Loading...
HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 1993/08/09PROCEEDINGS OF THE CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Regular Meeting. August 9, 1993 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Hwy. 10, Mounds View, MN 55112 CALL TO ORDER The Mounds View City,Council was called to order by Mayor Linke at 7:00 p.m. on Monday, August 9, 1993. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE The Pledge of Allegiance was said. OLL CALL MEMBERS PRESENT:, Mayor Linke, Councilmembers Wuori, Blanchard, and Quick. ALSO PRESENT: Samantha Orduno, City Administrator; Paul Harrington, City Planner; Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Administrator SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS: Mayor Linke introduced Resolution No. 4395 Commending the Festival Committee and Community Participants in the 1993 !'Festival In The Park" Celebration and asked Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, to read the resolution. The resolution was read. Mayor Linke and Councilmember Wuori commented that after not having a Festival In Two Years, an excellent job was done on this event., VOTE: 4 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried APPROVAL OF MINUTES: MOTIONjSECOND: Quick/Wuori to approve minutes of July 26, 1993, Council Meeting as presented. Mounds View City Council Regular Meeting Page Two August 9, 1993 RESIDENTS REQUESTS AND COMMENTS FROM THE FLOOR There were no resident requests or comments at this meeting. CONSENT AGENDA Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, read the Consent Agenda. Orduno asked that a license, Northern Asphalt, Inc., which is a new license, be added for approval to the Consent Agenda. Mayor Linke asked if there were any items the Council desired removed from the Consent Agenda. There were no items removed. MOTION/SECOND: Blanchard/Quick to adopt the Consent Agenda as amended. VOTE: 4 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried PUBLIC HEARINGS• a. Consideration of Revocation of Conditional Use Permit at_3030_Count Road J - Mayor Linke opened-the public hearing at 7:.05 p.m. Paul Harrington, City Planner, stated that he had contacted the City Attorney to request his attendance at the Council Meeting, however, • City Attorney was unable to attend and, therefore, Harrington asked that this item be tabled to the next regularly scheduled Council Meeting which is September 23, 1993. Mayor Linke polled the Council and stated that this public hearing would be continued to the August 23, 1993, regular Council Meeting. b. Consideration of Variance Request (parking reduction] at 2840 Hiahwav Simon T. Simon - Mayor Linke opened the public hearing at 7:06 p.m. Paul Harrington, City Planner, explained that the final parking plan for the property at 2840 Highway l0 was not ready for consideration at this evening's meeting. Mr. Harrington recommended that, in order to allow for adequate review of the proposed parking configuration on the parcel, this item be tabled to the August 23, 1993, regular Council Meeting. Mayor Linke polled the Council and stated that this public hearing would be continued to the August 23, 1993, regular Council Meeting. c. Consideration of 1993 Long Term Financial Plan - Mayor Linke opened the public hearing at 7:07 p.m. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, explained that the Long Term Financial Plan is a blueprint for the future plans for the City giving estimates of programming, services and staff needs for the next five years. The development of the Long Term Financial Plan is a long process which begun in April of this year. Staff makes many drafts before the final draft is accomplished. There were four drafts drawn up this year. One fact that became crystal clear is that at some point in the near future monies which fund the Mounds View City Council Regular Meeting Page Three August 9, 1993 capital expenditures will no longer be there. At both the Focus 2000 forums and the strategic planning sessions held in March, recommendations were put forth on how best to meet the expenditures facing the .City.. Some staffing projects included in the 1994 budget had to be eliminated. The Long Term Financial. Plan and the 1994 budget are very interlinked. The Long Term Financial Plan serves as a guideline. The items listed on the Long Term Financial Plan will be met at some point in the future, but not necessarily in the order that they have been projected. The Council committed that the .Focus 2000 will be the force that will decide what will or will not happen in-the future. Orduno reported that Ordinance No. 530 Adopting the Long Term Financial Plan was inadvertently omitted from the Council Packet, but was hand delivered to the meeting and is included for consideration at this evening's Council Meeting. The Long Term Financial Plan will be considered for action at the August 23, 1993 regular Council Meeting. MOTION/SECOND• Introduction of Plan VOTE• • COUNCIL BUSINESS Quick/Wuori to Waive the Reading and Approve the Ordinance No. 530 Adopting the 1993 Long Term Financial 4 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried A. Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 93-583C regarding Resolution No. 4396 Authorizing Staff to Proceed with City Hall Building Project and a Transfer of Funds to Account No, 697-3961. Cruikshank reported that for the past several years upgrading of City Hall has been considered to make it amore efficient and effective office building for daily operations. Cruikshank stated that with the passage of the Federal American's with Disabilities Act in 1990, this upgrade has .become more urgent because of the need to comply with this law. Cruikshank reported that the main features of the project include the upgrading of the downstairs restrooms to make them accessible to the disabled, adding a police garage, refurbishing the existing Police office area. and .utilizing the old water treatment area for expanded office space. Cruikshank reported that the project cost is estimated at $501,000 "and that the City Hall building project fund currently has $371,000. The difference is $130,000. Cruikshank stated that the City Finance Director, Don Brager, recommended funds be transferred from Water, Sewer or General Funds to the City Hall Expansion Fund. It was stated that $31,250 could be transferred in 1993 and 1994 from the Water fund and depending on the revenue status of the Sewer Fund,- either $31,250 • could be transferred in 1993 and 1994 or the $31,could be transferred .from the General Fund in 1993 and 1994. Mounds-View City Council .Regular Meeting Page Four August 9, 1993 Cruikshank also requested that an additional $20,000 be transferred from the undesignated funds available in budget reserves to-the City Ha11 Building Project Fund to cover an miscellaneous expenses that may not. have been accounted for. Cruikshank reported that the intention would be to transfer any unused funds back to the appropriate Fund Accounts on a prorated basis. MOTSON/SECOND: Wuori/Blanchard to Adopt Resolution No. 4396 Authorizing Staff to Proceed with City Ha11 Building Project and A Transfer of Funds to Account No. 697-3961 Julie Trude, 8391 Knollwood Drive, stated that two years ago the cost for the expansion was $250,000, last July it was $350,000 and now the cost for this expansion would be $500,000. Trude asked why the amount for this project has increased. Orduno explained that this is an estimated amount. Bids could come in low. There is also a 20~ contingency factored into the cost .which adds to the total cost, of the project. Orduno also explained that the bathroom downstairs does not meet the American's With Disabilities Act and must be brought into compliance. • The City does not have enough water closets to meet ADA requirements for the size of the building after new construction. Julie Trude commented that these are sensitive issues for the taxpayers and taking $30,000 from the water and sewer fund to improve City Hall will only aggravate them more. Orduno explained that this project will not include the purchase of-any new desks, chairs, or office furniture other than some small petitions to be placed around existing furniture. This project includes a basic building. Orduno further explained that there is no conference room space at a11. Orduno explained the problems that constantly crop up with regards to having no conference room space. The new construction will add three conference rooms. One of those con€erence rooms will be a community conference room-that can be used by City groups. Orduno explained that the Council Chambers are used every night of the week by organizations such as 55 Alive, Met Council,. HRA and the Scouts. Staff is at a distinct disadvantage when it comes to availability of a conference area . Julie Trude stated that the conference rooms are justified and that staff areas in the existing building are crowded. This is a very sensitive time for the taxpayers with the start up of the golf course and other items that are being considered at this time. Mayor Linke commented that this upgrade has been under. consideration for a couple of years. Mounds View City Council Regular Meeting Page Five August 9, 1993 Julie Trude asked what the timeline is for the building expansion. Cruikshank stated that ground will be broke in October and final construction would be completed in February of 1994. Orduno stated that no time is a good time and that the .City is trying to comply with state and .federal laws. The upgrade will cost more in. the future and in the meanwhile the City jeopardizes its viability by not being in compliance