HomeMy WebLinkAbout1991 11-13 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
NOVEMBER 13, 1991
CITY HALL
CALL TO ORDER
The Brooklyn Center City Council met in a budget work session and
was called to order by Mayor Paulson at 7:03 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Mayor Paulson, Councilmembers Scott, Pedlar, Rosene and Cohen.
( Councilmember Rosene was excused from the meeting between 7:20
p.m. and 8 p.m.). Also present were City Manager Gerald Splinter,
Finance Director Paul Holmlund, and Assistant Finance Director
Charlie Hansen.
Mayor Paulson asked the Council if they had any comments from the
previous work session regarding questions which were raised during
that session. Councilmembers Scott and Cohen stated the Council
reviewed the budget from the beginning to the Vehicle Maintenance
j section of the budget. The two major items of discussion were the
request from the Hockey boosters for $10,350 for hockey program
expense and discussion regarding the canine program. The City
Manager was asked at that meeting to provide information regarding
program costs per participant in the various recreation programs
and cost information regarding the canine program and the use of
forfeited drug funds to finance the canine program in 1992. The
City Manager presented information on the recreation programs
stating per participant program costs ranged from a high of $46.72
per band member per year to a per participant (spectator) cost for
the puppet wagon playground program of $1.17 per participant per
year. With regard to the canine program he stated in a survey of
22 suburban communities in the metro area indicated 11 cities had
canine programs and 11 cities did not. He further stated forfeited
drug funds could be used as a funding source for the canine
program.
Mayor Paulson asked for public comment regarding the canine issue
and Dennis Kelly, Chairman of the Financial Task Force, appeared
stating his support of the Police Chief and City Manager's
recommendation to cut the program. He stated he believes such
programs as D.A.R.E. and Crime Prevention are more effective
programs than the canine program. Mr. Moen, representative of the
Police Union, supported the canine program if no further cuts were
made from other portions of the police budget. He also stated
there were safety factors for officers which were eliminated by the
use of canine units. Mr. Mann, Mr. Rayl and Mr. Slovak spoke in
favor of the canine program. The City Council discussed various
alternatives of funding and Councilmember Scott stated she had
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discussed the possibility of a joint program with Brooklyn Park
Mayor, Jesse Ventura, and she reported he was in favor of working
on a closer cooperative program in the future. Councilmember Cohen
suggested the possibility of working with Hennepin County on a
canine program and /or some joint powers agreement with a number of
communities in the north metro area.
There was a motion by Councilmember Cohen and seconded by
Councilmember Pedlar directing staff to provide suggested
alternative funding including forfeiture funds so as to include in
the 1992 budget the canine program and suggest a process for
reviewing alternative programs for providing this service in future
years. The motion passed unanimously.
Mayor Paulson asked if the Council had any comments or discussion
regarding the Hockey Boosters request for $10,350. Councilmembers
Cohen and Scott commented they would like to consider some amount
of money to assist the program on a one time basis and should be
reviewed and sent to the school districts for contribution to this
type of program. The City Manager stated the Council could fund
such a program if a services contract of some type were developed
to meet legal requirements. Mr. Bridges appeared on behalf of the
Hockey Boosters in favor of supporting the Hockey Boosters request
and Mr. Christensen, a member of the Financial Task Force, appeared
opposing the request and asking the Council to encourage the
organization of Hockey Booster or feeder programs along school
attendance boundaries. After further discussion the Council
requested the staff to review the possibility of developing an
overall policy on these matters in conjunction with the Hockey
Boosters and the schools and pending review of that the Council
would consider using contingency funds for financing this request
but not as a part of the regular budget.
Mayor Paulson asked if anyone else in the audience had any further
comment about any portion of the City budget proposal and Janet
Maher, representing the North.-Hennepin Mediation Project, spoke ip
favor of modifying the current budget proposal to allow some monies
for the mediation project. Councilmember Rosene reported the Human
Rights and Resources Commission had recommended $7,000 for the
Peacemaker Center contract and $3,000 for the North Hennepin
mediation Project contract and the proposed budget recommended`
$10,000 for the Peacemaker Center and no funding for the North
Hennepin Mediation Project funding. The Council asked staff to
review with the Peacemaker Center the recommendation of the Human
Rights and Resources Commission and the Council preference was to
split the funding rather than eliminate the funding for one of the
projects. Councilmember Rosene reported after a meeting of the
Human Rights and Resources Commission representatives of the
Mediation Project and police chief met to review and agree on a
referral olic . The Council asked when that review is complete it
P Y
be submitted to the City Council.
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Mayor Paulson recognized Donna Powers, Aquatics Program Supervisor.
Ms. Powers stated if this position is cut there would be problems
with maintaining a consistent certified program and communicating
with the parents and the children because running lessons and
supervising the program is a very demanding and time consuming job.
By cutting it back to part time people and splitting remaining
duties between other staff in the Park and Recreation area would be
a step backwards as the program has stabilized under one
individuals supervision over the last eight years. She suggested
there could be ways of increasing class size and other revenue
measure which could possibly increase revenues enough to pay for
this position. The City Council requested the City Manager to
review possible increase revenue sources and asked for a report on
the five year pool use based on program, income and attendance
records. During the discussion Diane Lerbs requested consideration
of increasing the temperature of the pool when smaller children are
in the pool and the Council asked the City Manager to review the
feasibility and Ms. Lerbs further requested if there was regularly
scheduling children's activities as to certain days and certain
times as a way of increasing pool use.
Ms. Lerbs questioned if the sale of the liquor stores would improve
the city's financial picture. Mr. Holmlund explained the liquor
stores currently contribute $100,000 to $125,000 to the General
Fund and privatization of our liquor stores would cost the General
Fund at least $100,000 annually in lost revenue.
Mayor Paulson asked if any one else present wished to comment on
the 1992 budget and Mr. Escher, a member of the Financial Task
Force, stated he believed the City Council should not make the same
mistake as the State Legislature in attempting to micro manage the
City. Elected officials should spend their time and emphasis on
policy matters and leave the management and operation to capable
professionals.
Mayor Paulson asked if the Council wished to consider continuing
the budget session this evening or adjourning it to another time.
After discussion, there was a motion by Councilmember Cohen and
seconded by Councilmember Scott to recess the budget work session
to the regular Council meeting date of November 18, 1991, in the
City Council chambers and requested the Mayor and City Manager to
limit the size of the regular agenda to allow more time for the
budget review. The motion passed unanimously.
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