HomeMy WebLinkAbout1996 11-14 FCA•
AGENDA
BROOKLYN CENTER FINANCIAL COMMISSION
(November 14, 1996
City Hall
Conference Room B
1. Call to Order: 7:00 P.M.
2. Roll call.
Approval of Minutes: September 19, 1996
4. Review of Capital Improvements Fund Expenditure Policy.
5. Set Date of Next Meeting.
6. Adjournment: 9:00 P.M.
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MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINANCIAL COMMISSION
• OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
SEPTEMBER 19, 1996
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: Lee Anderson, Jay Hruska, and Ron
Christensen. Also present were Council Member Kathleen Carmody, City Manager Michael
McCauley, and Finance Director Charlie Hansen. Commissioners Ned Storla and Larry Peterson
were excused. Commissioner Phillip Roche was unexcused.
Approval of Minutes
Donn Escher noted a correction to the draft minutes. A motion was made by Commissioner Jay
Hruska to approve the minutes of the August 13, 1996 meeting as corrected. Chair Donn Escher
seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor except for Commissioners Lee Anderson
and Ron Christensen abstained from voting.
Facilities Tour
Scott Kline, Chief of Police, led the Financial Commission on a tour of the Police Station.
Discussion of the Status of the Financial Commission
Donn Escher distributed minutes of a July 15, 1996 City Council work session at which there had
been discussion of whether the Financial Commission should continue as such or be changed to
a task force. Extensive discussion followed on the purpose, workload, and benefits of having a
Financial Commission verses a task force. Consensus was reached that the City should continue
to have a Financial Commission.
Reouest for Proposals for Banking and Financial Services
Charlie Hansen explained that proposals had been solicited from all banks with offices in Brooklyn
Center. First Bank, Norwest Bank, and Marquette Bank had responded. Staff had disqualified
First Bank immediately, because we had heard, and First Bank had confirmed, that they were
closing their branch office in Brooklyn Center as of October 1, 1996.
The banks had been given the opportunity to propose no interest/no fee service, interest
bearing/fee charging account, or any other arrangement that they wished. Initial analysis
indicated that the proposals for an account which would pay interest on the cash balance in the
account and charge fees for the transaction activity would be most beneficial to the City.
Norwest's proposal at first appeared to have an advantage because of lower fees on many
transactions and higher interest on the cash balance. However the detail analysis showed that
Norwest had some charges which Marquette didn't have, the most significant being a collateral
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charge, which made their proposal more expensive. Staff still wanted to do some additional
analysis to prove out Marquette's proposal, but unless that analysis had results different from what
was expected, we are recommending that the City continue its business at Marquette Bank.
A motion was made by Commissioner Ron Christensen to recommend the Marquette Bank to the
City Council provided this is supported by staff's analysis. Commissioner Jay Hruska seconded
• the motion and all members voted in its favor.
Review of Capita) Improvements Fund Expenditure Policv
Mike McCauley reported that the City's capital and infrastructure needs include remodeling the
Fire Stations at a cost of about $3,500,000, and expanding the Police Station. Moving the City
Hall to a new addition attached to the upper level of the Community Center and expanding the
Police Station upstairs may be the most economical approach while also solving problems with
the building entrances. Study of this hasn't progressed very far, but it might cost about
$3,000,000 for the total of 6 to 7 million dollars. Mike is concerned that bonding for the total
would be too much for the tax levy so he is considering bonding for half and paying for the other
half from cash in the Capital Improvements Fund. This fund has a cash balance of about $4.6
million, but using the amount he is talking about would require modifying the Capital
Improvements Fund Expenditure Policy.
Extensive discussion followed on the advisability of submitting on part of the building package
to the voters in a referendum while paying for part of it in cash and on the history of Capital
Improvement Fund expenditures and the fund's need for a cash balance. A consensus was reached
that there is a need to address the City's building needs and that the Capital Improvement Fund
should play some part in financing it. The staff was requested to study the possibilities further
and report at the next meeting.
• Next Meeting,
The next meeting will be Thursday, November 14, 1996 at 7:00 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion was made by Commissioner Ron Christensen to adjourn the meeting at 9:20 P.M.
