HomeMy WebLinkAbout1994 12-08 CC TNT MINUTESMINUTES OF TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING
08 DECEMBER.1994:
PROPOSED 1995 PROPERTY TAX LEVY
A Public Hearing on "TRUTH -IN -TAXATION" was convened at 7:08
p.m..by:Mayor Emeott on 08 December 1994.in the first floor meeting
room of Tousley Ford, 1493 East County Road E, Gem Lake, Ramsey,
Minnesota. 55110 as advertised by Ramsey County Property Taxation
via direct mail toall Gem Lake residents. The puLpose of the
hearing was to receive public comment on the Proposed 1995 Tax Levy
for the City of Gem Lake, Ramsey County, Minnesota.
In attendance were Mayor Emeott, Councilmembers Nielsen,
Birkebak, McPhillips, and Igo, and Treasurer Nordstrom. Each person
in attendance was provided a copy of the Proposed 1995 Budget for
Gem Lake, a copy of which is attached hereto. as Exhibit "A".
In opening remarks, Mayor Emeott stated the purpose of the
hearing and made brief remarks regarding the Truth In Taxation Law
and it'srequirements in 1994. He also stated that Gem Lake
contracts for all it's services and, therefore, the budget will
reflect actual or anticipated charges from vendors to the City.
Mayor. Emeott also stated that no major increases in this years
budgetresulted from conservative fiscal planning and management of
the City's finances.
Mayor Emeott then noted .that.a Continuation Hearing would be
held on 14 December 1994 if .all public comment could not be heard
during the timealloted this evening.
In the absence ❑f Clerk Magnuson, Treasurer Nordstrom was then
recognized and asked that those present hold questions and comments
regarding each segment of the budget until that segment had been
presented. He further noted that no written comment had been
received as of the date of the hearing. Treasurer Nordstrom then
proceeded with presentation of the Proposed 1995 Budget, commencing
with receipts and concluding with disbursements.
Subsequent to Treasurer Nordstrom's presentation, Mayor Emeott
opened the floor for comment and discussion. No concern was raised
regarding the City's proposed budget.
There being no further business, the public hearing was
adjourned at 7:25 p.m.
DATED: :.08 December 1994
Richard Nordstrom, Treasurer
TRUTH -IN -TAXATION HEARING
08 December. 1994
E) STATE HACA/AID .PAYMENT:SHORTFALLS.
1) Historic State shortfall in payments --. if they don't pay .us we
have deficit financing instead of balanced budget.
F} UNFUNDED MANDATE EXPENSES
1) In recent years, State Law has required Primary Elections,
Gopher State One Call, Truth -In -Taxation Hearings and related
retail advertising.
G). ADDITIONAL EXPENSES required by City have included the sharing: of
costs otherwise previously provided at no cost by City Clerk,
including: communication costs (telephone and fax equipment,
monthly service and long distance charges); EDP equipment and
repairs; administrative supplies.
3) ENTERPRISE FUNDS: Mayor Emeott
A) SEWER FUND is self. --liquidating with excess planned income held in
investment fund far future planning, implementation and maintenance
needs.
B) ENGINEERING FUND established to meet City Planning needs,.. a portion
of which is self. -liquidating (billable expenses) and a portion
ofwhich is' funded by taxes. Non-bliiable expenses primarily for
Planning Commission needs.
C) PARKS & PLAYGROUND FUND established by law for deposit and future:
use Of Charitable Gambling Funds by City for Parks & Playgrounds
projects with possible implementatin and liquidation in year 2000
when land becomes available to City from County.
3) SUPPLEMENTAL COUNCIL COMMENTS:
A) NIELSEN
B) IGO
C) BIRKEBAK
D) McPHILLIPS
4) PUBLIC. COMMENTS & RESPONSES:
5) SCHEDULE CONTINUATION: HEARING. FOR 14 DECEMBER 1994: Mayor Emeott
A) Necessary - Mayor Emeott to Call For Meeting and delete from 08.
December 1994 City Council. Agenda.
B) Unnecessary - Proceed to Item 6)
6) FINAL ADOPTION OF BUDGET AND LEVY: Mayor Emeo.tt.
A) CITY COUNCIL MEETING. :Immediately following Truth-Tn-Taxation
Hearing, Mayor will convene December City Council Meeting where
final adoption and certification of Budget and. Property Tax. Levy
will be adopted with amendments required based upon public
comments. Those in attendance welcome to stay.
6) THANKS FOR ATTENDANCE: Mayor Emeott
7) ADJOURNMENT: Emeott at p m
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TRUTH-IN�TAXATION HEARING
08 DECEMBER 1994
SUPPLEMENTAL NOTES ❑F EXPLANATION
GENERAL FUND EXPLANATIONS
GENERAL. It is important to address our General Fund Budget as a fixed
and variable income and expense cash basis budget.
INCOME. Identifying property tax income as fixed income and all other as
variable. (including state aid and construction related income). Operating
reserve funds are being set aside for future street maintenance requirements
due to the State and County roadway turnbacks which will result in additional
street maintenance expenses to the City. Investment income can also offset
future unfunded mandates from Federal, State, County, and Metropolitan
Council government bodies.
EXPENSE. By contracting for services, we are able tomore closely to
provide services (police and fire protection) on a bid basis which is far
more accurate and less expensive than if we employed these services.
SEWER FUND EXPLANATIONS.
