HomeMy WebLinkAbout05-09-2011 Council Minutes (2) BOARD OF REVIEW MINUTES May 9, 2011
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
`, 2 MINUTES
3 BOARD OF REVIEW
4
5 DATE : May 9,2011
6 TIME STARTED : 5:45 p.m.
7 TIME ENDED : 6:30 p.m.
8 MEMBERS PRESENT : Council Member Gallup, Roeser, and Mayor
9 Reinert
10 MEMBERS ABSENT : Council Member Rafferty and O'Donnell
11
12 Staff members present: City Administrator Jeff Karlson; Public Safety Director John Swenson; City
13 Clerk Julie Bartell
14
15 Anoka County Assessor Linda Weiner noted that the council continued the board meeting so as to
16 continue discussion on two matters: a)the lakeshore properties on Bald Eagle Lake that are split
17 between Anoka and Washington County; and b) Mr. Jackson's property at 431 Post Road.
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19 There was no one present wishing to speak on the Bald Eagle Lake property. The council received an
20 update from Ms. Weiner on the property. City staff had met with her, an Anoka County appraiser,
21 Hugo's Community Development Director, and a Washington County appraiser to discuss the Bald
22 Eagle Lake property values. Historically, the Washington County appraiser had adjusted the lake
23 frontage values to $1,000 per linear foot, which resulted in a significant increase of assessed land
L' 24 value to the property owners who addressed the board on April 25. Apparently Washington County
25 based their appraisal on their across-the-board rate for lake front property while Anoka County's
26 assessment is based on"site value." Both appraisers pointed out that if you add the Anoka County
27 assessment and the Washington County assessment,the total land value is in the range of where both
28 counties would be if the properties were exclusively assessed in either county. Because of the limited
29 lake view that these properties have, Ms. Wiener indicated that she is willing to propose a 10%
30 reduction in her appraisal, which would lower the property tax assessment by $21,710 for the five
31 property owners appealing their assessment.
32
33 The board concurred with the proposed reduction; the mayor indicated that he'd still like to have a
34 discussion with the Hugo city council to see what can/should be done long term to deal with this
35 unusal situation.
36
37 The board then heard from Ms. Weiner regarding Mr. Jackson's property at 431 Post Road. Ms.
38 Weiner reported that she retrieved more comparables on the property. Regarding the question of
39 devaluation because of a tragedy having occurred in the home, she hasn't been able to confirm the
40 incident for this property. If the incident did occur, it wasn't with the owner just previous to Mr.
41 Jackson; there is probably less and less impact the more such a property changes hands. She's
42 recommending no change to the valuation she has proposed.
43
44 Mr. Jackson appeared with his own comparables and provided that information to the council
L 45 members. He noted that Ms. Weiner's comparables are not appropriate since they are older and
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BOARD OF REVIEW MINUTES May 9, 2011
APPROVED
46 actually come from the period when there was a tax rebate in place, that kept home prices higher.
47 His comparables are also of homes that are more similar to his own.
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49 Ms. Weiner noted that state law allows her to look only at a certain period for comparables. Further,
50 the sale of Mr. Jackson's home is not a qualified sale, because he purchased the property from a
51 relative.
52
53 Mr. Jackson explained that he bought the home in November of 2010 for $200,000 from his father-in-
54 law who has just purchased it from the estate of the disceased. There are two issues that make this
55 house overvalued—the sigma attached to the death in the house and secondly the fact that it is valued
56 higher than comparable homes. He added that because of the death, there are certain elements who
57 will never purchase the house. He read information that he stated was from a study of
58 psychologically impacted properties—the home has a history and it affects his property value.
59
60 The mayor noted that apparently the more a home changes hands, the less stigma it carries. He noted
61 that if all the comparables are averaged, the value would still come in over$200,000 and further the
62 12 percent that it has been reduced this year is quite higher than the average percentage seen
63 throughout the city.
64
65 The council concurred that Mr. Jackson should have the option of going to the county board of
66 appeals.
67
68 ADJOURN
69
70 There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned at 6:30 p.m. on a motion by Council
71 Member Roeser, seconded by Council Member Gallup, and adopted on a voice vote.
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73 These minutes were considered and approved at the regular Council Meeting on May 23, 2011.
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75 ,76
78 Juli e Bartell, Ci Clerk Jeff Re'. e , ayor
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