HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/06/2006 Council Minutesi
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION
APPROVED
DATE
TIME STARTED
TIME ENDED
MEMBERS PRESENT
MEMBERS ABSENT
CITY OF LINO LAKES
MINUTES
SEPTEMBER 6, 2006
: September 6, 2006
. 4:39 p.m.
. 8:50 p.m.
: Councilmember Carlson, O'Donnell,
Reinert, Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
: None
Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Finance Director, Al Rolek
(part); Community Development Director, Mike Grochala; Director of Administration,
Dan Tesch (part); Public Services Director, Rick DeGardner (part); Chief of Police, Dave
Pecchia (part); City Planner, Jeff Smyser (part); and City Clerk, Julie Bartell (part)
2007 PROPOSED BUDGET AND TAX LEVY
Finance Director Rolek referred to a listing of the collective City Council adjustments to
the 2007 proposed budget that was agreed upon on August 28. The adjustments would
reduce the budget and levy by $339,872. An additional levy reduction estimated at
$30,000 would be realized upon the refunding of the EDA Lease Revenue Bonds, for a
total levy reduction of $369,872. This lowers the increase in the budget from 15.58% to
11.98%. Finally, the tax rate would be reduced from the presently proposed 41.880% to
39.965% down from the 2006 tax rate of 41.362%.
Finance Director Rolek referred to a listing of the resulting tax impacts on various market
value levels of homestead property and a comparative page for 2006 tax impacts. As
shown on the listing, City property taxes for all levels of property would decrease by
3.38% if the property value remained the same from 2006 to 2007. This compares with a
decrease of 2.04% under the same scenario from 2005 to 2006. Considering an 8%
increase in property value for 2007, City taxes would increase by 4.35% for all property
value levels. This compares with an increase of 5.80% under the same scenario from
2005 to 2006.
Finance Director Rolek noted the City can still refinance the EDA Lease Revenue bonds
but in a different manner resulting in a levy reduction of approximately $18,000, as
opposed to the $30,000 listed in the above figures.
City Administrator Heitke stated that included in the original proposed budget was the
creation of a captain's position in the Police Department. The Council previously
indicated support for cutting that line item from $108,000 to $18,000. The Department
has no use for the $18,000 if that position is not created.
1 CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 6, 2006
APPROVED
• 1 Chief Pecchia advised the Department could restructure and promote an officer to the
2 sergeant position instead of creating a captain's position. That would fill the void the
3 Department has as far as supervision on the road. A sergeant from within the Department
4 could be promoted to a captain's position and the Department would still be within the
5 budgeted dollar amount.
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7 City Administrator Heitke advised this option would clearly establish a number two
8 position within the Police Department and can be accomplished for approximately
9 $6,000. That leaves an additional $12,000 within the budget.
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11 Finance Director Rolek noted the additional levy reduction would not be included in the
12 budget that is brought forward to the Council. The levy reduction will reduce the budget
13 when the bonds are refinanced.
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15 The majority of the Council indicated support for taking $25,000 from the Contingency
16 Fund and putting it into the Capital Equipment Fund to keep that fund at $300,000 and
17 maintain the same tax figures as outlined by staff.
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19 The Council recessed from the budget discussion to discuss agenda Item 6A,
20 Consideration of Second Reading, Ordinance No. 06-06, Rezone to Planned Unit
21 Development, The Preserve.
• 22
23 City Planner Smyser distributed a letter from Jason Husveth, Critical Connections
24 Ecological Services, Inc., regarding questions relating to the funding of stewardship and
25 long term stewardship funding.
