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Mounds View City Council September 11, 2000 <br />Regular Meeting Page 11 <br />and indicated he does not support the budget increase because he doesn't feel the City has done <br />• anything to try to lower the amount needed for the budget. <br />Mayor Coughlin explained over 50% of the said potential increase is allocated to the new police <br />officers and indicated the Council had unanimously endorsed moving the police force to <br />community based policing perspective coming out of the tragedy that took place on Highway 10 <br />in February and it was recommended that the City hire two additional officers and fill the vacant <br />position that exists in the lieutenant spot. Part of the increase was requested by Community <br />Development for an intern to take care of some of the burden of administering the wide variety of <br />permits that are required on residential and commercial requests. Lastly, the other major factor is <br />parks issues. The single most sizeable item in the budget is the Hill View building which is in <br />violation of codes because of disrepair. He indicated his dismay that previous Councils did not <br />see fit to recognize that anything the City purchased or built over time, without routine <br />maintenance, mother nature will erode away and as such, this Council is left with funding the <br />cost to replace the building. <br />Mayor Coughlin also indicated there was $30,000 worth of playground equipment to be restored <br />and renovated and a sum of money to adjust bleachers within the City for the safety of the City's <br />residents. <br />Council Member Marty reiterated what Mayor Coughlin had said regarding the City's primary <br />- expenditures and indicated the issues in the budget have all been requested by the residents of <br />Mounds View. He said he is not willing to go back now on the residents' requests. <br />Council Member Marty indicated no one likes to see their taxes rise but in this case it is for <br />causes that the residents need and want and he believes they will approve of an increase if they <br />receive what they have asked for. Council Member Marty then indicated and the Chief of Police <br />confirmed that the City has lost over $85,000 by not having additional officers hired at this point. <br />Council Member Marty acknowledged the budget increase is an outgo or a cost but looking at the <br />number alone does not take into account where the money will go and what the residents have <br />asked of the City and Council. He indicated he is unwilling to sacrifice what the residents have <br />asked for and will not change his stance. <br />Council Member Stigney indicated he agrees with the safety issues and supports that part 100 <br />percent. He said he believes the Council should juggle other things, look at how the City is <br />spending money, and prioritize or cut back because an increase of 23.71 percent is excessive. He <br />said he believes with some fine-tuning, the City could find a way to cut back. He also said he <br />had requested of staff an analysis of what would happen if each department were restricted to a 3 <br />to 5% cap and that information was not provided to him. <br />Mayor Coughlin said, in defense of Staff, it is procedurally inappropriate for Staff to act on an <br />individual request of one Council Member without receiving an official directive from the <br />Council and that is why information was not provided to Council Member Stigney. <br />