HomeMy WebLinkAbout08-20-2012 Council Special Work Session Minutes CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION August 20, 2012
APPROVED
CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE : August 20, 2012
5 TIME STARTED : 6:00 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 9:00 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Stoesz, O'Donnell,
8 Rafferty, Roeser and Mayor Reinert
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : none
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11 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Community Development
12 Director Michael Grochala; Public Services Director Rick DeGardner; Finance Director
13 Al-Rolek; Public Safety Director John Swenson; City Clerk Julie Bartell
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15 The special meeting was called for the purpose of discussing the 2013 Budget.
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17 1. Consider Options for Reducing Budget—Administrator Karlson distributed a sheet
18 entitled "Budget Gap Options" and noted that staff is presenting over$1 million in
19 options for council consideration. Each item was reviewed by Mr. Karlson. Public
20 Services Director DeGardner explained the job functions of the Public Works Department
21 and the Parks and Recreation Division and distributed written information. Council
22 members offered some suggestions including: a)not filling the vacant Planner position;
23 b)outsourcing in some areas where it makes sense such as electrical inspections; c) using
24 volunteers for some community functions; d) getting vendor control so that the city gets
25 the best rates for professional services; e) look at where the city gets its audit services
26 and make sure that's a best buy.
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28 The council heard about the Public Safety Department budget from Chief Swenson who
29 noted that the 2013 proposed department budget is $63,000 down from last year. The
30 department is inline for the capital purchase of some new police vehicles and, with six
31 cars in the current fleet over 100,000 miles,he thinks the purchase is important as there
32 are some safety concerns when ears get too old.
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34 The council discussed the Centennial Fire District Budget. The mayor noted that he
35 serves on the District Steering Committee and is well aware of the good value and
36 services that the district offers to the city. He is suggesting however that the city has
37 faced budget reductions for the last few years but the District budget, of which Lino
38 Lakes pays about 70%, has not gone down. He is suggesting a reduction to that budget of
39 $25,000 to $50,000, a lesser percentage than the city has taken.
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41 The council discussed the city's capital program and whether it makes sense to finance
42 equipment at this time of extremely low interest(Mr. Rolek suggested that interest on
43 debt is under one percent). It was pointed out that financing also makes sense because
44 the cost is spread over time in case people move in and out. Mr. Rolek concurred that it
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CITY COUNCIL SPECIAL WORK SESSION August 20, 2012
APPROVED
45 makes sense to finance in the current economy and that it would not hurt the future option
46 of moving back to a revolving program because that could be phased back in.
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48 The council discussed health care rates and heard from the City Administrator that the
49 city will receive its rate offer in October.
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51 Council Member Stoesz recommended that the council consider investing in information
52 technology for the city, including an employee working in that area. The mayor asked
53 Council Member Stoesz to put together information that identifies projects/work that
54 could save in the future and the cost to get them in place; the council needs that kind of
55 concrete information to make decisions. Council Member Rafferty received an update on
56 the Finance Department accounting software upgrade; Mr. Rolek explained that funding
57 is being put aside and the project is moving toward an upgrade.
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59 The council discussed the gap list in its entirety and tentatively focused on filling the gap
60 to maintain the 2012 levy- $538,369. Mr. Rolek received direction on reductions and
61 will prepare updated figures. The proposed budget will be discussed next at the
62 September 4 work session and the council will consider adoption of the preliminary levy
63 at the September 10 council meeting.
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65 The meeting was adjourned at 9:00 p.m.
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67 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
rniel 68 September 10, 2012.
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71 �M✓.: A.
I
7J�d e Bartell, Ci Clerk Je • i e ' Mayor
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