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Mounds View City Council December 43, 2024 Regular Meeting Page 11 1 2 Council Member Meehlhause questioned if the Charter Commission discussed having this item 3 determined on a ballot versus being voted on by the City Council. Charter Commission Chair 4 Warren reported the Charter Commission recommended a determination be made by the City 5 Council. 6 7 Council Member Bergeron asked if Chair Warren, after discussing priorities, had determined the 8 levy limit was the top priority for the Charter Commission to discuss. Charter Commission Chair 9 Warrant reported this was the case. 10 11 Council Member Bergeron inquired if the Council rejected three proposals from the Charter 12 Commission. He explained that this was not the case, but rather three options were discussed at 13 a worksession meeting and no decisions can be made by the Council at a worksession meeting. 14 Charter Commission Chair Warren indicated this was the case, noting the Council took no vote, 15 but rather discussed the options at a worksession meeting. 16 17 Council Member Meehlhause discussed the differences between Mounds View and its 18 neighboring communities with respect to taxes. He noted Mounds View had its own police 19 department and did not have contracted services the Ramsey County Sheriff's Department. He 20 commented further on how this expense impacted the City's budget and tax levy. 21 22 Further discussion ensued regarding the cuts that would have to come to staffing in order to 23 reduce expenses for the City of Mounds View. 24 25 Council Member Meehlhause stated the City Council had a fiduciary responsibility to the 26 Mounds View residents and noted the current levy limitations would not allow the Council to 27 provide the necessary services the residents are requesting. 28 29 Mayor Mueller indicated she served on the Charter Commission from 2006 to 2008. She noted 30 when she was first on the City Council the City had 49 full time employees. She explained the 31 City now had employees wearing numerous hats and cuts would be difficult to make without 32 disrupting essential services. She stated she is not in favor of removing the levy cap, but did 33 support altering the cap in order to make the community thrive. She discussed the numbers 34 before the Council noting there is a rising cost to hiring and retaining qualified employees. She 35 commented she would be supporting the proposed Ordinance amendment. 36 37 MOTION/SECOND: Hull/Cermak. To Waive the Reading and Adopt Ordinance 984, Charter 38 Commission Amendment Regarding Chapter 7, Levy Limits. 39 40 Council Member Hull indicated the Police Department was currently shorthanded due to a 41 retirement, COVID absences, and on the job injury. He believed it was absolutely critical for the 42 City Council to approve this levy limit change in order to help the police department be properly 43 staffed. 44 45 Council Member Meehlhause noted he supported the Ordinance amendment. He reiterated that