08/08/2017 - City Council SpecialMINUTES
SPECIAL CITY COUNCIL MEETING
AUGUST 8, 2017
5:30 P.M.
EAGAN MUNICIPAL CENTER
City Councilmembers present: Mayor Maguire, Bakken, Fields, Hansen and Tilley. The meeting started
at 5:38 p.m. Councilmember Bakken arrived at 5:45 p.m.
City staff present: City Administrator Osberg, Assistant City Administrator Miller, Finance Director
Pepper, Assistant Finance Director Feldman, Finance Intern Gengler, Communications Director Garrison,
Parks & Recreation Director Pimental, Police Chief McDonald, Fire Chief Scott, Community Development
Director Hutmacher, Director of Public Works Matthys and IT Manager Cook.
ROLL CALL AND ADOPTION OF THE AGENDA
Councilmember Hansen moved, Councilmember Fields seconded a motion to adopt the agenda as
presented. Aye: 4 Nay:0
VISITORS TO BE HEARD
There were no visitors to be heard.
2018-2019 DRAFT BUDGET PRESENTATION
City Administrator Osberg introduced the item, noting preparation of the 2018 and 2019 preliminary
General Fund budget has been ongoing since April. This the first year that City staff has prepared a 2
year budget. The Council's goal to "maintain the City's long-standing, fiscally prudent and responsive
budgeting approach while pursuing fiscal independence and self-reliance in long-term budgeting"
provided the basis for preparation of the proposed 2018 budget and for the tax levy considerations.
The general narrative is laid out in a fashion similar to previous years. Osberg noted any modifications
to the proposed levy and budget will be presented to the Council at the September 5, 2017 regular City
Council meeting.
Osberg walked through the budget memo.
Police Chief McDonald and Fire Chief Scott each spoke to the proposed police and fire positions for 2018
and 2019, and how public service will be improved.
Osberg provided an overview of the proposed General Fund Budget as it relates to specific departments
and operations, and summarized the public policy issues for the City Council's consideration.
Finance Director Pepper walked through the General Fund Budget and Fund Balance, Market Value and
Tax Capacity and the levy.
The Council discussed the proposed 2018-2019 budgets and the proposed payable 2018-2019 Property
Tax Levy.
Special City Council Minutes
August 8, 2017
Page 2
There was Council consensus that the overall general fund budget increase of 7.1 percent for 2018 and
5.6 percent for 2019 was appropriate, and that the proposed department budget items were also
appropriate.
There was Council consensus that the proposed total tax levy of 5.2 percent in 2018 and 5.9 percent in
2019 and the allocation of the preliminary tax levy were appropriate.
There was Council consensus the proposed staffing changes were appropriate.
There was Council consensus that each of the two budget years shall include using funds from the 2017
contingency that was allocated to allow for implementation of the compensation study, with the
transfer of $210,000 from the general fund balance in both 2018 and 2019. It was noted that the 2020
levy percentage increase from 2019 will be roughly 0.6 percent higher than it would have been without
this one-time use of contingency.
There was Council consensus to proceed with the adoption of a preliminary levy and budgets at the
September 5, 2017 Council meeting.
The Council agreed they would like to see illustrated the difference in impact of taxes paid by an average
homeowner versus a business and/or commercial owner. It was also noted to separate out for 2018 and
2019 the impact of staffing increases for fire and police, and bring back for Council review at the
September 5, 2017 meeting.
Osberg noted formal action on the levy and preliminary 2018-2019 General Fund budgets are scheduled
for the regular City Council meeting on September 5, 2017. The City Council will be asked to adopt the
final 2018-2019 budget and levy at the December 5, 2017 regular City Council meeting.
City Administrator Osberg noted staff is working on getting more communication out on public safety
needs. Currently there is information coming out in the September Experience Eagan newsletter.
The Council took a 5 minute break.
COUNTY -WIDE FIBER EFFORT
Assistant City Administrator Miller introduced the item noting for several years, Dakota County and
the cities within Dakota County have been working on a way to aggregate fiber network resources to
offer improved institutional network (INET) services and to have the capacity to provide services to
commercial parcels (CNET). Miller summarized the study efforts to date, the proposed Joint Powers
Agreement, and the cost implications if Eagan were to join the County's efforts.
IT Manager Cook presented the pros and cons to the City of Eagan to join the County -wide effort.
The Council discussed the County -wide fiber effort. It was the consensus of the Council not to move
forward with the Joint Powers Agreement. The Council agreed they would be willing to work with the
JPA group and Dakota County on a case by case basis and through ad hoc. partnerships, as needed.
There was no other business to be heard.
OTHER BUSINESS
ADJOURNMENT
Special City Council Minutes
August 8, 2017
Page 3
Councilmember Tilley moved, Councilmember Bakken seconded a motion to adjourn at 7:28 p.m.
Aye:5 Nay:O
Date
h
Mayor
Mww
IFF/i