HomeMy WebLinkAbout2.B 2014 Budget Discussion�ROSEMOUt*4T EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session Meeting: July 10, 2013
AGENDA ITEM: 2014 Budget Discussion
AGENDA SECTION:
PREPARED BY: Dwight Johnson, City Administrator
AGENDA NO.
2�
ATTACHMENTS: Memo from Chief Werner; three
memos /emails from RAAC; reprint of
APPROVED BY:
historical budget information requested
by the Mayor; letter to the editor
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Discuss and provide direction on the items below.
BACKGROUND
Several questions or items of new information have emerged during and subsequent to our initial budget
discussion on June 25. Staff is providing information for further council review and direction.
DISCUSSION ITEMS
1. New Sergeant position in Police Department. Chief Werner has provided a memo giving more
detailed information on the reasons for this proposal. Our current leadership consists of 3 Sergeants and
one Lieutenant. With the retirement of Lt. Ericson, we now plan to not fill the Lieutenant's position.
Instead we would have four Sergeants and propose to add the new fifth Sergeant on July 1, 2014. This will
save some dollars from the budget proposed on June 25h, but the amount has not been calculated yet.
2. Letter from RAAC. The letter proposes that we reduce expected revenue at Steeple Center to
accommodate a proposed theater group and other additional programming. It also requests money for a
sign. Revenue has already been reduced in the June 25`'' budget from $18,000 in 2013 budget to $8,000 in
2014, acknowledging that the Steeple Center is getting closer to the long term goal established in 2007 of
being an arts and cultural center. A sign can be accommodated in our capital budget for next year, and I
have also asked Dan Schultz to work on a temporary sign to put up while the construction is underway.
For background, I am also including a previous memo from RAAC that explains their current outlook.
Finally, I have included an email from Jeanne Schwartz regarding the value of their volunteer hours for the
community which was requested by Council member Weisensel.
3. Health Insurance. On June 25"', we reported that health insurance was required to be offered to all
employees averaging more than 30 hours of work per week in 2014. Since then, that requirement has been
delayed until 2015. This may save some money for our health insurance pool fund, but will not have any
direct impact on our 2014 levy.
4. Historical budget information requested by Mayor Droste. This was previously emailed to you,
but is included again in this packet for your convenience. The information includes a 10 year history for
both building permit revenues and levy per capita calculations.
5. Letter to the editor. Alan Cox noticed this budget comment (and a comment on the comment) in a
local newspaper and it is also included for your information. The only comment we might offer is that
while all cities should get some benefit from the elimination of sales tax on most of our purchases, only
selected cities are getting increased Local Government Aid (LGA) and Rosemount is not one of them.
SUMMARY
Staff requests that the Council review the discussion items above and identify any new subjects or issues
for staff to evaluate prior to our August work session.
2
4ROSEMOUNTEXECUTIVE SUMMARY
CITY COUNCIL
City Council Work Session: July 10, 2014
AGENDA ITEM: New Police Sergeant Position
AGENDA SECTION:
PREPARED BY: Eric T. Werner, Chief of Police
AGENDA NO.
ATTACHMENTS: None
APPROVED BY:
RECOMMENDED ACTION: Budget the new Police Sergeant position effective July 1,
2014
ISSUE
During the 2014 Budget Discussion at the City Council Special Meeting on Tuesday June 25, 2013 the City
Council requested additional information to clarify the Police Department's request for the new Police
Sergeant position. The position is being requested to allow improved management of the investigations
unit, provide additional daytime supervision that is currently lacking, assist with stronger efforts in
emergency planning, and enhance the ability to use data for timely identification of crime and accident
trends. The Police Lieutenant has retired and one Sergeant resigned since the initial request for the new
Police Sergeant during 2014 budget preparations. With half of the Police Department's leadership team
vacant, the need for the new Police Sergeant is more serious.
BACKGROUND
IMPROVED MANAGEMENT OF THE INVESTIGATIONS UNIT
The new Sergeant would be assigned as the Investigations Unit Sergeant to provide unity of supervision
and leadership of the Unit. Currently, Investigations Unit personnel are assigned to a Lieutenant, who is
responsible for all patrol supervisors as well. Despite being assigned to the Lieutenant, Investigations Unit
personnel receive supervision from other supervisors due to the Lieutenant being required to supervise
patrol, perform administrative duties, attend administrative meetings, attend training days and take
personal leave. In the Lieutenants absence Investigations Unit personnel receive supervision from any
available supervisor such as a Day Watch Sergeant, Chief of Police, or Records Supervisor on occasions.
