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HomeMy WebLinkAbout6.c. Minutes of the July 2, 2019 Work Session Proceedings ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS JULY 2, 2019 CALL TO ORDER Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a work session of the Rosemount City Council was held on Tuesday, July 2, 2019, at 5:05 p.m. in the Conference Room at City Hall, 2875 145th Street West, Rosemount. Mayor Droste called the meeting to order at 5:05 p.m. with Council Members Block, Essler, Freske and Weisensel. • City Administrator Logan Martin • Public Works Director/City Engineer Erickson • Director of Parks & Rec Dan Schultz • Finance Director Jeff May • Assistant City Engineer Stephanie Smith • Assistant City Administrator Foster • Police Chief Dahlstrom • Storm Water Specialist Byron • Community Director Lindquist • Recording Secretary Barikmo DISCUSSION 2.a. Preliminary Review of 2020 Budget Administrator Martin introduced the 2020 budget and explained that it was the third draft that has been completed internally. Martin noted the highlights of the draft budget by department and explained reasons for an increase, decrease or no change in the budget amount per department. There is an overall increase of 4.86% increase to the operating budget. This results in a 4.5% increase in the tax levy. Council member Weisensel expressed that if the population of Rosemount is increasing, the cost of living in Rosemount should decrease, unless the City can show that the City is adding more value. Martin explained since Rosemount is a growing community, that the City’s operations are growing as well. If the City was already built out and operations weren’t changing, then the cost of living could potentially go down. Administrator Martin explained that it is a union negotiation year and staff is a negotiating four union contracts. The numbers in the budget regarding wages are values that staff is anticipating settling with the unions on. Mayor Droste discussed the need for Polco and the City’s need for the service. Administrator Martin explained that he and the Communications Coordinator, Alan Cox, had a meeting with Polco to discuss possible improvements. Mayor Droste advised if Polco does not complete the improvements by the end of the year that Polco be eliminated from the budget. The annual cost of Polco is about $3,000. Council member Essler clarified with the proposed budget, it would add about $39 to the average home’s local property tax bill. With the new indoor recreation facility tentatively scheduled to be built in 2020 or 2021, there potentially will be an additional tax levy. Essler questioned whether council wanted to show a gradual increase in 2020, rather than having a larger increase in 2021 with the indoor recreation facility. There would only be an increase to the tax levy if the project is not funded by SKB funds. Council members discussed tax levy and proposed future increases, along with the policy decision of saving now for future projects. ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS JULY 2, 2019 ADJOURNMENT The Council needed more time to complete the agenda, but adjourned with a motion from Droste, second by Essler. The meeting was adjourned at 6:48 p.m. to regular City Council meeting located in the Council Chambers. CALL BACK TO ORDER Mayor Droste called the work session back to order at 7:26 p.m. in the Conference Room at City Hall, 2875 145th Street West, Rosemount. 2.a. Preliminary Review of 2020 Budget (continued) Administrator Martin requested that Public Works Director/City Engineer Erickson explain to council the need for a new Full Time Employee (FTE) for Parks Maintenance. Mr. Erickson gave a brief overview of the demands of maintaining the parks and the current staff level. Council asked staff about hiring summer staff to help with mowing the parks. Mayor Droste questioned what the requirements are for the new FTE to be able to have a snowplowing route and hiring part-time staff to help with snowplowing. Staff that completes the snowplowing are required to have commercial driver’s licenses. The Council discussed in detail their desire of having a long-term projects spreadsheet with projected impacts on the budget going into the future. Staff has provided some of this data, but will prepare a full analysis / spreadsheet for review by the Council at a subsequent work session. Council member Essler discussed how this will aid the Council in making the decision as to how to prepare for the financial impacts of future capital projects. Administrator Martin requested the Council provide additional direction on the budget directly to him in the coming weeks, with a follow-up work session tentatively scheduled for August. 2.b. Review of Draft Drainage & Utility Easement Policy Public Works Director/City Engineer Erickson provided an overview on the draft policy. Council member Freske recommended that the policy and the FAQ document be in plain language so it is easily understandable to the average resident. Administrator Martin recommended that staff work with the cable crew to create an informational video about the policy. The video would then be available on the City’s website for residents to reference. Council member Essler questioned if the policy is a state requirement or city requirement. Community Development Lindquist stated that the requirements are listed in City Ordinance. Council members and staff discussed what is not allowed in the easement. UPDATES 3.a. Current Hiring and Recruitments Administrator Martin provided an update on the new Accountant, Commander, and Economic Development Coordinator positions. Council members and staff briefly discussed the Economic Development Coordinator applicants. ROSEMOUNT CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION PROCEEDINGS JULY 2, 2019 UPDATES Council member Weisensel provided updates on the splash pad celebration and plow painting event. Council member Essler discussed Hope Fieldhouse. Council will have an item regarding the topic at the August 5, 2019 regular council meeting. ADJOURNMENT There being no further business to come before the City Council, the meeting was adjourned with a motion from Droste, second by Block. The meeting was adjourned at 10:05 p.m. Respectfully submitted, Jessie Barikmo Recording Secretary