The URL can be used to link to this page

Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 06.05.2002 (2) COUNCIL WORK SESSION BUDGET PRESENTATIONS BY DEPARTMENT HEADS COUNCIL CHAMBERS JUNE 5, 2002 The Laurel City Council work session was called to order at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, June 5, 2002 by Mayor Bud Johnson. PRESENT: Aldermen: Lauren Van Roekel, Ken Olson, Gay Easton, Dan Meats, Dan Dart, Mark Mace, Doug Poehls; Mayor Bud Johnson; Judge Jean Kerr Staff: Matt Erekson, Peg Arnold, Rick Musson, Terry Ruff, Larry McCann, Jim Stevens, Mary Embleton ABSENT: Alderman John Oakes City Attorney Matt Erekson was first to present his department's budget, which is just under $70,000, to the council. This includes wages and benefits for 20 hours per week for a city attorney, and a part-time clerk, which is shared with the court. Additional code review has been sent to the publisher for codification for a total cost of $2,000 ($25.00/page). Due to the increased activity in both the court and the city, more hours need to be allotted for the city attorney. An alternative currently being considered is to divide the position into two areas: one for prosecution (court work) and one for city business (contract review, ordinances, resolutions, etc.). Other cities currently use similar methods. The City of Laurel proposes paying a prosecutor $2,000 per month, and paying the city attorney $2,000 per month. Both positions would be under contract with no benefits. Questions from the council included number of hours worked presently, anticipated hours needed, and code review costs. Library Director Peg Arnold distributed handouts to the council, and presented several slides to show that her department's budget contained no growth. The library operates 40 hours/week with 2.75 FTE's (full-time equivalent). The slide presentation included the library's Mission Statement, Collection and Management Policies, and Future Goals. There has been a marked increase in the use of the computers at the library, and staffis used more to assist patrons in the use of those computers. A copy of the 2000-2001 Annual Report was included in the handouts. Their goals included development of a long-range plan, a capital improvements plan, and a marketing plan. The council questioned the status of the new doors, which are working well, and received positive comments from library users. Copies of the handouts are attached to these minutes providing details of the topics presented. The Police Department budget was presented by ChiefMusson, who prepared a slide program outlining the department needs in personnel and equipment. The chief recounted the present staff of 11 officers, including him, 4 full-time dispatchers and 2 part-time dispatchers to cover 7 days per week, 24 hours per day. He reviewed the various positions and work schedules, stating the need for a communication officer II position in dispatch. The question of whether more equipment or additional experienced officers would provide the necessary backup needed for each shift was posed. Patrol cars, body armor, training equipment, storage equipment, and computer equipment were listed and reviewed as needs not being met at this time. The city also has need of an animal shelter for housing dogs in Laurel, rather than transporting them to Billings. Also, a new animal control vehicle is needed to replace the car currently used. These needs also are not being met in this budget. Copies of the presentation listing costs and other details are attached to these minutes. Questions from the council included mutual aid from the county sheriff's department and the Billings police department. The City Court budget was presented by Judge Jean Kerr. She explained that this budget is a "bare bones" budget. Public defense is already over budget for this year; however, the law requires that a defense attorney be provided for every defendant even if they are financially unable to pay the costs. The judge stated that restitution is assigned when appropriate to try to recover court costs in public defense cases. Work areas and equipment are new, so those needs have been met. The court has been very busy, and workload continues to increase, with the city collecting $18,000 in fines in May. Judge Kerr supports the need for a video arraignment system, as it will save time and wear and tear on police vehicles, but asked where it would be budgeted and funded. Questions from the council included restitution, collections, video arraignment and the CIP (Capital Improvements Plan) process. Fire Chief Terry Ruffreviewed the Fke Department budget, stating it is $2,000 over last year. The fire department needs to keep updated with protective gear at a cost of $1300/set plus $165 for boots and $150 for grass gear. The replacement schedule put into effect several years ago is on track, but the city will need to replace some fire trucks soon. The reserve truck is a 1951 truck with a small pump that probably could not pass a pump test. A pump test was performed on Engine 4, a 1992 truck, and work needs to be done as a result of that test. Firemen receive a stipend for each call out, but no regular salaries are provided, as this is a volunteer department. A total of 7,000 hours are dedicated to the department this year. The equipment maintenance program in place is exceptional. Mayor