Loading...
City Council Minutes 10-14-1997 SpecialMINUTES SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL Tuesday, October 14, 1997 - 5 p.m. Members Present: Bill Fair, Clint Herbst, Brian Stumpf, Roger Carlson, Bruce Thielen Members Absent: None A special meeting of the City Council was held for the purpose of reviewing the preliminary 1998 municipal budget. City Administrator Rick Wolfsteller reported that the net certified levy increase in dollars for 1998 was preliminarily established at $957,133, a 30% increase over 1997. Of that amount, $627,785 is to cover debt. Residents would not necessarily see a 30% increase in the city portion of their taxes, however, because new residential and commercial development would add to the city's valuation. Wolfsteller also noted that, due to the current state-wide tax restructuring process, the 1998 tax capacity value was estimated to decrease approximately 10°Io to $14,465,000 compared to $15,993,989 for 1997. Councilmember Bruce Thielen suggested that the Council consider establishing a specific percentage increase Far the 1998 budget and allow each department to prioritize their budget items in order to decrease the budget to the amount established by the Council. A discussion was held regarding the parks department budget of $384,290, during which Mayor Fair noted that some of the items would probably have to be deleted from the 1998 budget. He also suggested that the City focus more an rehabilitating the current community parks, particularly Bridge Park, rather than adding to the park inventory. Assistant Administrator Jeff O'Neill noted that the Parks Commission could review their budget items at their meeting scheduled for October 16. Councilmember Thielen suggested that equipment items be separated from park improvements and that the City consider establishing a separate parks department to help accomplish the goals set by the Parks Commission. Council also discussed adding lighting to existing ballfields in lieu of creating new ones and reducing the boulevard tree planting program by half to planting 900 trees in 1998 and 900 in 1999. It was also suggested that shade tree funds could be used in the form of a matching grant program to encourage residents to plant more trees. Page 1 Special Council Minutes - 10/14/97 City Administrator Wolfsteller noted that there are some reserve funds that could be used for some of the programs or items deleted from the 1998 budget. Councilmember Herbst suggested that Council consider establishing a 4-5% increase for the 1998 budget and have the City Administrator review which items could be deleted from the budget but paid for by reserve funds. Economic Development Director Ollie Korapchak reported that the HRA has requested an additional $30,000 far a marketing program and $35,000 far purchasing two additional properties in the downtown/riverfront area for a total increase of $65,000 to the HRA budget. A brief discussion was held regarding web site services as proposed at the October 13 Council meeting. Mayor Fair suggested that department heads meet to discuss staff s role in maintaining information for the web site prior to Council consideration. Mayor Fair then requested that the City Council meet without an agenda prior to the second meeting of each month at 5:30 p.m. for Council-generated discussions and sharing liaison information. It was the consensus of Council to establish 5:30 p.m. on the 4th Monday of each month for general Council discussions, beginning in November 1997. A MOTION WAS MADE BY BRUCE THIELEN AND SECONDED BY CLINT HERBST TO Office Manager Page 2 ADJOURN THE MEETING.