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MINUTES <br />CITY COUNCIL <br />OCTOBER 11, 1995 <br />Buss replied that to date grant requests have not <br />included administrative funds. This is something which <br />could be considered in the future. <br />Pedersen pointed out that in budget discussions the <br />Council is arguing about $200 or $500 items. Now the <br />City is being requested to provide $4,000 in funding <br />for the Natural Resources Board in 1996 and $5,000 in <br />1997. Pedersen stated that when he was part of the <br />Phalen Project, he had no idea it would become an <br />institution. Pedersen felt that the City had to see <br />some real benefit to provide the funding being <br />requested. <br />Aichinger pointed out that based on a$75,000 budget, <br />the Phalen Project has leveraged over $500,000 in <br />project dollars. The Project will provide some long- <br />term benefits for the health of the Watershed in <br />educating property owners and changing habits. There <br />is no one else working on education issues. The DNR <br />has shoreline regulations which provide management <br />within 1,000 feet of lakes. Those regulations protect <br />the shoreline, but not the lake. Aichinger felt there <br />was a need to get more focused on total watershed <br />influences. Wetland, wildlife, and recreational <br />resources need to be addressed. <br />It was noted that the Natural Resources Board would <br />work within the boundaries of the Watershed. However, <br />Buss noted that if the Board provides assistance to the <br />City of Vadnais Heights on an ordinance, for example. <br />The city would then apply that ordinance across the <br />entire city, even though a good portion is outside the <br />Ramsey/Washington Watershed. Ground projects would be <br />limited to within Watershed boundaries. <br />Scalze stated that she had some questions on how the <br />funding breakdown was arrived at. Scalze noted that <br />taxes paid for the Watershed are based on valuation <br />rather than square footage. Scalze pointed out that <br />there was a great deal of non-taxable land within <br />Little Canada. Therefore, basing the City's cost share <br />on square footage did not seem reasonable. <br />Aichinger replied that he looked at both tax capacity <br />as well as square footage, and the percentages were <br />fairly close. <br />Scalze noted that the City is cutting its 1996 Budget <br />because taxes are high. It is difficult to now <br />commitment to $8,000 in funding for 1997. <br />6 <br />