08-23-2021 Council Special Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION APPROVED 90 - Duty crew — concern about having a revolving door; 91 92 He asked if the Public Safety Department has come up with the plan for half the units for 93 a duty crew? 94 95 Public Safety Director Swenson concurred that there is turnover risk with park time staff 96 (Fire duty crew) but they are trying to keep costs down. The number of part time staff 97 proposed is based on the research they've done and based on the lowest possible cost. 98 Mayor Rafferty asked if there is a way to be transitional while still meeting the goals; 99 there is something that needs to be accomplished and he's committed to it. Public Safety 100 Director Swenson explained the need in the police division to have resources; the time to 101 respond to low level calls is growing. When the mayor asked about adding fire personnel 102 through police hiring, Director Swenson explained the history of bringing forward the 103 duty crew idea after much work by the department and with the idea that there could be a 104 situation where public safety is under resourced. 105 106 Councilmember Lyden noted that the Public Safety Director is consistently giving the 107 council the information needed to understand how to provide adequate public safety 108 services. 109 110 Councilmember Cavegn asked if the council will decide on a tax rate that is acceptable. 111 112 The mayor remarked that he is not comfortable with the current number. 113 114 Councilmember Lyden said he'd be happy with a flat tax rate but he isn't sure it's 115 realistic; he'd like to see what a flat tax would look like. 116 117 Councilmember Stoesz noted that he's been looking at basically the same budget for all 118 the years he's served on the council. He struggles with what to cut and has great respect 119 for public safety. 120 121 Administrator Cotton remarked that there have been a few cuts noted and she has 122 quantified that to a reduction $106,500 and that would result in a tax rate of 41.966 ($157 123 tax increase to $300,000 home with $96 of that being valuation increase). She added that 124 staff has reviewed how American Rescue Act funds could impact the budget and have not 125 found additional areas (beyond negative impacts of COVID) but some of the surplus 126 funds that will be available in the City budget are probably related to CARES funds. 127 128 The council received an update on the Watermark development and when that tax 129 valuation will be included on the City's tax rolls. 130 131 Mayor Rafferty asked what it would take to get down to last year's rate (40.109) or 41.0. 132 Roughly $350,000 to get to 41.0. 133 3