Nowthen Budget meeting, June 19, 2017

What was on the agenda

10 items as recorded in the meeting transcript, each with a short summary of what was at issue.

1. A1Open 2017 budget workshop and set discussion approach

   The council opened the first budget workshop of the year and framed the meeting as an early, non-final discussion of budget needs, revenues, capital maintenance, staffing, and fund balances.

   The council treated this first budget workshop as a broad planning session rather than a final line-by-line decision. The mayor asked staff and council to identify where more or less money might be needed, what revenues could be expected, and what capital, staffing, and maintenance needs should be planned before the budget was finalized.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • 2018 budget preparation

   Outcome unrecorded
   Doc2017 budget workshop here first one of the year and I like to open it with discussion last year when we we wentDocI'd like to have the general discussion and then come back and say okay where do we need more money sort of any less money where to receive the income based on the receipts that we anticipate

2. A2Building inspections, permit process, and e-permitting

   The council discussed building-inspection budgeting, the contract-inspector model, electronic forms, website submissions, plan-review fees, and ways to reduce permit costs and turnaround time for residents and builders.

   The building inspector explained that the contract model makes building-inspection spending rise and fall with permit activity, with only modest city printing costs expected. The council discussed putting fillable forms online, allowing electronic submissions, reducing paper, improving turnaround time, reviewing plan-review fees, and deciding later whether to continue the contracted-inspector arrangement or consider an in-house position.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • building inspections
   • electronic permitting
   • planning fees

   Outcome unrecorded
   Docthe building side though is real easy because you really don't need the budget you know on a contract basis it kind of it is what it isDochave a submit button so you want it over the calendar permit you fill it out on the website you hit submit and boom and electronically emailed it to me there's there's no paper involvedDocwe've talked a lot about how we can reduce costs to the residents to the commercial builders

3. A3City building inventory, storage building, and cold-storage options

   The council discussed the condition and future of city-owned buildings, including a shed/storage building near the ball fields, whether to inventory buildings, whether to repair or remove existing storage, and whether to build enclosed cold storage near the maintenance building.

   The council discussed creating an inventory of city buildings so it could decide when to repair, replace, or remove aging facilities. Much of the discussion centered on a deteriorated storage building near the ball fields, possible replacement with enclosed cold storage near the maintenance building, and whether recycling uses could qualify part of a building project for county recycling funds.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • city buildings
   • capital maintenance
   • cold storage
   • recycling storage

   Outcome unrecorded
   Docwhat's happening with our buildings the cities are salsa for both the public building band that pavilions the park buildingsDocit's important for us to have an inventory of the building saying the cost of making this useful there's not a cost benefit to it if you took it what are we using it for and what will it take to rehab itDocknock that building down and build a cool stores building over by the shop

4. A4Code enforcement process and budget

   The council discussed how complaints should be screened, when the planner/code-enforcement officer should be used, whether some work could be handled administratively or by lower-cost seasonal help, and how much to budget for code enforcement.

   The council discussed how to control code-enforcement costs while still responding to legitimate complaints. Participants debated whether staff should screen complaints before involving the planner, when issues should come to council, how prior problem properties had consumed resources, and whether lower-cost seasonal or part-time help could perform routine letters, mailings, and inspections under guidance from the planner and building inspector.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • code enforcement
   • planning consultant
   • complaint process

   Outcome unrecorded
   DocI think sometimes we're engaging Liz long before the council would say it's a problemDocin order to be have an effective code enforcement or ordinance enforcement program it takes a fair amount of timeDocis to make sure that there's an adequate budget for code enforcement as the city has a council

5. A5Small-city road aid and local government aid

   The council discussed small-city road/bridge aid and local government aid figures, including expected distributions and how the new information could affect road budgeting.

   The council discussed expected state funding, including small-city road/bridge aid and local government aid, and how that money could affect the road budget. Later, council members also discussed broader road-reconstruction financing options such as assessments, levy, bonding, franchise fees, and holding a public or informational meeting.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • state aid
   • local government aid
   • roads

   Outcome unrecorded
   Docthe the age of small City there were three of us small cities that got back cents 39:7Doclast year was 14,000 and this here is 2077 yeah so for the budget next year we'll have the 27 LG AMD expected 39 7

6. A6Road and bridge operating budget review

   The council and public works staff reviewed road-and-bridge line items, including ditch mowing, culverts, small tools, equipment repair, gravel/shouldering, fuel, and proposed budget adjustments.

