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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2001 10-15 CCM 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 GENERAL WORK SESSION MEETING WITH FINANCIAL COMMISSION OCTOBER 15, 2001 CONFERENCE ROOM B CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met for a general work session with the Financial Commission at Brooklyn Center City Hall in Conference Room B and was called to order by Mayor Myrna Kragness at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Kay Lasman, Ed Nelson, Bob Peppe, and Tim Ricker. Also present: City Manager Michael J. McCauley, Assistant City Manager Jane Chambers, Fiscal and Support Services Director Doug Sell, Public Works Director Diane Spector, and Deputy City Clerk Maria Rosenbaum. Financial Commission Members present were Financial Commission Chair Donn Escher, Financial Commissioners Jerry Blarney, Mark Nemec, Jay Hruska, Gavin Wilkinson, Lawrence Peterson, and Tim Elftmann. City Manager Michael McCauley updated the Council on incidents that had happened in the City over the weekend. REVIEW PROPOSED REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS FOR AUDIT SERVICES Mr. McCauley reviewed the draft Request for Proposals (RFP) and discussed that staff would propose sending the RFP to the six firms listed in the memorandum from Director of Fiscal and Support Services Doug Sell, in addition to advertising in the newspaper and the League of Minnesota Cities Bulletin. If the Financial Commission was in favor of the draft RFP it would be recommended to be placed on the City Council agenda for approval at the October 22, 2001, meeting. The timetable would allow staff to receive proposals by mid - November and be able to have a committee review the proposals and make a recommendation to the City Council in time for the December 10, 2001, meeting. 10/15/01 -1- It was the consensus of the Council and the Financial Commission to proceed with the RFP and that the committee to review the proposals would be Mayor Kragness, Council Member Lasman, Council Member Nelson, Financial Commission Chair Donn Escher, Financial Commissioner Mark Nemec, and Financial Commissioner Jay Hruska. CAPITAL IMPROVEMENT PLAN Mr. McCauley discussed that the Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) is similar to last year's five -year project and that the addition of 2006 is at the planned Destination Park level. Revenues would be enhanced with an increase in the Golf Course loan repayment amount and an increase of $25,000 in the liquor store contribution, which would bring the liquor store contribution back to the $100,000 per year level. SPECIAL ASSESSMENT CONSTRUCITON FUND The special assessment construction fund has been adjusted to reflect changes made in the plans for the 2002 budget that increase costs to address more of the France /53` /Osseo road areas and start on Happy Hollow, along with other major adjustments being made in 2004 and 2005. Council and Financial Commissioners along with Mr. Sell and the Director of Public Works further discussed the changes proposed for 2004 and 2005 that increased $734,889 (64.69 percent) for the 2004 and 2005 projects due to the overhead costs and loss of economies of scale from the 2001 plan and 2001 -draft budget. Mr. McCauley indicated that the Council will need to have much more discussion next year regarding the 2004 and 2005 projects because a 65 percent increase in costs associated with splitting a standard project into two projects is not cost effective. Issues on staffing and sustainability need to be addressed. Ms. Spector informed the Council and the Financial Commission that the City would be 35 percent complete with streets at the end of 2001. UTILITIES DISCUSSION Mr. McCauley discussed that no increase is recommended in the water rates and that the sanitary sewer and storm drainage have recommended rate increases for 2002. Utility rate increases for 2001 increased an average annual utility bill for single - family residential properties by 4.6 percent and 4.3 percent for senior homeowners, and the rate increases proposed for 2002 would increase the average annual utility bill for single - family properties by 3.5 percent and 4.8 percent for seniors. These increases are necessary to sustain capital planning. Chair Escher questioned the senior rates. Ms. Spector outlined the senior rates and discussed the difference between consumption and daily rate uses. Financial Commissioner Gavin Wilkinson questioned what it would take to become consumption use only. 10115101 -2- Ms. Spector responded that it would take a policy change. Councilmember Nelson believes that this issue needs to be looked at more with Brooklyn Center being an aging community. Mr. McCauley discussed in summary that a lot of work will need to be spent on the budget for 2002 with the changes proposed for 2004 and 2005 and questioned whether the Council and the Financial Commission believes this draft is reasonable to levy the maximum by the State to provide funds for the street program in 2002. Chair Escher asked the Financial Commission for a motion to recommend to the City Council that the draft plan and rates move forward for final planning. It was noted that Commissioner Gavin Wilkinson made a motion, seconded by Commissioner Larry Peterson to have the Financial Commission recommend to the Cit y Council that ed raft plan and rates move forward for final the planning of the budget for 2002. It was the consensus of the Council to have staff move forward with the final_ planning of the budget for 2002. Mayor Kragness questioned the recycling rates. Mr. McCauley discussed that the recycling rate increase of one dollar per month is necessary to implement the new commingled recycling program. MISCELLANEOUS Mayor Kragness informed the Council that she had been contacted regarding youth being a part of commissions in the City of Brooklyn Center. Chair Escher stated that he would welcome youth on the Financial Commission. ADJOURNMENT A motion by Councilmember Lasman, seconded by Councilmember Peppe to adjourn the meeting at 7:25 p.m. City Clerk Mayor 10/15/01 -3-