HomeMy WebLinkAbout02/27/2008 Council Minutes (2)CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION February 27, 2008
APPROVED
1 CITY OF LINO LAKES
2 MINUTES
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4 DATE : February 27, 2008
5 TIME STARTED : 5:00 p.m.
6 TIME ENDED : 6:00 p.m.
7 MEMBERS PRESENT : Councilmember Gallup, O'Donnell,
8 Stoltz and Mayor Bergeson
9 MEMBERS ABSENT : Councilmember Reinert
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11 Staff members present: City Administrator, Gordon Heitke; Community Development Director,
12 Mike Grochala; Director of Finance, Al Rolek
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14 CHARTER AMENDMENT REVIEW
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16 Steve Bubul, attorney with the firm Kennedy & Graven, reviewed the grid he had prepared that
17 compares special assessment rules and charter amendment possibilities for the city.
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19 Staff pointed out and Mr. Bubul confirmed the possibility that the city would have to utilize
20 taxable rather than tax exempt bonding when the area covered by bonds includes an area
21 exempted by the charter. Taxable bonds would be more costly to the city.
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1,23 Responding to a question about bonding ability affecting the city's bond rating, Mr. Bubul
24 explained that it is difficult to say exactly what bond rating agents will consider in designating
25 the city's bond rating. The increased cost of financing would be the clearest negative of having
26 exempt areas.
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28 Responding to a question regarding scope and why maintenance costs should be excluded from
29 assessments since that type of work is already funded and done through general taxes, Mr. Bubul
30 noted that the ability to assess for maintenance is commonly allowed but normally only used
31 under special circumstances.
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33 When the Charter Commission Chair asked what the city council and city staff believes is needed
34 that would make the Charter Commission proposal acceptable, Administrator Heitke responded
35 that the council is in the educational stage regarding the commission's proposed amendment.
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37 Mr. Bubul pointed out that, whatever process the citizens chose, it will be important for future
38 interpretation to have as many questions as possible answered up front.
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40 The meeting was adjourned at 6:00 p.m.
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42 These minutes were considered, corrected and approved at the regular Council meeting held on March 10,
43 2008.
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46,
47 Julianne Bartell, Ci y erk John Bergeson, Mayor
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