06/14/2004 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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COUNCIL MINUTES JUNE 14, 2004 APPROVED 97 Mayor Bergeson advised that the Community Development Department handles planning, • 98 development, economic services and transportation issues. He stated transportation has been a large 99 focus for the city, and they have joined with surrounding cities as well as Ramsey County and 100 Mn/Dot on the reconstruction of Main Street and the 35E/Main Street Interchange. 101 102 Mayor Bergeson further advised that new commercial construction resulted in an increase of $20 103 million to the city's tax base, with Marshan Lake Industrial Park set to open soon. He indicated 104 commercial and retail trade expanded with the addition of retail on Hodgson Road providing residents 105 with a variety of services. He added there is also a retail center under construction on Apollo Drive. 106 107 Mayor Bergeson indicated the downtown area around City Hall has been under review, and has been 108 rezoned to mixed use, with construction to begin in 2005. He stated this area will help provide a 109 center for the city and provide residents with services they now drive to other cities to find. He 110 indicated this area will connect to parks, and will include the YMCA. 111 112 Mayor Bergeson stated the Growth Management Program was put into place to control development 113 in the city. He advised they added $25 million in residential growth to the tax base last year. He 114 indicated natural resources continue to be their biggest asset, and to protect those they adopted the 115 Storm Water Management Plan, the Surface Water Management Plan and they continue to monitor 116 the Blue Heron population. In addition, they supported Earth Day with the planting of 200 trees. 117 118 Mayor Bergeson advised the Administration Department has many functions. He stated the Finance 119 Department managed a $550,000 State Aid cut, which is 7.8% of the city's operating budget, and *120 were still able to balance the budget by reducing expenditures, using contingency funds and 121 alternative financing without using general fund reserves. 122 123 Mayor Bergeson stated the City de -certified three TIF Districts in 2003, which added $21 million to 124 the tax base, and received a Certificate of Achievement for Excellence in Reporting. He indicated the 125 City Council adopted guidelines outlining appropriate actions and means of interacting with each 126 other and their constituents, and he expressed thanks to former Councilmember O'Donnell for his 127 help with that document. 128 129 Mayor Bergeson indicated in May, the City Council along with Staff met to identify areas they 130 wanted to address in the coming year, and as a result the City identified several goals which will 131 guide their work in 2004 and 2005. 132 133 Mayor Bergeson stated the City will continue with the reconstruction of deteriorating streets, with 134 each street reconstruction including a trail along the entire length of the street. He indicated planning 135 for the 35E corridor continues as interest in developing in that area continues. 136 137 Mayor Bergeson indicated they look forward to these challenges and strive to continue to improve the 138 quality of life in Lino Lakes and ensure it will continue to be a great place to work and live. 139 140 Councilmember Carlson noted that there was a headline from a March newsletter of the League of 141 Minnesota Cities concerning Local Government Aids (LGAs). City Administrator Heitke indicated 142 this is a bill brought forth from the League of Minnesota Cities that was not addressed during the •143 regular Legislative session. He stated the League is pushing to have it heard if a Special Session is 144 called. 3