What this meeting did about specific topics, organized by issue rather than by document.
2018 budget preparation approach
The council treated this first budget workshop as a broad planning session rather than a final line-by-line decision. The mayor asked staff and council to identify where more or less money might be needed, what revenues could be expected, and what capital, staffing, and maintenance needs should be planned before the budget was finalized.
Agenda: A1. Speakers: Mayor, Cory, Council members.
building inspection contract and electronic permitting
The building inspector explained that the contract model makes building-inspection spending rise and fall with permit activity, with only modest city printing costs expected. The council discussed putting fillable forms online, allowing electronic submissions, reducing paper, improving turnaround time, reviewing plan-review fees, and deciding later whether to continue the contracted-inspector arrangement or consider an in-house position.
Agenda: A2. Speakers: Andy, Cory, Laurie, Liz, Council members.
city building inventory and storage/recycling facilities
The council discussed creating an inventory of city buildings so it could decide when to repair, replace, or remove aging facilities. Much of the discussion centered on a deteriorated storage building near the ball fields, possible replacement with enclosed cold storage near the maintenance building, and whether recycling uses could qualify part of a building project for county recycling funds.
Agenda: A3, A7. Speakers: Mayor, Andy, Joe, Cory, Council members.
code enforcement process and budget
The council discussed how to control code-enforcement costs while still responding to legitimate complaints. Participants debated whether staff should screen complaints before involving the planner, when issues should come to council, how prior problem properties had consumed resources, and whether lower-cost seasonal or part-time help could perform routine letters, mailings, and inspections under guidance from the planner and building inspector.
Agenda: A4. Speakers: Mayor, Andy, Cory, Laurie, Liz, Council members.
state aid and road-reconstruction funding
The council discussed expected state funding, including small-city road/bridge aid and local government aid, and how that money could affect the road budget. Later, council members also discussed broader road-reconstruction financing options such as assessments, levy, bonding, franchise fees, and holding a public or informational meeting.
Agenda: A5, A8. Speakers: Cory, Council members.
road and bridge operating budget
Public works and council members reviewed road-and-bridge line items including ditch mowing, culverts, small tools, equipment repair, gravel or shouldering, fuel, and health-insurance costs. They noted several places where spending was already near or over budget and identified possible adjustments, including increasing small tools and equipment repair allowances.
Agenda: A6. Speakers: Joe, Cory, Council members.
parks and recycling-center operating budget
The council reviewed recycling-center and park costs, including refuse disposal, mower and equipment repair, portable restroom rental, trail and playground wood chips, and the possibility of adding electric service to a warming house. Staff questioned whether the existing refuse-disposal amount would be enough and suggested increasing machinery repair funding.
Agenda: A7. Speakers: Joe, Cory, Council members.
public works staffing and employee compensation
The council discussed whether public works had enough seasonal and regular help to keep up with ditch mowing, brush, recycling-center coverage, and other work. Members also discussed seasonal wage rates and raised the possibility of considering employee raises, noting that employees had received only one raise since 2007.
Agenda: A9. Speakers: Joe, Cory, Council members.