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<br />ARDEN HILLS CITY COUNCIL WORK SESSION - FEBRUARY 17, 2009 <br /> <br />8 <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead agreed that the whole file and organization structure of <br />information within the City could be improved and will hopefully benefit from the <br />hiring of a deputy clerk. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead indicated he would be in favor of revisiting the assessment <br />policy and asked for comments from the Council. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden, Councilmember Holmes and Councilmember McClung <br />were not in favor of reviewing this document. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead stated the City would need to address the assessment levels <br />with a development happening within the City in that the assessment, relative to the <br />property value will be at an extreme that could become difficult as a City. He <br />indicated the policy would not have to be reviewed, but that the Council would <br />have to find a balance between the elements. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes stated she felt the judgment was not interpreted in this <br />manner. She encouraged the Council to review this information before further <br />assessments were set. <br /> <br />Discussion ensued regarding how assessments should be set for future projects, <br />understanding that the cost of street improvement projects and the cost of asphalt <br />were on the rise. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead stated he may be in favor of supporting assessments being a <br />ratio of tax money in a project versus assessment money, or setting a basic <br />assessment rate of 25%. He suggested, again, that this issue be reviewed by the <br />Council looking at the cost per mile of a complete reconstruction in 2009, <br />compared to a projection going forward of how the City's assessment policy <br />impacts individual homeowners to devise a cost per unit. <br /> <br />Mayor Harpstead questioned if the pavement management program discussion <br />should be held. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holden stated she was more worried about the 1&1 having a work <br />plan than the PMP at this time. <br /> <br />Councilmember Holmes stated she would be in favor of further discussion on the <br />assessment policy to find a fairness or rate creating a neutral ground going into the <br />future. <br />