Commissioner Lee Anderson seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor.
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City of Brooklyn Center
A great place to start. A great place to stay.
•
To: Financial Commission
From: Michael J. McCauley
City Manager
Date: November 12, 1996
Re: Capital Improvements Fund Expenditure Policy
At the last meeting of the Financial Commission, discussion began on the issue of changing the
policy to use accumulated fund balance for upcoming projects. The specific project being
targeted for use of funds is the building needs for police and fire. The fund balance requirement
in the current policy is $3 Million plus inflation. Mr. Hansen calculated that balance at
$3,278,000 as of 12/31/95. The policy issue being suggested for review is the benefit of a large
fund balance versus using a major portion of that balance to address major building needs. The
interest on $3 Million could be used for minor projects and the inflationary increase in the fund
balance required by the policy. I would submit that it may be more productive to convert some of
that fund balance into facilities and their renovation, than to have the money accumulate.
• If the policy is revisited, the 4/5ths voting requirement and $200,000 limits should also be
reviewed as to their efficacy. One of the concepts we will be working on for the 1997 budget
process is a 5 year financial plan. That plan may include building fund balance for use in the 2nd
or 3rd year of a cycle. For example, a project may exceed the capability to raise revenues in a
single year and be scheduled for the 2nd year of a budget cycle. This would work by taking
$200,000 from year one of a budget cycle with $200,000 from the second to complete a major
project such as a street project. The 4/5th requirement would potentially delay planned projects
due to an inability to gain an extraordinary majority. $200,000 is also not a large expenditure in
the area of street reconstruction. This has not been an issue where the funding comes from State
Aid or the use of bonds, but the course I am pursuing would have us place monies into a capital
improvement fund to be accumulated and spent in budget cycles. Thus, monies could be put into
the fund for a specific purpose, only to have those fund locked up by the need for an
extraordinary majority.
One of the possible avenues we briefly explored at the last meeting was to create a working
capital fund to receive funds and the release them forprojects and a permanent fund for
emergencies or longer range issues. Separating the fund amounts would facilitate an internal
savings plan and the goal of having some amount of capital in reserve.
•
6301 Shingle Creek Pkwy, Brooklyn Center, MN 55430-2199 • City Hall & TDD Number (612) 569-3300
Recreation and Community Center Phone & TDD Number (612) 569-3400 • FAX (612) 569-3494
An Affirmative Action /Equal Opportunities Employer
•
. fincommlcappolcy City Council approved by
motion on 1-10-94
CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND EXPENDITURE POLICY
POLICY OBJECTIVE
The City of Brooklyn Center makes unrestricted capital expenditures through one of two funds.
Generally, small capital expenditures are funded through the general fund and planned for as part
of the annual budgeted process for the general fund. Large unrestricted capital expenditures are
funded through the capital improvements fund based on resolution 68-246, which was approved
in 1968. Capital expenditures are also made through other funds such as the M.S.A. construction
fund, the special assessment construction fund, the water fund, the sanitary sewer fund, and the
storm drainage fund. These funds each have restrictions in place to guide their expenditures.
The objective of this policy is to clarify funding for all unrestricted capital expenditures by
specifically defining which capital expenditures are eligible for funding through the capital
improvements fund. Unrestricted capital expenditures not meeting the criteria for the capital
improvements fund must be made from the general fund operating budget.
Specifically excluded from this policy are capital expenditures that are to be reimbursed by
insurance proceeds. These may be accounted for through the capital improvements fund at the
discretion of the Director of Finance.
SOURCE OF FUNDS:
The sources are ad-valorem taxes, issuance of bonds, state and federal grants, transfers of
unrestricted balances from other funds and investment earnings.
USE OF FUNDS:
The following defines general expenditure criteria for the utilization of the capital improvements
fund balance.
A.) Major: Any capital expenditure that exceeds $25,000. Capital expenditures of less than
$25,000 are to be made through the general fund operating budget.
B.) Permanent: Any capital expenditure that has an estimated useful life of 10 years or
longer.
C.) Facility: Buildings, improvements to real estate, the acquisition of land for city purposes.
