09/08/1987 - City Council Special
MINUTES OF A SPECIAL MEETING OF THE
EAGAN CITY COUNCIL
Eagan, Minnesota
September 8, 1987
A special meeting of the Eagan City Council was held on Tuesday,
September 8, 1987, at 7:00 p.m. at the Eagan Municipal Center Building.
Present were Mayor Blomquist and City Councilmembers Egan, Smith, Ellison and
Wachter. Also present were Director of Finance VanOverbeke and City
Administrator Hedges.
PROPOSED 1988 BUDGET
The City Administrator presented budget revisions that were discussed
at the August 20, 1987, special budget workshop session. The City
Administrator stated that additional expenditure reductions are being proposed
in the amount of $68,220 and those reductions, in addition to the $131,680
reduced at the last budget work session, will reach the proposed $200,000
overall general fund reduction directed by the City Council. The City
Administrator reviewed on a department by department basis all the proposed
expenditure reductions.
Upon reviewing the manpower and capital equipment needs and
reductions, it was suggested that the Director of Public Works consider the
elimination of a plowing route and either absorb the new plowing route with
existing routes or consider a second contractural route in the community. The
City Administrator stated that there is no reduction in manpower equipment
that would directly impact the snow removal routes and, further, that manpower
distribution for a street maintenance employee is only 200 of the 2080 work
hours per year for snow maintenance. There was also a discussion regarding
the need to replace certain vehicles with 60,000 to 70,000 miles that are
categorized as severely rusted. Members of the City Council raised questions
as to why equipment is rusting at this age and re-emphasized that all
maintenance vehicles will be rustproofed at the time of acquisition and should
be properly maintained to allow for longer life expectancy. The final
reduction including the $161,000 of capital and operating reductions including
manpower is $214,000. The City Administrator was directed to reduce the
equipment certificate amount from $571,000 to $357,000 which will be fully
funded as a special debt levy in 1988.
City Councilmembers discussed the necessity to reduce additional
dollars in the operating budget to retain the proposed mill rate reduction and
eliminate a second year debt obligation for the use of equipment certificates
to acquire certain proposed capital outlay. City Councilmembers reviewed the
proposed manpower and it was determined that the Community Development
Director would be budgeted beginning April 1 instead of the proposed January
1, one-half custodian was removed from 1988 and the full-time Fire Chief was
delayed until 1989. There were also capital items pertaining to the Street
Department that were further reviewed and reduced including the proposed paver
and grinder, sign truck and street sweeper. The capital reduction is
$161,000.
The Director of Finance also reviewed the revenue projections which
were reduced by $200,000 to reflect a more conservative projection for
building permits, plan check fees, administrative transfer, interest earnings,
Special Minutes September 8, 1987
Page Two
and the central services maintenance of Public Works. The Director of Finance
also commented on an increase to the Cable TV reimbursement estimated at
$15,020.
After further review, it was determined by the City Council that the
final proposed 1988 budget to be considered at the public hearing on September
15, 1987, is $8,652,100. It was noted that as a result of the high increase
in assessed valuation and the various budgetary reductions made by the City
Council, that a mill rate reduction will be realized in 1988.
FIREMEN'S RELIEF ASSOCIATION PENSION FUND
The City Administrator reviewed the Firemen's Relief Pension fund
proposal that was presented to the City during late spring 1987. He stated
that direction is required for his meeting that is scheduled for Wednesday,
September 9, with the Pension Committee. Direction was given to the City
Administrator to offer a monthly benefit of $250 for a period of five (5)
years and to approve a disability benefit for any firefighter who is injured
in the line of duty prior to his or his vesting which occurs at the 10th year.
Members of the City Council also stated that the new pension amount would only
apply to those years of service accrued after January 1, 1988. The existing
monthly benefit would continue for those years of service through December 31,
1987, for each volunteer firefighter.
FEDERAL DISASTER
The City Administrator informed the City Council that Dakota County
was approved as a Federal Disaster County and will be eligible for Federal
Disaster Aid for the July 23, 1987, storm.
O'NEILL VS CITY OF EAGAN LAWSUIT
The City Administrator stated that a petition was filed by Gerald
Duffy representing Robert and Grace O'Neill in the lawsuit, O'Neill vs City of
Eagan. The City Administrator reviewed the status of the lawsuit stating that
the City Attorney is requesting a review of land use plans that were prepared
for the O'Neill property. There was a brief discussion regarding the status
of the lawsuit with no action required or taken on this item.
ADJOURNMENT
There were no additional items of business and the meeting was
adjourned at approximately 10:15 p.m.
TLH
Dated September 8, 1987 1, 0,
C t Clerk