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HomeMy WebLinkAbout11/28/1988 Council Minutes070 COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 1988 The special budget meeting of the Lino Lakes City Council was called to order by Mayor Benson at 6:06 P.M., Monday, November 28, 1988. Council Members present: Neal, Bisel, Bohjanen, Reinert. Council Members absent: None. City Accountant, Paula Romocky; Public Works Director, Don Volk; Chief of Police, Dean Campbell; Administrator, Randy Schumacher and Clerk - Treasurer Marilyn Anderson were also present. Mr. Schumacher informed the Council that he had received the property appraisals for Rustic Lane regarding the 2nd Avenue Improvement Project and gave each Council Member a summary of the appraisals. Centennial Fire Department Mr. Schumacher responded to the questions raised by the Council Members at the last budget meeting. The first question relate to the Centennial Fire Department budget. The Fire Department is requesting $31,867 more than is in the 1988 Preliminary Budget. Mr. Schumacher has met with the Fire Department representatives and is now recommending to the Council that the budget figure be raised to $155,000, $10,000 more than originally budgeted. He has informed the Fire Department that this money is to be designated for training firefighters for station No. 2. This additional $10,000 will be taken from the surplus portion of the preliminary budget. Mr. Schumacher explained that whether or not Lino Lakes decides to build their own fire department, trained firefighters will be needed for station No. 2. This action would mean that the Centennial Fire Department budget will have to be reduced by $21,867 and the Fire Department said they felt they could operate fairly well for 1989. Mr. Schumacher said he will recommend that a letter of intent be filed with the Centennial Fire District and this then will allow one year for this City to renegotiate a more equitable funding formula for the District. Mayor Benson was concerned that the Fire Department may not us the additional $10,000 to train fire fighting personnel for station No. 2. Mr. Schumacher explained that they accepted the compromise in good faith and Mr. Neal explained PAGE 1 1 1 1 COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 1988 that trained personnel will be needed for this station regardless. There was a question regarding how this City could judge if the Fire Department budget was being spent properly. It was suggested that the staff check with Shoreview to determine what their fire costs are per capita and if they are satisfied with their contracted services. A comparison for Shoreviews costs with the Centennial Fire Districts costs was also suggested. It was noted that the budget request submitted by the Fire District shows what the 1988 Budget is, what was spent in each line item and shows the 1987 activity. New Administration Clerical Position Mr. Schumacher explained that Mrs. Anderson has prepared a memorandum to the Council outlining a proposed clerical position in her office. He explained the need for this person and noted that $19,000 was included in the 1988 Preliminary Budget for this position. Mr. Schumacher also explained that he is working with Personnel Decisions and will prepare an analysis of the office staff and salary schedule for the Council to consider. City Engineer and City Attorney The Council has asked Mr. Schumacher to prepare a comparison of costs for an in -house Attorney and Engineer. He noted the 1986 and 1987 costs for these consultants and explained what it would cost to hire in -house staff. Mr. Schumacher explained that only two or three suburban cities hire their own attorney and recommended that this City continue on the consultant basis since this would allow this City to hire a firm with more levels of expertise for the same money. He also explained that this City does hire other attorney's or firms such as LeFevere, Kennedy for most bond issues. Mr. Schumacher was asked to check with 3M to determine what they pay their staff attorneys. Mr. Schumacher has prepared a summary of.Lino Lakes municipal engineering costs for 1987 and 1988 to date. The cost per hour was not specified but could be obtained if the Council so wanted. Mr. Schumacher explained the engineering costs for improvements are billed directly to the improvement and are not included in the municipal costs. He also explained that he felt this City was not in a position PAGE 2 07T T. 472 COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 1988 to set up its own engineering department and explained the benefit of hiring a consulting engineering firm rather than an engineer. There was discussion regarding recovering some of the municipal costs. It was suggested that pass through charges could be increased. Additional Police Officer Mr. Schumacher explained that Chief Campbell has requested another officer in his department to continue in the direction of upgrading his department so that there will always be two officers on duty twenty -four hours a day. The cost of this officer ($30,674) is not in the 1989 Preliminary Budget. There was discussion regarding the potential growth of this City and when this officer would be needed. It was noted that it takes about three months to acclimate a trained officer. Chief Campbell explained to the Council that he felt that he is playing "catch up" so that this officer is needed now. Mr. Reinert said he feels that this City is going in many different directions and suggested that some long range projections should be made and not put these things in place in a piece meal fashion. There was discussion of possible additional revenue. It was noted that the County is saying they will not pay for fire or police protection in the Regional Open Space. This issue will require additional time. Public Works Department Mayor Benson asked Mr. Volk about the road overlay program and the rquest to share a recreation director. Recreation Director - Mr. Volk explained this person would be shared by Lino Lakes, Centerville, East Blaine, Circle Pines and the Centennial School District. The funding would also be shared. The City of Blaine and the School District have now pulled back on this plan and if this person were to be hired, he would be funded by the remaining cities. Currently, the cities are waiting to see.what Lino Lakes is going to do in this area. Mr. Volk said a decision regarding this position is still about six months in the future. Road Overlay Program - Mr. Volk explained the five year program which was planned „to cost $621,000. This plan has PAGE 3 1 1 1 COUNCIL BUDGET MEETING NOVEMBER 28, 1988 about two years to go at a cost of approximately $200,000. The program was not continued after 1987 but could be reinstated if needed. There was discussion regarding the streets still to be overlayed. Mr. Bisel asked if there was any danger of overlaying streets that would have to be replaced in the near future. Mr. Volk said he has tried not to do this. He has also taken MSA funded roads off of his plan. The next budget meeting will be set tonight at the regular Council meeting. Mr. Bisel moved to close the meeting at 7:10 P.M. Mr. Bohjanen seconded the motion. Aye. These minutes were considered and approved at a regular council meeting on December 12 1988. MARILYN G. ANDERSON Clerk- Treasurer PAGE 4 BEig Ae AMI G. B NSON ayor r73