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HomeMy WebLinkAbout07-25-1995 Charter MinutesNotes from the July 25, 1995 public meeting, 7:00 pm Lino Lakes Charter Commission Commission members present: Diana Turner, Mark Benson, Ron Solfest, Bob Doocy Others present: John Powell, city engineer, Kent Sulem, League of Minnesota Cities, Bill Hawkins, City Attorney and about 70 Lino Lakes Citizens Open Mike Notes: * Doug Storms, 620 Andahl St. - How are corner lots assessed? The side that abuts the improvement would be assessed. If both sides abut the improvement, one full side plus 1/3 of the second side. * Double frontage: Single lot, can't split -we can't demonstrate the benefit. Splitting lots are dependent on current zoning and ordinances, not the charter. * Bob Benning, E. Shadow Lake Dr. - If sewer and water are in, the only assessment could be the road, at 20%. The 20% is the direct benefit to the property owner. Sewer and water are 100% as decided by state courts. * Don Johnson, W. Shadow Lake Dr., has 250' frontage. Would he be assessed for 3 lots? The zoning ordinance would determine if lot could be split. The assessment would be the total frontage. * What is the connection fee? Determined by front footage, a lateral benefit. Area and unit charges (wells, borings, etc.) will cost about $11000 on an 80 x 130 lot. * Chris Lang, Holly Drive W. Sec. 8.04 protects people's rights. Could we change 8.05 and use general funds for improvements. (John Powell - it would help quite a bit, would increase taxes throughout the city.) Update 8.05 so any surplus in the general fund at the end of the year can be used for improvements. * Jerry Hanson, Main Street - We're going backwards in our proposal. Some planning should have been done before. (John Powell - no funding is available. $200,000 to seal coat, fill potholes, etc.). We're going back to the same problems we talked about in 1980. * Do other cities have the problem? No. Other cities can raise taxes to generate funds to improve the roads. * Rose - Area and unit funds are used to drill wells, build trunk lines, etc. She lives on 24th Ave. and their agreement with the city said they weren't going to be assessed to attract light industrial business. * ? 889 Main St. - In 1980 a few developers were going to ram sewer and water down the throats of the c citizens. This created the demand for the charter. (Powell - we don't have a plan to put sewer and water throughout the city. The only improvements in progress are a lift station east of I-35 and area around the correctional facility. * Kim Sullivan, Whippoorwill Lane - Sec. 8.04, sub. 2 - General fund usage must be approved by the voters. Revise the sections so you can use general funds without going to the voters. * Dave Storberg - Hwy. 49 - Change section 8. They can put the proposal in front of the council and do it that way. Charter commission can remove the section dealing with the general fund. Keep the protection of the owners to stop a project and allow general fund usage for roads. * Bill Hawkins - Re: Financing. Bond holders fear if we don't collect enough to cover the bonds for a project, who pays? We need the occasional authority to raise funds. * Doug Storms - Why is sewer and water thrown in? Some streets have just sewer or water or neither. Powell: We want to put in utilities at the same time as the new roadway. This prevents us from improving the road one year, then two or three years later, digging up the road to put in sewer, water, lights, etc. * Steve - 495 Ash St. - Sec. 8.04, Sub. 4 How is interest figured? Current interest is 6%, we sell bonds for 20 years at 5%. Homeowner will pay 1% over the current rate, at simple interest. * Sharon Lien - Roads are strictly maintenance, not reconstruction. Upgrading a road is maintenance. Deferred assessments have no limit --might be more than what they recover at time of sale. Improvements past a wetland can't be charged if improvement can be identified - benefited homeowner pays. * Rosemary Storberg - People complaining couldn't get 51% of the people to agree to a road improvement? No road improvement in 14 years? (Powell: We've maintained only - seal coated and patched potholes. We're also concerned about excessive engineering fees on projects that didn't go.) * Jerry Berg, Totem Rd. - Engineering question - can we do core samples to establish a fail date? Examine the roads and plan on improvements in years to come. * Al DeMotts - Proposed that improvements provided by general funds can be used only for road and improvements. J repairs1 * Kim Sullivan - The core of the Charter is petition, recall and referendum. The comprehensive plan tells how the city is to develop. The charter is just part of the overall plan. * Red Maple Lane - Who hires the independent assessor? The city hires the assessors early in the process to check the amount of money that can be raised. If the homeowner disputes the assessment, he can hire an attorney and dispute the assessment. * Gordie, 7125 Rice Lake Ln - Higher density housing results when sewer and water become available. Connection fees are paid only if the homeowner connects. * Julie Hanson, Meadowbrook Lane - General Business and commercial businesses pay their fair share. Utilities make the areas very attractive to business. * Jane Speltzman, Otter Lake Rd. - People want to preserve what they have. Shed has a small farm of 30 acres. Soon they will have no personal freedom left. Voters will have no rights at all if the protection is voided. * John Landers, Sunrise Dr. - The problems with streets and roads are caused by the number of trips on the roads by refuse trucks and recycling vehicles. We should put higher standards on our roads so they last a minimum of 20-25 years. If a road is going bad and must be replaced in 2-3 years, the council does have time to put the issue on the ballot, so the Charter doesn't have to be changed. * Sharon Lien - Public hearings and only four Charter members are present - does that show how convinced the Charter Commission is for the change? (Solfest - This is a meeting just to get public input, not a public hearing in the strictest sense.) * Mike, 675 Shadow Court: Has 500' of frontage, how is he going to be assessed? School funds come from general funds, why can't road repairs be done this way? Then everyone pays a fair share. Re: Improving a road, then 2-3 years later tear it up to put in utilities- make a rule that we don't touch the road for a certain amount of time. (Powell - If we can't put in utilities, then we don't put in the road.) * Park budget is as high as the road budget - can't we use monies from the general fund and from new developments? (Amy Donlin -= Most of the park budget is labor, road maintenance is materials. *Donald Dunne - 6885 Black duck Dr. - The road in front of his house must be replaced. If Lino Lakes is to market itself as a high class city, we must have a way to keep our investments up to par. The Charter Commission was approached to find a way to help,the city with a problem, and this is the best compromise solution. The people should be giving positive suggestions, not berating the charter commission for doing their job.