12-07-98 Special
CITY COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES
Richfield, Minnesota
Special City Council Meeting
December 7, 1998
CALL TO ORDER
The meeting was called to order by Mayor Kirsch at 7:00 p.m.
ROLL CALL
Members Present:Martin Kirsch, Mayor; Michael Sandahl; Susan Rosenberg; Russ
Susag; and Kristal Stokes.
Staff Present :James Prosser, City Manager; Steven Devich, Administrative
Services Director; Thomas Ferber, City Clerk; Bruce Palmborg,
Community Development Director; Dan Scott, Public Safety
Director; William Fillmore, Liquor Operations Director; and Chris
Regis, Finance Manager.
Council Member Rosenberg requested the addition of an item to the agenda for
discussion of airport issues.
Mayor Kirsch, noting no objection from the Council, stated airport issues would
be placed on the agenda as Item #2.
Item #1TRUTH IN TAXATION PUBLIC HEARING REGARDING 1998
REVISED/1999 PROPOSED BUDGET AND 1999 PROPERTY TAX LEVY
C.L. NO. 299
City Manager Prosser reviewed Council Letter No. 299 regarding the conduct of
the Truth in Taxation Public Hearing regarding the 1999 Property Tax Levy and 1998
Revised/1999 Proposed Budget.
Special Meeting Minutes-2-December 7, 1998
Administrative Services Director Devich provided an overview of the Truth in
Taxation requirements, the 1998 Revised/1999 Proposed Budget and the 1999
Proposed Property Tax Levy including the following:
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Calendar of Events & Dates
Adopt Preliminary Levy/Special Meetings
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Submit Levy/TNT Dates - Sept. 15
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Truth in Taxation Hearing Dates - Dec. 7 & 14
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Last Day to Take Council Action - Dec. 20
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Certify Final Levy - Dec. 28 Deadline
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Major 1999 Proposed Budget Initiatives & Issues
Continue Present Level of Services
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Future of Dispatch function
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Personnel needs
Equipment purchases
Continue Street Lighting User Fee
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Not Included in the 1999 Proposed Budget
2 Full time dispatchers$35,300
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Dispatch Supervisor$27,000
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Implement air quality study
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recommendations$25,000
Purchase mini-pickup-streets$15,000
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1999 Proposed Gross Levy
1999 Gross Levy is $8,054,792
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Increase of 1.57% over the 1998 Levy
Gross Tax Levy History
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1993 - $7,122,366 - 4.00% Increase
1994 - $7,293,600 - 2.40% Increase
1995 - $7,452,200 - 2.17% Increase
1996 - $7,637,200 - 2.48% Increase
1997 - $7,787,090 - 1.96% Increase
1998 - $7,929,927 - 1.83% Increase
1999 - $8,054,792 - 1.57% Increase
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1999 Proposed Budget General Fund Budget History
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1999 Proposed Budget General Fund Expenditures
Public Safety 55%
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Public Works 22%
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Recreation 10%
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Administrative Services 7%
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Legal/Executive 5%
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Community Development 2%
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Special Meeting Minutes-3-December 7, 1998
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1999 Proposed Budget General Fund Expenditures
Police 22%
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Fire 13%
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Parks 6%
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Streets 11%
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Police Ancillary 11%
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All other 37%
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1990/1999 Expenditure Profile
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1999 Proposed Budget General Fund Revenues
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Local Government Aid (LGA) Comparison
13.5% total decrease since 1989
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LGA represents 24% of General Fund Revenues
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Levy to Budget Explanation
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1998 Tax Capacity Rate
School District 280 - 46%
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Hennepin County – 28%
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City of Richfield – 20%
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Misc. – 6%
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1998 Tax on $100,000 Home
City of Richfield - $328
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School Dist. 280 - $629
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Hennepin County - $467
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Misc. – 6%
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1993/98 Tax Capacity and Rate History
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1999 Tax Levy Analysis
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Full-Time Personnel 1992-1998
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1999 Proposed Levy Estimated Impact
Est. Impact on $100,000 Property (No Increase)
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City Portion of Tax 1998 - $328.22
City Portion of Tax 1999 - $334.76
Increase of $6.54 per year
Est. Impact on $100,000 Property (3.7% Included)
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City Portion of Tax 1998 - $328.22
City Portion of Tax 1999 - $352.68
Increase of $24.46 per year
Administrative Services Director Devich responded to questions from the City
Council regarding the fiscal disparities formula and program.
Larry Wozniczka, 6744 Wentworth Avenue, stated concerns and questions
regarding the following issues:
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Percentage change in 1999 City property tax for an average Richfield
residential property whose value increased by the average percentage and
for the last eight years.
Special Meeting Minutes-4-December 7, 1998
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Why his property tax bill for 1998 was 94¢ more than what was stated on the
truth in taxation notice he received in November of 1997.
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Consultant fees and budgets.
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Capital project costs and sources of funding.
