City Council Worksession

Watertown City Council ?Work Session Mayor Steve Washburn Deborah Everson Lindsay Guetzkow Adam Pawelk Michael Walters 9/8/2020 - Minutes 1. Call To Order And Roll Call Mayor Steve Washburn called the City Council workshop to order at 5:30 p.m. on September 8, 2020. Council Members present: Washburn, Michael Walters, Deborah Everson, Adam Pawelk, and Lindsay Guetzkow City Staff present: City Administrator Shane Fineran and Clerk/Treasurer Lynn Tschudi. 2. New Business 2.I. 2021 Budget Work Session #4 – General Fund Draft City Administrator Fineran continued his General Fund budget presentation from the August 25 work session. The August 25 work session was centered around the CARES Act funds. Fineran updated that he is confident the City of Watertown will be able to spend all CARES Act dollars before the deadline based on the guidance provided relating to using the funds for emergency personnel. Fineran updated the City is in receipt of ten applications for the Economic Development grant programs offered. These EDA programs will be funded by the CARES Act funds. Administrator Fineran noted that with the CARES Act funds being used for police and fire, it will free up General Fund dollars and lower the levy for 2021. Fineran suggested to leave the preliminary levy at a 3.1% increase with hopes to decrease the levy by December. Council Member Pawelk is pleased with the ability to utilize the CARES Act funds. He would like to see the preliminary levy lower than 3.1% as they have seen in the past, but he understands this is not a normal year. Walters also understands the need to keep the levy at 3.1% for the preliminary. He is pleased to see the council supporting the law enforcement by funding three FTE for Watertown. Everson clarified that the City will use all the CAREs Act Funds by the deadline. Fineran gave examples of ways to utilize the money.  Walters also understands the need to keep the levy at 3.1% for the preliminary. He is pleased to see the council supporting the law enforcement by funding three FTE for Watertown. Everson clarified that the City will use all the CAREs Act Funds by the deadline. Fineran gave examples of ways to utilize the money. Council Member Guetzkow understands leaving the preliminary levy at 3.1% due to the uncertainty of the future revenues. She is pleased with the additional investment in law enforcement. Mayor Washburn is questioning the additional inspection services for code enforcement in 2021. City Administrator Fineran clarified that once the preliminary levy is submitted by the end of September, the rate can only decrease by final submission in December. Council agree they are comfortable with the preliminary rate set forth. Council Member Pawelk stated he would like to see the law enforcement in Watertown patrolling through town rather than parked outside of town waiting to pick up speeders. He supports the additional policing for safety, monitoring parks, loitering, and vandalism. Council discuss having increased presence at various locations throughout Watertown. Pawelk asked if council is interested in discussing staffing and the wage study that was discussed and dismissed at the beginning of 2020. Mayor Washburn said he would like to get through the year and see how much money is left. He would rather see an employee survey completed to get an idea as to how the employees are feeling. Washburn stated he will have a hard time investing in more than three FTE on the police department in the future. Council discuss employee salary studies and staff wage increases over the past years. Guetzkow noted the importance of being able to realize there is a staffing issue before someone leaves. 3. Adjournment Washburn adjourned the workshop at 6:18 p.m. 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388