Minutes - Council - 07/22/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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City's share of the tax base on a home valued at $150,000 is $435, the County would receive a similar amount and the school district would receive about $1275, which the voters approved. Looking at the franchise fee was not something they wanted to do, which is why they included a sunset date. In the next six months to a year, approximately 49 out of the 51 core cities will be implementing a franchise fee. He agrees that it is a bad way to have to do business. He would prefer to raise taxes rather than adding additional fees. Adding a 4.5 percent franchise fee would cost a typical household about $6.08 a month or $73.00 a year and a commercial property $34.00 a month or $411 a year. The Council does have the opportunity to review the situation further, but something will have to be done to keep the City going. Some of the cuts that will have to be considered are ditch mowing, maintenance of dirt roads being limited, instead of plowing after two inches of snow they would wait until there was four inches of snow and they would not plow cul-de-sacs. In addition, trail maintenance would probably not occur. The City had budgeted for additional personnel for Police and Fire, which they held off on hiring. No additional staff has been added in administration and some programs have been cut. The City is looking at hiring two new employees for the Town Center, but they will be financed by the Town Center developers. He stated that he was very proud of the City and the work City staff does. The City Council makes the decisions not the staff and they have looked at all alternatives. Please talk to the legislators so that they can be allowed to run their City. He thanked the people for their comments and if the Council does table the action he will be recommending that more information be provided to the residents. Councilmember Elvig stated that he respectfully wanted to take offense to the statement that he knuckled under pressure. He did not think that he had done his due diligence on next year's budget and he wanted that opportunity, therefore, he made the motion. He was not suggesting borrowing from other funds, but utilizing funds currently in reserve for 2003. Mayor Gamec noted that the one thing he did not want to do is impact safety. Councihnember Kurak requested that an article be written in the Ramsey Resident explaining what a tax freeze is and the impacts of levy limits. Councilmember Zimmerman requested that residents keep in touch with their legislators. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Gamec, and Councilmembers Elvig, Pearson, Cook, Kurak, and Zimmerman. Voting No: Councilmember Cook. Case #1: Adoption of an Ordinance and Resolution Authorizing the Sale of the South 167 Feet of Lots 2 and 2A, Block 1, West Radium Business Center First Addition, Anoka County, Minnesota City Attorney Goodrich stated that the City is in the process of drafting a TIF agreement with L & D Properties, LLC. As part of the transaction, the City is to convey title to the South 167 feet of Lots 2, Block 1, and the South 167 feet of Lot 2A, Block 1, West Radium Business Center First Addition to L & D Properties. In order to complete this transaction, a sale ordinance needs to be adopted authorizing the sale. This ordinance was introduced at the July 8, 2003, City City Council/July 22, 2003 Page 10 of 33