HomeMy WebLinkAbout1998 06-10 CCM Special 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
SPECIAL WORK SESSION
JUNE 10, 1998
CONFERENCE ROOM B
CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a work session and was called to order by Mayor Myrna
Kragness at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Myrna Kragness, Councilmembers Debra Hilstrom and Kay Lasman. Robert Peppe was not
present, and Kathleen Carmody arrived at approximately 7:15 p.m. Also present: Financial
Commission Chair Donn Escher, Jerry Blarney, City Manager Michael J. McCauley, Assistant City
Manager Jane Chambers, and Finance Director Charlie Hansen.
DISCUSSION OF AN INVITATION FOR THE COUNCIL TO ATTEND A RESIDENT
MEETING AT SHINGLE CREEK TOWERS ON JUNE 17,1998, AT 7:00 P.M.
Some Councilmembers indicated that they might attend the meeting. The City Clerk will be
requested to post the meeting notice.
DISCUSSION OF FINANCIAL AUDIT REPORT
Mr. Cliff Hoffinan, Partner, and Kent Rademacher, a Senior with Deliotte & Touche LLP were
introduced. Mr. Hoffinan -reviewed with the Council the pag -,s of the selected financial information
dated December 31, 1997. He reviewed page 11, the present ttion of Market Values and Legal Debt
Margins, and page 12 which discussed the TIF Debt. Mr. Hoffinan praised the fiscal management
of the City. The audit report is an unqualified report again this year. Mr. Hoffinan described and
reviewed several strengths in the City's financial planning and management. He also discussed
challenges facing cities, including Brooklyn Center related to the reliance on State Funding for
significant portions of their revenues, planning five year outlooks, and the year 2000.
A further review of the financial report was made with the Council by Kent Rademacher. Mr.
Rademacher reviewed the management letter developed by Deloitte & Touche for the 1997 Audit.
Issues regarding discounting of City services and customer service changes at the City's Reception
Desk were discussed. The year 2000 concerns contained in the management letter were also
discussed with the City Council.
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Concerns regarding how to avoid financial issues such as., those that occurred with the City of
Cambridge, Minnesota, were discussed by the Council with the Auditors and the City Manager.
Councilmember Lasman asked about page 57 with regards to what were personal services by the
Mayor and the City Council.
The answer was that personal services represented the salaries and benefits received by Councif
Members. Councilmember Lasman also asked about expenditures in the Park and Recreation
Division. Finance Director Hansen responded to her question regarding which items were in
operational cost of the programs in parks, which were included in Capital Expenditures. Mr.
McCauley also responded to her question with regard to how expenditures may have been
reduced by increase of fees that the Council approved for 1997, and also indicated that some costs
may have been shifted from one portion of the Park and Streets Budget to another in 1997. Budget
year 1997 was the first year of the budget changes that had been implemented by the City Manager
to show more accurate accounting where costs were occurred. Councilmember Hilstrom asked
where accounting for inter fund loans was within the management letter. Finance Director Hansen
responded that questions about the inner fund loans were covered by note nine on page 43.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
City Clerk Mayo
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