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City of St. Anthony <br />CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />Minutes <br />July 11, 2023 <br />Present: <br />Mayor & Council: <br />Randy Stille, Mayor, Bernard Walker, Jan Jenson, Thomas Randle, Wendy Webster, Councilmembers <br />Staff: <br />Charlie Yunker, City Manager, Shelly Rueckert, Finance Director, Jeff Spiess, Police Captain <br />Call to Order: <br />Mayor Stille called the Work Session to order at 6:00 p.m. <br />2024 Initial Property Tax Levy Scenarios: <br />Finance Director Rueckert reviewed the initial preliminary levy increase as prepared by staff using the <br />best information available on 2024 costs. The scenario includes expected Cost of Living (COLA) increases <br />for staff, and inflationary increases for non-personnel costs. <br />The Police Department has requested consideration of other items including and allowance for market <br />wage adjustments, establishment of a cadet program for recruitment, and adding additional staff for an <br />investigator (to participate on a Ramsey County team) and an administrative Lieutenant position. Some <br />of the costs for the new positions can be shared with Lauderdale through the police contract, and public <br />safety assistance funds are available to help offset costs as well. <br />Council asked Captain Spiess questions on the rationalizations for the requests and how they meet the <br />needs identified by the department, and how the requests serve the Police Department’s Strategic Plan. <br />City Manager Yunker added that additional details will be included at the next work session the <br />preliminary levy is discussed, as per the usual process. Staff sought feedback on the overall concepts to <br />determine if some or all are financially doable in the Council’s view. <br />Council discussed and expressed support to proceed with the proposed recommendations and will <br />review again when staff is ready to present an updated version of the preliminary levy, which is <br />scheduled to be on August 8th. <br />Future Work Sessions: <br />Next Work Session will be held on July 25th, 2023, at 5:45pm in the Council Chambers. <br />Adjournment: <br />The meeting adjourned at 6:37 p.m. <br />Respectfully submitted by Charlie Yunker, City Manager.