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HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994-07-19 ccmSPEC MINUTES OF THE SPECIAL MEETING OF THE CITY COMMISSION BOZEMAN, MONTANA July 19, 1994 ***************************** . The Commission of the City of Bozeman met in special session in the Conference Room, Municipal Building, July 19, 1994, at 7:00 p.m. Present were Mayor Pro Tempore Stueck, Commissioner Youngman, Commissioner Stiff, Commissioner Frost, City Manager Wysocki, Administrative Services Director Gamradt and Clerk of the Commission Sullivan. Mayor Vincent was absent. Signing of Notice of Scecial Meetina Each of the Commissioners in turn signed the Notice of Special Meeting. Work session - Review of City Manager's Budget Recommendations for Fiscal Year 1994-1995 This is the third in a series of work session on the City Manager's recommendations . for the budget for Fiscal Year 1994-1995. Since this is a work session, the minutes are abbreviated. City Manager Wysocki and Administrative Services Director Gamradt reviewed the remainder of the General Fund budget units, the Special Revenue Funds, the Debt Service Funds and the Capital Project Funds, which cover from Page 90 through Page 219 of the document. General Fund. Recreation Administration. The City Manager noted that $1,000 is included in this budget unit for setting of the cross-country ski tracks. He noted that after the budgeting process was completed last year, the Recreation and Parks Advisory Board forwarded a request from the Ski Club that additional monies be appropriated for this activity, raising the total City . contribution to $3,000 or $3,500; and that request was denied. He then stated he feels it is important for the club to participate in the costs as well as the City, and that the $1,000 contribution is appropriate. Swim Center. Monies have been rebudgeted in this budget unit for architectural services related to possible expansion of the Swim Center. Those monies will probably not be 07-19-94 SPECIAL _..n___ - 2 - expended until late in the fiscal year. Also, alternatives for possible relocation of the recreation administration offices are currently being investigated. Bogert Pool. The deck along the west side of the pool has just been expanded; and monies are included in this budget to provide for a handicapped ramp to that deck, thus . allowing access to the locker rooms and the pool. Parks and Playgrounds. An additional Y:z -time person is included in this budget, with the other half showing under Cemeteries. Cemeteries. Under "repair and maintenance: other", $2,300 has been budgeted for realignment of the intersection of Golf Way and East Curtiss Street, to provide better access to that cemetery entrance. Under "contracted services", monies have been budgeted for security patrol, which is a new item. Due to the amount of vandalism that is beginning to occur, staff feels that some steps need to be taken; and this appears to be the most cost effective. These patrols, in conjunction with police patrols, are designed to decrease the opportunities for vandalism and the attendant costs. Library. This budget includes an additional Y:z-time equivalent in personnel. New . emphasis is to be placed on young adult readers, since the children's programs have become so successful. Monies for a new computerized circulation system are being set aside under this budget unit, as well as from other sources. The $125,000 system is to be funded from $50,000 in this budget unit, $50,000 in Valley Unit monies and $25,000 from the Library Foundation. Responding to Mayor Pro Tempore Stueck, the City Manager estimated the County's contribution at $88,000. ADA. This budget includes some rebudgeted items as well as some hard surfacing along a portion of the linear trail. Also, the purchase for some handicapped playground equipment for Bogert Park is included. General Fund general discussion. The City Manager stated that the City has just . received the written notice on the certified mill value; and he distributed copies of that letter to the Commissioners. He noted that the mill value is $32,560, which is lower than the estimated value of $33,887, upon which his recommendations are based. He noted that he and Administrative Services Director Gamradt have been very conservative in their estimates over the years; but this year, they estimated a 7-percent increase; and the increase was only 07-19-94 SPECIAL ---- - 3 - 2.8 percent. This means that, based on the proposed mill levy, the property tax revenues are $154,000 less than anticipated; and that difference must be addressed. He stated that if the Commission chooses to simply increase the mill levy to make up the difference, it will add 4.733 mills, bringing the total to 120.873, which is essentially the same as it was in Fiscal . Year 1993 and well below the 129.78 mill ceiling. Commissioner Youngman asked about adding $100,000 to the budget for the Housing Trust Fund reserve, and when it should be added. Commissioner Stiff stated he was startled to see $50,000 included for "critical