HomeMy WebLinkAbout1992 01-22 FTFM• MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINANCIAL TASK FORCE
OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
JANUARY 22, 1992
CITY HALL
QLL TO ORDFR
Chair Kelly called the meeting to order at 7:05 p.m.
RQLL C
Chair Kelly, members Escher, Kanatz, Peppin and Boran. Members
Boyd and Christensen were in attendance at the start of the meeting
and left to attend a Charter Commission meeting. They returned to
the Financial Task Force meeting at 7:45 p.m. Councilmember Pedlar
was in attendance for the initial portion of the meeting and left
to attend another meeting. Also present were City Manager
Splinter, Finance Director Holmlund, Assistant Finance Director
Hansen, and City Assessor Mark Parish.
There was a motion by Kanatz and second by Escher to approve the
minutes of the January 6, 1992, meeting with the arrival time of
member Christensen corrected from 8:25 p.m. to 7:25 p.m. The
motion passed unanimously.
Chair Kelly asked City Assessor Mark Parish to make his
departmental presentation to the Task Force. City Assessor Parish
reviewed the operation of the assessor's department explaining the
following items: four year property visitation requirement in
State law; reviewing a history of personnel levels; a review of
property value appeals process and volume; departmental use of
technology; and an explanation of problems with equalization
process in other counties and throughout the state. Mr. Parish
also presented a review of historical property tax levels on
residential property as compared to the CPI and property valuation
increases over a twenty year period. Mr. Parish believed there is
an imbalance in the property tax system in which apartments and
commercial/industrial are paying a disproportionate amount of
property taxes as compared to single family residential.
Member Escher stated he received a handwritten list of suggestions
from a citizen and requested it be typed and distributed to the
members of the Task Force. In addition he asked Manager Splinter
to have the list reviewed and considered as a part of the
prioritization process and staff comments be reported back to the
Task Force.
Chair Kelly introduced Finance Director Holmlund for a presentation
of the activities of the Finance Department. Finance Director
Holmlund completed a presentation including the following items:
a review of the 21 departmental functions assigned to this area;
department organization chart; statement of department personnel
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• qualifications; review of the Certificate of Achievement for
Economic Excellence in Financial Reporting; a listing of staff
training and responsibilities by position; a review of the Finance
Department budget including personal services reimbursements from
enterprise funds; distribution of Finance Department personnel
costs by activity area; a listing of current, major departmental
activities and a review of long and short term goals and objectives
of the department.
Chair Kelly asked the membership if they wished to spend some
additional time reviewing the "reserve" section of the proposed
Financial Policy. Members agreed and a lengthy discussion ensued
after presentation of alternatives by Finance Director Holmlund.
The discussion evolved around whether or not the reserve policy
should require the City Manager to submit the annual proposed
budget with or without the use of reserves. Member Boran indicated
his preference for submitting the budget without including any
portion of reserves thus leaving the responsibility for the
decision to use reserves focused on the City Council with or
without recommendation for reseves use by the City Manager. Member
Boran pointed out the Citv Manacrer could suactest the use of
reserves under this policy but he could not submit the budget using
any portion of the reserves. Member Christensen argued for greater
flexibility for the City Manager and the City Council in the
submission and review of the budget and the use of the reserve
fund. After discussion by the membership Chair Kelly asked Manager
• Splinter if there was a timing problem in delaying final approval
of the Financial Policy. Manager Splinter stated if the Task Force
could come to a conclusion on this matter by April 1, 1992, that
would be completely acceptable.
There was a motion by Kanatz and second by Boyd to table further
consideration of the Financial Policy until the next meeting of the
Task Force and directing City Manager Splinter to prepare draft
language for the two basic positions for discussion. The motion
passed unanimously.
Chair Kelly stated some of the members are going to have difficulty
meeting the Monday evening meeting schedule of the Task Force and
requested consideration of alternate evenings in February and
March. After discussion a consensus was developed that the
February meetings of the Task Force would be on February 13 and
February 27 and tentatively the schedule the March meetings for
March 12 and March 26.
There being no further business Chair Kelly adjourned the meeting
at 9:38 p.m.
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