09-28-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 1 MINUTES 2 3 DATE : September 21, 2020 4 TIME STARTED : 6:40 p.m. 5 TIME ENDED : 7:05 p.m. 6 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Lyden, Ruhland, 7 Cavegn (by phone) and Mayor Rafferty 8 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 9 Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Community Development 10 Director Michael Grochala; Director of Public Safety John Swenson; Public Ser vices 11 Director Rick DeGardner; and City Clerk Julie Bartell 12 13 1. 2021 Budget Discussion – City Administrator Cotton recalled the last discussion 14 with the council on the 2021 budget (September 8th work session) and her announcement 15 that updated information had been received from Anoka County regarding anticipated tax 16 collections. That news results in additional funds in the amount of $62,502 which means 17 that more funding is available to maintain a tax capacity rate of 39.870. That eliminates 18 the gap that existed at the beginning of the budget discussions and also makes new funding 19 available. 20 21 Mayor Rafferty expressed confidence that the council and staff will be able to work 22 together to maintain the tax rate. He discussed the possibility of anything changing prior 23 to formal budget adoption and Ms. Cotton indicated that, while there could be minor 24 adjustments, she expects little change and if necessary changes could be handled with 25 budget adjustments. She noted outstanding items such as labor contracts and some health 26 care items and also that there is some contingency remaining for the current year. 27 28 Mayor Rafferty remarked that there will be more discussion forthcoming but it ’s 29 understood that the preliminary budget is the cap. 30 31 Councilmember Lyden suggested that there’s nothing wrong with a tax cut if that is 32 possible. 33 34 Adminstrator Cotton noted that she will provide additional information to the council on 35 changes in the 2021 budget. She suggested that the general fund reserve remaining could 36 be left and information will be shared again on those items discussed for possible funding. 37 Ms. Cotton added that it’s notable that the current proposed budget includes no use of 38 fund reserves and that is good. 39 40 Councilmember Stoesz asked if there is any information on a CARES Act II and Ms. 41 Cotton said there is nothing to report. Councilmember Stoesz asked if there is any 42 additional information on the message board or opportunities in that area. Public 43 Services Director DeGardner noted plans to purchase a trailer mounted sign that would 44