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COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE - MINUTES - 5/13/2004 COMMITTEE OF THE WHOLE – CITY OF MUSKEGO Approved MINUTES OF MEETING HELD MAY 13, 2004 Mayor Slocomb called the meeting to order at 7:08 PM. Also present were Aldermen Salentine, Patterson, Buckmaster, Borgman, Schroeder and Madden, Finance Director Gunderson, Police Chief Johnson, and Acting Clerk-Treasurer Blenski. Ald. Melcher was absent. Members of the Little Muskego Lake District were also present including Suzi Link, Mike Larsen, Don Conner, and Dan Pavelko. Those present recited the Pledge of Allegiance. The Mayor stated the meeting was noticed in accordance with the open meeting law. Ald. Salentine moved for approval of minutes of meeting held March 11, 2004 and Joint Meeting with the CDA held April 29, 2004. Ald. Madden seconded; motion carried. NEW BUSINESS Discuss City Charges for Little Muskego Lake Access Property Ald. Patterson requested the item be placed on the agenda for the Committee to discuss because the Lake District will soon be working on its budget. The issue continues to be that the City is assessed differently than other properties in the Lake District. Suzi Link provided information on the history of the current assessment paid by the City, which is 15% of the Lake District’s budget. There needs to be recognition that the City receives benefits in the form of revenues and uses of the lake that are not being compensated for. Mayor Slocomb also reviewed assessment information as compiled by the Lake Fee Study Committee in 2003. The City is concerned about being assessed consistently and equitably; it should not be viewed as a bottomless well of money. Ms. Link stated that the discussion is about the City paying $26,000 to the Lake District yet it receives over $300,000 in additional tax revenue from properties in the district. That is also an issue of equity. Mayor Slocomb stated this still relates to the method of taxation. He reviewed other options, which the District could use to assess all properties in the District. Ms. Link stated there are two separate issues: The City’s exchange of services for taxes vs. the City’s assessment for property it owns on the lake. The revenues derived should be used to provide the services required by the Lake District. Mr. Conner stated all taxpayers contribute toward City assets, such as the parks. Little Muskego Lake is also a City asset but only the people living around the lake are paying for it. Ald. Patterson stated the City does not own the lake. Mr. Conner asked if the Committee wanted to change the way the City is billed, or the amount it is paying. Mayor Slocomb responded that the issue has been to change the method of assessment so it is uniform; it has not been to change the amount. The Mayor also stated that the City is treating the two lake districts differently. Ald. Buckmaster stated the taxpayers that do not live on the lake do not receive 100% use of it as they would with a City park. Ms. Link stated the City needs to tell the District what it would like to have happen if there is a concern about inequitable treatment. That will be taken to the District for a vote. The Commissioners are presenting the issues that will come up. The people who live on the lake feel very strongly that the City is paying too little for the benefits that are received. Mayor Slocomb stated it behooves all of us to come up with a method that Committee of the Whole Page 2 May 13, 2004 works for everyone. Ald. Madden noted that the pot of money the City has to support all the lakes is only so large. Ald. Buckmaster stated the City has no control over the lake, which is an issue for some constituents since tax dollars are used to help fund it. Ms. Link stated the City does have control over the lake by means of ordinances. She estimates that funding for Little Muskego Lake costs about $3 a tax key. People all over the community use the lake. Ald. Patterson moved to have a Resolution come from the Common Council to request that the Little Muskego Lake District tax the City uniformly as all other residents in the district. Motion died for lack of a second. It was determined that discussion on the issue would continue in the future. The Committee took a short recess. Budget Goal Setting - 2005 Mayor Slocomb asked the Committee members to establish goals, as the 2005 budget process will soon begin. The Department Heads need to have some direction. The Mayor said one of his goals was no reduction in staff. He is looking for the Council members to state their specific goals so it can be determined how they could possibly affect each other. Ald. Salentine said commitments were made in the 2003 budget process for the 2004 budget process specifically regarding Police Department personnel. Chief Johnson said if officers are not added, the long-term effect is critical. Growth in the community is increasing and with it is the demand for service. If the level of service begins to erode, it is hard to catch up. Finance Director Gunderson stated that new growth increased by 4.4% last year. This year, new growth increased by approximately 3%. That will probably not cover the 2005 increase in wages and health insurance benefits. The increase for health insurance is not yet known. Last year’s increase of 9.7% was the lowest in four or five years. Ms. Gunderson reiterated that the issues of the Council need to be presented to the Department Heads so they know where to go. Ald. Buckmaster presented the “wish list” of his district, which includes an outdoor swimming pool, more police, more trees, and proper development of the Moorland Road corridor. He believes three to five Police Officers will have to be added between now and 2007 to account for the new growth that the City has already seen and what will come in the future. Ald. Salentine stated a goal of hers is not to cut staff. She supports the commitment