HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget/Finance Committee Minutes 02.05.2008 CITY OF LAUREL
BUDGET/FINANCE COMMITTEE MINUTES
FEBRUARY 5, 2008 5:30 P.M.
COUNCIL CONFERENCE ROOM
MEMBERS PRESENT:
OTHERS PRESENT:
Chairman Mark Mace
Gay Easton
Mary Embleton
Kate Hart
Mayor Kan Oison
Bill Sheridan
The Budget/Finance Committee meeting was called to order at 5:35 p.ra., by Chairman
Mark Mace. There was no public in attendance.
The minutes of the January 15, 2008 meeting were reviewed and approved via motion by
Kate, seconded by (lay, and passed unanimously.
The following Journal Vouchers were presanted: #667 - 677 for June, 2007; #YEA703
- YEA709 for year-and adjustmants; and g705A - 705B for July, 2007 to reverse some
year-and antries. All of these vouchers were prepared by the auditors, and the mayor
hadn't bad a chance to review then~ Motion by Kate, seconded by Gay, to recommend
approval of the vouchers contingant on the mayor's review and approval. Motion passed
unanimously.
January claims totaling $209,399.62 were reviewed. This total includes a $200 manual
check issued today to the Billings Planning Dept. for review of the Veterans' Cemetery
certificate of survey plat review done last May. Motion by Kate, seconded by Gay, to
recommand approval of the claims by the council. Motion passed unanimously.
The following purchase requisitions were reviewed and approved:
GENERAL FUND:
New Dell lap top computer- Fire Dept.
$ 3,625.33
WATER FUND:
47,500 lbs. of ceagulant chemical - water plant
$38,555.00
Bill explained that the chemical is needed at the water plant for the treatmant process, and
this repre~ants a year's supply. He has been told by the Water Plant Chief Operator that
there is only one supplier of this chemical. Bill has instructed Mr. Reiter to do a nation-
wide search to see of other companies can supply this chemical in the future.
The Comp/OT reports were reviewed for pay periods ending 1/13/08 and 1/27/08. Both
pay periods included a holiday.
Budget/Finance Cora milYt, ee
February 5, 2008
The Payroll Registers for PPE 1/13/08 totaling $143,624.63 and PPE 1/27/08 totaling
$148,522.62 were reviewed. Motion by Doug, seconded by Gay, to recommend council
approval of the payroll register. Motion passed unanimously.
Clerk/Treasurer Comments:
Audit review - Mary reported that a meeting was held on January 25th with the auditor,
the mayor, and hersel£ However, she bad a family emergency, so Cathy Gabrian
attended in her place, and took notes of the meeting. These are attached to the copies of
the auditors' comments. A meeting with Ken, Bill, Rick, and Mary was held today to
discuss the city's responses to the comments. The responses are due 30 days after the
final audit is issued. The auditors ere waiting on the city's Management Discussion and
Analysis before they can issue their final audit. Mayor Oison recommended giving the
clerk/treasurer time to do these tasks. Draft responses will be on the next agenda Ken
and Mary will meet on Friday to discuss her tasks and deadlines.
Mid-year Budget Review renort - The committee had no questions regarding the report.
It will be on the council workshop for February 12th.
Riverside Park revenues transfer to CIP - Mary told the committee that the auditors do
not recommend putting Riverside Park in an enterprise fund, since it will probably not be
able to be self-supporting. However, it is possible to put it in a special revenue fund.
Discussion followed. It was emphasizod that the leasees at the park want to be assured
that their rents will go to maintenance and improvements at Riverside Park only. There is
also the need to have matching funds for grants. Bill also stated that the leasees get city
water, at very little cost. It is planned to install meters in all the buildings at the park.
Budget process - Mary stated that department heads were reminded today that their
requests are due to the clerk's office on February 15th.
Mayor's Comments:
Impact fees: Mary had forwarded the draft report to Miral Gamradt for his comments.
He recommended including reviewing fees for water, sewer, and streets. Mayor Oison
stated that the report had vu~b. asized the city's need to annex property. Discussion and
questions followed as to why these issues had not been addressed in the report. Mary
explained that it may be due to the personnel changes occurring at the same time as Mr.
Bise came to Laurel to gather data, so perhaps he did not get the information he needed to
use in those areas of the report. Ken suggested that Mary contact Carson Bise and ask
these questions, and schedule a conference call.
Urban renewalfrlF District: The Department of Revenue received the city's information,
and requested a statement from the city regarding the zoning of the TIF district. A letter
was sent today stating that the zoning consists of Central Business, Community
Commercial, Highway Commercial, Heavy Industrial, and Light Industrial zoning, and
that it was in conformance with the city's Growth Management Plan. Mayor Oison also
stated that City Planner James Caniglia is proposing to extend the Central Business
District eastward to Aider Ave. to provide for higher density, and more lot coverage.
Kate a.qlred what the next step should be for the TIF District. Discussion followed
regerding getting the business owners involved, and asking for assistance from Bruce
McCandless.
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Blidgei/Fin an c.e Committee
February 5, 2008
CIP: Mayor Olson stated that a question was asked about the city's rating process at
today's department head meeting. Ken stated that the council needs to set goals, which
gives direction to department heads for the capital requests. However, we have not
included this step in our process, and he will contact Miral for assistance and advice.
Discussion followed. The committee suggested having a joint meeting with department
heads. Mary suggested using the notes from the last goal-setting meeting, and also the
recently completed Community Needs Assessment as possible tools for a joint meeting.
Someone would be needed to facilitate such a meeting.
Other issues: None.
The next regular meeting will be on Tuesday, February 19th at 5:30 p.m.
For next agenda: same as this meeting.
The meeting adjourned at 6:25 p.m.
Respect fully Submitted,
Mary IC Embleton
Clerk/Treasurer
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