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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1999-08-18 MINUTESM � SPECIAL MEETING � COTTAGE GROVE CITY COUNCIL August 18, 1999 CALL TO ORDER The City Council of the City of Cottage Grove, Washington County, Minnesota held a special meeting on Wednesday, August 18, 1999, at the Cottage Grove City Hall, 7516 80` Street South. Mayor Denzer caNed the meeting to order at 6:40 p.m. ROLL CALL Present: Mayor Pro Tem Jim Wolcott Council Member Pat Rice Council Member Sandy Shiely Council Member Cheryl Kohls Absent: Mayor John Denzer Also Present: Ryan Schroeder, City Administrator Caron Stransky, City Clerk Michelle Woffe, Assistant City Administrator Elizabeth Johnson, Finance Director Brenda Peper, Financial Analyst � John Fredrickson, Asst. Public Works/Parks & Recreation Director Patti Storby, Public Works Secretary Les Burshten, Public Works Director Responses to 8/11 /99 Budget Review Meeting Council reviewed the report prepared by City Clerk Stransky relating to gambling revenues and expenditures through the year 2000. Administrator Schroeder informed the Council the Cottage Grove Jaycees will be planning the Halloween Parade this year. The Council may wish to allocate gambling contribution funds for this purpose. Schroeder reviewed the electric and gas franchise fee estimates prepared by Northern States Power (NSP) Company. For the year ending June 1999, the City would have collected $213,612 electric franchise fee; and $113,340 in gas franchise fees. Schroeder commented the existing Franchise Agreement does not regulate fees; therefore, the City could impose a franchise fee by ordinance. In the metro area, approximately 6-12 cities currently impose a franchise fee on NSP utility bills. The City could charge all customers or only residential or commercial customers. Council reviewed the report from staff regarding the 1998 Tax Data for cities 20,000 to 40,000 population. Cottage Grove is ranked 14 of 21 communities with a total tax rate of 119.62. Total tax rates range from a high of 139.48 in New Hope to a low of 106.87 in Andover. Schroeder reviewed his report to the Council regarding the City's urban and rural taxing districts. � Shiely asked Schroeder what the overall impact would be to the City if the rural taxing district were eliminated. Schroeder responded this information was unknown since he did not ask Washington County that question. � SPECIAL MEETING — AUGUST 18, 1999 Cottage Grove City Council Page 2 of 3 � Schroeder reviewed the information he received from the South Washington Cable Commission. The estimated franchise fee revenue from subscribers for 1999 totals $432,000. As Cottage Grove is 36.68% of the subscriber base, a rough estimate of franchise fees to be received from Cottage Grove subscribers in 1999 is $158,000. Council acknowledged receipt of the status of the completed construction and closed debt funds from Finance Director Elizabeth Johnson, a listing of state mandates to Minnesota cities prepared by the League of Minnesota Cities and an unfunded mandate cost breakdown from the Public Safety, Finance, and Personnel Departments. 2000 Recommended Budaet The Council reviewed briefly reviewed the planning, historic preservation, inspections, and engineering recommended budgets. Schroeder noted he plans to schedule a Council workshop session in October to discuss engineering consulting services. Public Works Council briefly reviewed the street maintenance, sign and striping, snow/ice control, and public works administration recommended budgets. • There was discussion regarding the PCI index of roadways, seal coating, possible outsourcing of sign/striping activities, and the future request to purchase a sign-making machine. Discussion then turned to the salt-storage shed in the 2000 Capital Improvements Program. Shiely reiterated her frustration that the salt/storage shed was cut from the Public Works facility project last year. She voted in favor of the project solely because she was assured the shed would be constructed. Kohls concurred with Council Member Shiely noting there were too many project change orders. Because there are other needs in the City, she would vote against this project for the year 2000. Council questioned whether there were storage problems in general. The storage of equipment at the Kingston Park building has caused utilization problems. Parks and Recreation Council briefly reviewed the park maintenance, forestry, recreation programs, municipal pool, special recreation programs, ice arena and golf course recommended budgets. Bruce Anderson, Golf Course Manager, presented the recommended administration and maintenance budgets for 2000. Due to the construction of the new clubhouse, the budget increased significantly. It reflects increases in fee, an objective to develop a tree farm, install cart path, and an increase the golf cart fleet. u � � � SPECIAL MEETING — AUGUST 18, 1999 Cottage Grove City Council Page 3 of 3 Other Public Works Council reviewed the recycling, water operating, sewer operating, streetlight, fleet maintenance, and equipment replacement recommended 2000 budgets. There was brief discussion regarding the purchase of a storage trailer for $10,000. It was suggested that staff look into purchasing either a horse trailer or a used storage trailer for significantly less than the amount budgeted. Council discussed the recommendation to increase streetlight rates in order to ensure the fund breaks even — both City-owned streetlights and Northern States Power-owned streetlights. In response to Kohls, Burshten stated if he had to choose between the hiring of a mechanic and the overhead crane, he would recommend hiring the mechanic. Preliminary Levv Council reviewed the recommended budget additions and authorized the following: • Improve part-time Firefighter wages • Thermal Imaging Masks match • Public Safety Drug Officer • Equipment Replacement Total: $ 20,500 18,000 35,500 (net of grant) 50,000 $124,000 (put in contingency for future discussion) MOTION BY WOLCOTT, SECONDED BY RICE, TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL MEETING AT 12:09 A.M. MOTION CARRIED. 5-0. Respectfully submitted, ���rl Caron M. Stransky City Clerk CMC �