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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />APPROVED <br />131 <br />Director DeGardner said absolutely and he is looking at a lighting system that could be <br />132 <br />initiated by skaters and of course benches would be available; portable toilets will remain <br />133 <br />available. <br />134 <br />135 <br />On the question of recreation programming for 2021, Director DeGardner said he doesn't <br />136 <br />have enough answers at this time to warrant planning for 2021 but as things evolve next <br />137 <br />year, it could be individual decisions brought forward next year. <br />138 <br />139 <br />Mr. DeGardner noted the Parks and Trails Fund that has traditionally been funded and is <br />140 <br />currently not funded for 2021. Recommendations on the use of those funds have come <br />141 <br />from the Park Board and there were recommendations for this year that are not funded. <br />142 <br />He added that currently there is not enough funding included in the budget to do a full <br />143 <br />park update project; if the park and trail funding were to come forward that would have <br />144 <br />an impact. <br />145 <br />146 <br />Councilmember Lyden asked if there is a downside to leaving the funds in contingency. <br />147 <br />Administrator Cotton said she's been with the City for five years and for each of the <br />148 <br />budgets for those years the council has utilized reserves to balance; the budget proposed <br />149 <br />doesn't utilize reserve and has a tax rate reduction and that is a good position to be in. <br />150 <br />Ms. Cotton noted that there is no certainly in the valuations going up each year. She feels <br />151 <br />like the budget before council positions the city well going into the future; she has <br />152 <br />concern about utilizing reserves once again that will have implications for the future. <br />153 <br />154 Public Services Director DeGardner provided an update on the parks budget and needs <br />155 going forward. <br />156 <br />157 Administrator Cotton noted that there are a lot of needs and normally some are deferred <br />158 during yearly budget discussions. She understands the desire for a flat tax rate (or <br />159 reduction). But if needs aren't taken care of in one budget year, they will continue <br />160 coming back. <br />161 <br />162 Mayor Rafferty said he sees a value in figuring out the lighting for skating but not for <br />163 staff. He doesn't see Blue Heron Days happening; perhaps the corn roast which is a <br />164 good event for the community. He'd like to move the $10,000 budgeted for Blue Heron <br />165 Days into the contingency fund and expend funds for a lighting solution at the skating <br />166 rinks (cost estimate for complete change out at Sunrise Park would be $15,000 estimated <br />167 by staff; conversion of lighting is necessary element). Mayor Rafferty said he favors <br />168 allowing staff to utilize a portion as he has indicated but also bring the tax rate down <br />169 perhaps $100,000. Mayor Rafferty pointed out that the taxpayers generally look at the <br />17o bottom line of what they are paying and not the tax rate. <br />171 <br />172 Mayor Rafferty asked about the use of enterprise dollars to cover personnel costs of those <br />173 working on fund activities. Mr. DeGardner said there is a current allocation and Ms. <br />174 Lynch noted that this wouldn't necessarily be a good time to expand personnel costs to <br />175 the funds with a rate study coming forward. <br />