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HomeMy WebLinkAboutCity Council Minutes 12-11-1990CONTINUt'.t4N OF BUDGET HEARING DECEMBER 11, 1990 PRESENT: Mayor Bergman, Councilmembers Helliwell, Ricker, Vasiliou, Zitur STAFF PRESENT: City Manager Willis, Finance Director Hahn, Public Works Director Moore, Community Development Director Tremere, Park Director Blank, Public Safety Director rarlqui :st, Assistant City Manager Boyles Mayor Bergman convened the meeting at 7:01 p.m. and announced that the purpcse of the meeting was for the City Council to hear public input on the budget, and it was the Council's intent to adopt the budget at this meeting. Manager Willis stated that the rudget hearings are held pursuant to Minnesota Statute Truth in Taxation Laws. A public notice of the meeting had been previously published in the Mis neapolis Stir and Tribune. The law further requires that the Council must . adopt the budget at the public hearing. He states that the total General Fund budget has been reduced 390,000 by the City Council. The 1991 budget is $25,600 more than the 1990 General Fund budget, or a .2 percent increase. The estimated not property tax .levy is prc -Njected to increase $225,000 or 2.5 percent. The City's tax capacity hAs The increasing tax capacity projected net capacity rate 1991. increased as a result of Oevelopment. has allowed the City tc lower its from 15.9 Z in 1990 to 14.97% in Referring tc, the handout and transparencies, he provided comparisons of the 1990 versus 1991 budgets. Ilea stated that the property tax dollar approximately 52 percent to the school the County, 6 percent to mij.- ellaneoi .-; the City. is distributed district, 27 percent to sources, and 15 percent to The effect of the proposed 1991 budget on Plymouth homes is a $4 reduction in Cj y tA&4Q on a $1L,',060 home, a $22 reduction on a 140,000 home, $27 reduction on .a $175,000 home, and $20 reduction on a $200,000 home. The public meeting was o,*)enod by Mayor Bezgman at 7 :10 p.m. Larry Geyerman, 10400 49t:, Avenue Ntwrth, stated he felt that the Council was doing fairly poll in reducing the budget. He expressed concern about th-% 1 r. ndstMping buffer between Schmidt Lake Road and his home. Continued Budget Hearing December 11, 1990 Page 513 Director Moore indicated that a plan is being prepared for buffering of the homes adjacent to Schnidt Lake Road by the Park and Recreation Department. He will review the plan with neighbors and then with the City Council later this year. Mr. Geyerman stated that he was concerned about the striping of the road. It was his understanding that the previous Counci' committed to stripe thie road identical to the Schmidt Lake P.oad wort of Zachary Lane. He was concerned about the safety of residents walking along the read, but did nit want a walking path installed because of cost. Maynr Bergman stated his recollection was that the roadway was to be striped like the road westerly of Zachary. Councilmember Zitur stated he was interested in knowing the cost of restriping the road, MOTION w. -%q made by Couitcilmember Zitur, seconded by Mayor Bergman, to alrt%ct the staff to receive cost figures cn reat-riping the newly constructed Schmidt Lake Road. Mr. Geyerm%ftn stated he was concerned about the salary increase of 4 percent across the board for the staff. He wasn't aware of any private industry that will receive this type of increase. He is concerned about accountability in the public sActor as it is in the private sector. He is iurther concerned that the City A Manager is the highest paid in the Twin City area. Fina'.ly, he stated that the City Flanned to eliminate the next year's election in order of shifting from odd to even year elections. to is concerned about the lack of accountability with such a step. He stated that while working on Councilmember Helliwell's campaign, she promoted accountability, and this step would be moving in the opposite direction. He asked the Council not to take away his vote. The Council should either let the public vote on the question of extet.ding terms or conduct an election for one or twc year terms. David Crain, 13200 18th Avenue North, ststed that ate is the chair of the Housing and Redevelopment Authority. He is here to support the le%y for the Authority, as well as to answer questions the Council may have. Mayor Bergman stated that his support for the levy is contingent upon a market study. Patricia Johnston, 13040 38th Avenue North, asked how Councilmember Helliwell would be voting on the props%al to extend the terms. Sha+ stated that Coancilmember Helliwell, while running for office, had been co--.icerned that the public was not given tho opportunity to vote on the community center. Stie stated that this was a similar case. Councilmemker Helliwell statbd that her vote will hp known once the vote is taken. Mayor Bergman stated that Councilmember 11 Continued Budget Hearing December 11, 1990 Page 514 Hellil ell was among those in favor of taking'the election out of the budget. Ms. Johnston stated the City Manager is ;overpaid as is and there should be no increase in salaries. She expressed concern about Counc:ilmembers getting behird closed doors and changing