WS 2012 11 26 CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
NOVEMBER 26, 2012
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Furlong, Councilman McDonald, Councilwoman
Tjornhom, Councilwoman Ernst, and Councilman Laufenburger
STAFF PRESENT: Todd Gerhardt, Laurie Hokkanen, Todd Hoffman, and Greg Sticha
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) PROGRAM YEAR END - REPORT.
Todd Gerhardt thanked Todd Hoffman for managing the AIS program and the great job he did working
- • : : : - - : ': . Sill - II • : - - - : s from the 2012 Annual Report
regarding program background, and the watercraft inspection program. Councilwoman Ernst asked about
the number of boats in the lake prior to inspection hours. Councilman Laufenburger asked about funding
from the watershed district, who determines how that money is allocated and when next year's contract
with Volt will be completed. Councilwoman Tjornhom asked how the $10,000 contribution from the City
was allocated and if the employee issues with Volt had been resolved. Todd Hoffman continued with his
review of best management practices for water access, grants and collaboration with other"project
partners. Councilman McDonald asked about the DNR's commitment for 2013. Todd Hoffman
explained staff is recommending the City stay with it's current project partners, inspection hours and
funding sources for 2013. Mayor Furlong asked Jim Japs from the DNR to elaborate on when their report
for 2012 will be completed. Councilwoman Tjornhom asked what is included with program
administration by the City. Councilman McDonald asked about the cost of a gate and ongoing operating
and maintenance costs. Councilman Laufenburger asked for clarification on the use of a gate to enforce
park hours, his desire to see early arrivals accommodated with the inspection program noting he would be
in favor of changing park hours to accommodate early arrival inspections, prioritization of inspection
hours for Lotus Lake, Lake Susan and Lake Ann, and looking at associated costs with increasing
inspections one hour each day for the season. In discussing Councilman Laufenburger's point,
Councilwoman Ernst stated she would like to see more inspection hours without increasing City funding.
Council discussed reallocating hours and inspectors at different lakes. Councilman McDonald stated he
didn't see a need to change park hours to accommodate early inspection hours. Mayor Furlong discussed
procedures used by inspectors and suggested working with Volt to verify start/stop times for inspectors,
enhance /refine procedures for next year, evaluate DNR policies and costs of adding one hour early
inspection throughout the season.
FINAL REVIEW OF 2013 BUDGET, INCLUDING PRESENTATION FOR THE TRUTH -IN-
TAX HEARING.
Greg Sticha reviewed the power point presentation that will be given at the Truth in Taxation hearing
based on preliminary levy numbers. Councilman Laufenburger asked about the budget adjustment in
2009. Mayor Furlong suggested showing budgeted and actual expenditures /revenue history.
Councilwoman Ernst asked to see 2011 numbers for salary increase and health care cost increase
comparisons with key financial strategy cities.
The work session was recessed at 7:00 p.m. It was reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
CONTINUATION OF FINAL REVIEW OF 2013 BUDGET.
CHANHASSEN CITY COUNCIL
WORK SESSION
NOVEMBER 26, 2012
Mayor Furlong called the work session to order at 5:30 p.m.
COUNCIL MEMBERS PRESENT: Mayor Furlong, Councilman McDonald, Councilwoman
Tjornhom, Councilwoman Ernst, and Councilman Laufenburger
STAFF PRESENT: Todd Gerhardt, Laurie Hokkanen, Todd Hoffman, and Greg Sticha
AQUATIC INVASIVE SPECIES (AIS) PROGRAM YEAR END - REPORT.