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27 Mr. Husveth came forward and summarized his letter regarding questions raised in
28 relation to the proposed stewardship of the project. He indicated the financial resources
29 that would be dedicated by Integra Homes to restore and manage the prescribed natural
30 areas in Outlots B and C are sufficient for a successful restoration and management in
31 Years 1-3. Furthermore, the endowment that would be provided by Integra Homes
32 coupled with the association fees would be sufficient to sustain and improve high quality
33 native vegetation within the prescribed native habitats of Outlots B and C. Additional
34 funding would be needed to improve the ecological quality of Outlot D. However, the
35 developer would permanently protect this area under a conservation easement. Finally,
36 the City of Lino Lakes should include all of these conservation provision and stipulations
37 in preparing the Developer's Agreement as well as approving The Preserves final plat.
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39 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, September 11, 2006, 6:30
40 p.m.
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42 VLAWMO JOINTS POWERS AGREEMENT
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• 44 City Administrator Heitke reviewed the background regarding the Vadnais Lakes Water
45 Management Organization (VLAWMO) joint powers agreement. He advised that at this
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 6, 2006
APPROVED
1 time, the VLAWMO has a draft water plan that will be going through a public review and
2 comment period and public hearing. Attempts to increase funding by obtaining levy
3 authority through special legislation failed when no legislator was found to serve as
4 author of the bill. The new agreement expands the sources of revenue to fund operations
5 by including a levy (requiring legislative authorization) and a VLAWMO operated storm
6 water utility. Issues related to governance are being addressed in this proposed joint
7 powers agreement by suggesting more involvement of elected officials by being the
8 primary commissioner or alternate and being present for annual budget discussions, and
9 that local government staff are not eligible to be board members.
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11 City Administrator Heitke advised recent discussions indicate that the other
12 municipalities and townships support the continuation of VLAWMO. The term of the
13 proposed agreement is until January 1, 2012. The timeline for finalizing the joint powers
14 agreement is a membership meeting tentatively set for September 21 to review and
15 discuss comments, finalization of the agreement by November 1, and action by member
16 units on the agreement in November or December.
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18 The Council directed staff to convey to VLAWMO that the City's original position on
19 this issue has not changed. The Council also indicated support for a clause in the
20 agreement that stipulates that any significant budget increases can only occur with a
21 funding mechanism in place. The Council also suggested the term of the proposed
22 agreement should be minimized.
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24 2007 PROPOSE BUDGET AND TAX LEVY
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26 Mayor Bergeson distributed a letter from the Public Safety Citizens Commission
27 regarding proposed Public Safety budget adjustments.
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29 City Administrator Heitke distributed a list of outside budget requests from various
30 organizations.
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32 The Council indicated support for reviewing each individual request as they are presented
33 and not include them in the budget at this time. The Council may be willing to revisit the
34 requests later in the year. Council directed staff to draft a letter to send to each of the
35 organizations.
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37 The Council directed staff to determine if there is $1,000 within the 2006 budget for the
38 Anoka County Sesquicentennial Celebration.
39
40 The majority of the Council directed staff to bring forward the recommended budget as
41 discussed with a reduction of $369,873.
42 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, September 11, 2006, 6:30
43 p.m.
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CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION SEPTEMBER 6, 2006
APPROVED
1 CHARTER AMENDMENT
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3 City Administrator reviewed the background regarding this issue and distributed a letter
4 from the City Attorney. He outlined the options available to the Council relating to the
5 proposed Charter Amendment.
6
7 Mayor Bergeson recessed the meeting at 7:26 p.m. to attend a candlelight vigil for Officer
8 Silvera.
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10 Mayor Bergeson reconvened the meeting at 8:30 p.m.
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12 The majority of the Council directed staff to move forward with the submittal of the
13 original Charter Amendment proposal to the voters (majority vote required).
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15 This item will appear on the regular Council agenda Monday, September 11, 2006, 6:30
16 p.m.
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18 REVIEW OF SEPTEMBER 11, 2006 COUNCIL AGENDA
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20 There were no changes to the regular Council agenda.
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22 The meeting was adjourned at 8:50 p.m.
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24 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on
25 September 25, 2006.
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30 ► . ► e Bartell, City lerk John Bergeson, Mayor
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32 Transcribed by:
33 Kim Points
34 TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.
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