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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL - September 8, 2008 <br /> <br />7 <br /> <br />Councilmember Grant stated that he was not against the contingency factor but <br />asked at what point it becomes unreasonable for a proposed increase. He stated that <br />a 55% increase was too high. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated that she also does not approve of the contingency <br />being so large. She stated there were several programs and items that were coming <br />up that the Council would need to determine what they were going to do. She asked <br />if the City would be able to recover some costs with certain programs such as rental <br />licensing. <br /> <br />Finance Director Iverson stated that this was correct. In the case of rental <br />licensing the fees could be set to cover the costs incurred by the City in <br />administering the program. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden asked where the City was regarding Valentine Hills Park. <br /> <br />Civil Engineer Giga stated that the request for quotes on a drainage study are being <br />reviewed and that this item would be brought to the Council at the next meeting. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated that the City needed to also consider spending <br />money on programs or services that the residents do not want to volunteer for such <br />as Celebrate Arden Hills. <br /> <br />The Council meeting was adjourned at 7:28 p.m. due to a fire alarm. <br /> <br />The Council meeting was reconvened at 7:35 p.m. <br /> <br />Finance Director Iverson stated that the City had lost its funding for parks because <br />these funds previously came from charitable gambling donations and these can now <br />only be used for public safety. She stated that the City did not have a reserve set up <br />for capital equipment replacement and this was an area that the City had looked at <br />previously. <br /> <br />MOTION: Councilmember McClung moved and Mayor Harpstead seconded a <br />motion to Adopt Resolution 2008-044; A Resolution Setting <br />Preliminary Levy Taxes Payable in 2009 in the amount of $3,003,434. <br /> <br />Councilmember McClung stated that he would support this motion but did have <br />concerns about the overall numbers. He stated that staff wanted flexibility then <br />they would need to certify a number to work with. He also stated that he would be <br />willing to go lower and it was important to keep the options open. He stated that he <br />would only support the amount of contingency that was justified by Staff. <br />