10/06/2008 Council Packet (2) - Laserfiche WebLink

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The Line on 429 Mayors Corner Time for a Vote on the City Charter John Bergeson Each year the members of the city council put together an action plan to ensure we continue to be "A Community with Vision" One of the items on the plan for this year is to update our city charter. Our charter is what enables the "vision" in our "community with vision" to succeed. And part of the vision for our future is a workable process for reconstructing our deteriorating roads. The Council, our independent charter commission, and a citizen's task force have all been working hard to develop the best solution. When 60% of us favor changes to the Charter, when the task force recommended amending the charter so that a citywide referendum is not required for every local road construction, we knew that signaled the time for a vote. And with the citizens'- initiated petition, the question is now before us all: should we amend the charter to govern under MN Statute 429 like every other city in the state of Minnesota? I urge you to study the issues presented in this special edition of our newsletter and then VOTE on NOVEMBER 4! Fast Facts By amending the charter, Lino Lakes taxpayers could save up to 511 million in additional taxes due to inflation, fees, and costs resulting from delays in fixing streets. Did You Know? Of the 854 cities in Minnesota, Lino Lakes is the only community that requires all citizens to vote on every local -level public improvement project involving a special assess- ment. In all other communities, city leaders are given the trust, author- ity, and resources to make those decisions without a citywide vote. What Is MN Statute, Chapter 429? For nearly a century, Minnesota Statute Chapter 429 has guided communities in balancing the protection of citizens directly affected by public improvement projects with the needs of city leaders to be responsible stewards of a community's assets. Chapter 429 assists elected officials in executing their duties efficiently, effectively and with the greatest good in mind. It also enables citizens to register their objections to city decisions many times in many different ways. While the 854 cities in Minnesota vary in their application of 429 — choosing to govern by the letter or the spirit of the statute —no other city in Minnesota has a charter provision requiring a referendum on public improvements involving special assessments. The key difference between Chapter 8 of the Lino Lakes Home Rule Charter and Chapter 429.051 of the state statute involves how cities approach paying for public improvements when special assessments are involved. Here is a comparison: By adopting Minnesota Statute, Chapter 429, Lino Lakes would take a step toward becoming a statutory city vs. a charter city. Statutory cities put greater decision - making power into the hands of a city council to provide services like: • Police • Fire • Utilities • Zoning • Sanitation • Street • Parks • Recreation Under our home rule charter system of governance, these services are managed and regulated jointly by the city leaders, the charter commission, and all the citizens. Under Chapter 429, these public, common -good services are managed and regulated, for the most part by elected city leaders, who are, of course, elected by citizens. The details of MN statute, chapter 429 can be found on the Internet at: www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us Lino Lakes Charter, Chapter 8 Minnesota Statutes, Chapter 429.051 Assigning special When less than one "The Municipality may pay assessments to pay hundred (100 %) percent such portion of the cost for public improvements of the estimated cost of the of the improvement as the proposed improvement is council may determine from to be paid for by special general ad valorem tax assessments, connection levies, or from other charges, or any outside revenues or funds of the funding sources other than municipality available for the City general fund, the the purpose" Council shall... submit the proposed local improve- ment and its assessment formula to the voters of the City... If a majority of those voting on said improvement and associated assessment formula are opposed, the Council shall not proceed with the local improvement as proposed. By adopting Minnesota Statute, Chapter 429, Lino Lakes would take a step toward becoming a statutory city vs. a charter city. Statutory cities put greater decision - making power into the hands of a city council to provide services like: • Police • Fire • Utilities • Zoning • Sanitation • Street • Parks • Recreation Under our home rule charter system of governance, these services are managed and regulated jointly by the city leaders, the charter commission, and all the citizens. Under Chapter 429, these public, common -good services are managed and regulated, for the most part by elected city leaders, who are, of course, elected by citizens. The details of MN statute, chapter 429 can be found on the Internet at: www.revisor.leg.state.mn.us