2022-12-06 Regular Meeting
December 6, 2022 — 6:30 PM
Council Chambers
Hybrid Meeting
CITY COUNCIL REGULAR MEETING MINUTES
City Council meetings are being conducted in a hybrid format with in-person and remote options for
attending, participating, and commenting. The public can make statements in this meeting during
public comment sections, including the public forum beginning at 6:20 pm.
1. Call to Order
Mayor Harris called the meeting to order at 6:52 pm.
1A. Pledge of Allegiance and Land Acknowledgement
Mayor Harris led the audience in the Pledge of Allegiance and read the City’s Land
Acknowledgement statement.
1B. Roll Call
Present: Mayor Shep Harris, Council Members Maurice Harris, Denise La Mere-Anderson,
Gillian Rosenquist, and Kimberly Sanberg
Staff present: City Manager Cruikshank, Deputy City Manager/Human Resources Director
Santelices, City Attorney Cisneros, Finance Director Virnig, City Planner Campbell,
Recreation Supervisor Erickson, and City Clerk Schyma
1C. City Council Statement Regarding the Recently Released Findings of the Independent
Investigation.
Mayor Harris read a statement from the City Council regarding the recently released
findings of the independent investigation about misconduct in the Police Department.
Mayor Harris needed to leave the meeting and turned the gavel over to Mayor Pro
Tempore M. Harris.
1D. Receive and approve the 2022 Allocations for the Golden Valley Human Services
Commission
Recreation Supervisor Erickson introduced Human Services Commission members Aaron Black and
Elizabeth Burwell who presented the report.
Motion by La Mere-Anderson, Second by Rosenquist to receive and approve the 2022 allocations
for the Golden Valley Human Services Commission.
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Motion carried 4-0.
1E. Certificate of Appreciation for Outgoing Commissioner Dan Freeman of the Three Rivers
Park District Board
Mayor Pro Tempore M. Harris read and presented the certificate of appreciation to outgoing
Commissioner Dan Freeman of the Three Rivers Park District Board.
The Council thanked Mr. Freeman for his great work and years of service.
2. Additions and Corrections to Agenda
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Sanberg to approve the agenda as submitted.
Motion carried 4-0.
3. Consent Agenda
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Sanberg to approve the Consent Agenda as revised:
removal of Item #3E1 - Receive and File the 2022 Annual Grant Funding Update.
Motion carried 4-0.
3A. Approval of Meeting Minutes - Special City Council Closed Executive Session of November
9, 2022
3B. Approval of Check Register
3C. Licenses:
3C.1. Gambling License Exemption and Waiver of Notice Requirement - Good Shepherd
School
3D. Bids, Quotes, and Contracts:
3D.1. Award Contract for Tree Trimming and Removal to Sorenson Tree Service, LLC in a form
approved by the City Attorney
3E. Grants and Donations:
3E.1. Receive and File the 2022 Annual Grant Funding Update
3E.2. Adopt Resolution No. 22-104 to Authorize Application for the Minnesota Active
Transportation (AT) Program Grant: Winnetka Avenue and 23rd Avenue Pedestrian
Crossing Improvements Zane Avenue Sidewalk
3E.3. Approve Resolution No. 22-112 and Authorize the Mayor and City Manager to Sign a
Funding Agreement for the Toward Zero Death (TZD) Grant Program in a Form Approved by
the City Attorney
3F. Adopt Resolution No. 22-105 Supporting the French Regional Park Master Plan
3G. Authorize the Mayor and City Manager to Sign PUD Permit No. 58, Amendment #2 for
McDonalds
3H. Adopt Resolution No. 22-106 Granting City Council Consent for Housing and
Redevelopment Authority (HRA) Levy Payable in 2023
3I. Adopt Resolution No. 22-107 Authorizing the 2023-2032 Capital Improvement Program
3J. Approve Resolution No. 22-108Â Adopting the 2023-2024 Budget for Enterprise, Special
Revenue and Internal Service Funds
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3K. Adopt Resolution No. 22-111 Designation of 2023 Polling Places
3. Items Removed From the Consent Agenda:
3E1. Receive and File the 2022 Annual Grant Funding Update
City Planner Campbell discussed the report and highlighted grants the City has received.
Motion by Sanberg, Second by Rosenquist to receive and ile the 2022 Annual Grant Funding
Update.
Motion carried 4-0.
4. Public Hearing
4A. Public Hearing and Approve Resolution No. 22-109 Adopting the 2023 Budget of the
General Fund Budget and Resolution No. 22-110 Adopting the Property Tax Levies for Taxes
Payable in 2023
Finance Director Sue Virnig discussed the staff report and the process of how property owners can
discuss and challenge how their properties are assessed.
Mayor Pro Tempore M. Harris opened the public hearing.
Brooke Johnson, 4205 Woodstock Avenue, stated she is against the proposed increase because
the rate is one that outpaces wage increases and is a financial strain for residents. She also
disagrees with how rates are based on market value and not the assessed value of properties. In
order to meet people where they are and have more participation in local government, she asked
the Council to consider providing daycare and meals at night meetings to allow working people
and parents to participate in the important discussions taking place in the City.
Rustin Wolfe, 212 Burntside Drive, stated he is opposed to the proposed increase. He added that
his property taxes have gone up every year he has resided in Golden Valley and it has not been at
a rate that matches wage increases.
