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S91 <br />92 <br />93 <br />94 <br />95 <br />96 <br />97 <br />98 <br />99 <br />100 <br />101 <br />102 <br />103 <br />104 <br />105 <br />106 <br />107 <br />108 <br />109 <br />110 <br />111 <br />112 <br />• 113 <br />114 <br />115 <br />116 <br />117 <br />118 <br />119 <br />120 <br />121 <br />122 <br />123 <br />124 <br />125 <br />126 <br />127 <br />128 <br />129 <br />130 <br />131 <br />132 <br />133 <br />134 <br />135 <br />COUNCIL MINUTES September 12, 2011 P 1 8 <br />DRAFT <br />Mike Trehus, Lino Lakes Charter Commission member, addressed the council. He confirmed that he <br />would offer an explanation of the amendments and then reserve the opportunity to rebut what he <br />understands he will be hearing from the city as far as a critique of the amendments. <br />Mr. Trehus first explained that a charter commission is a group of volunteer city residents that work <br />with a small budget. The charge of the group is to frame and amend the city charter, based on their <br />view of city operations. The commission doesn't have power to directly amend the charter and can <br />only propose amendments to the city council or the voters. The Lino Lakes Charter Commission is <br />proposing amendments to the council now mainly because this year's Minnesota Legislature did not <br />include in their budget actions any tax cap for cities. That being the case, the commission decided it <br />would be a good time to suggest that a tax cap be added to the city charter. He noted that taxes are <br />high in Lino Lakes and he showed a chart comparing the City's taxes to other cities. The other <br />amendment proposed clarifies and speaks to the duties of the Commission. <br />Mayor Reinert read the proposed amendment to Section 1.04. Mr. Trehus explained that while some <br />of the added language may be duplicative to what's currently in state law, the commission feels it <br />should be in place within the Charter in case there are law changes in the future. It is meant to be <br />reaffirming. He will be demonstrating the need as he moves further into his presentation. <br />Mayor Reinert read the proposed amendment to Section 1.05. Mr. Trehus explained that the courts <br />have decided that any public money spent on a referendum issue belongs to both sides of the issue. <br />That has not been the case in Lino Lakes. This would be a no cost option that doesn't change any <br />power for the Commission. He noted the history of the city council trying to get the word out on an <br />amendment on the ballot and that the city advocated but didn't allow the Commission to get the word <br />out on the other side of the matter. <br />Mayor Reinert read the proposed amendment to Chapter 7.13. Mr. Trehus presented a chart <br />indicating tax levy increases in Lino Lakes over the past ten years and comparing the levy amounts to <br />population growth and he explained that the primary purpose of the tax cap is to prevent this type of <br />tax growth. He noted that the current city council has worked to reduce the city's levy and that is <br />appropriate, but it's important not to return to the past ways of rampant growth of taxes. He noted <br />several cities that have tax caps in place. A council member noted that the information being <br />presented ends at 2009 however that is when democracy took its course and the council make up <br />changed, trends reversed and taxes were reduced; the presentation ignores that more recent relevant <br />information that may indicate that a tax cap isn't needed. Mr. Trehus acknowledged that the <br />amendment goal is trying to limit taxes from rampant growth; the statement regarding the election <br />would be an opinion; he added that the current council in perpetuity wouldn't be a problem but there <br />could be change in the future. Mr. Trehus noted that the tax cap proposed is good one that is tried and <br />true and working in other cities. A council member asked for a comparison of population for the tax <br />levy comparisons and when a chart was shown he noted that many are not in the range of Lino Lakes; <br />another council member added that the comparative figures are not from the current decade. Mr. <br />Trehus noted that he has compared current information, focusing on cities that are growing like Lino <br />Lakes, and he continues to have a goal of reducing the cost of government and he added thateven if <br />the council doesn't intend to allow taxes to run rampant again, they have nothing to lose by enacting <br />this tax cap. A council member noted that the finance director has opined that there could be an <br />3 <br />