with the ADA requirements. VOTE: 4 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried B. Tim Cruikshank, Assistant to the City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 93-584C regarding Resolution No. 4397 Establishing Issue Project Teams for FOCUS 2000 Public Forums. Cruikshank reported that over 100 people attended the July 21st and 22nd Focus 2000 public forums held at Edgewood Middle School to address the issues which concerned them for Mounds Views future. Several critical issues were identified and those issues have been combined to form five main topic issues. The topic issues are public transit systems, City government and demographics, housing and neighborhoods, environment, parks, recreation and leisure and growth, development and business. These issue topics will serve as the basis for the next step which is to create Issue Project Teams. Cruikshank explained the charge of the Issue Project Teams. MOTION/SECOND: Wuori/Quick to Adopt Resolution No. 4397 Establishing 5 Zssue Project Teams Developed from Issues Identified by the Participants of the FOCUS 2000 Forums Mayor Linke stated that he had attended both meetings. Linke reported that the meetings were well attended and that he was excited about the. outcome of the meetings. -Mayor Linke stated that he is looking forward to the outcome of the issue groups and stated that there is a need for approximately 35 persons to volunteer to be a part of a study group and to set aside a great deal of time for this task. Cruikshank explained that a report summarizing the issues will be mailed out to residents who attended the forum or who returned the comment cards by the end of the week. Study groups will be formed by mid-September. VOTE: 4 ayes 0 nays Motion Carried C. Mayor Linke stated that with regards to the setting of the Public Hearing considering Ordinance No. 528, Repeal of Sunset Clause for Street Light Utility, the time would be 7:08 p.m. on August 23, 1993, rather that 7:06 p.m., because of two public hearings being continued to that date from tonight~s meeting.. Mounds View City Council' Regular Meeting Page Six August 9, 1993 D. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reviewed Staff Report No. 93-5$6C regarding the Introduction of Ordinance No. 529 Establishing a Surface Water Management Utility and Amending Mounds View Municipal Code by Adding Chapter 73. Orduno stated that the Surface Water Management Utility had been discussed for a number of years and that on June 21, 1993 the City Council conducted an informational meeting on the proposed Surface Water Management Utility. The informational meeting was preceded by four Council meetings in which the utility concept had been discussed with other financing options. The City Council conducted an official public hearing on the proposed Surface Water Management Utility on July 28, 1993. Orduno stated that the reason for this utility is that .the City can no longer fund all basic system services based exclusively on the dollar value of property. Orduno explained that the old concepts that were once so much a part of funding municipal operations and based on property taxes have given way, out of financial necessity and social demands, to more equitable "user" fee concepts that place responsibility and payment for services onto the users of a system, not just the taxable property owners. Orduno stated that this a fair and equitable means of funding the kinds of projects that need top priority attention. Orduno stated that Rocky Keene, Short-Elliott-Hendrickson, was present at tonight's meeting to answer any questions that the residents might have. Orduno also reported that during the FOCUS 2000 meetings some of the. items brought forth were to .maintain a quality water system, to maintain wetlands and provide services in a fair and equitable manner. Orduno also reported that this item will be put on the August 23, 1993 agenda for consideration. Mayor Linke stated that there had been one informational meeting and ,one public hearing on this item already. This item was discussed at four work sessions and at many meetings last year. Orduno added that the ordinance establishing the utility would be considered at this time and at a future Council Meeting a resolution utility would be considered to establish the fees for the utility. This ordinance would be very similar to the water and sewer utility. This source of funding is becoming a national trend. Mayor Linke stated that in the past he had been opposed to a utility, however, after .looking at the costs for property taxes to residents and small business, i.e., the cost of ad valorem taxes would be twice the amount as the utility fee. The utility is set up so that those that provide the most runoff to the system will be the ones that will be paying the higher fees. The utility is