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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2004 08-16 CCM Joint Work Session with Financial Commission MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA JOINT WORK SESSION WITH FINANCIAL COMMISSION AUGUST 16, 2004 CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Work Session and was called to order by Mayor Myrna Kragness at 6:30 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness, and Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody and Diane Niesen. Councilmember Kay Lasman and Bob Peppe were absent and excused. Also present: City Manager Michael McCauley, Assistant City Manager/Director of Operations Curt Boganey, Fiscal and Support Services Director Dan Jordet, and Deputy City Clerk Maria Rosenbaum. Others present were Financial Commission Chair Donn Escher, and Commissioners Timothy Elftmann, Jay Hruska, and Mark Nemec. REVIEW OF 2005 GENERAL FUND BUDGET City Manager Michael McCauley discussed that the overall revenues in the General Fund would increase 7/1 Oths of one percent with a three percent levy increase in the General Fund. The Local Government Aid (LGA) loss of $335,033 is greater than the revenue raised by a three percent levy increase. A three percent increase in the General Fund Levy raises $275,860 1$284,407 estimated uncollectible), and the overall increase in all City and Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) levies is $212,301 or 1.97 percent. On the expenditure side there are a number of pressures that include wages and benefits that are included in the draft budget at three percent. This increase appears to be in the mid to low range of what might be expected to happen in the public sector and lower than the general trend in the private sector. The draft reflects shifting one street maintenance position to the Storm Water Utility Fund and a shift of some current General Fund personnel costs to the Liquor Fund. There are some expenditures that have been requested that can be removed in the next iteration of the draft General Fund Budget without requiring program or service cuts, but those reductions will be at the margin and would only be in the range of $20,000 to $30,000. Mr. McCauley requested direction as to what number should be proposed for the preliminary levy on September 13, 2004. Councilmember Carmody expressed that she believes the Council needs to make a decision if the Council would like to budget any money for REACH. 08/16/04 -1- I Councilmember Niesen questioned if the City had to switch to the 800 mhz for police and fire and if that would be a one -time expense. Mr. McCauley discussed that the City does have to switch to 800 mhz and that there will be grant monies that will need to be matched along with some on -going capital costs. Plus, there is a continuing cost to Hennepin County for participation in the annual metro radio system. Councilmember Carmody informed that she has a concern with the repair and replacement of buildings and the need for funding for this purpose. Financial Commission Chair Donn Escher expressed that he would like the Council to consider a three percent General Fund Levy increase plus full replacement of lost LGA. Mayor Kragness asked that each member indicate what alternate for consideration should move forward for the September 13, 2004, preliminary adoption. Commissioner Nemec express that he believed it would be irresponsible not to go with a less than Alternate E: a three percent levy plus replacement of the additional 2005 Local Government Aid loss of $335,033 increase when looking at the future for the City. It was the consensus of those present that the preliminary General Fund levy increase be proposed at three percent plus full replacement of lost LGA ($335,033) which results in a 5.08 percent increase in all taxes levied by the City and HRA. Councilmember Carmody expressed that she would still like to consider a budget for REACH. Mr. McCauley suggested that the Council continue discussion regarding REACH at the next Work Session. MISCELLANEOUS Mr. Escher questioned if the Financial Commission would need to meet other than the scheduled joint meetings with the City Council. Mr. McCauley suggested that the Financial Commission might wish to meet to discuss the fund balance. Mr. Escher suggested September 9, 2004, 7:00 p.m. ADJOURNMENT A motion by Councilmember Carmody, seconded by Councilmember Niesen to adjourn the Work Session at 8: 10 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. J� .l11�. . 41A&& a r --6— ktlt_�� City Clerk Mayor a 08/16/04 -2- Date: September 13, 2004 To: Michael McCauley From: Diane Niesen RE: Changes to Meeting Minutes: August 16, 2004 Joint Work Session with Financial Commission Please include this Memo as an Attachment to the above noted Minutes. It is my understanding that meeting minutes capture items of discussion that reflect the thoughts and opinions of the Council and, upon review and reflection, help provide the basis for understanding Council movement and direction. Given that intent, I feel that the following points were important to capture in the finalized Minutes: ■ Council Member (CM) Niesen noted that the materials prepared for the meeting included an opinion on salary increases for City staff. Niesen asked whether the same methodology used to assess Council Member compensation used by the Financial Commission was applied to City staff salary assessment. City Manager McCauley stated that a methodology termed: Comparable Worth, was used in salary assessments. ■ Niesen asked about the need to fund a City Assessing Dept. and the savings that might accrue if BC adopted a policy similar to the one now being studied for the 911 Dispatch system. Mr. McCauley stated that this issue had been reviewed a few years ago and it was competitive /equivalent to the County at that time. That review has not been updated. ■ Other areas of potential expense reduction were questioned and discussed including the ownership and use of City vehicles (City garage), the use of outside consultants, and a different mix of staff resources. Areas to increase income outside of taxation were also discussed and included the sale of fiber optic cable the City recently purchased, TIF district phaseout and possible grants and other revenue sharing possibilities. ■ Niesen asked about estimated tax impacts to residential taxpayers for the various tax increase scenarios presented. Niesen thought that this taxpaying segment was probably at their upper limit of tolerance for tax increases, given the current market situation for commercial and industrial tax values, and the phaseout of Limited Market Value.