Motion to approve CREP field plans: Licht/Boettcher.  Motion carried.

Item #2 - Overview of Year 2007 Work Plan.

D. Masterpole distributed a table titled: Draft Schedule of Activities to Implement Plan, (LCD 8/16/06).  The table contains a quarterly schedule of activities for the years 2007-2008, which are being systematically implemented to pursue program objectives as established in the Chippewa County Land and Water Resource Management Plan - 2004, (12/15/04).

The Committee reviewed the program focus and activity schedule, as proposed for 2007.

There was general discussion.

Item #3 - Review of 2007 Budget Guidance.

The Committee reviewed correspondence from the Finance, Budget, and Claims Committee to department heads and County Board Supervisors, (7/13/06), which sets guidelines for the 2007 budget process (mailed 8/11/06).

The guidance directs:

1.         Governing committees and departments to prepare the 2007 budgets within 2% of 2006 levy rates.

2.         That all fees and charges for services be examined and updated.

Item #4 - Review Proposed 2007 Recycling Program Budgets.      

R. Yohnk reported that the 2007 recycling program budgets have been prepared according to Finance Committee guidelines. 

The Committee reviewed the following budget material (mailed 8/11/06):

1.         Summary table titled:  Chippewa County Land Conservation Department, Recycling Program - 2007 Budget Summaries, (8/17/06).  The table is a spreadsheet which shows line item expenses and revenues for the following proposed budgets:

                        #100-17-54810 - Solid Waste

                        #100-17-54815 - Tire Facility

                        #100-17-54822 - Household Clean Sweep Program

                        #100-17-54825 - Recycling

2.         Analysis titled: 2007 Land Conservation Department, Recycling Program Budget Analysis, (8/17/06).  The analysis explains how the recycling budgets were developed within the prescribed budget guidelines. 

            Revenue:

•           As responsible unit (RU), the County maintained its historic portion of 2007 recycling grant (20% of allocation).  The remainder will be distributed to municipalities using the current distribution formula.

            •           Applied for and hope to receive a special Recycling Efficiency Grant.  If successful, the grant award will be applied to temporarily offset the County tax levy. 

 

Note: With regard to application of $39,074 in revenue anticipated from Recycling Efficiency Incentive (REI) Grants, followed the LCC directive established through motion (3/16/06) to “Apply the 2007 grant revenue (if received) to temporarily offset the 2007 County tax levy, with the understanding that if this grant is not received in 2007, that the tax levy will be returned to the historic levy allocation used to fund the recycling program before it was first deferred using REI grants in 2003.”

•           Will negotiate with the City of Chippewa Falls to renew the City of Chippewa Falls municipal service contract through December, 2008.  A 3% annual rate increase is proposed.

           Expenses

•           Froze Operational Budget at 2006 level.

            •           Applied the 2% authorized levy increase to partially offset the negotiated salary/fringe benefit increases for Recycling Coordinator.

            •           Terminated an existing service contract with an outside agency (Midwest Recycling Association).  Will seek requests for proposals (RFP’s) and renegotiate a contract to reduce costs by 25% ($6,057 savings).

There was general discussion.

Item #5 - Review Proposed 2007 Land Conservation Program Budgets.

J.T. Jensen reported that the 2007 Land Conservation Department budgets have been prepared according to Finance Committee guidelines. 

The Committee reviewed the following material (mailed 8/11/06):

1.         Summary table titled: Draft 2007 Budget Summaries, Chippewa County Land Conservation Department (8/9/06).  The table is a spreadsheet which shows line item expenses and revenues for the following proposed LCD budgets:

                        #100-52-57410  Land Conservation Department

#100-52-57411 Groundwater Inventory

                        #100-52-57420  Targeted Runoff Management (TRM) Grants

                        #100-52-57417  SWRM

                        #100-52-57423  Gravel Pits

                        #100-52-57424  Farmer’s Fund

                        #100-52-57425  CREP Fund

                        #100-52-57414  Plan/Zone Project

#100-52-57422 Urban Stormwater

 2.         Analysis titled:  2007 Land Conservation Department, Conservation Program Budget Analysis, (LCC 8/10/06).  The analysis explains how the Land Conservation Department budgets were developed within the prescribed budget guidelines.

            •#100-52-57410 - Land Conservation Department.

                        Revenues

                        •Applied minor state staffing grant revenue increases to partially offset the negotiated

            increases in salary and fringe benefits (+$5,565).

            •Increased existing service fee 5% across the board to account for inflation.

            -Animal Waste Ordinance fees (+$105).

            -Conservation Reserve Enhancement Program (CREP) fees (+$110).

            -Gravel Pit Reclamation Ordinance fees (+$1,885).

            •Established new service fees to cover personnel and program costs incurred by providing new or expanded services.

            -Subdivision stormwater plan review (towns in CF urban area)(+$6,000).

            -Wetland delineation service fees (Highway Department)(+$3,750).

            -Farmland Preservation Agreement application fees (+$600).

            •Increased engineering design service rates from 70% to 100% of federal Technical Service Provider (TSP) rates. (+$3,000)

            •Maintained existing level of state reimbursed engineering design support to Forest & Parks Department ($10,000).

