2019.07.31 WS Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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brush and tree debris. She indicated this purchase would lower overall costs within the forestry budget. Davitt commented on the importance of keeping the City's great employees and described the benefit of recruiting top candidates. She indicated City staff was proposing a 4% increase in the employer contribution to healthcare benefits. She stated a 3% COLA increase was also being proposed. Fink explained RISE had requested additional space within the Community Center. She reported the City had a great partnership with RISE and noted this expansion would create additional revenue for the City. She stated RISE had selected the City of New Brighton as one of their Partners of the Year and would be presenting the City with an award at an upcoming gala. Schlichting commented the DCAD depaitiiient has enjoyed having an intern this past year. He reported an engineering tech was being proposed through May or June of 2020. He commented further on the staffing positions within the DCAD department noting the shifts that had occurred. Davitt reviewed how the City's 2020 levy compared to neighboring cities 2019 levies. She noted New Brighton was had one of the lowest levies. Massopust discussed the technological and communications equipment that would be purchased in 2020. He stated he had a real and growing confidence in the IT Depai tiiient since staffing changes were made last year. He described how IT issues were being ticketed and addressed in a timely manner by staff. He also discussed the cable changes that were made to the Council Chambers. He indicated the IT budget would be slowly increased over time in order for the City to keep up with changing technology. Lotter agreed there had been a remarkable improvement in the IT department and needs were being addressed in a more timely and efficient manner. Nick Kriz described the cost of not addressing changing technological needs and encouraged the Council to consider the expense of not investing in technology. He discussed how his department was working on a daily basis to mitigate outside attacks. He stated security was of the utmost importance. Mayor Johnson commented on the expense of purchasing MicroSoft licenses each year. Lotter stated this was an operational expense that was renewed every three years. Nick reviewed the number of computers the City had in its fleet and explained not enough money was being budgeted to cover the expense on a yearly basis. He stated he would like to see the City being proactive with its IT equipment. He believed this would save the City money in the long run and commented downtime was more expensive than hardware. He then reviewed the IT equipment replacement strategy he would like to see the City move to. Davitt discussed the fleet/non-fleet budget with the Council. She focused how this budget line item would impact the General Fund and property taxes. Massopust commented on the Administrative Budget in further detail with the Council. He noted an Administrative Intern was being proposed for this department. He stated 2020 would be an election year and he discussed the expense budgeted for the 2020 election. He reported the New Brighton Community Center was being considered as a location for early voting for Ramsey County. He explained this would create a revenue stream of$80,000 to $90,000 for the City. He indicated staff would report back to the Council when further information was available regarding this potential partnership.