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HomeMy WebLinkAboutAgenda & Minutes 16200 Eagle Creek Avenue S.E. Prior Lake, MN 55372-1714 REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING AGENDA !......Se.ptemher1f, 2007 i 8 p.m. Immmmmmmmmmmm9.!~.tI.~!l.mmmmmmmmmmm; No Work Session is Scheduled 1. CALL TO ORDER and PLEDGE OF ALLEGIANCE 2. PUBLIC FORUM: The Public Forum is intended to afford the public an opportunity to address concerns to the City Council. The Public Forum will be no longer than 30 minutes in length and each presenter will have no more than ten (10) minutes to speak. Topics of discussion are restricted to City governmental topics rather than private or political agendas. Topics may be addressed at the Public Forum that are on the agenda except those topics that are part of a public hearing or public information hearing. The City Council will not take formal action on Public Forum presentations. 3. APPROVAL OF AGENDA 4. CONSIDER APPROVAL OF SEPTEMBER 4,2007, MEETING MINUTES 5. CONSENT AGENDA: Those items on the Council Agenda which are considered routine and non-controversial are included as part of the Consent Agenda. Unless the Mayor, a Councilmember, or member of the public specifically requests that an item on the Consent Agenda be removed and considered separately, Items on the Consent Agenda are considered under one motion, second and a roll call vote. Any item removed from the Consent Agenda shall be placed on the City Council Agenda as a separate category. A. Consider Approval of Invoices to be Paid. B. Consider Approval of Treasurer's Report. C. Consider Approval of Building Permit Report. D. Consider Approval of Animal Warden Report. E. Consider Approval of Fire Call Reports. F. Consider Approval of a Resolution Approving the Final PUD Plan and Contract for the Development of Land as a Planned Unit Development for Pike Lake Meadows. G. Consider Approval of a Resolution Approving the Final Plat and Development Contract for Pike Lake Meadows. H. Consider Approval of Election Judge Appointments for 2007 General Election. 6. ITEMS REMOVED FROM CONSENT AGENDA 7 . PRESENTATIONS A. No presentations are scheduled. 8. PUBLIC HEARINGS A. No public hearings are scheduled. 't f . I k WWW.clyopnorae.com Phone 952.447.4230 / Fax 952.447.4245 9. OLD BUSINESS A. Consider Approval of a Report Proposing Short and Long Term Strategies and Objectives to Address Community Safety from Sexual Predators. B. Consider Approval of an Ordinance Amending Subsection 704 of the Prior Lake City Code Related to City Water Works System. C. Consider Approval of a Resolution Declaring Costs to be Assessed and Ordering Preparation of an Assessment Roll and Establishing the Date of the Assessment Hearing for the County Road 12 Reconstruction Project from Trunk Highway 13 to Pheasant Meadow Lane. 10. NEW BUSINESS A. Consider Approval of a Resolution Updating the City of Prior Lake Maintenance Policy. B. Consider Approval of a Resolution Extending the Deadline for Submitting a Final Planned Unit Development Plan for Summit Preserve. 11. OTHER BUSINESS/COUNCILMEMBER REPORTS A. Community Events 12. ADJOURNMENT City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT REGULAR COUNCIL MEETING MINUTES CALL TO ORDER Present were Mayor Haugen, Councilors Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar, City Manager Boyles, City Attorney Pace, Public Works Director/City Engineer Albrecht, Police Chief O'Rourke, Communications Co- ordinator Peterson and Administrative Assistant Green. PUBLIC FORUM The Public Forum is intended to afford the public an opportunity to address concerns to the City Council. The Public Forum will be no longer than 30 minutes in length. Speakers receive a maximum of ten minutes; less if there are more than three speakers. Topics of discussion are restricted to City governmental topics rather than private or political agendas. Topics on the agenda may be addressed except those topics that are part of a public hearing or public information hearing. The City Council will not take formal action on Public Forum presentations. City Manager Boyles explained the concept of the public forum. APPROVAL OF AGENDA City Manager Boyles requested the removal of agenda item 10 B, Consider Approval of a Resolution Ex- tending the Deadline for Submitting a Final Planned Unit Development Plan for Summit Preserve, as the petitioner requested it be removed and placed on the agenda for the September 17 meeting. MOTION BY MILLAR, SECONDED BY lEMAIR TO APPROVE THE AGENDA AS MODIFIED. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. APPROVAL OF MEETING MINUTES MOTION BY MilLAR, SECONDED BY HEDBERG TO APPROVE THE AUGUST 20, 2007, MEETING MINUTES AS PRESENTED. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, leMair and Millar. The motion carried. CONSENT AGENDA City Manager Boyles reviewed the items on the consent agenda. A. Consider Approval of Invoices to be Paid. B. Consider Approval of Resolution 07.155 Awarding the City's Standardized Professional Services Con- tract to Stork Twin City Testing for the 2008 and 2009 Improvement Project Geotechnical Services and Resolution 07.156 Awarding the City's Standardized Professional Services Contract for Surveying of the 2008 and 2009 Improvement Project to Bolton and Menk. C. Consider Approval of a Resolution Accepting the Proposal of Constructive Ideas to serve as Owner's Representative for the Jeffers Pond Interpretive Center Project. Councilor Hedberg requested that agenda item 5C, Consider Approval of a Resolution Accepting the Pro- posal of Constructive Ideas to serve as Owner's Representative for the Jeffers Pond Interpretive Center Project, be removed from the consent agenda. 