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MINUTES
COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL August 2, 2017
ST. CROIX CONFERENCE ROOM
12800 RAVINE PARKWAY SOUTH
SPECIAL MEETING - 6:00 P.M.
1. CALL TO ORDER
The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota, held a special
meeting on August 2, 2017, at Cottage Grove City Hall, 12800 Ravine Parkway. Mayor Bailey
called the meeting to order at 6:08 p.m.
2. ROLL CALL
The following were present: Mayor Myron Bailey, Council Member Steve Dennis, Council
Member La Rae Mills, Council Member Wayne Johnson, Council Member Dave Thiede.
Also present were: Charlene Stevens, City Administrator; Joe Fischbach, HR Manager/City
Clerk; Robin Roland, Finance Director; Cathy Mohr, Assistant Finance Director; Rebecca
Ahlvin, Management Assistant; Brian Bluhm, IT Coordinator; Jennifer Levitt, Community
Development Director/City Engineer; Craig Woolery, Public Safety Director; Pete Koerner,
Police Captain; Greg Rinzel, Police Captain; Rick Redenius, Fire Chief; Aly Brinkman,
Management Analyst.
3. AGENDA ITEM
A. BUDGET WORKSHOP
Brian Bluhm began with a discussion of the Information Technology budget for 2018
including scheduled replacement of laptops, desktops, surface tablets and other
equipment. Bluhm discussed the replacement of the Building permit software and
increasing the capabilities of the system with that replacement. Bluhm emphasized our
attempts to streamline and consolidate operations by using software that does more
than one thing; i.e. permit software combining WebQA, licensing and Laserfiche.
Council member Thiede highlighted that the contractual services budget in IT covers the
annual costs for the software licenses and maintenance agreements.
Community Development Director/City Engineer Jennifer Levitt presented the Recycling
and EDA budgets. Levitt and Roland remarked about the increase to the EDA part of
the general levy in 2018 to $125,000. Future discussion of funding sources (separate
EDA levy and/or lodging taxes) was proposed.
CITY OF COTTAGE GROVE • 12800 Ravine Parkway • Cottage Grove, Minnesota 55016
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Levitt then discussed Planning, Engineering, City Hall and Building Inspection budgets.
The request to increase the seasonal building inspector position to a full time regular
position was discussed. Roland and City Administrator Stevens discussed how current
revenue levels could fund the position at 75% but that a 2.5% increase in building
permit fees could provide the additional 25% to make it fully funded in 2018.
Public Safety Director Craig Woolery presented the Police and Animal Control budgets,
emphasizing the impacts of staffing and training on expenses for 2018. With the
addition of a 42nd officer in 2017, scheduling has gone to 10.5 hour shifts for a savings
in overtime expense and the full time forensics detective position.
Fire Chief Rick Redenius was next and talked about the Fire and Emergency
Management budgets and the EMS/Ambulance budget. Transition to fire/EMS
response staffing is complete. Response times are still under 6 minutes, even though
we are constructing the new Central Fire Station while housed in the old City Hall/BEC
facility. Additional costs in 2018 include the effect/impact of a reduction in funding from
the state for turn out gear and fire training. EMS expenses in 2018 include the transition
from Physio Control and Firehouse software to Image Trend software and the purchase
of a replacement ambulance and stair chairs.
Captain Greg Rinzel gave an update on the HERO center: currently in schematic design
with RJM, legislative bonding tour in October, interest from Rasmussen college and
Inver Hills, increase in training funding/reimbursement from the State in 2019 to $1,000
per officer will help `sell' the facility to other partners.
Mayor Bailey inquired about the "lightning prediction" system that we had discussed as
part of Emergency Management last year and asked that we revisit it sometime in the
future. Council also inquired about the aerial fire truck and where it fit in the future
equipment plan. Council suggested a "needs analysis" for the regional community and
evaluation of mutual aid available before acquisition.
General Government (Administration, Finance, City Clerk and Personnel) were given a
quick review as not much change was expected for 2018. Joe Fischbach gave a verbal
overview on the process of job analysis and re-class of five positions (Recreation
Services Manager, Recreation Specialist, Arena & Facilities Manager, IT Manager and
IT Coordinator) where salary adjustments were included in the 2018 budget.
Administrator Stevens explained the next step in the process was a Facebook Live or
similar outreach to residents in place of the "Budget Open House" and after that, the
consideration of the preliminary 2018 tax levy at the first council meeting in September.
4. ADJOURNMENT
Motion to adjourn by Council Member Dennis, second by Council Member Thiede.
Motion carried 5-0. The meeting adjourned at 8:13 PM.
Minutes prepared by Robin Roland.