02-12-2001 CC - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council February 12, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 18 Council Member Marty noted Council Member Stigney had raised a question at the work session instead of using the franchise fee to let them take the tax. Council Member Marty stated he had called Bruce Kessel to ask him about that and indicated the people who itemize would receive a benefit because they could write it off. Public Works Director Ulrich explained a resident with a higher valued home would pay more than a resident with a lower valued home. There are inequities in every assessment plan that Council should be aware of. Council Member Stigney stated Public Works Director Ulrich had asked for direction and stated the City needs to look at all the issues. Whether you take it out of franchise fee or call it a tax the City needs to look at priorities and see what its spending the money on and be upfront with the residents about how the money is being spent. He indicated a desire to make sure the City looks at all the factors in the equation. Public Works Director Ulrich explained the finance director had also mentioned if somebody was moving in or an analysis was being done by the League of Minnesota Cities or the Tribune or if this were to go through the general public they wouldn’t know the amount was for a street assessment but would think Mounds View taxes were extremely high. Mayor Sonterre stated the City has a recently adopted street policy not even tested being questioned and he thinks it is sound and would advise to move forward. In talking about the assessment policy if someone should choose to move up to a curb and gutter and new asphalt is the resident being asked to pay 100% of the asphalt cost but 25% of the curb and gutter and sewer. One thing he would like to see is an analysis of the benefit to the City. Mayor Sonterre asked Public Works Director Ulrich if he would like to see all streets upgraded to a curb and gutter system. Public Works Director Ulrich indicated yes he would like to see all streets upgraded to curb and gutter systems but stipulated that in order to improve the drainage that many lots suffer from because of instability of pavement due to all the traffic on the curb line cannot establish a solid curb line and the only way to do that is with curb and gutter. This would also help with drainage. The City would be able to eliminate drainage in backyards and the middle of intersections. The standard he would recommend would be a curb and gutter system. Mayor Sonterre stated he would like to see some consideration given to giving the residents more of an incentive to choose what’s better in the long run. If the City can eliminate the 25% residential fee for curb and gutter by offsetting 25% on the street reconstruction fees the residents that are getting a better quality road in the end would feel they were getting more for their money. He stated he would like to have information on how this type of funding would affect the projects and how long the funds would last. Council Member Stigney noted the street of choice for new developments is the curb and gutter system but thirty years ago if the City did a street assessment at that time it may have been worth