08/03/2009 Council Packet - Laserfiche WebLink

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• • • Lino Lakes Charter Commission 600 Town Center Parkway Lino Lakes, MN 55014 Mayor John Bergeson 600 Town Center Parkway Lino Lakes, MN 55014 HAND DELIVERED July 24, 2009 Dear Honorable Mayor Bergeson, On July 23, 2009, the Lino Lakes Charter Commission voted to develop Charter Amendments for the November 2009 election. On behalf of the Commission, I formally request additional funding in the amount of $4,000.00 for 2009, exclusively for legal services pertaining to amending the City Charter. The primary proposal to be developed would be a Charter amendment that would include a limit on property tax increases. Currently, the Commission has less than $21.00 remaining in its budget. This situation occurs despite letting our regular (professional) minute -taker go, and taking the minutes ourselves. As you know, the Charter Commission Members do not receive any compensation. The 2009 budget for the Charter Commission has been sharply reduced by the City Council, from over $7,000 in recent years to $1,500 for 2009. Our current operating budget is now roughly one -third of the amount that the City budgeted to the Commission in the 1990's (without factoring for inflation). During the 2009 budgeting process last fall, upon learning of the proposed budget cut, the Commission requested that the Council allow sufficient funding for legal services pertaining to an amendment in its budget. The Council denied that request at that time, while making assurances that if the Commission needed additional money beyond what was budgeted for 2009, then the money would be available and could easily be taken from the contingency fund (if the Council so stipulated). I respectfully request that this matter be added to the July 27, 2009 Council Work Session and approved that same day. Thank you for your consideration and attention to this urgent matter. I apologize for the short notice; however, the City Council is allowed to make last- minute changes to the existing agenda. Please let me know if there's anything I can do to assist in this process. Co Caroline Dahl Chair, Lino Lakes Charter Commission cc: Council. member Kathi Gallup Council member Jeff O'Donnell Council member Jeff Reinert Council member Dan Stoltz City Clerk Julie Bartell Acting City Administrator Dan Tesch