1 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT MOTION BY LEMAIR, SECONDED BY ERICKSON TO APPROVE THE CONSENT AGENDA AS MODIFIED. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. Hedberg: Commented that using an owner's representative, Constructive Ideas, Inc., has been successful in helping with design issues and saving money on projects. Commended Bill Wolters and his firm for pro- viding the service. leMair: Asked if an emphasis on "green" construction could be placed into the Request for Proposals. Haugen: Agreed that is a key priority with the School District and Jeffers Foundation also. Commented that Paul Oberg of the Jeffers Foundation talked about the possibility of having the building certified. Added that the services of Wolter's firm added value to the Fire Station No.2, city hall and police station projects. MOTION BY MILLAR, SECONDED BY ERICKSON TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07.157 ACCEPTING THE PROPOSAL OF CONSTRUCTIVE IDEAS TO SERVE AS OWNER'S REPRESENTATIVE FOR THE JEFFERS POND INTERPRETIVE CENTER PROJECT. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. RESENT A TION Pike lake Property Grant Status Report. Public Works Director Albrecht introduced Robert McGillivray of the Trust for Public Land. McGil- livray informed the Council about fund raising efforts to obtain grants for the purchase of the Pavlish prop- erty to be known as Pike Lake Park. Thanked the Council for its foresight in seeing the value of this prop- erty and setting aside funds to make it possible. Described the funding sources and process for receiving grant funds and executing purchase agreements. Closing on the property is anticipated in late October or early November. Explained that the Prior Lake-Spring Lake Watershed District will receive an additional easement area to enhance their access to the channel as a condition of granting funding to the project and the easement will be granted by the Trust for Public Land before the City acquires the property. In addition, the Trust for Public Land must assure there are no archeological items on the property. Comments: Millar: Stated this project provides a three-fold return on the City's investment. Thanked McGillivray for his involvement with the project. Asked for clarity on the conveyance to the watershed. McGillivray: Responded that the Trust for Public Land will acquire the property from Pavlish's, convey the easement to the Watershed District and then will convey title of property to the City; and that all of those processes will happen the same day. Albrecht: Explained that the easement will help the Watershed District achieve its goal of managing out- flow from Prior Lake. Hedberg: Commented that he was impressed the project could be completed so quickly; and that this is a tremendous addition to natural area of the City and clean-up of Pike Lake can now be done. LeMair: Commented that now the City will have to think about how to fund to develop the park in the fu- ture; but for now, we can celebrate this accomplishment. Erickson: Thanked previous Council's who set aside money so the City could take advantage of this op- portunity which will present great recreational opportunities. Haugen: Asked whether a $500,000 commitment rather than a $300,000 commitment from the City made a difference in receiving grant funding. McGillivray: Affirmed and added that if the City hadn't shown its commitment and subsequently received these amounts in grant funds, it may have had to provide a higher level of City funding. 2 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT Haugen: Commented on goals and objectives of the 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan regarding preserva- tion of natural areas, maximizing value of dollars, leveraging privately funded trusts to support community projects and creating parks to meet active and passive needs. Stated that all of the actions leading up to this project clearly follow the 2030 Vision and Strategic Plan. PUBLIC HEARING No public hearings were conducted. OLD BUSINESS Consider Approval of a Resolution Approving an Agreement with the Trust for Public land for the Purchase of 30 Acres to be Known as Pike lake Park. Public Works Director Albrecht offered corrections to the proposed resolution to identify funding sources and noted that closure on the property is still contingent upon City Attorney review of the purchase agree- ment. Comments: No comments were offered. MOTION BY MILLAR, SECONDED BY ERICKSON TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07.158 APPROVING AN AGREEMENT WITH THE TRUST FOR PUBLIC LAND TO ACQUIRE 30 ACRES TO BE KNOWN AS PIKE LAKE PARK. