City Council Workshop

Blaine City Hall City of Blaine 10801 Town Sq Dr NE Blaine, MN 55449 Anoka County, Minnesota Minutes - Final City Council Workshop Thursday, May 18, 2017 6:30 PM Cloverleaf Farm Room A NOTICE OF WORKSHOP MEETING 1 Call to Order The meeting was called to order by Mayor Ryan at 6:35 p.m. 2 Roll Call Quorum Present. ALSO PRESENT: Planning and Community Development Director Bryan Schafer; Finance Director Joe Huss; Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Chris Olson; Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Bob Therres; City Attorney Patrick Sweeney; Senior Engineering Technician Jason Sundeen; and City Clerk Catherine Sorensen. Present: 4 - Councilmember Hovland, Councilmember Jeppson, Mayor Ryan, and Councilmember Swanson Absent: 3 - Councilmember Clark, Councilmember King, and Councilmember Garvais 3 New Business 3-1 WS 17-35 2018 GENERAL FUND BUDGET DEVELOPMENT WORKSHOP Finance Director Huss reviewed the preliminary 2018 budget with the Council. He stated he understood the direction from Council was to have the same overall tax rate as last year. He then reviewed the proposed tax levy compared to previous years. He explained the City would be levying for an additional $1.8 million in 2018. The estimates for non-levy revenues were discussed with the Council. Current staff projections indicate non-levy revenue will decline in 2018. He noted each department head was completing their proposed expenditures for the coming year and commented on the proposed wage and workers compensation increases. Councilmember Hovland asked if the City had levy limit restrictions. Finance Director Huss reported the City did not have any restrictions on their levy limit. Councilmember Jeppson questioned if the levy rate would change if the City City of Blaine Page 1 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final May 18, 2017 did not receive funding from the State for the 105th Avenue project. Finance Director Huss reported this project expense would not impact the City until 2019. He anticipated the City would need to issue a 15-year bond for this project. Councilmember Swanson requested staff consider how big the Public Works and Police Departments had to be when the City was fully built out. Mayor Ryan questioned if PERA remained to be a healthy retirement fund. Finance Director Huss stated he believed PERA was well managed and was remaining a viable retirement option. He anticipated the contribution levels would continue to change or increase over the years. Finance Director Huss reviewed the 2018 General Fund budget calendar for the remainder of 2017. Council consensus was to have a 2018 tax rate target of 35.901%. Discussed Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres updated the Council on several items and explained the Lever Street feasibility study would be reviewed by the Council on June 1. Mayor Ryan commented on the poor repair work conducted by the County on 125th Avenue. Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres stated he had discussed this matter with the County and noted the County would be discussing this concern with the contractor. Mayor Ryan explained several residents at 114th Avenue and Lexington Avenue had started a lawsuit against Pulte Homes regarding the water and drainage issues around their homes. Further discussion ensued regarding the water issues around the community given the high level of rains the City has received this spring. Councilmember Hovland asked if the Rice Creek Watershed District had completed ditch cleaning in Mounds View. Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres stated he knew some cleaning had been done, but he did not know the full extent. Councilmember Hovland requested that JD1 ditch be inspected and cleaned. Councilmember Jeppson requested staff provide the Council with an update on the hiring process for the Police Chief and the Public Works Director. Police Chief/Safety Services Manager Olson provided the Council with an City of Blaine Page 2 City Council Workshop Minutes - Final May 18, 2017 update on the traffic accident that occurred at 116th Avenue and Radisson Road. He discussed how the Police Department was working to track accidents throughout the City. Councilmember Swanson asked if the Rice Creek Parkway Traffic Study had been reviewed by the Traffic Commission. Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres stated the Traffic Commission would be reviewing this study at their next meeting. Councilmember Swanson stated he was receiving calls regarding the street lights on Lexington Avenue and questioned what the City’s policy was regarding street lights. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer explained street lights were placed at intersections and indicated this was the County’s responsibility as it was a County Road. Council consensus was to review the City’s lighting policy at a future workshop. Public Services Manager/Assistant City Manager Therres stated Item 9.2 on the Council agenda would need to be postponed due to the number of Councilmembers present but that the Public Hearing would be held. Councilmember Swanson commented the Twin Cities Gateway map and website information was being updated. Councilmember Jeppson asked if the blacktop company near Walter’s would be moving forward. Planning and Community Development Director Schafer explained this item would not be moving forward. Discussed ADJOURN The Workshop was adjourned at 7:25 p.m. Adjourned City of Blaine Page 3