HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 08-26-1998 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
August 26, 1998
A special meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
7:00 PM in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Blvd., on August 26, 1998.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney; Councilmembers Preus, Black, Bildsoe, and
Johnson.
ABSENT: Councilmembers Spigner and Wold.
STAFF PRESENT; City Manager Johnson, Assistant City Manager Lueckert,
Community Development Director Hurlburt, Public Works Director Moore, Finance
Director Hahn, Public Safety Director Gerdes, Park and Recreation Director Blank,
Finance Office Manager Leitner, and Deputy City Clerk Hoffman.
Mayor Tierney said that the purpose of the meeting was to continue discussions on the
City budget and give staff direction in setting dollars, not the tax rate.
Brief Review of Information Items Requested
Manager Johnson reviewed items requested at the August 20, 1998 meeting by
councilmembers for further information.
Manager Johnson reviewed the breakdown of tax classifications rates for
apartments comparing them to residential and commercial/industrial rates.
He summarized the comparisons of the proposed budget with what could be done
using the maximum allowable levy. He reported that the percentage of budget
increase could be more than two percent higher if the highest possible levy was
set.
He reviewed the percentage of the general fund budget directed to employee
salaries and benefits. He said roughly 60% of the general fund goes toward
employee salaries and benefits, continuing a pattern of recent years.
He reported on the estimated amount of projected budget surplus and possible
uses. He said of the estimated $500,000 to $600,000, $12,500 is earmarked for the
Y2K fund, and $261,483 is required to meet cash flow requirements. He said staff
had proposed the remainder of the surplus could go to the Park Replacement Fund
and the Facilities Replacement Fund.
Manager Johnson reported that fiscal disparities have remained consistent over the
past three years.
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Special Council Meeting
August 26, 1998
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Manager Johnson said that HazMat and the Radiological Response teams receive
no extra pay at this time beyond what regular firefighters receive.
He summarized staff recommended budget reductions by cost break out, based on
a request to review how to cut $100,000 and $200,000 from the budget,
respectively. He said he believes staff does a good job with balancing existing
services, before considering addition of new services.
Councilmembers praised staff for producing a good budget, and said if they
believed there should be cuts from existing programs, they would give staff clear
direction to make cuts.
II Discussion Items
II -A Council goals and priorities update
Councilmember Bildsoe suggested increasing the budget for crime—free multi—
housing programs, and said funding could come for it by reducing the City's
contribution to the Plymouth Civic League.
Councilmember Black said she believed water quality education could be also put
in at a higher priority funding level. She said she supported linking budgeting for
education programs to broader applications. She said the City should challenge
community organizations to find other ways of making money in addition to
receiving funding from the City.
Motion was made by Councilmember Bildsoe, seconded by Councilmember
Black, to raise the line item of funding for the crime—free multi—housing
education program to $8,000. Motion carried, five ayes.
Manager Johnson said he would add the Civic League funding request as a
discussion item later in fall, along with requests from other community groups.
Councilmembers and staff reviewed the updated list of goals and objectives for
the City. Councilmember Johnson asked that earlier projected completion dates be
left in the table and somehow present revised completion dates.
Assistant Manager Lueckert introduced a table summarizing the department—by—
department status of the Y2K computer compliance program.
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Special Council Meeting
August 26, 1998
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II -B Council salaries and benefits
Manager Johnson stated that several councilmembers had asked for a presentation
of options for councilmember salaries and benefits coverage. He outlined eight
options and their impact on the budget.
Mayor Tierney presented a table of annual salaries and benefits for other larger
metropolitan cities.
Councilmembers discussed with staff how various health benefits care would be
charged to councilmembers or deducted from wages.
Motion was made by Mayor Tierney, seconded by Councilmember Johnson, to
allow councilmember benefits to expire, and to distribute equally to
councilmembers the $10,435 dollars estimated to be budgeted for
Councilmembers health benefits, and to allow councilmembers to purchase health
and dental insurance on a pre—tax basis.
Councilmember Bildsoe stated that he could not support the motion, and that the
funds would be more useful dedicated to other purposes.
Councilmember Black said she supported allowing councilmember benefits to
expire, but was not averse to considering some sort of cost of living increase.
Councilmember Johnson said she was glad to be able to use City employee
benefits and understood that while it is public service that councilmembers
perform, their compensation could be in line with other communities.
Councilmember Preus said he did not feel bound by what other cities do, and he
saw the plan as essentially just a redistribution of the budget.
Manager Johnson said an ordinance would have to be put on the council meeting
agenda before the end of the year. He said this motion would put it on the next
meeting agenda.
Motion carried, Councilmembers Preus, Johnson, and Mayor Tierney, aye;
Councilmembers Black and Bildsoe, nay.
II -C Dates for Truth in Taxation hearing and budget adoption
Motion was made by Councilmember Black, seconded by Councilmember
Johnson, to approve the preliminary budget proposed by staff as amended, and to
set Monday, December 7 as the date for holding the Truth in Taxation hearing,
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Special Council Meeting
August 26, 1998
Page 4
and Wednesday, December 16 as the date for reconvening of the Truth in
Taxation hearing if needed, and adoption of the budget. Motion carried, five ayes.
The meeting was adjourned at 9:12 PM