lands" studies, which are not a top priority goal for this fiscal year. City Manager Wysocki stated he has received a request from the Beall Park Arts Center for the Commission to consider a mill levy for their operations; and he has told them "no". He asked the Commissioners to let him know if they don't agree with that decision. Scecial Revenue Funds. Planning. This budget unit includes $70,000 for "critical lands" studies, $50,000 of which is a transfer from the General Fund. . Commissioner Stiff noted the letter from Planning Director Epple, in which he indicates that the $20,000 from the Planning Fund completely wipes out that fund's balance. He also noted the staff's workload, stating he does not feel it is appropriate to add this non-goal to that load. He noted that if those monies are to be spent, they could be more effectively spent on transportation or affordable housing at this timentwo of the Commission's top priority goals. Mayor Pro Tempore Stueck noted that the Commission has already been told those studies cannot possibly be completed for at least eight months to a year, which means that any resulting policies or regulations will not be in place for the next construction season. He then suggested that these studies could possibly be started toward the end of the fiscal year, with the bulk of the costs incurred in the next fiscal year instead of this fiscal year. Commissioner Frost stated he feels that the "critical lands" studies are truly critical. . He then stated he feels the affordable housing issues are up in the air right now and need to be resolved before the City considers any type of funding. City Manager Wysocki informed the Commission that staff has delayed taking action on delinquent special assessments on the three parcels upon which Dickinson Manor was to be constructed for approximately 2 % or 3 years now. He suggested that if that project is now 07-19-94 SPECIAL - 4 - dead, the City should possibly consider the possibility of acquiring those parcels through tax redemption, and then find some mechanism for providing affordable apartments on one or all of the lots. Mayor Pro Tempore suggested that flooding the market with affordable rental units . could possibly help to drop other rents in the community as well, getting them back to a more realistic level. Gas Tax. This budget unit essentially covers the projects portion of the Street Department budget. Commissioner Stiff asked if it is possible to get monies back on a waiver of right to protest for a development if an improvement has already been installed with other monies,ie. the signal at College and 19th. The City Manager responded that if an area has been identified as impacting the subject road or intersection, it may be possible to require a payback, similar to an SID payback. Community Transportation (CTEP). This is a new budget unit, for the Department of Transportation grant monies which the City has received for the Highland Boulevard bicycle and . pedestrian facility and the anticipated monies for the North Rouse Avenue bicycle and pedestrian facility. Highway Safety Improvement Projects. It was anticipated that the grant monies to fund a majority of the costs of improving the 27 listed intersections would be received before now. Street Maintenance District. This source provides monies mostly for salaries and equipment in the Street Department budget. Tree Maintenance District. Monies for the pest control program which were added to last year's assessment have been set aside within this budget unit. Neighborhood Parking District. This is a new program which will be initiated this fall, if the signs are installed by August 15. . Downtown Parking. This is the Parking Commission's budget unit, and includes parking lots only. The Parking Commission will probably seek control of all of the downtown parking, and possibly even the residential parking district. A proposal has also been submitted to the City from some of the downtown business people, who are proposing a Parktrol, which would be responsible for parking in the downtown area and possibly even other violations. 07-19-94 SPECIAL - 5 - Debt Service Funds. SID/Sidewalk Bonds. The balance of outstanding bonds has been steadily decreasing over the past few years. Responding to Commissioner Stiff, Administrative Services Director Gamradt stated . the SID Revolving Fund balance has not been decreased in conjunction with the decreasing SID balance. He then reminded the Commission that monies may not be transferred from this fund except through Commission action. He cautioned that it is not uncommon to run the type of balance which Bozeman currently carries; and that balance does help to sell SID bonds in the future. Capital Proiect Funds. There are no funds or projects under this header at this time. Adiournment - 9:30 D.m. There being no further business to come before the Commission at this time, Mayor Pro Tempore Stueck adjourned the meeting. . (' (7P-1 "t. 4~ DON E. STUECK Mayor Pro Tempore ATTEST: ~~;/ ~~ ROBI L. SULLIVAN Clerk of the Commission . 07-19-94 SPECIAL .. . .___n_ ___