08-30-00 Special
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special City Council Budget Meeting
August 30, 2000
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Sue Sandahl; Susan Rosenberg (arrived at
7:35 p.m.); Russ Susag; and Kristal Stokes.
Staff Present:Samantha Orduno, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative
Services Director; Deborah Guiher, Deputy City Clerk; Bruce
Palmborg, Community Development Director; Scott Williams, Public
Safety Planning & Research Specialist; Mike Eastling, Public Works
Director; Jim Topitzhofer, Recreation Services Director; William
Fillmore, Liquor Operations Director; and Chris Regis, Finance
Manager.
Item #1CONSIDERATION AND DISCUSSION OF 2000 REVISED/2001 PROPOSED
BUDGET, 2001 PRELIMINARY PROPERTY TAX LEVY AND TRUTH IN
TAXATION HEARING DATES S. R. No. 218
City Manager Orduno presented a brief description of the purpose of the meeting.
She stated that several things warrant examination in the near future that will impact future
budgets:
1.Costs to maintain an aging City Hall structure will do nothing but increase in the
future.
2.The level of services to the public have remained steady over the past several
years, but the costs of those services have been absorbed internally more than
they have been a product of expenditure increases. The same number of
people have done more with less.
Special Council Meeting Minutes-2-August 30, 2000
3.As more activities are engaged, additional resources will have to be secured to
ensure continuance of the service levels that the community has come to expect
or a reexamination of services expected, required, needed and desired.
Ms. Orduno stated that the 2001 budget is a modest budget for a modest and
fiscally responsible community.
She stated that it costs money to be a full service City, and although Richfield does
not have the population it had 20 years ago, the expectations for services have not
changed nor have the costs of providing those services.
The 2001 budget meets those needs and sustains the high level of public service
this community has come to understand and makes it the quality community that it is.
Ms. Orduno thanked the City Council for supporting City staff.
Administrative Services Director Devich provided an overview of the 2000
Revised/2001 Proposed Budget and 2001 Preliminary Property Tax Levy including the
following:
x
Calendar of Events & Dates
Adoption of Preliminary Levy/Special Meetings
*
Submit Levy/TNT Dates - September 15
*
Truth in Taxation Hearing Dates - December 4 & 11
*
Last Day to Take Council Action - December 27
*
Certify Final Levy – December 28 Deadline
*
x
Local Government Aid (LGA) Comparison
9.6% total decrease since 1989
*
LGA represents 24% of General Fund Revenues
*
x
2000 Tax Capacity Rate
*School District 280 - 43%
*Hennepin County - 30%
*City of Richfield - 20%
*Misc. - 7%
x
1995 - 2000 Tax Capacity History
x
1993 - 2001 Tax Capacity Rate History
x
2001 Tax Levy Analysis
2000 2001% Increase
Certified Levy$8,171,762$8,414,5002.97%
-Fiscal Disparities$1,234,191$1,240,710
-HACA$1,905,787$1,906,255
=Local Levy$5,031,784$5,267,5354.69%
x
Levy to Budget Explanation
20002001
Gross Certified Levy$8,171,762$8,414,500
Less: HACA$1,905,787$1,906,255
=Certified to County$6,265,975$6,508,245
Less: Est. Uncollect.$ 62,660$ 65,082
=Total Taxes$6,203,315$6,443,163
Special Council Meeting Minutes-3-August 30, 2000
x
2001 Proposed Levy Estimated Impact on $125,000 Property (No Increase)
*City Portion of Tax 2000 - $419.57
*City Portion of Tax 2001 - $415.03
*Decrease of $4.54 per year
x
2001 Proposed Levy Estimated Impact on $125,000 Property (11.9% Increase)
*City Portion of Tax 2000 - $419.57
*City Portion of Tax 2001 - $479.97
*Increase of $60.39 per year/$5.03 per month
x
Major Initiatives & Issues
Continue Present Level of Services
*
Complete Redevelopment Projects
*
Airport Redevelopment Area (CARA)
*
Transportation/Bridge Projects
*
Separation of Fire Department
