09-13-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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