The Austin City Council will vote during its next regular meeting on whether or not to approve a quote from CliftonLarsonAllen LLP to perform the city’s 2019 financial statement audit.

Under Minnesota law, cities with populations exceeding 2,500, according to the most recent census, must have an annual audit. CliftonLarsonAllen LLP has conducted the city audit for the past few years.

The total quote amount is $46,305 and represents a freeze in the audit fees for the year, according to Administrative Services Director Tom Dankert.

City Engineer Steven Lang will discuss the Downtown Christmas decorations during the council’s next work session. The discussion comes as a result of public comments related to the condition of the current Christmas decorations, which in some cases range from 10-20 years old.

City Attorney Craig Byram will discuss a proposed revision to the city ordinance concerning the appeals of “dangerous animal” and “potentially dangerous animal” designations by law enforcement during the work session.

In a memorandum, Byram said city ordinance allows for the city “to charge owners for boarding their animals while their animals are in the City pound.” He further stated, “Historically, we have not charged a fee for an appeal of this nature and have not attempted to collect impound fees from owners in Dangerous animal cases. This has been out of respect for the emotional toll a Dangerous animal designation has on an owner, but also in recognition that attempting to collect from owners after the fact would be inefficient and in many cases unsuccessful.”

Byram recommends an amendment that would require a non-refundable $75 appeal fee and require the advance deposit of anticipated boarding fees related to the appeal. Byram cited the Austin Code section dealing with administrative citation appeals, which requires a non-refundable $75 appeal fee that covers staff time to schedule and hold the appeal hearing, as an example.

The council’s next regular meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. on Monday, Feb. 3, in the City Council Chambers located in the basement of City Hall. The work session will be held in the conference room across the hall from the Council Chambers following the regular meeting.

For a complete agenda, visit www.ci.austin.mn.us/city-council.