12-14-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION DRAFT 4 initiated by skaters and of course benches would be available; portable toilets will remain 132 available. 133 134 On the question of recreation programming for 2021, Director DeGardner said he doesn’t 135 have enough answers at this time to warrant planning for 2021 but as things evolve next 136 year, it could be individual decisions brought forward next year. 137 138 Mr. DeGardner noted the Parks and Trails Fund that has traditionally been funded and is 139 currently not funded for 2021. Recommendations on the use of those funds have come 140 from the Park Board and there were recommendations for this year that are not funded. 141 He added that currently there is not enough funding included in the budget to do a full 142 park update project; if the park and trail funding were to come forward that would have an 143 impact. 144 145 Councilmember Lyden asked if there is a downside to leaving the funds in contingency. 146 Administrator Cotton said she’s been with the City for five years and for each of the 147 budgets for those years the council has utilized reserves to balance; the budget proposed 148 doesn’t utilize reserve and has a tax rate reduction and that is a good position to be in. 149 Ms. Cotton noted that there is no certainly in the valuations going up each year. She feels 150 like the budget before council positions the city well going into the future; she has concern 151 about utilizing reserves once again that will have implications for the future. 152 153 Public Services Director DeGardner provided an update on the parks budget and needs 154 going forward. 155 156 Administrator Cotton noted that there are a lot of needs and normally some are deferred 157 during yearly budget discussions. She understands the desire for a flat tax rate (or 158 reduction). But if needs aren’t taken care of in one budget year, they will continue 159 coming back. 160 161 Mayor Rafferty said he sees a value in figuring out the lighting for skating but not for 162 staff. He doesn’t see Blue Heron Days happening; perhaps the corn roast which is a good 163 event for the community. He’d like to move the $10,000 budgeted for Blue Heron Days 164 into the contingency fund and expend funds for a lighting solution at the skating rinks 165 (cost estimate for complete change out at Sunrise Park would be $15,000 estimated by 166 staff; conversion of lighting is necessary element). Mayor Rafferty said he favors 167 allowing staff to utilize a portion as he has indicated but also bring the tax rate down 168 perhaps $100,000. Mayor Rafferty pointed out that the taxpayers generally look at the 169 bottom line of what they are paying and not the tax rate. 170 171 Mayor Rafferty asked about the use of enterprise dollars to cover personnel costs of those 172 working on fund activities. Mr. DeGardner said there is a current allocation and Ms. 173 Lynch noted that this wouldn’t necessarily be a good time to expand personnel costs to 174 the funds with a rate study coming forward. 175 176