2.0. SR 09-04-2001 - Laserfiche WebLink

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GIX Director of Planning Michele McPherson and City Engineer Terry Maurer are scheduled to present information to the City Council on the city's Geographic Information System (GIS) needs, the current status of our system, and how the system would be used by various departments. Michele and Terry will need about 20- 30 minutes to explain and discuss the GIS situation. Staff is still of the opinion that we should spend some funds to complete our system. We are concerned about being dependent on county staffing and priorities in order to have the GIS map completed and kept up to date. We are also concerned that the map may not be completed by the end of 2002 and even if it is, this is too late for our finance department to use for compliance with GASB 34. In the not too distant future it is anticipated that we will be establishing a city engineering department and it is logical to have a GIS staff person in this department to keep our mapping system updated. Funds for this approximately $60,000 expenditure would come from the year-end budget fund balance (due to growth revenues exceeding the budget projection). Attached are two letters regarding this issue. I,i/iatipe Foundation At the August 13, 2001, EDA meeting, the request of the Initiative Foundation for a contribution was denied. At that meeting it was suggested that the request for funds be presented to the City Council for consideration. Attached is some material regarding the Initiative Foundation contribution request. City Forester Position I understand that Councilmember Kuester would like to discuss this position with the City Council. The tree preservation task force has not made a recommendation but it is anticipated that the recommendation will include a request for a new city forester position. Until I know more about the task force recommendation, I'm not qualified to comment too much but I will say that funds are very fight. At this point I'm not sure if the task force is going to be emphasizing tree preservation, tree replacement or both. Mosquito Control On July 23, 2001, the City council held an informational meeting on mosquito control in Elk River. At that meeting the Council decided to further discuss the issue at the budget worksession. Attached for your information are the minutes from that meeting along with a newspaper article on this issue. City Recrealion Budget Staff has estimates which show that both revenues and expenditures will be increasing when the conversion of community recreation to city recreation is completed. The net change to the city will be about an $18,600 increase in our budget shortfall. This is due mainly to establishing our own city recreation brochure. Three other departments (seniors, ice arena, and library) may eventually have some expenses added to their budgets for participation in the new city recreation brochure. These additional expenses amount to about $8,500. For 2002, I suggest that these