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<br />CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION <br />CITY OF RAMSEY <br />ANOKA COUNTY <br />STATE OF MINNESOTA <br /> <br />The Ramsey City Council conducted a City Council Work Session on Tuesday, August 24, 2021, <br />at the Ramsey Municipal Center, 7550 Sunwood Drive NW, Ramsey, Minnesota. <br /> <br />Members Present: Mayor Mark Kuzma <br /> Councilmember Ryan Heineman <br />Councilmember Chelsee Howell <br />Councilmember Debra Musgrove <br />Councilmember Chris Riley <br />Councilmember Dan Specht <br />Councilmember Matt Woestehoff <br /> <br />Also Present: City Administrator Kurtis Ulrich <br />Finance Director Diana Lund <br />Police Chief Jeff Katers <br /> Administrative Services Director Colleen Lasher <br />Interim Community Development Director Bruce Westby <br />Senior Planner Chloe McGuire Brigl <br /> Zoning Code Enforcement Officer Bria Raines – attended remotely <br /> IT Manager Jason Fredrickson – attended remotely <br /> <br />1. CALL TO ORDER <br /> <br />Mayor Kuzma called the City Council Work Session to order at 5:38 p.m. <br /> <br />2. TOPICS FOR DISCUSSION <br /> <br />2.01: Continued Discussion on 2022 Budget/Levies <br /> <br />Finance Director Diana Lund stated the preliminary budget document provides three options, <br />including a proposal regarding road funding from Councilmember Heineman. <br /> <br />Councilmember Heineman stated he reviewed the proposed increase in taxes and the current <br />proposed budget, as well as what the budget would have looked like since 2014 if there had been <br />a 15% increase dedicated specifically to roads. He added that averaged the increase of 7.5% in <br />taxes that occurred from 2014-2021, and what that would have looked like if there had been a 5% <br />increase in the general tax levy and an extra 15% to pay for roads. <br /> <br />Councilmember Heineman stated, based on the general levy, the City can easily fund roads, and <br />be in a healthy position by 2030 for road funding, without the franchise fee. He added franchise <br />fees from 2022-2029 would create a deficit every year with the exception of 2025 and 2030 and <br />reduce the surplus of $425,000 to -$276,000. He noted, alternatively, a 5% annual increase and <br />15% dedicated to roads would create a surplus of $1.4 million. <br />City Council Work Session / August 24, 2021 <br />Page 1 of 19 <br /> <br />