Agenda Packets - 2007/11/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

Mounds View City Council October 22, 2007 Regular Meeting Page 9 Blake Downs of Groveland Road thanked the Task Force and said that he is surprised that 1 Medtronic and other large businesses have not complained, because they will pay for this without 2 much benefit. He then said that, in a democracy, not everyone ends up happy with everything or 3 every portion of a project. Mr. Downs said that he feels the Task Force worked hard to put 4 together a plan to make things as right as possible. 5 6 Jim Cavanaugh of 7956 Red Oak Drive said he has lived in this location for 35 years. Mr. 7 Cavanaugh said that this process has been going on for 9 years and the Task Force has met for 8 years on this and all meetings were open to everyone and were televised. There was a group of 9 20 that came to the meetings for two years and no one else came but now they have come with 10 questions and suggestions. 11 12 Mr. Cavanaugh said that he feels that issues and concerns have been heard by Council and noted 13 that not everyone is going to agree on this project. He then asked Council to move on with this 14 project and get this done. 15 16 Bill Doty asked what percentage of properties within the City are valued at less than $200,000. 17 18 Staff estimated that a majority of houses hover around the $200,000 mark. 19 20 Mr. Doty said that he is for fixing the infrastructure but he would like to use the money that is in 21 hand rather than trying to make up more by further taxing residents. 22 23 Mr. Doty said that he is not for cities or governments having big cash reserves. Mr. Doty 24 suggested letting the residents decide how to pay for this. 25 26 Mayor Marty closed the public hearing at 9:14 p.m. 27 28 Council Member Mueller said that the interest from the Medtronic fund is being used to help 29 generate the street projects for the City. She then said that the interest from that money has 30 allowed the City to carry a 0% levy increase for the last three years. 31 32 Council Member Mueller said that the City levy is spread out over the entire City and property 33 taxes have gone down a few dollars in the last few years. She then said that there is a temptation 34 to spend the money but the levy reduction fund has been used to hold down taxes now for the 35 third year in a row and, if it is spent, then it is not available to use to keep taxes down. 36 37 Council Member Mueller indicated that voters approved a maximum of 5% increase on any 38 spending unless a referendum is done. 39 40 Council Member Mueller provided an overview of the scenario if the City did not have the levy 41 reduction funds and noted that the costs would climb. Council Member Mueller said that she 42 would like to see this project bring the community together with really great streets and 43 community pride. 44 45