Agenda Packets - 2003/03/24 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council March 10, 2003 Regular Meeting Page 9 Council Member Stigney indicated that no money should be spent on nonessential items. 1 2 Interim City Administrator Ericson indicated that he would communicate to Staff that no 3 nonessential expenditures are to be made. 4 5 Mayor Linke asked Staff to hold off on any items that are in the works that can be stopped. 6 7 Council Member Stigney indicated that he was aware that claims show up on the list months later 8 but wanted to try to slow the spending and decrease the list in light of the budget crisis. 9 10 Council Member Stigney indicated he did not feel it was appropriate for the City to spend money 11 on five tickets to the Twin Cities North Chamber Gala and asked how this was approved without 12 Council action. 13 14 Interim City Administrator Ericson indicated that this type of expenditure is not something that 15 would come before Council. He also indicated that while past practice does not guarantee it 16 should be done today this is something that the City has paid for in past years. 17 18 Council Member Stigney indicated he questions whether it is an appropriate expenditure of 19 taxpayer funds. 20 21 Council Member Quick asked whether the money was in the budget. 22 23 Interim City Administrator Ericson indicated that Staff budgets for the Chamber events. 24 25 Council Member Quick explained that the issue with Brooklyn Center is that money was spent 26 with no vote of Council and without it being included in the budget. He then said that he feels 27 the Chamber puts much more back into the City than the City contributes and he feels it is 28 necessary for communication between the City and local businesses. 29 30 Council Member Stigney commented that just because the amount is in the budget does not mean 31 it has to be spent. He then said he is concerned about the appropriateness of the City spending 32 money on 5 gala reservations. He then asked that the City Administrator check with the state 33 auditor to determine whether this is an appropriate expenditure. 34 35 Council Member Quick clarified that the issue with Brooklyn Center was that they were spending 36 funds that were not budgeted and not approved by Council. He then said that, if Council were 37 this worried about the budget, it would have been more appropriate to have a meeting two weeks 38 ago rather than waiting until March 17, 2003 to give Staff direction on spending. He further 39 commented that if Staff is given appropriate and clear direction they would follow it. 40 41 Mayor Linke indicated that the gala was a budget item and an appropriate expenditure. 42 43 Council Member Stigney said he disagreed with the Mayor and Council Member Quick. 44 45