CC MINUTES 04222014 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 22, 2014 Page 2 4 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33 34 V. 35 36 VI. 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 45 46 47 48 staff will participate in work sessions to further discuss the 2015 operating and capital budgets culminating in a presentation to the City Council on September 9"' of the proposed 2015 operating budget and property tax levy and another meeting on December 9"' where the City Council will adopt the final 2015 operating budget and levy. She reviewed the 2014 General Fund revenues noting that the General Fund is the City's core fund for providing City services and pointed out that the tax levy represents approximately one-half of the City's revenues. She also discussed General Fund expenditures and stated that over 66% of General Fund expenditures go toward public safety efforts. She also reviewed the overall levies for 2014 compared to 2013 and stated there was a 3.8% increase in overall levies in 2014, adding that a $208,000 median value home paid $1,423 for City services in 2014. Councilmember Jenson stated it appears that most cost areas are flat except for the road improvement debt and asked if that increase was due to the fact that the 2014 street project is larger than last year. Finance Director Rueckert explained that the City had some refinancing of debt that occurred in 2014 and the City was able to lower some of its interest rates on the restructuring. She acknowledged the increase was higher than the norm but the City has a levy reduction plan in place to help mitigate increases and provide a more gradual or steady increase from year to year. She stated that when the City received its LGA distribution in 2014, the City Council used its LGA to meet previously unmet capital needs, as well as to put some away in reserves and mitigate inflationary increases to provide tax relief. She added that the City anticipates it will receive an additional amount of LGA in 2015 in the range of 12-18%. Mayor Faust pointed out that the City did not receive LGA for twelve years prior to its receipt of LGA in 2014 and it is going to take some time to catch up. Councilmember Stille stated that the City's approach has always been to do what it can to keep the general levy as flat as possible while still keeping an eye on necessary capital improvements, specifically the City's roads, and levy increases are typically related to road improvements. Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7:14 p.m. REPORTS FROM AND STAFF - NONE. GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. A. Sustainability Internship Presentation. Nicole Nissen -Hooper, Sustainability Intern, presenting. Mayor Faust introduced Nicole Nissen -Hooper, the City's Sustainability Intern. Sustainability Intern Nissen -Hooper stated that the City planted a tree at Trillium Park today in honor of Earth Day. She reminded residents of the City's annual cleanup day on Saturday, May 3`d, from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and residents can check the website and various community handouts for more information. She stated that a Sustainability Festival was held last year with participation from Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, and University of Minnesota students. She advised that the City removed over 400 invasive carp from Silver Lake this winter representing