the best way to collect funds and put them into a fund that would be used to solve some of the problems with the surface water runoff. Mounds View City Council .Regular Meeting Page Seven August 9, 1993 Councilmember Blanchard stated that she recalls that in 1991 there were several meetings regarding this subject. These meetings ,were highly publicized -- special flyers were sent out, articles were present in the newsletter and public notification was made in the newspapers. Blanchard stated that she attended those meetings and the overwhelming wishes of the people in attendance was not to have a utility. In February of 1991, Blanchard stated that because the adoption of a Surface Water Management Plan was mandated to be in place, a resolution was adopted to approve the Plan with the stipulation that all references to a utility be stricken. The resolution passed on a 3/2 vote. Blanchard recalls that at that same time, it was announced that there would be no implementation of the Plan until there was some funding from the state or federal government. Councilmember Blanchard stated that, in her opinion, the informational meeting held in July was not highly publicized. There were no special notices sent to the City's "stakeholders" regarding the public hearing. The informational meeting was very poorly attended. Councilmember Blanchard stated that the Council is not listening to the people and that it is deplorable. Therefore, Councilmember Blanchard encouraged the Council to vote no on the Surface Water Management Utility until the citizens are better informed and have the opportunity for more .public input. Mayor Linke stated that he concurred with part of Councilmember Blanchard's statement, but stated that if the City doesn't look at the future and plan for the future the City will have the same problems in twenty years as it does now. There needs to be a solution to the problem of financing the projects that need to be accomplished and the City will not receive any funding .from the-state or federal government. It will be up to the City to solve the problems and find a way to financially take care of them. Councilmember Blanchard stated, in her opinion, the City has not given the citizens the opportunity to voice their opinions and concerns on this utility. There needs to be more public input before the. Council makes a decision on this utility. Mayor Linke stated that the public was informed regarding the meetings on this utility. Linke stated that he announced the meeting on cable during one of his programs and that it was well publicized~~on the outside sign board and in various other places. Mayor Linke stated that one cannot go get the citizens from their homes and bring them to the meetings. Richard F. Wolens, owner of North Suburban Minnesota Business Association stated that is down and sales and revenues are down for store and the liquor store in the shopping restaurants. Schwinn and President of the traffic flow his business, the hardware center as well as the Mounds View City Council ~egular Meeting • Page Eight August 9, 1993 At a time when the businesses are having problems .the City Council is trying to revoke the sunset clause which was placed on the streetlight utility as a stop gap or check and balance, Mr. Wolens stated that the Council is constantly attempting to increase the cost of doing business in Mounds View. Mr. Wolens stated that it is more costly to do business in Mounds View than it is in Blaine and in many other cities. The City of Mounds View is constantly spending more money. Mr. Wolens stated that if the City continues to do this with the revenue numbers down, there will be an increased number of businesses vacant in the City of Mounds View. Mr. Wolens encouraged the Council. to stop spending money as the businesses cannot afford it. Mayor Linke stated that there is a problem in the City with surface water and that every time it rains there is standing water. Linke asked Mr. Wolens what the City should do, let it stand or let the system back up and don't make any plans to fix it or put any money away for repair of the system. Wolens stated that the major area of concern should be the Highway 10 corridor. Wolens asked if when the County or State turns over part of the highway to .the City, it will be fixed, correct? Mayor Linke explained that when the highway is turned over it will be turned over as is. Wolens stated that the businessmen are paying the majority of .the fees. The Federal government will get 15°s of the business lunches and this will severely affect the restaurants in the area. This type of cause and effect hurts the businesses. Mr. Wolens stated that part of the utility franchise fee is increased overtime for the code enforcement officers. Wolens commented that the business owners in Mounds View will pay the majority