The Investigations Unit includes two Investigators, on School Resource Officer, one Community
Resource Officer and the Dakota County Drug Task Force Agent. The work of each officer in the Unit is
different, yet integrated. Therefore, one direct supervisor will provide consistency and understanding of
daily work activities of the Unit, while increasing efficiency and quality of work.
PROVIDE ADDITIONAL SUPERVISION/REPLACE LEADERSHIP VACANCIES
The new Sergeant would be assigned to Day Watch Monday through Friday to provide additional
supervision. Currently one Day Watch Patrol Sergeant rotates days off throughout the week. Therefore,
the Day Watch patrol officers receive inconsistent supervision. Without a Patrol Sergeant the Lieutenant,
Chief of Police or Records Supervisor provides supervision. A front -line supervisor is not immediately
available when the Patrol Sergeant is off -duty and the Lieutenant or Chief of Police is attending
administrative meetings, attending training or off -duty. The Chief and Lieutenant's administrative work is
disrupted for front -line supervision responsibilities without a Day Watch Sergeant.
The Lieutenant recently retired and one Patrol Sergeant resigned for other employment, a loss of
nearly 39 years of experience. The departures leave half the Police Department's leadership positions
vacant. The Police Department is estimating the retirement of one Sergeant at the end of 2014 and one
Sergeant in early 2015 with new PERA retirement guideline changes effective July 1, 2014. In total, the
Police Department will lose approximately 100 years of experience at the leadership level, leaving only the
Chief of Police and inexperienced Sergeants to lead the department. Promoting an additional Sergeant will
help bolster the supervision and leadership personnel needed on a daily basis. Additionally, the process of
leadership development will start before the senior Sergeants retire.
ENHANCE THE ABILITY TO USE DATA FOR TIMELY IDENTIFICATION OF CRIME AND ACCIDENT
TRENDS
The Investigations Sergeant will assist the Chief of Police with crime and accident data review to identify
trends, hot spots or specific service needs. Police resources can be deployed more effectively to respond
to or prevent identified trends. The Investigations Sergeant will also liaison with other Law Enforcement
agencies for crime information /intelligence sharing across agency boarders. The Police Department will
have a more accurate understanding of crime, traffic and service trends compared to performance
measurements (e.g., number of crimes, cases solved, conviction rates and committed time to service calls).
ASSIST WITH STRONGER EFFORTS IN EMERGENCY PLANNING
Community disaster education and training is an integral part of the City's overall emergency response
planning. Training such as individual preparedness, Citizens Emergency Response Training (CERT),
notifications systems and technology allows community members to assist themselves or others in
neighborhoods or their businesses. The community will be better prepared to help themselves when
professionals are not readily available or take a more active role if needed. The new Sergeant position will
assist in facilitating community involvement.
RECOMMENDATION
Budget for the new Police Sergeant position effective July 1, 2014
2
July 3, 2014
To: Rosemount City Council
From: Rosemount Area Arts Council
Re: City Budget
This is in response to Mayor Droste's "City Notes" article in the Independent Town Pages, dated
June 27, 2014, wherein suggestions on next year's city budget were solicited from residents.
SMestion 1:
We would like to suggest that in 2014 the revenue line of the Parks and Rec Department for The
Steeple Center income be eliminated or substantially reduced.
Here's why.
RAAC has plans for starting both an adult community theater and a children's theater, beginning no
later than January 2014. We are now just in the planning stages, but we have always delivered on
putting on a program once it was in our planning process. We have held several informational
meetings for both theater troupes and are in the process of selecting an advisory committee to
oversee the formation of each.
One of the stumbling blocks to Rosemount's having standing theater troupes is that we need to
break everything down each week to accommodate the City on the Hill church which meets in The
Steeple Center on Sundays. For the theater this would mean: no Sunday performances, no stage
sets could be put up for rehearsals, no props and costumes could be stored in the wings.
We would suggest that City on the Hill could potentially be offered the Banquet Room at the
Community Center at a grandfathered price similar to that which they pay for The Steeple Center,
so revenue would not be lost. And, if more weddings were shifted to the new Banquet Room, which
is lovely following its renovation, the revenue would be greater to the city and another city facility's
use could be ramped up. Weddings and other functions could still be booked at The Steeple Center,
provided the theater companies had first priority and could not be bumped for a wedding. RAAC
would assure that we could give the city ample notice of production and rehearsal schedules to
avoid conflicts. We could probably give 6 months notice of our production schedules. If the City on
the Hill revenue were not lost, we believe a great portion of The Steeple Center revenue could be
preserved.
