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6 <br />I <br />2 <br />3 <br />4 <br />5 <br />6 <br />7 <br />8 <br />9 <br />10 <br />11 <br />12 <br />13 <br />14 <br />IS <br />16 <br />17 <br />18 <br />19 <br />20 <br />21 <br />22 <br />23 <br />24 <br />25 <br />26 <br />27 <br />28 <br />29 <br />30 <br />31 <br />32 <br />33 <br />34 <br />35 <br />36 <br />37 <br />38 <br />39 <br />40 <br />41 <br />42 <br />43 <br />44 <br />45 <br />46 <br />47 <br />48 <br />City Council Regular Meeting Minutes <br />April 22, 2014 <br />Page 2 <br />V. <br />VI. <br />staff will participate in work sessions to further discuss the 20 IS operating and capital budgets <br />culminating in a presentation to the City Council on September 9th of the proposed 2015 <br />operating budget and property tax levy and another meeting on December 9th where the City <br />Council will adopt the final 2015 operating budget and levy. She reviewed the 2014 General <br />Fund revenues noting that the General Fund is the City's core fund for providing City services <br />and pointed out that the tax levy represents approximately one-half of the City 's revenues. She <br />also discussed General Fund expenditures and stated that over 66% of General Fund <br />expenditures go toward public safety efforts. She also reviewed the overall levies for 2014 <br />compared to 2013 and stated there was a 3.8% increase in overall levies in 2014 , adding that a <br />$208 ,000 median value home paid $1 ,423 for City services in 2014. <br />Councilmember Jenson stated it appears that most cost areas are flat except for the road <br />improvement debt and asked if that increase was due to the fact that the 2014 street project is <br />larger than last year. <br />Finance Director Rueckert explained that the City had some refinancing of debt that occurred in <br />2014 and the City was able to lower some of its interest rates on the restructuring. She <br />acknowledged the increase was higher than the norm but the City has a levy reduction plan in <br />place to help mitigate increases and provide a more gradual or steady increase from year to year. <br />She stated that when the City received its LGA distribution in 2014, the City Council used its <br />LGA to meet previously unmet capital needs, as well as to put some away in reserves and <br />mitigate inflationary increases to provide tax relief. She added that the City anticipates it will <br />receive an additional amount of LGA in 20 IS in the range of 12-18%. <br />Mayor Faust pointed out that the City did not receive LGA for twelve years prior to its receipt of <br />LGA in 2014 and it is going to take some time to catch up. <br />Councilmember Stille stated that the City's approach has always been to do what it can to keep <br />the general levy as flat as possible while still keeping an eye on necessary capital improvements, <br />specifically the City 's roads , and levy increases are typically related to road improvements. <br />Mayor Faust closed the public hearing at 7: 14 p.m. <br />REPORTS FROM COMMISSION AND STAFF -NONE. <br />GENERAL BUSINESS OF COUNCIL. <br />A. Sustainability Internship Presentation . Nicole Nissen-Hooper, Sustainability Intern, <br />presenting. <br />Mayor Faust introduced Nicole Nissen-Hooper, the City 's Sustainability Intern. <br />Sustainability Intern Nissen-Hooper stated that the City planted a tree at Trillium Park today in <br />honor of Earth Day. She reminded residents of the City's annual cleanup day on Saturday, May <br />3rd , from 9:00 a.m.-12:00 noon and residents can check the website and various community <br />handouts for more information. She stated that a Sustainability Festival was held last year with <br />participation from Falcon Heights, Lauderdale, and University of Minnesota students. She <br />advised that the City removed over 400 invasive carp from Silver Lake this winter representing