ENTERPRISE FUND. Income with offsetting expenses. Excess income is.
invested for future planning, scheduled and unscheduled maintenance, and
possible City Wide mandated sewer installation.
ENGINEERING FUND EXPLANATIONS
ENTERPRISE FUND. Implemented in 1992 as a result of need to: participate
in revision of City's Long Range Plan as well as I-35E Corridor Study,
business expansion {Tousley Ford), and response to development in surrounding
communit.ies.. Certain portions of this fund are offset by billing land
developers for directly related engineering expenses.
PARKS & PLAYGROUND FUND
ENTERPRISE FUND. This fund was established as the direct result of State
Lawmandated use of proceeds to City from taxes on Charitable Gambling. You
may wish to explain that we have begun discussing the final use of these
funds for bike path development, City Park on lands from realignment of
County Road F..
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TRUTH -IN -TAXATION HEARING
08 DECEMBER 1994
SUPPLEMENTAL. NOTES TO MAYOR & TREASURER/ACTING CLERK
Paul and Rich,
As a matter of focus for the meeting, it is important to Maintain a
posture that part of both our mission and ongoing efforts is to maintain
demanded levels of public service if there is wide spread consensus and to
diminish taxation requirements of high overhead for items such as City Halls,
Fire & Police Departments and Equipment, etc. We do this through the donation
by the Mayor, Treasurer and Clerk of their homes, communication and EDP
equipment for conducting the City's business. Recognition of this early in
the meeting will set the stage for early unanimous approval.
You might expect 'some comments regarding cost of septic inspections as
a new City service charged separately to residents. As this is not reflected
in the 1995 budget, it is inappropriate i:n this hearing and should be
deferred to City Council meeting.
Imperative that you provide me the following information regarding this
meeting:
1) Have all non -Council in attendance sign in on a separate sheet of
paper if more names than can be put on agenda notes.
2) Take very complete and accurate .notes that will read to me like
regular meeting minutes, even if you must transcribe them immediately
after the meeting.
When recardi.ng public comments, ask the speaker to identify
himself/herself for the record and record comments.
Hand outs to those in attendance 'should be limited to the Short
Form Budget. Hand out Long Form Detail Budget as requested and as long
.copies last. Requests for either budget copy should be logged and we.
can supply them within a few days.
4) Most explanations and details are contained in the Agenda,
Supplemental Notes To Agenda, and Budge:t:s .. When pos:s.i.bl.e:, a:t.temptto
stay with the Short Budget and use the Detailed Budget only when
necessary.
5) As Council meets following this Hearing, try to keep explanations
short as possible.
3)
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MINUTES OF MEETING OF CITY COUNCIL
OF CITY OF GEM LAKE
December, 1994:
The December meeting of the City Council of the City of Gem Lake
was called to order on Thursday, 08 December 1994, at 7:30 p:.m, in the
first floor meeting room of Tousley Ford. Mayor Emeott, Councilmembers
Igo, Birkebak, McPhillips and Nielsen, and Treasurer Nordstrom were
present.
The minutes of the 21 November 1994 City Council Meeting were, upon
motion duly made (Igo) and seconded (Birkebak), unanimously approved as
presented.
Mayor Emeott reviewed the results of the Truth--In:-Taxation Hearing
just completed and indicated: no verbal or Written objection to the 1995
Budget or Proposed 1.005 Tax Levy had been received from the public. He
further toted that no continuation hearing: Was required. tlpon motion
duly made .(MCPhillips) and seconded (Nielsen);, the 1995 Budget and
Proposed Tax Levy were unanimously adopted.
Mayor Emeott then reported that the. Planning Commission will meet
on Monday, 12 December 1994.
The Report of the .Recycling Committee was pr.es.entedand is attached.
hereto as Exhibit "A".
All items under Old Business were tabled to the January meeting.
Regarding billing for septic inspections, Mayor Emeott indicated
billing for same will be complete by 01 January 1995.
Regarding VLAWMO, the Vadnais Lake Area Water Management Associa-
tion, Mayor Emeott indicated he had not written a letter to the body
yet. After discussion and upon motion duly made (McPhillips) and second-
ed (Birkebak) ,. it was unanimously decided to terminate membership in
VLAWMO until such .a time as a representative of V1AWMO appears before
the City Council to present and fully disclose the nature of it's work
and the need for it's existence. Following said presentation, the Coun-
cil will reassess the City's participation.
A brief discussion of the District School Board #624 Special Elec-
tion then followed with no action taken.
The Treasurer's Report, a copy of which is attached hereto as
Exhibit "B", and indicating a balance in the General Fund of $72,8.87.55
and in the Sewer Fund of $42,145.67 was, upon motion duly made (Nielsen)
and seconded (Igo), unanimously approved.
Payment of bills totaling $5,707.37, a copy of which is attached
hereto as Exhibit "C", was, upon motion duly made (Nielsen) and seconded
(Igo), unanimously approved.
Upon motion duly made (Nielsen) and seconded (Igo), the Treasurer
was unanimously empowered to transfer additional funds from the General
Fund and the Sewer Fund to Operating Reserve investment accounts.
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MINUTES ❑F MEETING OF CITY. COUNCIL
OF CITY OF GEM LAKE
December, 1994
The next meeting of the Gem Lake City Council is scheduled for
Monday, 16 December 1994.
There being no further business, the meeting was adjourned by Mayor
Emeott at 8 02 pm .
AUTHORED:: 08 December 1994
APPROVED: 23. January 1995
Richard Nordstrom, Acting Clerk
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