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MINUTES APPROVED: October 6, 1998 LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL BUDGET WORKSHOP SEPTEMBER 8, 1998 Mayor John called the budget workshop to order at 5:30 p.m. in the Council chambers. PRESENT: Hunt, Dunn, John, Johnston (arrived at 5:45 p.m.), DeLapp (arrived at 5:45 p.m.), City Planner Dillerud and Finance Director Banister. M/S/P Hunt/Dunn — to approve the August 31, 1998 Budget Workshop minutes, as presented. (Motion passed 3-0 Council members DeLapp and Johnston were not in attendance for the vote.) Finance Director Banister informed the Council that she had made the recommended changes from the August 31 budget workshop and provided a balanced budget for Council review. In answer to the question on the $213,000 from the sale of the landfill, Banister reported the money was received in 1996 and used to purchase the Berschen property at a cost of $8,500 an acre (16.555) _ $140,717.50 TKDA expense (design for new building) 20,503.70 Money to present Public Works building 19,482.20 TOTAL $180,703.40 The $32,296.60 remaining is in the Fund Balance of the Public Works building fund. (See page 11) Fire Department: Crown Victoria Car: Fire Chief Dick Sachs, asked that the name of "Used Command Car" be changed because it is used for other uses than just for calls. The Council suggested "Car #3190" Telesuuirt: The Chief asked that "renovation" be changed to "rehab". It is a 19-year-old vehicle and would sell for over $129,000. Right now replacement value is over $300,000: The Department is looking at getting another 10 years out of the vehicle and asked that $100,000 be inserted to cover the rehab in the CIP, but Sachs estimates the cost to be between $50,000 and $85,000. The vehicle will be out of action for one month. Firefighters: The reasons for adding permanent firefighters because there is more than enough work for a full-time person. We are not doing any preplanning or fire code inspections of City facilities. Sachs made the Council aware of the light daytime response and thought it nice of Joe Rogers, Lake Elmo Hardwood Lumber, to permit up to five employees to leave for a call. Residents building $200,000 - $600,000 homes are not interested in holding a fire hose, spending time away from the family on weekends and holidays and attending three drills a month. Five out of the 25 firefighters are living in Cimarron. In some Cities, the maintenance employees are on the Fire Dept. and can respond to calls during the day. Public Works Supervisor, Dan Olinger, responded that the two men he has could not make all the required training. One man has his own business which requires working nights and weekends. Councilor Dunn was not ready to put $50,000 for permanent firefighters in the Budget. Councilor Hunt did not think it was a good idea adding the money. He suggested having a workshop to look over total staffing needs when Baytown Township comes in. Maintenance Department: Maintenance Supervisor, Dan Olinger, responded to questions previously raised by the Council. Street Sweeping: Purchased street sweeper in 1991 for $10,000 as a pilot program to try to see if sweeping can be done cheaper and as needed year around. The program has gone very well. It costs approximately $1,700 to $2,200 a year for the City to do their own sweeping compared to contracting it out at $8,750 for one sweeping in the Spring. The 1980 gas unit is worn out. Maintenance and MAC are trying to locate a refurbished street sweeper at a cost of $55,000 versus purchasing new at $109,000. If the Maintenance crew sweeps a specific area because of a new house, the City keeps the road deposit.