08-19-2020 Special City Council Meeting Minutes

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City Council Minutes August 19, 2020 Page 2 of 3 ----------------------------- a project is beneficial and a percentage of the project be assessed based on property value. Commissioner Swenson inquired if residential property and commercial property are assessed differently. Mr. Houle explained that it depends on the project as to how it can be specially assessed. Commissioner Akerson inquired about the interest rate being charged at the beginning of the project. Mr. Houle explained the interest rate would stay the same from when the project is financed and/or special assessed. 4. 2021 Preliminarv Budqet Review HRA member Pat Dullum presented the HRA budget. The Council had no questions for the HRA budget. Ms. Bittner presented the Planning &Zoning budget. The Council had no questions for the Planning & Zoning budget. Mr. Klang presented the Police Department budget. The Council had no questions for the Police budget. Mr. Gorr presented the Roads & Streets, Parks, Cemetery, and Capital Improvement budgets. Commissioner Akerson inquired when the ADA doors will be installed. Ms. Duus stated the ADA doors are in the 2020 budget for the City Hall building and the Cole Memorial building ADA doors are budgeted in 2021. Commissioner Pederson inquired about the Akerson, Nelson, Wild Acres Road projects having a $3,000,000 in the budget for the entire project. Mr. Houle explained that with the cooperative with Breezy Point, Ideal Township, Jenkins Township and Crow Wing County the project will be at a lesser number. Discussion ensued regarding this project. Mr. Gorr stated that there will be a better explanation of the total cost of the project at the September meeting. Ms. Duus presented the Library budget. The Council had no questions for the Library budget. Mr. Nelson presented the Fire Department budget. He presented a Capital Improvement Plan for the Fire Department. He stated that in the past the department had not planned ahead for replacing equipment. Mr. Nelson feels we need to increase our contract fees across all entities in order to offset the cost of the new equipment needs in the future. Discussion ensued regarding possible cuts, levy and tax rates. Commissioner Pederson and Commissioner Akerson do not want to raise taxes for 2021 and would like to see cuts in the budget as the Council discussed in April— May 2020 meetings. Commissioners Swanson and Seils agree that the department heads have been diligent in budgeting in order to get the City to a good place in having the ability to replace equipment or make repairs when needed.