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HomeMy WebLinkAbout2003-07-23 MINUTES SPECIAL MEETING COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL July 23, 2003 CALL TO ORDER The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota held a special meeting on Wednesday, July 23, 2003, at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80`h Street South Mayor Shiely called the meeting to order at 630 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Sandy Shiely Council Member Jim Wolcott Council Member Mark Grossklaus Council Member Cheryl Kohls Absent: Council Member Pat Rice Also Present: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator Ron Hedberg, Finance Director Michelle Wolfe, Assistant City Administrator Caron Stransky, City Clerk Mayor Shiely presided over the meeting. Council heard a presentation from Ernie Pines, Director of Community Education, and Jim Shinn, Member of the South Washington Senior Center, requesting that the City of Cottage Grove provide financial support in 2004 for the Center. Mayor Shiely stated that the City Council would discuss their request and make a preliminary decision within the next 30 days. Finance Director Hedberg reviewed the General Fund projected revenues and expenditures. He noted the preliminary 2004 budget includes a $336,675 revenue shortfall. The revenues include the assumption of an electric and gas franchise fee for 2004 and levying the maximum allowed under levy limits. Hedberg also reviewed, by fund and program, full and part-time personnel covering the years 1998 thru proposed 2004. Council then began reviewing individual budgets and proposed budget additions. COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT Community Development Director Lindquist presented the pianning/building and historic preservation proposed budgets. She noted that the 2004 budget includes upgrading the Special Meeting—July 23, 2003 Cottage Grove City Council Page 2 Associate Planner's position and increasing the number of building inspectors from 1.5 to 2.0 FTE's. No building interns are proposed for 2004. CITY CLERWELECTIONS City Clerk Stransky presented the City Clerk, Elections, Charitable Gambling, Celebration, and Self Insurance budgets. Council discussed the future of the City's annual festival, Great Grove Get Together, and the City's role in pianning and organizing the annual event. In 2002, staff's participations significantly increased due to the reduction and shortage of volunteers. There was discussion of the festival's identity, changing the location, types of events, the date, increasing business and organization participation and funding, etc. Staff was asked to put together an estimate of what it costs the City in personnel time, i.e. public works, city clerk, recreation, finance and police staffing (actual and estimated). The Gambling Fund includes contributions totaling $15,000 for the fireworks dispiay, Youth Service Bureau, and South Washington Crime Prevention Board, and the transfer of $9,000 to the Celebration Fund and $30,000 to the Ice Arena Fund. Council complimented staff on successfully decreasing workers compensation claim dollars and the City's experience modification down to .84. Woicott recommended establishing a goal of .70. PUBLIC SAFETY Public Safety Director Mickelson presented the emergency management, animal control, and police protection budgets. There was brief discussion of the new carry and conceal handgun laws and the security of employees in city facilities and during public meetings. Public Safety Director Mickelson highlighted security measures taking place in City Hall and during Council meetings. The Emergency Management budget includes a $15,000 budget addition to replace siren #7 located at 70�h Street and Inwood Avenue. City Administrator Schroeder suggested that the $15,000 be eliminated from the General Fund expenditures and to replace the siren as necessary funding the emergency purchase from the Building Replacement Fund. There was no discussion of the Animal Control budget. The Police Protection budget includes the addition of one police officer/paramedic plus equipment. Mickelson requested that severance/annual leave expenses come from some other budget and not from a departmenYs individual budget. He noted that he has already been put on notice of a potential retirement next year. Special Meeting—July 23, 2003 Cottage Grove City Council Page 3 Council agreed to discuss annual leave sellbacks and additional funding for police protection to cover unallocated severance/annual leave expenses. Mickelson commented he requested the addition of two police/paramedics and the recommended budget includes only one. He requested that the Council consider his request to add two officers; adding approximately $63,000 to the police budget. There was discussion of why other communities of comparable size have more fire fighters and police officers. Grossklaus expressed concern about growth and the lack of adding staff. For example, the City of Maplewood has 46 officers and 16 paramedics. Mayor Shiely responded that you need to look at efficiencies versus a straight ratio based on population and square miles. Administrator Schroeder commented that Maplewood's tax capacity is 60% greater than Cottage Grove's. Mayor Shiely stated that you also need to look at the services provided; for example, Cottage Grove operates its own dispatch center costing approximately $500,000 annually. Following discussion, Mayor Shiely suggested that the topic will need to be considered within the next few years due to the future cost to upgrade our radio systems. There was discussion of the ambulance service contract with the cities of St. Paul Park and Newport and it was noted that the existing agreement expires at the end of 2003 and meetings will be held with St. Paul Park and Newport for a new agreement. City Administrator Schroeder and Fire Chief Bob Byerly presented the Fire Protection budget. Schroeder commented that the budget includes $45,000 for changes to wages, operating suppiies and clothing/uniforms per the Administration study. Byerly asked for funding for additional safety education and training. Schroeder noted that the $40,000 remaining from the Ashland Oil settlement could be used for additional equipment upgrades/replacements, i.e. SCBA anti-extraction units. Fire Chief Byerly requested that the full-time firefighter/paramedic position to be filled by March 2004. It was noted that the budget does not include a contribution toward the Firefighters Relief Association pension. Three fire vehicles are scheduled for replaced on the 2004 Equipment Replacement Schedule. Byerly noted that approximately 40 fire fighters are EMT's and eventually all will be. The firefighters are encouraged to train in paramedics. Mayor Shiely asked staff to distribute to Council a copy of the EMS ambulance service contract with the City of St. Paul Park and Newport. The Council then briefly reviewed the Mayor and Council, Economic Development, and Administration budgets. Special Meeting—July 23, 2003 Cottage Grove City Council Page 4 Finance Director Hedberg recommended that Council consider deleting $10,000 - $15,000 from the professional services line item in the Professional Services Budget. Mayor Shiely reminded the Council that the next budget workshop session would be held on Wednesday, July 30, 2003 at 6:30 p.m. Special meeting adjourned at 10:125 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Caron M. Stransky City Clerk