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• FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES December 6, 2004 Truth in Taxation Hearin (continued) -8- Mr. Lageson asked about Tree Program Expenditures. There is a big increase in tree planning. Where are we going to plant these trees, in the City parks, Curtiss Field? Administrator Worthington said that last year the City was hit with Dutch elm disease pretty hard. The year before that the City was also hit. Last year, because the City was hit so hard, we weren't able to do any tree planting. The City will be doing two years' worth of tree planting. Boulevard trees that were lost to Dutch elm or other diseases will be replaced. The City tries to maintain its shade tree plan because trees make the City a much more pleasant place to live. People enjoy having trees. There is also an increase in tree removal costs because of Dutch elm disease. Mr. Lageson asked about Storm Damage. Administrator Worthington said that in years past, the City did not have a storm damage line item. Last year, the City spent $4,600 because there was a pretty bad wind storm at the beginning of May and two trees had to be removed because they were going to land on a house. Emergency tree removals are very expensive. This year, just to be prudent and more planful, the City has put a modest amount. of money in the budget to cover storm damage. • Mr. Lageson asked about the expenditure of $285,000 for a new fire truck. Is it in that bad of shape and costing us quite a bit? Administrator Worthington said the fire truck the City has right now is a 1978 LaFrance pumper with a 1,500 gallon tank body on it. The power train on the truck is failing. It has been rebuilt once. It is not worth putting.. more money into it. We are hoping a collector will take an interest in it and purchase it so the City can offset that $285,000 a little bit. The City purchased a new pumper two years ago and it cost $205,000. Council member Talbot said the City has been anticipating this for years and has been setting money aside in the Public Safety Capital Fund. Mr. Lageson encouraged the City Council to be careful. There is a 3% increase in spending. Once you spend that level up, it is difficult to get it down. He thinks the City is doing a pretty good job of keeping the value of the services being provided to the residents, but be careful about increasing spending too much. Mayor Gehrz kidded Mr. Lageson by asking him if he wasn't complaining that the City decreased the tax levy this year. Mr. Lageson said that people im Falcon Heights do value the services that the City provides, and as long as the city provides a good value to cost ratio, the people will support that. Overall, the City is doing a pretty good job. Mayor Gehrz thanked Mr. Lageson for taking the time to go through the budget and that is wonderful because it does take time away from other things. . There was no further commentary from the audience and the Truth in Taxation Hearing was closed. 8