09/22/2008 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION 2 August 18, 2008 DRAFT 1 submitted a request for additional funds. The city also received requests from Alexandra 2 House, Forest Lake Youth Services Bureau, Metro Cities and Anoka County Mediation 3 Services. 4 5 Areas of reduction were noted as follows: Elections (2009 is a local election year, 6 requiring less funding), capital outlay, and prosecution services (due to service contract 7 change). 8 9 Mr. Rolek's review of the specific budget divisions included the following: 10 11 Capital Program — Public Services equipment replacement program includes some new 12 squad cars, contribution for fire department equipment, a dump truck, pick -up trucks, a 13 loader and some smaller equipment. Office equipment replacement has been scaled back 14 also. Trail extensions have been taken out completely. 15 16 Contingency — has been scaled back to $40,000 (from $50,000 last year), a very thin 17 margin. 18 19 Community Development and Engineering — includes funding for conclusion of the 20 comprehensive plan activities, including ordinance review costs. (The council requested 21 a comprehensive plan update in September, before board review). Engineering has been 22 scaled back due to less activity and the services themselves would remain outsourced. 23 The possibility of bringing engineering services in -house is something that will be looked 24 at more comprehensively within the five -year plan. When asked about the lower activity 25 level impact on staff, it was explained that there is a minimal change in staff work 26 because the day to day operations (resident issues, dealing with MnDOT, day to day 27 support) don't really slow down much because development related costs are handled 28 through escrows and other budgets. Stone damage is driving permit activities this year 29 but that does not produce as much cross departmental fee revenue as new homes. Staff 30 will take a look at the $100 fee for a repair permit to make sure it adequately reflects the 31 city's costs. Also noted was an increase in the funding for replacement of boulevard 32 trees. 33 34 Police Department — no new positions will be added as indicated in the five year plan. 35 The department has cut back in the area of supplies, other services and capital. The 36 department feels they are at a minimum level without impacting the service level. 37 38 Fire Department — the budget comes from the steering group so Administrator Heitke 39 reviewed. The twenty -five percent overall increase in costs over the last three years can 40 be attributed to making the budget more accurate — it was traditionally underfunded for 41 operations. Also this year, in consideration of the need to prioritize inspection activities, 42 the budget includes a portion of the cost of an additional fire inspector position. The 43 position would actually be partially grant funded for five years and the new fire chief 44 understands that the steering committee will revisit the matter. Outsourcing of that type 45 of services was suggested by a council member.