*
Use of PERA Refund interest for P/F items
*
Airport Redevelopment Area (CARA)
*
Loss of Golf Course Revenue ($100,00)
*
Community Visioning Process
*
Airport Expenditures
*
¡
$812,000 - 1999
¡
$455,410 – 2000$371,790 – 2000R
¡
$171,000 - 2001
x
General Fund History 1991 - 2001
x
Gross Tax Levy History
1994 - $7,293,600 - 2.40% Increase
*
1995 - $7,452,200 - 2.17% Increase
*
1996 - $7,637,200 - 2.48% Increase
*
1997 - $7,787.090 - 1.96% Increase
*
1998 - $7,929,927 - 1.83% Increase
*
1999 - $8,054,792 - 1.57% Increase
*
2000 - $8,171,762 - 1.45% Increase
*
x
2001 Proposed Gross Levy
2001 Gross Levy is $8,414,500
*
Increase of 2.97% over the 2000 Levy
x
2001 Proposed Budget General Fund Expenditures
Public Safety 44%
*
Public Works 20%
*
Recreation 10%
*
Administrative Services 7%
*
Legal Executive 5%
*
Community Development 2%
*
Fire 13%
*
x
1990/2001 Expenditure Profile
x
Full-Time Regular Personnel 1992 - 2000
x
2001 Proposed Budget General Fund Revenue
Intergovernmental Revenue 41%
*
Taxes 40%
*
Charges for service 6%
*
Licenses/Permits 6%
*
Special Council Meeting Minutes-4-August 30, 2000
Misc./Transfers 4%
*
Fines/Forfeits 2%
*
City Manager Orduno reviewed and answered questions regarding the following
2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Legislative/Executive/Legal Department Budget and
program highlights:
1.City Council
x
3% increase in Council Salaries
x
Decrease in Professional Services in 2000R & 2001
x
2001 – Transfer in $17,500 for 4th of July Celebration
x
Attendance at National Conferences
x
2001 – Increased costs of shared utilities
x
Minus July 4th & utility costs, budget is less than 1999 actual expenditures
2.Human Services
x
Continue as City Liaison to South Hennepin Collaborative
x
Continue success of Familink work
x
Youth Net program
x
2001 increase due to utility services fee distrubition
3.Other Agencies
x
Continued funding of social services agencies
4.City Manager
x
Reduced Professional Services costs
x
Increase in Utility Service costs
x
Reduction in Labor Credits
5.Legal
x
City Attorney hourly rate increased, but overall annual expenditures remain
unchanged
x
Prosecution costs increase
Administrative Services Director Devich reviewed and answered questions
regarding the following 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Administrative Services Department
Budget and program highlights:
1.Information Technology
x
Upgrade/expand wide area network
x
Upgrade PCs to latest version of Microsoft Office
x
Implement in-house Intranet system
2.Cable Television
x
Process new cable franchise applications
x
Implement replay of City Council Meetings
x
If authorized, begin HRA & Planning Commission cablecasts
x
Upgrade cable bulletin board production
3.Risk Management
x
Continued rate reductions to departments
x
Continued most favorable WCRA rate
Special Council Meeting Minutes-5-August 30, 2000
Administrative Services Director Devich reviewed and answered questions
regarding the following 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Recreation Enterprise Fund and
Internal Service Fund Budgets and program highlights:
x
Recreation Enterprise Fund
Pay off loans to PIR Fund
*
Eliminate repayments to Cable Fund
*
If authorized, create $1.5 trust account from fund assets to create interest income
*
for fund
Create near breakeven yearly operations
*
Turn over operations to Recreation Department
*
x
Loss of $100,000 in Labor Credits (Golf Course)
x
Additional $43,250 for new Internal Service Fund
x
Conduct 2000 Presidential/Local Elections
x
Continued Growth in Motor Vehicle Revenues
x
Full Time Finance Position Eliminated
x
Settlement of 2000/2001 Labor Contracts
x
Liquor Contribution Fund
Funds capital improvements
*
x
Cable TV Fund
FundsYOUR CITY and communications
*
x
CDBG
x
Drug/Forfeiture
x
Tourism Administration
Administrative Services Director Devich and Finance Manager Regis answered City
Council Member Susag’s questions regarding the Golf Course.
