11-22-2021 Council Special Budget Work Session Minutes

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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION APPROVED 1 CITY OF LINO LAKES 2 MINUTES 3 4 DATE : November 22,2021 5 TIME STARTED : 7:15 p.m. 6 TIME ENDED : 8:15 p.m. 7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, Lyden,Ruhland, 8 Cavegn and Mayor Rafferty 9 MEMBERS ABSENT : None 10 Staff members present: City Administrator Sarah Cotton; Finance Director Hannah 11 Lynch; Public Safety Director John Swenson; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner; 12 City Clerk Julie Bartell 13 1. 2022 Budget—Mayor Rafferty noted that staff has done a good job to this point, 14 bringing in a lower than last year 40.107 tax rate. 15 16 Ms. Lynch noted the scheduled public hearing preceding council consideration of passing 17 the 2022 budget on December 13, 2021 during the regular scheduled council meeting. 18 The staff report outlines where the council started and has landed at this point. It also 19 details changes that were made to the budget; biggest factor being due to personnel and 20 insurance assumptions which are now finalized. She reviewed the changes noted in the 21 report. She reviewed the tax capacity numbers that bring the tax rate where it is proposed 22 tonight. Ms. Lynch also pointed out the total levy and her research of other cities 23 indicating that the City is slightly below the average. Staff is prepared to discuss the 24 budget. 25 26 Mayor Rafferty noted the rec center budget and how that appears in the 2022 budget. 27 Ms. Lynch noted the levy is related to the bonds for the facility. The levy disappears in 28 2026 at which time those funds would shift to operating if directed by the council. 29 30 Mayor Rafferty recalled recent work (and a study) on water mains. He is looking for a 31 line item he recalls being under the Water budget for certain flushing activities. Mr. 32 DeGardner said the request was a comprehensive analysis of the entire water system to 33 assist with identifying problems areas and other information; it would be a water flow 34 analysis and other data. Staff is comfortable waiting for a future year discussion. Mayor 35 Rafferty asked if this would help with water conservation and Mr. DeGardner explained 36 what he sees as the goal of a study and that he would see it fitting in further down the 37 line. 38 39 Mayor Rafferty noted Page 10, contractual services for Alexandra House ($500). He has 40 been clear that he supports the cause of their services but he doesn't feel it belongs in the 41 City budget. Councilmember Stoesz expressed support for the Mayor's statement. 42 Councilmember Lyden said he supports including the funds in the budget. 43 Councilmember Ruhland said he understands the need and would donate to the 1