Reinert commented: 65 a) lie doesn't like the reduction in Pavement Management because that's an 66 important program that is working; 67 b) what is the contingency for 2019 (it is $75,000 and has been used to about 68 half); the contingency for proposed 2020 is $75,000: 69 c) why has the. Finance Department gone up in the past few years; Ms. Cotton 70 explained that the service contract with Metro INetet is the biggest driver and in general 71 the City's IT footprint is getting a lot greater (surveillance cameras added, body worn 72 policy cameras, additional Laserfiche licenses, additional hiring at Metro INet); she is 73 also asking for a $3,500 vendor package to assist with certain technology expansion as 74 well as an increase in the Springbrook finance system contract; 75 d) the building inspections area increasing; Director Grochala noted the addition 76 of a third inspector and when the mayor suggested that increase was related to storm 77 damage in the past, Mr. Grochala explained the inspections are now related to new homes 78 and that is more work. 79 e) increase in fleet management; Director DeGarder noted that the increase is 80 100% fuel consumption related. There was discussion about the addition of fire 81 equipment to the fleet costs 82 83 Council Member Stoesz suggested that it would be more transparent to have all IT in one 84 area and Ms. Cotton responded that is something she will look at for 2021; 85 86 Recreation Fund (decrease) — Director DeGardner said there was a reduction in recreation 87 staff. Council Member Stoesz asked if an alignment with YMCA would make sense and 88 Mr. DeGardner said there have been discussions on that topic and they will continue but 89 there are some areas that don't mesh because the YMCA is membership based. 90