Public Safety Scott Williams, Research & Planning Specialist, reviewed and
answered questions regarding the following 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Public Safety
Budget and program highlights:
x
Support Services Division
Significant increase in contract with Bloomington for Plumbing and HVAC
*
Additional funding to Bloomington Health for tobacco use prevention. Offset by
*
grant.
x
Police Operations
Crime rate trend
*
x
Fire Division
Fire Chief recruitment
*
Evaluate supervisory structure
*
Review training needs and basic operations
*
x
Police Division
Police command staff restructured under one divison manager
*
One full-time 911 dispatcher position added
*
One full-time records clerk added
*
Increase in capital purchases for revised 2000 budget
*
New radio system
*
Building maintenance fund
*
Special Council Meeting Minutes-6-August 30, 2000
x
Additional Staff
Due to increased construction activity, the Inspections Division is hiring an
*
additional full-time building inspector and retaining a temporary inspections clerk
The cost for these additional positions is offset by increased permit revenue
*
x
Division Changes
Pending separation of Fire Division from Public Safety
*
Police Operations and Police Support divisions have been combined under one
*
police captain, Police command staff structure reorganized
Community Development Director Palmborg reviewed and answered questions
regarding the following 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Community Development
Department Budget and program highlights:
x
Focus
Housing replacement
*
Multi-family housing options
*
Other strategies to strengthen housing – including redevelopment of commercial
*
areas
x
New Program Initiatives
The focus will be on sustaining the projects and programs currently underway with
*
one exception
Formulate strategy for utilization of Best Buy housing fund contributions to be
*
available 2003
x
Continuing Programs
Richfield Rediscovered
*
New Home
*
Deferred Rehabilitation Loan
*
Transformation Loans
*
Community Apartment Program (CAP)
*
Richfield Rediscovered Apartment Remodeling Program
*
Remodeling Advisor Administration
*
Comprehensive Planning and Zoning Ordinance Administration
*
Plan Review
*
Section 8
*
Marketing
*
Remodeling Fair/Remodeled Homes Tour
Spring Preview Parade of Homes
Realtor Workshop
Enterprise Facilitation
*
Ombudsperson
*
GIS
*
x
Project Summary “Other Projects”
Complete 2000
*
ProjectComment
66th St./TH 77 BridgeAcquire 30 parcels and vacate all
Mitigative Area GrantAcquire approximately 25 residences and
vacate as many as possible
Gleason MortuaryPurchase for future redevelopment
Special Council Meeting Minutes-7-August 30, 2000
Complete 2001
*
ProjectComment
th
Phase III; 77 St.Acquire 4 parcels
Lyndale Gateway StreetscapeLyndale Avenue between 76th & 77th St.
x
Opportunities/Constraints
Shrinking Funds and Gaps (escalating property acquisition cost)
*
Asset Management System
*
TIF Document Management
*
Lots of projects, lots of papers and too little office space
*
Community Development Director Palmborg explained to Council Member Sandahl
that GIS stands for Geographical Information System.
Public Works Director Eastling reviewed and answered questions regarding the
following 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Public Works Department Budget and program
highlights:
x
Mission: To make Richfield the best place to live, work, learn and do business by
providing for basic human needs such as:
Clean water
*
Responsible disposal of wastewater
*
Safe timely transportation
*
Pleasant functional parks and buildings
*
x
General Fund Expenditure(s) Summary
x
Public Works Administration
Unprecedented attention to major transportation projects
*
Major Maintenance planned and funded for parks, streets and building
*
Public Works Building – site identified
*
x
Engineering Division Planning
Interchanges – Penn, 66th/Highway 77, Lyndale – Project Engineer
*
Crosstown Commons Reconstruct
*
76th Street – 35W to Penn
*
Investigate undergrounding of overhead utility lines
*
Noise/sight barrier – Crosstown, 35W to Penn
*
x
Engineering Division Design/Construction
Completed Wood Lake dredging
*
Traffic signals at 67th/Nicollet
*
7600 Block of Lyndale
*
Construction Phase of Crosstown Commons
*
TH 77 Underpass, ROW & design
*
Penn/494 Bridge construction
*
x
Street Maintenance Division
Temporary extra PW worker position
*
Pavement maintenance program
