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Work Session
Discussion Items
·
Agenda Review:
This is the
opportunity to discuss any changes to the
Regular Agenda, which follows tonight, or to remove items from the Consent
Agenda for discussion.
·
Review of Cash Balances at Fiscal Year
2004 Year End on June 30, 2004, Exclusive of GASB-34 Assets
All material cash
balances exceed the minimum, except for Local Streets, Water and Sewer. The only surprise is the Sewer Fund. Sewer revenues were wrongly estimated by
me and fell $12,000 short. Expenditures
exceeded the budget by $38,000 due to one time depreciation and fixed asset
adjustments associated with GASB-34 and changes in depreciation of sewer
lines (from 80 years to only 50 years).
The trend lines on
cash are all good, and on track, except for the Building Fund discussed in
the past. Although user fees have
been increased, more might be needed each year until such time as we catch
up, or regular infusions from the general millage might be necessary.
The
Central Equipment and Public Improvement funds each posted large gains. The former was due to deferrals on
budgeted purchases and the latter is short-term due to savings from the
Village Hall project. These savings
are tentatively slated for the Services garage expansion project.
Overall Revenues
With the exception of
Sewer as noted above, revenues mostly exceed the budget for all the material
funds. Even Local Streets exceeded
the budget by $7,000. The Village
Hall Construction fund fell short, but was only due to an error in our end of
year estimates.
Overall Expenditures
Overall expenditures
were below budget by nearly $60,000.
The primary reductions were in the SL/FB Police Fund, the Building
Fund, the Village Hall fund and the Water Fund.
Conclusions Drawn
The Village’s
financial condition is steady and improving with the exception of the Sewer
and Building funds. The worst-case
scenario is we may need to adjust tax revenue to keep the Building Fund
solvent in future years. The Sewer
fund should self adjust given non-reoccurrence of the loss on disposal of
equipment and paying off a bond issue next year.
P.S
The above is an
apples-to-apples comparison to pre GASB- 34.
When the GASB-34 adjustments are made by the auditors and presented at
the next meeting, we will focus specifically on the impact of this new
financial accounting requirement.
·
Review of a Public Notice to Fill In a Wetland
for the Purpose of Expanding the Existing WESCO Fuel and Convenience Store
The Village received
a notice from the Department of Environmental Quality for this proposed
project. It will impact 0.21 acres of
wetland by placing fill to an average depth of three feet. No mitigation is proposed.
Any city, village,
township or county wanting to make comments on the proposed project needs to
furnish their office with written comments no later than December 20th. See attached for more information.
General discussion
and direction is invited.
·
Review of the Charter Cable Draft
Franchise Agreement
The group cable
franchise negotiations are done.
Most of our
protections and requirements stayed the same in this round, except updates
mandated by preemptive state and federal statutes/regulations.
The gains were better
insurance provisions, the potential to get grants to support school or
Village channels, improved contact information, continuation of one free
modem service for the Village, conclusion of the audit, continuation of the
5% franchise fee and three (PEG) channels, along with modest funding if
desired.
Significantly, the
“bundling” clause changed given the advent of cable modem for internet
users. The change ensures that a
“package” of services that includes television cannot be sold under the
larger umbrella of “cable modem internet” services and franchise fees thereby
be escaped. Without this change, the
cable company would have the right to offer cable modem via the internet and
theoretically reduce the Village’s 5 % franchise payments under new Federal
Communications Commission’s regulations.
This provision will stem such loss in the 5% and ensure that it is
prorated appropriately.
A summary of
provision changes from the chief negotiator is attached. The entire proposed franchise document is
on file with the Village Clerk if interested.
The next steps are to
approve the franchise agreement via an ordinance by setting the public
hearing followed by passage two weeks later; authorization to execute a cable
modem side letter; and approval of a resolution resolving the franchise fee
audit process.
Setting the public
hearing for the next Council meeting is on the regular agenda tonight.
·
Miscellaneous Announcements or Status
Reports
o
Applications to Planning Commission and
Historic Commission to date (PC: None
to date) and (HC: Potentially Mark
Miller and Holly Johnson but need others)
o
Joint Meeting with Planning Commission
(January 10: Kick-off of SL Master
Plan process and Zoning Code Re-Write are two possible agenda items)
o
Harbor Steel Redevelopment Streetscape
Process
o
Closing with Oosting Construction (John)
o
Bell Ringing at Orchard Market
o
TIF District Status Report (Ryan and
Bob)
Upcoming Agenda Items (Tentative)
December 20
Audit Report
Acceptance of Audit
Village Hall Extra
Room Lease
Charter Cable
Franchise Public Hearing
Set a public hearing
for Downtown Ordinance Changes
January 3, 2005
Demolition Permit
Process Extension, or Sunset
Downtown Master Plan
Zoning Changes
Set a public hearing
on Downtown zoning changes
Charter Cable
Franchise Agreement
Planning Commission
and Historic Commission appointments
Senioritas Liquor
License
January 10, 2005
Joint Meeting with
Planning Commission
January 17, 2005
Public Dumpsters
Behind Village Hall serving the former Rich’s redevelopment and businesses on
Savidge (permission to use Village property and build them)
Public hearing on
Downtown Zoning changes
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