01/23/2012 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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P20 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION January 3, 2012 DRAFT 135 5. Five -Year Financial Plan - Finance Director Rolek noted that tonight's plan was 136 a continuation of past discussions. As the council will recall, the draft Plan contains 137 increases in expenditures based on conservative assumptions. He suggests that the 138 council may want to discuss whether they feel the assumptions are proper. Changing the 139 assumptions would change the tax rate figures. The council confirmed that the draft Plan 140 assumes continuation of fiscal disparities. 141 142 A council member suggested that the council discussion should be at a high level and 143 perhaps on the whether or not the council is comfortable having the increased costs 144 proposed by the Plan. When the Mayor asked if there is a way to accommodate a 145 somewhat more positive outlook, Mr. Rolek suggested that the assumptions can be 146 changed to reflect more optimism. 147 148 The council confirmed that the Plan is called for by the City Charter but it's very difficult 149 to be accurate with a planning document such as this; the Mayor remarked that the Plan is 150 truly a draft at this point. Administrator Karlson suggested that management staff can 151 relook the Plan and prepare some changes based on somewhat different assumptions. Mr. 152 Rolek finished up by reviewing the capital projections and assumptions; he noted that 153 most cities do have a capital improvement plan forecast such as this and Lino Lakes also 154 adds the operational side. 155 156 A council member suggested that some of the document should really be considered work 157 sheets. Mr. Rolek confirmed that Pages 1 through 9 could be considered the Plan and the 158 rest are actually work sheets; he added that the Charter is somewhat specific on what 159 needs to be included so that is a consideration. 160 161 Staff will return to the council in February. 162 163 164 165 166 167 168 169 170 171 172 173 174 175 176 7. Leasing of ECFE — Economic Development Coordinator Divine reviewed the 177 written report. This space at the City complex that will soon be vacant is being actively 178 marketed in all ways possible. She is interested in knowing if the council would like to 179 bring in a broker to assist with the marketing. The council concurred with the idea of 6. Business Licensing (from P & Z) — Community Development Director Grochala reviewed the written report. The council was asked by a business owner to consider licensing massage therapy as a business and the council in turn forwarded the larger issue of business licensing to the Planning and Zoning Board for their recommendation. The Board saw business licensing as an additional and unnecessary layer of bureaucracy. The Board did have some interest in the idea of requiring a certificate of occupancy for business changes to ensure ordinance requirements are met. A council member expressed concern about adding a code compliance element that could be a business deterrent and just another bureaucratic hurdle for businesses. Mr. Grochala added that the Planning and Zoning Board is obviously less interested in a licensing program than in a certificate of occupancy. He suggests that staff relook at the possibilities and report back perhaps with examples of how a new program would look. 4 • •