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Home My WebLink AboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 06.05.2002 COUNCIL WORK SESSION BUDGET PRESENTATIONS BY DEPARTMENT HEADS COUNCIL CItANIBERS JIINE 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 Mears, Dan Dart, Mark Mace, Doug Pooh/s; Mayor Bud Johnson; Judge Jean Kerr Staff2 Matt Erekson, Peg Arnold, Rick Mussen, Terry Ruff, Larry McCann, Jim Stevens, Mary Embleton ABSENT: Alderman ~[ohn Oakes City Attorney Matt Erekson was first to present Iris 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 parr-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 presemed several slides to show that her departments 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 ora long-range plan, a capital improvemems 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 mutes providing details of the topics presented. The Police Department budget was presented by ChiefMusson, who prepared a slide program outhmng 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. lie reviewed the various positions and work schedules, stating the need for a communication officer II position in dispatch. The question of whether more equ/pment or additional experienced officers would provide the necessary backup needed for each shirr 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 sheriffs department and the Billings police deparmaent. The City Court budget was presented by Judge lean 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 fi.om the council included restitution, collections, video arraignment and the CI~ (Capital Improvements Plan) process. Fire Chief Terry Ruffreviewed the Fire Depm'tment budget, stating it is $2,000 over last year. The fire depmtment 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 umcks soon. The reserve mack 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 tNs isa volunteer department. A total ofT,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 25ta 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. Respectfully submitted, 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 fall time equivalents. The library is open 4o 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 2001-2002 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. Laurel Police Needs Equipment and personnel Personnel · 4 fa ~med spatch~ · 2'p~ ~e'dispatchers Present Po[ice Staff'mg · Chief ofpolie~ .... · - ~ Pau'olman ~ .~ Police Chiefs Schedule Monday; Friday '" ' ?;"'27 "'22 ';'. ~:~ Pohce Chiefs Schedule I ~. Continued ~'.~ · On call hours: Chief and the Sergeant are on I~:g call for a week at a time (every other week) Sergeant Schedule · Tuesday-Saturday · 7pm-3am · On call- every other week · Compensation roi working over time .... comp time · Schedule is flexible Police Officer Schedule ~ 24 hbur covemg~ . · 6 officers cov~- ~:4/7 · · Day shfft-~atu:bday thra Wedn~sciay 7am~ · -Afternoon shi~2~o~da~'t~ Fr/day 31 Police Officer Schedule Continued y: COver shif~ #1 Friday thru Tuesday: Fr/dav · · and Satur;ciay 1 l~m-7am,.Su~.day, Monday, 77 Ti/~d~)~ 7~515;3 ati/:' :. ~; Th~trsda) Police Officer Schedule Continued Cover ski~ #3~ V~ednesday thru Sun~ay ,.7.~5rm3~ Z. i~ .ZZ.' .Z.51~. ...... ¢ov~ shi~ ~'is ~bjeet m s~ change M6nd~yg Police Officer Schedule Continued Scho~ Resgur¢~.Officer-. Monday thru .7 Z Fr/day~ 8ataViSm, fl exible' schedule .... Police Officer Schedule 0 hue Drug task force- flexible hours due to the notre of~ejob Communications Officers · 4 full time d/spatchers handle most of the shi~s · On Tuesday at 1 lpm-7am a relief works the only open sbif~ each Week · 2 pa~ time dispatchers cover all vacation and sick shifts for the fall time dispatchers Communications Officer Continued rraifiih~:/i~;~li~lJ-~.~cheks, eXl~' c89era~'~ ~n b~-~'~.]~.work shifts when the rebel 2'22'2...2 L. Equipment Needs · Patrol cars #8 200 ~-Ford Crown Ym ~ 6~881 :- ~ 2000 Ford Cro~gi~':'J~;'~50: Equipment Continued patrol f~ ear ~' down f~trepairs; 'or~if'g~ a~e'at full High mileage = High repair costs Patrol ear~ should be removed from the daily patrol when they reach 70,000 mi]es At 70,000 miles the patrol car can by used for lighter duty BODY ARMOR-The City purchases a personal body ~or v~t for each o~cer · wh~ they st~. BODY ARMOR REPLACEMENT-NIJ Ballistic Stand~ r~ommends ~at a vest be replaced eve~ five ymrs. COST- $400.00-$800.00- EQUIPMENT CONTINUED ' SPEE'D MONITOR TRAtLER~TI.iis Unit carl be pla~ed./n hi~h ~r~fiC area~ t5 slow· or night at d stm~es.ov~ t000 ~ EQUIPMENT CONTINUED · " TRA~IN6 ~Q~PM~NT: EQUIPMENT CONTINUED EQUIPMENT CONTINUED · DRY SAFE · DRY SAFE UNIT IS USED TO DRY CLOTHES THAT ARE BLOODY OR ARE CONTAMINATED WITH BODILY FLUIDS THAT MUST BE PRESERVED FOR EVIDENCE. THE DRY SAFE PROVIDES A SAFE LOCATION TO ISOLATE AIR B ORaN PATHOGENS. ~::' COST $8,000.00 EQUIPMENT CONTINUED COMPUTER UPGRADE MANY OF OUR COMPUTERS WERE PURCHASED IN I995 EQUIPMENT CONTINUED OFFICE FURNITUPcE ; c~klP. S WOR~ STATION ANIMAL CONTROL NEWER A~[hMAL CON~FROL vE~icL~ AMkfALS