Excelsior Examines Staff Revamp to Cut Costs

'Doing Things Differently'

Excelsior City Manager Kristi Luger gave a presentation last week about possible changes coming to city hall. Luger studied how to restructure city staff positions to save the city money.

The city, Mayor Ruehl said, is “doing things differently partly to keep from increasing the tax rate.”

To obtain a 0 percent levy increase for 2012, the city needed to make up a budget difference of over $13,000. Luger proposed changing the finance director position, which remains unfilled, to finance officer. She said that due to Excelsior’s small size, the city has been unable to attract qualified candidates for the director position. Some financial tasks would need to be contracted out.

Luger also recommended eliminating the accounting clerk/receptionist position. has offered a proposal for completing payroll, utility billing and accounts payable. She admitted that while contracting utility billing to Shorewood has some inconveniences, eventually residents will have the opportunity to pay bills online.

Under Luger’s proposal, the city planner will take over the receptionist position. The city planner already answers many of the questions residents ask, she said.

When Cheri Johnson, the current city clerk, retires in one to two years, Luger recommended creating an assistant to city manager position that would also fill the role of city clerk. She believed that such a position would prove attractive to job seekers who might otherwise pass over Excelsior.

Council members highlighted the difficulty of making the changes, but called them necessary to avert crisis. The council passed most of Luger’s recommendations, leaving for future discussion a potential four-day work week for many city staff.

City Council Notes:

Waste Disposal: The council extended to December of 2016 the refuse services contract with Allied Waste Services. The cost of resident waste disposal will remain the same for two years. At three years into the contract, the cost of commercial services will increase 3 percent. Mayor Ruehl said the rates "remained competative."

Liquor: After  received permission for a temporary liquor license with a $200 fee, the council discussed establishing a set fee for temporary liquor licenses on public property. Staff provided recommendations, which easily passed.

Parking Update: South Lake Minnetonka police informed the city that they cannot track parking tickets. The police would rather issue warnings to those in violation of the winter parking ordinance during the first two weeks of November. The council agreed and renewed efforts to look into the .