Minutes - Council Work Session - 08/28/2012

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Councilmember Tossey asked about using Anoka County HRA funds for the City's HRA and reducing the levy against Ramsey residents to zero. Finance Director Lund stated the Council would then need to decide on HRA cuts. She noted the major items in the HRA budget are the personnel position of $46,000 and the professional services line items. Councilmember Tossey stated that still leaves $200,000 for the professional services contract, if the HRA supports it. He stated it was his understanding the HRA budget would be cut in half, to $180,000. Mayor Ramsey stated the Council needs to consider what it takes to continue to develop The COR, which takes money up front. Councilmember Wise stated the fund had to go back up to pay for a position. Finance Director Lund explained it increased $47,000 for that position and she does not recall a Council decision to cut the HRA levy by one -half. Councilmember Tossey noted this still leaves $190,000 in the HRA levy. Finance Director Lund explained that $130,000 is attributed to salaries and benefits and the professional services line item is at $51,000 with legal at $35,000. Also, as part of the budget, there is an agreement for $48,000 of ramp coverage and that has been in the budget since 2012. Councilmember McGlone asked about the $750,000 from sale of The Residence and $110,000 from the sale to TOTI. Finance Director Lund explained the $750,000 sale had a Development Manager (DM) fee so it was $400,000. The City took the amount attributable to the land sale, based on square footage, in the HRA and the rest was split according to the land policy. The TOTI sale also had a DM fee and a lot of legal costs. Finance Director Lund stated she cannot recall the net on the TOTI sale. Councilmember Strommen asked if the $20,000 for travel /lodging is for the International Conference of Shopping Centers (ICSC). Finance Director Lund stated it would also be any travel and reimbursement for DM travel. Councilmember Strommen stated the budget also has $30,000 for marketing. City Administrator Ulrich noted the HRA had most of the ICSC materials and brought fewer people so the expenses were probably not close to $20,000 for the last ICSC event. Development Manager Lazan stated it cost $13,000 for all ICSC travel. Finance Director Lund presented the County HRA levy and amount to be levied. City Council Work Session / August 28, 2012 Page 5of10