08-31-16 Special CITY COUNCIL MINUTES
• Richfield, Minnesota
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August 31 , 2016
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 5:09 p.m. in the Bartholomew Room.
Council Members Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Pat Elliott; Tom Fitzhenry (arrived 5:14 p.m.); and
Present: Michael Howard.
Council Member Edwina Garcia.
Absent:
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Kristin Asher, Public Works Director; John
Stark, Community Development Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation
Services Director; Wayne Kewitsch, Fire Services Director; Bill Fillmore,
Municipal Liquor Operations Director; Jay Henthorne, Public Safety Director;
Chris Regis, Finance Manager; and Kris Weiby, Facilities Manager.
Item #1 DISCUSSION OF THE 2016 REVISED/2017 PROPOSED BUDGET AND 2017
PRELIMINARY TAX LEVY
City Manager Devich began the discussion by advising that there would be a presentation first
by Finance Manager Regis regarding the overall budget and tax levy followed by each of the
departments. He stated that the budget as presented tonight anticipated a 3.46% tax levy increase
that would have virtually no impact on the yearly taxes of an average Richfield home. However, to
accomplish that, the budget also includes the use of$80,000 more of Local Government Aid (LGA)
than the 2016 budget.
Mr. Devich stated that he understood that the City Council had a long term policy of not
becoming more dependent on LGA, and at the end of the presentations, there would be options for
the Council to levy the $80,000 instead of using LGA and the impacts that would result from that
change.
Finance Manager Regis presented the 2016 Revised/2017 Proposed Budget and 2017
preliminary tax levy. He covered all of the major aspects of the General Fund revenues and
expenditures, the elements of the overall tax levy and its predicted impacts on residential properties.
Finance Manager Regis presented the Legislative/Executive and Administrative Services
Department budgets.
Liquor Operations Director Fillmore presented the Liquor Operations Department budget.
Public Safety Director Henthorne presented the Public Safety Department budgets.
Special Meeting Minutes -2- August 31, 2016
Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer and Facilities Manager Weiby presented the
Recreation Department budgets.
Community Development Director Stark presented the Community Development Department
budgets and additional information from the Housing and Redevelopment Authority budgets.
Fire Services Director Kewitsch presented the Fire Services Department budget.
Public Works Director Asher presented the Public Works Department budgets.
There was general discussion of the budget by the City Council and staff including responses
to specific questions regarding the various departments.
City Manager Devich and Finance Manager Regis presented two alternative revenue
scenarios wherein $50,000 and $80,000 of LGA respectfully, would be restored to the LGA reserve
and replaced with current tax levy.
There was unanimous consensus that the $80,000 be restored and additional taxes levied.
The tax levy increase was changed to 3.89% which results in an estimated City property increase of
$7 per year for an average City home.
Mayor Goettel thanked the staff for their work on the budget. The general consensus of the
City Council was that they agreed with the direction of the 2017 budget and tax levy.
ADJOURNMENT
The City Council Meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:40 p.m.
Date Approved: September 13, 2016.
Steve s evich to en L. D-vi
Acting City Clerk City Manager