Minutes - Council Work Session - 11/10/2008

Home

Mayor Gamec stated that the more ordinances that the City puts into effect, such as the abatement that cost the City $62,000, and then you need to handle the new ordinances with people and then there aren't the people or funds to do it, so you end up letting it go. Councilmember Elvig stated that at this pace, the City will have to adjust the abatement costs because the City has only been dong this for 10 months and it is already $62,000. Mayor Gamec stated that he thinks the costs will drop off after a few years. Councilmember Olson stated that the Council can pass all kinds of things, and ultimately, staffis the ones that get squeezed in between, because when budget time comes, the Council always says they have to cut back and yet the Council is adding more and more to their burden. She asked ifthe City is supposed to squeeze the staff to subsidize the County. She stated that our job is to look at what benefits the City, not what benefits the County. Councilmember Jeffrey stated that he agrees that the City shouldn't subsidize the County, however, there are some inherent costs to the current process, for example, officers sitting in court. He agrees that the City should wait until the legislature weighs in, but feels the City could take a look at the c\llTent fees. Councilmember Dehen stated that looking at blight control, if you don't have it, you have properties becoming more blighted and then the EDA comes in and says that this is so blighted that the City needs to buy it, so there is an impact to the taxpayers. City Administrator Ulrich stated that when the legislature addresses this issue, staff will bring it back for further discussion. MAYOR, COUNCIL AND STAFF INPUT None ADJOURNMENT The Work Session of the City Council was adjourned at 6:47 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~G:t-:D Kurtis G. Ulrich City Administrator City Council Work Session / November 10, 2008 Page 8 of9