HomeMy WebLinkAbout2014-08-27 CC WS Minutes - Approved
City Council 2014-08-27
Minutes of Work Session
City Council 2014-08-27 8:45 p.m.
Minutes of Work Session
Present were Mayor Tom Wilharber, Council members Jeff Paar, Steve King, D Love,
and Ben Fehrenbacher. Also present were Kurt Glaser, City Attorney, Lee Mann of
Stantec., and Public Works Director Paul Palzer.
The purpose of the work session was to cover four agenda items:
Bond Refinancing.
George Eilertson of Northland Securities was present to review
the 2009 Series B Improvement Bonds. The structure of the original bond issue
anticipated revenue from sale of certain city land along Commerce Drive. That sale
has not yet happened, while the bond has a balloon payment due in the year 2018.
Mr. Eilertson suggested that the City could refinance the bond and extend the
payment term so that the cash flow becomes more manageable, especially if the sale
of land does not happen as planned. The decision is not urgent and the consensus was
to have further discussion of this in October, so that a decision can be made in
advance of the first call date of February 1, 2015.
Budget 2014
. The draft budget for 2015 has been updated to include changes in the
police costs, as well as adjustments to the required bond levies. The net effect is an
increase in the combined levy of 4.25%. There may be adjustments that can be made
to reduce it some. Council consensus was to have another work session in September
to review it again before the preliminary budget and levy is adopted. Also, staff was
asked to prepare to report on the revenue potential of franchise fees.
2015 Street Program.
The Council deferred further review of the 2015 street
program. Staff will update the cost estimates and provide a list of affected property
owners so the project can move to the public comment stage. Benefitted properties
would be asked to bear a special assessment of $525 on the 2015 project.
Labor issues.
The Council discussed the engineer staffing from Stantec. Administrator
Larson expressed concern that Mark Statz who is assigned to Centerville took a
two-month leave of absence without any preplanning, leaving the city in a
difficult spot. Larson suggested that Stantec staff may have rights to certain leave,
but those personnel issues should not adversely affect Centerville. Solutions were
discussed, including assigning a different staff person to Centerville on a
permanent basis, and better planning and transitioning in the future, should a
leave issue arise again. Lee Mann of Stantec apologized for the way the situation
was handled and the lack of communication in advance of the leave. Mr. Mann
assured the Council that the City would not be placed in this situation again, that
in the future, better advance planning will be done and further assured the Council
that the city will not be double billed because other Stantec staff have to work
along-side Mark to get up to speed in advance of a leave. Council was satisfied
with leaving Statz in his position, with the assurance that were provided by Mr.
Mann.
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City Council 2014-08-27
Minutes of Work Session
Administrator Larson reported that the agreement with Local 49 for Public
Works employees expires at the end of the year and asked if the council wishes to
leave the negotiations to the new administrator. Since Larson will be available
part time to the end of the year, consensus was that he should negotiate the new
contract.
Council reviewed a draft amendment to the city personal policy as it relates to
Health Care Savings Plan. The draft would provide funding through unused PTO
time at the end of the year and also made a change that would include elected
officials in the plan. Council took the suggestions under advisement.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 9:50 p.m.
Dallas Larson, Administrator
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