05/08/2006 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES APRIL 24, 2006 DRAFT Formatted: Centered:- 35E are programmed for 2009 construction, and we continue to work toward funding for the 35W interchange in 2007. Over the past 10 years we have made significant progress towards the goals of the 20/20 vision. We have an excellent base to begin our new visioning process and we look forward to a collaborative visioninn process this summer. We were less successful in 2005 in funding the reconstruction of some of our most deteriorated local roads. The Lino Lakes City Charter does not allow general fund dollars to be used for local road reconstruction without voter approval. In 2005, for the second time, a road referendum was defeated. It is our role as elected city officials to provide basic services such as roads to our citizens. We are dependent upon support of residents to do this. It is not in the best financial interest of this city to continue to allow deterioration of our local road system. The city is undertaking a financial analysis this summer to study, among other things. our assessment policies. street maintenance and reconstruction schedules. outstanding debt and financing decisions, and reduction of state aids. Periodic review and adjustment is critical, and tough decisions. based on updated projections. need to be made. Our city council makes decisions based on the needs of the community and its affect on local property taxes. I'm pleased to say that the city portion of your tax dollar has again decreased. In 2004 it was 36% of your property tax bill. In 2005 it was 35 %. and in 2006 it was 34 %. Its not a huge decrease, but in light on the increasing demands for services and amenities. I ani proud that we are able to hold the line as we do. POLICE DEPARTMENT I want to again acknowledge and honor Officer Shawn Silvera. His death in the line of duty in September 2005 truly moved us all and brought us together as a community in a new way. While we grieved. we found strength in the manvpeople who united with us to share in commemorating our fallen hero. Shawn's wife, Jennifer. and his children, Jordan and. Madelvnn, will always be in our thoughts and prayers. Legislation has been proposed to designate the portion of 1 -35 from the site of the accident north to Washington County 2 (Broadway Street) in Forest Lake in Officer Silvera's honor. Representative Ray Vandeveer has authored this bill in the House, along with Representative Phil Krinkie. Senator Michele Bachmann is authoring a version of the bill in the Senate, along with. Senator M.ady Reiter. We are proud to be able to honor Officer Silvera's memory in this way. FINANCE DEPARTMENT Our finance department is always looking for ways to save costs. Just one example is the refmancing of bonds in 2005. which saved the city S 123,000. And for the 10`s year in a row, it has received national recognition for its financial management by being awarded the Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Financial Reporting by the Government Finance Officer's Association. PARKS DEPARTMENT Our parks division of our public services department installed the Birch Street trail in 2005 a major link from Blackduck Drive to Pheasant Hills Drive. The dedicated staff is consistently renovating and replacing parks equipment, planting and replacing trees and seeding, sodding. and mulching our public areas to keep this city green.