of this fee because Mounds View requires them to put in much larger parking lots than does the cities of Blaine or Spring Lake Park. Mayor Linke stated that he deals with those numbers every day. Linke asked Mr. Wolens to propose a way to pay for the repairs of the storm water system. Wolens asked how many problems the City have with surf ace .water runoff. Mayor Linke reported that there were three homes in the Ardan area flooded out during the last heavy rainfall and that there are problems in the entire Ardan area. ,7 Mounds View City Council ,Regular Meeting Page Nine. August 9, 1993 Wolens suggested bulldozing down the three homes, buying the property owners out and relocate them. Mayor Linke asked if all homes in the Ardan drainage district should be bulldozed because there are water problems. Mr. Wolens stated whichever is the most economic way to save money for this community.. Mayor Linke stated that. the City is looking for a Long term way to raise funds to solve the problems.. This would have to be done with property taxes or user fees. Wolens stated that if the City .continues to tax the businesses so heavy businesses will become vacant, real estate taxes will go down, property values will go down and the City will decay. Duane McCarty, 8060 Long Lake Road, asked how the storm water drainage fund will be incorporated into this utility. Mayor Linke responded that those funds will be placed into the utility • fund. Mr. McCarty asked if future charges for storm water drainage paid by the developers at the time of permitting would be credited so that two charges wouldn't be made to the developers. Mayor Linke stated that the City is 98~ built out. Mayor Linke stated that monies received from developers would not be enough to fund the necessary projects for the future. McCarty asked, if this ordinance would go into affect what happens to the old formula. process under the old Storm Water Drainage charge. Mayor Linke stated that the old formula charge would nvt be negated. The ordinance allows our Council to set up an adjustment or credit for those kinds of cases. Past Surface Water Management Utility charges will be credited against the Surface Water Management charges. Mayor Linke stated the Storm Water Management past and future process will not change for those developments. Mayor Linke stated that this problem has not come up and arrangements could be made for a credit for a future developer. Mayor Linke stated that the Storm Drainage money will go into the same fund. The City needs to find a mechanism to find dollars because there is not enough money in the existing fund to fund work that is going on at this time. Mounds View City Council ' .Regular Meeting Page Ten August 9, 1993 Duane McCarty stated that he understood that the City was 98~ built out, but building will not cease on vacant land. The City is looking at intensive retrofitting and rehabilitation in certain areas. McCarty stated that there is always another project to be built that will trigger Storm Drainage or Surface Water Management funds. McCarty stated that the utility seems to take on one small area of the City and, in his opinion, there should be a more wholistic approach which would encompass the entire City. It appears that this Surface Water Management Utility revolves around one small area of the City. McCarty quoted some tenets from the Metro Water Management Act of 1982. Mayor Linke stated that this utility would provide.a financing plan to include projects throughout the entire City. There were many projects identified. Rocky Keene, Short-Elliott-Hendrickson, reported that seven to ten projects had been identified in .the Plan. McCarty stated that he would be very interested, in seeing a-Plan that the Council had developed to improve Surface Water Management when the Lonq Term Financial Plan starts out with a small portion of the City. McCarty stated that many people were given permission to build on a swamp and later yelled, "Get me out of the water." McCarty further stated that there is one point that he would like to make and. that is that there needs to be trust between the City Council and the citizens of the community. The Council. stated in the 5 ear Goal Program booklet that was mailed out to the residents that the citizens of the City of Mounds View will have the opportunity to set the direction the City will take now and into the next century and encouraged the residents or stakeholders to come forward and be part of these goals. On page 6 of the Action Steps in this booklet it states, "implement the surface water management plan through adoption of funding mechanisms and approval of necessary capital outlays." The Council is preempting that trust with the adoption of Ordinance No. 529. Mayor Linke stated that the Surface Water Management Plan was adopted in 1991 and