HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 09-10-2001 SpecialAdopted Minutes
Special Council Meeting
September 10, 2001
A Special Meeting of the Plymouth City Council was called to order by Mayor Tierney at
7:00 p.m. in the Public Safety Training Room, 3400 Plymouth Boulevard, on September
10, 2001.
COUNCIL PRESENT: Mayor Tierney, Councilmembers Johnson, Hewitt, Stein, Black,
and Slavik (arrived at 5:10 p.m.)
ABSENT: Councilmember Harstad.
STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Johnson, Assistant City Manager Ahrens, Park and
Recreation Director Blank, Community Development Director Hurlburt, Public Works
Director Faulkner, Finance Director Hahn, Finance Office Supervisor Leitner, Fire Chief
Kline, Acting Police Chief Twaddle, and City Clerk Paulson.
City Manager Johnson explained that at the September 4 Budget Study Session, the
Council requested two additional budget options from staff that included:
1. Reduce the general fund spending increase to 6.7%, the same as the 2001 increase.
2. Reduce the general fund spending increase to 6.6%.
He stated that staff has verified that a total additional adjustment of $82,681 would be
needed to accomplish the 6.7% goal and a total of $101,339 would be required to meet
the 6.6% option in addition to the previously identified amount of $2,500. He stated that
during that prior discussion, a goal was established to identify budget adjustments that
would not simply defer spending needs to a future year and would not create any need for
higher taxes in 2003 and beyond.
He stated staff has recommended that the following adjustments be made to reach a 6.7%
general fund spending increase:
1. Reduce the election budget by $30,150 and convert to a plan to fund the elections
evenly each year, even though the major election costs occur only every other year. The
30,150 needed for 2002 would be obtained from a $32,000 election equipment reserve
which is no longer necessary due to the County owning the election equipment.
2. Move the police grants and related expenditures into a separate fund outside of the
general fund so it would not appear to be new, permanent, tax supported spending. The
2002 budget proposal contained an increase in spending for police of $44,571 for alcohol
compliance, tobacco compliance, and auto theft prevention. Grants would be covering all
of the increased costs, but this expenditure was new for 2002 and made the overall
general fund budget appear to be increasing more than normal.
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Special Meeting of September 10; 2001
Page 2 of 4
3. Reduce the social service budget by $979 by not allowing any increase for any agency
for 2002 except for North Hennepin Mediation budget which was funded for only one-
half year in 2001.
4. Reduce the reforestation budget by $7,000. Two major developments would be
paying restitution in the year 2002 since they wouldn't meet the City's Tree Preservation
Policy.
He stated the above four items would total $82,700, which would achieve the option of
reducing the general fund spending to the 6.7% level.
He explained the following additional suggestions are made to achieve the alternative
6.6% spending increase if the Council so desires:
5. Decrease the sealcoating budget by $7,000 which would bring the funding level back
to the 2001 amount.
6. Move the $13,000 budgeted for the removal of geese to the water resources fund to be
paid for by the surface water fee recently implemented. The Environmental Quality
Committee and the City's water quality plans have identified that this is an important
activity to continue to protect the City's lakes and ponds.
He stressed that all six adjustments would have very little impact on current services,
operations, and programs.
Mayor Tierney requested further clarification on the police grants.
City Manager Johnson stated that the Council approves grants. Staff views grants as a
special revenue fund where the overtime and temporary expenditures are made. He noted
that some grants such as the civil defense grant should remain in the general fund as it is
offset by the emergency management area.
Mayor Tierney asked if the City is arbitrarily raising or lowering the amounts requested
by the Northwest Hennepin Human Services and the Communities in Collaboration.
Assistant City Manager Ahrens replied the policy has been to fund one-half of the
Northwest Human Services' request as they serve the northeast portion of the City. She
noted that the Plymouth representative who serves on this board also provides input on
whether the amount should be increased. Councilmember Hewitt is currently serving as
the City's representative. She stated the requested amount is based on the census per
capita figures for each of the cities. She noted that the Communities in Collaboration
also use this same method.
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Special Meeting of September 10, 2001
Page 3 of 4
Mayor Tierney asked if the other cities are contributing amounts based on the census
figures. Assistant City Manager Ahrens replied that the cities of Medicine Lake,
Plymouth, Wayzata, Minnetonka, and Medina all contribute; however, the remaining
cities in School District 284 don't contribute.
Councihnember Stein questioned the proposed horticulture expenditure for the Fire
Department. Fire Chief Kline replied that is for landscaping around Fire Station No. 2.
Mayor Tierney commented that decreasing the allocation for sealcoating by $7,000 is
unnecessary.
Regarding the removal of geese, Mayor Tierney and Councilmember Johnson stated they
support this item being paid from the water resources fund.
Motion was made by Councilmember Black, and seconded by Councilmember Johnson
to request staff to prepare a Resolution for the September 11 Council meeting
incorporating the six items as listed above to achieve the goal of 6.6% general fund
spending increase.
Councilmember Hewitt stated she doesn't support decreasing the budget for the
sealcoating program.
Councilmember Johnson asked how often staff reviews the revenue income. Community
Development Director Hurlburt explained that staff doesn't prepare a forecast every
month, and it is difficult to analyze the figures until after the first six months of the year.
Councilmember Slavik asked how the sealcoating program would be affected if the
budget were decreased for that item. Public Works Director Faulkner replied that $7,000
is only 5% of the $143,000 budgeted for the sealcoating program. Therefore, the impact
would not be significant.
Mayor Tierney stated she is very concerned about developing a lean budget that could
result in future problems.
City Manager Johnson stated prior to assembling the budget, the City had the lowest tax
rate of any city over 10,000 in population. He noted that staff prepared a survey of 36
cities to determine how many cities would be levying back the loss of HACA
Homestead and Agricultural Credit Aid) funds as well as levying to the levy limit. He
stated 100% of the cities intend to levy back for the loss of HACA funds, and half of the
cities would be levying to the maximum levy maximum levy limit.
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Special Meeting of September 10, 2001
Page 4 of 4
Motion was made by Councilmember Stein, and seconded by Councilmember Hewitt to
amend the main motion to remove items 5 and 6 from the list of items.
Councilmember Stein stated that he would support moving the $7,000 for the sealcoating
program to another street repair budget if necessary, but he didn't want to decrease the
budget by $7,000. He also feels that it's not appropriate to include the removal of geese
in the water resources fund.
With Slavik, Johnson, Black, and Tierney voting no, and Hewitt and Stein voting yes, the
motion failed.
Motion was made by Mayor Tierney, and seconded by Councilmember Slavik to amend
the main motion to remove item No. 5 from the list of items and place the $7,000 in the
street reconstruction fund. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried.
The Council voted on the amended main motion. With all members voting in favor but
Hewitt, the motion carried.
Adiournment
Motion was made by Councilmember Slavik, and seconded by Councilmember Stein. to
adjourn the meeting at 5:50 p.m. With all memb s voting in favor, e motion carried.
Sandra R. Paulson, City Clerk