08-24-2015 Council Special Work Session Minutes

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COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION August 24, 2015 APPROVED Council Member Rafferty asked about the Metro iNet budget. He is seeing an increase but not understanding what it represents. Administrator Karlson reviewed the budget on Page D-27 and passed out additional information received from Metro iNet. The city contract is going up as indicated, however some of the items were also included in department budgets (Laserfiche for example) resulting in a reduction of about $18,000 in the Finance Department. He provided a memo to the council explaining that. Back to the line items, they include core service charges increasing due to staff being added and that is needed mainly because of the amount of equipment required for public safety services. He stressed that the sharing of services and costs through the Metro iNet is a real bargain for the city. The mayor suggested that the city should still investigate other possibilities. Chief Swenson urged caution in looking at other options; other than something like LOGIS, it would be difficult to provide the level of services needed, including 24 hour services. Council Member Roeser, looking back at the General Fund Gap Analysis, noted that the levy for the street construction project is new and really stands alone. Because it is the first year of that program, would a contribution to lessen the impact make sense? The mayor noted that the people of Lino Lakes agreed, by ballot, to let the budget cover the expense of the street reconstruction project and the traffic light improvements. The council discussed the bond payments for the construction of the civic complex. The last payment will be due on 2017. There was a general review of bond payment schedules. Council Member Rafferty suggested that project names be attached to the levy list. Public Safety Director Swenson provided information on fire division related expenses for 2016 including a contingency. Noting Page D-93, a fire contingency in the amount of $125,500 has been added. Mayor Reinert explained that the budgeting is first time around so either you plan high or plan realistically and add a contingency. Council Member Stoesz suggested that the contingency be earmarked for public safety rather than just fire. Administrator Karlson explained where the funds were taken from for that contingency. The council further discussed the Public Safety Department budget request. The mayor reviewed increases to the budget over the period 2013 to requested 2016. Chief Swenson clarified that the current information reflects a reduction from the request, to 27 sworn officers (an almost $250,000 reduction reflected in the gap). The mayor asked for a breakdown of the increase in the budget proposed from 2015 to 2016. Mayor Reinert clarified that the $323,000 was only expenditures and he believes there were revenue changes identified also ($10,000 Engineering & Planning; Licenses $4,000; Intergovernmental $19,000; Excess tax increment, $11,000; phones, $17,000). Administrator Karlson explained the reductions included on the gap analysis that includes some of those things. The mayor asked if there is more revenue to be gained from the ACE program; Chief Swenson will check. The mayor would like the $323,000 included 2