Village Council Work Session
04/20/09
Barber School
START at VILLAGE HALL at 5:00 PM
102 West Savidge Street
START AT VILLAGE HALL at 5:00 PM. Light Dinner.
www.springlakevillage.org
Happy Birthday to Scott Van Strate today, April 20th!
1) Special Budget Work Session for FY 10 at Village Hall
This is the time each year when the Village Council reviews the budget highlights and the supporting detail.
The Budget Team reports that the fiscal financial model is stressed by the smaller than customary (1.9%) taxable value increase but remains sound nevertheless. A total of $61,600 in specific cost cuts were necessary this year. These cuts involve personnel, health benefit cost sharing, health insurance self-funding and supply and operational efficiencies. More staff will be doing multiple jobs so as to maintain core services.
Maribeth Lawrence, Chief DeYoung, Kathy Staton and Doug Whitley and I make up the Budget Team. All services are maintained; all Council goals are included. The tax rate will decrease by 0.2 mills.
The General Fund will end the year with a planned $22, 726 decrease in fund balance. This is primarily due to the purchase of the Emerson Property as an extension of Mill Point Park and was planned as such when the purchase was approved in November, 2008 ($18,968 in principal and interest). Further, a potential loan is needed to the Building Department Fund again this year due to the downturn in the economy. The total amount loaned in the past two years to keep the Building Fund solvent has been $40,344. This amount comes out of the General Fund cash balance. The expected General fund cash balance at year end will therefore be $202,507. This is $18,165 below the 15% guidelines—the reasons being the Mill Point Park expansion purchase and the Building Fund loans ($58,509 all told).
All other funds will meet or exceed the minimum reserves, except for the Sewer Fund. The Sewer fund will take several years to recover from the unexpected costs for the Meridian Street sewer replacement this fiscal year.
No water or sewer fee increases are necessary.
See the overall budget message and supporting documents attached for more information.
• Review of the Draft Five Year Local Streets Plan.
The Five Year Plan is established this year. Elimination of the North Buchanan “hump” north of Mason Street and rehabilitation of North Division from Liberty to Barber is recommended for FY 10.
• Review of the Draft Public Improvement Plan and Six Year Capital Plan for Referral to the Planning Commission.
Attached is the Draft Public Improvement Plan and Six Year Capital Plan. This needs your initial review and amendment followed by referral to the Planning Commission for their annual review. It includes the priorities discussed above and in former meetings. See especially the Whistle Stop Playground replacement ($25,000); the Post Office lot reconstruction ($20,000); completion of the River Street sidewalk, west of Lake Avenue ($14,610) and the funding for Lakeside Trail reforestation next fiscal year ($8,000). See also the Grand River Greenway grant matches in subsequent years ($115,000 over FY 11, FY12 and FY-13) and the requested Safe Routes to School program ($341,850).
See Columns F, G, and H for Fiscal Years 2010, 2011, and 2012 respectively of the attached Public Improvement Fund Plan to find the most pressing capital projects and to see how they relate in timing and priority.
• Review of the Draft Water Capital Improvement Plan.
This was addressed in the earlier description and is attached for your detailed review.
• Review of the Five Year Capital Equipment Plan
The replacement equipment list is shorter this year given the major expenditure of the leaf vacuum truck in FY 09.
• Review of the Annual Fee Inventory.
Many of the fees listed on the attached inventory have already been addressed by Council: seasonal fees for Tanglefoot Park and Mill Point Park, etc. The only change in fees for FY 10 pertains to peddler permits and the larger building permits. New fees pertaining to water and sewer increases and the Building Permit fees. See the highlighted numbers on the attachment. See the highlighted numbers. A public hearing on any fee changes is typically held on May 4th.
Move to Barber School and Continue the Regular Work Session at 7 PM…
1. Additional Agenda Items or Changes to the Regular Agenda to follow. (If there are changes to the Consent Agenda to follow, they can be discussed now.)
2. Review of the Plans for Jackson and Exchange Street.
These plans include resurfacing of one block of both streets. The plans also include bump outs at the intersection with Exchange Street, short-term parking on Exchange and a relocated entrance to the Post Office lot. Brick-like crosswalks did not fit into the project budget unless Village Council would like to increase the Village's share. Such crosswalks were part of the original plan going back to 2004. The engineers will be asked to price this option out prior to the meeting. There is a net gain of eight (8) parking spaces.
This project is mostly funded by a $200,000 federal stimulus grant. This project is in keeping with the 2004 Downtown Master Plan, the Safe Routes to School Plan and with more standardized traffic safety planning. Moore and Bruggink provided the attached plans and will present additional details tonight.
Village Council review and discussion of the design is requested. If approved to proceed, it is suggested that they be formally approved at a regular Council meeting and the public invited to review in advance since these changes may involve some public adjustment.
3. Review of Potential Consumer’s Power Cost Increase.
Information on a second increase before the last one even went into effect is attached. The Village is being asked if you want to participate in a cost sharing arrangement to fight it. This request was just received in the mail. The deadline precluded getting all the facts prior to this agenda; more information will follow at the meeting. See attached.
Village Council review and discussion is requested.
4. Review of Alternatives to Serving Ice Cream at Family Fun Night.
The Council decided to return to Family Fun Night of Heritage Festival as the day for serving free food to residents. We contacted the Spring Lake Rotary Club and they respectfully had their hearts set on serving ice cream again this year. The Council may wish to consider other options like cotton candy, snow cones or an alternative summer product like popsicles. If you would like to proceed, this activity will be entitled “Treats for Tots” sponsored by the Spring Lake Village Council on the Heritage Festival line-up of events.
Village Council review and discussion is requested.
Miscellaneous Announcements or Status Reports
• Parks Board and the question of one or two ball fields at Central Park
• CBDDA Advertising
• CBDDA Mixer at Lake Pointe condominiums on May 5th
• CBDDA internship
• Earth Day/Arbor Day Tree Plantings and 4th Grade @Holmes School
Upcoming Agenda Items (Tentative)
May 4
Detailed discussion of Fees
Set Public Hearings on Budget and Capital Plan
Street Striping Bids
Ethics Ordinance
May 18
To Be Determined
June 1
Budget Hearings and Consideration
June 15
To Be Determined
July 6
To Be Determined
July 20
To Be Determined
August 3
To Be Determined
August 17
To Be Determined
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