Laserfiche WebLink
ounds View City Council Page Thirteen <br />~gular Meetinq -.-- --October 13, 1992 <br />Dave Schwartz, NSP, stated that the City's franchise agreement has a <br />separate fee policy which calls for a public hearing. <br />Trude want a clarification regarding the hearings. Trude asked <br />if the City would have to hold another hearing before the <br />implementation of the fee could be voted on. <br />Mayor Linke explained that a item three could be acted on tonight <br />as the City has met all requirements of the City Charter. The <br />fee could be collected. yearly instead of monthly per the existing <br />agreement. <br />Orduno clarified that the current franchise has 8 more years <br />to be in effect . <br />Charles Miller asked to hear the Council's reasons for wanting the <br />franchise fee and how it would be better for the City residents. <br />Mayor Linke stated that he has had the privilege to sit for many <br />years on the Council and work on many budgets. Linke stated that <br />he has seen the volatility of property tax increases. Linke stated <br />that last year the Council was able to reduce the budget by 1.5~ <br />but had to raise taxes to make up the difference because of <br />. property taxes going down. The franchise fee is a revenue source <br />that the City can count on. The franchise fee will not fluctuate <br />by "whoever has a bee in their bonnet" in the legislature. The <br />City has had to reduce the fund balance and draw it down and loose <br />interest and with the franchise fee money being put in monthly the City <br />would earn interest on that money. <br />Councilmember Wuori stated that she had not made up her mind as to <br />how to vote on the franchise fee. Councilmember Wuori stated that <br />it bothered her to rely on taxes. Perhaps a sliding scale could be <br />looked into. The government has a habit of changing their minds and <br />it is done in the middle of our budget year. If something isn't done, <br />each year the City will fall back little by little. <br />Councilmember Quick stated that no one knows how much the state will <br />cut us this year. Quick asked where does the City make its cuts -- <br />non-essential services, what are non-essential services -- parks, <br />recreation, streets, maintenance. The City has a one million dollar <br />payroll in Police alone. The franchise fee will help Mounds View stay <br />in the future. If the City doesn't do anything Mounds View could <br />become a part of Shoreview, New Brighton or Arden Hills. In order to <br />plan for the future the Council has to make tough decisions. Maybe one <br />of the candidates in the audience will have to deal with the $950,000 <br />cuts next budget session. <br />• <br />