City Council Minutes

Members Present: Mayor Mary Hershberger Thun; Councilmembers: Tom O'Connor, Jim Crowley, Kim Roden and Tom Strigel.

Absent: None.

Staff Present: Don Uram, City Administrator; Holly Kreft, Community Development Director; Jylan Johnson, Finance Director; Cara Geheren, City Engineer; Ann Mahnke, Public Works and Parks and Recreation Director; and Mike Norton, City Attorney.

Others Present: Sue Orsen, The Victoria Gazette; Unsie Zuege, The Chanhassen Villager; and others.
 

Mr. Uram said there was an updated agenda statement for 6.B. to reflect the current pricing for the bond issue.

Mr. Uram removed item A. under his report. He said the issue presented has been resolved.

None.
 

-A- Randy Maluchnik, Carver County Commissioner

Carver County Commissioner Maluchnik said they are working on the 2012 budget which will decrease the county tax impact on the home with an average value of about $285,000. He explained in order to accomplish the decrease the levy had to be reduced in two areas; a 2.95% cut in all the major departments and the other area was with the market value homestead shift. He said they are taking the money from the county program aid to fill the $1.4 million dollar hole in the budget. Commissioner Maluchnik asked what the impact of the market value homestead shift was to the City of Victoria. Mr. Uram said the impact was about $97,000. He said the City has recommended budget cuts that will take care of about $50,000. He noted the City of Victoria doesn't receive any local government aid.

Commissioner Maluchnik stated Carver County still has a strong fiscal shape and maintains the highest AAA bond rating. He said the County's budget book was recently awarded the Distinguished Budget Presentation Award.

Commissioner Maluchnik said the fiber optic project is moving along. He noted there is currently 73 miles of conduit in the ground. He said they hope the conduit for the ring will be placed by the end of the construction season. In addition to the County's fiber strands, a private company will own additional strands of fiber to provide future services.

Commissioner Maluchnik said Carver County is now on Facebook to improve the connection with citizens and the government.

Commissioner Maluchnik stated Money Magazine in the 2011 August edition listed Carver County as one of the top 20 counties for job growth.

Commissioner Maluchnik commented on the express library. He said the express library will be presented with an achievement award. He noted that to date for 2011 there have been a total of 2,000 lockers filled with 3,000 library items.

Commissioner Maluchnik talked about the meetings of the Association of Carver County Elected Leaders. He noted at the next meeting the Metropolitan Council Chair will be present.

Councilmember Roden commented on the County looking at whether or not to invest $30,000 with an experiment to prevent zebra mussels. Commissioner Maluchnik said the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District will be meeting on December 8^th to discuss their participation. He stated they are looking to put a task force together to handle all the lakes in the County. He noted there are 91 lakes in the County feels they are responsible for the four public accesses they have on lakes. Councilmember Roden clarified they are still looking to partner. She said she fears the species will be in the lakes before anything can be done. Commissioner Maluchnik talked about getting a licensed law enforcement official who can require inspection of a boat. He said they are also looking at the opportunity to use interns. Councilmember Crowley said he is a member of the Minnetonka Power Squadrons and have provided inspection services in the past. Commissioner Maluchnik said the Minnehaha Creek Watershed District is willing to provide money for a private enterprise decontamination site.

Mayor Hershberger Thun thanked Commissioner Maluchnik for all Carver County is doing for the Highway 5 project.

A motion was made by Councilmember O'Connor, to approve the consent agenda. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

Mr. Uram explained the request is to call for a special public hearing on December 19^th to review a proposed modification to TIF District No. 4 which includes Fresh Seasons Market. He stated the TIF District is not generating the increment that was originally anticipated. Mr. Uram said this will create a TIF District that will only include Fresh Seasons Market. He noted the hearing will be at 5:30 p.m. at City Hall.