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. Consider Approval of Resolutions for Industrial Park Sanitary Sewer and Water Easement Agree. ments. Mayor Haugen announced that Councilor LeMair would recuse himself from discussion and abstain from voting on any proposed action due to his financial interest in the area of the industrial park that is being dis- cussed. Public Works Director Albrecht outlined the proposed easement agreements. Stated that one purpose of the project is to close private wells and sewers in order to secure the well head protection area from potential pollution sources. Noted that Pavek will not receive his easement reimbursement until the City has received funds from other properties that will be assessed; thus, the City does not have to front that amount of money. This extension of sewer and water utilities will allow property owners to develop their property with municipal services. Comments: Hedberg: Appreciates the creativity with which property owners are approached to make it fair and equita- ble to the public and the property owners. Commented that the Council considered how this fits into long- term plans to increase the number of buildable lots in the industrial park and to facilitate redevelopment; and that because of these long-term objectives, the Council asked staff to develop a master plan. The specific actions considered at this time will fit that long-term plan. Erickson: Commented this proposed action meets the definition of win-win by improving the property of owners and protects the well head, improves commercial development and increases the tax base for the City. Thanked staff and landowners for putting it together. Millar: Noted this still remains a market-driven action and that moving this forward should decrease costs to benefited properties and save the general public money which could otherwise be required to subsidize this project. Haugen: Commented this plan is consistent with the 2030 Vision regarding expansion and the elimination of septic systems. Commended the fairness in how the easements were formulated. 3 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT MOTION BY HEDBERG, SECONDED BY MILLAR TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07-159 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH THE PAVEK PROPERTY FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK UTILITY EASEMENT. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg and Millar. LeMair abstained. The motion carried. MOTION BY HEDBERG, SECONDED BY MILLAR TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07-160 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH INTEGRA FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK UTILITY EASEMENT. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg and Millar. LeMair abstained. The motion carried. MOTION BY HEDBERG, SECONDED BY MILLAR TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07-161 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH ROBERT JOHNSON FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK UTILITY EASEMENT. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg and Millar. LeMair abstained. The motion carried. MOTION BY HEDBERG, SECONDED BY MILLAR TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07-162 AUTHORIZING EXECUTION OF AN EASEMENT AGREEMENT WITH KNAEBLE/SCHLlESMAN PROPERTY FOR INDUSTRIAL PARK UTILITY EASEMENT. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg and Millar. LeMair abstained. The motion carried. LeMair: Thanked Public Works Director Albrecht, Finance Director Teschner and other staff for this work and noted that it was not an easy project to put together and bringing everyone together took much effort; and the results demonstrate the creativity that can come out of people working together. Consider Approval of the Senior Center Task Force Report and Recommendations. City Manager Boyles introduced the Chair of the task force, Lori Terhaar. Terhaar presented a Power- Point highlighting the process and recommendations of the task force. Commented that the task force is considering an informal survey of area seniors to learn what kind of programming they would find valuable. Comments: LeMair: Commented that the task force had much energy and focus and it was fun to be part of it. Be- lieves a senior center will be the best use of the Resource Center space. Looks forward to all of the good things that will happen with it including keeping people in the downtown area. Millar: Noted the City has been working toward this for a number of months. Thanked Lori for chairing and thanked other members for their help. Noted that other communities have had a senior center for a number of years already and that Prior Lake is starting with existing building and a modest budget, but partnerships and volunteerism will allow us to start well. Hedberg: Agreed it is good to see a senior center be formed and that the partnerships allow the City to make a fast start. Erickson: Agreed this is a needed program and sees opportunities for a senior center coordinator to or- ganize activities both within and outside the City. Suggested the facility not use the term elderly for its par- ticipants. Terhaar: Agreed the facility shouldn't be named senior center. Haugen: Noted that the over-55 population is a significant asset in the community and thanked partici- pants of the task force. 4 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT MOTION BY MILLAR, SECONDED BY LEMAIR TO APPROVE THE SENIOR CENTER TASK FORCE REPORT AND RECOMMENDATIONS. