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Home My WebLink About08-25-97 CCMMINUTES APPROVED: September 2, 1997 IW.114ago lu eXelIIrav-9111►ejIWIN lilt) goWITLO77Y..4Hola�4112191- l AUGUST 25, 1997 Mayor John called the budget workshop to order at 5:30 p.m. at the Lake Elmo Fire Hall. PRESENT: Dunn, John, Conlin, DeLapp, Fire Chief Sachs (departed 7:30 p.m.), Administrator Kueffner and Finance Director Banister. ABSENT: Councilor Hunt. Marilyn Banister presented an updated (thru 7/31/97) income and expense along with the 1998 proposed budget. General Property Taxes ($1,188,186) is the amount of the city's Levy Limit which means that is the most we can certify for the 1998 Budget. The levy limit is on for only two years. The actual tax levy went up 3%. However the total budget went up 6%. The difference being license, permits, police fines and other city charges increased by 3%. Marilyn pointed out that the month of December is the worst month to hold a hearing if you want people to attend. The Council asked Marilyn to send a letter to Senator Laidig and Representative Larsen protesting a December hearing, the City incurring the expense and suggest the Truth and Taxation Hearing be held in the first two weeks of November. Page 2: CAPITAL OVERLAY AND PERSONAL SERVICES: Capital overlay and personal services are high. Proposed 4% salary increases. Did not budget for a full- time person and two raises were given out at $1.50/Hr. which equals $6,000. After raises for 1997, we will be $8,000 over. With all the new developments, the Maintenance Foreman feels he needs another full-time person, but the City may look at contracting additional services. As a result, cost could be looked at to justify another maintenance employee. Newsletter figure ($7,500) is low—cost will be higher because it is done monthly. Advertisement would offset costs. Councilor Dunn stated the newsletter looks pretty, but should put in what's happening in city; such as overlay of streets to forewarn people. Professional Services: There is no Community Opinion Survey in 1998. Councilor DeLapp suggested asking Baytown if they want to share. This is the only way to find out what people want. Councilor Conlin felt philosophical questions should be asked for working on the 1998 comprehensive plan. ACTION TAKEN: The Council moved the $4,000 Community Opinion Survey into 1998. LEGAL SERVICES: Discussion on Baytown Annexation: Mayor John asked if the City Council will support Baytown in defending a principle keeping the area rural? Councilor DeLapp said he was willing to spend up to $150,000. Councilor Conlin felt as far as consolidation cost it is justifiable. As far as the 235 acres, where is the benefit to Lake Elmo? After the Municipal Board, we will have to deal with property owners making some demands and don't know if it is worth it. Councilor Dunn asked what could we do to lower the attorney fees? Councilor Conlin suggested costs be reduced by the steps the staff recommended: make the developer pay through pass-thru, review reports be written for packet, when there is a light agenda the attorney does not need to attend, Councilor DeLapp stated what the staff saves on attorney fees could go to salaries. ACTION TAKEN: Decrease legal from $80,000 to $70,000. Prosecution Costs: The Council felt prosecution costs were out -of -line and asked if criminal prosecution could be separated and put out for bids. Following discussion, the Council asked that putting out for bids for criminal prosecution be added to the next meeting. ENGINEERING SERVICES: There was discussion on reducing cost to $50,000 from $70,000. Banister reported that most engineering work or projects are pass-thru costs. The water meter bill has not come in as yet, therefore the actual cost for engineering will be higher. The Administrator will ask for a quote for work from the engineer from now on when the Council requests the engineer to proceed with a project. The Finance Director was asked to identify expenses for 1996 in order to find out if the cost is for many projects or several large projects. (See attached). ACTION TAKEN: $10,000 was put in to cover engineering expenses incurred to work on the 1998 comprehensive plan and $10,000 for Baytown annexation costs. CONFERENCES AND SCHOOLS: The Council combined the individual line items into one line of $11,000 to give each one equal opportunity. Requests will be made to the Administrator for approval with a report given to the Council by the individual attending the conference. ACTION TAKEN: $11,000 for Conferences and Schools. Questions on dues and memberships: The following list was given: League of MN Cities: $3,000; Metro East $500, Sensible Land Use $125, Stillwater Area Chamber $575, Municipals, MN Management Assoc. Councilors Dunn and DeLapp suggested the City eliminate Metro East and Stillwater Area Chamber because they did not see any benefit to the City. Building Inspector: Truck expense is for gas. Fire Department: Workman's Comp. is based on population. Fire State Aid Line/City Contribution: (bottom of Page 3) Delete City Contribution. Animal Control: The Administrator will be making a recommendation for the Council meeting. Recycling Program: Banister pointed out the $55,000 figure is low, may have to add an additional $20.000. Councilor DeLapp felt this was excessively high --maybe recycling should be twice a month. Administrator Kueffner made a suggestion that waste haulers can charge a flat fee for recycling. PARKS: Change the 5-Year CIP because regarding Stonegate Park will cost $40,000-$50,000. PUBLIC WORKS: The Council asked the Administrator review the costs of the Maintenance crew having each a cell phone, pager, radios in their vehicle with the Foreman receiving $25/month and the crew receiving $10/mo. It was suggested they each get a phone and see what the individual City related cost for calls would be. Street Lights: Councilor DeLapp resented having to pay $11,000 for other people's streetlights. There should be a way to assess people for lights. The Council requested the Budget stay at maximum for hearing: General Property Taxes: $1,188,186. This is as high as the City could go. Council can lower at meeting. The Council scheduled December 3, 1997 for the Budget Hearing, and this date will be confirmed at the September 2"d Council meeting. The Council adjourned the workshop at 8:30 p.m 00 CITY OF LAKE ELMO City of Lake Elmo 777-5510 3800 Laverne Avenue North / Lake Elmo, Minnesota 55042 $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP AGENDA MONDAY, AUGUST 25, 1997 LAKE ELMO FIRE HALL, 3510 Laverne Avenue North $$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ 5:30 p.m. Meeting Convenes 1. Proposed 1998 Budget 2. Adj ourn