made to the Police Department last year and believes additional staff is needed. Chief pointed to the growth in the southeastern section of the City as an example. Manpower to cover that area is being taken from other parts of the City where it is needed. Eventually something has to give - service and response times will diminish and less time is available for prevention. Ald. Buckmaster agreed. Finance Director Gunderson stated the City’s 2005 debt commitments would total about $2.551 million. This is existing debt. Ald. Schroeder stated the 3% increase in new growth would be needed to pay the City’s existing debt obligations. Ald. Schroeder noted that to stay status quo then, we are probably looking at a 3% to 4% increase to cover wage increases and health benefits. Ald. Schroeder supports adding a police officer in July of 2005. In addition, he would consider one vehicle replacement (not to exceed $250,000) for Muskego Volunteer Fire Company. There are potentially three Committee of the Whole Page 3 May 13, 2004 vehicles that could be replaced. He does not want to see any personnel layoffs next year. Ald. Schroeder would not like to see a tax rate increase of more than 4.9%. Ald. Salentine stated that might not be realistic in light of the zero percent increase last year. We have to stop cutting the road program. Mayor Slocomb agreed because state transportation aids could be jeopardized. An internal analysis will need to be done. Ald. Buckmaster said he was looking at adding three to four officers and increasing the road program, with a cap in the rate increase of 5.75%. Ald. Madden stated we should look at two officers, adding them on a staggered basis per the Chief’s discretion. She would like to cap the rate increase at 5% or less. Ald. Borgman stated he would go along with the addition of two officers with staggered start times. He asked for more information regarding road maintenance. Mayor Slocomb stated the goal is to resurface on an average of once every 15 years. Ald. Salentine stated money in the past was added to the road program to keep the required maintenance on a 10 to 15 year rotation basis. If resurfacing is not done when necessary, it is much more expensive. Ms. Gunderson added that every dollar the City spends on roads affects the transportation aids received by the State. Ald. Borgman stated that it does not look good to have the tax rate increase from zero to 5%, though it may be justified. You will have to talk people through it. Ald. Schroeder wanted to clarify that he does not oppose adding more than one police officer but he is concerned that once we start crunching the numbers, it may be difficult to add one in the middle of the year. Ald. Buckmaster stated he does not want public safety issues to be controlled by the tax rate. One of the duties he is charged with is to provide public safety. There was a consensus that additional police personnel had to be added in 2005 but at this time, the specifics could not be determined. Chief Johnson stated he would accumulate the information that will demonstrate the number of calls, the responses, and the time left over for the officers to do neighborhood patrol. The residents do want their calls responded to but they also want officers on the streets and in their neighborhoods, which provide a feeling of security. If the officers are inundated with calls, the time available for patrolling is decreased. Back to any specific budget goals of the Council, Ald. Patterson said he would support a 3% to 4% tax rate increase and would consider looking at staff cuts to achieve that. Ald. Buckmaster believes the tax rate increases need to be looked at over a two-year period. Ald. Patterson stated he is adamant about the fire department requests for trucks and that he wants to see justification for what is requested. Mayor Slocomb reviewed the Capital Improvements Program Detailed Project Description handout. The items anticipated to be borrowed for are highlighted in yellow. The Finance Director noted this is still a plan and not a commitment. Regarding future fire department trucks, Ald. Buckmaster would like the two departments to get together and come to an agreement about capital items requested. Ald. Schroeder has suggested this in the past. Mayor Slocomb stated it is more complicated than that. Other issues, such as ISO certification is involved. He will provide information on what it will take to review and/or study. Finance Director Gunderson noted that items are highlighted for 2005 and 2006. It is intended that one borrowing be done (in 2005) to save money on the fees that the City incurs. She stated that the final decision on what the City will borrow for could be made at the end of 2004. Ms. Gunderson asked if the 2004 - 2008 Capital Plan could move forward to Council to be adopted. The response was no. Committee of the Whole Page 4 May 13, 2004 UNFINISHED BUSINESS Discuss Status of Old Muskego Settlement Centre (Renovation) Mayor Slocomb distributed information from the Parks and Recreation Department regarding use of the Old Town Hall for new programs. Mr. Anderson estimates that $33,450 in net revenue could be obtained. The Mayor stated some park dedication funds could be used as a cost sharing effort. Ald. Schroeder stated the City has already put its share of money into the structure. Mayor Slocomb said if you are not going to put any more money into the building, you would be letting it fall down. Ald. Schroeder said let’s finish it to be a historical building. Ald. Buckmaster asked that the lower level be reviewed for better utilization. Continued Discussion on Durham Drive - McShane Mayor Slocomb stated this is dependent on the City getting a grant, which will not happen this year. We will reapply next year. The road continues to deteriorate. Ald. Salentine moved to adjourn at 10:05 PM. Ald. Patterson seconded; motion carried. Respectfully submitted, Jill Blenski, CMC Acting Clerk-Treasurer