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen) Erickson) Hedberg) LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. Consider Approval of a Resolution Approving Change Order No.1 and Final Payment for the Down. town Overhead Utility Burial Project. Public Works Director Albrecht informed the Council that this proposed resolution is a completion of the 2004 downtown reconstruction project. Noted that a section of the project going down Hastings to Lake- front Park was delayed while working out details with the utility company. Spoke of the issues encoun- tered, how they were resolved and how they contributed to the final cost. Comments: LeMair: Stated that additional costs do not appear to have been caused by an oversight on the part of the City. Erickson: Stated the project needed to be done and he believes utilities should be buried whenever pos- sible. Millar: Will support. Hedberg: Agreed that working with older infrastructure often has unknown elements and questioned the procedure and whether this action was really approval of a change order. Boyles: Replied that it is a change order in the fact that it is different that what was originally approved. Hedberg: Agreed the City needs to pay the money that is owed though it seems awkward to approve the expenditure after the fact. Haugen: Will approve. MOTION BY ERICKSON, SECONDED BY MILLAR TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07.163 APPROVING CHANGE ORDER NO.1 AND AUTHORIZING FINAL PAYMENT FOR DOWNTOWN OVERHEAD UTILITY BURIAL PROJECT. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. Consider Approval of a Report with Respect to Regulation of Sexual Predators. City Manager Boyles reviewed the history of the City being advised that a Level 3 Sexual Offender was moving to Prior Lake and a subsequent community meeting. Police Chief O'Rourke presented information from the Department of Corrections including statistics of incidence and kinds of offenders. City Manager Boyles reviewed a residency restriction ordinance adopted by Taylors Falls. Stated he also contacted the Association of Metropolitan Municipalities which has a process to adopt policies that affect their lobbyists and if interest was indicated from a number of municipalities, they would take on this topic. City Attorney Pace reviewed a memo about findings from her office noting that Minnesota statute does not provide authority for cities to impose residency restrictions, but that Iowa and Arkansas upheld a city ordi- nance restricting residency. The difference between Minnesota compared to Iowa and Arkansas was that the legislature had authorized municipalities, in its state statute, to impose residency restrictions. Noted that Minnesota State Statute allows the responsible agency (for an offender) to consider proximity of resi- dence to that of other offenders and schools and shall take that into consideration. Believes the City does not have a statutory authority to adopt residency restrictions. 5 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT Nancy Sabin, Executive Director of the Wetterling Foundation, commended the Council for taking on this topic and spoke of her experiences. Believes it does not work to restrict residency and advocated for intervention to prevent new victimizers. Stated that along the continuum of actions (i.e. bullying to murder) that could lead to a person becoming an offender, the biggest issue is the bystander who may observe a potentially dangerous situation and takes no intervention. Suggested action could include creating a task force with components from family and caregivers, schools, law enforcement and public policy, civic or- ganizations and corporate sponsors. Activities to keep the most number of people safe could include safety tips, firewalls on computers, background checks on employees, reinforcing events and response plans. Comments: Erickson: Stated that knowledge and communication are power. Asked about loitering laws. Sabin: Replied that they are good. Half of the offenders are juveniles; and law enforcement already knows where registered sex offenders are. If other people are loitering and appear to be up to no good, there should be a means to move them along. Erickson: Believes that notification is good and commented that if too many places pass a residency re- striction ordinance, we could lose the power we have. Sabin: Replied that the Supreme Court sees it as a civil issue. Agrees we do not want to have the notifi- cation law repealed and that residency restriction ordinance gives a false sense of security. Erickson: Suggested that more people in the community sign up for e-mail notifications from the City so they can receive emergency messages from the City including those about offender residences, toxic spills, etc. LeMair: Stated he liked Sabin's input on how to protect children and noted that he is an advocate for resi- dency restrictions. Asked if she would characterize the person who moved to Prior Lake as a pedophile since he was convicted of two offenses. Sabin: Replied that pedophile is a medical term such as heterosexual and homosexual and is a person who is attracted to kids, not adults, and cannot change his or her sexual orientation. Believes this person is not a pedophile as he is married to an adult female. Recommended the book, "Failure to Protect," which is about everything that isn't working. LeMair: Stated he sees the protection of Prior Lake is to be able to restrict offenders from living here. Does not want