HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 02-13 FCM• MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINANCIAL COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
FEBRUARY 13, 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, Jerry Blamey and Michael Weidner. Also present were Council Liaison Debra
Hilstrom, City Manager Michael McCauley, and Finance Director Charlie Hansen.
Commissioner Ron Christensen was absent and excused.
Approval of Minutes
A motion was made by Commissioner Jay Hruska to approve the minutes of the January 9, 1997
meeting. Commissioner Ned Storla seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor
except for Commissioners Larry Peterson and Michael Weidner who abstained from voting.
Approval of the A encta
A motion was made by Commissioner Larry Peterson to approve the agenda for the meeting.
• Commissioner Jay Hruska seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor.'
Fire & Police Building and Ca ita Im r vements Fund Exnenditure Policy
These items were discussed at the January 9, 1997 meeting and further discussion on them was
deferred to the March 6, 1997 meeting.
Proposed Accounts Receivable Policv
Charlie Hansen presented a draft of this policy. Most of the procedures described are what the
staff is already following with the major exception of granting the City Manager the authority to
write off uncollectible accounts receivable up to amounts defined in the policy. This is a change
from the practice of annually submitting a resolution to the City Council to authorize the write off
of uncollectible accounts receivable. There was discussion, but no consensus regarding the
appropriate amounts the City Manager should have authority to write off. Jay Hruska suggested
that there should be some review by either the Financial Commission or the City Council of the
amounts written off by the City Manager. Debra Hilstrom expressed her desire that the placing
of non-essential items on the City Council agenda be limited.
Proposed NSF Check Policv
Charlie Hansen presented a draft of this policy. This policy is very similar to the accounts
receivable policy in that most of the procedures described are what the staff is already following
with the major exception of granting the City Manager the authority to write off uncollectible NSF
• checks up to amounts defined in the policy. This is a change from the practice of annually
submitting a resolution to the City Council to authorize the write off of uncollectible NSF checks.
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• A motion was made by Commissioner Larry Peterson and seconded by Commissioner Jerry
Blarney to recommend the accounts receivable policy and the NSF check policy as amended to the
City Council. Mike McCauley commented that he may wish to lower the amounts that he would
be authorized to write off before the policies are submitted to the City Council. All members
voted in favor of the motion.
Amended Investment Policv
Charlie Hansen presented the existing investment policy and a proposed draft of a new policy.
The existing policy was approved by the City Council in 1990 and amended in 1994 to exclude
the purchase of derivative securities. The proposed policy is based on a model policy from the
Government Finance Officers Association with various modifications to fit Brooklyn Center's
situation. Extensive discussion followed. It was decided that the paragraph on training be made
a more positive statement by saying the City shall provide training instead of the City should
provide training. The policy was held over to the March meeting to allow more time for the
Commissioners to consider and discuss the issues.
Next Meeting
The next meeting will be Thursday, March 6, 1997 at 7:00 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
• Commissioner Jay Hruska moved to adjourn the meeting at 8:07 P.M. Commissioner Jerry
Blamey seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor. Interested members proceeded
on a tour of the Fire Stations led by Fire Chief Ron Boman.
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