This definition excludes the acquisition of land for development or resale and excludes
vehicles.
• Additionally, the capital improvements fund may be used to provide loans to other funds
maintained by the City. However, loans from the capital improvement fund may only be made
to proprietary funds which have the ability to generate revenue and repay the loan within 10 years
at prevailing interest rates.
AUTHORITY TO SPEND:
Expenditures meeting the above criteria may be funded through the capital improvements fund
based on the following authority limits:
A.) Expenditures from $0 to $25,000: Not eligible for funding from the capital
improvements fund. Funding is required through the general fund operating
budget.
B.) Expenditures from $25,001 to $200,000: The City Council may, through simple
majority, approve these expenditures.
C.) Expenditures over $200,000: Following a public hearing, City Council may,
through a 4/5th's majority, approve expenditures in this category.
SPENDING LIMITATION/FUND BALANCE REOUIREMENT:
The objective as described above and previously defined in Resolution 68-246 requires the capital
improvements fund to be a permanent source of funding for planned major expenditures. As such,
the following criteria is established to comply with that intent:
A.) Planned Expenditures: If the proposed capital expenditure is in excess of
$200,000 it must have been included in the five year capital improvements plan for
at least two years.
Additionally, the five year capital improvements plan must be approved by the City
Council at a public hearing on an annual basis.
B.) Fund Balance Requirements: A minimum fund balance shall be maintained with
a beginning balance of $3,000,000 as of January 1, 1993 and increased by the
Consumer Price Index each year thereafter.
POLICY AMENDMENT:
Amendments to this policy require a 4/5th's majority by City Council vote-
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. ROLE OF THE FINANCE COMMISSION:
If a review of an expenditure is requested by the City Council from the Finance Commission, the
Finance Commission will respond on the basis of the following questions:
A) Does the expenditure comply with the Capital Improvements Fund Expenditure
Policy?
B.) Is the expenditure appropriate considering the financial condition of the City?
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CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND EXPENDITURE POLICY
ESTIMATE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Liquor
Consumer
Minimum
Loan
Price
Fund
Fiscal
Beginning
Estimated
Principal
Estimated
Ending
Index
Balance
Year
Balance
Revenues
Repavment
Expend.
Balance
1/1/93
$2,000,000
12/31/93
2.7%
$2,054,000
12/31/94
2.7%
$2,109,458
12/31/95
2.8%
$2,168,523
1995
12/31/96
3.0%
$2,233,579
1996
$4,721,775
$350,441
$24,828
$563,700
$4,533,344
12/31/97
3.0%
$2,300,586
1997
$4,533,344
$336,437
$27,023
$2,500,000
$2,396,803
12/31/98
3.0%
$2,369,603
1998
$2,396,803
$206,300
$29,412
$260,000
$2,372,515
12/31/99
3.0%
$2,440,692
1999
$2,372,515
$202,759
$32,011
$160,000
$2,447,285
12/31/00
3.0%
$2,513,912
2000
$2,447,285
$205,064
$22,898
$160,000
$2,515,247
12/31/01
3.0%
$2,589,330
2001
$2,515,247
$208,415
$130,000
$2,593,662
$3,773,700
(1) This alternative adjusts the 1/1/93 beginning minimum balance requirement to $2,000,000.
(2) Inflation is assumed to continue at a 3% annual rate.
(3) Estimated revenues include interest on the fund balance at a rate of 6% plus interest on the golf
course loan of $57,500 per year and interest on the liquor loan as scheduled.
(4) Estimated expenditures for 1995 include $438,700 of projects approved for 1996 and $125,000 for
replacement of underground fuel tanks we are committed to doing in 1997. Expenditures shown
for 1997 and later years represents moneys available for commitment to new projects.
CIPFDBL.XLS 2mill 11 /12/96 11:08 AM
CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND EXPENDITURE POLICY
ESTIMATE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Liquor
Consumer
Loan
Price
Minimum
Fiscal
Beginning
Estimated
Principal
Estimated
Ending
Index
Fd. Bal.
Year
Balance
Revenues
ReDavment
ExDend.
