HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 08-14 FCM• MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINANCIAL COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
AUGUST 14, 1997
CITY HALL, CONFERENCE ROOM B
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Donn Escher called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in Conference Room B.
ROLL CALL
Present at roll call were Chair Donn Escher, Commissioners: Ned Storla, Jay Hruska, Larry
Peterson, and Jerry Blarney. Also present were Council Liaison Debra Hilstrom, Mayor Myrna
Kragness, City Manager Michael McCauley, Finance Director Charlie Hansen and Cliff Hoffman
of Deloitte & Touche. Commissioners Ron Christensen and Michael Weidner were absent and
excused.
Annroval of Minutes
A motion was made by Commissioner Jerry Blamey to approve the minutes of the July 17, 1997
meeting. Commissioner Jay Hruska seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor.
Commissioner Ned Storla abstained.
Agenda
• The proposed agenda was approved by consensus with an addition by Chair Donn Escher.
Donn Escher reported that he had appeared at a meeting of the City Council on August 11, 1997
at which he communicated the Financial Commission's recommendations made at the July 17,
1997 meeting.
Discussion of the Comprehensive Annual Financial Report for the Year Ended December 31 _
1996.
Donn Escher introduced Cliff Hoffman, partner in Deloitte & Touche, which is the CPA firm that
audits the City's Comprehensive Annual Financial Report. Mr. Hoffman made a presentation
very similar to the one he gave at the City Council meeting of June 23, 1997 and minutes of that
meeting may be seen for a detailed record of the presentation.
Donn Escher asked how Brooklyn Center's police department benchmarked against other cities
and about setting up a task force to study capital needs. Ned Storla noted that federal and state
budget problems are likely to mean the loss of state aid to the city in a few years.
Discussion of Citv Council reouest for the Financial Commission to examine whether contracts
with social service agencies should decline to zero over a over a five vear neriod as a nolicv.
Mike McCauley explained that this issue was on the agenda to alert the Financial Commission that
• it had been discussed by the City Council and probably would be on a future agenda.
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• Monthlv Financial Renorts
It was noted that the monthly financial reports submitted to the City Council have also been sent
to the Financial Commission. Some of the reports are lengthy and it was questioned if it was
worthwhile to copy the entire set of reports for the Financial Commission. No consensus was
reached.
Finance Department Staffing.
Donn Escher asked if the Financial Commission should review staffing levels and assignments in
the Finance Department. Mike McCauley responded that he felt that staffmg levels were adequate
but that some of the assignments may need review.
Next Meeting,
The Financial Commission has been invited to attend all City Council budget work sessions. The
work session scheduled for August 18 has been moved to August 26. Another budget work
session has been scheduled for September 29, 1997. The next meeting of the Financial
Commission will be Thursday, September 4, 1997 at 7:00 P.M. The City Council has scheduled
a reception to recognize the advisory commissions at 6:15 P.M., before the regular City Council
meeting on September 8, 1997.
ADJOURNMENT
Commissioner Jay Hruska moved to adjourn the meeting at 9:26 P.M. Commissioner Ned Storla
• seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor.
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