HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 09-01 FCM• MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE FINANCIAL COMMISSION
OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER
SEPTEMBER 1, 1994
BROOKLYN CENTER CITY HALL, COUNCIL CHAMBERS
CALL TO ORDER
Chair Donn Escher called the meeting to order at 7:00 P.M. in the
City Hall Council Chambers.
ROLL CALL
Present at roll call were Chair Donn Escher, Commissioners: Lee
Anderson, Viola Kanatz, Ned Storla and Larry Peterson. Also
present were City Manager Gerald Splinter and Finance Director
Charlie Hansen. Denis Kelly arrived at 7:10 P.M. and Ron
Christensen arrived at 7:12 P.M.
Annroval of Minutes
A motion was made by Commissioner Viola Kanatz to approve the
minutes of the June 16, 1994 meeting. Commissioner Larry Peterson
seconded the motion and all members voted in its favor except for
Ned Storla and Ron Christensen who abstained.
1993 Annual Financial Retort
Charlie Hansen reminded the Financial commission that the annual
• financial report had been briefly discussed at the June 16, 1994
meeting and was to be put on the next ,agenda for further
discussion. Donn Escher asked about the auditor's management letter
and their recommendation that programs be transferred from the
General Fund to other funds. Charlie Hansen described the various
transfers which have been made or are contemplated. Denis kelly
asked if these transfers require us to modify the Adequate General
Fund Balance Policy Formula. Charlie Hansen responded that we
should reconsider this policy and modify for the new situation.
Donn Escher stated that this review should be completed before the
end of 1994.
Discussion of 1995 Annual Budaet
Jerry Splinter drew the Commission's attention to a memo in the
agenda packet and to a memo from City Assessor Mark Parish handed
out at the meeting which answered many of the questions raised at
the joint meeting of August 15, 1994. He went on to explain that
our purpose at this time is only to recommend a preliminary tax
levy to be used by Hennepin County in the Truth In Taxation
Notices. Detailed consideration of the budget will come later this
fall and a final tax levy must be adopted in December.
Vi Kanatz stated that the preliminary levy shouldn't be set too
low, because it can't be raised later, but that further scrutiny is
needed before a final budget and levy are adopted.
•
Denis Kelly stated that we must develop a long term vision of the
City's needs for services and the resulting tax burden. There
needs to be an examination of which services the City should
provide in five or ten years and change in an evolutionary way to
the new service model.
Denis Kelly moved that the Financial Commission recommend the City
Manager's preliminary tax levy to the City Council and state that
the Financial Commission will work with the city Council and Staff
to minimize any increase in the final tax levy. Commissioner Ron
Christensenn seconded the motion and all members voted in its
favor.
Audit Reauest for Provosal Process
Charlie Hansen reminded the Commission of the upcoming Audit RFP
process. Written responses are due from prospective firms by
September 19, 1994. It will be necessary for the Audit Committee
to meet shortly after that to review the written responses and
select firms to be interviewed. The Finance Department is
developing criteria to use in this evaluation and will share it
with the Audit Committee. Donn Escher stated that he was
appointing himself, Denis Kelly, and Ned Storla as members of the
Audit Committee. Jerry Splinter stated that he was appointing
himself and Charlie Hansen to the Audit Committee.
Next Meetina
The next meeting will be Thursday, October 13, 1994 at 7:00 P.M.
ADJOURNMENT
At 8:35 P.M. there was a motion by Commissioner Viola Kanatz and
seconded by Commissioner Ned Storla to adjourn the meeting. The
motion passed unanimously.
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