had been spoken about several times at meetings and that the Plan is a city-wide concept plan. McCarty commented that the .implementation plan is missing. Mayor Linke stated that the projects listed in the Plan may not be accomplished when scheduled, but at some time in the future will be completed. Mounds View City Council • Regular Meeting Page Eleven August 9, 1993 Bi11 Frits, 8072 Long Lake Road, stated that the people on Arlon have had water problems for the last 40 years. These persons purchased land, walked it, stuck their foot it in and now want someone to get their feet out of the mud. Mr. Frits asked how the Council is planning to research water management when the best people in the world, the Army Corps of Engineers, are scrambling to get the egg of their face and are working on i.t. There will be many .changes made to water management. The plans that the City makes will get changed. Mayor Linke stated that the City will need to maintain storm water detention ponds, clean catch basins, do street sweeping and these items will be paid for by the utility. McCarty commented that this Plan focuses around one small project. Mayor Linke stated that the City_Council is trying to fund the entire plan, not just one small area. McCarty stated that in the 1993 Long Term Financial Plan there is $101,000 to be taken from the Surface Water Management Fund, which is not in place, but found its way into the 1993 Plan for work on Ardan Avenue in 1994. Mayor Linke stated that the idea is planning for the future.. Items may not happen in the year scheduled but the Long Term Financial Plan is used for planning of projects that need to be accomplished. Mayor Linke stated that when Mr. McCarty was Mayor of the City some of his plans also didn't happen. McCarty stated that something that he helped to create for projects did happen when he was Mayor and that was the creation of the Home Rule Charter which helped protect. the citizens against a spend free Council. One element .created in Chapter 8 under assessment procedures allowed. for referendum and initiation. Charles Hall, Mermaid Supper Club, stated that if there is a-water problem in the City it should be taken care of. Mr. Hall stated that those who create the problem should pay for the solution to it. Mr. Hall indicated that residents should pay their fair share. Businesses pay more real estate taxes. In 1978, Charles Hall was assessed for $10,000 to take care of any sewer work that had to be taken care of in Mounds View regarding his business. Mr. Hall stated that the interest rates have .more than doubled since that time. Mr. Hall asked, if the money isn't spent, could he have a credit for $20,000 to take care of him. Mr. Hall stated that the Surface Water runoff from the Mermaid goes into two weirs which go under County Road H2 and into the creek. Mr. Hall stated that he is interested to see how much he will pay. Mr. Hall stated that he agrees with Councilmember Blanchard in that the Mounds View City Council .Regular Meeting Page Twelve August 9, 1993 more input from the public is needed before the Council passes this ordinance regarding the utility. Mr. Hall said he was aware of the FOCUS 2000 project. Mr. Hall stated that he has to tip his hat to the persons responsible for conducting and putting together the FOCUS 2000 materials in that a very professional job was done. Mr. Hall. stated that he didn't, attend the forums because of what had happened back a few months ago regarding .the gas and electric franchise. Mr. .Hall. stated that if the businessmen can help the City, everyone should pull together., but Mr. Hall stated that he hopes that when it is done people who live here as well as businesses are charged equally. Mr. Hall stated that he called Samantha Orduno a few months ago to discuss the possibility of increasing the size of his parking lot because he put up a volleyball court. Mr. Hall stated that he cannot afford to increase the lot now. Mr. Hall also stated that he had to have a portion of his roof done due to leakage at a cost of $27,500. Mr. Hall stated that he doesn't have any money and wished he could assess everyone to help him pay for this repair. Julie Trude stated that the capital list. Trude suggested that letting for would help. Mayor Linke stated that on the list looking at obtaining some land for Ardan area is proposed. There is a Plan. projects have not been seen on a people know what-they are paying there is an item that the City is ~ holding area. Work on the list of proposed projects in the Rocky Keene sated that there were some ponding options and some discharging of wetlands or wetland property treatment areas. Julie Trude stated people are completely baffled and that these expenditures need more justification. Trude suggested a list of the projects be made available to the people. Mayor