HomeMy WebLinkAboutMemo Re: Letters on Tax Levy
Me.morandum
From the Desk of Frank Boyles
TO:
Mayor Mader and Members of the City Council
DATE:
December 30,1998
RE:
Recent Correspondence
Attached for your information is a memo I received from Mayor Mader. I believe this memo
should be added to the other two received on December 14th for discussion with the City
Council as a body at its January 15th/16th workshop.
Also enclosed are two letters received by the Mayor from Prior Lake citizens. Mayor Mader
asked that I distribute the letters for your information.
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From The Desk Of:
Mayor Wesley M. Mader
December 22, 1998
Memorandum
To: Frank Boyles, City Manager
From: Wes Mader. Mayor
In preparation for the budget and tax levy decisions that
had to be made at our December 21 Council Meeting, I spent
considerable hours analysing data related to past spending
habits and taxing policy. This analysis surfaced a number
of issues that I don't feel very good about, and which I
discussed at the Council Meeting. The two noted below are
of the most concern.
You're well aware that I was not a fan of your decision two
years ago, to hire Lonnie Helgeson. This is no reflection
on Lonnie, but I did not see it as a fiscally prudent
decision. Consequently, I explored the question of how
much she had been paid, with the expectation that we were
probably approaching $25,000 (which I believe is the
absolute limit of your authority). Obviously I was not
pleased to find that the amount exceeded $60,000.
On Monday night, I cited this example, and stated the
following.
"TQ the best of illY knowledae, there has never been a
written or verbal report to the Council regarding what
this program has accomplished, how it benefits our
residents, or how much longer it will be continued. To
the best of illY knowledae, this program was never
authorized by the Council."
Frank, I consider this to be very serious stuff. If my
statement above is inaccurate, please provide me the
records so that my perspective can be corrected. If my
statement is accurate, please help me to understand why I
should have any faith that Staff is fOllowing the Policies
that the Council has established.
16200 Eagle Creek Ave, S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
From The Desk Of:
Mayor Wesley M. Mader
I was also very disturbed to learn that our 1999 budget did
not reflect the $300,000 to $400,000 revenue that will be
received early in 1999 as compensation for storm clean up
costs incurred in 1998. To suggest that it wasn't included \
in the extensive and detailed budget documents because )
Staff had made a decision to put this money into the /
Equipment Fund, adds insult to injury.
I would presume that Staff has no such authority, and I
would also presume that you were in agreement that this
would not be disclosed in the budget documents. If true,
the implications are obvious.
I was angered a year ago when the WAVELENGTH's major
headline declared that there was no increase in the budget
from 1997 to 1998. I don't recall the exact wording, but I
believe it was blatantly false, and I told you so. You
subsequently acknowledged the error in a Franklv Speakinq
column, where you also commented about the need for
integrity and credibility in City Government. (What you
haven't told us is who created the headline, and what
action was being taken relative to the matter.) In any
event, the failure to disclose the expected revenue has not
enhanced my confidence in the integrity or credibility of
our fiscal management.
The two circumstances noted above make me wonder if there
is something else to be discovered if one knows where to
look.
On another matter, you called me in advance of the meeting
to ask my opinion about reappointing two individuals to the
Lake Advisory Committee, whose terms had expired. I
responded specifically that we should follow our By Laws,
publicize the openings, and then interview applicants and
make recommendations to the Council. I emphasized that
this keeps the process open to the public. You then said
you were going to contact the other Council Members to get
their opinions.
Since you ignored my advice and placed Staff's
recommendation on the Meeting Agenda for approval, I
presume you got an indication that a majority of Council
Members would support your position. That's not the way
it's supposed to work Frank. Our By-laws are very specific
on this issue, and assuming my copy is current, they read
as follows:
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
From The Desk Of:
Mayor Wesley M. Mader
"Vacancies in the City Council's Committees shall be
filled in the following manner:
1. Notice of vacancy is made public and interested
individuals may be contacted and encouraged to
consider the position.
2. The City Manager, Mayor and one City Council Member
who is the liaison to the Committee, together with
the Committee Chair (unless the appointment is the
Committee Chair appointment or re-appointment) shall
interview all candidates and make a recommendation to
the full City Council. No person will sit on any
Committee charged with the selection of the successor
for that person.
3. The Council Member who is liaison to the body shall
present the recommendation to the City Council and
the Council may accept or reject the recommendation.
If they reject the recommendation, they shall appoint
someone else or decide to reopen the vacancy to the
public for new individuals."
This seems pretty clear to me, so I don't understand your
attempt to circumvent our own rules. This kind of action
puts the Staff, Council, and Mayor in a very awkward
position, and certainly does nothing to build credibility
between the Mayor, the Council and our advisory committees.
I hope that's not the intent.
I am prepared to discuss any of the above at your request.
w~ VVlc~
Wes Mader
16200 Eagle Creek Ave. S.E., Prior Lake, Minnesota 55372-1714 / Ph. (612) 447-4230 / Fax (612) 447-4245
AN EQUAL OPPORTUNITY EMPLOYER
09 December 1998
Mayor Wesley M. Mader
3470 Sycamore Trail
Prior Lake, MN 55372
Dear~~e4-
I ask that you reconsider the position taken during the 5:00 P. M. proposed Zoning Ordinance
Work Session, 7 December, to increase the Bluff Setback from the current 25 feet (Ordinance No.
98-12) to 30 feet. I request the Bluff Setback be established at 20 feet.
The Bluff Setback (Section 1104.304, 1104/p6) as discussed in the work session received
comments from members of the City Council, Planning Commissio~ City Staff and the Minnesota
DNR Area Hydrologist. The DNR Hydrologist offered that a 20-foot Bluff Setback is possible
with justification versus the 30 feet in the Minnesota DNR Shoreland Regulation.
A 20-foot Bluff Setback will preserve the "Bluff Impact Zone" as listed in the proposed Zoning
Ordinance (l10l/plO). The "Bluff Impact Zone" is the bluff itself and 20 feet landward as
discussed on page 28 of the "Statement of Need and Reasonableness for the proposed Revision
to Minnesota Rules Parts 6120.2500 - 6120.3900 (attached). Also discussed in the reference, an
additional 10 feet waterward, to make a 30-foot Bluff Setback, is for "necessary shoreland
alterations such as clearing vegetation". The reference continues: "It is noted for clarity that the
bluff impact zone is established for preservation and management of shoreland vegetation and
soils, and all structural development is excluded from this zone, except for stairways, lifts and
landings. " Note: the only development prohibition is in the bluff and 20 foot landward.
Reasons for changing the position from a 30 to a 20-foot Bluff Setback can be as follows:
-A 20-foot Bluff Setback protects the critical Bluff Impact Zone in DNR Regulations.
-A 30-foot Bluff Setback will directly reduce the tax potential of allowable structures ( a
discussion point made by Tom Kedrowski during the discussions.)
-A 30-foot Buff Setback will increase the number of nonconforming Prior Lake homes.
-A 30-foot Bluff Setback includes a lO-foot allowance for shoreland alterations that for
Prior Lake lots is already altered/developed (actually probably over the entire lot).
Please recognize the Bluff Setback is a minimum requirement. The requirement for an
Engineering study for soil stability will protect the integrity of the bluff. An increased Bluff
Setback will not add to the water quality of Prior Lake if the increased distance is for fertilized
lawns or gardens. I ask you take a position for a 20-foot Bluff Setback. Thank you.
cc: Pat Lynch, DNR Area Hydrologist
Sincerely, d1~
Marvin ~ ~;sch Sr.
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