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That the HRA assure net tax capacity for the City not be allowed to decrease
as a result of TIF projects during the TIF district term.
Administrative Services Director Devich and City Manager Prosser responded to
Mr. Wozniczka’s questions reviewing information regarding the following:
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Percentage change in the property tax for an average residential property
whose market value increased by the average percentage over the last eight
years.
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Capital project costs and sources or contemplated sources of revenue.
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Impact of necessary adjustments by Hennepin County after truth in tax
notifications on tax capacity base and final tax statements.
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State 20% property tax rebate program impact.
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Use of consultants and consultant contracts
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Recreation fund revenues.
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Potential revenue resources for a multi-purpose recreational facility.
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Second ice sheet status, expenditures, and funding sources.
Mr. Wozniczka recommended the following list of projects he would like the City
to do indicating they would be low cost items to improve safety in the City:
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Correct the pedestrian sidewalk setback at 66th Street and Portland Avenue.
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Remove the abandoned driveway aprons in the sidewalk on the east side of
Portland Avenue adjacent to Veterans Memorial Park and/or setback the
sidewalk further into the park.
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Complete plan for reforesting Veterans Memorial Park.
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Remove the bush that is a site obstruction in the northwest corner of 68th
Street and Portland Avenue.
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Correct water ponding on curb/sidewalk area at 66th Street and Nicollet
Avenue.
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Correct storm drainage problem at 67th Street and Wentworth Avenue.
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Maintain and plow a pedestrian path to cross the railroad tracks at 67th Street
and 72nd Street.
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Widen the sidewalk in the northeast corner of 66th Street under I-35W to
remove restriction.
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Install pavement markings on 76th Street for a bicycle lane.
Mr. Wozniczka requested the City Council to work to reduce the City’s portion of
property taxes and to especially look at consulting services and TIF projects impact on
net tax capacity.
Special Meeting Minutes-5-December 7, 1998
M/Sandahl, S/Susag to close the City of Richfield Truth in Taxation Public
Hearing on the 1998 Revised 1999/Proposed Budget and Proposed 1999 Property Tax
Levy.
Motion carried 5-0.
Mayor Kirsch stated the City Council would consider approval of the 1998
Revised 1999/Proposed Budget and 1999 Proposed Tax Levy at the December 14,
1998 City Council Meeting.
Item #2AIRPORT ISSUES DISCUSSION
Council Member Rosenberg discussed scheduling a public meeting to receive
comments from residents prior to a final decision on whether to approve a proposed
Noise Mitigation Agreement with the MAC or whether the City will litigate regarding this
issue.
Discussion followed regarding issues related to the status of negotiations on the
proposed Noise Mitigation Agreement, the deadline of December 18 for initiating
litigation, and the scheduling of Special City Council meetings.
M/Sandahl, S/Susag to schedule a Special City Council Meeting on Tuesday,
December 15, 1998 at 7:00 p.m. for the purpose of receiving comments from the public
prior to a final decision on whether to approve a proposed Noise Mitigation Agreement
with the Metropolitan Airports Commission (MAC) or whether to initiate litigation
regarding mitigation of the impacts of the new north-south runway; and to schedule a
Special City Council Meeting Closed Executive Session for Thursday, December 17,
1998 (or Wednesday, December 16 depending on availability of counsel) at 7:00 p.m.
for the purpose of discussing potential litigation regarding airport matters following
which the City Council will convene into an open meeting for discussion and action on
airport matters.
Motion carried 5-0.
City Manager Prosser stated that the Special City Council Meeting scheduled for
December 17 would be dependent on the availability of Airport Counsel Chuck Dayton
to attend and that if Mr. Dayton is not available the meeting would have to be
scheduled instead for Wednesday, December 16. The City Council concurred with the
City Manager regarding this scheduling.
Bill Duffee, 6515 18th Avenue, Co-chair of the CARE Team, stated he
appreciated the scheduling of the meeting and indicated the CARE Team would be
mailing out notification about the meeting.
Special Meeting Minutes-6-December 7, 1998
Earl A. Grindheim, 6844 17th Avenue, stated he advocated stopping
construction of the runway altogether. He stated concerns that mitigation meant
removing houses, about how much money will be acceptable, and about being notified
that his house will be taken.
City Manager Prosser explained that the City has no legal right or way to stop
the construction of the runway. He explained the mitigation plan and strategies
developed by the Planning Commission to address the impacts of the runway. He
stated if this plan is accepted by MAC and other agencies, homes would be acquired
through the state and federal rules regarding market value and relocation costs.
Council Member Sandahl stated that it is important to remember that this is only
a plan and unless it is approved, funded, and implemented by the appropriate
agencies, no homes would be bought out.
ADJOURNMENT
The meeting was adjourned by unanimous consent at 8:30 p.m.
Date Approved:
Martin J. KirschMayor
Thomas P. FerberJames D. Prosser
City ClerkCity Manager