The theater companies simply exacerbate the challenge we have already faced with art exhibits that
had to be torn down on Saturday afternoon, rather than being open to the public on Sunday, which
is a prime time for family outings. The most recent exhibits where this issue came up were with our
P. O. Box 409
Rosemount, Minnesota 55068
www.RosemountArts.com
Building & Strengthening Our Community 'Phrough the .arts
Quilt Show and the Metal Sculpture Show. The Quilt Show attracted 247 people and the Metal
Sculpture Show attracted 97 people between Tuesday and Saturday. Had we been able to set up on
Saturday and be open for more than 5 -6 days, we could have served more community members.
We have found that visual artists particularly are not interested in exhibitions that only last 5 -6
days. They want their art mounted and up for 1 -3 months as we do at the library.
It's a mindset change
The bottom line is we're asking for a change in mindset with regard to The Steeple Center. We're
suggesting that the time is now to designate The Steeple Center as an arts facility primarily, which
can be rented out and used as a multi - purpose space on an ancillary basis. The big leap is the
facility would be rented out with the caveat that there could be art on the walls; there could be
theater sets on the stage. For most meetings these things should not be an issue. For example, my
son was married in an art gallery and he did so fully aware that the artwork would be different on
his wedding day than when he rented the facility. It's a matter of setting the expectations. We may
even find The Steeple Center to be more marketable as an art gallery than as an empty building.
We believe it's time to make this shift. In the scheme of the overall budget, we can't help but think
this is a small item.
Suggestion #2
Budget for a sign for The Steeple Center.
Thank you for your kind attention.
We look forward to your support.
Sincerely,
Board of Directors
Rosemount Area Arts Council
"BuiCding andstrengthening our community through the arts...." rz �c
Update on the Arts in Rosemount
The arts news in Rosemount is good!
Just after the city purchased the former St. Joseph's Church, a task force was appointed to recommend
various new uses for the building. A group of 24 individuals met for nearly a year to come up with the
recommendation to rededicate the building into a future arts center. The transition period was the tricky
part, and continues to be so.
The transition period was forecast to be about 10 years, during which time the facility would be used in
varying degrees as a multi -use building on a sliding scale with the arts usage increasing over time and the
other uses decreasing over time. We are now five years into this transition. Things have gone very well in
the transition. Arts usage is on the increase. Particularly with the completion of the Front Porch
agreement between the city and RAAC, RAAC has been able to add more events to its calendar and increase
its utilization of The Steeple Center. We were also able to add even more free events under our agreement.
This good news has created a few growing pains, however.
RAAC's programming is over - reaching the timeline. While we are five years into the transition by the
calendar, RAAC's programming is in approximately its eighth year. In other words, we are utilizing The
Steeple Center with many more activities and events than would have been anticipated at this point in time.
Here are the challenges:
1. The building has no signage. This has been an issue from the beginning, however, it was anticipated
that signage would come with the completion of the other building on the property. With the delay in
the commencement of the building process, the signage has also been delayed. People looking for The
Steeple Center, residents and non - residents, don't know where to go. With the increased usage of the
building, the problem is exacerbated. We would strongly recommend at least temporary signage at the
earliest possible date. RAAC would like to have both The Steeple Center and Rosemount's Front Porch
named on the sign, along with something to the effect of Information /Welcome Center. This would
benefit not only RAAC, but also the city.
We have purchased and the city has installed an art hanging system for both the gathering space
(lobby) and the main auditorium. We cannot, however, stage an art show because of other uses of the
facility. For example, when brides come to rent The Steeple Center for a wedding, they see IKEA art on
the walls of the lobby. There is no art in the auditorium. They probably expect to see that same art on
the walls when they arrive for their wedding. This means any art that had been hung would have to
come down and replaced with the IKEA art before any wedding or rental event.
Or, does it? We would suggest that if RAAC hung artwork on the walls of both the lobby and
auditorium, we could ask the brides if they find the work objectionable, and if so, then remove it. We
anticipate that most brides would welcome the upgraded art. The city could change its contract with
renters to reflect this policy.
