HomeMy WebLinkAbout2005-08-03 WS
08-03-05. Minutes of Meeting 6:00 p.m.–Council Work Session. Present were Mayor
Mary Capra, Council members Tom Lee, Jeff Paar, Michelle Lakso and Rick Terway.
Also present were Administrator Dallas Larson and Finance Director, John Meyer.
1.Finance Director, John Meyer reviewed his draft of a proposed project and
financing plan for a downtown redevelopment in Block 7. The project proposes to
use tax increments up to 23 years to underwrite the purchase of the property
which would be used for a mixed use commercial and residential project. Council
expressed concerns over the length of the increment at 23 years.
2.Finance Director, John Meyer reviewed the first draft of the2006 budget. He
indicated that about 3% increase in the budget would still result in a 7% reduction
in the tax rate for next year. The rate would decline from 52.841 to about 49.2%.
3.Administrator Larson, reviewed the backage road/industrial development project.
The Rice Creek Watershed permits for the wetlands impacts appear to be
possible, but there remains some uncertainty about whether the project can sustain
itself without a city subsidy. A second alternative was suggested by the adjacent
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landowner where they would finance up front the cost of 21 Avenue and
Fairview Avenue and would be reimbursed with tax increments on a “pay as you
go” basis. The Council liked this second alternative and asked that it be pursued
in addition to further investigation of the earlier backage road project.
4.The Council reviewed the County’s revised Memorandum of Understanding for
the County Road 14 project. While the County had made some concessions, they
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have not budged on the major issues of medians, 21 Avenue and pedestrian
crossings. The administrator will ask for clarification on the county language that
would transfer “uneconomic remnants” property to the City and give first right of
refusal at fair market value on other parcels. The meaning of “uneconomic
remnants” isn’t clear. The administrator was asked to find out what the
requirements are to justify pedestrian crossings.
5.The Council discussed the water hookup policy. It was noted that the ordinance
from 1987 required hookup to water on a schedule to be determined by Council.
That “schedule” was never determined and as a result, there are 184 homes that
have water available that have not chosen to take advantage of it. The ordinance
also prohibits new wells or repairing a well where city water is available. Various
means of encouraging voluntary compliance were discussed. The Council asked
the administrator to determine if the city could do a project to connect homes and
then finance it with special assessments.
6.Council reviewed the personnel policy and job descriptions. The administrator
proposed a modification to the organizational chart to place the clerk and
receptionist under his direct supervision rather than the finance director. The
Council seemed satisfied with all of the proposed except asked that the job
description for the finance director be changed to provide that he is acting
administrator in the absence of the city administrator. These matters will be put
on the next council agenda for approval.
Dallas Larson
City Administrator