Minutes - Council - 06/24/2003 - Laserfiche WebLink

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way to prosl type of metz and nearly e calculations until we get ,erily and we are in the process of achieving this goal as we speak. However, this no~hous for a community takes time and we are not yet there. Ramsey has a strong ,m¢leted business plan but the "pay day" is still three to four years away (by my . Therefore, a franchise fee might welt be the bandage we need to maintain services ~ , :he ~nertta of our critical mass built up and available to harvest. In times of financial strife, non p:rofit organizations such as the City of Ramsey, (as they should), often look to the individuals ~nd ~orporations that are making profit dollars during these tough times, in an effort to assist in ~ve!ing these economic ailments. I commend our staff and this Council for their efforts and .sl~cce~ses in looking in these profiting entities to pay for our opportunities rather than to our taxpa3ers~'r I'm primarily referring to the developers working within Ramsey and paying for most of o~r fi,nprovements, studie~s,,, and infrastructure. The other suggestion I would like you to consider is that of having a "sunset' of three years on a franchise fee, if in fact it is passed. It would give ~orn~9 direction of absolution to both the Ramsey residents and to someone like Connexus, tl~at they may be willing to participate. If in fact the growth in this community is to benefit the tOxp~yers by building a stronger tax base, then it is paramount that the taxpayer eventually re&liz~_ this benefit directly in their own pocket books. How better to show this benefit than to start ~eddcing rates as the "Ramsey game plan" comes together. This is something that most of us lq4ave; never experienced - a true levy/fee reduction due to proactive planmng and realized bene~ts.i We the C~ty Councd of Ramsey have ~t ~n our ab~hty to make th~s happen ~fwe hold fast to tt ie nOtmn. ' Mayor Game stated that the City gets by really quite cheap because most communities that are of similar stz haye a lot more staff. The City is faced with real critical times and they have to find ways to x i~. Councilmemb, er Cook stated that the Town Center is not costing the City money because the developers aide p~ying their own way with the exception of Sunwood Drive where MSA funds will be used Os well as an $800,000 grant. The developer has also agreed to set aside funds to pay for additional staff during the time the development is occurring. The development is happening at ihe ~leveloper's expense to the benefit of the City. A few years ago there was a vote by the residents 4f Ramsey for a multi-use area to be developed within the City. City staff and the City Court. cili are trying to bring forth something that a majority of the City asked for. Currently the!Ci~ is spending the sales tax in Coon Rapids and Elk River because the City of Ramsey does inot~ have retail, The City has been behind the Town Center project, not just the C~ty Councd.t The C~ty has already made a lot of cuts. They removed about $10,000 from the park and recr~ati0n budget by reducing how often the grass will be cut and last week his park was not moWgd a~d he received three complaints out of 16 residents. People are used to a certain standard. Th~C~y will probably receive the same complaints when they have to wait for four inches of snowy b~fore the roads are plowed. If people can tell them which staff to get rid of because they ~[re dot doing their job or are not needed then he will be happy to let them go, but he does not see any place where they are spending money frivolously. The general funds pay for services they, ire r~ceiving and if the residents want services cut then tell them which ones. Councilmemb ~r Pearson stated that he recently attended the League of Minnesota Cities meeting and the n. umb,~r oi~e discussion was budget shortfalls. Cities everywhere are scrambling to find City Council/June 24, 2003 Page 17 of 37