City Council Minutes 03-22-1999 SpecialMINUTES
SPECIAL 1VIEETING -.MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, March 22, 1999 - 5:30 p.m.
Members Present: Roger Belsaas, Clint Herbst, Brian Stumpf, Bruce Thielen
Members Absent: Roger Carlson
2. Review mandator project listing and priaritization listing.
City Administrator Rick Wolfsteller reviewed the City's vision statement/governance
model and projects completed since June 1997. Deputy City Administrator Jelf O'Neill
noted that the project listing included items from 199' as well as new items for 1999.
Mayor Roger Belsaas suggested that Council review the staff initiatives and mandatory
project list and then meet again to discuss specifics. He also directed staff to review the
budget and note where expenses can be reduced, perhaps by phasing in some projects, as
he would not support a tax increase for the year 2000.
Council discussed the 5-year capital improvement plan, along with currently budgeted
projects. "I'hcy suggested that staff list which projects have been started, what percent of
the project has been completed, how the project was financed, and whether grant funds
are available.
Short- and long-term road maintenance was also discussed. Public Works Director John
Simola estimated the cost for improvements to the core city to be $1 million and $1.5
million for the Hillcrest area, which would be funded through bonds and assessments. He
noted that in the past, the City assessed 50% of street improvements to benefitting
property owners. City IJngineer Bret Weiss added that many cities assess no more than
25% due to legislation requiring that "benefit" be shown for street improvements. He
suggested that the City create a policy far assessments rather than assessing project by
project. In addition to assessing the projects, he noted that the City could apply for 100%
fiYnding for state aid road improvements and use any remaining funds for oversizing, etc.
Mayor Belsaas added that the public works department should have acity-wide street
layout showing projects to be completed.
Council also discussed the City's use of consultants for services such as legal,
engineering, planning, financing, wastewater treatment plant operations, etc., and whether
it would be more efficient to hire staff for some of these services.
THERE BEING NO FURTHER DISCUSSION, A MOTION WAS MADE BY BRUCE
THIELEN AND SECONDED BY BRIAN STUMPF TO ADJOURN THE SPECIAL
MEETING. Motion carried unanimously.
1~
K oty
Deputy City Clerk