08-10-1995 Charter Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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i * We worked hard to get the Charter in, don't change it now. It keeps the council from riding rough shod over the people. We must slow down development. Our taxes keep going up. * Larry Bengston: We all will be hooked up to water and sewer. Metro Waste Control can't handle the entire metro area now. It's going to cost everyone, whether you want it or not. * What other options are available under the Charter? Why don't we rebuild the roads without levying the large assessments? * Cost of the road per mile: $170 per foot x 5280 feet is about $1,000,000 a mile. * Dick Savage, Hokah Dr. - Met Council is asking the city to update the Comprehensive plan, to place more restrictions on on-site systems. People are saying, we're tired of taxes, we're tired of government, we can't afford this. If you're going to weaken the Charter, put it to a vote of the people. *City is above average in the number of lawsuits directly related to road conditions. Lawsuits are more expensive than the assessments. * To pass the amendment, 51% of the people voting on the amendment must vote yes to pass, not 51% of the total number of people voting. Not everyone will vote on the issue. A blank is "no voice", not counted as a no vote. * State Aid Road - built to state standards, which could mean wider than city standards. On the Ware Road project, the people will have input. * Shift to General Funds - will this have any effect on property taxes? Yes. The City will have to raise property taxes throughout the city to pay for the improvement. *How long will sewer and water last? In St. Paul, about 50-100 years. * Al DeMotts -Sugg°ssted we leave the Charter as is, changed 8.05 to 8,08, that funding for road repairs can be used from the general fund, but could not be used on roads in new developments. * Bob Bening - Why does the Charter Commission continue to have problems getting a quorum? Is it lack of interest? * Don Dunne, Black Duck Dr., has a 100' lot. The city must have a managed improvement of city streets, and must have a remedy to fix the roads. The city doesn't have a remedy that works. The remedies are controlled by people we elect to office. * Concern is the gradual erosion of the Charter - 51% issue. * Concern is the lack of a quorum for several of the Charter meetings. * Everyone dish in $100-200 per household for improvements. It is less painful, make exceptions for senior citizens and in hardship cases. *Hardships only apply to assessments, not property taxes.