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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 03.03.2009CITY OF LAUREL BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES MARCH 3, 2009 5:30 P.M. COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM MEMBERS PRESENT: Chairman Kate Hart Mark Mace Doug Poehls Chuck Dickerson Mayor Ken Olson (5:45) OTHERS PRESENT: Mary Embleton (5:40) Bill Sheridan (5:50) The Budget/Finance Committee meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.m., by Chairman Kate Hart. There was no public in attendance. The minutes of the February 17, 2009 meeting were reviewed and approved via motion by Mark, seconded by Chuck, and passed unanimously. February claims totaling $657,236.32 were reviewed. Mary stated that nearly $284,000 was for the new urban fire pumper truck and over $230,000 was for the water plant project. Motion by Doug, seconded by Chuck, to recommend approval of the claims by the council. Motion passed unanimously. The following purchase requisitions were reviewed: GENERAL FUND: 3 complete sets of bunker gear and grass boots - Fire dept. CAPITAL PROJECTS FUND: $ 6,900.00 Life pack kit and accessories - Ambulance $ 6,875.00 Ambulance attendant Elliott Grayson was present at the meeting and explained to the committee that this item was in the approved CIP document. When shopping for this item, they found where other similar kits ran from between $9,600 to $22,000 with an average cost being $12,000 new. This Life Pak 12 kit was being offered at a discounted price of $6,875. Discussion followed. The committee commented on the lack of documentation for the fire gear request. Motion by Mark, seconded by Chuck to approve both requests since they are for safety, and are needed, but requested some form of documentation to be provided on the fire bunker gear. Motion passed unanimously. The Comp/OT reports were reviewed for pay period ending 2/22/09, (includes 1 holiday). Doug stated that he received an explanation from Chief Musson regarding the overtime for officers appearing in district court in Stillwater County. A suspect was arrested in Laurel, and was found to have other warrants in Stillwater County, so the officers had to appear in a court proceeding that revoked the suspect's probation. There are times when cooperation between jurisdictions requires court appearances in other counties, but it doesn't happen very often. The Payroll Register for PPE 2/22/09 totaling $143,405.89 was reviewed. Motion by Doug, seconded by Mark, to recommend council approval of the payroll register. Motion passed unanimously. Budget/Finance Committee March 3, 2009 Clerk/Treasurer Comments: Administrative Charges Allocation/Rental Allocation - Mary reported that there was a meeting last Tuesday with Mayor Olson, CAO Bill Sheridan, and Miral Gamradt. Revisions to the draft report will be submitted to Miral, and a presentation is scheduled for the council workshop on March 31 Is. Bud et Process - Mary received budgets from the Council, Fire Department, Library, City Planner, and Police Department by the deadline. The Ambulance and Public Works departments requested additional time for their submittals. Mayor's Comments: TIFD uRd! to - Mayor Olson reported that 4 members are needed for the Advisory membership of the LURA. So far he has heard from the following as expressing interest in serving: Gerald Kaiser, Janice Lehman, Steve Zeier of Big Sky EDA, and Steve Solberg. Mayor Olson will ask Chairperson Shirley McDermott for input as to when they would like the Advisory members appointed. Also, Mary had distributed a letter from the Department of Revenue stating that they finished their review of the taxable value of the TIFD district, and increased it from $266,291 to $329,892. Mayor Olson commended Clerk/Treasurer Mary Embleton for her hard work on this issue. Mary stated that she will continue to pursue the lost tax revenue that resulted from the initial under-valuation of the district, and explained to the committee how to calculate the tax revenues. The committee expressed their appreciation of Mary's efforts. Chief Administrative Officer Comments: Impact Fees Feasibility Study update - Bill stated Carson Bise presented the study and other information to the council last Tuesday. He hoped the city will continue the process to pursue the appropriate impact fees and get them in place soon. The committee indicated their intention to go to the next step. Storm Water Project & S. 1 s` Ave. overlay update - Bill reported that COP Construction is still not finished with this project, and he asked them to get it completed. He also asked