Minutes - Council Work Session - 10/28/2014

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Councilmember Kuzma stated he would support reducing the $30,000 for the Transportation Alliance. Mayor Pro Tem Backous concurred. Councilmember Johns stated with Youth First, it is her understanding the employee expenditures /staff time may be high at 50% for Chandra Kreyer. Finance Director Lund explained that with Happy Days, they break out each person who works Happy Days. With Youth First, the amount is for IT support and Chandra's position based on what the Police Chief indicated was time spent. City Administrator Ulrich stated staff will verify staff time for Youth First. 2.03: Proposed 2015 Schedule of Rates, Fees, and Charges Finance Director Lund reviewed the staff report and presented the schedule of rates, fees and charges, noting the majority of changes from 2014 to 2015 are reflective in the building construction section with a slight increase for respective permits. She stated the Elmcrest Park Building and respective facility rental fees have been added to the facility use section, which has been updated to reflect increases in water rates per the 2012 Comprehensive Water System Study and a ten percent increase in storm water utility rates to establish funding for upcoming storm water projects per the 2015 -2019 Capital Improvement Plan (CIP). Finance Director Lund advised that by 2018, if the Utility Fund is increased by 10% each year, there would still be less than $10,000 in the Utility Fund and rates would be in the middle of what other cities are charging. She stated if supported by the Council, the 2015 Schedule of Rates, Fes, and Charges will be introduced at the November 12, 2014, meeting, the public hearing held on November 25, 2014, and after 30 days, the rates would go into effect January 1, 2015. Community Development Director Gladhill described the new process to use valuation tables to assure consistency and fairness across -the -board for determining building permit fees. Mayor Pro Tem Backous stated the key is being able to back up rates with data to assure the rate only covers the City's costs and does not make a profit. Councilmember Riley stated with the fees for City Hall and the ballfields, a lot of the users are non - profits and civic organizations. He asked if staff had received feedback from those groups. Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood explained that staff coordinates with the City of Anoka on field maintenance costs and associated rentals for tournaments so there are standard costs within the same organization (Athletic Associations). That consistency was gained a number of years ago and staff is not recommending an increase in field maintenance for 2015. With the Elmcrest Park building, Parks and Assistant Public Works Superintendent Riverblood noted there are for profit rental rates, organization rates, and youth rates that are kept as low as possible. He stated Ramsey has a lot of facilities and meeting rooms that are used by the public, showing the rates are not too high.. City Council Work Session / October 28, 2014 Page 7 of 9