2012-08-15 CC WS Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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Agenda Item #2 — Budget and Levy The budget remains relatively unchanged from the draft you looked at previously. We will ask you to look at the vehicle equipment issue and we will have some information at the meeting for you to look at in that regard. The insurance deductible was discussed at the last meeting and staff was directed to see if any savings here made taking more risk worthwhile. Raising our deductible from $500 to $1000, results in an annual savings of $2000. We can make that change and incorporate the savings into the budget, if council wishes. Concession stand. The city has tried running a concession stand at LaMotte Park for the past two years. Each year has resulted in a net loss. This begs the question of whether we can justify continuing in the future. The Lions have graciously allowed us to use the concession stand for a share of the profit. Obviously, this has not generated even enough to offset wear and tear on their equipment. Agenda Item #3 — Redevelopment of 7087 20 Avenue. We have a commercial business interested in putting a new building on the old public works site. While I am unable to share the name of the business, I will provide details of the proposed building and how the project might work. To be feasible, the Council would need to consider tax increment financing or tax abatement to pay some of the redevelopment costs, such as demolition, site fill and grading, site utilities and drainage. Agenda Item #4 — Knabe parcel in Block 8 Several months back, the Council authorized application for a grant to acquire the Knabe parcel and the Julie Lindsey parcel, also in Block 8, downtown. That grant application was not successful. Mr Knabe recently put a price on the parcel and has offered it to the City. Since the entire block is slated for redevelopment, you may want to consider buying this relatively low cost parcel and hold it for redevelopment. The city would also incur the cost of demolition. We do not know that cost yet. If you are interested, we should get a cost for demolition. Agenda Item #5 - Utility rates. Staff has analized the utility funds to determine if a rate increase is needed. Water and sewer funds were increased last year to make them self sufficient. Those funds can remain at the current rates for 2013. The Storm Water Utility Fund remains under funded, given anticipated future expenses for ditch and pond maintenance. While we are still developing the plan for pond maintenance, staff recommends that the residential rate be increased from $12 to $15 per quarterly billing and that the minimum charge for commercial sites be increased from $12.50 to $15.50 and that the commercial unit rate be increased by 6 %.