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HomeMy WebLinkAbout120794 Special CITY OF PRIOR LAKE TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING AGENDA December 7, 1994 1. CALL TO ORDER ........................ 8:00 p.m. 2. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 3. INTRODUCTIONS AND PURPOSE - Mayor Andren 4. TRUTH IN TAXATION PRESENTATION - City Manager Frank Boyles. 5. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC 6. ADJOURNMENT 4629 Dakota St. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER P MINUTES OF THE CITY COUNCIL'S TRUTH IN TAXATION HEARING Wednesday, December 7, 1994 . . . . .. 4629 CALL TO ORDER - Mayor Andren called the Truth in Taxation Hearing to order on Wednesday, December 7, 1994 at 8:00 p.m. in the City Council Chambers. Present were: Mayor Andren, Councilmembers Greenfield, Scott and Schenck, City Manager Boyles, Finance Director Teschner and Secretary Birch. Councilmember Kedrowski arrived at 8:07 p.m. PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE - Mayor Andren led the Pledge of Allegiance and welcomed everyone to the meeting. INTRODUCTIONS AND PURPOSE - Mayor Andren discussed the process to be used for the meeting. TRUTH IN TAXATION PRESENTATION - City Manager Frank Boyles explained the purpose of a Truth in Taxation hearing and reviewed the proposed 1995 budget expenditures, revenues and proposed tax levy. QUESTIONS AND COMMENTS FROM THE PUBLIC Truth in Taxation public hearing The Mayor opened the meeting for public comment: The following persons addressed the Council. Emmy Schneider, 16842 Elm Avenue SW - Expressed appreciation to the Council and staff for addressing the city's continued growth but inquired as to how costs associated with development are recouped and what steps the city is taking to assure that new developments are paying their fair share. City Manager Boyles indicated that the city through its associations lobby their legislators to make the tax process less complex and more understandable to assure that all tax payers are taxed in an equitable manner. Until such changes are made, the city must operate in accordance with state laws. Ms. Schneider also asked what the city and/or residents could do to encourage the County to conduct their assessments county wide the same year rather than doing it piecemeal. Ms. Schneider also had questions regarding the new ambulance service. Nate Girard, 16190 Franklin Trail SE, had a question as to the percentage of increase levied by the County Assessor. Mayor Andren advised Mr. Girard that he could call City Manager Boyles who would place a conference call to the County Assessor Leroy Arnoldi to discuss the appraisal and valuation process. Dakota St. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245 AN E~b~AL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER Prior Lake City Council Minutes December 7, 1994 Bob Eastland, 5171 Hope Street, commended Council for their work and commented on the statistics, especially on the tax comparison to other communities. His taxes were higher than the staff data suggests. He encouraged more accurate comparisons with other municipalities. Dave Baden, 13866 Pike Lake Trail- Encouraged Councilmembers to remember that retired people are on a fixed income and to do everything possible to keep taxes Iow. Ray Sturm, 15152 Kortsch Trail, - Inquired as to whether the proposed tax increases can be bench marked in the future. Evelyn Morehouse, 13755 McKenna Road, stated that her salary has been frozen and wanted to know why the taxes are constantly increasing. The valuation of her property increased again this year. Mayor Andren advised Ms. Morehouse to call the City Manager and he will put in a conference call to Leroy Arnoldi to discuss the assessment on her property. R. Palla, 13755 McKenna Road, also inquired into the increase in their property assessment. Ken Conrad, 17132 Sunset Trail, discussed his property tax increase and thanked the Council for their efforts to keep the city's share of the taxes as Iow as possible. Mr. Conrad also recommended more communication between the Council, City and residents to keep the residents informed of what is happening in the community. Mayor Andren and all Councilmembers thanked the residents for coming and for expressing their concerns. Council concurred with the recommended tax increase and agreed that the payment for services received should be shared by all residents and that property tax valuation is not always equitable. However, the state legislature is the body that sets the rules for this process. Councilmembers also expressed the desire to see a stable 5% increase throughout the years instead of Iow one year and high the next. MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECONDED BY GREENFIELD, TO CLOSE THE TRUTH IN TAXATION PUBLIC HEARING. Upon a vote taken, yeas by Andren, Greenfield, Kedrowski, Scott and Schenck. The motion carried. MOTION BY KEDROWSKI, SECONDED BY GREENFIELD, TO ADJOURN THE MEETING. Upon a vote taken, yeas by Andren, Greenfield, Kedrowski, Scott and Schenck. The motion carried. -2- Prior Lake City Council Minutes December 7, 1994 Sm ADJOURNMENT-There being no further business the meeting adjourned at 10:10 p.m. The next regularly scheduled Council meeting will be Monday, December 19, 1994 at 7:30 p.m. R ~-~ r~. ~;ecretary M12794.WRT -3-