Laserfiche WebLink
CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 27, 2008 <br />APPROVED <br />1 CITY OF LINO LAKES <br />2 MINUTES <br />3 <br />4 DATE : February 27, 2008 <br />5 TIME STARTED : 5:00 p.m. <br />6 TIME ENDED : 6:00 p.m. <br />7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Gallup, O'Donnell, <br />8 Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson <br />9 MEMBERS ABSENT : Councilmember Reinert <br />10 <br />11 Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Community Development Director, <br />12 Mike Grochala; Director of Finance, Al Rolek <br />13 <br />14 CHARTER AMENDMENT REVIEW <br />15 <br />16 Steve Bubul, attorney with the firm Kennedy & Graven, reviewed the grid he had prepared that <br />17 compares special assessment rules and charter amendment possibilities for the city. <br />18 <br />19 Staff pointed out and Mr. Bubul confirmed the possibility that the city would have to utilize <br />20 taxable rather than tax exempt bonding when the area covered by bonds includes an area <br />21 exempted by the charter. Taxable bonds would be more costly to the city. <br />22 <br />1,23 Responding to a question about bonding ability affecting the city's bond rating, Mr. Bubul <br />24 explained that it is difficult to say exactly what bond rating agents will consider in designating <br />25 the city's bond rating. The increased cost of financing would be the clearest negative of having <br />26 exempt areas. <br />27 <br />28 Responding to a question regarding scope and why maintenance costs should be excluded from <br />29 assessments since that type of work is already funded and done through general taxes, Mr. Bubul <br />30 noted that the ability to assess for maintenance is commonly allowed but normally only used <br />31 under special circumstances. <br />32 <br />33 When the Charter Commission Chair asked what the city council and city staff believes is needed <br />34 that would make the Charter Commission proposal acceptable, Administrator Heitke responded <br />35 that the council is in the educational stage regarding the commission's proposed amendment. <br />36 <br />37 Mr. Bubul pointed out that, whatever process the citizens chose, it will be important for future <br />38 interpretation to have as many questions as possible answered up front. <br />39 <br />40 The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m. <br />41 <br />42 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on March 10, <br />43 2008. <br />44 <br />.45 <br />46, <br />47 Julianne Bartell, Ci y erk John Bergeson, Mayor <br />1 <br />