12-07-2020 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, November 23, 2020 6:00 o’clock p.m. _____________________________________________________________________________________ Page 4 of 7 HENNEPIN COUNTY ASSESSMENT SERVICES AGREEMENT – Continued stated the County charges based on taxable value and not the amount of work that it takes. He suggested the City look at what other services and options may be available to the City next year and beyond for assessment services. Rief noted he had looked at the licensing requirements to be an assessor and there is only one other firm in the metro area. He noted this firm only has five employees and already services seven other cities. He explained that the City of Long Lake and the City of Medina uses this other firm and knows that they charge on a flat fee basis. He stated his concern is that the City keeps two County assessors busy 365 days a year. Walsh stated he understands those concerns because they are the same as they were when the previous contract was signed. He still feels that because there is no reason or benefit to signing a multi-year contract, he doesn’t think the City should lock itself into something rather than keeping its options open. He noted the City can keep renewing a year at a time, if necessary, because there is also no penalty for proceeding in this matter. Walsh moved, Seals seconded, to approve the Hennepin County Assessment Services Agreement for a term of 1 year. VOTE: Ayes 5, Nays 0. 16. SECOND AMENDMENT DEDICATED CITY (continued) Walsh noted a visitor had just entered the room and asked if he was here for a specific agenda item. The gentleman stated he was from the Minnetonka Sportsmen’s Club and had received a notification that the Council was going to discuss the Second Amendment. Walsh explained that the Council had passed the resolution in support of the Second Amendment earlier in the meeting. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT 14. THIRD QUARTER FINANCIAL REPORT Ung gave an overview of the Third Quarter Financial Report for 2020. She explained the City is on track to meet revenues for the year at 71.4%. She noted as a comparison, for 2019, at the end of the 2nd quarter, the City had revenues at 72.5%. She stated it is similar for the tax revenues with it being 48.8% of the budget for 2020 as compared to 52.1% from 2019. She noted typically, by the third quarter, Licenses and Permits have exceeded the budget; however, due to COVID-19, the City has only collected 76.42% of the budgeted revenue. She stated the Other Government Revenue is currently at 161% as compared to 53.1% in 2019, which is due to the CARES Act Grant funding that the City received in July. She explained that the Golf Course Revenue has also exceeded budget at 189% as compared to 98.8% in 2019. She stated the assumption is that COVID-19 played a big role in this change because of the restrictions on indoor social gatherings. She reviewed a graphical representation of the issued Building Permits issued and the Plan Check/Site Exam fee and noted that they had decreased this year. Johnson noted you need to take into account that the City had a big year both last year and the year before.