HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_04Sep08CITY OF FALCON HEIGHTS
MINUTES
September 8, 2004
Mayor Sue Gehrz called the regular Council meeting to order.
PRESENT: Mayor Sue Gehrz, Council members Laura Kuettel, Robert Lamb,
Peter Lindstrom and Richard Talbot
Also present: City Administrator Heather Worthington, Finance Director
Roland Olson and Deputy Clerk Mary Shea Kodluboy
COMMUNITY FORUM: There was no commentary from the audience.
PRESENTATIONS: None Scheduled.
APPROVAL OF MINUTES: The Council minutes dated August 25, 2004 were unanimously approved as submitted.
PUBLIC HEARINGS: None Scheduled
CONSENT AGENDA:
Kuettel moved approval of the Consent Agenda, as outlined below. The motion was unanimously approved.
General Disbursements through September 1, 2004: $ 198,319.31
Payroll (08/15/04-08/30/04): $ 14,059.53
POLICY AGENDA:
Variance request for 647 additional square feet of impervious lot coverage above the
amount allowed by code at 1885 Asbury Street
Administrator Worthington gave an oral review of the report prepared by Planning and Zoning Coordinator Deb Jones, staff liaison to the Planning Commission, and outlined below:
1885 Asbury is a single family residence located on the west side of Asbury, between Ruggles and Roselawn. Like all but two residential properties on the west side of Asbury and east
side of Snelling in Falcon Heights, it is characterized by being wider than it is deep. All of these properties, which were platted before the present code took effect, are constrained
by City setback ordinance that requires front and rear setbacks of 30 feet each. As the lots are approximately 78 feet deep, this leaves only 18 feet of buildable space, front to back.
Therefore, most of the houses are non-conforming with respect to setback. Additions have been allowed on several of these properties on the condition that they not encroach any further
into the setback than the existing structure. According to County records, this house is described as a one-story rambler.
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September 8, 2004
Variance request for 647 additional square feet of impervious lot coverage above the
amount allowed by code at 1885 Asbury Street (continued)
Administrator Worthington said that in this case the variance request is related to lot coverage, not setback. The area of the lot is 11,622 square feet, so it falls into the second
category of lot size (properties between 7370 and 15,800 square feet), for which the allowed lot coverage is 30% or 3320 square feet, whichever is greater. For this lot, 30% is 3487
square feet, so that is the allowed coverage under the Code.
The owners wish to build a bedroom addition on the north side of their home that will give their property a coverage of 4134 square feet, which is an excess of 647 square feet, or a
total coverage of 36%. In addition, the owners propose to remove a 90 square foot shed, 220 square feet of sidewalk (to be replaced by spaced stepping stones) and an 80 square foot
patio. They wish to keep an existing 690 square foot concrete patio at the rear of the house. The present coverage is 3900 square feet, an excess of 413 square feet. With the shed,
sidewalk and front patio removed, coverage would be 3510 square feet, which exceeds the allowed coverage by 23 square feet. Thus, the property without the proposed addition is already
non-conforming with respect to lot coverage, and became non-conforming with the passage of Ordinance 03-01.
Setbacks for the addition are as follows:
Rear (west) – 12.5 feet, within existing
Side (north) – 6 feet
Front (east) – not given on plan but within existing
A building permit is not sought at this time. The owners wish to obtain the zoning variance before they and the architect proceed with plans for the addition.
The Planning Commission, at its meeting on August 24, 2004, on a vote of 5-2,
recommended approval of the request from Steven Genz, 1885 Asbury Street, for a variance from Section 9-2.05, Subd.2d of the Falcon Heights Zoning Ordinance to allow 4,134 square feet
of impervious surface, and prepared a resolution and Findings of Fact and Recommendation
for Council consideration.
A brief discussion followed.
RESOLUTION 2004-15
Lindstrom moved adoption of Resolution 2004-15 approving the requested variance of 647 additional square feet of impervious lot coverage above the amount allowed by code for property
located at 1885 Asbury Street, and adoption of the resolution and Findings of Fact and Recommendation submitted by the Planning Commission. The motion was unanimously approved.
FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -3-
September 8, 2004
Information on Fiscal Disparities
Mayor Gehrz said that she asked staff to review the fiscal disparities calculation and estimates for 2006, based on the current year allocation, and the city’s tax rate. Staff prepared
a projection of future fiscal disparities allocations based on the formula used to calculate each city’s allocation, and the impact of the city’s tax rate on the allocation. Staff also
prepared information on how fiscal disparities are collected and allocated. She said it is important to discuss fiscal disparities and what the options are, and she gave a brief power
point presentation, outlined below, for the benefit of the City Council and the viewing audience.
The 2005 Budgeting Goals:
Maintain service levels
No City levy increase
Use reserves to plug the gap between revenue and expenditures
How are property taxes calculated?
