05-11-11 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES CITY COUNCIL MAY 11, 2011 CONSENT AGENDA the 35W corridor have conducted a study and determined that 35W needs to be widened even without the stadium project. There is the need for transit lanes or bus ways along this route. If the Vikings stadium proceeds on the Arden Hills site, this may speed up the process and the improvements may be made in 3 years rather than 10. Parker noted that there are road projects needed on the site itself as well as improvements needed to the public road system to the site. The cost of the internal road system is included in the stadium budget, but the cost of the improvements to the public road system are not. Blesener asked about the County's plans for improvements to Keller and Goodrich Golf Courses. Parker indicated that a remodel of the Keller Club House is planned to make the building more useful for events. There are also plans to revamp some of the holes. These projects will take several years and are in the County's long -term plans. Blesener asked for a breakdown of the percentages of the County's budget that comes from Federal and State dollars. Parker indicated that 45% of the County's budget comes from property taxes, and 28% comes from Federal and State dollars (evenly split between the two). Parker noted that funding from Federal and State dollars has been steadily decreasing over the past 10 years, which results in increasing property taxes. Parker noted that a great percentage of the County's budget goes to mandated services. Approximately 50% to health and human services, 28% to public safety and justice, 10.5% to administration, and 6.5% to road, parks, and libraries. McGraw noted that the State provides the County with $81 million in funding, yet mandates the $276 million be spent by the County for various services. Parker stated that the County has a lot of mandates in the human services area. While Ramsey County is the smallest county geographically, it has more poverty per capital than any other county. Thus there is a higher demand for services and a higher percentage of people eligible for mandated services. Parker indicated that development of the Viking stadium in Ramsey County will spur economic development and help generate additional property taxes. Mr. Montour introduced the following resolution and moved its adoption: RESOLUTION NO. 2011 -5 -90 — APPROVING THE CONSENT AGENDA WHICH CONTAINS THE FOLLOWING: *APPROVAL OF THE VOUCHERS; 3