Agenda Packets - 2007/11/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council October 22, 2007 Regular Meeting Page 10 Council Member Flaherty agreed with Council Member Mueller. He then said that residents 1 should not be selfish because there are those that would be contributing that receive no direct 2 benefit such as the businesses, manufactured home residents, and those that live on County roads 3 and those residents have not been complaining. 4 5 Council Member Flaherty said that he does not feel that any rights are being taken away. He then 6 thanked the Task Force for the commitment to meet on this for two years and develop this 7 recommendation for Council. 8 9 Council Member Hull asked if this could be changed from a levy to an assessment to give 10 everyone a voice on the project. 11 12 Mayor Marty indicated that millions can be saved by accelerating this program to 10 years rather 13 than 18 or 20. Mayor Marty said that this proposed project would move forward in a finite time 14 rather than be subject to delays and additional costs for residents. 15 16 Council Member Hull asked how the figures would be affected by exempting those that were 17 already assessed. He then suggested exempting them and increasing costs to other residents 18 slightly. 19 20 Council Member Stigney commented that the Task Force is trying to solve the streets issue and 21 develop a method for paying. He then said that “the devil is in the details” despite the fact that 22 the plan looks good on its face. 23 24 Council Member Stigney said that this does circumvent the petition process. He then said that 25 there is money in hand, and that should be spent down, and then the City should stay within the 26 general fund that establishes a cap on how much money can be generated. 27 28 Council Member Stigney said that maybe there should be an option to opt in or out for those that 29 have paid an assessment. He then said that he thinks the Council should take a vote on whether 30 or not to go to referendum on this project. 31 32 Council Member Stigney said that the Finance Director has said that he is hopeful that there 33 would be enough money in the fund after 10 years and, if there is not, that means raising taxes to 34 pay for it. 35 36 Council Member Stigney said that using the funds to reduce taxes for streets would be an 37 excellent use of the levy reduction fund. 38 39 Council Member Stigney indicated that the proposed plan has a lot of details that need to be 40 discussed and worked out to ensure that this plan can work, before this is decided upon. 41 42 Mayor Marty said that it is Council’s job to look to the future, and look to what is best for the 43 residents. Mayor Marty commented that this must be done for the overall well being of the City 44 now, and in the future. 45