them regarding the replacement of the intake lids. Kurt has told both the engineer and the contractor that the lids must be replaced before ice and high waters can cause more damage. West Main Sidewalk SID & overlay - This project, and others, was discussed at a recent MDOT meeting in Billings. Since neither Bill nor Kurt was able to attend, Mary was sent as Laurel's representative. She told the committee that she had the opportunity to meet the new Federal Highway Commissioner, Barb Skelton, just prior to the meeting in Billings. Mary told the commissioner that the city was frustrated with the continued delays, especially with the 8th Ave. project, which needed to be included in the Stimulus Package, as it was "shovel ready". During the meeting, Mary expressed the mayor and council's disappointment that the Main Street 1st to 8`h Ave. project was also pushed back even though the city had completed the replacement of the water main. The city would like it put back on the calendar for 2010, not 2011. The MDOT reported at that meeting that all time frames are invalid at this time, due to the impact of the Stimulus Package funds. The Federal Highway Commission will have the decision-making authority regarding the projects receiving this funding. Wastewater Plant Upgrade preliminary engmeering report - Bill stated that the PER was received from Morrision Maierle last Friday. This project needs to move forward to meet the June 30"' startup deadline. Bill would like some construction started in the next 3 months. The sewer rates may need to be increased as part of the loan requirements. The public hearing on the PER is scheduled for March 17th. 2 Budget/Finance Committee March 3, 2009 Other issues: Chuck asked about the water intake lids and a possible diversion dam to deflect the ice during replacement. Bill explained that presently, the water level in the river is low, and conditions are good to do the replacement. The first lid is critical, and once it is in place, it will serve as a safety factor for the remaining lids' installation. A coffer dam is cost prohibitive, but safety is a primary concern. Also of concern is the time of year for high water is near, and the lids need to be replaced before trees and other debris can cause damage to the intake. Also, Bill stated that National Geographic has contacted the state as they are interested in filming this event. Mary presented a fiscal note to the CAO on the proposed union contract. This contract contains some safety equipment provisions which will cost the city some money. But since the city has been under OSHA's watchful eye, the investment in safety equipment is necessary. No cost figures were included for the unused sick leave death benefit language. That provision is not recommended at this time. Mayor Olson may ask the council for a delay in voting on the union contract proposal at the meeting tonight. The next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, March 17'h at 5:30 p.m. For next agenda: Add Water Intake Lids under the CAO's Comments. The meeting adjourned at 6:22 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Mary K. mbleton Clerk/Treasurer M .? Dan Bucks Director Montana Department of Revenue February 23, 2009 City of Laurel Mary Embleton 115W 1st St Laurel MT 59044 Dear Mary: H a Brian Schweitzer Governor D ?C FEB 2 5 2009 CITY ?-? : "- LAUREL This letter is in follow up to the meeting that we had in November regarding the valuation for the Laurel Urban Renewal District. At that time, we had identified some corrections, and also realized we had not received all the information from the Centrally Assessed Bureau to include the valuation of their companies that have taxable value within the Increment District into the base value. We have now received all of the information from the Centrally Assessed Companies and can provide you corrected base value information. The 2008 certified taxable value for the City of Laurel was reported as $6,603,326. After our review of the tax increment financing district values, the 2007 base value should have been reported as $1,211,127, the 2008 current value was $1,541,019, which calculates an incremental value of $329,892. If you should have any additional questions, please feel free to contact me at 896-4060. Sincerely yours, Uu't??? Robin Rude Department of Revenue Area Manager Yellowstone County 896-4060 Cc: Gene Walborn, DOR BIT Randy Wilke, DOR PAD Debbie Jurcich, DOR PAD Yellowstone County Property Tax Office 175 North 27th Street Suite 1400, Billings MT 59107-2089? Phone: (406) 896-4000A Fax: (406) 896-4070 Tnr) ldnAl AAA-,)R.,in? \MUAN mt Plnv/rcvAni is