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City Council Regular Meeting Minutes April 11, 2006 Page 6 Ms. Kvilvang explained that the financing aspects of the other two priorities, Emerald Park and wireless internet, have not yet been resolved. She recommended that once the Council decides 3 what to do at Emerald Park, some cash on hand like profits from the liquor store can be 4 considered. However, most likely, there would be a tax impact through an abatement bond or 5 equipment certificates. The wireless internet service is estimated at $1 million and as it is further 6 discussed, staff will look at feasibility and funding sources. 7 8 Councilmember Stille stated this is an excellent job of framing goals and financial sources. He 9 asked if this program will impact the City's bond rating. Ms. Kvilvang explained that rating 10 agencies, such as Moody's, look not only at fund balances, but also planning into operations so 11 this will help to strengthen or maintain the bond rating of the City. 12 13 Councilmember Thuesen noted the cost estimate for the Silver Lake Road project is $3 million 14 and recalled that was a high -side estimate. Ms. Kvilvang explained it was the highest estimate 15 and if the project costs less, it would free up funds to be used elsewhere. 16 17 Mayor Faust noted some of the projects are interrelated and interconnected so the City cannot do 18 one without the other or the cost goes up. He stated that the Silver Lake Road, wireless water 19 meters, 1/I Program and Foss Road lift station projects are directly interrelated to each other. 20 Mayor Faust stated his support for doing those projects. 21 22 Mayor Faust stated the sidewalk, street lights, and Higherest projects are related and benefit both regular citizens and the School. He noted it has been stated all along that the wireless internet project would be self funding. He stated he supported the Emerald Park and wireless internet 25 projects, if the Council found a way to fund them that was not levy or bonding. He noted that a 26 lot of times and dollars look big but it goes back to the Key Financial Strategies, which put the 27 City in a position to do a number of projects that appear to be big to the community. He stated 28 he does not think the projects are excessive and pointed out the Council has spent four years 29 planning and now needs to do something. 30 31 Councilmember Thuesen stated when thinking about the sidewalks and looking at the long term, 32 St. Anthony is a Walkable Safe Community. Sidewalks are a long -term goal and also have 33 potential ramifications with the School District and bussing students. The sidewalks allow 34 people to go for walks as well as safely walk to school. 35 36 Mayor Faust stated the School District has an annual cost of $600,000 to bus students and if the 37 City can help them take a "bite" out of it, it will help the tax payer's burden. 38 39 Ms. Kvilvang stated St. Anthony is a City that stands apart from others and is held up by other 40 cities because while some may do annual goal setting, they do not make the connection of 41 financial planning for long -term impacts or try to limit impacts back to the taxpayers. She 42 advised that other cities refer to St. Anthony as the model of how things should be done and 43 planned for. Ms. Kvilvang stated St. Anthony should be proud of being able to take on projects 44 that cost millions of dollars with low impact to residents. 45 B. Resolution 06 -038• Appointing the Members to the Comprehensive Land Use Plan 47 Review Task Force.