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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCouncil Workshop Minutes 03.23.2005 MINUTES COUNCIL WORKSHOP MARCH 23, 2005 6:30 P.M. COUNCIL CHAMBERS A Council Workshop was held in the Council Chambers and called to order by Mayor Ken Olson at 6:30 p.m. on March 23, 2005. COUNCIL MEMBERS PRE,~F~NT: _x_ Dick Fritzler _x_ Kate Stevenson _x_ Gay Easton _x_ Jennifer Johnson _x_ Doug Poehls _x_ Mark Mace _x_ Daniel Dart _x_ John Oakes OTHERS PRESENT: Nathan Tubergen Steve Klotz Mary Embleton Peggy Arnold Gall Brice, Library Board Bonnie Latham, Library Board Margaret Freund, Library Board Katherine Kucera, Library Board Public Input (three-mimzte limit): Citizens may address the Council regarding any item of City business not on the agenda. The duration for an individual speaking under Public Input is limited to three minutes. While all comments are welcome, the Council will not take action on any item not on the agenda. · None Budget Presentation: Nathan Tubergen · Nathan informed the council of some changes in the budget presentation scheduled. o The water and sewer budget presentations scheduled for the special council worksh,o~ on April 6th wil.l be given at the regular council workshop on Tuesday, April 12 , and the April 6"~ meeting will not be held. o The solid waste budget presentation will be given at the council meeting on April 5th. o The preliminary budget and miscellaneous budgets will be presented on Wednesday, May 18th, instead of Thursday, May 19th. · Nathan and the department heads presented the budgets for the library and library grants, building department, public works director, city shop, cemetery, parks and recreation. Library and Library Grants · Library Director Peggy Arnold introduced four members of the Library Board: Gail Brice, Bonnie Latham, Margaret Freund, and Katherine Kucera. o Peggy stated that the Library Board is the library's link to the community. · Peggy thanked the council for the oppommity to present the budget and thanked Mayor Olson, Nathan, and Mary for their work on the budget. · Peggy stated that the library has a bare bones budget. Special Council Workshop Minutes of March 23, 2005 o The library will be able to maintain the hours and staff at the current level for the next budget year. o Library is open 45 hours per week. o The library director is a full-time employee, the assistant library director works 36 hours per week, one library clerk works 17½ hours per week, one library clerk works 10 hours per week, and the substitute library clerk fills in for vacations and sick leave. o Two employees are eligible for health insurance, but only one employee participates. o The 2005-06 budget requests for the library total $213 less than the current budget. o The cuts will impact the mount of materials provided at the library. o Health insurance costs may be a factor if there were future changes in employee status. o Increased utility rates and maintenance of the 15-year-old building may affect the budget. Library Grants o Library grants cannot be used to replace local dollars. o Grants are administered by the Montana State Library Commission. o Grant monies funded the Montana Shared Catalog circulation system at the library. Discussion regarding Interact access fees for multiple stations at the library Dan Dart thanked Peggy for her work at the library, stating that the library is mn very well. General Fund Building Department~ Fund 180 · Steve explained that this fund is for operation and maintenance of the city hall building. · He expressed concern regarding possible increases in electrical and gas utility services. o The electric utility services in the current budget are at 55 percent. o The gas utility services in the current budget are at 85 percent. · With the court remodel, the building construction or capital outlay line item is over budget in the current budget. · The proposed building maintenance budget is at 42 percent of the current budget. Building Department~ Fund 253 · Fund includes code enforcement, building department, and fire inspections. o The supplies line item was cut 52 percent to $1,000. o A new computer is needed and will probably be purchased from the current budget. o Consultant's fees were removed from the proposed budget. · Discussion regarding how the State of Montana would like the building department set up. Public Works Director~ Fund 310 · Public Works Director's salaries and wages are split out of several funds. · Professional and consulting services were removed. 2 Special Council Workshop Minutes of March 23, 2005 Public Works secretary's salaries and wages are also split out of applicable funds. · Discussion regarding office supplies line item at 210 percent in the current budget. · Public Works Department does not share supplies with the clerk's office since the DPW moved upstairs. · Gas, oil, diesel, fuel line item increased to $1,800. Cit~ Shop~ Fund 340 · Building maintenance line item will remain at the same level. o Shop will need a new roof in the near future. · Steve explained the future possibility to change the city shop into an enterprise fund. o Nathan stated that it would be an intemal service fund. o It would help the general fund if some departments, i.e. library, city shop, were pulled out of the general fund. Cemetery~ Fund 350 · Operating supplies are at $1,500 after $500 was cut from the proposed $2,000. · The current budget's tree pnming line item of $5,000 was cut to $4,000 for the proposed budget. o City needs to dedicate $2.00 per capita to meet the minimum Tree City USA requirements. Parks~ Fund 370 · Discussion regarding operating supplies, increasing fuel costs, tree pruning, and tree replacement. o Proposed budget includes line item of $5,000 for tree pruning. · Discussion regarding increase in garbage line item from $175 in the current to $500 in the proposed budget. o City of Laurel needs to pay its fair share for garbage services. · Discussion regarding fuel costs and when it is critical to have vehicles running. o Public works employees are being asked not to let trucks idle. o The 23-year-old parks truck needs to be replaced. o A $7,000 ATV could be purchased for use in the parks. Swimming Pool · Discussion regarding the swimming pool included: o YMCA has been given direction from their main office to produce a certain profit margin with the swimming pool. o Proposed budget includes $35,000 for the YMCA. o It is too late in the process for the city to nm the pool. o Doug stated that the YMCA might consider shortening the pool hours. o Steve mentioned that the use of concession machines and increasing the entrance fee to $2.00 would increase revenues. · Discussion regarding suggestion to take a drastic approach and close the swimming pool o Need to show the public that the city is trying to keep the pool open o Nathan stated that the city needs to take a serious look in January at how the pool will be nm in 2006. 3 Special Council Workshop Minutes of March 23, 2005 · Nathan will present the park maintenance district to the council soon. · Discussion regarding the need for a full-time manager's position · Discussion regarding: o Park equipment o Kiosk will be set up at the park to educate the public o Closing the pool this year would have a negative impact. · Dan Dart stated that a date needs to be determined to end the financial burden caused by the pool. · Dan Dart thanked Steve for his presentation. Clerk-Treasurer's Budgeh Fund 150 · Some of the clerk's budget is spread back to other departments. · Mary stated that the clerk's budget is lean, and she has very little control over some line items in the clerk's budget. o All city advertising and postage expenses come out of the clerk's budget. o Clerk's budget was cut by $1,000 in both the overtime and accounting and auditing line items. · Discussion regarding: o Transferring advertising and postage costs to other departments o Storage of records Nathan stated that the next budget presentation is scheduled for the council meeting on April 5th. Nathan thanked the council for their time and patience. The council workshop adjourned at 7:43 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Cindy Allen Council Secretary NOTE: This meeting is open to the public. This meeting is for information and discussion of the Council for the listed workshop agenda items. 4