City Public Works Budget Study Session Notes: Sept.18, 2012

Public Works Budget Study Session notes.


A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.


They have been working on Cost Avoidance this year.

• Painting curbs and strips at night to avoid traffic.
• Sharing vehicles between departments.
• Leased equipment to tear houses down rather than purchase it.
• Used city labor to make improvements at Waste Water Plant.

Note: Waste Water Treatment Plant has received Excellence Award 19 of the past 22 years.

Storm Water – Cleaned up river with volunteers.

Goals for 2013

• Work on storm water flow problems.
• Increase work on road improvements
• Increase security at Waste Water Plant.

It was very difficult to hear anything that was being said, so I am sure I missed much of the important stuff. I have also attached a couple of pie charts that they passed around.

County Board Notes-Sept. 11, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

3 PM Committee of the Whole

-Commissioners were to be introduced to new employees; not present/available
-Commissioners heard an update from Charity Floen on the Regional Redesign-Resolution.  Mower and Dodge counties are moving forward with the partnership; Freeborn and Houston counties are out.  Owatonna and Waseca counties are yet to pass a resolution to commit to the partnership. The Bush Foundation is funding up to $80,000 for this partnership effort.
-The commissioners were presented the 2013 preliminary levy budget by Shea and department heads (Victim Services, Jail). Commissioners approved a 2.4% levy increase ($21,349,842.00) at the 7 PM meeting that night.  Shea and departments are to lower the 2.4% before the final adoption.

City Council Notes-Sept. 4, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

There were two major points of business to this meeting and they are highlighted below:
Public Hearing: Development plan for Tax Increment Financing (former hospital/Fareway Foods/Sacred Heart Church project)

-Full presentation on the project and all the parts including the Tax Increment Financing (TIF) from the City of Owatonna to make the project work.
-A lengthy presentation explaining how the TIF will work was given by the City’s consultant on this project.
-Several questions were asked by the council.
-Pat Hagen, Fareway Foods gave a short overview of the company and how the process came together between all the parties involved in this site.  He said that everyone had to feel good about the outcome for it to work and to his knowledge all parties are happy with the potential outcome.

Details of the TIF can be found at : http://ci.owatonna.mn.us/sites/default/files/documents/2011/01/Agenda_packet_2012-09-04_Part_A.pdf.
Resolution to approve the increment financing district and use of TIF was approved by the City Council and a hearing date was set on a business subsidy for the $200,000 in TIF being considered for Mayo Health Systems.  That hearing will be on Sept. 18th.

Council approved a resolution setting a proposed levy for 2013.  The council approved the resolution which reflects a 2% levy increase over 2012.  This can be adjusted down from the 2% by the council at the time of their final budget approval but cannot go any higher.

Council also approved a levy for the Housing Redevelopment Authority (HRA) of $120,000 which is the same level of funding for the last 12 years.  

In addition, Council approved proposed budget for 2013.  The final budget will be approved in December, no later than Dec. 18th.

City Council Notes-Aug. 21, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

-Bid from Wencl Construction was approved for the demolition of the State Theater.  Total bid was approx $85k.  Carmike Theaters is contributing $75k toward the work.  With additional work, including laying sod, the project will cost approx $90k.  With all of the preliminary work done by the city (engineers, etc) plus the actual demolition, the net cost to the city will be approx $45k.  Completion date of all of the demo will be 10/22/12.  City will attempt to work with the contractor to limit interruption to downtown businesses.

-As it was reported in the newspaper, Fairway Foods has expressed interest in the old hospital site.  It is expected that Mayo will maintain the newest portion of the existing facility, the remaining building will be demolished.  Sacred Heart will purchase the homes close to the property.  Fairway foods will contribute $1.2M toward demolition of the hospital and the homes that Sacred Heart purchases.
It was noted that Fairway foods is not a 24 hour grocery chain.  They are closed on Sundays, holidays and close regularly in the evenings.

-14th Street paving -- City Engineer believed the work on 14th street near McKinley Elementary will be complete before school begins.  However, they are working on a contingency plan if the work is not complete.

County Board Notes-July 24, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

City Council Notes-July 17, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

-Proclamation of “Night to Unite” by Tom Kuntz Aug. 7, 2012
-Fin. Report – Bills read to be paid ….council approval…  no unusual bills read normal expenses
-Fire department reports no new business.
-Permits were issued to the following organizations for raffle and street closures Elk’s, Lakeside Foods, Crazy Days, Truth Hardware Employee Club
-Renewal or the SEMCAC lease as in past years
-Street improvements Permits Variance for Food & Fuel on 401 – North Cedar sign to be approved
-Discussion on the side walk improvements in the City of Owatonna by Troy Klecker representative of the city
-He described the plan to improve the sidewalks. Council requested a plan as to what sidewalks will be replaced and the residents will be informed of the improvements
-Kris Busse reported that the city will hold a public hearing on the Charter Cable contract on July 31, 2012 in the City Council Chamber
-Filing for City Council positions and mayoral seats are open until the 14th of August, 2012
-Council input: Ray Trulson requested  step-up enforcement on the intersection of Bridge and Moser Ave. a lot of close calls at that intersection

County Board Notes-July 10, 2012

A part of the OACCT's Public Policy efforts for 2012 is for volunteers from the Public Policy committee attend both City and County meetings and report back on items that are of interest/concern to business.

1. Human Services-Fleet Vehicles.Charity Floen presented the request for two minivans. The court is ordering family visits and home assessments with increasing frequency. Human Services needs access to vehicles that accommodate multiple children and their various child safety seats. Tom recommends purchasing the vehicles over leasing them due to the access to various reimbursement programs. The federal programs are based on a percentage of the IRS allowable millage rate. The percentage depends on the specific purpose of the use. 
   Nina asked if the “fleet tracking” system that the Highway Department is considering would be of use with tracking the mileage of these vehicles for the federal reimbursement. Tom mentioned that given the vans may be used by other departments the tracking is especially important and that several “Crown Vics” should be included in the initial fleet tracking. Anita stated the tracking software is on the plan for 2013. 
   The general consensus is that the vehicle purchase was a good idea and the tracking is important but the hours required to input the mileage should not be the burden of any one department.
    
2. Bixby Sewer ImprovementThe preliminary hearings will be tonight. Bids will be taken the 24th. The county is still working towards grants of 75% of “eligible costs”.
   
3. Award of Bid SAP 74-599-29
4. Out of five bidders the low bid is from Fitzgerald Excavating of Goodhue, MN. After additional research it was decided to award the bid to Fitzgerald.
    
5. Strategic Plan DirectionTom stated that the board had the 1995 Strategic Plan to review as well as the notes from the consultant hired last year. The general consensus of the board is that the county should proceed with a new plan but that the committee be composed of representatives from the staff, the board, and the administration. Doug and Nina will represent the board. Laura Ihrke (?) and Dan McIntosh (?) will represent the staff. Tom and Anita will represent the administration. This committee will report to the Committee of the Whole on a regular basis.