09-02-2008 CCM - Laserfiche WebLink

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LAKE ELMO CITY COUNCIL MINUTES AUGUST 19, 2008 3 MOTION: Council Member DeLapp moved to accept the donation of a Polaris Fire Rescue Unit valued at $12,500 and apply for grants to fund some or all of the ancillary equipment; and, if grants and donations do not cover the $13,750 (maximum) equipment costs, authorize the administrator to approve the use of capital funds according to the following amounts and priority: 1) the remaining balance in the laptop (estimated $700), 2) turnout gear budget savings (est. $4,500) and 3) from savings in station 1 and station 2 remodeling projects (est. $8,550). Council Member Johnson seconded the motion. The motion passed unanimously. Consider adoption of a preliminary 2009 property tax levy of $2,332,130 City Administrator, Susan Hoyt asked the City Council to approve a preliminary property tax levy which could be reduced but not increased before becoming final. Joe Rigdon, Finance Consultant, summarized the property tax levy of $2,332,130 to fund a proposed 2009 general fund operating budget of $2,892,060. The preliminary property tax levy adopted by the City Council represents the maximum levy permitted. The final tax levy and budget are scheduled for a public hearing on December 1, 2008, 7 PM and adoption of the final levy and budget are planned for December 9, 2008. Administrator Hoyt explained that the capital improvement plan and the enterprise funds would be budgeted in the coming months of October and November and this would be the time that a report on the status of the City’s debt funds would be addressed. MOTION: Council Member Johnson moved to approve Resolution No. 2008-043 adopting a preliminary 2009 tax levy of $2,708,203. Council Member Park seconded the motion. Mayor Johnston and Council Members Johnson, Smith and Park voted for the motion and Council Member DeLapp voted against the motion. Direct the Planning Commission to discuss structures for domesticated animals and pets Council Member Smith asked the City Council to direct the planning commission to consider changing the code as it pertains to such structures for the maximum square footage allowed before the City is asked to enforce many potential violations. Council Member Park agreed with Smith that the Planning Commission should be directed to review this item and recommend if the Council should look at changing the code. Council Member Johnson didn’t see requests for variances for this kind of thing coming forward from multiple directions and, therefore, found no reason to move ahead with revisiting the city code related to one individual’s non compliance issue. Mayor Johnston shared Johnson’s concern especially when City staff said they saw no significant problems with the ordinance as written.