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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORKSESSION MINUTES <br />August 15, 2005 <br /> <br />2 <br /> <br />Councilmember Holdcn recommended that membcrs of the City Council review the CIP and <br />determinc whether or not this project is feasible. <br /> <br />. <br /> <br />Councilmember Larson asked if the selected plants could survivc without an irrigation system. <br /> <br />Kathy Ryan said that selected plants could survive, but they may not look very good if they do <br />not receive enough water. <br /> <br />Mayor Aplikowksi suggested that the City leave the medians as grass areas. If not, we should <br />plan on installing an irrigation system along the Highway 96 medians in order to provide water <br />and protect the plants in the future. <br /> <br />Councilmember Larson said that he believes the irrigation system is nccessary to maintain the <br />plants. <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant asked if an irrigation system was installed, would this change the typc of <br />plant that were selected for this project. <br /> <br />Kathy Ryan said that all of the plant materials were selected bccause they are drought and salt <br />tolerant. She wound not recommend that the plant selections be changed at this time. <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant asked URS staff members if this would bc an attractive project for a . <br />landscape firm. <br /> <br />City Engineer Greg Brown thought that this would be a good project for a landscaping firm. The <br />projected project cost the City approximately $195,000. <br /> <br />City Administrator Michelle Wolfe asked if the City Council was in agreement to plan for this <br />project in 2006. <br /> <br />Members of the City Council werc in agrcemcnt and requested that the projected be bid in 2006. <br /> <br />2006 Budl!et Update <br />Finance Director Murtuza Siddiqui provided the City Council with a brief overview of the <br />budget guidelines for 2006. City staff is seeking City Council guidancc on the following items: <br />. COLA Salaries-2.75%; <br />. Inflationary Increases for Routine Operations; <br />. Projectcd 15% Incrcases in Employcc Medical Premiums; <br />. Proposed 4% levy. <br /> <br />The 2005 Statc Lcgislature did not cnact any lcgislative restrictions regarding levy limits. In <br />2004, thc avcragc levy incrcasc for Ramsey County cities was slightly under 8%. The 2005 levy <br />for the City of Arden Hills was $2,426,670. The City must certify a levy amount to Ramsey <br />County for 2006 by September 15th . <br /> <br />2 <br />