HomeMy Public PortalAbout11/20/07 Special CCM443
MEDINA CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES OF NOVEMBER 20, 2007
The City Council of Medina, Minnesota met in special session on November 20, 2007 at
6:03 p.m. in the Medina City Hall. Mayor Crosby presided.
I. Call to Order — Mayor Crosby called the meeting to order at 6:03 p.m.
Members present: Johnson (arrived at 6:40 p.m.), Weir, Crosby, Cavanaugh, Smith
Members absent:
Also present: City Administrator Chad Adams, Planning Director Tim Benetti,
City Engineer Tom Kellogg, and Finance Director Jeanne Day.
II. 2008 Budget Work Session
Crosby provided comment on the public feedback he has been receiving to the proposed
tax levy and stated he desired some analysis be conducted to potentially lower the levy at
5% intervals.
Adams stated he distributed an updated budget analysis to the Council which reflected an
overview of the major expenditure increases as well as the 5% intervals in lowering the
levy. Adams indicated that even with the increase in road funding for 2008 that a net
loss will occur in the total road program in the amount of $105,000. The existing fund
balance in the road fund is sufficient to cover that loss for 2008. He also noted a recent
analysis conducted by Bonestroo that approximated $671,000 in necessary annual
allocations for road and maintenance repair through 2028.
Adams discussed the proposed $100,000 transfer to the fire fund. The fire fund currently
has a $0 fund balance as the City has never allocated long-term funding for fire
equipment and facility needs.
Adams discussed the proposed $100,000 transfer to the equipment fund. Even with the
transfer of the $100,000, the equipment fund will also experience a net loss in fund
balance for 2008.
Adams explained the need to begin allocating more funding for environmental programs
due to environmental mandates. The proposed transfer of $175,000 will help support the
environmental needs, but will also result in a net loss in fund balance for 2008.
Adams also provided an overview of the Police and other remaining operating costs
which are $156,290 and $66,164 respectively.
Johnson arrived at 6:20 p.m.
Medina City Council Special Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2007
Adams presented the affects of decreasing the levy at 5% intervals, which represents a
$106,575 reduction for each 5% reduction.
Adams provided some options for reducing the levy, which included: $150,000 in the
transfer to the environmental fund (and replacing the source of funding through a
possible storm water utility); cost savings of $26,543 in the postponed hiring of the
Accountant, which is replacing the Deputy Clerk position, as well as postponed hiring of
the Accounting Technician; future operational cost savings by not moving forward with
the concession stand project in Hamel Legion Park; and, $8,250 in savings by not
allocating funds to social services.
Discussion was held on the options to reduce the levy and the approach to further
explaining the long-term needs of the City at the TNT meeting.
Smith discussed the past philosophical approach to approving budgets. She stated the
City has been creating and improving the capital improvement planning the last four
years and the philosophical approach is based more now on needs -based planning.
Adams added that fire capital planning, the long-term roads program, and environmental
program planning were prepared through formal analysis this year for the first time.
The Council requested additional analysis to be conducted on operational costs for the
concession building. Adams stated such analysis could not be completed by the
December 3 Council meeting and it may warrant several weeks or months to complete.
Crosby requested staff prepare a historical market value analysis of two residences and a
commercial business and to illustrate the effective tax rates and proportion of city taxes to
the landowner over the last five year period. Adams concurred it would be included in
the TNT presentation.
Discussion was held on the implementation of the storm water utility and the Council
reached consensus to discuss at the regular meeting with the intent to direct staff and
Bonestroo to begin creating a plan.
The Council reached consensus to invite the TNT meeting to be video recorded and aired
on the local government access cable channel at additional cost. Adams stated the cost
was about $70, but there may be difficulty scheduling the taping.
V. Adjournment
The meeting was adjourned at 6: 52 p.m.
T.M. Crosby, Jr. Mayor
Attest:
Chad M. Adams, City Administrator -Clerk
Medina City Council Special Meeting Minutes
November 20, 2007