Lynne Stobbe, 2009 Independence Avenue, stated that the Council continues to advocate for
affordable housing but raising property taxes every year at rates that outpace wage increases
seem to contradict that goal. She stated there needs to be more spending accountability in
municipal government because people can’t afford these continuous increases.
Barb Hillesland, 1813 Independence Avenue, stated that recent increases are exorbitant and
Golden Valley is one of the most expensive cities t o live in Minnesota. She said the City needs to
make due with what they have because residents cannot afford it.
Dan Decker, 2452 Mendelssohn Lane, stated that he has a long list of repairs for his house that he
is unable to do for medical reasons. For th is reason he disagrees with how rates are based on
market value of surrounding properties and not the assessed value of his actual house.
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Howard Tarko, 6810 Harold Avenue, wants to understand the context of the proposed increase
because the process seems like a very rote, mechanical process for calculating increases.
Lorin Hatch, 537 Meadow Lane, stated that constantly increasing property taxes is not sustainable
for residents.
Mayor Pro Tempore Harris closed the public hearing.
Mayor Pro Tempore Harris stated that the Council did have a “gut check” when looking at the
budget and proposed increases. He stated that he also does not agree with how rates of
properties are based on market value but that is not something the Council has control over. He
further stated that Golden Valley has aging infrastructure and aims to provide a high level of
service to the residents which means there were several discussions about how to cut the
increase as much as possible. Unlike all surrounding cities, Golden Valley has not received Local
Government Aid in several years while being required to contribute which makes a difference at
budget time.
Council Member Sanberg agreed with Mayor Pro Tempore Harris and noted that Council does not
“rubber stamp” the budget and increases. She stated that discussions occur for months to find a
way to lower the financial impact to residents while still providing a high level of service.
Council Member La Mere-Anderson discussed how the financial impact of the pandemic has
affected her household like many other residents in the community. She stated that the required
services of the City this year led to the proposed increase and it was not a decision that was made
lightly.
Council Member Rosenquist thanked staff for their hard work on the budget but is still not
comfortable with supporting the proposed budget and levy increase. She stated that she voted
against the proposed increases in September and listed surrounding cities of similar populations
and budgets that do not have the same high increases as Golden Valley.
Motion by Sanberg, Second by La Mere-Anderson to adopt Resolution No. 22-109 Adopting the
2023 Budget of the General Fund Budget.
Motion carried 3-1. (In Favor: M. Harris, La Mere-Anderson, Sanberg. Opposed: Rosenquist)
Motion by Sanberg, Second by La Mere-Anderson to adopt Resolution No. 22-110 Adopting the
Property Tax Levies for Taxes Payable 2023.
Motion carried 3-1. (In Favor: M. Harris, La Mere-Anderson, Sanberg. Opposed: Rosenquist)
4B. Public Hearing and Adoption of Ordinance No. 753 - Zoning Text Amendment in Order to
Revise the Term Lengths for Members of the Board of Zoning Appeals
City Attorney Cisneros discussed the staff report.
Mayor Pro Tempore M. Harris opened the public hearing. As there were no comments, the public
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hearing was closed.
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Sanberg to adopt Ordinance No. 753 Amending Board of
Zoning Appeals term length.
Motion carried 4-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: M. Harris, La Mere-Anderson,
Rosenquist, Sanberg. Opposed: N/A)
5. Old Business
6. New Business
All Ordinances listed under this heading are eligible for public input.
6A. Second Consideration of Ordinance No. 751, Board and Commission Term Limits,
Resolution No. 22-113
City Attorney Maria Cisneros discussed the staff report.
Motion by La Mere-Anderson, Second by Sanberg to approve Second Reading of Ordinance No.
751 Amending City Code Article V: Boards and Commissions.
Motion carried 4-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: M. Harris, La Mere-Anderson,
Rosenquist, Sanberg. Opposed: N/A)
Motion by Rosenquist, Second by Sanberg to Approve Resolution No. 22-113 Authorizing
Summary Publication of Ordinance No. 751.
Motion carried 4-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: M. Harris, La Mere-Anderson,
Rosenquist, Sanberg. Opposed: N/A)
6B. Second Consideration of Ordinance No. 752, Amending the City Code to Change the Human
Services Commission (HSC) to a New Community Services Commission (CSC) and Approve
Community Services Commission Bylaws
Recreation Supervisor Erickson discussed the staff report.
Motion by La Mere-Anderson, Second by Rosenquist to approve Second Reading of Ordinance
No. 752 amending City Code Section 2-132 Human Services Commission.
Motion carried 4-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: M. Harris, La Mere-Anderson,
Rosenquist, Sanberg. Opposed: N/A)
Motion by La Mere-Anderson, Second by Rosenquist to Approve Community Services
Commission Bylaws.
Motion carried 4-0 with unanimous approval. (In Favor: M. Harris, La Mere-Anderson,
Rosenquist, Sanberg. Opposed: N/A)
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6C. Review of Council Calendar
Mayor Pro Tempore M. Harris reviewed upcoming city meetings, events, and holiday closures.
6D. Mayor and Council Communications
1. Other Committee/Meeting updates
7. Adjournment
Motion by Sanberg, Second by Rosenquist to adjourn the meeting at 8:56 pm.
Motion carried 4-0.
________________________________
Shepard M. Harris, Mayor
ATTEST:
_________________________________
Theresa J. Schyma, City Clerk
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