City Council Worksession

Watertown City Council T Work Session Mayor Steve Washburn Lindsay Guetzkow F Adam Pawelk Michael Walters Dan Schuette A 10/25/2022 - Minutes 1. Call To Order And Roll Call Mayor Washburn called the Watertown City Council work session to order at 5:30 p.m. on October 25, R 2022, in the council chambers of City Hall. Council Members Present: Steve Washburn, Adam Pawelk, and Michael Walters. Council Members Lindsay Guetzkow and Dan Schuette. D Staff Present: City Administrator Jake Foster, Administrative Services Director Maggie Reisdorf, and Public Services Superintendent, Mike Dressel. Others Present: Kay Thul. 2. New Business 2.I. 2023 CIP City Administrator Jake Foster introduced the 2023 Capital Improvement Plan to the City Council for review and discussion. Foster began by reviewing upcoming street and trail infrastructure projects that are planned to be funded through the issuance of bonds. He reviewed some potential options on how the schedule of financing for these projects would look. There was discussion on the street maintenance program and Foster explained that staff continues to assess project priorities and which projects should be done when. Foster provided a high-level review of the new and existing items listed within the CIP document. He stated that it is a working document that provided guidance and planning support. Pawelk agreed that this is a guiding document that continues to be reviewed and updated on an annual basis. He expressed concern about rising costs and stressed the importance of staff and the City Council taking into consideration things that are really needed immediately versus the items that could wait a little longer. Walters stated that with inflated prices and higher than planned costs for some of the city’s current projects such as the Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Ladder Truck, that that city has to  basis. He expressed concern about rising costs and stressed the importance of staff and the City Council taking into consideration things that are really needed immediately versus the items that could wait a little longer. Walters stated that with inflated prices and higher than planned costs for some of the city’s current projects such as the Wastewater Treatment Facility and the Ladder Truck, that that city has to thoroughly review additional projects thoroughly as far as needs versus wants. He expressed concern regarding continued inflation. Washburn pointed out items within the CIP that could be pushed out of the year 2023 and into future years. He expressed irritation for some larger items within the CIP and asked staff to further assess if the need for these items was necessary within the current year in which it was presented. He agreed that the city needs to be fiscally aware and responsible with the current inflation climate. He asked the City Council to provide broad feedback to staff at this time so that staff would have a general guidance T on how to rereview and make applicable changes to the document. The City Council and staff discussed a downtown visioning study and a space needs study. The City Council discussed the ARPA funds. F Washburn recommended that the money not be spent on equipment, but that it be used as part of a infrastructure project that will support future growth within the city. Pawelk agreed with this idea for the ARPA money. 3. Adjournment The meeting was adjourned at 6:26 pm. R A 309 Lewis Avenue South; P.O. Box 279, Watertown, MN 55388 D __________________________________________________________ Steve Washburn, Mayor ATTEST:__________________________________________ Margaret Reisdorf, Admin. Services Director