to incur unnecessary costs, but sees no harm in enacting residency restrictions or other re- strictions to let them know they are not welcome. Believes action needs to be taken and does not like it that a Level 3 sexual offender could move into the community within such a short time of his offense and does not like the existing timeline that the State provides for notification of moving into a community. Wants changes at the State level as well as ordinance action in the City. Sabin: Asked if the focus on stopping one person is desired or if it is preferable to provide for multiple peo- ple talking to multiple children to teach them about dangerous things that could harm them. Recommends using resources to educate many rather than stopping one person. Hedberg: Quoted Taylors Falls ordinance about sexual offenders escalating to physical violence and re- peat offenses and that there are more offenses than are reported stating he believes that and thinks most other believe that also. Sabin: Agrees that most people believe the same, but noted that half of sexual exploitations are commit- ted by juveniles. Stated the ordinance wrote a generalization rather than researched facts and that most offenders do not repeat. Hedberg: Asked if the statement in that ordinance is not true. Sabin: Recommended asking them for their research as the statements are not fact based. Hedberg: Questioned if the Taylors Falls ordinance was tested or enforced and that they were aware of no offenses. 6 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT Boyles: Affirmed those were statements that were made by the city clerk of Taylors Falls. Hedberg: Stated he will oppose the Council taking action that cannot be enforced. Asked Sabin to com- ment on the Iowa situation stating he believes they have lost track of half of the sex offenders in that state. Sabin: Replied that her conversation with the Iowa State Attorney's office indicated they tried to be tough on crime and not let offenders live there. Believes that resulted in lack of housing, lack of jobs and lack of support system which leads to repeat offenders. Advocates a transition program when offenders are re- leased from jail. Hedberg: Believes the City has a responsibility to protect its children and the Council needs to educate itself to learn facts and establish a comprehensive set of actions that make an impact. Stated he would not oppose residency restrictions as a starting point if there is an enforcement plan for it and if the City pursues a partnership with the School District to learn what kind of education plans can be put in place. Millar: Agreed nothing is more important than our children. Noted the Wetterling Foundation evolved from the abduction of a child. Believes there should be a task force for the issue and the Council needs to edu- cate itself and come up with ways to address the issues. Should not pass ordinance that is in conflict with State statute, but rather should attempt to get the state statute changed. Suggested a "we watch our kids" ordinance. Sabin: Believes abductions are down because of the five-pronged efforts around safety and that if the City follows these efforts, it will reduce exploitation. Noted that families of abducted children got laws passed that are not funded; and, that the problem cannot be "punished away." Millar: Believes that passing an ordinance just makes us feel better and gives a false sense of security. Sabin: Agreed that asking for facts about what does and doesn't work should drive the decision. Haugen: Summarized by stating the Taylors Falls ordinance was written to bring attention to the topic rather than quantify it and noted that Taylors Falls, Annandale and Wyoming are all standalone communi- ties rather than part of a metro area. Stated that any ordinance adopted by Prior Lake could not restrict a person from being close to schools of nearby communities and the City cannot act as an island. Stated that Prior Lake has a reputation of being a DARE community and a leader against tobacco, drugs and al- cohol, and it should also be a leader in the area of protecting families and kids. Believes this issue should be taken to SCALE and that it takes everyone to solve the problem. LeMair: Stated he is willing to get more information on the subject and takes offense to any comment about being the wrong kind of leader by wanting to take immediate action. Haugen: Replied that it was not intended to be offensive, but rather offered as an alternative. LeMair: Willing to get more information, would like to read the suggested book, wants action to be en- forceable and manageable. Not willing to just go about it from a group/SCAlE/legislative standpoint. Want to follow all options available to us. Willing to put together a task force and revisit the topic in a short time. Suggested staff propose a timeline at the next meeting of how long it would take to put something together. Haugen: Agreed the City should move forward with a sense of urgency; and look at avenues with the Leg- islature, SCALE, Association of Metropolitan Municipalities, league of Minnesota Cities and any ordinance that would be enforceable as we move forward. Haugen: Asked Sabin for guidance on how a task force should be put together. Sabin: Recommended membership from five areas that would do the work: family and caregivers, schools, law enforcement and public policy, civic organizations and corporate sponsors. Hedberg: Agreed that the holistic, database, and policy-driven approach is what needs to be done. Con- cerned about being able to act quickly and is eager to have initial steps taken quickly. Pace: Commented that statute provides that when some offenders are released, a committee evaluates a list of risk factors and makes a determination about whether restrictions should be placed upon that person. Suggested we could try going to that committee to work with them about our concerns, notice timelines and an opportunity to be heard at the hearing. 