HomeMy WebLinkAbout2011-02-09 CC WS Minutes - Approved
City Council 2010-02-09 7:40 p.m.
Minutes of Work Session
Present were Mayor Pro-tem Fehrenbacher, Council members Jeff Paar, Steve King, D
Love, and Ben Fehrenbacher. Also present were Mark Statz of Bonestroo & Assoc., City
Attorney Kurt Glaser, Finance Director Mike Jeziorski and Public Works Director Paul
Palzer.
1)Economic Development
. Paul McDowell of Northern Forest Products was
present to discuss tax abatement. Mr. McDowell shared an abatement calculation
schedule that was used for planning his building project in 2000. The schedule
does not match what was implemented in the development agreement. He
believes a mistake was made in the agreement. He indicated the reason he is
coming so late to discuss this is that the abatement issue did not show up until
about 2007 and after that, he had unsuccessfully tried to resolve this with former
finance director, John Meyer. City Attorney Glaser pointed out the Council
would be under no obligation to do anything other than what is in the agreement.
The Council requested that staff do more research to determine if a mistake was
made.
2)Financial Update
. Finance Director Mike Jeziorski presented financial reports
indicating anticipated results for 2010 and year-to-date activity for 2011. 2010 is
projected to end with a deficit (use of fund balance) of about $160,000. This was
mostly anticipated as the seal coating project used funds accumulated during the
two prior years, the skid loader purchase was moved up from 2011, and building
permits were substantially lower than originally planned.
3)2011 Goals
. The Council reviewed a draft of possible goals for 2011.
Item I.B. Council reviewed a staff report for pavement management planning.
The report compiled costs for street maintenance and reconstruction over the next
20 plus years. A street reconstruction project would be done in 2015, to bring the
remaining streets up to the desired design standard and to install watermain where
it isn’t presently available. Beginning in 2020, mill and overlay projects would be
scheduled about every five years with advance levies generating most of the costs
of the projects. The resulting tax impact would be about a 4% increase in taxes in
2012, followed by about 9% in 2013, with relatively stable levies following that.
Engineer Mark Statz suggested that the overlay cycle of 35 years may be too
optimistic, rather it might be needed closer to 20 years. The possibility of
specially assessing a flat rate of about $500 per property was considered. A
predictable and manageable number may be palatable to homeowners. Council
was concerned about the large tax increases this plan would generate, even though
the levy increases would fund a program that benefits every taxpayer.
Item II.A. The Council agreed on the need to reactivate the EDA and then
identify areas where its involvement could facilitate community development.
Item II.B. Downtown Redevelopment. Everyone agreed that the downtown
redevelopment will likely not materialize until substantial improvement is seen in
the economy. At the same time, no one wishes to abandon the goal.
Item II.C. It was suggested to add C,6 Anoka County Broadband project and
that the city should include that asset in promoting any business development
project.
Item III. A, (4), The council discussed implementing an automated meter
reading system. While the system would facilitate more frequent billing, the cost
is substantial and may be difficult to justify at this time. More thought is needed
here.
Item IV. A, added additional goal to provide land use training. P&Z and
Council will take the on-line training course offered by the League of Cities.
Item IV. (5), added additional goal to promote Fete des Lacs celebration by
sponsoring the annual parade.
The meeting was adjourned at approximately 10:05 p.m.
Dallas Larson, Administrator