Monona Budget Details

The council adopted the 2008 operating budget last night and the 2008-2009 capital budget early this morning (about 12:30 a.m.). We considered some 18 amendments to the operating budget and 43 amendments to the capital plan. Here are some prominent actions:

Operating Budget:

Increased overall levy by 5.82% or $87.32 on median ($277K) home
Small increases to the senior services and library budgets
Approved $15K for a study of 911 dispatch ($7500 operating and $7500 capital)
Rejected proposal to eliminate dispatch (I'll have more to say on these two items in separate posts)

2009 and 2009 Capital Improvement Budgets

Note: The city does two-year borrowings for capital projects so we approved both 2008 and 2009. We will be considering the other three years of the five year plan (2010-2012) early next year.

Some background. In 2007 the net debt paid from taxes is $1,555,317. That was projected to increase to $1,645,490 in 2008 and $1,795,857 in 2009. We are looking at ways to temper those increases. 2008 is pretty well set, but may be reduced by a refinancing staff is working on with our financial consultant. Also beginning in 2008-2009, the city is evaluating doing 15-year bonds for roads and utilities (currently 10-year notes). Anyway, there is a general concern about the debt service and a focus of last night's debate was looking for ways to reduce spending. And we did so, cutting capital spending by about $160,000 from the mayor's proposed budget.

That being said, the commitment to catch up on maintaining our city infrastructure, especially roads, water mains and sewer lines, is the biggest chunk of our capital spending. (Monona Drive road work is being funded by TIF, except for the water and sewer work).

Capital Amendment Highlights

(Amounts are total expenditures after amendment unless noted)

Cut $120K for a proposed Kiddie Splash Pool
Delayed $60K for skating rink at Winnequah Park
Cut $56K for utility truck

$30K to finish the skatepark in 2008
$30K for rubber mulch at three parks in 2008-2009
$25K for Schluter Beach bathroom refurbish in 2009
$50K for Fireman's Park bathroom replacement in 2009
$35K for playground equipment in 2008-2009

$31K for library collection expansion
$10K for library computers

Added $56K to Road Construction to do Winnequah Road section by Schluter Beach Park
$20K to extend South Towne bike path across the railroad tracks and connect with Cap City Trail

$25K for facilities study (City Hall, Library, Community Center).
$14K for kitchen updating at Comm. Center

The council also chose to leave in $97,000 for 911 replacement equipment, but move it from 2008 to 2009 pending study results. Turns out the city only receives about 3.5 emergency 911 calls per day. Obviously the 'dispatch' workers are doing a lot of other things, like non-emergency communications, and general support work. You can go here: http://mononapolice.com/Pages/Dispatch_Budget.htm to read a report by the Monona PD. The report has some good data, but also some very one-sided analysis. And to top it off the PD has put a handy link to email the council on the same page. The lobbying by staff is blatant, heavy-handed, and in my view, inappropriate. My initial take from the report is that we probably need most if not all of the dispatch positions that we currently have to do all the non-911 tasks, but I'm not sure we can justify the capital costs (like this $97,000) to handle such a small number of 911 calls. We need all the facts and even-handed analysis and we are obviously not going to get it from our PD staff.

City Budget Amendments

I am posting here the budget amendments proposed by Alder McKeever and also those proposed by me. I have only one operating budget amendment (to increase the levy to 3.86% and use the added revenue to reduce the amount of fund balance we are using), but several capital budget amendments. The big change is to drop the proposed Kiddie Splash Pool, which would be great, but we need to maintain what we have first.

Alder McKeever has again proposed eliminating Monona dispatch as he does every year. That amendment has no chance of going anywhere. However, he has also proposed $20,000 for a study of dispatch and that may pass. His amendment to add $56,000 for 'Winnequah Road' is to add the stretch of road in front of the Bait Shop since we are doing that end of Midmoor in 2008. The other end of Winnequah will have the dips fixed next spring at no cost to the city.


