CC MINUTES 02112014 - Laserfiche WebLink

Home Browse Search

City Council Regular Meeting Minutes February 11, 2014 Page 2 1 A. Presentation by Senator Barb Goodwin. 2 3 Mayor Faust introduced Senator Barb Goodwin. 4 5 Senator Goodwin provided a recap of the last legislative session and advised that the legislature 6 was able to balance the State's budget without any shifts and the State has a healthy reserve. She 7 stated that LGA funding increased by $80 million and the formula was changed resulting in St. 8 Anthony receiving $473,110 in LGA funding. She advised that residents will receive more in 9 the form of homestead and renter's credits this year that should offset any increases in their 10 property taxes and overall, this should stabilize property taxes without the need for significant 11 increases. She stated that eligibility for property tax refunds will increase from $103,000 to 12 $105,000 and the maximum refund amounts have increased for every eligible income bracket; in 13 addition, eligibility for renter's refunds will increase from $56,000 to $57,000 and the maximum 14 refund amounts have also increased for all eligible brackets. She stated that the next legislative 15 session will start on February 25`h and this session will focus on the bonding bill that will be used 16 for repairs and replacement of State buildings, as well as some highway and transportation and 17 bridge projects. She indicated she will be seeking funding for Springbrook Nature Center and 18 noted the Governor has indicated he would sign it if it gets through the legislature. She advised 19 she participated in a workgroup on fraud in the insurance industry and a bill that prohibits an 20 insurance company from raising premiums if someone calls in about a claim or pays a claim by 21 himself. She stated she is also working with a group on expungement of low level criminal 22 offenses and explained that people with low level crimes are having difficulty getting housing 23 and jobs and an alternative to expungement would include a State certification that a person has 24 maintained a clean record. She stated she is also working on mental illness in jails and prisons 25 and a diversion program that would keep people out of a jail situation. 26 27 Councilmember Stille thanked Senator Goodwin for her presentation and requested comment 28 regarding Sunday liquor sales and the sale of wine in grocery stores. He stated the City is not in 29 favor of this, adding the City has two municipal liquor stores that help subsidize the City's taxes 30 and the City wants to retain its ability to control liquor sales. 31 32 Senator Goodwin stated she would not support a bill that would allow Sunday liquor sales or the 33 sale of wine in grocery stores, adding she felt it was important to understand that this could affect 34 property taxes in the long run and affect City services as well. 35 36 Mayor Faust stated the City levies approximately $3 million in property taxes that goes into the 37 General Fund and has liquor store revenue of approximately $500,000 and this proposed 38 legislation could result in a 12.5% increase in taxes in order for the City to maintain the same 39 level of services, adding that having liquor stores open on Sundays would only increase the 40 City's costs and dilute net profit. He pointed out that the primary mission of the municipal liquor 41 stores is to maintain the control of the sale of alcoholic beverages. 42 43 Mayor Faust thanked Senator Goodwin for the update. He stated that the City was previously 44 given some funding as part of a bonding bill that was used for flood mitigation and encouraged 45 anyone in the legislature to come out to the City to see how the money was spent. He also 46 expressed support for the expungement program. 47