03/30/1999 Meeting Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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Special Council Minutes of 3/30/99 Mrs. Kasler commented that the Recreation Department has been underfunded for the last ;~ five years with regard to even providing appropriate maintenance for recreational fields and facilities. The building, which is approximately 23 years old, probably requires about $100,000 in maintenance each year, but this has not happened in a long time. She believes it is Council's responsibility to look at the entire appropriations and to request that each department look within their own budget. Recreation did go back to their own budget three times to reorganize, re-appropriate and make changes. It was a wise decision not to fund the replacement for 12 computers, but rather fund for some much needed computer changes at the Rec Center. And funds were found (approximately $10,000) within the Rec budget to put toward building maintenance, which is an important issue. The funds were not committed to one particular project, such as fixing the pool, the leak in the tennis court or the falling bricks. Rather, Council became aware that there were building needs that were going to be underfunded in that particular line item. The $10,000 might possibly accomplish one of the projects. This amount of money was not enough to address concerns of other departments, such as the needs of Fire Station #2. Therefore, she feels Council was well informed and well within their obligation and their rights to put that money toward some help to Recreation, which is an underfunded department. At this point in the discussion, Councilman Limpert suggested that the roll call be completed with Council members only making comments as part of their own vote. After the voting is complete, then Council can address each other's comments. Roll call continued: McKay, yes; Miller, yes, with comment that it was his recollection that there was a healthy discussion wherein the Recreation Department provided Council with a list of various problems that were important to them. Also, the Recreation Department had looked within their budget at least three times to various sources to help relieve these various problems. After they looked within their own budget, they came to Council for help and Council looked into the Rec budget and also to the entire appropriations for more funds. He believes Council acted prudently. Roll call continued: Kasler, yes, noting her previous comments; Nashar, yes; Gareau, yes, with comment that having reviewed the 1999 appropriations ordinance he is somewhat troubled by what he believes to be a developing economic condition in the city. He believes that measures should be taken now and in the near future to avoid potential hardships. To balance the budget this year, the city consumed an approximately $356,000 worker's compensation rebate which simply was not available in 1998. The General Fund received a reimbursement of approximately $115,000 from the NOMBL Fund. And a $90,000 wage obligation which previously was paid from the General Fund was transferred to the Motor Vehicle License Tag Fund. Between shifted burdens and one-time infusions of capital to the General Fund in 1999, we required nearly $550,000 in additional revenue to balance the budget this year over last year. While these one-time funds may not be available for us in the year 2000, the costs that they covered this year certainly will be here next year. How this possible shortfall in 2000 will be covered is unknown to him at this time, and he looks forward to some creative suggestions in the future. He does believe that a firm step in the right direction would be to add an additional member to the Finance Department to work with Mrs. Copfer to address these possible shortfalls. This person would be a qualified ~~ individual and will help with efficiency in government operations and increased r 2 ....s:. ....veva- '. r.: ..,.§~ hm..wR ..:. .,;. -aan:r.,~y.''a~¢'.R:413F.1.~*~I,neriWic-ay. •.~... i....: ..~.. ,.