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Home My WebLink About2008 09-08 CCM Study SessionMINUTES OF THE PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL OF THE CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER IN THE COUNTY OF HENNEPIN AND THE STATE OF MINNESOTA STUDY SESSION SEPTEMBER 8, 2008 CITY HALL - COUNCIL CHAMBERS CALL TO ORDER The Brooklyn Center City Council met in Study Session called to order by Mayor Tim Willson at 6:00 p.m. ROLL CALL Mayor Tim Willson and Councilmembers Kay Lasman, Mary O'Connor, Dan Ryan, and Mark Yelich. Also present were City Manager Curt Boganey, Director of Fiscal & Support Services Dan Jordet, Community Development Director Gary Eitel, and Carol Hamer, TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc. CITY COUNCIL DISCUSSION OF AGENDA ITEMS AND QUESTIONS Councilmember O'Connor requested the following correction to the Joint Work Session with Financial Commission meeting minutes of August 18, 2008: Pase 2 Addition of the following statement after paragraph 4: "Mary O'Connor suggested we reduce the property increase by the amount of LGA we are receiving in 2009." Paragraph 6, sentence 2: "There was nsens s A maiority wanted to move forward..." It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the amendment to the August 18, 2008, Joint Work Session with Financial Commission meeting minutes. Councilmember O'Connor requested the following correction to the Regular City Council meeting minutes of August 25, 2008: Paae 6 Item Ilb, paragraph 3: "Councilmember O'Connor stated her opposition to franchise fees going through businesses. She stated her position that stfeet - eeas* uefie„ fees should be charged..." It was the majority consensus of the City Council to accept the amendment to the August 25, 2008, Regular City Council meeting minutes. 1 09/08/08 -1- MISCELLANEOUS Councilmember Lasman requested staff provide information on whether the cost of a special election is considerably less when held during a regular election than as a stand alone election. Mr. Boganey replied the cost of a special election is less when held during a regular election. His recollection is that the City Clerk suggested that a special election is in the neighborhood of $10,000 to $15,000. Councilmember O'Connor noted the August 25th update provided by Mr. Boganey on the 57th and Logan Avenues Site. She requested clarification on the reason for testing the air below the slab. Mr. Boganey explained the Minnesota Pollution Control Agency (MPCA) has established standards both for below slab conditions and indoor air; the situation requires a two part testing process. He provided an overview of the process for below slab and indoor air testing. Mr. Boganey stated if it is determined from the first test that there are no vapors being trapped under the house, or that the amount of vapors being trapped under the house are below the threshold established, it would be determined that there is no risk that the VOCs would cause a problem with the indoor air of the house and the testing is then complete. If a determination is made that the VOCs below the slab exceed the established standard, the indoor air testing would then be done to determine if the vapors below the slab are in the house at a level that would be a health risk. There was discussion on the procedure used to test below the slab. Mr. Boganey stated the City is following the protocol laid out by the MPCA and consultants based upon their knowledge and experience. It was noted that homeowners will not be provided with an indoor air system for remediation unless the second test determines that there is a potential health risk in the house. There was discussion on the term "laboratory reporting limits" being a measurement used by the Minnesota Department of Health (MDH) and the MPCA. Mr. Boganey indicated he will verify that the terms "laboratory reporting limits" and "indoor screening level" are used interchangeably and are intended to reflect the same standard. He stated he believes the difference is that the indoor screening limit is a standard that MDH has established and the laboratory limits are simply saying these are the results from the lab testing. Councilmember O'Connor requested staff to verify the following information in relation to the testing that has been conducted in homes in the 57th and Logan Avenues area: ■ Verification of the definition of the terms "laboratory reporting limits" and "indoor screening level" That the Trichloroethane identified in the