12-07-98 Special CC MinutesSpecial Meeting
of the
City Council
December 7, 1998
Pursuant to due call and notice thereof, a special meeting of the City Council of the City of
Golden Valley, Hennepin County, Minnesota was held at 7800 Golden Valley Road in said
City on December 7, 1998 at 7:00 p.m.
The following members were present: Anderson, Bakken, LeSuer (left at 8:45 p.m.),
Johnson and Micks. Also present were: William Joynes, City Manager (arrived at 7:30
p.m.); Don Taylor, Finance Director; and Judy Nally, Administrative Secretary.
Public Hearing
Mayor Anderson reviewed the process conducting the public hearing. Don Taylor,
Finance Director presented the 1999 Recommended Budget. William Joynes answered
questions from the Council.
Budget schedule, budget factors, adjustments to recommended levy after September 14,
breakdown of increase on an averages home of $139,990; general fund tax levy;
allocation of city tax base; breakdown % of total property tax for district #281; breakdown
% of total property tax for district #270; five year average general fund levy increase;
Brookview golf course budget in perspective; services provided and comparison; services
financed from user fees; and cooperative efforts of other communities and suggested
plowing Duluth street this winter.
The Mayor opened the meeting for public input and persons present to do so were
afforded the opportunity to express their view thereon.
Nancy Azzam, 2300 Noble Avenue North, Vice President, Golden Valley Historical
Society; reviewed the activities the Society is planning to provide and the classes provided
through the Park and Recreation Department.
Kathleen Sansaver, 901 Ottawa Avenue North, stated she feels she was double taxed for
her property as she was required to pay for a survey of her neighbors property and feels
the City should put monies in the budget to pay for private lot surveys required; and says
she has been charged criminally for not paying for the survey of her neighbors lot.
Mayor Anderson requested staff provide a report on the request. William Joynes stated
that the item was before the court and suggested the Council refrain from discussing the
case.
Special Meeting of the City Council
December 7, 1998
Page 2
Public Hearing - Continued
Ralph Crews, 6500 Cortlawn Circle, Golden Valley Historical Society member; feels that
progress has been made in establishing a library and museum, stated that funds have
been given by members to purchase and remodel their facility; and requested the Council
help in any way possible.
Bob Aakhus, 8106 Juliann Terrace, feels that the solid waste management fees, recycling
solid waste management fees, and solid waste taxes paid by him as a property owner,
City taxpayer and Hennepin County Taxpayer are a fraud and the budget process is
flawed and that each entity of the government is collecting for the same thing.
Blair Tremere, 2305 Lee Avenue North; feels that the City should find more ways of not
spending more tax money and they should try to find ways of doing more with less; it costs
the city for the privilege of tax increment money and wanted to know when will the payoff
of TIF be realized; feels the Council should take a hard look before they set up a city web
page; and that the investment in time and money may be a surprise; feels the City has not
optimized using the cable room; and that they should concentrate on informing people
through the cable system; feels the alarm monitoring system should be self-supporting
and include the cost of the 24 hour staffing; feels that the City should get more services
from LOGIS; and that we should not spend the money to put up the net at the golf course;
and that spending should slow down and reduce the cost of government.
Howard Dahlgren, 2360 Aquila Avenue North, stated that he and others walk around the
community and requested that the trails be plowed during the winter and stated that other
cities plow the trails all year long; showed pictures of various machines that are used by
other cities to plow their trails, suggested the trails be plowed even if they are not
blacktopped and feels the trails near General Mills should not be blacktop because of the
wild/natural area; and suggested that Duluth Street be snowplowed this year on a trail
basis.
The Mayor closed the public hearing.
The Council and staff answered the questions raised during the hearing. The Council will
discuss the issues raised at the Council/Staff workshops in 1999.
The Council discussed and decided a reconvened public hearing was not necessary. The
Council will formally adopt the 1999 budget at the December 15, 1998 Council Meeting at
7:00 p.m.
Special Meeting of the City Council
December 7, 1998
Page 3
Adjournment
Mayor Anderson adjourned the meeting at 8:55 p.m.
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