Minutes - Council Work Session - 11/03/1997 - Budget

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Mapping was discussed and staff divulged some dissatisfaction with Anoka County with regard to mapping services, etc. Council suggested a complaint be registered. Motion by Councilmember Haas Steffen and seconded by Mayor Gamec to make the hiring of the added Patrol Officer contingent upon the COPSFAST grant. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, Councilmembers Haas Steffen and Beyer. Voting No: None. Absent: Councilmembers Beahen and Zimmerman. Ms. Hart continued that the one-ton truck for Street Maintenance is not necessary due to the elimination of a new maintenance worker. However, it may be necessary to add it to the 1999 capital outlay list. With regard to Community Programs - the City of Anoka will be meeting with the Ramsey Park and Recreation Commission in the near future and will be requesting funding for the Anoka municipal swimming pool in the approximate amount of $4,000 per year for the next three years. Council suggested that staff check into the cost of a pool, levying for one, and what is population size of cities that have pools. The price check should include outdoor and indoor pools. This could be discussed at the Road and Bridge Committee level. Councilmember Haas Steffen suggested there should be a way to provide certain things out of the general fund budget. The most visible items are the streets, Police Department and parks. The special funds should be used for police equipment, fire equipment, etc. The street maintenance program should be funded out of the general fund as opposed to special assessed. She felt that there are certain things that are on-going costs that should be the City's responsibility. She suggested if City Council agrees to basic services being provided out of the general fund, then it could be phased in so the present businesses are not stuck with such a large percent increase in a year's time. She stated that discussion should take place about what makes a healthy revenue base, what is the population projection when the City will be fully developed, what percent of our tax base ought to come fi:om commercial/industrial taxes, etc. Councilmember Haas Steffen noted that Ms. Hart has worked with Bob Thistle of Springsted. She (Haas Steffen) suggested that Ms. Hart ask Mr. Thistle to put some projections together and also talk about bonding for street maintenance and for maybe a swimming pool. We should also figure out a way to get every street in Ramsey blacktopped. She wanted some options to discuss and to know what the parameters are for bonding - for multi year project bonds, etc. What is our bonding capacity and what could bonds be used for. Another item for discussion could be MSA funds - should they be used up completely on the T.H. #47 project. What are the City's obligations for #47 - how will we pay for it and in what period of time. Council asked that early in 1998, they begin looking at priorities for 1999. Consensus of the Council was to continue this discussion on Monday, November 24, immediately following the public hearing scheduled for that night. Council Budget Work Session/November 3, 1997 Page 2 of 3