09-13-2021 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION DRAFT 4 Councilmember Cavegn noted that Blue Heron activities and a coordinator to run them 134 are not currently included in the budget and he feels that is needed. 135 136 Mayor Rafferty noted interest in getting the dump truck purchase back into the budget 137 ($250,000). Also getting something going to look at public works facility (planning 138 discussion). Those would be one-time costs so maybe an appropriate use for surplus. Is 139 there a way for staff to come back with cuts that total $350,000? 140 141 The council discussed the rec center and staffing and the possibility of having staff do 142 City work as well. Director DeGardner remarked that it really depends on what duties are 143 assigned for one area and if there is room to expand responsibilities. Administrator 144 Cotton suggested that ultimately the structure of how a facility is operated will determine 145 staffing. 146 147 Councilmember Lyden noted that he likes the idea of asking staff to come back with 148 options to reach a determined rate. 149 150 Director DeGardner noted that it was helpful for him to look at Page 10 and 11 of the 151 budget information – it shows what is added; if you were to delete every single one of 152 those it would equate to savings of just over $267,000. 153 154 Councilmember Lyden noted surplus funds and wonders about how those could best be 155 utilized. 156 157 Mayor Rafferty remarked that in some ways it comes down to personnel and isn’t it better 158 to not increase in that area rather than cut; and in the area of upgrading vehicles, he 159 doesn’t think there is a taxpayer value there. Councilmember Lyden argued for the value 160 of quality vehicles. 161 162 Councilmember Stoesz asked about the impact of dipping below the reserve policy level. 163 Ms. Cotton explained that the greatest implication would probably be to the bond rating 164 agencies and it would be difficult to make the argument that it’s all pandemic related. 165 166 Mayor Rafferty reviewed those things that had been discussed for removal and suggested 167 they could go to surplus (except Woodbridge, Lois Lane, hockey rinks) and he’d like to 168 go back to the Ford Explorer vehicles. He believes that the City should stay away from 169 using one time funds for personnel. He’d like to see what staff can come up with for the 170 rest (to reach a tax rate of 41.0). 171 172 Dorothy Rademacher (audience), Quad Chamber, noted her involvement in the 173 community. She supports public safety and addressing staffing needs in that area. From 174 observing the conversation tonight, she cannot determine if the goal of the council is to 175 hold the tax rate firm, increase it or decrease it. She suggests that the budget should be 176 looked at like a business whereby you must deal with realities. Ms. Rademacher added, 177