Total Revenue: $1,545,346
Property Tax: $874,338
Ad Valorem (Taxes
on homes and
businesses): 716,611
Fiscal Disparities: 157,727
Other Sources: 671,008
Licenses, Fees, Grants,
Contracts, Assessments,
Reserves
Property Tax and Fiscal Disparities
Ad Valorem Tax Calculation
Tax rate = ad valorem (City levy) divided by the local tax capacity
Limited Market Value x City Tax Rate
Fiscal Disparities Calculation
City’s share of pool x City’s prior year tax rate = fiscal disparity amount
FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -4-
September 8, 2004
Information on Fiscal Disparities (continued)
Fiscal Disparities
7 County Metro approach to planning and funding infrastructure improvements
Improvements are paid for by all taxpayers
Specific communities would benefit from tax base enhancements provided by infrastructure improvements
Provides income equity in the distribution of additional Commercial/Industrial tax revenue
40% of that Commercial/Industrial (C/I) tax base enhancement is pooled in the 7 County Metro
Falcon Heights gains from the Fiscal Disparities program because of a relative lack of C/I property. In 2004, the City gained $167,057. In 2005, it is estimated that Falcon Heights
will receive $157,727
Each City has a portion of the pool, based on assessed valuations in January of the current year. Each City’s portion of the pool, multiplied by the City’s tax rate (prior year), equals
fiscal disparity dollars allocated to that City
So What?
The City experiences a loss of fiscal disparities resulting from not raising the levy each year, or because the local portion of the fiscal disparities pool decreases. This means that
the total amount of non-levy property tax revenue paid to the City decreases.
Options
Maintain 2003 tax levy, resulting in a $9,330 increase spread across all Falcon Heights property owners (incompatible with Goal 2)
Increase tax levy to prevent loss of fiscal disparities using the calculation formula (incompatible with Goal 2)
Reduce expenditures by $9,330 (incompatible with Goal 1)
Decrease levy by $9,330 and transfer $9,330 from reserves to make up for fiscal disparities loss
Mayor Gehrz said it is important for everyone to know that it isn’t easy to accomplish what we hope to accomplish. It isn’t easy to keep budget taxes level, because there are penalties
and the loss of fiscal disparities. She recommended that the Council have one or two workshops on this subject between January-June, 2005, and asked the Council if they had questions
or other options.
FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -5-
September 8, 2004
Information on Fiscal Disparities (continued)
A brief discussion followed.
In response to a comment, Finance Director Olson reminded everyone there was class rate compression last year. This year will present a very different picture. Fiscal disparities are
very complicated and he worked with the League’s finance staff for two days on this.
Mayor Gehrz said the problem now is a mathematical one. What levy do we set for 2005?
Council member Lamb said she is absolutely right and he would rank the options she offered in this order: Option 4-#1; Option 1-#2; Option 2-#3; Option 3-#4. The City Council spent
a lot
of time on this two years ago and again this year. The Council is gaining experience with this. The City did not come close to transferring the amount for 2005 had we strictly adhered
to our Reserve Policy. Tap into reserves to the extent it is necessary to keep the levy flat. The City has the money to do Option 4. There is a philosophical issue: If we raise local
property taxes in order to get more fiscal disparities money, we really are penalizing our residents in order to qualify for more benefit. There should be incentive and reward for keeping
taxes low. We need to make noise at our State Representative and State Senator to point out what this rule does to us.
Council member Kuettel said she would go with Option 4. She appreciates that there will be workshops about this.
Mayor Gehrz said the Council needs to have workshops before lobbying at all levels. We need to be sure who the decision makers are.
Council member Lindstrom said that every year the League asks cities what their legislative priorities are. He supports Option 4, mainly because he thinks it would be difficult to look
into the eyes of our citizens to say we support a tax increase because of the goofy governmental money shift.
Council member Talbot said that he supports Option 4. We need to identify who is in power with regard to fiscal disparities and tell them the City is being adversely affected.
Mayor Gehrz said that one thing that has been frustrating is that there is an attitude that because the City isn’t taxing its citizens at a higher rate, the City doesn’t have the right
to complain. We need to get the message out there that there are systemic problems here that are creating disincentives.
Council member Lindstrom said that higher levels of government have used the City as an example for doing the right things in terms of sharing services, etc. The City should be rewarded
for what it has been doing, not penalized.
FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -6-
September 8, 2004
Certification of the Preliminary Tax Levy for 2005
RESOLUTION 2004-16
Kuettel moved adoption of Resolution 2004-16 certifying the preliminary tax levy for 2005
in the amount of $865,008. The motion was unanimously approved.
Resolution 04-17 Authorizing the City to Eliminate the 2005 Debt Levy on General
Obligation Debt
Finance Director Olson said that each year, the City is required to pass a resolution stating its intention to either levy for the general obligation debt service, or eliminate its ability
to levy for the debt. Falcon Heights has never levied for the general obligation debt, and staff is once again recommending that the Council pass a resolution eliminating the 2005 debt
levy on general obligation debt.