This switch in approach is a matter of philosophy. If we begin viewing The Steeple Center as an art
center which is sometimes rented out for weddings and other events, then we approach brides with the
fact that the art may change, but anything "objectionable" in nature could be removed at the renter's
request. This is a very different approach from continuing to view The Steeple Center as a multi -use
property that sometimes is used for art displays.
This shift could make a huge difference in our ability to get art exhibits up and running in The Steeple
Center. The library, for example, has had an art show running since early January and it will be
changed out in May. To take art on and off the walls every couple of weeks is too cumbersome for the
artists, who would then not be interested in exhibiting. Additionally, each time art is put up or taken
down, there is a greater risk of damage to the pieces.
3. The next challenge is related and is a bit stickier, and, we think, requires a longer term solution. The
Steeple Center is currently rented out each Sunday to a church congregation. The city receives
approximately $5500 /year for this rental. The impact on RAAC is that, even if the walls can be used for
local artist's exhibits (we believe that City on the Hill is willing to cooperate with us on this) we cannot
use the middle of the room to display art. In addition, RAAC would like to start a community theater by
the end of 2013. Plays are typically performed on Friday, Saturday evenings and a Sunday matinee.
The sets are up for several weeks at a time if the play runs for more than a week. It is unlikely that the
church would want to have a set piece on the stage during their service.
Possible solutions: we could talk with City on a Hill to see if we could drape the set pieces and leave
them in place. This may be workable. If not, we may not be able to bring a community theater to
Rosemount.
Another longer term solution might be to have RAAC pay rent equivalent to the net income of having
the church rent the facility in order to offset the loss from not having a church on Sundays. This would
have to be a longer term solution because right now RAAC could not afford to pay the necessary
$5000+ to put this solution in place.
In the short term, we believe we should have a joint meeting between the city (Park & Rec), City on the Hill
and RAAC to see where everyone's boundaries are.
Another solution may be to shift the church to the new banquet facility.
Again, we are dealing with a philosophy shift. Is this a multi -use rental facility, or is this an arts facility that
is sometimes rented out for various uses.
4. We would also like to hang a 60 -inch high - definition flat screen in the Gathering Space on the west or
north wall to be purchased out of the hanging system grant money. This may seem an odd request, but
we are learning that younger generation artists are rarely "putting brush to paper'. They are creating
their art on electronic pads and only printing their art as needed. The ability to display art
electronically would put our art gallery on the leading edge of galleries in the Twin Cities. An artist's
work could be displayed as a slide show.
Timeline for sound and lighting improvements: We would encourage that the budgeted improvements
be completed as soon as possible and feasible so they can be used. Each time RAAC brings in sound and
lighting equipment, it costs between $300 and $500. This is too much money to have to spend on
modest or free events. We can only afford it for major events like Christmas at The Steeple Center
where revenues can pay this expense. We have smaller events like Classic Movie Nights and up- coming
Jazz Nights that cannot support this type of expense. For the Casablanca showing, one of our members
brought his equipment from his home theater in order to make the event possible. That will not be able
to happen every month. We will either have to rent equipment or scale back our performing arts
calendar.
RAAC would also like to preview the plans for sound and lighting enhancements that have been drafted.
We want to make certain that our priorities on sound and lighting are those in the plan as we discussed
with the engineers, which we are grateful that our input was sought in the early stages.
6. Air conditioning: This is not a huge priority for us. Most of our Steeple Center events will take place
September through May. Our summer events are being planned for the amphitheater. If it takes two
years for the air conditioning to get done when the other building is built, we are happy with that.
In fact, if we had to choose between a greater investment in sound /lighting or air conditioning, we
would opt for additional investment in even further upgrading the auditorium to becoming a really
usable theater facility. When we met with the engineers, they said right away that we could not get
everything needed to be a theater for the budgeted $100,000. If some monies could be budgeted in the
coming years for full conversion to a working theater, this would be our preference. For example, the
windows all need darkening shades as theaters are dark.
7. RAAC is dedicated to trying to find grant monies to help with the needed investments as soon as there is
a plan in place. We have approximately $5000 right now from our display system and lighting grant that
can be turned over to the city as soon as work begins on the sound and light project. We understand that
$5000 is a very modest sum, but it is a beginning. There are many grants available for the arts and seniors,
arts and disabilities, arts and health /healing. Depending upon the final plans for the new building, we may
be able to snag some substantial monies to invest in this building as well.
8. Financial considerations:
a. RAAC is aware that the greater use of The Steeple Center does not come without cost to the city.
