Agenda Packets - 1999/09/13 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council August 23, 1999 Regular Meeting Page 37 Member Stigney's points merited consideration during the upcoming budget discussion, however, he believed the present recommendation was good. Council Member Stigney stated if the Council utilized a basis of cities with a similar tax capacity to the City of Mounds View, it would alleviate many of these problems. Mayor Coughlin stated he was agreeable to utilizing a different tool,however, as a businessman with employees,he was aware that there is a cost of doing business. He stated, although you may wish things to cost less, sometimes they just don't. He stated he pays a couple of his employees in excess of what was being proposed, and therefore, was well aware of the cost involved, both in salary and benefits, and in future increases. He stated he saw it incumbent upon the Council to attempt to keep good people with the City as long as possible, and attempt to utilize their talents and skills to the best advantage. Council Member Marty inquired if staff had the means to determine cities with similar tax bases. Community Development Director Jopke stated they did. Mayor Coughlin stated there were many different tools with which to do this, however, it was a judgement call as to whether or not they wished to do so. City Administrator Whiting stated they had done this with cities Council Member Stigney had selected from around the state, and other questions had been raised regarding the merits of that procedure. He stated there might be some other ways of calculating this,perhaps combining tax capacity with population. He stated there were not very many communities with comparable tax bases and population, however, it could be done with some effort, and sufficient staff Council Member Stigney stated they had researched tax capacity, and cities in the metropolitan area that were equivalent to the City of Mounds View in tax capacity and population. He stated the population does not have much bearing, except in extreme cases, where the population is much larger than the City's, and they require twice as much work out of an individual as the City does. Mayor Coughlin stated tax capacity was a broad concept representing a variety of things in different contexts, and it might take quite some time to define what it really represents. Council Member Stigney stated tax capacity basically represents the base available to tax the residents' property, which brings money into the City in which they live. Mayor Coughlin stated this, however, does not take into account that the community may desire to move in a particular direction, or demand additional services. He stated that regardless of the tax capacity compared to another city, at some point, it is an unequal comparison, as they are their own City, and can set their own priorities. MOTION/SECOND: Coughlin/Marty. To Direct and Authorize Staff to Proceed with Option 3, as Presented,Hiring a Housing and Code Enforcement Inspector, and Upgrading Only the Planning Associate Position, and Utilizing the Payment Steps and Salary Levels as Presented to the Council on Salary Budget Impact Options for Option 3 on the Reverse of the Staff Report. Ayes—2 Nays— 1 (Stigney) Motion carried. Council Member Marty inquired if the Council was in agreement in regard to Option 3, however, not the basis of establishing the salary as recommended. Council Member Stigney stated this was 37C:\ADMIN\MINUTES\CC\8-23-99.CC