City Council - 08/19/2008 - Workshop APPROVED MINUTES
CITY COUNCIL WORKSHOP & OPEN PODIUM
TUESDAY,AUGUST 19, 2008 CITY CENTER
5:00—6:25 PM, HERITAGE ROOM II
6:30—7:00 PM, COUNCIL CHAMBER
CITY COUNCIL: Mayor Phil Young, Council Members Brad Aho, Sherry Butcher, Jon
Duckstad, and Kathy Nelson
CITY STAFF: City Manager Scott Neal, Police Chief Rob Reynolds, Fire Chief George Esbensen,
Public Works Director Eugene Dietz, Community Development Director Janet Jeremiah, Parks and
Recreation Director Jay Lotthammer, Communications Manager Joyce Lorenz, Assistant to the
City Manager Michael Barone, City Attorney Ric Rosow, and Recorder Lorene McWaters
Heritage Room H
Council Member Butcher was absent.
I. BUDGET
Finance Manager Sue Kotchevar presented a PowerPoint overview of the 2009 budget
process. On September 2, the Council will be asked to certify a preliminary levy and
budget. The Truth-in-Taxation and CIP hearing is scheduled for December 1. On
December 16 the Council will adopt the final 2009 budget and CIP, and the levy will be
certified on December 19.
Kotchevar said that this is the second year of a two-year budget cycle, so much of the
budget was set during last year's budget process. Several minor adjustments have been
made to the budget to account for increased fuel costs and the addition of the new art
center. General fund expenditures for 2009 are estimated to be $38,683,567, which is up
.8% from the budget approved by the Council in late 2007. The 2009 budget staff has
prepared for Council represents a change of 4.2%.
Kotchevar also presented a debt levy summary. She said several equipment notes will be
issued later this year: $1.3 million for the regional radio system; $900,000 for two fire
engines; and, $900,000 for Phase II 20-40-25 projects.
Kotchevar said the Budget Advisory Commission continues its work on the Capital
Improvement Projects budget and is compiling a report as they go. Kotchevar presented
several updated CIP projections.
City Council Workshop
August 19, 2008
Page 2
Kotchevar and City Assessor Steve Sinell noted that changing home values make it
trickier than usual to provide an accurate picture of"average" tax impacts. Assuming a
decline in the value of the average single family home ($369,400), the tax impact would
be 2.9%. The average apartment building ($5 million) with an estimated zero market
value increase would have a tax impact of 4.3%, and the average commercial property
($2 million) would see a 5.5% tax impact. Presented another way, assuming a 0 %
change (typical taxable value change) in estimated market value on the average single
family home, the tax impact of the proposed budget would be 3.9%. Sinell distributed a
memo that explains that since not all properties saw their values change the same percent,
the levy will affect individual properties differently than "median value single family
home with the average value change." The memo provides more detail on anticipated
changes in values and their respective impacts.
Kotchevar asked for input from the Council on whether or not the City should levy up to
the current levy limit. The current budget would call for an increase lower than the levy
limit. Young said it would be hard for him to support levying up to the limit. Council
Members Aho and Duckstad agreed. Council Member Nelson said she is nervous about
the possibility of not being able to increase the CIP levy later as planned because of levy
limits. Duckstad said he is in favor of leaving it as it was last year. He also encouraged
staff to figure out ways to spend less, and suggested spreading out capital outlay over a
longer period of time.
Council Chamber
II. OPEN PODIUM
III. ADJOURNMENT