Balance
1/1/93
$3,000,000
12/31/93
2.7%
$3,081,000
12/31/94
2.7%
$3,164,187
12/31/95
2.8%
$3,252,784
1995
12/31/96
3.0%
$3,350,368
1996
$4,721,775
$350,441
$24,828
$563,700
$4,533,344
12/31/97
3.0%
$3,450,879
1997
$4,533,344
$336,437
$27,023
$1,440,000
$3,456,803
12/31/98
3.0%
$3,554,405
1998
$3,456,803
$269,900
$29,412
$200,000
$3,556,115
12/31/99
3.0%
$3,661,037
1999
$3,556,115
$273,775
$32,011
$200,000
$3,661,901
12/31/00
3.0%
$3,770,868
2000
$3,661,901
$277,941
$22,898
$190,000
$3,772,740
12/31/01
3.0%
$3,883,994
2001
$3,772,740
$283,864
$170,000
$3,886,605
$2,763,700
(1) This spreadsheet depicts the current policy.
(2) Inflation is assumed to continue at a 3% annual rate.
(3) Estimated revenues include interest on the fund balance at a rate of 6% plus interest on the golf
course loan of $57,500 per year and interest on the liquor loan as scheduled.
(4) Estimated expenditures for 1996 include $438,700 of projects approved for 1996 and $125,000 for
replacement of underground fuel tanks we are committed to doing in 1997. Expenditures shown
for 1997 and later years represents moneys available for commitment to new projects.
CIPFDBL.XLS 94policy 11/12/96 11:06 AM
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CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
CAPITAL IMPROVEMENTS FUND EXPENDITURE POLICY
ESTIMATE OF AVAILABLE RESOURCES
Liquor
Consumer
Minimum
Loan
Price
Fund
Fiscal
Beginning
Estimated
Principal
Estimated
Ending
Index
Balance
Year
Balance
Revenues
Repavment
Exnend.
Balance
1/1/93
$1,000,000
12/31/93
2.7%
$1,027,000
12/31/94
2.7%
$1,054,729
12/31/95
2.8%
$1,084,261
1995
12/31/96
3.0%
$1,116,789
1996
$4,721,775
$350,441
$24,828
$563,700
$4,533,344
12/31/97
3.0%
$1,150,293
1997
$4,533,344
$336,437
$27,023
$2,500,000
$2,396,803
12/31/98
3.0%
$1,184,802
1998
$2,396,803
$206,300
$29,412
$1,440,000
$1,192,515
12/31/99
3.0%
$1,220,346
1999
$1,192,515
$131,959
$32,011
$130,000
$1,226,485
12/31/00
3.0%
$1,256,956
2000
$1,226,485
$131,816
$22,898
$120,000
$1,261,199
12/31/01
3.0%
$1,294,665
2001
$1,261,199
$133,172
$95,000
$1,299,371
$4,848,700
(1) This alternative adjusts the 1/1/93 beginning minimum balance requirement to $1,000,000.
(2) Inflation is assumed to continue at a 3% annual rate.
(3) Estimated revenues include interest on the fund balance at a rate of 6% plus interest on the golf
course loan of $57,500 per year and interest on the liquor loan as scheduled.
(4) Estimated expenditures for 1995 include $438,700 of projects approved for 1996 and $125,000 for
replacement of underground fuel tanks we are committed to doing in 1997. Expenditures shown
for 1997 and later years represents moneys available for commitment to new projects.
CIPFDBL.XLS 1 mill 11/12/96 11:25 AM
11/12/96
Capital Im movements Fund
10 1 1
Balance 12131195
$4,727,442
Estimated '96 expenditures by program
6006 1 Central Garage Improvements
$
80,000
60011 Interim City Hall Impr
$
85,000
61181 Playgrounds
$
225,000
6119 1 Retaining wall
$
8,700
61201 Northport park tennis cts
$
30,000
61061 UG storage tanks, CGS
$
5,000 1
Misc I Misc project dev I
$
51000
Estimated balance 12/31/96 1
I
$4,288,742
1997 project commitments
61061 UG storage tanks, CGS
$
125,000 1
Balance less estimated 97 commitments
$4,163,742
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