Linke stated that the Plan provides a list. There is no priority to the list. Some areas may be developed prior to others depending upon other work being done in the area. Julie Trude asked if the City is helping the developers build their developments. Mayor Linke stated that the City tries to piggy back whenever possible such as in the Long Lake Road area which was provided for in the Plan. By doing the project now approximately 50$ of the cost was saved when combining the work with Ramsey County. Mounds View City Council .Regular Meeting Page Thirteen August 9, 1993 Mayor Linke stated that in other areas maintenance such as street sweeping and ditch cleaning will have to be completed and there isn't enough money. Julie Trude asked if the water fund has excess capita and it can be transferred for the expansion of City Hall, why can't it be transferred for these types of things? Mayor Linke asked Ms. Trude to stop in to City Hall and find out what the funds can be used for and how the funds are being used. Julie Trude stated that she would feel better if she could see a list of projects with price tags. Mayor Linke stated that there should be a Storm Water Management Plan at the counter. Ms. Trude indicated that when she was at the hearing she did not see one in City Hall. Rocky Keene, Short-Elliott-Hendrickson went over a list of some of the- . projects and their costs for the Storm Water Management Plan. Peg Mountin, stated that in the Ardan area the builder was given elevations on which to build the homes and the road was built later at higher elevations. Ms. Mountin stated that the businesses should not be responsible for areas where they have no input of surface water runoff. The businesses are not contributors to the problem. Mr. Keene stated that each and every part of the City has some improvements listed in the Plan.. The projects listed in the Plan have come about as a result of previous feasibility studies and were identified prior to the Plan.. Peg Mountin suggested that perhaps the utility be based on Surface Water Management Districts and those persons in the problem areas would be responsible for the financing for those projects in those districts. Mayor Linke stated that the water comes in from Ardan and if it could flow straight through there would be no problem, however, the people north and south of Ardan and in the middle fill, up the pipes. Who does the City assess then? The problem is a system-wide problem. Mayor Linke referred to Chapter 8 of the Home Rule Charter and stated if the City did go through the assessment process in the Ardan area someone from the southern part of the City could bring in a petition against the process and could stop the process. Mounds View City Council Regular Meeting Page Fourteen August 9, 1993 Mayor Linke stated that the water problem is a City-wide problem and so would the addition of this utility to the ad valorem taxes would then become a City-wide problem. Taxpayers would be paying taxes plus interest for twenty years. Peg Mountin stated that nothing gives her more heart burn than to know that she would have to pay taxes for something she did not contribute to or be a benefactor of. Ruth White, 2917 County Road I, stated that she is opposed to putting everything on the utility bill. This type of tax belongs on the property taxes. If on the property taxes, it can somewhat be controlled and monitored and the low income persons can get a break on their tax refund that can't be gotten with the utility. Ms. White also asked if this was a permanent item and, if so, it definitely belongs on the property taxes. Ms. White stated that this utility is a little deceptive as there already is $180,000 in the surface water fund. Mayor Linke stated that this is money put into the fund by the developers and that fund will only last for three years and will be • gone. Ms. White asked if this money will go into .the same fund. Mayor Linke explained that this is another source of revenue for that fund so the City can continue doing these projects and paying for them out of that fund . Ms. White stated that not everybody has a water problem. Ms. White stated that the lady who. spoke previously had a good idea when she stated that the persons with the problems should pay. Ms. White stated. that the City shouldn't pay for the entire area. Ms. White asked how the City knows how much runoff she produces and what kind of problem she has. Mayor Linke explained that there is a scientific guesstimate that is made that measures the amount of runoff on certain land uses. Linke stated that Ms. White's property and driveway is a little larger than his, but he will pay the same amount as she does for the utility. Ms. White stated that her runoff runs-into the lake and takes with it sand. Mayor Linke explained that the sand goes into the pipes that drain into the lake and that those pipes need to be cleaned as there is no weir to filter out the sediment. Ms. White stated that she is for putting the utility fee on the property taxes so a tax refund could be obtained. Mounds View City Council Regular Meeting Page Fifteen August 9, 1993 Mayor Linke asked that Ms. White come in December and compliment the Council on what a good job they are doing and thank the Council for adding items on to their property taxes. Duane McCarty stated that there is one element that he totally agrees with an that is the pay-as-you-go philosophy. This prevents the City from having a great deal of debt in the future.