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Home My WebLink About1998 [08] Aug 16 I Page 3367¡ j August 18,1998 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof the City Council for the City bf St. Joseph met inl special session on Tuesday, August 18,1998 at 7:00 p.m. in City HaU. MEMBERS PRESENT: MayorKenneth J. Hiemenz; Councilors Bob Loso, Cory Ehlert, Mary Niedenfuer, Ken Twit. Clerk/Administrator Rachel Stapleton. OTHERS PRESENT: Judy Weyrens, Chad Carlson, Dave Theisen, Richard Taufen, Jim Marthaler, Joe Braun, Jeff Young, Steve Frank. ! . The purpose of the meeting was to review the first draft of fue 1999 Budget and meet with fue Department Heads and discuss their budgetary needs. Steve, F'ra,nk requestêdto speak to the Council, indicating he did not fe~!,.he had . .adequåtenotice of the meeting. It was noted the, meeting was pð%tèd orfttiåelectronic sign arid' notice was sent with fue regularCoul'icil meeting àgenda. . Council recommended future notices alsô be placed on the cable access channel. I EDA Director Chad,Carlson'reViewed and discussed hi¡¡ areas,ofthé proposed budget. Loso asked if part of the engineering fees paid by the City JorlndustrialDevelopment this year would be, reC9l:lped from the property owner. Carlson indicated fue Developer'SAg¡:èe:lT,J~nt negotiatión could address these issues. Also discussed were advertising budgef;ánd membership benefits of the SI: Cloud Area Economic ' Development Partne~hip. On Steve F~ank's qu~.stioning, the Mayor explained that t~é City uses line item budgeting Which has the City broken down into departments. ,..... J. /' I Wastê.¡t;ater Supe~ntendent Jim Marthaler discussed fue street sweeping budget and a 'future 'need for a replacement street sweeper, as well as winter storage of fue sweeper. On discussion of sweeping for private concerns for a charge, it was generally felt the cost (to the City) of providing service would be greater than the benefit for fue charge. Additionally, commercial street sweeping services are available. I The Council reviewed with Marthaler the sewer budget, discussing various line items including St. Cloud anticipated charges and equipment needs. Park Board Chair Joe Braun and Council Liaison Ehlert discussed the Park Board's , requests for development and maintenance needs for each park. He further discussed: , anticipated funding sources including donations and grants. Niedenfuer suggested contacting Schroeder Sports for possible donations. I Ehlert left at 8.30 P.M. The Summer Recreation budget was reviewed. Braun stated fue Summer Recreation Director has requested a salary increase to $10 per hour, indicating the proposed budget did not support such increase. I Niedenfuer recommended sending a survey to interested persons to obtain their reaction to the Recreation Program. She suggested gafuering information from participants requesting a rating of the program and suggested changes. Page 3368 August 18,1998 Sergeant Jeff Young represented the Police Department. Deputy Clerk Weyrens discussed the status of the Community Police grant and a request to consider purchasing computers for the Police Department with the balance of the grant The Council discussed the benefits the Community has received from the grant (increased enforcement support for school patrol and self defense training among other things), and the balance and purpose of the grant Council will review the grant expenditures. If the grant funds are used to purchase computers, rather than othe'r Community needs, the computers could be also used in the new facility. I Fire Chief Dave Theisen stated the draft budget as prepared by the Fire Board does not represent the Fire Chiefs budget feelings, indicating the Fire Board chose to decrease the budget for 1999. Chief Theisen stated consideration will have to be made in the future for replacement of the ladder truck. A majority of the firefighters are or will be eligivle for retirement and the expenditure to train and provide gear needs to be budgeted. During the discussion Loso indicated the Fire Board reviewed the Fire Fund balance, designated a minimum fund balance based on the operating expenditures over the past five years, designated funds to equipment reserve and allocated funds for debt service relief. Mayor Hiemenz felt that thle past five year history would not provide for the expense requirements of the new Fire Hall. Theisen also stated the parking lot will need a seal coat within a couple years. He had also hoped to raise revenue for the Iris System with anticipation of Fire, Board approval of any revenue deficit after donations. The estimated cost of the system is about $25,000. Weyrens will disseminate the information to the Council on the Joint Operating Fire Fund. I Director of Public Works Dick Taufen discussed his budgeted areas with the Council. He also reported the need to plan for anticipated retirements in the Public Works Department in the future. He questioned if the Council wanted th~~ focus of the next full time employee in Public Works to be Street or Water. The Council recommended inquiring with the current employees on their future interests and desired training prior to making a decision. Taufen also discussed a needed storage building, and future plow truck. Ehlert returned at 10:00 P.M. Mayor Hiemenz extended the meeting at 10:00 P.M. The Council reviewed the Snow Removal budget. Niedenfuer discussed alternative methods of snow removal in residential areas. The Council reviewed information prepared by Taufen on unbudgeted future proposed needs, as well as other equipment needs. They discussed the Park Areas budget with equipment needs. Taufen will review machinery needs and versaltile uses of equipment He will review the balance in the roll over account for Machinery with possible recommendation for budget reduction. I The allocation of the revenue from the sale of the Roske Property was discussed, and the related Memorandum of Understanding will be reviewed. I I ! , Page 3369 August 18, 1998 i A Notice will be sent to the Department Heads and interested persons concerning the ! recess of the meeting to September 2, 1998. i The hour being late at 10:30 P.M. the meeting recessed to 7:00 P.M. September 2, 1998. (2~ Rachel Stapleton Clerk/Administrator I I I I I