Minutes - 2001/11/26 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mounds View City Council November 26, 2001 Regular Meeting Page 13 Mr. Anderson indicated he was at the meeting because he was amazed at the 20% increase and said he is concerned at the cost of government continuing to increase and the number of people being served staying pretty much stable and he is hoping this Council can get a handle on that. Mayor Sonterre indicated that participation in the drug task force leads to forfeiture funds and, unless you eradicate the problem completely, those forfeiture funds are fairly consistent. He then agreed that the population has remained relatively consistent but said that the City has an increasing problem with drugs and the effect of drugs on the community. He further indicated that the City has had crack houses and methamphetamine houses in the City and participation in the drug task force gives the City multi-jurisdictional assistance with the drug problem. Council Member Thomas indicated that the license for the Mermaid took into consideration the number of police calls to the location. She indicated that the addition of two police officers was tied to getting a grant and, because the City did not get that grant, those two officers were not added. She then indicated that the officer added should be able to generate revenue back to the City with forfeiture funds. She further indicated that the overall increase in government was held to an increase of 2.87%, which is less than the cost of living. Council Member Marty commented that the police department needed another officer to make sure that every shift has more than one officer so that those officers know that they have back up if something were to happen. Mr. Anderson indicated that he is concerned that the franchise fees seem to continue to expand. He then indicated that even though it is being paid out of a different pocket it is going to the same place. Council Member Thomas indicated that the franchise fee has remained the same for three years. Mayor Sonterre indicated the allocation of the franchise fee dollars has been changed to put more money in the street fund. He then explained that the crime report that lists the addresses of 2200 block of Highway 10 does not mean that all of those events are occurring at the Mermaid because often times, the officers are in that general area watching for behaviors. Acting Chief Brennan indicated that even though the population has remained fairly stable for a long time the police department responded to over 10,000 calls in 1999 as compared to 5,000 in 1989. David Jahnke of 8428 Eastwood Road indicated he was at the meetings to try and fight the franchise fee because once a revenue source is established it never goes away. Council Member Quick indicated that the franchise fee is reviewed every year. Mr. Jahnke indicated that the franchise fee was to be reviewed every year with a sunset clause and said that one mayor had indicated that it would go down but he does not think it will ever go away.