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HomeMy WebLinkAboutBudget Advisory Commission - 02/23/2010 APPROVED MINUTES BUDGET ADVISORY COMMISSION MEETING TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 2010 6:00 P.M., WATER UTILITY PLANT 14100 TECHNOLOGY DRIVE COMMISSION MEMBERS: Chair Don Uram, Vice-Chair Rick King; Commissioners: Annette Agner, Eapen Chacko, Jon Muilenburg, Richard Proops, Gwen Schultz CITY STAFF: Sue Kotchevar, Finance Manager; Scott Neal, City Manager; Angie Perschnick, Recorder I. CALL TO ORDER/ROLL CALL The BAC toured the water plant facility. The tour was led by Rick Wahlen, Water Plant Manaeger, and Larry Paige, Water Plant Operator. Chair Uram called the meeting to order at 7:10 p.m after the tour. Commissioner Schultz was not able to attend the meeting. Uram requested approval of the agenda; Chacko moved and King seconded approval of the agenda without changes. The agenda was approved 6-0. II. MINUTES A. BAC MEETING HELD TUESDAY,JANUARY DECEMBER 26h, 2010 Chair Uram asked for any additions or corrections to the minutes. There were none. MOTION: King moved and Muilenburg seconded to approve the minutes from the January 26th meeting. The minutes were approved 6-0. III. CHAIR AND STAFF ADMINISTRATIVE ITEMS A. Joint City Council and BAC Workshop April 20rh The BAC really appreciated the Water Plant Tour. Muilenburg thought it would be a good idea for the group to send a thank you to Rick Wahlen, Water Plant Manager, and Larry Paige, Water Plant Operator for conducting the tour. The group discussed touring more facilities in the future. Kotchevar mentioned she was planning on arranging different off-site tours and meeting once a quarter. Kotchevar reminded the group about the upcoming workshop with the City Council and about previous discussion the group had about formulating topics to discuss with the City Council. Eden Prairie Budget Advisory Commission Minutes January 26, 2010 Page 2 King thinks the BAC should bring high level ideas to the City Council and request that the Council approve or disapprove of the individual topics so the BAC has clear direction for the remainder of the year. Proops was concerned about the budget detail and wondered when the group could see the 2010 budget document. Kotchevar said the document would be available either this week or next. The document is in PDF and would be e- mailed to the group and a copy will be provided if a member prefers. Proops thought the group should review the budget detail and find areas to reduce for 2010 and recommend to the Council. Eapen said he thought the ideas brought to the Council should be broad and provide less detail at this time. King gave examples of high level ideas including budget analysis, CIP, utility rate study, and fire relief pension. King thought the BAC should have an opinion on the utility rate study for the Council. Uram recommended that members send their ideas for topics to Kotchevar by March 15'h, so a list can be compiled to use for discussion at the March BAC meeting. King thought it would be helpful if the group could come up with a consensus at the March meeting to provide the Council. He thinks the Council should then approve and disapprove of each idea at the Council Meeting. This would give the group direction for the rest of the year. The group agreed. Proops mentioned he reviewed the RFP for the utility rate study and said a consultant is completing the study. They are well qualified and will do a good job at a reasonable cost. Uram asked each member if they had any topics they would like to bring up this evening. Eapen asked about the Riverview Road project and also the erosion issue on Riverview Road. Kotchevar said the City planned to upgrade Riverview Road and assess the property owners for the project. The neighborhood objected to the project and wanted the road regraded but did not want the larger upgrade. The road was regraded and paved but the project may come up again in the future. The City is liable for erosions sites along Riverview Road and plans are being prepared for implementation in 2010. Since the last meeting King had asked staff about two items he saw on the Council agenda. He was interested in the process IT uses to get rid of obsolete inventory and also if the Fleet vehicles to be disposed of were part of the original plan or if there were any variances. Kotchevar explained that the inventory that IT disposes is usually burned out hard drives or computers that crashed. The City has a five year computer replacement program. If a computer is still functional, IT will keep it for a lower level user such as an intern or part-time employee. Kotchevar is following up with City staff to determine if the fleet vehicle disposals were part of the original plan. Eden Prairie Budget Advisory Commission Minutes January 26, 2010 Page 3 IV. ADJOURNMENT The meeting ended at approximately 7:40 p.m. King moved and Muilenburg seconded the motion to adjourn.