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2.01: Discussion of Proposed 2014 Budgets and 2014 Levies — Continued <br />Councilmember Riley supported Option A, Maximum General /EDA Levy at $7,482,513. <br />Finance Director Lund noted Option A has the patrol officer starting in July 1, the Office <br />Assistant at part time, and eliminates Contract. Communication. <br />Councilmembers Kuzma and LeTourneau supported Option A, Maximum General/EDA Levy at <br />$7,482,513. <br />Councilmember Johns supported Option C, Maximum General/EDA Levy at $7,816.943, using <br />Option A plus adding back $59,430 (Strategic Planning) and $275,000 for roads due to Tax <br />Increment Financing (TIF) District 4 expiring December 2014. Strategic Planning items include <br />Office Assistant to full -time, Police Department Officer starting January 1, and $5,000 additional <br />for Contract Communications. <br />City Administrator Ulrich stated Option A has the lower levy amount, misses some of the <br />Strategic Plan items, but includes the HRA levy. He noted the City may also receive some HRA <br />funds from Anoka County that could be used to fund line items the City Council supports. <br />Finance Director Lund stated if you add back the Strategic Plan items that were cut, it would <br />result in a levy of 43.68 %. <br />Mayor Strommen stated $59,000 is not a huge amount and it may be possible to reduce the HRA <br />levy and Contract Communications can also be discussed. She supported Option A, Maximum <br />General/EDA Levy at $7,482,513, considering the City Council supports a franchise fee. <br />The consensus of the City Council was to support Option A, not adding in $59,000 for Strategic <br />Plan items. <br />Mayor Strommen stated the Preliminary Budget and Levy will be presented and approved at the <br />September 10, 2013, meeting. The Levy will be finalized in December of 2013. <br />3. TOPICS FOR FUTURE DISCUSSION <br />Noted. <br />4. MAYOR / COUNCIL / STAFF INPUT <br />Councilmember Tossey stated the Highway 10 /Armstrong Boulevard Interchange Subcommittee <br />met earlier to discuss next steps and how to expedite the project. He stated the Governor did not <br />favor the public /private partnership funding but it is felt there are still possibilities for lobbying <br />efforts. Councilmember Tossey stated Representative Abeler will be working with the Governor <br />about authorizing early design/build authority as there is bipartisan support. <br />City Council Work Session / September 3, 2013 <br />Page 11 of 12 <br />