Minutes - Council - 12/12/2017 - Laserfiche WebLink

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Mayor Strommen offered a different perspective, noting that general metrics of inflation that Councilmember Riley used for comparison do not adequately apply to the City. She stated that as the City continues to grow, there are different expectations on the roads, trail and park maintenance and the City needs to continue to meet those expectations. She stated that the Council considered what is needed to meet that level of service and carefully reviewed the personnel requests that came forward to ensure that each of the added positions address the expectations for service to the community. She stated that the additional parks maintenance worker is related to the increased demands for the parks and the city planner is a direct relation to the number of development applications and permits that continue to be received and the staff needed to review those requests. She stated that she was shocked to find the City Engineer is doing his own administrative work and therefore she sees the need for the administrative assistant for that position to ensure that his time is better spent providing service to the needs of the community. She stated that if the Council has not picked positions that are a need to the community, she would invite those comments from the public. Councilmember Kuzma stated that there were a number of items mentioned by Mayor Strommen that expressed support for the budget but believed there to be additional items that should be highlighted. He stated that Ramsey is growing and provided further explanation noting that there are additional miles of road that have been added and therefore an additional plow truck was needed to ensure that resident expectations are still met for plowing the roads. He stated that the road repair debt is a major item and the roads need to be fixed. He stated that the City did not address that problem for a number of years and that continues to impact future budgets. Motion by Councilmember Kuzma, seconded by Councilmember Johns, to Adopt Resolution #17-12-302 Adopting the 2017, Payable 2018, Municipal Tax Levy; and Resolution #17-12-303 Adopting the 2018 City of Ramsey General Fund Operating Budget; and Resolution#17-12-304 Adopting the 2018 City of Ramsey Economic Development Authority Fund Budget. Motion carried. Voting Yes: Mayor Strommen, Councilmembers Kuzma, Johns, LeTourneau, and Shryock. Voting No: Councilmember Riley. 7. COUNCIL BUSINESS 7.00: Consider Adopting Resolution #17-12-309 Approving a Beekeeping License for the Property Located at 16137 Dysprosium St NW (Project No. 17-154); Case of Kathleen Rosenow (Previously Agenda Item 7.10) City Planner Anderson reviewed the staff report and recommendation to adopt Resolution #17- 12-309. He noted that the request complies with all standards outlined in Ramsey City Code Section 10-1(f) and all of the immediate neighbors have signed a form stating that they have no objections to the Beekeeping License request. Motion by Councilmember LeTourneau, seconded by Councilmember Johns, to Adopt Resolution #17-12-309 Approving a Beekeeping License on a Residential Property Generally Known as 16137 Dysprosium Street NW. City Council/December 12, 2017 Page 6 of 12