10-13-2009 Council Work Session Packet

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!II Orono City Council Committee of the Whole October 13,2009, 6:15 p.m. Orono City Council Chambers S. 2009 End of 3`d Quarter Budget Update Expenditure budget is in good shape at 67.71%of budget. Human Services is over budget due to a change in coding for the Sojourner Project. Engineering is over budget but consistent with the last two years. The 2009 budget had decreased but the 2010 budget will be increased back to historical levels. Parks are also over budget mostly because of expenditures related to Big Island. o Council questioned why engineering costs are high with so little development. Council has received negative comments from residents regarding additional engineering fees for zoning applications and the requirements to submit additional surveys. o Staff indicated the general billing for engineering is not development-related; most of the charges are related to City requests. Finance will provide additional detail on engineering charges. • Revenues are down because of the slowdown in building activity. • Property tax collections are good. • Revenues and expenditures will probably balance each other out by year-end. • Further discussion of the 2010 budget will be scheduled for a work session prior to adoption of the budget in December. 6. Prouty Project Status • Next Prouty meeting is scheduled for October 27`h at Noon for lunch, followed by a 4-hour training session. • Agenda to be determined. Bring booklets to begin discussion and move toward wrap-up of first session. Internal structure/management may also be discussed. • The Prouty meeting will be in place of the regularly scheduled work session of October 27`n • A short time will be spent at the end of the work session if there are any City matters that need attention. 7. Paperless Council Packets • Council expressed interest in pursuing paperless agenda packets and directed staff to obtain additional information. 8. Comments Regarding Information Updates • None 9. Police Matters • Labor Negotiation Update o Olson gave a brief update on current status of negotiations. • Police Service Contract o A Police Commission meeting is scheduled at 8:00 a.m. on Wednesday, 10/14/09. Spring Park and Long Lake contract formulas will be discussed. o Long Lake has not taken action on the agreement for joint ownership of the Navarre fire station. Staff is recommending Council action to rescind Orono's approval of the agreement. The new insurance agents are also concerned that Orono owns the station and Long Lake manages it which could present problems if there were ever an insurance claim. • Prosecuting Attorney o Long Lake wants to send out for bids every 2 years for prosecuting attorney services and then award the contract to the lowest bidder. Orono would prefer to continue to use Ken Potts for the contract cities as a good working relationship has been developed. • Other Public Safety Concerns Concerns with services provided to contract cities were discussed. Page 4 of 4