HomeMy WebLinkAbout1997 09-29 CCM Budget Work Session MINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL
OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY
OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA
BUDGET WORK SESSION
SEPTEMBER 29, 1997
CITY HALL
CALL T 0ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a budget work session and was called to order by
Mayor Myrna Kragness at 7 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Kathleen Carmody, Debra Hilstrom, Kay Lasman,
and Robert Peppe. Also present: City Manager Michael J. McCauley, Assistant City Manager
Jane Chambers, Finance Director Charlie Hansen, Financial Commission Member Ned Storla,
and Council Secretary LeAnn Larson.
DISCUSSION OF LICENSE FEE INCREASE PROPOSAL
City Manager McCauley presented a business license fee survey prepared by the City Clerk
which showed where Brooklyn Center stands in comparison to the license fees charged by other
cities. Most of these fees discussed have not been increased since 1986 and don't reflect the
desire to "cover costs." A proposed three -year structure for annually increasing fees was
discussed.
Council consensus was that all license fees discussed be increased, most notably the rental
dwelling license fees. Mr. McCauley will prepare a suggested license fee schedule based on
the discussions with a $50 minimum for rental housing to reflect the cost of biennial
inspections.
DISCUSSION OF SOCIAL SERVTCE FUNDING. PROCESS/DATE OF DECISIONS BY
COUNCIL
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Council concurred to schedule for November 3, 1997, to discuss social service funding and the
enterprise funds for the 1998 budget.
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DISCUSSION OF CAPITAL FUNDING /CONTINGENCY
The City Manager explained that increased capital funding was included in the contingency
portion of the draft budget and that some funds will be shifted from contingency in the final
draft to capital transfers. For the time being, it was proposed to defer discussion on a possible
additional staff person to deal with implementing recommendations from the Marquette Study
and liquor study and leave funds in contingency sufficient to allow for that option's exploration.
REVIEW OF LOGIS ISSUF,S IN DRAFT BUDGET
City Manager McCauley explained that the draft budget contains funds for possible purchase
of building inspections software which would discontinue a LOGIS application in 1999 and a
review of buying recreation software directly, rather than through LOGIS. The software would
be the same, but the relationship would be directly with the vendor rather than through LOGIS.
These decisions need to be made by April, 1998, in order to withdraw from LOGIS
participation on those services. Mr. McCauley commented that staff is presently evaluating this
software.
DISCUSSION OF PROFESSIONAL SERVICES MATERIALS REQUESTED BY
COUNCIL MEMBER HILSTROM
City Manager McCauley reported on a request that had been made by the Council for a survey
of professional services not covered by the recently adopted financial services policy. In
reviewing what professional services were retained on an ongoing basis, only criminal and civil
legal services were identified. While the City has a number of engineering services performed,
significant projects are subject to requests for proposals for each of those projects and the
engineer selected pursuant to those requests. Minor engineering and miscellaneous professional
services are contracted but with respect to significant ($10,000 or more) projects there were no
ongoing relationships other than the described legal services.
City Manager McCauley responded to a recent Council question regarding continuing civil and
criminal law services. He noted that the last time RFPs were prepared for criminal law services
was in 1989. The last time for civil law services was in 1993.
Councilmember Hilstrom expressed a desire to have RFPs for these continuing professional
relationships done on an established schedule, similar to schedules for other professional
services.
Council consensus was to set up RFPs on a four -year schedule, with criminal law services
conducted in 1997 and civil law services conducted in 1999.
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DISCUSSION OF DRAFT GENERAL FUND BUD GET: CH,ANGE$. ADDITIONS
City Manager McCauley inquired if the Council saw any changes or additions to the draft
General Fund budget at this time. No additional requests were made. Mr. McCauley noted that
there will be more funding for capital improvement projects and that the five -year plan for
capital improvements is being worked on.
ADJOURNMENT
A motion by Councilmember Hilstrom and seconded by Councilmember Carmody to adjourn
the meeting at 8:35 p.m. passed unanimously.
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City Clerk Mayor
Recorded and transcribed by:
LeAnn Larson
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