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HomeMy WebLinkAboutMinutes - 2017/12/04PROCEEDINGS OF THE MOUNDS VIEW CITY COUNCIL CITY OF MOUNDS VIEW RAMSEY COUNTY, MINNESOTA Special City Council Meeting December 4, 2017 Mounds View City Hall 2401 Mounds View Blvd., Mounds View, MN 55112 6:01 P.M. 1. MEETING IS CALLED TO ORDER 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. ROLL CALL: Bergeron, Gunn, Hull, Meehlhause, Mueller. NOT PRESENT: None. 4. APPROVAL OF AGENDA A. Monday, December 4, 2017, City Council Agenda. MOTION/SECOND: Gunn/Bergeron. To Approve the Monday, December 4, 2017, agenda as presented. Ayes – 5 Nays – 0 Motion carried. 5. PUBLIC INPUT None. 6. SPECIAL ORDER OF BUSINESS None. 7. COUNCIL BUSINESS A. Truth in Taxation. Finance Director Beer indicated this special meeting fulfilled the City’s need to hold a Truth in Taxation hearing. He reviewed the proposed 2018 budget in detail indicating it was the City’s mission to provide high quality public services that effectively address changing citizen and community needs at a fiscally responsible rate. General Fund expenditures by purpose were reviewed along with expenditures by function. He noted this meeting would allow the public a time to voice concerns and explained the final budget would be approved at the December 11th Mounds View City Council December 4, 2017 Special City Council Meeting Page 2 City Council Meeting. Finance Director Beer reported the public voted in November to add one Police Officer to the Mounds View Police Department. The additional expense for this new position was discussed. He then reviewed the General Fund operating expenditures in further detail. He indicated the General Fund operating expenditures would increase by 5.63% for 2018. Finance Director Beer discussed the City’s revenues noting the estimated LGA for the coming year was $736,425. He explained the City included 90% of this amount in the budget as a precaution from future uncertainty at the State level. He noted the Fund Balance will be reduced by $250,000 all from the Levy Reduction Fund. He reviewed the 2017 levy to the 2018 levy noting the expense for the additional police position. He explained the City was looking at an 8.87% increase in the levy. He described how the median value homeowner would be impacted by the proposed tax levy. He noted he had a video posted on the City’s website to provide further information on the correlation between property taxes and home values. He commented on the levies proposed by neighboring communities and reported Mounds View was on the low end. Mayor Mueller questioned what the balance was in the Levy Reduction Fund. Finance Director Beer reported this fund has just over $5.5 million. Barbara Haake, 3024 County Road I, asked if the City was proposing an 8.87% increase for 2018. Finance Director Beer reported this was the case. Ms. Haake questioned if this was due to the new police position. Finance Director Beer stated the General Fund increase was 4.3% and the new police position was 1.86%. David Piskorski, 7878 Woodlawn Drive, inquired if staff had a breakdown of the contributions homeowners make to the City through property taxes versus commercial property owners. Finance Director Beer stated he did not have this information within his presentation. Mr. Piskorski questioned how long it took new commercial projects to get on the tax rolls. Finance Director Beer explained if a project was completed by June 30th, the County would include it in the tax rolls for the following year. He reported partial values could be taken if a project was only partially complete. Mr. Piskorski asked for further information on the fire department cost increases. Finance Director Beer stated the City had an increase in calls for service in 2017, which would lead to higher costs in 2018. Judy Elfstrand, 2071 Pinewood Drive, commented on the chart in the recent Mounds View Matters. She asked if residents were taxed based on their home’s taxable value or market value. Finance Director Beer reported the County uses the taxable value. She reported her property taxes were about $100 more than what she was charged. Finance Mounds View City Council December 4, 2017 Special City Council Meeting Page 3 Director Beer discussed the timing of the financial information and encouraged Ms. Elfstrand to estimate her property taxes off of the taxable value for her home. He stated he could investigate the history of this property and would be in contact with Ms. Elfstrand. COUNCIL REPORTS Council Member Meehlhause reported the Mounds View Police Department will begin the New American Academy on Tuesday, December 5th from 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. at the Mounds View Public Schools Adult Learning Center in Silver View Plaza. He noted another session would be held on Thursday, December 7th. The last two sessions would be held on Tuesday, December 12th and Thursday, December 14th. He stated he would be attending all four of these sessions. Council Member Meehlhause explained he would be attending a Northeast Youth and Family Services Board meeting on Thursday, December 7th. He stated he would also be attending the Pinewood Dinner and Discussion on Thursday. Council Member Meehlhause indicated the North Suburban Business Council would be meeting next on Wednesday, December 13th at 7:30 a.m. at the Mermaid Event Center. Council Member Meehlhause thanked all of the Mounds View residents who supported the Mounds View Lions at their waffle breakfast yesterday morning. Council Member Bergeron thanked Interim City Administrator Zikmund for his help on the plan for youth in government. He noted this program would be called TCL for Tomorrow’s Civic Leaders. Council Member Gunn stated she would be attending a CTV Cable Commission meeting on Thursday. Council Member Gunn wished longtime resident Don Hodges and his wife Amy a happy birthday. She explained Don was the City of Mounds View’s local historian and former mayor. Mayor Mueller reported she attended the Ramsey County League of Local Government Annual Meeting last week. She provided an overview of the topics discussed at this meeting. Mayor Mueller commented on the November/December Minnesota Cities magazine. She stated the magazine had an article that addressed the high turnover rate for City employees. Mayor Mueller indicated the 60th Anniversary Committee was still seeking volunteers to help plan and organize an event for 2018. She thanked those who had submitted stories and photos. She reported the 60th Anniversary Committee was planning a dance for Friday, August 17th, which was the day before the Festival in the Park. Mayor Mueller stated on Wednesday, December 13th she would be attending the North Suburban Mounds View City Council December 4, 2017 Special City Council Meeting Page 4 Business Council. Mayor Mueller encouraged residents to consider giving a donation to the Ralph Reeder Food Shelf before December 31st. She explained that all cash or check donations made during the month of December would be matched by a generous donor up to $15,000. Mayor Mueller commented on The Boulevard development and the notice that was sent out to adjacent residents. She explained additional information was available at City Hall regarding this development. Mayor Mueller congratulated Don and Amy Hodges on reaching their 90th and 89th birthdays. Interim City Administrator Zikmund provided the Council with a handout on personnel matters. He explained Building Official Nick Henly would be starting with the City on January 2nd. He stated the Human Resources Coordinator Rayla Ewald began working with the City on November 20th. He indicated the Public Works Director position was filled by Don Peterson. He stated the Public Works Superintendent position had been posted internally, and the City only received two applications. The applications were being scored, and an assessment would be completed. He noted the City had three vacant positions within the Public Works Department at this time. The City would be advertising for these positions after the Public Works Superintendent position was filled. His goal was to have these hirings completed by March 1st. He reported interviews would be held on Wednesday for the Police Support Specialist position. Finance Director Beer provided the Council with an update on the next steps for the City Administrator position. He stated live interviews would be held with the top six candidates on December 15th and December 16th. He explained these candidates would be interviewed by the City Council, department heads and would receive a tour of the City by Public Works Director Peterson. 8. Next Council Work Session: Monday, December 4, 2017, at 7:00 p.m. Next Council Meeting: Monday, December 11, 2017, at 6:00 p.m. 9. ADJOURNMENT The meeting was adjourned at 7:02 p.m. Transcribed by: Heidi Guenther TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.