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HomeMy WebLinkAbout09/24/2024LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 1 of 3 September 24, 2024 Call to Order Mayor Gaasch called the Regular City Council meeting to order at 7:00 p.m. Roll Call Councilors present: Evan Sayre, Jeff Dains, Duane Pulford, Sharon Kelly via Zoom, and Mayor Mary Gaasch. Councilors absent: None. Staff present: Heather Butkowski, City Administrator; Jim Bownik, Assistant to the City Administrator; and Miles Cline, Deputy City Clerk. Approvals Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any additions to the meeting agenda. There being none, Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the agenda as presented. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were corrections to the minutes of the September 10, 2024 City Council meeting. There being none, Councilor Pulford moved and seconded by Councilor Sayre to approve the September 10, 2024 City Council meeting minutes. Motion carried unanimously. Mayor Gaasch asked if there were any questions on the claims. There being none, Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to approve the claims totaling $121,491.99. Motion carried unanimously. Consent Councilor Sayre moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to approve the Consent Agenda thereby acknowledging the August financial report. Discussion/Action Item A. Resolution No. 092424A — Adopting the 2025 Preliminary Property Tax Levy and Establishing the Budget Meeting Date Butkowski restated the following key budget numbers discussed at the previous meeting: Median Home Value: $306,300 up 1.9%. Proposed General Fund Budget: $1,941,232 up 7.4%. Proposed Property Tax Levy (including FD): $1,225,700 up 10.4%. Local Property Tax Levy: $1,067,826 up 9.0%. Butkowski noted that included in the packet were a resolution to adopt the proposed levy, projected property tax impacts, and charts showing the categorical breakdown of revenue and expenses. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 2 of 3 September 24, 2024 The Council discussed the changing shift to less state aid, more reliance on the local levy, and increasing public safety costs. For comparison, in 2016, the City derived 52% of its revenue from the levy and 41% from state aids. Those numbers for 2025 are 63% and 26% respectively. On the expense side, in 2016, public safety comprised 54% of general fund expense. That number is 63% for 2025. The local levy was $560,000 in 2016 or close to half of what it is today. Councilor Kelly made a motion to adopt Resolution No. 092424A—Adopting the 2025 Preliminary Property Tax Levy and Establishing the Budget Meeting Date. This was seconded by Councilor Dains and carried unanimously. B. Environmental Commission Appointment Discussion Staff were pleased to report there are eight applications for the environmental commission. The ordinance establishing the committee originally set the number of commissioners at five. The Council can keep the commission at five members or raise it to eight in order to appoint all. If the Council would like to keep the commission at five, staff recommends establishing a method to select the five members. Alternatively, the Council could amend the ordinance to allow all eight to be appointed. After discussion, the Council agreed to expand membership and bring an amendment to the ordinance to the October 8 meeting. Set Agenda for Next Meeting Butkowski stated that the October 8 council meeting might include a draft of the storm water ordinances, and an agreement for the streetlights at Eustis Street and Larpenteur Avenue and a right-of-way agreement with Ramsey County. Work Session A. Community Development Update Butkowski said adding an air conditioning system in the Social Room requires replacing two old furnaces. Luther Seminary hired a new realtor to market their property. The City is in discussions with St. Paul to determine if we have sewer capacity to handle the new Como Avenue Health Partners building. Anyone with ideas for Halloween should pass them along to staff. B. Opportunity for the Public to Address the City Council Mayor Gaasch opened the floor to those in attendance interested in addressing the Council. There being nobody interested in speaking, Mayor Gaasch closed the floor. Adjournment Councilor Dains moved and seconded by Councilor Pulford to adjourn the meeting at 7:47 p.m. Motion carried unanimously. LAUDERDALE CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES Lauderdale City Hall 1891 Walnut Street Lauderdale, MN 55113 Page 3 of 3 September 24, 2024 Respectfully submitted, Gy��,, taw Miles Cline Deputy City Clerk