05/05/2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION MAY 5, 2004 APPROVED 1 budgets. The recent 16% annual increase in taxable market value represents new revenue 2 to fund necessary additional staff positions. The decision on accepting these grants and 3 committing to hire additional staff needs to be made in context of the future growth, other 4 staffing needs within the organization, and increased future revenues from an increasing 5 tax base. 6 7 Chief Pecchia added Lino Lakes Elementary School has indicated they were interested in 8 helping fund the COPS in Schools Grant Program. That grant is still under consideration. 9 The Federal Government will be asking for City commitment before any of the grants are 10 awarded. 11 12 City Administrator Heitke stated this is a long-term commitment. Staff will be asking the 13 City to fund the positions when the grant money has been used. He referred to a graph of 14 the City of Lino Lakes Taxable Market Value 1999-2004. The City is seeing growth in 15 population so more staff is needed in all departments to maintain the current levels of 16 service. However, as the population grows the City also receives additional revenue. 17 18 Councilmember Reinert asked if the grants are all or nothing for the three officers. Chief 19 Pecchia stated that is the way the department is approaching it. If the City turns down 20 one of the grants, the City would in all likelihood not receive any more grants. 21 22 Councilmember Reinert stated the Council needs to look at the needs of the entire staff. 23 He suggested a more gradual approach be taken in terms of adding additional staff. •24 25 Councilmember Dahl clarified that the grants are obtained for new personnel only. Chief 26 Pecchia stated the City has received many grants and still will continue to pursue grants. 27 Hopefully there will be grants in the future to help pay for officers. The department has 28 been told that federal funding for these types of grants is going to be cut by 60%. 29 30 Mayor Bergeson stated that in 3-4 years, the City will have a quarter of a million dollars 31 that needs to be put into the budget. He believes the City should accept the grant but it is 32 a commitment that is a permanent one. It is the Council's responsibility to provide 33 resources for all departments and that should be equitable. If the City moves forward 34 with the grants, it needs to be clear that it is a long-term commitment and there is a 35 responsibility to other department within the City as well. 36 3'r It was the consensus of the City Council to direct staff to proceed with the Public Safety 38 Grants. Council also directed staff to provide additional information regarding staffing 39 needs in other departments. 40 41 Promotion of Reserve Officer — Chief Pecchia advised the department would now have 42 three sergeants and a lieutenant. There will be a ceremony with the presentation of 43 plaques and recognition from the City Council at a future Council meeting. 44 45 HUGO - ELMCREST AVENUE RESIDENTIAL DEVELOPMENT, MICHAEL 46 GROCHALA 47