Jane McWilliams, LWV Observer
All councilors were present.
Budget Discussion: The council took up discussion of the 2010/2011 budgets. The city must respond to the over $1 million reduction in state aid already experienced in 2010, and prepare for further reduction before the end of the year, as a result of the recent legislative session. Staff provided a lot of information for the council’s consideration as they prepare to give direction for reductions for the current year and beyond.
For example, there was a chart showing the cost savings achieved through reduced workweeks, furloughs and wage cuts of union and non-union staff. There was a list of the consequences and implications of such actions. Another chart ranked 24 city functions, from police (the highest cost) to elections (the lowest) and displayed the expenditures of each from 2007 through 2010. (http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/r/Rank-ordered-General-Fund-divisions---2010-Budget.pdf ) An overview of the general fund expenditures by department, describing the services provided for each, rating whether they are essential/mandated; important/financial; important/community; desirable; or of community interest, was distributed. It also showed what is in the budget and the staffing level for each function. (http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/c/Comprehensive-General-Fund-Overview.pdf) These tools should prove valuable as they prepare for making budget reductions. Information on revenue sources will be provided at the work session next week. Finance Director Kathleen McBride said she would provide the council tax levy projections to 2025 with simple assumptions, including new debt for the anticipated capital projects. (Councilor Jim Pokorney has been particularly concerned about how they will balance cuts in the general fund with taking on new debt.)
Mayor Mary Rossing said the staff was looking for direction for reducing the budget and that the council’s goal should be to “reflect our community values.” She also noted that they would need to look at additional revenues, for example, new fees for services. One of the questions the council must answer is whether to plan on no longer receiving any local government aid from the state. City Administrator suggested that the city should consider reducing the budget by $500,000 per year four years out in order to wean itself from that support.
Director McBride suggested forming a “Finance Think Tank” composed of organizations like the Chamber of Commerce, the colleges and the Northfield Downtown Development Corporation. Mayor Rossing asked whether a citizen survey would be helpful. This would cost between $16 and $21,000. There was no clear consensus on either of these two possibilities. Mayor Rossing encouraged the council to think about the “overriding issues and policy pieces in order to give direction to staff.”
City Admnistrator Joel Walinski noted that soon there would be a special page on the city’s web site providing budget information. For the time being, citizens may submit budget ideas at: http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/tellthecity/?formid=17
Action items included approval of the allocation of the “In Kind Grant Support” to 12 organizations for certain costs to the city of community events. This is the first time this program has been implemented. $56,610 in requests was received, but $31,610 was available. As it was, the allocations left a negative balance of $7,954, which will need to come from the general fund. (Additional information about this is found in the council packet, ( http://www.ci.northfield.mn.us/assets/p/Packet-Section-3-Items-7-to-10.pdf - Item #9). Saying they had rushed into this, Councilor Jon Denison voted against the motion after suggesting that the city eliminate support of organizations entirely. He said the money spent this year might not seem like a lot, but with the budget cuts, everything must be considered.
The council also approved an agreement between the city and the Cannon River Sportsmen’s Club to establish an archery range on the Hall Avenue Water Tower site. Although outside the city limits, the water tower site property was purchased with water enterprise funds in 1998. Information about the agreement can be found in the council packet, Item #8.
As usual, there were a number of items approved on the Consent Agenda. Approval of Arena Fees was removed at the request of Councilor Betsey Buckheit , who asked whether it would ever be possible for the arena to pay for itself. City Administrator Joel Walinski said they are working toward that goal and these increased charges, plus sales at the concession stand and skate rentals help. The council approved the fees.
Following reports from the councilors and city administrator, the meeting was adjourned at 9:20 p.m.
Comments
Jane: I feel like there is a very weird dynamic developing in the Council meetings, and would like your opinion on this...
It seems as if a councilor makes a clearly defined serious comment on an action considered, or possibly already taken and up for reconsideration, that there is NO ensuing discussion, i.e. that comment falls into 'dead air'.
As an example, use the comments made by several councilors on the dismissal of the interpreter position, or the 'garaging' of Booker.
This would imply that no decision made is legitimately questionable, as either community reaction or new information becomes apparent.
I find this a disturbing trend, and one that 'speaks' of held opinions rather than actual solution solving practices.
Can you comment?
Kiffi - I think the comments about the interpreter and the Booker were made at the meeting at which the council approved short-term reductions which included the eliminating the interpreter's position, and Booker (except for Books and Stars.) Even though Erica, I believe, said that she hoped cuts wouldn't harm the vulnerable, the vote on the "short term budget retrenchments" passed unanimously. Erica could have moved to remove those two items from the list to see whether her concern about the vulnerable was mutually held by the majority of the council, but she didn't do so. Maybe she figured it wouldn't have been supported.
It will be very important for the council to agree on some "community values" as Mayor Rossing calls them, as they continue to make budget decisions. Avoiding cuts which affect the vulnerable could, in my view, be a community value. The only guidelines there are so far are: essential/mandated; important/financial; important/community; desirable; or of community interest.
Tough stuff!