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INfiaW City of New Brighton Jthe city that works !or you 2010 Budget Hearing Pursuant to notice thereof, a meeting of the New Brighton City Council was held Tuesday, December 1, 2009 at 6:30 pm in the New Brighton Council Chambers. Present: Mayor Larson, Councilmembers Bauman, Doffing, Burg and Phillips, Also Present: Dean Lotter -City Manager, Schawn Johnson -Assistant to the City Manager, Dan Maiers-Finance Director, Bob Jacobson -Director of Public Safety, Grant Fernelius- Director of Community Development, Grant Wyffels-Director of Public Works, Sandy Breuer -Director of Parks and Recreation, Katie Bruno -Office Assistant City Manager Dean Lotter explained this meeting is required by law to allow City's an opportunity to present and discuss the budget for the upcoming calendar fiscal year. Ideally council will provide clear direction to staff as what to prepare for a final budget and levy to be adopted at the December Stn Council meeting. It was announced an open house is planned for December 8`h from 6:00-7:00 pm to honor Councilmember Doffing. Finance Director Dan Maiers went over the purpose and goals of the budget. The largest impact on the 2010 budget is the current economic conditions, affecting the state as well as the loss of building permit revenues locally. In the spring of 2009 changes were made to address the loss of state funds including the riddance of tuition reimbursement, delay in capital replacements, and training budgets were curtailed. In August 2009 the budget was formally amended by reducing expenditures in the following areas; personnel, tuition reimbursement, IT capital; replacement and other miscellaneous areas. 2009 personnel expenditures were reduced by the elimination of three positions, three employees exercised Early Retirement options. Cost of living and STEP increase wage increases were frozen. Some long-term financial plans were shared. The proposed 2010 tax levy certified in September 2009 was $7,619,100, an increase of 3.02%. The City Manger recommends a tax levy of $7,538,100, an increase of 2.02%, with a reduction of $81,000 in FSC non -fleet. Director Maiers reported council is anticipating a lower tax levy; this could be obtained by delaying the replacing of the three positions vacated through retirement (Deputy Director of Public Safety, City Forester, City Engineer.) City Manager Lotter reported by filling the three vacated positions April 1, an additional $190,000 would be needed in the budget. The option was presented to move funds from the capital fund to the operating fund, or to increase the levy. Ted Veilleux (2100 Greenview Drive) was pleased with the efforts in 2009. Mr. Veilleux would like to see an effort in reducing personnel costs in the future, and wondered the rate of growth with City employees, and how taxes are affected. Mr. Lotter responded with the many changes in the past few years resulting in a reduction of FTEs. Also he pointed out that in delaying the hiring of vacated positions, the only year the savings would occur would be the first year, as it is only a partial year. Dave Jacobsen (2539 Robin Lane) would like to encourage council to consider a 0% increase, with the caveat of having the City Manager justify individual line items if need be. City manager Lotter explained once a levy is locked in, the option to change that is no longer available. Robert Allen (191 Windsor Court) commended the Mayor and Council for the proposed budget, and emphasized the need to keep the public safety fully staffed, in order to maintain a safe City,