7 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT O'Rourke: Stated this offender had served his entire sentence and there was no supervisory agency that approved or disapproved where he would be living as it did not apply. Stated it is a good example of why the Taylors Falls ordinance is not enforceable. Need to have cohesive policy that all in the area can live with so we do not just push the problem to the neighboring community. Stated that even if no ordinance is adopted the Police Department can legally track behavior and activities of known offenders while they are living in Prior Lake. Millar: Asked if the Wetterling Foundation has ideas for things that can be set in motion before and during the time that we develop an all-encompassing policy for how we want to address this issue. Haugen: Suggested staff come back in two weeks with an outline of short-term objectives and long-term objectives to address this issue. MOTION BY HEDBERG, SECONDED BY LEMAIR TO DIRECT STAFF TO BRING AN OUTLINE OF SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES AND LONG-TERM OBJECTIVES TO THE NEXT MEETING; THAT THE SHORT-TERM OBJECTIVES SHOULD INCLUDE ONE OR TWO THINGS THAT CAN BE ACTED UPON AT THE NEXT MEETING. Erickson: Believes it is important to do things right and not do something just for the sake of doing some- thing. Millar: Believes there are common sense things that can be done and we will find that out and can act on them. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. NEW BUSINESS Consider Approval of a Resolution Adopting Proposed 2008 City Budgets and Certifying Prelimi- nary 2008 City of Prior lake Tax levy to Scott County Department of Taxation. Finance Director Teschner reviewed the timeline of activities already undertaken in the budgeting process and stated the next step will be to conduct a Truth-in-Taxation hearing. The proposed resolution would set a ceiling for the property tax levy. Comments: Erickson: Confirmed that this action establishes a maximum, and other reductions could be taken. Haugen: Queried the fiber optics budget. Erickson: Clarified that $80,000 is anticipated for a four-year period. leMair: Stated the Council has gone through the budget thoroughly and identified 13 items to lower the tax burden and other items on the list were debated. Commented that even though he would like to see a zero increase, perhaps that cannot be achieved as the Council also considered amenities for the commu- nity. Will support. Hedberg: Stated the Council debated what the appropriate level of increase is, engaged the staff to learn necessities and financial impacts, and have reached a consensus that even though we have new buildings and infrastructure that need to be support, there is still an obligation to find something with less of an im- pact to the taxpayer. Believes it is a fair budget and the process has been emblematic of good govern- ment. Will support. Millar: Noted that the City is also dealing with less revenue than in past years. Believes the City has been responsible with cuts and noted that in the future, the Council may just have to say no. Haugen: Stated it is a good budget and the City has conducted a good process and continues to invest in our community in infrastructure and programs. Average increase to homeowner is going to be less than the rate of inflation. Will support. 8 City Council Meeting Minutes September 4, 2007 DRAFT MOTION BY HEDBERG, SECONDED BY LEMAIR TO APPROVE RESOLUTION 07.164 ADOPTING PROPOSED 2008 CITY BUDGETS AND CERTIFYING PRELIMINARY 2008 CITY OF PRIOR LAKE PROPERTY TAX LEVY TO SCOTT COUNTY DEPARTMENT OF TAXATION. VOTE: Ayes by Haugen, Erickson, Hedberg, LeMair and Millar. The motion carried. Hedberg: Stated the toughest job the Council faces is reflected in this budget and that citizens hold the Council accountable to keep taxes as low as possible and still keep the Vision. OTHER Community Events Hedberg: Sunday is the annual Fire Department chicken dinner from 3-8 p.m. There is an upcoming Shriners salmon dinner. LeMair: Saturday is Strolling Saturday from 10 a.m. - 2 p.m., Ladies Night Out is scheduled for October 4. Wrestlers have a fundraising event on Sunday at Lakefront Park. Erickson: The Fall Festival will be on September 17 and the Council meeting will start at 8 p.m. that night. September 11 is the deadline for filing for Council positions. Haugen: Outlined the Financial Gold Standards and informed viewers that it will be distributed in the Prior Lake American. ADJOURNMENT With no further comments from Council members, a motion to adjourn was made by LeMair and seconded by Millar. With all in favor, the meeting adjourned at 9:45 p.m. Frank Boyles, City Manager Charlotte Green, Administrative Asst. 9