*
Overlays $100k
1/5 city sealcoat
Experimenting equipment:
*
Reduced snowplow time to less than 8 hrs
Special Council Meeting Minutes-8-August 30, 2000
Plow wings on trucks
Computerized sanders
Chronic waste disposal problem
*
x
Park Maintenance Division Major Maintenance
Projects
*
Courts/Fields - Donaldson
Park paths – Heredia, Adams Hill, Roosevelt
Concession stand – Roosevelt
Scoreboards – Roosevelt, Donaldson
Funding
*
$100,000 CIB
$50,000 General Fund/staff reduction
Customer driven
*
Neighborhood meetings
Community Services Commission
Recreation Services Department
x
Government Buildings Division
Major maintenance - $50k
*
Building maintenance as an internal fund
*
Auditor Report
Accountability
Air quality emphasis per Building Maintenance Committee
*
x
Forestry Division
In-house inspection services
*
New trimming techniques are:
*
Trim new plantings often for best shaping
Trim less from each tree
2,000 of 12,000 trees trimmed per year
Lost log storage site to MAC
*
Investigate boulevard tree planting program on County Roads
*
x
Central Garage Division
Rely on Hennepin County for gas
*
Support staff reorganized
*
x
Water Maintenance Division
Water Quality Report - #1 in state
*
Rate increase of $.05 to $1.67
*
Reduced backwash reclaim project
*
Roof over well number 7 area
*
2001
Parking lot in front of dewatering building
*
Investigate serving MAC
*
x
Wastewater Maintenance Division
No rate increase
*
Metro charges staying flat at $1.8M
*
Aggressive maintenance program reduces backups to less than 5 per year
*
x
Storm Water
No rate increase
*
Fund balance of –233,802 (5/15/00)
*
Finished Wood Lake dredging
*
Special Council Meeting Minutes-9-August 30, 2000
Richfield Lake Project in 2001
*
Recreation Services Director Topitzhofer reviewed and answered questions
regarding the following 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Recreation Services Department
Budget, major initiatives and issues, and program highlights:
x
Wood Lake Nature Center (2000 Accomplishments)
Began development of Children's Forest
*
Repaired trails damaged by flooding
*
Implemented new Community Garden
*
Began upgrade of phone system
*
(2001 Goals)
Begin Phase II of Children’s Forest
*
Continue to provide high-quality environmental programming
*
x
Recreation Programs (2000 Accomplishments)
Utilized diversified marketing resources
*
Supported Little League merger
*
Continued outreach to Latino community
*
Teamed with Public Works on projects
*
Worked with pool and skate park groups
*
(2001 Goals)
Implement class registration software
*
Further explore creative programming and marketing opportunities
*
Continue to explore outdoor pool options
*
Continue skate park collaboration
*
x
Community Center (2000 Accomplishments)
Developed older adult services collaborative with residential facilities
*
Identified new markets for rental of facilities
*
Began revision of rental policy
*
(2001 Goals)
Continue implementation of collaborative with residential facilities
*
Continue to offer adaptive and inclusion services through the four-city cooperative
*
Complete revision of facility rental policy and make improvements to building
*
Liquor Operations Director Fillmore reviewed and answered questions regarding the
following 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Liquor Operations Department Budget and
program highlights:
x
Liquor Sales Statistics
1986 - 2001
*
x
Profitability
Charge/debit transactions
*
ATM sites
*
Closely monitor expenditures
*
Provide signage for Shops @ Lyndale store
*
Protect store visibility/access in any relocation
*
x
Marketing
Media campaigns
*
Key Brands
*
Special Council Meeting Minutes-10-August 30, 2000
Competitive Pricing Policies
*
In-house chain promotions
*
x
Staff Training
Responsible distribution
*
Focus on Customer attraction/retention
*
City Manager Orduno announced that an ATM machine is being put in the lobby to
provide improved service to our customers.
Mayor Kirsch announced that the City Council had completed the review and
discussion of the draft 2000 Revised/2001 Proposed Budgets and proposed 2001
preliminary tax levy and therefore the September 6, 2000, 7:00 p.m. Special City Council
Budget meeting would not be necessary and would be cancelled.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 9:23 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. Kirsch
Mayor
Deborah J. GuiherSamantha Orduno
Deputy City ClerkCity Manager