03/23/2009 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 DRAFT CITY OF LINO LAKES SPECIAL WORK SESSION MINUTES DATE TIME STARTED TIME ENDED MEMBERS PRESENT MEMBERS ABSENT : March 16, 2009 . 5:35 p.m. . 6:20 p.m. : Council Members Stoltz, Gallup, O'Donnell, and Mayor Bergeson : Council Member Reinert Staff members present: Director of Finance, Al Rolelq Director of Administration, Dan Tesch; Director of Public Safety, Dave Pecchia; Police Captain Kent Strege; Police Community Relations Coordinator, Karen Anderson; City Clerk, Julie Bartell FINANCIAL PLANNING Finance Director Rolek noted that economic conditions and projected shortfalls in the State's budget will have an impact on the city's 2009 budget. Staff has examined potential revenue changes and explored the potential for savings related to personnel attrition and reallocation of levy dollars. He reviewed a listing of proposed 2009 budget adjustments, based on conditions known this day. The directors assembled, looked at all areas of the city budget and forwarded these ideas. When the council asked if the current scenario of state reductions is the worst possible, Mr. Rolek remarked that the Market Value Homestead Credit reduction is one hundred percent so that can't go down; there is some maintenance and police pension funding that the city receives from the state but that is not expected to be reduced. The council discussed the city fund reserves. Mr. Rolek acknowledged that some cities are looking at reserves to fill deficit gaps. The council wants to have a dialogue about reserves including what the city has, how it compares and possibility of use. It was clarified that the small budget surplus from 2008 went into fund reserve. Mr. Rolek noted that the following items are possible discussion topics for strategic financial planning. franchise fees, stormwater utility and administrative fines. Police Chief Pecchia added that the Joint Law Enforcement Council will be supporting an administrative fine system in case the state stops doing court enforcement. Some cities have instituted diversion programs. He stated that the Police Department will move as directed by the council. The council discussed the fire department (Centennial Fire District) budget and staff explained that the city's relationship with the district (including budgetary) is controlled by a joint powers agreement so while discussion is occurring about the district budget, that is appropriately happening within the structure of the steering committee.