Johnson announced that the next session would be June 25th with the remaining General Fund departments to be presented. The council was asked to think of questions and additional information that would help them make decisions. Alderman Mace made a statement regarding the public's need to know the city's financial situation for the present and future needs of the city, and asked for ideas on how to educate the public. Responses included a task force, civic organizations and community leaders. Other comments relayed the need to utilize our legislators and media. The meeting adjourned at 8:15 p.m. Clerk/Treasurer BUDGET PRESENTATION 2002-2003 Intro-This year's budget is a maintenance budget, which allows for no growth. Three part time and one part time position staff the library for a total of 2.75 full time equivalents. The library is open 40 hours. There has been a marked increase in use of the computers and staff is used more to assist patrons with the computers. I have handouts of this slide show for you, so I will just emphasize some of the more key information. Slide 2- Access to material and information is the main mission. Slides 3 & 4- A majority of patrons use the library for recreation and education, however, the information available at or through the library will fill a need for almost everyone in our community at one time or another. Slide 5-I have included a copy of the fiscal year 2OOl-2OO2 annual report. Slide 6- This picture is from one of our recent children's programs which was attended by 35 children and 36 teddy bears. Personnel ~ Present staff Laurel Police Needs · 2 Equipment and personnel Present Police Staffing Police Chiefs Schedule · Chief of police · Monday!Friday · One Seigeant · 8 am-.{pm · 9 Patro]man · Attend meetings after regularly schedu ed work hours ~. On call 24 hot'rs a d~y Police Chiefs Schedule Sergeant Schedule Continued · On cai] hours: Chief and the Sergeant are on · Tuesday -Saturday call for a week at a time (every other week) · 7pm-3am · On call- every other week · Compensation foffworking overtime .... comp time · Scheduleis flexible Police Officer Schedule Police Officer Schedule Continued ; 24 hour Coverage ~ Cover shift #1 Friday thru Tuesday: Friday · 6 officers cove? 24(7 and Saturday 1 lpm-7am; Suhda~, Monday, · Day shlft:Sam~da~; thru Wednesday '/am2 Td~sdi~ 3pm thm Monday · Afternoon shift ;M~nday t~ Priday 3pm- ~ Thursday and Friday 7am:3pm; Satui'day llpm Midnight shift;Stmdi/~ t~U Thul%day 1 lpm-7am . ~ Pol/ce Officer Schedule Police Officer Schedule Continued Continued · Cover shift #3: Wednesday thru Sunday · School Resource Officer~ Monday thru 7pm,3ara Friday~ 8am+4¢m, flexlb e schedule · ~over shJ[~ ~i and #~ ~'e Subject to sb~ft gfit6i~M¥fida5 ~hange on the 7pm~3am shift to cover s ck als0 Uied i0 cbvet: d~? Shift v~fiati0n, Sick, · vacation school :and Wciti0n; arid some 33m:i ipm Shlft~ · Cover shift #2 is subject to shift change on · Monday~ Police Officer Schedule Continued Communications Officers · Drug task force- flexible hours due to the 4 full time dispatchers handle most of the nature of thejob shifts · On Tuesday at 1 lpm-7am a reliefworks the only open shift each Week · 2 part time dispatchers cover all vacation and sick shifts for the full time dispatchers Communications Officer Equipment Needs Continued ~0rnmani~hiiohs O~fi~ei' ~ · Patrol cars This p0~ifi65 ~0uld be a grea[ ti~Ip iff ~ ~ The police de~t h~s 3 ~ol c~ tmifiifig h~ dis~h~6hers, ex~ c~9~ 3n · The pa~ol ~s bfisy shi~ work shifts when the relief .* ; ~6d~l~ ~ild~ di~atch~s have worked 40 hours ~ · $8 2001 FordCrom Vm 36~881 . · $72000 Ford Cro~yic 78,7}~ Equipment Continued Equipment Continued · ~':1 ~7 ~I~ ~m'inal i:i~8~iii? :iii ' : ~ Car # Iz is als0 usec~ on patro if a patro EQUIPMENT CONTINUED :: EQUIPMENT · High mileage = High repair costs BODY ARMOR-The City purchases a · Patrol cars should be removed from the personal body armor vest for each officer daily patroI when they reach 70,000 mile~ when they star~. · At 70,000 miles the patrol car can by used BODY ARMOR REPLACEMENT-NIJ for lighter duty Ballistic Standard recommends that a vest be replaced every five years. · COST- $400.00-$800.00- 3 EQUIPMENT CONTINUED EQUIPMENT CONTINUED · SPEED MoNIToR TRAILER~This unit cab be placed in high traffic area~ t5 glow · Simunifibh guns:With ~ ~6h~6r~ 6n kit the bt*fleers traffiC2 G66d:fof sch001 ~6fies. it ~I sh6w couldtra!~in~tagedroalis[i¢ scenar/os ~he speed limli hnd the radar unit 0n il/~ t~iir ¥iii di~iay th~ ~h;~ie~ · ¢ost-s32.o0 pe~S0 speed on a LED display Easy viewin,~ da~ or night at distances over 1000 '. ~i COST $~ 000100 ~o$10 000 dep~di~g c, fi t~ Style. : ~ EQUIPMENT EQUIPMENT CONTINUED ~D~ ~ 4X4 S~T PAC~GE } ~ ~ OEFI~ ~ ~C~S: ~LE ~0 USE X~ FO0h rgOOF ~6~ S~ ~s · ~-s&~s liVES. OFnCERS ~ EQU~r~ BAGS; 2 D]S~E~A~ dLE~R~ 1 ~Pm~ ~. DEF~TOR T~G EQUIPMENT CONTINUED EQUIPMENT CONTINUED DRY SAFE * COMPUTER UPGRADE DRY SAFE UNIT IS USED TO DRY · MANY OF OUR COMPUTERS WERE CLOTHES THAT ARE BLOODY OR PURCHASED IN 1995 ARE CONTAMINATED WITH BODILY FLUIDS THAT MUST BE PRESERVED FOR EVIDENCE. THE DRY SAFE PROVIDES A SAFE LOCATION TO ISOLATE AIR BORN PATHOGENS. · COST $8,000.00 4 EQUIPMENT CONTINUED ANIMAL CONTROL · 0~FrCE ~UR.NITURE ' C54AI~ NgwER ANiMaL ISONYROL VEHicLE · CI-IAIRS FOR D1SPATCH AND FOREACH 7~Af ~ TRANsP6RT MULTIPLE WORK STATION 4NIMALS 5