RESOLUTION 2004-17
Lamb moved adoption of Resolution 2004-17 authorizing the City to eliminate the 2005 debt levy on general obligation debt in the amount of $126,572.00. The motion was unanimously approved.
Ramsey County All Hazards Mitigation Planning
Administrator Worthington said the Federal Emergency Management Agency is requiring all counties and cities to adopt an All Hazards Mitigation Plan by mid-October, and submit that plan
to the State of Minnesota by November 1. The Disaster Mitigation Act of 2000 (DMA) requires counties and communities to have a Mitigation Plan to receive disaster funds whether from
a tornado, flood or terrorist event. The Act “reinforces the importance of mitigation planning in both pre and post-disaster situations, and emphasizes planning for disasters before
they occur.”
The County, as required by the DMA, will be holding several public meetings in September, as outlined below:
Thursday, September 16: Shoreview City Council Chambers, 7:00-9:00 PM, 4600 Victoria Street North, Shoreview MN
Thursday, September 23: Falcon Heights City Council Chambers, 7:00-9:00 PM.
Monday, September 27:
Maplewood Fire Station #2, 7:00-9:00 PM, 1955 Clarence St., Maplewood, MN
FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -7-
September 8, 2004
Ramsey County All Hazards Mitigation Planning (continued)
Wednesday, September 29: Roseville Oval, 7:00-9:00 PM, 2661 Civic Center Drive, Roseville, MN
Thursday, September 30: White Bear Lake Police Department, 7:00-9:00 PM, 4701 Highway 61, White Bear Lake, MN
The public is invited to the public meetings to share their input and ideas about response to potential large scale hazards or natural disasters that may face Ramsey County and East
Metro communities. County officials will incorporate the public input into reports on disaster response and mitigation they are preparing. The County will present the plan to individual
city councils in October, and seek their approval for the plan at that time. Cities will then be able to adopt the plan, by reference, to satisfy their requirements under the DMA.
Information will be posted
on the City’s web site and on the bulletin board at City Hall.
Mayor Gehrz suggested that invitations be sent to the CERT graduates, Fire Department, neighborhood liaisons and all of the City’s commissioners about this.
2005 Budget Goals and Budget
Administrator Worthington said the City Council held budget workshops beginning in June. The first workshop dealt with the 2005 Goals. The second workshop covered the 5-Year CIP (Capital
Improvement Project) Budget, and the final workshop centered on the city’s General Fund, Enterprise Funds, Special Revenue, and Debt Service Budgets. Staff is presenting the 2005 Goals
and Budget in draft form tonight for Council information. The final budget is considered each year at the Truth in Taxation Hearing, which is scheduled for Monday, December 6, 2004
at 7:00 PM.
Council member Lamb said that many of the goals are the same as previous years. He mentioned several new goals that were incorporated this year:
Increased publicity regarding the Housing Resource Center. The City pays to participate in this program and we need to make sure that every resident who can take advantage of the program
does.
Annual food drive: To occur at the end of March, first part of April.
Rewriting and renovation of the Falcon Heights Booklet.
Develop e-mail capability to communicate with residents. Continue to solicit every resident’s e-mail address.
Electronic transactions. Make every transaction with the City electronically possible.
FALCON HEIGHTS CITY COUNCIL MINUTES -8
September 8, 2004
REPORTS FROM COUNCIL MEMBERS None:
INFORMATION AND ANNOUNCEMENTS:
Council member Kuettel reminded the viewing audience there are two City events coming up shortly: The City-wide garage sale will be on Saturday, September 18, and residents wishing
to have their garage sales publicized by the City can call City Hall at 651-644-5050 with their information, and the annual fall cleanup, which will be held on Saturday, October 9, at
the State Fairgrounds. Residents should be receiving a mailing about the cleanup shortly.
Mayor Gehrz said that earlier in the day she attended a farewell reception at the University of Minnesota for Sandra Gardebring, the Vice President for Institutional Relations. She
has accepted a position in California. On her first day at the University, she had to attend a meeting with Falcon Heights residents regarding the women’s soccer stadium. During her
tenure at the University she has worked well with everyone. The University will be replacing that position, which is an important one. She said the City has been working with the
community businesses, who took advantage of an opportunity to put together a packet of material welcoming the new people who will be moving into the senior building, multi-family and
the town homes. The new residents will be getting some free goodies. She said that tomorrow morning, 10:00 AM, at the Regions Hospital heli-pad, there will be a big press conference
to highlight September as Emergency Preparedness Month, and she will be one of the speakers. She will be bringing along several CERT volunteers. This coming Saturday morning there
will be an emergency preparedness tabletop exercise at City Hall. CERT graduates, fire and police will be working and talking through an exercise that is scheduled for October 2.
Administrator Worthington said that she talked with University of Minnesota staff about the “Tro”. The University does not have the financing necessary to building something this year.
The University will be meeting with the City and the community to discuss and plan.
The regular City Council meeting was adjourned at 8:05 PM.
Respectfully submitted,
Mary Shea Kodluboy
Deputy Clerk