09-08-2014 Council Meeting Minutes

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COUNCIL MINUTES September 8, 2014 APPROVED 46 47 Consideration of Expenditures: 48 49 September 8, 2014 (Check No. 98718 — 98784, 50 $375,360.40) Approved 51 52 Centennial Fire District (Check No. 6544 - 6548, 53 $2,934.99) Approved 54 55 August 25, 2014 Council Work Session Minutes Approved 56 57 August 25, 2014 Council Meeting Minutes Approved 58 59 August 25, 2014 Closed Council Meeting Minutes Approved 60 61 Resolution No. 14 -103, Peddler License for 62 Customer Remodelers, Inc. Approved 63 64 FINANCE DEPARTMENT REPORT 65 66 2A) Resolution No. 14 -97, Adopting Preliminary 2014/2015 Property Tax Levy — Finance 67 Director Rolek noted that the council is required to set a preliminary tax levy each year at this time. 68 The council has had several discussions on the 2015 budget to this point. He reviewed new items 69 included in the budget at the present, including some start-up costs for the fire department, new 70 positions, and a debt service levy for the voter approved signal projects at Lake Dr/Main St and Ware 71 Rd/Birch St. He noted the proposed tax rate and the resulting preliminary levy amount. 72 73 The mayor acknowledged those items that are new in the proposed budget. The new staff is necessary 74 due to the numerous cuts that have occurred in recent years. There are new costs related to starting a 75 fire division but that is an investment in the future. He noted that the action this evening would 76 approve a preliminary levy only and he fully anticipates more discussion and drill down that will most 77 likely bring that figure down. Council Member Rafferty acknowledged that the council needs to 78 continue discussing the budget. Council Member Roeser noted that the city is growing and the 79 council must plan for that growth in population; that being said, the proposed levy is still a reduction 80 from last year's amount and he is ever ready to sharpen the pencil for the final levy approval. 81 Council Member Kustennan also noted that this is the upper limit and he expects the council will 82 lower it; if increases are needed in any area to properly run a growing city, he is prepared to approve 83 that. Council Member Stoesz remarked that for the budget proposed, the city will be run top notch 84 and he would like to maintain that quality but aim at a lower number. Mayor Reinert noted his 85 interest in more council review of areas such as the city's reserve funds. Finance Director Rolek 86 briefly reviewed some reserve areas: fund balance reserves for the city's enterprise funds are required 87 for operation of those enterprises as well as coverage of maintenance and replacement needs; 88 construction fund reserves are generally bond proceeds that are used during the course of projects; 89 debt service fund reserves are used to make payments on the debt to which they are dedicated; 90 Municipal State Aid (MSA) fund reserve is money received in advance from the state but that is 2