   Public works and council members reviewed road-and-bridge line items including ditch mowing, culverts, small tools, equipment repair, gravel or shouldering, fuel, and health-insurance costs. They noted several places where spending was already near or over budget and identified possible adjustments, including increasing small tools and equipment repair allowances.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • road and bridge budget
   • culverts
   • equipment repair
   • ditch mowing

   Outcome unrecorded
   Doctalk about road and bridge so Joe do you have records of what it took to do its morningDocwe had 5300 in culverts I'm sorry 13,000 in culverts we pudges it 8 about 5,300 /Docrepair the maintenance we budgeted ten thousand were already at twelve

7. A7Parks and recycling-center budget review

   The council discussed recycling-center and park line items, including refuse disposal, equipment repairs, portable restroom rental, wood chips, playground mulch, trails, and possible electrical service to a warming house.

   The council discussed creating an inventory of city buildings so it could decide when to repair, replace, or remove aging facilities. Much of the discussion centered on a deteriorated storage building near the ball fields, possible replacement with enclosed cold storage near the maintenance building, and whether recycling uses could qualify part of a building project for county recycling funds.

   The council reviewed recycling-center and park costs, including refuse disposal, mower and equipment repair, portable restroom rental, trail and playground wood chips, and the possibility of adding electric service to a warming house. Staff questioned whether the existing refuse-disposal amount would be enough and suggested increasing machinery repair funding.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • parks
   • recycling center
   • warming house
   • portable restroom

   Outcome unrecorded
   Dochow the recycling center administration utility services refuse disposal we're already having 30 bucks over on thatDocrepairs and maintenance machinery the equipment there were over $100 budget 2001 at 2400DocI would look at the electric again I don't want the future is that warming house there's no electric or whatever out there

8. A8Long-term road funding options

   The council discussed future road-reconstruction funding, including whether to put money in a road-improvement fund, assessment, levy, bonding, and franchise fees, and the need for a public or informational meeting.

   The council discussed expected state funding, including small-city road/bridge aid and local government aid, and how that money could affect the road budget. Later, council members also discussed broader road-reconstruction financing options such as assessments, levy, bonding, franchise fees, and holding a public or informational meeting.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • road reconstruction
   • bonding
   • assessments
   • franchise fees

   Outcome unrecorded
   Docwe're going to have a meeting on how we're going to fund it how much is going to be assessed how much is going to be potentially levied and maybe bondedDocreconstruction bonding and franchise has another way to cover top or roller discoDocyou do a public public hearing our informational hearing informational meeting no matter what world you go

9. A9Staffing levels and employee compensation

   The council discussed staffing needs, seasonal help, recycling-center coverage, and whether employee raises should be considered after limited raises since 2007.

   The council discussed whether public works had enough seasonal and regular help to keep up with ditch mowing, brush, recycling-center coverage, and other work. Members also discussed seasonal wage rates and raised the possibility of considering employee raises, noting that employees had received only one raise since 2007.

   minutes not available in this bundle

   • staffing
   • seasonal employees
   • employee compensation

   Outcome unrecorded
   Docto anticipate the staffing needs for next year and I know we came up with some seasonal things more recently we still have issues of ditch mowingDocwe were talking about possibly needing more help at the recycling centerDocI think we need to consider positive rays for our employees to if only had one raise since 2007

10. A10Next budget meeting and adjournment

    The workshop wrapped up with the next budget meeting set for July 17 and an informal adjournment.

    minutes not available in this bundle

    • next budget meeting

    Outcome unrecorded
    Docthe next meeting is scheduled for July 17 same bat time same bat locationDocis the just a general summary of this meeting it is only waiting germ

Sources

Documents and recordings archived for this meeting, when available.

• Video

  Meeting recording

  YouTube

  Transcript · 888 segments · 2:11:34

  ↗