We are open to ideas on how to help mitigate those costs. For example, as The Steeple Center
becomes predominantly an arts center, we would not be opposed to taking over the scheduling
work. We believe we are already taking up a great deal of Lisa Maurer's time with scheduling our
events. As our events become a greater part of her work at The Steeple Center, we would be happy
to discuss how we can help reduce her work here.
b. Another cost saving idea may be to revisit whether the city really needs to have staff on site when
a RAAC event is open to the public. Once the initial set -up is done for an event, we could make
certain rules are followed and for whatever else the staff is responsible.
We understand that we may not be aware of all the city's issues with regard to staffing. Just know
that we are open to trying to save the city money as the arts grow in Rosemount.
We realize we sound like a squeaky wheel, always asking for something. Know that we will do our utmost
to return an excellent value for every investment the city makes in the arts. We always say we are
community builders as much as we are artists and art lovers. We should also say many of the RAAC board
members are, or were, business owners or senior managers. We understand the need for fiscal
responsibility. We think we manage our money very well, operating over 30 programs on a budget of
approximately $31,000. We like to think we would be equally judicious in using the investment the city
makes in the arts. We would be very interested in discussing possible ways to measure the value we might
bring to the city. We have not figured out a way to do that (yet).
We would like to reiterate that we are enormously grateful for the Front Porch agreement between RAAC
and the City of Rosemount. It has enabled us to leap forward by several years in our programming
schedule. We concur with the financial discipline exhibited by the City Council and would not ever suggest
that a very aggressive route to an arts center (such as Burnsville) be undertaken by the City. The City has
been very supportive of RAAC and we are grateful for this support. We just wanted to make the Council
and the administration aware of the growing pains we are experiencing. We believe both RAAC and the
City have the same goals. If we could reach our goals sooner than the original 10 -year timeline, we would
be exceedingly happy.
We are available to discuss any of the above at your convenience.
Rosemount Area Arts Council
Executive Board
Jeanne Schwartz
Chair
Keith Reed
Secretary
John Loch
Chair - Programming
Joanne Johnson
Chair - Membership
Jim Kotz
Vice -Chair
Pat Stanger - Jacobson
Treasurer
Ted Hammond
Chair - Development
[Email from Jeanne Schwartz 7 -3 -13 on behalf of RAAC. Council member Weisensel requested
this information.]
"We had the following hours this year so far:
January 402
February 390
March 544
April 395
May 425
Total: 2156
Average: 431
I looked up the value of volunteer hours. A group called the Independent Sector (link below)
calculates the value of volunteer hours by state and for 2012 calculated Minnesota's value at
$21.92 per hour. I have no idea how they arrive at their numbers. This value would calculate
our volunteer hours for January through May at $47,238, an average of $9447 /month.
httb:// indenendentsector.orv-/volunteer time
As an update from our economic development report, we have held 23 events this year through
June 30 (20 of them have been free to the public. We have served 2041 patrons and 269
artists. We have spent $3881 in the City of Rosemount.
The comparable numbers for 2012 for the same period were 14 events, 1184 patrons, 49 artists,
$3582 spent in Rosemount. I should also note that the second half of the year is by far heavier
across all our metrics due to the Bluegrass Festival in July, the Community Band Concert in
August and Christmas at The Steeple Center in December.
Hope this is useful information for the Council.
Jeanne"
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The hard truth on taxes
By LETTER WRITER on July 3, 2013 at 9:40 am
Twse4 A0
Amt
Prig;.....
Ill ;
To the editor:
was shocked — shocked, I tell you — to read Tad Johnson's June 27 report
that Rosemount property taxes will be increased — albeit modestly — in
2014. This, when we were sold the jaw- dropping array of DFL tax increases
(from cigarettes to warehouse space to stick- it -to- the -rich income tax
increases) with the promise of "significant property tax reduction."
Well, maybe Gov. Mark Dayton and his minions will deliver those promised
property tax reductions next year. Or maybe we taxpayers will finally wake
up.
Here's the hard truth, people: When one level of government justifies a tax
increase by pledging that another level of government will more than offset
that increase with a reduction in its level of taxation, we're being sold a bill of
goods.
Debra L. Kaczmarek
Rosemount
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Rosemount Resident says:
July 3, 2013 at 1:02 pm
Governor Dayton does not increase the property taxes in Rosemount. Dakota County
Board and Rosemount City Council do along with School District 196 who get over %50 of
the tax levy. Enough with the partisan hack attacks.
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