2015.09.01 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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staffing, elections, membership, fleet/non-fleet and other cuts. He provided comment on how the 3x3 tax levy would impact the median value home. He reiterated that it was the City's desire to fund City streets and infrastructure without issuing additional debt. He then commented on how residents would be impacted by the zero percent tax levy versus the 30 levy option. He reviewed the budget timeline and next steps. He requested the Council provide staff with direction on how to proceed with the Council's objectives. Councilmember Strub believed that the City's services should be the Council's number one priority at this time. It was his opinion that staff s focus was on services, which was reflected in the proposed budget. He thought it was in the City's best interest to set aside cash for fleet/non-fleet expenses and not rely on borrowing. Councilmember Bauman appreciated staff s presentation and for discussing the two budget scenarios. She encouraged staff to thoroughly evaluate the City's needs and wants. She feared that if the levy was increased each year, it would be difficult for the City to rope in its expenses. She discussed how past tax revenues were spent by the City. She believed that some budget expenses could be curtailed through the elimination of a full- time City Forester. She questioned why finance staffing was up to 2.15. Lotter explained staff was proposing to eliminate one full-time person in order to hire two part-time license bureau staff members. The new staffing members would be funded by the license bureau and would only be hired if the City received permission from the State to become a license bureau. Councilmember Bauman believed that Silver Sneakers should no longer be free to visitors from outside of New Brighton. Parks and Recreation Director Brueur reported the Silver Sneakers program brings in $21,000 annually. She explained that this program was not free. She discussed how the program was reimbursed through third party vendors. She reported that the City made more money off of Silver Sneakers members than from adult memberships. Councilmember Bauman believed that COLA's should be rethought before staffing cuts were made. It was her opinion that COLA's should not be a given, but rather be evaluated on a year to year basis. Lotter reported that staff had wage and COLA freezes for three years. He agreed with Councilmember Bauman's statement and clarified that the City has not made up for the three year freeze. Councilmember Bauman was in favor of Councilmember meals being eliminated and having staff reduce membership fees. She supported the Council reviewing street expenses. She supported LGA being placed in the street improvement fund. It was her opinion that residents would be overly burdened by the proposed tax levy increase. She was in favor of the Council reevaluating the street improvement plan to see if streets were actually in need of reconstruction. She requested staff provide the Council with further information on how the City utilized franchise fees. Schlichting discussed how the City used franchise fees as an indirect revenue. Further discussion ensued regarding franchise fees and federal inflation rates. Councilmember Burg thanked staff for the thorough presentation this evening. She stated she was interested in evaluating the length of City street improvement projects in order for the Council to consider how the budget would be impacted if street lives were lengthened. Councilmember Bauman asked if Councilmember Burg supported the 3.86% tax levy increase for the proposed street improvements. Councilmember Burg stated she was supportive of the 3x3 tax levy proposal presented by staff. Mayor Jacobsen believed that the City's budget was fair and honest. He did not trust the federal inflation rate.