08-24-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 5 - Benefits – Staff is presenting assumptions and they are conservative. Actual figures will 172 come down the line. 173 174 - Compensation Study – Staff’s recommendation at this point is to include the 175 compensation plan changes in the budget for further discussion. Without some type of 176 compensation amendment, the City will not be in compliance with pay equity. 177 178 - Communications Coordinator – Ms. Cotton explained that her goal at present is to have 179 this item included in the budget so that it can be considered. She noted that it represents 180 no impact on the budget since the cost would be covered by the cable/communications 181 fund while there is the possibility of realizing savings to the general fund in the form of 182 newsletter design services. It’s an area that she feels needs attention and a new positio n 183 would free up other staff, centralize the services and provide more consistency in 184 communications. 185 186 - Recreation Department – Options reviewed for the future of recreation and special 187 programming provided by the City. It’s good opportunity to talk about where the council 188 wants to go in the future with these services. Councilmember Lyden asked Public 189 Services Director DeGardner if there is more need at certain age levels and Mr. 190 DeGardner said it would make sense to review for needs. Councilmember Stoesz stated 191 that he thinks it’s important for the City to ensure that its facilities such as athletic fields 192 are utilized and it’s a question of whether the City manages programs or just the facilities; 193 also he thinks there’s a need to provide services to special needs individuals. Director 194 DeGardner added that the Blue Heron Days Festival is really dependent upon City staff 195 unless the community could take a more active role. Mayor Rafferty asked about the 196 success of programming outside of sports, i.e. Breakfast with Santa, Gobbler Days, Corn 197 Roast. Mr. DeGardner said much of the success hinges on work put in by the City. Ms. 198 Cotton added that a special events coordinator position would also handle the ice skating 199 warming house program and she doesn’t feel staff would be able to absorb those duties 200 without help. Mayor Rafferty said he’s envisioning a special events coordinator position 201 but doesn’t have the details to understand full or part time. The council concurred that 202 they’d like more information on needs. 203 204 - Utility Rate Study – The last rate study occurred in 2014 and rates from 2015 are still in 205 place today. Operating costs for the system are being covered by current rates but 206 depreciation is not included. A utility rate study would also provide information on other 207 potential initiatives related to utilities. The council authorized staff to proceed with 208 RFP’s for a study utilizing funding from the utility fund. Councilmember Stoesz asked, if 209 possible, could that study include considerations for different scenarios. 210 211 - Public Safety Vehicle and Equipment Replacement – Ms. Cotton explained the City’s 212 current policy calling for evaluation of vehicle replacement only when 100,000 miles are 213 reached. She also noted the City’s general fund tax levy chart and the related debt service 214 levy going forward. Looking at vehicles that could require replacement in 2022, she sees 215 there could be a spike to that capital debt. There is one vehicle planned for evaluation for 216