- Mr. McCarty stated that in keeping faith with the citizens that the Surface Water Management Utility. should have its trial during the FOCUS 2000 process before all of the citizens which will give more of a public notification than tonight. Mr. McCarty suggested that the Council table this item and refer it to the FOCUS 2000 process to be thoroughly aired in a public forum by the entire group of citizens in the community rather than ramming it through quickly and out of the FOCUS 2000 process. Mayor Linke stated that there had been many discussions, informational meetings and public hearings on this issue and he stated that he did not feel that the City was ramming it through. Mr. McCarty stated that he was not talking about the subject, as the subject had been around for a long time, but rather the fact that the • Council was putting the vote through without first taking the subject to the FOCUS 2000 groups. Joel Sheldon, 5143 Red Oak Drive, understands that the City was mandated to develop the plan and perhaps the utility fee is the best way to go. Mr. Sheldon stated after looking over factors and fees the businessmen are paying 317 more than the residential property owners. Sheldon stated that he realized the businessmen would pay more, but not 317 more. MOTION/SECOND: Quick/Wuori to waive the reading and approve the Introduction of Ordinance No. 529 Establishing a Surface Water Management Utility and Amending the Mounds View Municipal Code By Adding Chapter 73 Mayor Linke stated that two weeks from now Ordinance No. 529 will be brought up again. Mayor Linke stated that he has heard some things and has some things to think about. Mayor. Linke stated he has some time to look at these things before the 23rd. VOTE: 3 ayes 1 nay Motion Carried ' E. Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, reviewed Staff. Report No. ' 93-587C. The Senior Center Task Force has asked the participating cities to consider appointing an additional member to the Task Force considering the longevity of the Task Force and the many meetings that the Task Force members are asked to attend. Orduno stated that every member cannot attend every meeting and therefore, the Task Force, is Mounds View City Council ~egular Meeting ' Page Sixteen August 9, 1993 asking that alternates be selected so that all meetings are attended and represented by the City when unforseen absences occur. Task Force Members serving from their given cities. MOTIONISECOND: Linke/Quick to Appoint Diane Wuori as Alternate Member with Voting Rights to the Regional Senior Center Task Force to Ensure Full Task Force Representation by the City of Mounds View VOTE.: 3 ayes 1 absention 0 nays Motion Carried REPORTS 1. Report of Councilmembers: Councilmember Blanc: Councilmember Ouick Councilmember Wuori performances of the member Wuori stated to Mounds View High 2. Report of Mayor: Mayor Linke hard - No report. - No report. - Thanked everyone who attended the "Fantasticks" and the performers. Council- that the move of the production from Irondale School did have an impact on the ticket sales. Mayor Linke announced that the Special Election to fill the vacated Councilmember position will be held on August 24, 1993. Absentee ballot applications are available at City Hall or one can call and have an application mailed out. Residents will be able to absentee vote between 1:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m. on Saturday, August 21, 1993 and on Monday, August 23, 1993, City Hall hours for absentee voting will be extended from 5:00 p.m. to 7:00 p.m. Report of Administrator Samantha Orduno, City Administrator, had no report, however, indicated that she would be on vacation from the 10th to the 24th of August and announced that Tim Cruikshank would be Acting City Administrator in her absence. Rep ort of Staff : No report Rep ort of Attorney: The City Attorney-was not present at the meeting. . Mounds View City Council ~gular Meeting Page Seventeen August 9, 1993 ADJOURNMENT There being no further business before this Council, Mayor Linke adjourned the meeting at 9:07 p.m. Respectfully submitted, ~~~~~ ~~~ ~`~ /~~~'G Michele Severson Recording Secretary • C7