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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 14, 2009 Page 5 1 Mr. David Spano, 2504 West Armour Terrace, addressed the City Council and stated he is here 2 to speak briefly about property taxes. He spoke several years ago about the tax increase and feels 3 as citizens they are taxed to the limit. He feels that the people that run this City do not have a 4 concept of how the tax increases they have incurred impact the senior citizens. Mr. Spano 5 expressed concern about the City funds involved in improvements on Silver Lake Road, which is 6 a County road. He stated the residents are at the maximum of what they should have to pay to 7 live in their homes. He stated the taxes they pay to live in small ramblers in this City are 8 unconscionable. He expressed concern that tax increases resulting from the school board were far 9 above the information included in the brochure. He stated if they continue to tax people this way 10 they will drive people out of the City. The City needs to tighten its belt and look at ways to save 11 money. 12 13 Mr. Jerry John, 3456 Silver Lane, Evergreen Townhomes, addressed the City Council and stated 14 his position that there are roads that need attention much more than Chandler Drive. He stated 15 rehabbing Emerald Park and the splash pool seems ludicrous. The plans may be too far along 16 now, but they can show the City Council that a great many residents are not happy with these 17 decisions. In one afternoon he spoke with 22 different residents in his townhome association that 18 are not in agreement with these decisions. The other night he was at a meeting where two other 19 gentlemen had lists just like this with people that think the City is spending money improperly. 20 21 Ms. Pam Golubowics, 2524 36`h Ave NE, addressed the City Council and thanked the Mayor and 22 council members for serving. She stated she has lived in St. Anthony for seven years. It is a 23 wonderful small town. She thought it was right to introduce herself because she wrote a letter to 24 the editor in response to Emerald Park. Her concerns were all stated in that letter. She expressed 25 concern that she did not receive a response to the email she sent to all of the council members. 26 She stated she agrees with what was said before. Last week her husband was asked to take one 27 week without pay and the drivers at his company were asked to take a 1 penny per mile cut. If 28 they are looking at another park she thinks they are forgetting about basics such as the overhead 29 wires in the older neighborhoods and concrete roads that can be skateboarded on. 30 31 Mayor Faust stated the Council appreciates the concerns expressed by the residents and thanks 32 them for coming. The Council may not agree with everything that was said, but they do take the 33 tax impact seriously. He stated the City does not receive any local government aid. They spend a 34 lot of time in financial planning to get a better bond rating and a lower interest rate. The brochure 35 on the school referendum was put out by the school district, not the City. The road project is 36 likely the City's biggest investment. They take infrastructure very seriously. This includes roads, 37 as well as police and fire. The City's Fire Department has a 1 minute, 30 second response time 38 on average. The City Council does not get involved in the selection of roads to be repaired. This 39 is done purposely so that politics are not involved in this aspect. The City Engineer and Public 40 Works Director lay out a plan on the roads in the worst condition, a lot of which is predicated on 41 things like water main breaks or sewer. Each of the members of the City Council lives in the City 42 and pay taxes, and they have spirited debates over spending and costs. Some of them are also 43 going through difficult times so they are attuned to this concern. He stated they will get through 44 this and will probably be a much better City at the end of this than it appears now. He thanked 45 the residents that spoke for being concerned citizens. 46