08-30-10 SpecialJ
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL
MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special City Council Meeting
August 30, 2010
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Goettel at 5:30 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Council Members
Present: Debbie Goettel, Mayor; Pat Elliott; Fred Wroge; Sue Sandahl; and Tom
Fitzhenry.
Staff Present: Steven L. Devich, City Manager; Mike Eastling, Public Works Director;
John Stark, Community Development Director; Barry Fritz, Public Safety
Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation Services Director; Brad Sveum, Fire
Services Director; Bill Fillmore, Municipal Liquor Operations Director; Chris
Regis, Finance Manager; Pam Dmytrenko, Assistant to the City Manager;
Todd Sandell, Public Safety Deputy Director; and Nancy Gibbs, City Clerk.
Item #1 COUNCIL APPROVAL OF AGENDA
M/Wroge, S/Sandahl to approve the agenda.
Motion carried 5-0.
Item #2 CONSIDERATION OF AWARD OF CONTRACT TO CASTREJON, INC. FOR
CONSTRUCTION OF FIBER OPTIC NETWORK TO CONNECT THREE CITY
RECREATION FACILITIES TO CITY'S EXISTING FIBER NETWORK IN AMOUNT
OF $33,860. SR NO. 157
Mayor Goettel presented Staff Report No. 157.
Special Meeting Minutes -2- August 30, 2010
M/Goettel, S/Sandahl to approve the award of contract to Castrejon, Inc. for construction of
fiber optic network to connect three City recreation facilities to the City's existing fiber network in
amount of $33,860.
Motion carried 5-0.
Item #3 DISCUSSION OF 2011 PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX LEVY
City Manager Devich introduced the 2011 proposed budget and tax levy.
Finance Manager Regis presented the overall budget and tax levy power point.
City Manager Devich stated the City Council will have some policy decisions this up coming
budget year on how to look for revenues. He also stated he believes the City may receive
$500,000 of local government aid (LGA) and if so, that would reduce a 10.94% levy to 7.60%.
Mayor Goettel stated she is not comfortable with a double digit increase. People are
struggling right now and she hasn't heard of these concerns getting any better.
Council Member Wroge stated the City needs to get off LGA, however he would like to see
the residents and business owners tell the City what they can do without. He stated the City needs
to talk with residents to see if they can help. He suggested one thing that could save some money
would be for residents to remove the snow from the front sidewalks. He also suggested replacing
squad cars every four years not every three years.
City Manager Devich stated the City needs to determine what services can be consolidated.
He added the City has been able to enjoy many benefits through LGA.
Finance Manager Regis reviewed the Executive/Legislative and Administrative Services
proposed 2011 budgets.
Mayor Goettel expressed concern about the auditor's findings regarding the lack of staff
backup for the Finance Manager.
Finance Manager Regis responded that he was comfortable with the way the Finance
Division is currently organized.
City Manager Devich .stated the City does not have the money to create a back up position
to the Finance Manager.
Public Safety Deputy Director Sandell reviewed the Public Safety proposed 2011 budget.
At 6:45 p.m. Mayor Goettel suggested that everyone take a ten minute break.
The City Council reconvened at 6:55 p.m.
Community Development Director Stark presented the Community Development 2011
proposed budget, including Planning and Zoning, Inspections and Housing and Redevelopment.
Fire Services Director Sveum reviewed the 2011 proposed Fire Services budget.
Special Meeting Minutes -3- August 30, 2010
Public Works Director Eastling presented the 2011 proposed Public Works budget,
including Engineering, Parks, Streets, Garage Maintenance and Utilities.
Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer presented the 2011 Recreation Services proposed
budget, including Wood Lake Nature Center, Ice Arena, Pool and Mini Golf.
Liquor Operations Director Fillmore presented the 2011 proposed budget for the four
Municipal Liquor stores.
City Manager Devich stated he would provide budget recommendations for the City
Council's consideration at the September 14 City Council meeting. He also suggested the City
Council conduct a Special Meeting on Monday, October 4 at 5:30 p.m. to discuss the levy that will
be set on September 14.
The City Council scheduled a Special City Council Meeting on October 4, 2010.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:10 p.m.
Date Approved: August 30, 2010
Nancy Gibbs ( ~ ~. Devich
City Clerk tJ City Manager