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Ramsey's needs. She did not support a goal of getting fees as low as possible, but to set <br />reasonable fees. Councilmember Strommen suggested the Council consider the scale of change <br />that can be made. She asked whether small reductions in fees will make a difference in the way <br />Ramsey grows. She believed people decide to build in a certain location not based on several <br />thousand dollars but considering the schools, quality of life, and jobs. Councilmember <br />Strommen stated she wants to assure the Council is putting effort in the right place, noting there <br />may be other issues such as process. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated he does not want to put residents of Ramsey behind the "8 ball" <br />and wants Ramsey to be competitive. He stated as he looks at the case report, the League of <br />Minnesota Cities' recommendation was to come up with a number (15%) and to not forget to <br />look at other cities to see what they are charging before you set your rates. Councilmember <br />McGlone felt when government entities and employees look at other governments it only goes <br />one way, up. He feels the City is doing the same thing and the trend is up without a basis other <br />than the League said to charge 15% and make sure others are doing the same. Councilmember <br />McGlone stated a lot goes into how the fees are set and he thinks the Council needs to consider <br />the kind of community it is building, Minneapolis or Ramsey. <br />Councilmember Strommen noted the Comprehensive Plan tells the Council the type of City <br />being built and that Plan is updated. She indicated the Council uses the information it has at the <br />time and the City is in one place in progression toward that goal but other communities are in <br />different stages, some with and some without the infrastructure. She noted Ramsey is in the <br />middle and still needs to build infrastructure and figure out how to pay for it. <br />Deputy City Administrator Nelson explained that for staff's purposes it would be good to <br />separate the issues. The City will be conducting sewer and water studies to determine trunk and <br />lateral costs, capital costs, and how to pay for it. That is a separate issue. With building permit <br />fees, the Council can decide if it wants to select another value -based calculation or to only look <br />at what it costs. She explained how to determine an analysis based on a labor multiplier formula. <br />Councilmember McGlone stated he understands government has the right to recoup costs but <br />questioned where is the line and what is justifiable. <br />Deputy City Administrator Nelson asked what number the Council is comfortable with for the <br />City to encourage development and cover costs. She noted that 65% of the City's costs are for <br />police services, which has to be covered as well. <br />Councilmember McGlone noted police services also benefit current residents. <br />Mayor Ramsey stated the staff report is based on roundtable input from developers who <br />indicated the fees were not the big issue; it was the extra requirements such as copper pipe for <br />water connections. Mayor Ramsey indicated that 2012 rates and fees need to be adopted tonight <br />and these other issues cannot be solved in one night. <br />Deputy City Administrator Nelson pointed out that some fees are proposed to be lowered in <br />2012. <br />City Council Work Session / December 13, 2011 <br />Page 3 of 7 <br />