HomeMy WebLinkAboutCCMin_07Sep12Regular Meeting of the Falcon Heights City Council
September 12, 2007
Members present: Mayor Gehrz, Council members Lindstrom, Kuettel, Harris, and Talbot, Administrator Miller, and Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser.
Mayor Gehrz called the meeting to order at 7:00 p.m.
Public Hearing:
Administrator Miller began the item by explaining cities have the authority to issue bonds up to $10m each year. Kaleidoscope Charter School (KCS) approached the city to provide this
service, and they had agreed to a fee of .5% of the total issue of $9,000,000. He said there is no financial risk to the city, no risk to the City’s bond rating. He added that since
the legal notice was published, KCS came back to the city and asked for additional bonding, pushing back the pubic hearing date to 9-26-07.
Mayor Gehrz opened the public hearing.
Council member Talbot asked how KCS found Falcon Heights. Miller replied that a bonding agent contacted him.
Council member Harris asked how much the city can issue in bonds. Miller answered it was a lot, $10m in bank-qualified.
Council member Talbot moved to continue the public hearing until the September 26 regular meeting. The motion passed unanimously.
Consent Agenda:
1. General Disbursements through 9/6/07: $133,099.57
Payroll through 8/31/07: $16,990.17
2. 2007 Licenses
3. Establish Community Garden Special Revenue Fund # 203
4. Resolution 2007-11 authorizing the City to eliminate the 2008 debt levy on general obligation debt
Resolution 2007-12 denying variance request for 1423 California Avenue West
Council member Kuettel asked consent item 3 become policy item 3. Establishment of Community Garden Special Revenue Fund # 203 became policy item G3.
Mayor Gehrz pointed out to Sandy Roth, 1423 California Avenue, that a motion to pass the consent agenda meant a unanimous decision to deny her variance request. Council member Harris
asked if Roth should address the council.
Roth stated she had seen the letters written by her neighbors, and they were full of lies and innuendos. She added that she did not know there was a problem until it was brought to
her attention and she was not told to stop. She stated her intent was to beautify her yard and neighborhood, not to cause trouble. Roth wanted the council to respond on if she took
down the fence, could she plant a hedge or build a stone wall up to her property line, as that was how she read the code. She also noted there was a gated fence on another alley that
was even closer to the right-of-way then her fence.
Mayor Gehrz responded by stating she watched the Planning Commission meeting and was confident they did their job. The rest of the council agreed.
Roth asked again regarding the stone wall or hedge. Mayor Gehrz responded that Roth would have to work with staff. Roth began telling the council the matter of inches her fence infringed
on the right of way was minimal before Mayor Gehrz interrupted her by reminding Roth had an opportunity to address the Planning Commission, and there was no need to debate or discuss
the matter any further. Mayor Gehrz stated the council takes the work of the Planning Commission very seriously, and they did not see any reason to overrule.
Mayor Gehrz asked for approval of the consent agenda. Her motion passed unanimously.
Sandy Roth continued by asking whom to contact regarding why the other fence had been allowed. Administrator Miller replied she should call him.
Policy Agenda:
1. 2008 Preliminary Tax Levy and Setting Dates of Truth-in-Taxation Hearings
Administrator Miller began the item by giving an overview to the council, stating the preliminary levy is set so the County can prepare the TNT notices to send out to homeowners. He
explained the levy set by the council is a $57,876 increase over last year, which equals 6.46%. The amount property owners will see on their tax statements, after fiscal disparities,
is 3.84%. The reasons for the increase are due to health insurance expenditures, increases in the police contract expenditures, and a reduction in the capital fund transfer combined
with an elimination of budgeting for conduit bonding revenue.
Council member Kuettel stated there have been many workshops and lots of staff time put into refining the numbers in the budget, and even with the increase, it is probably one of the
lowest levies in the metro.
Council member Lindstrom added that the increases seen are duplicated each year – the trends in health insurance increases and the police contract make up a good chunk of the levy increase.
Mayor Gehrz thanked staff for implementing the changes of the council and lowering the levy amount.
Council member Talbot stated he was proud to have been on the hard-working, cooperative team, responsible for bringing a good budget forth.
Council member Lindstrom moved to approve the 2008 preliminary tax levy and setting the dates of truth-in-taxation hearings. The motion passed unanimously.
2. Preliminary resolution for conduit bonding authority for Coventry Apartments project
Administrator Miller began by stating there was an additional project looking for conduit bonds. These bonds are not bank-qualified, and there is a rush because the grant money the
project manager is to access expires next week. He said the developer must have a preliminary resolution for the bond in order to the federal money. Miller said the resolution is a
non-binding commitment, but if the resolution is not passed it cannot be done later. He added the City could pull out at any time, and there is no risk to the City or taxpayers.
Council member Lindstrom and Mayor Gehrz both agreed staff would look closer at the arrangement in the coming weeks.
Miller stated there is a big market for bonding, and Falcon Heights fee of .5% is lower than some other cities.
Council member Talbot asked Miller to explain bonding. Miller replied the first $10m in bank-qualified bonds would give developers lower interest rates from banks on the bond. After
the $10m point, the bond earns a higher rate and is not bank-qualified.
Council member Talbot asked why Roseville did not issue the bonds. Miller replied the developer needed the resolution quickly, and Roseville did not have a meeting coming up in enough
time. Miller added there would be some additional audit cost and staff time for the bond, but the fees ($70,000) would more than make up for it.
Mayor Gehrz said the fees from the two bonds would be a good start to the new fire truck in the public safety fund. She added she looked at the passing of the resolution as a step for
the staff to do more research.
Council member Kuettel moved to approve the preliminary resolution for conduit bonding authority for Coventry Apartments project. The motion passed unanimously.
3. Establish Community Garden Special Revenue Fund # 203
Administrator Miller stated the community garden fund began with $5,000 but with the access to free resources: free dirt, compost, and labor from the gardeners, there is a healthy balance.
The expenses for 2008 include a water line to the garden, along with installation of a water meter to determine usage for the garden. That would be charged to the community garden
special revenue fund.
Council member Kuettel asked if 5,000 was the right amount to have in the account. Miller replied the water line should be in the area of $2,000. He added there is an existing faucet
outside of the park shelter but it is broken. Kuettel said the repair of that line should come out of the parks budget, and not the community garden fund.
Mayor Gehrz proposed allotting $3,000 for the community garden special revenue fund. Council member Lindstrom moved, the motion passed unanimously.
Information/Announcements:
Council member Harris said the Human Rights Commission met and worked on the agenda for 2008. They are considering a poster/essay contest for next year and working with the Neighborhood
Commission on that.
Council member Lindstrom thanked the election judges for working the primary. The Environment Commission is looking for ways to increase recycling and the possibility of moving to a
single-sort recycling program. A recommendation will go to council in coming months.
Council member Kuettel said the proposals for snowplow decorating from FH Elementary would be coming in soon.
Council member Talbot thanked Kreuser for her work on the primary election. He urged residents to continue the community-oriented policing, and to call 911 for help.
Mayor Gehrz announced the Citizen Corp Conference at the U of M Sept 14-15. She thanked Kris Grangaard for her hard work on organizing the conference.
Administrator Miller announced Central Pediatrics would open on September 17 in the SE Corner building.
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk Kreuser thanked her election judges, and said the citywide garage sale would be held September 15. Maps available at city hall and on the website.
The meeting was adjourned by Mayor Gehrz at 8:00 p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Stacey Kreuser
Assistant City Administrator/Deputy Clerk