Minutes - Council - 05/08/1979 - Special

Home

Special Council Meeting May 8, 1979 -Page I SPECIAL MEETING CITY OF RAMSEY ANOKA COUNTY STATE OF MINNESOTA A Special Meeting of the Ramsey City Council was held on May 8, 1979, at 15153 Nowthen Boulevard N.W., Ramsey, Minnesota 55303 Members Present: Mayor Gamec Councilman Cox Councilman Reimann Councilman Mickelson Councilman Sorteberg Also Present: City Administrator Schnelle The purpose of the meeting is for the City Council to meet with the new representative to the Metro Council, Mr. Roger Scherer in regard to matters of interest to the City of Ramsey. Mayor Gamec called the meeting to order at 7:49 P.M. and led the Pledge of Allegiance to the Flag. Mayor Gamec stated that the main thing the City would like Mr. Scherer to know is where the City's concerns lie. In addressing inequities in the State Aid formula and how it affects Ramsey, the City is losing $64,000 because it is not getting credit for growth and population. The City's needs are greater because this is a young community and has growth problems, youth problems, street problems, etc., just as much as any other community. The City has contacted the League of Minnesota Cities, the Legislature and everyone they can to let them know where the City stands and have been trying to get the formula changed to a per capita basis, which they feel is a more fair distribution of aid money, but to this point they have been unable to get it changed. Mayor Gamec said he feels Cities should provide some things like sidewalks and tax the people, but some Cities are getting State Aid that makes it possible for them to conduct Music Festivals at the cost of $11,000 which all taxpayers contribute to and get nothing out of unless they were to attend the festival, which is of little value to persons in Ramsey. The City would like to see the law changed but at this late date, would at least like to have recognition of its population. The State legislates that the City conduct studies such as Critical Rivers, Land Use, etc. This City can't afford to perform these studies unless they tax people right out of their homes, and the people are being taxed up to the limit now. Some older communities homes are taxed far below value which isn't the case in Ramsey and some Cities get the circuit breaker for tax relief. The grant money that the City receives for conducting studies does help but the costs involved far exceed the grant. The City operates on a low budget, still it has to pay $30,000 to $40,000 a year just for land planning. The Council doesn't know where they will continue to get the money. If the City had its share of State Aid it would help the City finance these studies.