08-27-2025 Workshop Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE WORKSHOP MEETING CITY COUNCIL LITTLE CANADA, MINNESOTA AUGUST 27, 2025 Pursuant to due call and notice thereof a Workshop meeting of the City Council of Little Canada, Minnesota was convened on the 27th day of August 2025 in the Conference Room in the City Center located at 515 Little Canada Road in said City. Mayor Tom Fischer called the meeting to order at 6:00 p.m. and the following members of the City Council were present at roll call: ROLL CALL: In attendance were Mayor Fischer and City Council Members Miller, Gutierrez and Kwapick. Absent: Malone. ALSO PRESENT: City Administrator Bryce Shearen, Assistant City Administrator Laura Linehan, Finance Director Sam Magureanu, Public Works Director Bill Dircks, Parks & Rec Director Steve Anderson and City Clerk/HR Manager Heidi Heller. 2026 BUDGET REVIEW The City Administrator explained that on August 20, 2025, city staff and City Council participated in a budget and levy workshop where an 11.38% levy increase was presented. The Finance Director stated that tonight staff will provide an update on the budget and levy changes since the last meeting. He noted that the goal is to adopt the preliminary levy at the September 10, 2025, City Council meeting. He reminded the Council that the levy can be lowered but not increased after the preliminary levy is adopted. The Finance Director stated that after some changes, the levy is now proposed to be 10.23% but noted that this would be the amount only if the agreement with another city to provide building inspection services goes forward. He explained that the cost -of -living adjustment for staff was amended after receiving more city responses and is now at 3.2%. He stated that the Community Development Director expects to get a written intent from the other city for inspection services before the next Council meeting. He stated that the levy would be higher at 10.76% if the contract with the other city does not move forward. The Finance Director reported that he received the missing tax capacity information from Ramsey County this morning. He reviewed how tax capacity is so important when considering budgets and taxes. He stated that Little Canada property owners pay the lowest amount of taxes per capita. The City Council had no additional changes to the preliminary budget or levy. There was Council consensus to set the preliminary levy at the higher rate in case the other city contract does not happen. 6:45pm CLOSED SESSION TO DISCUSS THE 2884-2886 CENTERVILLE ROAD LEASE OPTIONS Pursuant to Minnesota Statute 13D.05, subds. 1(d), 3(a), City Attorney Amanda Johnson lead a closed -session discussion about the purchase agreement and options regarding the current lease on the city -owned property at 2884-2886 Centerville Road.