City Council Minutes 08-27-2001 SpecialMINUTES
SPECIAL MEETING - MONTICELLO CITY COUNCIL
Monday, August 27, 2001 - 5:30 p.m.
Members Present: Roger Belsaas, Roger Carlson, Clint Herbst, Brian Stumpf and Bruce
Thielen.
Members Absent: None
Staff Present: City Administrator, Rick Wolfsteller; Deputy City Administrator, Jeff
O'Neill; Public Works Director, John Simola; Economic Development
Director, 011ie Koropchak; Community Center Director, Kitty Baltos
1. Call to Order.
Mayor Belsaas called the meeting to order at 5:30 p.m. and declared a quorum present.
2. Present Preliminary 2002 Budget and Proposed Tax Levy for discussion.
City Administrator, Rick Wolfsteller, presented preliminary budget worksheets for Council
review and discussion. Information was provided which showed the levy amount for the 2002
budget with no capital outlays being levied for ($5,758,188); a levy amount for a budget
including a capital outlay levy of $500,000 ($6,258,188) and the amount if the City was to levy
the maximum allowed ($6,540.335). The Council discussed the preliminary figures and also
the list of capital outlay items. The general feeling of the Council was that the City needed to
establish their street re -construction fund and that they would have to start this year. The
Council felt that the City should set their levy at the maximum allowed noting the City could at a
later date determine which capital outlay items would be funded.
The Council discussed the Community Center budget and the need to generate additional
revenues. Kitty Baltos, Community Center Director, stated that the preliminary budget had been
reviewed by the MCC Advisory Board and they had discussed ways to increase revenue. The
feeling was that they should be doing things that would encourage individuals to purchase an
annual pass rather than just individual passes for certain facilities, such as the pool or gym. Even
if increasing the rates for the individual areas didn't encourage people to opt for annual passes, it
would still generate some additional revenues. Another idea was to charge for the use of the
walking track which is presently free. It was suggested that maybe the walking track would be
free for residents and there would be a nominal charge for non-residents. It was also suggested
that Community Center set up a fund for capital outlay for replacement items such as carpeting,
roofing, etc.
In discussing the street reconstruction fund, the Council discussed whether the charge should be
based on property valuation or front footage. There was discussion on the core streets, how long
it would take to reconstruct, whether any portion of the reconstruction cost would be assessed.
It was pointed out that there are number of streets projects that the City is looking at they will be
need to be funded in the very near future, and the feeling was that there would not be enough
built up in the street reconstruction fund to finance them. The City may end up bonding some of
these projects until such time as there sufficient reserves established in the reconstruction fund.
Special Meeting Minutes - 8/27/01
The Council discussed the condition of the streets in the newer developments and the Council
felt that some of the streets were being damaged during the course of development. They felt
the City should have in place procedures to assure that when the development is completed the
streets are still in good shape.
Public Works Director, John Simola, brought up an item relating to the recent bid for a play
structure for the West Bridge Park. The proposed location for the play structure would be over
the forcemain. The City Engineer and Public Works Director recommended that the structure
not be placed over the utilities but the Parks Commission wanted to retain the play structure in
the area originally designated. John Simola indicated that although the risk of something
happening to the utilities was small, he did not have the authority to make that decision for the
City. It was noted that upon learning of that situation the Parks Commission had looked at
changing the location of the structure but that would necessitate relocating the existing play area
and trail. After discussion, it was determined that this item be placed on the consent agenda
with the notation that the Council was approving that the structure be placed a nominal distance
from the pipe. In other general comments on the parks, Mayor Belsaas stated that he had
received comments from residents about the parks not being maintained and mowed. John
Simola also noted that the residents had requested the parks staff to expand their mowing area in
the Battle Rapids park.
City Administrator, Rick Wolfsteller brought up some of the other impacts of the tax bill such as
the loss of HACA. It was also noted that for this year at least there is no Truth in Taxation
hearing required. He also pointed out that based on information just received from the
Department of Revenue, the maximum levy amount would need to be reduced from $6,540.000
to $6,498,000.
Brian Stumpf asked if funds budgeted for capital improvement outlays for the Fire Department
could be in a separate account collecting interest instead of having it placed in the general fiend
account. Rick Wolfsteller noted that this is the second year of a three year budgeting process for
the purchase of a pumper for the Fire Department. Brian Stumpf also stated that the Fire
Department believes the City should commence planning to acquire land for a future fire hall site
and one possible site that was discussed was the Remmle property. On the existing fire hall site,
there was a proposal by some civic organizations to redo the exterior of the building. The
proposal would have the organizations donating the labor if the City provided the materials. It
was suggested that this item should be budgeted for.
3. Scheduling of future budget workshops.
No further workshops were scheduled at this time.
4. Adjourn
The meeting was adjourned at 6:50 p.m.
S
Recording Secretary
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