Agenda - Council - 07/08/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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The public hearing closed at 8:28 p.m. Council Action The regular meeting of the City Council was called back to order at 8:28 p.m. Mayor Gamec explained that the City is not poor and is basically in good shape, but they have to look at the future. City staff and Councilmembers have looked at cuts and held off on adding some new staff. The number of seasonal employees was reduced this year, which will mean that grass around the parks will be longer this summer. In addition, this winter the City will probably not begin plowing the streets until they have received four inches of snow rather than two inches and they will not be using the sand and salt as much. The Council does not want to cut services to the community. They looked at cutting some of the community events, but they felt it was important to continue with those events to bring the community together and most of those events have become self-sufficient. The community continues to grow and it is important to offer services to the citizens. The City held off on expanding the Fire Department this year and they will probably not be expanding the Police Department for some time. In regards to property tax increases, the majority of that has to do with the school levy not the City tax. With the cost the City absorbs with the Town Center is all being billed back to the developer and recently the City received a check from the developer reimbursing the City for staff time. The only road going through Town Center that will be done with City funds will be MSA roads, which is done using State funds. Other roads within the Town Center will be paid for by the developer. In regards to the decision made by the Andover City Council, it was his understanding that they have not yet made a final decision on franchise fees. Recently the City Council attended a League of Minnesota Cities meeting and there was a lot of discussion in regards to franchise fees. There were 80 percent of the communities that will be looking at additional fees due to the changes in legislation. The City is still experiencing commercial growth and it creates jobs and opportunities as well as a stronger tax base. He wants to provide a good quality of life for the people by providing Police and Fire protection. At this time the Council is looking at introducing an ordinance establishing franchise fees. City Administrator Norman reviewed a letter from Councilmember Elvig, which stated the following: "My apologies for not being with you this evening to enjoy the 20 plus items on your agenda. My business has made some great and necessary strides as of the last couple months and I am presently traveling in New York City on business. As you review the possibility of instituting franchise fees in the City of Ramsey this evening, I would greatly appreciate that in my absence, you would still consider a couple of my personal views. It's a great challenge for all of us to be in an elected office at a time when poor economy coupled with the fact that the State of Minnesota has produced the largest spending deficit in the States recorded history. It is even more challenging now that the State has turned a significant portion of the "fix it" mentality back to us at the local city government level. Unfortunately, the State has already collected our money and has spent it. Hence, the fact remains that the deficit is being passed back to our communities. The good news is that Ramsey is in a terrific position to earn its own way out of these concerus and truly become a fiscally robust community. We have the ability to grow our City Council/June 24, 2003 Page 16 of 37