Todd Gerhardt thanked Todd Hoffman for managing the AIS program and the great job he did working
with Volt Workforce Solutions. Todd esented higlrli-• • - i • ua ' epo
regarding program background, and the watercraft inspection program. Councilwoman Ernst asked about
the number of boats in the lake prior to inspection hours. Councilman Laufenburger asked about funding
from the watershed district, who determines how that money is allocated and when next year's contract
with Volt will be completed. Councilwoman Tjornhom asked how the $10,000 contribution from the City
was allocated and if the employee issues with Volt had been resolved. Todd Hoffman continued with his
review of best management practices for water access, grants and collaboration with other "project
partners. Councilman McDonald asked about the DNR's commitment for 2013. Todd Hoffman
explained staff is recommending the City stay with it's current project partners, inspection hours and
funding sources for 2013. Mayor Furlong asked Jim Japs from the DNR to elaborate on when their report
for 2012 will be completed. Councilwoman Tjornhom asked what is included with program
administration by the City. Councilman McDonald asked about the cost of a gate and ongoing operating
and maintenance costs. Councilman Laufenburger asked for clarification on the use of a gate to enforce
park hours, his desire to see early arrivals accommodated with the inspection program noting he would be
in favor of changing park hours to accommodate early arrival inspections, prioritization of inspection
hours for Lotus Lake, Lake Susan and Lake Ann, and looking at associated costs with increasing
inspections one hour each day for the season. In discussing Councilman Laufenburger's point,
Councilwoman Ernst stated she would like to see more inspection hours without increasing City funding.
Council discussed reallocating hours and inspectors at different lakes. Councilman McDonald stated he
didn't see a need to change park hours to accommodate early inspection hours. Mayor Furlong discussed
procedures used by inspectors and suggested working with Volt to verify start/stop times for inspectors,
enhance /refine procedures for next year, evaluate DNR policies and costs of adding one hour early
inspection throughout the season.
FINAL REVIEW OF 2013 BUDGET, INCLUDING PRESENTATION FOR THE TRUTH -IN-
TAX HEARING.
Greg Sticha reviewed the power point presentation that will be given at the Truth in Taxation hearing
based on preliminary levy numbers. Councilman Laufenburger asked about the budget adjustment in
2009. Mayor Furlong suggested showing budgeted and actual expenditures /revenue history.
Councilwoman Ernst asked to see 2011 numbers for salary increase and health care cost increase
comparisons with key financial strategy cities.
The work session was recessed at 7:00 p.m. It was reconvened at 8:15 p.m.
CONTINUATION OF FINAL REVIEW OF 2013 BUDGET.
City Council Work Session — November 26, 2012
Greg Sticha noted there were slides that could be eliminated in the presentation due to duplicate
information. Mayor Furlong asked staff to explain how tax rates are determined. Councilman
Laufenburger suggested deleting the average line on the Carver County tax rate slide being it was
irrelevant. Mayor Furlong suggesting putting contact information on the last slide of the presentation.
Councilman Laufenburger suggested putting the power point presentation on the City's website after the
Truth in Taxation hearing. Mayor Furlong asked if there were any questions from council before the
budget is presented. Councilwoman Ernst stated she would call Greg Sticha directly with questions
regarding 2013 to 2017 CIP numbers and the general fund budget. Councilman Laufenburger talked
about a change made in the MIS budget to rename items to more accurately reflect services provided.
Mayor Furlong suggested changing previous year numbers as well to reflect that change.
Councilman Laufenburger discussed the issue of general fund budget revenue versus the actual revenue
history from 2005 through 2012. He suggested increasing budget revenue numbers for 2013 to narrow
the gap between budgeted and actual numbers. Councilman McDonald had a concern with what would
happen if revenues don't meet projections. Mayor Furlong discussed the opportunity to move permit
revenue conservatively up in 2013 to generate a surplus with the long term goal of sustainability for the
levy and the need to keep the levy matching new growth. Councilman McDonald didn't understand the
need to change the plan now but was willing to let staff look at cautiously changing numbers. He
expressed a concern this change was being done for political reasons with possible unforeseen
consequences down the road. Councilman Laufenburger explained that the goal would be to more
accurately reflect actual revenue projections. Mayor Furlong suggested separating revenue history prior
to 2008 before showing a residential building permit graph which shows permits are back to the 2007
level and asked for clarification of how CIP funds are budgeted from year to year if equipment isn't
purchased in the year budgeted.
Mayor Furlong adjourned the work session at 9:25 p.m.
Submitted by Todd Gerhardt
City Manager
Prepared by Nann Opheim
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