Alder Wood Capital Budget Amendments:

2008 Amount Net change from Mayor's Budget + / (-)
Parks
Skatepark $30,000 +30,000
Rubber chips $20,000 +10,000
Pagoda $-0- (-)10,000 5,000 GO Bonds & 5,000 other
Pool
Sand Replacement Filter $4,500 +4,500
Staff warm-up replacements $1,500 +1,500
Kiddie Splash Pool $-0- (-)120,000


Library
Collection expansion $10,000 +4,000
Lighting improvements $5,000 +5,000
Window covering $5,000 +5,000

2009
Parks
Schluter Beach bathroom remodel $25,000 +25,000
Playground equipment $20,000 +10,000
Rubber chips $20,000 +10,000
Community Center
Refrigerator replacement $1,500 +1,500
Replacement of seasonal flags $1,500 +1,500

Library
Replace server & LINK Terminals $10,000 +10,000


Alder McKeever Budget Amendments:

2008 Operating Budget
Senior Services Contracts: add $1704
Senior Transportation add $1200
Earmark $25,000 for a facility audit not sure which account this should be
This is not new money, but an earmark of money in the budget
Eliminate dispatch reduce TBD
Add dispatch study add $20,000
Childrens books, library add $897
Equipment maintenance for library add $500
Building maintenance for library add $500
Increase professional development for library add $1000
Increase professional development for law enforcement add $3000
Increase debt service payments in an amount equal to additional revenue produced at a levy of 3.86%.

Net Impact: To be determined pending saving realized with elimination of dispatch. Estimated to be a reduction of approximately $120,000.

Capital budget
2008

Remove two squad cars reduce $57,000
Remove (New) E-911 Equipment reduce $97,000
Add Winnequah Road reconstruction add $56,000
Add Bike trail extension, South Town Drive add $20,000
Remove utility truck reduce $45,000
Remove pick up truck reduce $26,000
Require Option 1 for cold storage shed
Increase library collection add $6000
Add senior center space study add $4000
Add community center signage add $2000
Add Schluter Beach and move Firemen’s Park bathroom improvements to the year 2009.

Net impact for 2008: Reduce capital budget $137,000

2009
Increase library collection add $10,000

Monona Parks Five-Year Capital Plan

Parks 5 Year Capital Draft Plan after the June 12, 2007 Parks Board Meeting

The Parks Board passed its recommended 5-year capital plan for the parks (the Board also passed plans for the Community Center and Outdoor Pool). The emphasis is on refurbish and rehab with an occasional significant new item.


2008
Playground equipment - Oneida $20,000
Wood/rubber chips $20,000
Wood/rubber chips $10,000 dedicated to Dream Park
Picnic tables & Benches
& trash/recycling cans $5,000
Parking lots $15,000
Skatepark $30,000
Pagoda $5,000
Lagoon snow-blower $2,000
Refurbish Youth baseball diamonds $10,000
Woodland Park restoration $5,000
Total $117,000

2009
Playground equipment - Arrowhead $20,000
Wood/rubber chips $20,000
Picnic tables & Benches
& trash/recycling cans $5,000
Parking lots $15,000
Schluter Beach Bathroom Remodel $25,000
Woodland Park restoration $5,000
Ice skating rink $60,000
Total $150,000


2010
Playground equipment – Blue/Kiddie Park $20,000
Wood/rubber chips $10,000
Picnic tables & Benches
& trash/recycling cans $5,000
Parking lots $15,000
Shelter #1 Replace Restroom $50,000
Woodland Park restoration $5,000
Winnequah Park Trail $40,000
Total $145,000


2011
Playground equipment $20,000
Wood/rubber chips $10,000
Picnic tables & Benches
& trash/recycling cans $5,000
Parking lots $15,000
Maywood Park Trail $20,000
Woodland Park restoration $5,000
Total $75,000


2012
Playground equipment $20,000
Wood/rubber chips $10,000
Picnic tables & Benches
& trash/recycling cans $5,000
Parking lots $15,000
Total $60,000

Council Report - Out With the Old

The 'old' council met for the final time last night and took action on numerous items. The council approved installing kayak/canoe racks with a total of 16 'slips' at 3 parks - Frost Woods Beach (4), Schluter Beach (6), and Lottes Park (6). Frost Woods Beach will only be open to Monona residents and Monona residents will get a 30-day head start at the other two parks.

