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Roseville, MN - Official Website Page 7 of 22 <br /> of a recent McKnight Foundation survey) that benefitted all of Roseville. Chair Etten <br /> requested that tonight's discussion focus be based on the survey information and how to <br /> make Master Plan items into realities, whether short or long-term and potential funding <br /> mechanisms to accomplish that; and asked that Councilmembers first provide their initial <br /> comments to the Commission. <br /> Councilmember Willmus thanked the Commission for their work to-date on the Master <br /> Plan process and survey over the last few years; and in order to provide guidance to the <br /> Commission, based on recent "decision packages," what was the Commission most <br /> comfortable with. When looking at survey results, Councilmember Willmus opined that he <br /> was amenable to bonding or a referendum, with subsequent discussions needed among <br /> the Commission and eventually the City Council. Historically, Councilmember Willmus <br /> opined that Roseville's parks and schools are why people chose to live in this community; <br /> and further opined that he held the City's parks system in the same light as a core <br /> services as police and fire; and from a community facilities perspective, he didn't want to <br /> see any further deterioration of them. <br /> Councilmember Johnson echoed the comments of Councilmember Willmus related to <br /> bonding or a referendum. As an elected official, Councilmember Johnson opined that it <br /> was his responsibility to uphold and maintain what had been provided for the community <br /> in the past, whether its parks or infrastructure; and advised that he had no problem <br /> bonding for them. When talking about new facilities (e.g. a community center), <br /> Councilmember Johnson advised that he could not support bonding for those. However, <br /> he may support a referendum for new facilities. <br /> Councilmember McGehee advised that she had first read the "comment"' section of the <br /> survey, and opined that it had provided her with more information about the general <br /> community wishes than any other information received to-date. <br /> To that end, Councilmember McGehee reiterated that she was very uncomfortable <br /> deciding long-range projects that were expensive and piecemeal. Councilmember <br /> McGehee spoke in support of maintaining parks and trails, and opined that she had no <br /> problem bonding for them; and accordingly, if the Parks and Recreation Commission <br /> came forward with something new, she was not as comfortable supporting that as <br /> maintaining current facilities and amenities. Given recent information on the City's <br /> Capital Improvement Plan (CIP) and the deficit or reduced status of reserves and parks in <br /> general capital funding, Councilmember McGehee noted that some hard choices would <br /> need to be made and significant increases indicated going forward, such as raising base <br /> rates for water and sewer utilities. Councilmember McGehee reiterated her preferences <br /> to improve the City's tax base through development and redevelopment to accommodate <br /> future needs and support those things of value that enhanced Roseville. Councilmember <br /> McGehee noted the need to consider the reduction in property values at the same time as <br /> these other issues are coming forward. <br /> While having no comments to offer at this time, Councilmember Pust recognized staff and <br /> the Commission for the amazing amount of work done through the Master Plan process <br /> and the survey; and thanked them for a great job. Councilmember Pust opined that the <br /> survey results were what they were, and she expressed her confidence that the <br /> Commission would take the results seriously as they came forward with future <br /> recommendations, and assured that she would then react to those comments and <br /> recommendations. <br /> Mayor Roe, from his personal perspective, spoke in support of preserve existing facilities; <br /> and for those new initiatives or needs, he suggested serious prioritization and <br /> implementation time schedules based on information from the various implementation <br /> groups currently underway, similar to the exercise recently completed by the CIP <br /> subcommittee for the rest of the city and how those implementation schedules and needs <br /> work out over time, and how and when resources should be applied. Mayor Roe advised <br /> that the biggest priority would be short-term in identifying maintenance of existing <br /> http://www.cityofroseville.com/Archive.aspx?AMID—&Type—&ADID-1 125&PREVIEW—YES 7/25/2011 <br />