indoor air of one property at four orders of magnitude below the air screening level means that the property is okay The purpose for testing below the slab first In response to questions regarding the testing location on the 57`" and Logan Avenues property, Mr. Boganey indicated that the MPCA has agreed with the location suggested by staff. DISCUSSION OF WORK SESSION AGENDA ITEMS AS TIME PERMITS REVIEW OF PROPOSED 2009 GENERAL FUND BUDGET CHANGES 09/08/08 -2- Mr. Boganey stated this item has been included on tonight's agenda in order to answer questions of the Council regarding changes made to the previous draft budget. Mr. Jordet provided a brief presentation and answered questions of the Council on the following calculations and correspondence in relation to the Preliminary Budget for the 2009 Fiscal Year: ■ City of Brooklyn Center Calculation of Limited Property Tax Levy for Pay 2009 with Police & Fire Special Levy ■ Property Tax Levy o General Property Tax Levy - Non-limited o Limited General Levy Calculated by State of MN o Special Levy for Police Wages: Current GF Staff o Special Levy for Police Wages: Move Grant Officers into GF o Special Levy for Foreclosure Costs of Residential Properties o Total General Fund Levy o HRA Levy: Transferred to EDA for Operations o Debt Levy: For Police & Fire Facilities Improvement Bonds ■ Correspondence from Eric Willette at the State of MN on the Reduction of Levy Aid Base for Police Wages & Benefits ■ Revised Limited Base Levy ■ City of Brooklyn Center Calculation of Limited Property Tax Levy for Pay 2009 with Police & Fire Special Levy (recalculated according to requirement relating to police/fire wages and benefits) ■ Property Tax Levy (recalculated according to requirement relating to police/fire wages and benefits) ■ Preliminary Tax Information (2008/2009 comparison) Mr. Jordet indicated the resolution being presented to the City Council tonight includes a preliminary tax levy payable in 2009 of $12,893,208. The proposed tax capacity rate is 3.67%. ADJOURN STUDY SESSION TO INFORMAL OPEN FORUM WITH CITY COUNCIL Councilmember Lasman moved and Councilmember Ryan seconded to close the Study Session at 6:47 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. RECONVENE STUDY SESSION Councilmember Ryan moved and Councilmember O'Connor seconded to reconvene the Study Session at 6:48 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. The discussion continued on changes to the proposed 2009 General Fund Budget. 1 09/08/08 -3- Mr. Boganey advised that while staff thinks the proposed changes to the budget are practical, doable, pragmatic, and can be done without severe effects on operations, the proposed budget is a very thin budget. There is very little room for error in revenue or expenditures. He provided an overview of the proposed changes to the budget. He advised that prior to adoption of the final budget in December, there will be opportunities to review the non-levy revenues and to review the expenditure side of the budget. A contingency of $120,000 in the operations side of the budget has been maintained. In years past the budget has operated with almost no contingency; the last few years they have tried to keep that contingency level up. This is really the only significant cushion, and it is still far below the maximum 5% the policy allows for. There was discussion on the Capital Reserve Emergency Fund. Mr. Boganey indicated that historically this fund has been built up by transfers at year end. There was discussion on expenditure cuts to contributions towards large capital purchases as identified on page 2 of the September 3, 2008, memorandum from Mr. Jordet. It was noted if this trend continues it could present challenges in the future. ADJOURNMENT Councilmember Yelich moved and Councilmember Lasman seconded to close the Study Session at 6:59 p.m. Motion passed unanimously. 1 1 09/08/08 -4- STATE OF MINNESOTA) COUNTY OF HENNEPIN) ss. Certification of Minutes CITY OF BROOKLYN CENTER) 1 1 The undersigned, being the duly qualified and appointed City Clerk of the City of Brooklyn Center, Minnesota, certifies: 1. That attached hereto is a full, true, and complete transcript of the minutes of a Study Session of the City Council of the City of Brooklyn Center held on September 8, 2008. 2. That said meeting was held pursuant to due call and notice thereof and was duly held at Brooklyn Center City Hall. 3. That the City Council adopted said minutes at its September 22, 2008, Regular Session. City Clerk 09/08/08 Mayor -5-