Leasing will be on a first-come, first-serve basis (subject to a potential lottery if there is a lot of interest). The cost is $60 for residents and $150 for non-residents. We hope to get the racks installed by early summer.

The council also approved the purchase of the half-pipe for the skatepark We will continue to raise money and plan to add smaller pieces over the next year or two, but this acquisition is a big step forward. We hope to have the piece installed by early June. The kids are putting on another skate jam at the Community Center this weekend.

We awarded the street bid for this summer's street program (Arrowhead from Vogts to Tonyawatha, Healy Lane, Schluter Road from Winnequah to Nichols, Sioux Trail, and Navajo Trail). The road work won't start until after the 4th of July.

The stop sign at Winnequah/Monona drive was left as is. Public Safety had proposed to change it to a yield sign. Chad Speight made an appearance and made some interesting points about the need for more pedestrian-friendly roads and traffic calming measures to help attract families.

We also reviewed the Woodland Park Management Plan prepared by Taylor Conservation. The plan is really well-done. We need to get it up on the city web site and make it available at the library.

We delayed acting on Alder Wiswell's proposal that we seek issue an RFP to do a study of the fire department management structure. I was torn, but ended up voting to not take it up for a vote on the first reading because the Public Safety Committee had tabled it and I'd like to see what they have to say first.

Many sincere words of gratitude were expressed toward Alder Wiswell for his service to the city over the last 4 years.

Skatepark Update

Monona Skatepark

A Progress Report and an Invitation

As you probably have noticed, the concrete pad for the skatepark has been poured (next to the Winnequah Park tennis courts) & new lighting has been installed. It looks tremendous with its amazingly smooth finish and sized for two parallel runs – perfect for skateboarding if only we had the skating features…

And we are so close.

The first major feature planned for the park – called a half pipe – costs $44,000. We have paid for the concrete pad and new lighting, but we still need another $13,000 to purchase the half pipe. This piece could be ordered and installed for use this summer – if we raise the money. We will add smaller features as time goes on, but the half pipe will give the ‘boarders’ an excellent recreational experience.

Meet the Challenge

The community-spirited folks at the Monona Festival Committee recently awarded the city a $5,000 challenge grant. If we can raise $5,000 privately, they will match it.

Some Questions We Hear

Is the concrete pad large enough? Yes, while skateparks come in various sizes, the pad will allow for multiple skateboarders to make simultaneous parallel runs.

Isn’t this project taking a long time? Not really. Even with some city funding, it is not at all unusual for skatepark projects to take 5 years or more. We are in our third year.

Are the kids doing anything to help the project? Yes! The young skateboarders have been an integral part of the design process and fundraising.

Let’s Finish The Job!

We Are So Close
Please Help Finish the Skatepark
And Let the Skating Begin!

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Please accept our donation of $25 $50 $100 $200 $500 Other $__________ toward the construction of the Monona Skatepark.

Your name: ______________________________________________________

Address: _________________________________________________________

City: __________________________________________________

State: ____________ Zip: _____________

Phone: _______________________ Fax: ___________________

Email: ______________________________________________

Please make checks payable to “City of Monona Skatepark”

Mail checks to: City of Monona
5211 Schluter Road
Monona, WI 53716

Credit Cards also accepted. Please call the City Recreation Department at 222-4167.
Donations to this city fund are typically tax deductible.

Questions? Please contact

City Recreation Director Heidi Kruger at 222-4167 or mrcdirector@ci.monona.wi.us,

Doug Wood at 222-8572 or dougwood57@charter.net, or

Kathy Carew at 222-2955 or Kathy_carew@mononagrove.org