the pules. N.J. herby, 3430 East Medicine Lake Blvd., stated that he believes Plymouth taxpayers should have the right to vote. It is essential that the City Council preserve this right. P. Katzmarek, (no address essential fcr each person. so arrogant as to suggest people. Not allowing the int6grity, given), stated the right to vote is This is America and no one should be that they do not have to represent the election would be a failing in Vivian Starr, 6060 Anoapolis Lane, stated that the City C:)uncii helped her in a subdivision matter previously. She has no problem with particular cosncilmembers; howevAr, she is very concerned about losing her right to vote. She str'`pd it is O.K. to try to achieve a savings, but councilmembers could run lur 3 year terms and got the savings done, but preserve the right to vote. Howard r. Fiscere, (no address given), askeG whether Courncilmember nicker was receiving a pension from the City. He asked whether the City had put money in the pension. He asked Councilmember Zitur whether he was receiving a pension and what his background was. He questioned Councilmember Zitur's knowledge of constitutional law. He .y,; -Ad that theta to a warts system in Plymouth so that residents can be better represented He asked each Councilmember where they were ::roti. He stated that the east side of the City is not represented on the Council. He thinks the Council should allow the election to take place. He expressed concern about the grandiose schemes which Councilmembers have, including the community center. He is sick of paying $400-$600 a year for bonds. He suggested the payments be mase by sacrificing the pay of the City Manager. He statec. that without an election, the ele%;tora:e has lost control. Charles Ekstrum, 10430 41th Avenue North, stated that the ex- u;,%vor said that Schmidt Lake Road would have two lanes and a aalkii::; path on either side. He is concerned that the road was not neodea until. 2010 anyhow, so why not use onl,r two lanes for v Ahicles and two lanes for walki .ig path. He stated that the speed is up to 60 miles par hour on the road and that eomeone shnua.d do something to control the speed. he asked that the Council reinsert the $22,400 3.n the budget. The public should be allowed to 'peak on their preferences. Itanrly Begin, 1230.5 Rockfnrd Road, stated he was very concernsd tr_at sometning was wrong with the system which would alloy an Continued Hudyet Fearing December 11, 1990 Page 515 election not to take place. He asked the council to assure that people are allowed to speak since there are major i•sues in the community which must be addrwssed. Al Clausnitzer, 10705 40th Avenue Norte, stated he originally had not intended to speak, but he was concerned about a comment that Councilmemaer Zitur made. He suggested t.zat he has received more phune calls about "getting Bob Z:tur out of office,," than he has heard of "getting Mayor P.ergman out of office." Cindy Crutchfield, 6070 Annapolis Lane, statid it was very important to have the right to vote. She stated that she was looking for Cerole Kelliwell.'a flyer for the election which stated all the things she stood for. Carole Helli:vell talked about integrity. Since the election she has not seen Carole and she wants Carole to support her right to vote in accordance with her campaign promises. The public hearing was closed by the Mayor at 7:43 p.m. Cou: ^.ilmember Vasilio!i stated that she could not support *h budget for a number of .easons. While shy stated she is respectful of the positions .f others, she is concerned about the following: Shb Suggested that a salary increase of 3 percent across the board plus a freeze in depart:-.ent head salaries would have saved $124,200. The majority appro-red a 4% increase accorss the board. This saves only $71,000. Shea did not feel this was r' gh,:, sir. -,e in private industry Feopl 3 are being laid off and not receiving salary increases. She suggested a salary deferral for the City Council. While the r crea&a is only $50 per person per mont:i, t a savings of 1,600, she fl.,'.t iL would show department heads that she tco was willing to take a pay reduction in hard times. The Council ma jo:.ity added a $50 auto all uwance. She stated ".--`:at a state legislator receives a $45 monthly allowance and has a much larger district.. She statei that she raceived the memorandum about sAvinq $7.2,400 in election costs it the state developed the primazy sys-_em. To date, stie his seen no evidence that the state would develop such a system. She g.tatsd there ii nothing more precious than the right to vote. She said she was willing to take one year cut ol. her term if that was necessary, but the majority did n. -it crncui. She asked that the Civic League contribution of $9,000 be eliminated. While it is a wonderful event, the contribution could be reinstated in 1992 for a savings. She wanted to eliminate all conferences arta .seminai s at a anv.ing of $23, 1oOO - She was told this would deteriorate morale even though • hree department hearts t uld her this was no pill- l em . Continued Budget Hearing December 11, 1990 Page 516 The Park Replacemmnt Fund which is to be built to maintain what is constructed was