HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 03.13.2002 MINU'I~S
BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE
MARCH 13, 2002 7:00 P.M.
OLD COUNCIL CHAMBERS
MEMBERS PRESENT:
Chairman Ken Olson
Mark Mace
Gay Easton
Bud Johnson
OTHERS PRESENT:
Mary Embleton
Dan Meats
Jim Stevens
Lamy McCann
Steve Klotz
The Budget/Finance Committee meeting was called to order by Chairman Ken Olson at
7:00 p.m., to discuss the following Preliminary budgets:
Building Department/Code Enforcement
Fire Inspection
Lighting District #2 (Residential)
Lighting District #3 (Commercial)
City Clerk/Treasurer
Mary gave a brief overview of the organization of the Budget Workbooks. They will be
numerically organized by fund, revenue, and expenditure numbers. An index is located
at the fi'ont of the book listing all timds, revenue (blue), and expenditures (pink), and
colored tabs throughout the book will coordinate with the index for easy reference.
Larry showed a brief video on building officials and their role in providing public safety.
The insurance industry is researching methods to incorporate building code safety with
fire protection to come up with a new rating system. The current system is based solely
on fire protection, and this system (ISO) determines insurance premiums on property
within city limits. Laurel has a current rate of 5 and if it can be lowered to 4, it means
that premiums will be lower. The city staffis certified in everything except electrical and
mechanical inspections.
Steve presented a Power Point program on the organization of building officials, building
inspectors, fire inspectors, and plan review. A building inspector is subject to a building
official's interpretation of code, while a fire inspector is subject to the fire chief's
interpretation of code.
Jim continued the program with a presentation on fire code and Laurel Municipal Code.
The presentation finished with a listing of goals of the departments. It was very
informative.
The committee then reviewed the budgets. Revenue is projected to decrease in the
building department, from estimates of $26,775 for '01-02 to estimates of $25,400 for
'02-03, due to the economy.
Budget Work session
March 13, 2002
Page 2
Larry then presented the budgets for Light Districts #2 and #3. He stated that
Engineering, Inc. was asked to provide costs to put conduit for decorative lights in the
downtown area as part of the Urban Highway Pilot project. Larry estimated this cost to
be $20,000 in professional services in Light District #3. He then explained that some
funds may need to be used to help create Light District ~4 in conjunction with the 8m
Ave. project. Engineering, Inc. asked residems if they wanted street lights, and 90%
responded yes, but were not given any cost estimates. Larry budgeted $20,000 fi.om
Light District #2 in professional services to help get this project going if the council
chooses to go forward. The 8th Ave. project probably won't begin until 2004 or 2005.
Mary then presented her budget. She told the committee that she was informed by Blue
Cross/Blue Shield to expect an 18% increase in health insurance premiums, so that is the
factor she will use city-wide. She also stated that there are many costs in the
Clerk/Treasurer's budget that are not directly related to the C/T functions, such as
advertising. Bud agreed stating that the costs will be reviewed, and consideration for
distributing the costs, either directly to the department responsible, or on a percentage
basis, will be carefully studied. Mary was instmeted to put straight overtime (not comp
time) in a separate line item (#111) in each department.
The meeting adjourned at 9:10 p.m. The next budget work session will be on
Wednesday, March 20th at 7:00 p.m.
Respectfully Submitted,
Clerk/Treasurer