07-08-2010 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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JT CITY COUNCIL/CHARTER COMMISSION MEETING July 8,2010 APPROVED 180 181 Commissioner Minar noted that he has seen city employee salary information that `w, 182 indicates there is a problem; the salaries are too high and there are people who would do 183 the jobs for less. Public employees should not be making more than their private sector 184 counterparts. Regarding road maintenance, it can be funded properly within a reasonably 185 reduced budget. 186 187 Council Member O'Donnell suggested that staff could be hired at a lower salary but the 188 full picture includes consideration of what staff brings to the city, i.e. the city's high bond 189 rating saves the city lots of money. Regarding the subject at hand, a tax levy, he doesn't 190 have a problem seeing it considered if that is a goal of the commission and it is best for 191 the citizens. 192 193 Commissioner Gunderson suggested that the commission's goal isn't necessarily to go 194 out with a referendum on the question. The goal is to make sure there's a cap when the 195 state's levy limit requirement expires to protect the taxpayers of the city. 196 197 There was discussion between the council and commissioners about the city's obligations 198 related to the Legacy at Woods Edge area and the possibility of an impact on city taxes. 199 200 Chair Dahl thanked the council for input on this item indicated that the commission will 201 keep the matter(tax cap) on their agenda. 202 203 New Business 204 205 A. Road Improvements—How do we get there? (Council initiated agenda item) 206 1 a. Joint Subcommittee (Council initiated agenda item) 207 208 Mayor Reinert asked if the commission feels that there is a problem with current process 209 for reconstructing roads. He noted that there has been one road reconstructed in the last 210 twenty years but information would seem to indicate that while it's not an emergency, 211 more work is needed. There have been failed referendums. He is interested in hearing 212 the commission's viewpoint and any suggestions. 213 214 Commissioner Turcotte noted that he has reviewed the city's Pavement Management Plan 215 and would like an explanation of the city's maintenance program. Community 216 Development Director Grochala explained the city's current program of sealcoating and 217 overlay, noting that there are streets in the city that are past the point where either of those 218 processes would be helpful. 219 220 Council Member O'Donnell noted that it is good that the city has a pavement 221 management plan but bad that it hasn't been fully funded (although full funding is in 222 place again recently). In regard to the work that was done in the past (by the citizens task 223 force) to address the matter of reconstructing the city's roads, he'd like to leverage that 5