1975 12 15n
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City Council Meeting -Continued Session December 15,1975
City Hall -Council Room 8:00 P.M.
Members Present -Councilman Robt.Hill,Bill Moe,Norm Johnson,Mike Boyle,
Don Swanson and Otto Skaug.Mayor Gordon Ebbert was not present.
Due to the absence of Mayor Gordon Ebbert,the Council unanimously nominated Bill Moe to
act as Mayor Pro Tern.
Mayor Pro Tern Bill Moe opened the meeting and noted all members present,with the exception
of Mayor Ebbert was not present due to the death of his mother,who resided in Oregon.
PUBLIC HEARING -1976 BUDGET (Continued Hearing from December 2,1975),•//1
Mayor Moe noted this meeting Is a continuation of the public hearing regarding the 1976
Preliminary Budget and If anyone In the audience had questions or comments,they should feel
free to do so.There were none.
He noted that the Council had gone through the budget completely.Also that Bob Hill had
requested some line-item detailing regarding the budget,which was furnished by Rick Gagnier
at the close of the last meeting of December 9,1975,and possibly the Council had since
studied the detailed report which may have clarified some of the questions they had.
Bob Hill commented the detailed report was very helpful.
The Councilmen had a number of questions,mainly for clarification only,which were explained
to their satisfaction.
Otto Skaug moved that the much discussed expenditure of $8,000 that has been allocated in
the 1976 Budget for the Community School concept be established and adopted as part of the
budget.Second by Boyle.
There was some discussion whether this would mean the Council would have to go through the
budget item by item.Mayor Pro Tern Bill Moe stated,the motion would solidify it.This is
what a preliminary budget is for,to remove and/or place some Items,or In this instance to
make a point of establishing a commitment.
The question was called -Motion carried.Hill and Johnson opposed.
Discussion was prompted by Bill Moe regarding what areas the city could seek to replace
Revenue Sharing if it should be no longer forthcoming In a year or so,as indicated by some
news articles.Curtailment of services vs.increased sources of revenue was discussed
that must be considered carefully and priorities set in that event to compensate for the loss
of Revenue Sharing funds.
Bob Hill suggested improving Third Avenue and possibly Valley Road and Division Street with
Revenue Sharing money held in reserve as an alternative to construction of a new civic center.
"I am sure we need a new Police Department ------",but expressed a need for street
Improvements as well."At least updating Third Avenue,and going to the public with a bond
levy for a public safety building."
Bill Moe pointed out that this Council in previous years has set aside "Revenue Sharing money
for a civic center complex,
Mike Boyle added that the Council should look Into the results the Civic Center Committees
bring back to the Council,what their findings are.Understand they are going into 'some depth'
research on these different departments,and perhaps the Council can get a better picture what
they figure willthe real needs of the city are going to be.We could be remiss if we didn't wait
for that Information to come back to us.I concur with Mr.Hill as far as the streets,they are in
dire need,but what avenue to pursue to finance them,I don't have an answer right now.Think
we should definitely wait for the committees'recommendation.
Bill Moe added that he doubted whether the Council will have too much information from the
Committees this year,possibly early next year.The ultimate decision will be the Council's,
as to what program to pursue.The consensus of the Council was to wait for completion of the
citizen's committee study.In the meantime asked to have figures prepared for the street.Improve
ments as Indicated,and allow the Revenue Sharing money as presently allocated in the 1976 budget.
Chet Waggener added that the Executive Committee regarding the Civic Center is planning to
schedule a meeting on January 7th with Sub-Committee progress reports to the Executive -
Committee at that time to let them know where they are at with each of their programs.He
will be getting information to the City Council to attend that meeting also.
Chet Waggener commented that presently the only change in the budget would be adding the
CETA Program which the Council approved acceptance of for $35,000 for a 6-month period and
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City Council-Continued Session,-Minutes:2 December 15, 1975
looking at those positions very much as temporary.We have to appropriate the money in the
budget,although it is reimbursable .funding.Reserve has been allowed for salary considerations
which will be presented to the Council at December 16th,1975 meeting,and at the same time*consider
the Union Contract with the Fire Department.
Mayor Pro Tern Bill Moe stated the Council has made some decisions tonight that would affect
the budget and asked if the Council felt more study was necessary.
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Mike Boyle commented that he has no quarrel with the programs in the budget,only wished,'
as probably the other councilmen do,is that we had more revenue or more money to implement
more programs.I think we are struggling to find sources of revenue to do more things that we
are just unable to do.
Chet Waggener added,the question thatBob Hill raised regarding arterial street work is a valid '
one and think it would behoove the staff to,in the next two or three months to try to get more
accurate cost figures for the Council that if they would wish to give some consideration toward
Revenue sharing,bond issue,LID's or whatever source to go on,or combination;community
development block grant funds also might be a possibility in some of them,although normally
they are not to readily used for business streets.Again this wasn't one of the things when we .
went over the priorities with the Council;we all recognized the need but we didn't see any way
of plugging it into the 1976 budget.
Bill Moe commented,that judging from past experience we always religiously set aside those
funds for the Civic Center Complex.Surely we had no indication to do something else with that
money until now.
R. R.Gagnier gave the amended figures on the Budget ordinance:
The General Fund was $1,875,000,and that figure would change to $1,904,000 reflecting a $37,000
increase in CETA. An additional transfer to the street fund to compensate for the salary increases
because there is not a contingency for that,which would amount to $8,000,and come to $320,000 *
even. Those two changes would affect the total of funds,restating it from $5,588,800 to $5,625,800.p
Ordinance No.745 was read.by title onJy.
Motion by Skaug to adopt the Budget for 1976 as amended.Second by Boyle.Motion carried
unanimously.
Meeting adjourned at 9:30 P.M.
'or Pro Tern -W.B.MoeMayor