                        Expenses

                        •Froze operation expenses at 2006 rates; made minor line item adjustments.

            •Applied 2% levy increase to offset the negotiated increases in salary and fringe benefits not covered by other increases.

            •Cut .1 FTE from salary and fringe benefit line.

            •Deferred all capital improvement requests.

            •Non Tax Levy Accounts (#100-52-57425 - CREP, #100-52-57420 - TRM Grants,

            #100-52-57424 - Farmer’s Fund, #100-52-57422 - Stormwater, #100-52-57414 - Lakes

            Planning, #100-52-57423 - Gravel Pits, #100-52-57411 - Groundwater Inventory).  

            No tax levy is allocated to these accounts.  Expenditures equal revenues.

There was general discussion.  Discussion focused on the management approach used in preparing

the budgets, and on the specific line item expenses and revenues as proposed. 

Additional discussion focused on the assumptions used in preparing the following non tax levy accounts:

            Urban Stormwater Planning Budget

            •County is obligated to develop a stormwater management plan. Plan being funded through state grant.  Anticipate plan completed in 2006, with program implementation in 2007.

            •Stormwater program will be 100% fee funded.

            Lakes Planning Budget

            •Will apply nonlapsing funds ($25,000) to pursue Lakes Protection grant for Wild Lakes Initiative (property or easement acquisition).

            Groundwater Inventory Budget

            •Includes $15,000 of carryover from 2005 and a proposal to carry over $5,000 from 2006, to implement a groundwater inventory in 2007.

Motion to adopt the Recycling and Land Conservation Department budgets at 2% and to forward these

budgets to the Finance Committee: Marquardt/Boettcher.  Motion carried.

Item #6 - Consider 2007 Appropriation to Chippewa County Stewardship Fund.

D. Masterpole distributed and the Committee reviewed a draft resolution, (LCD 8/17/06). 

The resolution augments Resolution #43-05, adopted as part of the 2006 budget process (11/01/05), to

resume a planned funding allocation to maintain the Chippewa County Stewardship Fund.

The draft resolution proposes that:

1.         A $50,000 allocation of sales tax funds be provided to replenish the Chippewa County Stewardship Fund in 2007, and

2.         The allocation shall be used exclusively to gain access to grant sources offered by corporate interests, public agencies, and nationally based non-profit organizations and endowments, and

3.         All funds received shall be administered following the policies and procedures for administration

            of the Chippewa County Stewardship Fund, as previously adopted by the County Board through

            Resolution #89-99, and shall be targeted toward high priority areas of the County to achieve land

            use and resource management objectives, as defined in the Chippewa County Land and Water

            Resource Management Plan and the Chippewa County Forest and Parks 10 Year Plan, and

4.         In the event that outside matching grants are not gained, the sales tax allocation will not be appropriated.

            Note: Year 2007 and 2008 funding requests are contingent upon receipt of outside matching

            grants,             and upon subsequent approval by the County Board through separate resolutions, as part

            of the Year 2007 and 2008 budget process.

            If possible, the sales tax allocation and outside grants will be reallocated as local incentive match

            grants which provides the potential to achieve a 4:1 return on the local sales tax allocation.           

There was general discussion.

Motion to approve the resolution to allocate $50,000 of sales tax funds to replenish the Chippewa County

Stewardship Fund, and to forward the resolution to the Finance Committee for consideration as part of the

budget process:  Holte/Dahl.  Motion carried.

Item #7 - Consider Terms of Service Agreement to Conduct Wetland Delineations.

D. Masterpole distributed and the Committee reviewed a handout titled:  Consideration of Terms of an

Interdepartmental Wetland Delineation Working Agreement Between the Chippewa County Land

Conservation and Highway Department, (LCD 8/17/06).  The handout outlines the purpose and terms of an

agreement between the LCD and the Highway Department as follows:

Facts

1.         Highway Department projects require wetland delineations as part of the State and Federal

            permitting process.  To date, they have relied on private consultants to conduct delineations.

2.         LCD staff has the education, training, and work experience required for State and Federal acceptance of wetland delineations and routinely performs wetland delineations.

3.         LCD and Highway Department propose this agreement to achieve the following:

            •Cost savings to the County.

            •Greater efficiency of design and permitting projects.

            •Consistent wetland delineations and natural resource protection.

            •Improved interdepartmental coordination.

Proposed Terms of Agreement

1.         Highway Department provides LCD with a written request for wetland delineation services no later than August 1 of the year prior to project implementation.

2.         LCD performs wetland delineation services per 1987 US Army Corps of Engineers Wetland Delineation manual protocol. 

Payment for Wetland Delineation Services

1.         LCD will bill Highway Department at a rate of $40-$50 per hour for time and material required to deliver the product deliverables.

There was general discussion.

Motion to authorize development and execution of an Interdepartmental Wetland Delineation Working

Agreement between the Chippewa County Land Conservation Department and Highway Department, as

proposed:  Willkom/Holte.  Motion carried.

Item #8 - Adjourn.

The next LCC meeting was confirmed as scheduled for 9/21/06 at 3:30 p.m.

Motion to adjourn: Willkom/Boettcher.

The meeting was adjourned at approximately 5:05 p.m.