11-30-2020 Council Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION APPROVED 88 utilized but it is feasible. Director Swenson suggested that he will have feedback from 89 his research on this matter ready for 2022 budget discussion. 90 c) Review General Fund - 91 . Contingency fund and its balance is the focus of this discussion; 92 - Currently there is $66,170 extra in the contingency (possible uses are included in the 93 staff report); 94 . Warming house staff and Blue Heron Days funding is also included in the budget but 95 may also be diverted depending on those needs for the year); 96 . Staff is looking for a discussion of the contingency funds use; of course leaving the 97 funds in place is an option especially in consideration of the pandemic situation; 98 - Administrator Cotton noted the small decrease in valuation identified by the County 99 since tax notifications have gone out. 100 101 Mayor Rafferty noted that he believes the contingency fund has been kept in the range of 102 $75,000, He's interested in discussing things like the warming house use. 103 104 Councilmember Stoesz asked what other cities are doing as far as warming houses. 105 Director DeGarder said he hasn't checked but he expects that, with the pandemic, there 106 will be little activity. 107 108 Councilmember Lyden said he's okay with leaving the funds for a rainy day. 109 m Councilmember Cavegn said he'd like to see the funds used to facilitate Blue Heron Days III and some recreational activities (opening up). 112 113 Councilmember Ruhland concurred that a vaccine is probably on the horizon and he 114 expects people will be wanting to get back into activities quickly. He's also not adverse 115 to setting funds aside. 116 117 Mayor Rafferty remarked that the City is at a six percent increase to property owners at 118 this point and, with the pandemic, some people maybe hard pressed. He supports ideas 119 he's hearing from the council but he would like to understand more. Director DeGardner 120 noted that the warming house program doesn't work without supervisory personnel and 121 Ms. Cotton noted the $40,000+ cost of a part time position noted in the budget; if the 122 council wishes, the funds could be left in contingency for a time when the pandemic 123 situation changes and the council can discuss programs at that time. Mayor Rafferty 124 asked the council to remember that people are still living with the uncertainly of 125 COVIDI9 and the extra contingency could be used to lower taxes. Mayor Rafferty added 126 that the Blue Heron Days funds ($10,000) could also be moved to lower taxes since he 127 doesn't see that event coming forward for 2021; he would like to see a contingency of 128 about $70,000, 129 130 Councilmember Stoesz asked if the rinks will still be open without a warming house.