Agenda Packets - 2010/01/11 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council December 7, 2009 Truth in Taxation Meeting Page 5 agreed that Public Works Director DeBar was hired because of his knowledge and experience to 1 perform engineering and consulting duties so she would hate to see him spending time on duties 2 that should be done by a Supervisor. 3 4 Public Works Director DeBar stated the Supervisor position will save the City a significant 5 amount of money long term. In addition, there will be more efficiency so if a position is vacated 6 or retires, the Supervisor would look at whether that position needs to be rehired or restructuring 7 should occur. Public Works Director DeBar indicated if the position is not filled, he would still 8 pursue efficiencies. 9 10 Council Member Hull agreed this position is needed long-term for the City and would result in 11 savings from consulting fees. He stated he had previously raised the option of staff furloughs of 12 up to several days per month to get more savings. 13 14 Council Member Stigney stated he spoke with Public Works Director DeBar today and 15 understands the need, but believed this was not the time to implement additional staff, especially 16 considering what is happening at the State level and future projections. Council Member Stigney 17 suggested that in the short term, Public Works Director DeBar restructure his staff to get the most 18 efficiency and hold off hiring this position until there is a staff opening. He commented on the 19 current economic stress on the City’s residents and suggested this be further discussed at the 20 upcoming Council retreat. He stated he cannot support hiring this position at this time. 21 22 Mayor Flaherty conducted an informal poll of the Council: Members Gunn, Mueller, and Hull 23 supported filling the Public Works Supervisor position. Council Member Stigney and Mayor 24 Flaherty did not support filling the position. Majority consensus was reached to keep this 25 position in the 2010 budget. 26 27 Mayor Flaherty noted in 2010 the cost for street pavement management should be lower, roughly 28 20-30%, to correlate with the amount of new streets that don’t need as much pavement 29 management. Public Works Director DeBar reviewed the items included in street repairs and 30 supplies. Finance Director Beer reviewed salary costs, noting the costs are allocated between 31 different departments. Public Works Director DeBar stated staff can track and bill its time to the 32 project instead of billing it against the Pavement Management Fund, which would reduce the 33 burden on General Fund. 34 35 Mayor Flaherty stated his goal is to get to a 0% levy so he is looking to reduce the 2010 budget 36 by $39,000. He stated that while he understands the concern with future impacts, the Council 37 also needs to look at what is happening today, and he believes that any levy increase sends the 38 wrong message to residents when their home values and economy are going down. 39 40 Council Member Gunn stated Council Member Stigney is suggesting to use more of the Levy 41 Reduction Fund but she does not want to use all of it now because a bigger amount may be 42 needed in future years. Finance Director Beer stated the Council will set the levy on December 43 14, 2009, and a 1% levy will cost a median value home $9.40. Council Member Gunn stated if 44 the Council is serious about reducing the levy to 0%, it should have done it before tonight. 45