cut from $63,000 to $3:,500. She believes it should remain the same so we have the funds, to maintain facilitiev already built. She commended the Council for the cuts, but that other cuts could have been made. She said the City is not only not laying cff people, we are adding 4 percent to salaries. She stated tnat lobbying organizations could be cut back to two or three rather than the existing four for additional savings. She stated that she has only voted for one budget in six years because she has major concerns about each budget. She suggest9d that people watch the three to two coalition to see who exercises whose right to vote. She has asked the City Manager to give recommendations for staff cuts in the event of a development slowdown in 1991. She .juggested three items for specific bidding. The f.rst was the City AttOLney since it has never been subject to bid and is a very large contract. Second was the bond consultant, Ehlers and Associates, and the third was the city auditor agreement. She stated she is willing to put up with two more years or whatever it takes. Mayor Bergman stutwd he cannot support the General Fund budget. While he supported freezing department head salaries, that is not the reason he opposes the budget. The reason is deferral of the election He stated there should not be three people calling each other to arrange votes before the meeting. The savings of 22,400 or .2 percent of the budget should not deny the public access to the right to vote. Last year Councilmember Ricker and Zitur stated that the public cannot vote on s community center. Now they don't wc-.nt them voting on Councilmembers. He asked the City Attorney whether or not a referendum could be conducted. He found out that it could be structured in a certain way. He said there is a pattern in Plymouth of denying residents their constitutional rights as shown with the Community Center. MOTION was msde by Mayor Bergman, seconded by Counc:Glmember Vasiliou, to add the elect:on to the budget. Motion failed; Bergman and Vasilicu ayes; Helliwell, Zitur, and Ricker nays. Councilmember Ricker asked thA CtLy Manager of tho consequences of not Adoptin5 a budget. Manager Willis stated it was his understanding that if the City Council does not adopt the budget, the State Auditor would automatically relevy last year's levy. The Manager stated it is the Council's responsibility to debate the indi vi ival issues and adopt a budget. Continued Budget Hearing December 11, 1990 Page 517 He stated that with respect to the wage freeze• there are certain union obligations that the City is already required to honor. The Council could, nonetheless, take action on general employees salarios. He encouraged tho Council to do the responsible thing and debate the budget issues in hopes of reaching a concensus on a budget and tax levy. Councilmember Helliwell said this budget does not levy to the limit which is one of her campaign promises. Councilmember Ricker stated this is the third year in a row that the City Council has adopted a budget which reduces the City's tax capacity rate. Councilmember extend terms He stated it is unethical. Zitur stated that other cities have decided to in order to shift from odd to even election years. was his belief that abstentions were the thing that Mayor Bergman stated that the other communities that changed their terms dial so through a Task Force, and there were no burning issues in those communities as there is in Plymouth. Councilmember Ricker stated that the $22,400 could be adjusted in the budget at any time. He stated that the Mayor's speech pias purely political and asked if the the :,ayor desired to focus ci. the issues, rather than political matters. He reminded Councilmember Vasiliou and Mayor Bergman that they came here to represent the entire comm,.nity, not the small group of twenth five people in the roc%m. Since both members opposed the budget he si-ggested that they act upon their conviction and join him in denying the budget. MOTION was made by Councilmember Ricker to deny the budget. Motion died for lack of a second. Councilmember Ricke• stated that tha lack of a second confirmed tha* the comments we -:e political only. He asked that the issues be debated. Councilmember Zitur stated that the League of Women Voters meating, Mayoi Bergman: and Councilmember Vasiliou did not talk of their future objectives, but instead only of the election iss.u©. MOTION was made by Council;.tember Helliwell, seconded by Mayor Bergman, to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 90-807 ADOPTING 1991 BUDGET'. Motion carried on a< roll call vote, four ayes, Vasiliou nay. MOTION was made by Councilmember 4elliwell, seconded by MayorisBergman, to adopt RZSOLUTION NO. 90-808 ADOPTING PROPERTY TAX LEVIES FOR TAXES PAYABLE 1991. Continued Budget Hearing December 11, 1990 Page 518 I* Mition carried on a roll call vote, four ayes, Vasiliou nay. Manger Willis clarified that the budget is a fiscal plan and is subject to change. Each year the budget has changed since it is only a planning tool. The Council may elect to amend the budget for any purpose it chooses. Thi meeting was adjourned at 8:20 p.m. E i l l I LLl 1 6 1 A l '« City Cle 1,