Councilmember O'Connor clarified the original beneficiary was Fresh Seasons Market. Shannon Sweeney, TIF Consultant said that was correct but at the time there were also other projects. He noted they are not anticipating seeing any other activity on the other projects. He stated the recommendation is to remove the other parcels from the TIF District. Councilmember O'Connor asked what the benefit amount will be. Mr. Sweeney said about $23,000 a year and the increment generated this year was about $7,000. He also noted it was by no action of Fresh Season Market that the increment is being reduced. He said they are being harmed because a larger district was created. Councilmember O'Connor clarified the parcels removed won't have any detrimental effects. Mr. Sweeney explained that if there was a redevelop project proposed in the next few years they can be added to the district or a new TIF District could be created. He stated there is no negative impact to the parcels.

Councilmember Roden asked if this will help the viability. Mr. Uram said this would fix unattended consequences.

A motion was made by Councilmember O'Connor, to Approve Resolution No. 11-112; a Resolution calling for a Public Hearing on the Proposed Amendment of the Tax Increment Financing District No. 4. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

Ms. Johnson said these were the 2006 street improvement bonds. She noted there is an amended agenda statement. The total is $1,485,000 with an interest savings of $182,657.

A motion was made by Councilmember Roden, to Approve Resolution No. 11-113 Awarding the Sale of the $1,485,000 G.O. Permanent Improvement Revolving Fund Crossover Refunding Bonds, Series 2011B. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

A motion was made by Councilmember Strigel, to Approve the November 28, 2011 Claims Roster in the amount of $183,233.69 as submitted. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

A motion was made by Councilmember O'Connor, to Approve Resolution No. 11-114 A Resolution Accepting DonationsThe motion was seconded.

Mayor Hershberger Thun asked where the $300 goes to the City of Victoria. Ms. Johnson said it goes to the general fund. Councilmember Strigel said in the past when Mount Olivet has made a donation they have designated in lieu of taxes for services rendered by the City.

With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

None.
 

None.
 

Ms. Kreft said the action tonight is to accept the Marsh Lake Area Study Report. She noted the full final report is included in the packet. She said there is also a letter from Mr. Coyle, Attorney for the Marsh Lake Hunt Club regarding his concerns. Ms. Kreft explained the City received a grant to use the funds for planning activities. The funds were then reduced so the city refocused on the Marsh Lake area. She commented on the workshop in April and said the outcomes are included in the full report. Ms. Kreft reviewed the recommendations. She noted the Planning Commission is actively looking at the ordinances to make sure they aren't being redundant and are being coordinated. The City is also in the process of amending the planned unit development ordinance and will make that available for review by Mr. Coyle.

Councilmember Roden asked what the obligation is with regard to notification of public meetings. Ms. Kreft said at the April workshop they indicated once the report was finalized they would make that available to the stakeholders. She noted they were looking for feedback from the Planning Commission regarding that report. She said there wasn't a public hearing. Councilmember Roden clarified the meeting notice obligation was met.

Councilmember Roden referred to the draft report and asked what the goal was. Ms. Kreft explained the task force from the Comprehensive Plan requested a higher level of detail. She said they also wanted to engage the stakeholders. She said they also looked at how they can make the ordinances clearer.

Councilmember Roden referred to the letter and the density and asked for an opinion. Ms. Kreft said the draft report was using the Comprehensive Plan as the guideline so the density parameters used were 1.5 to 5.9 units per acre.

Mayor Hershberger Thun clarified as they start moving south everything has to come back to the City Council and any ordinance changes will have a public hearing.

Councilmember Crowley clarified this document doesn't obligate any party to do anything.

Councilmember O'Connor said the real takeaways are the recommendations to deal with the ordinance amendment procedures so they aren't conflicting or confusing.

A motion was made by Councilmember Roden, to Approve Resolution No. 11-115; A Resolution Accepting the Marsh Lake Area Study. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.
 

Mayor Hershberger Thun said Christmas in Victoria is this Saturday at 3:00.

Mayor Hershberger Thun said the Lions pancake breakfast is on Sunday.

Mayor Hershberger Thun reminded everyone of the December 12^th City Council meeting. She said there is a truth-in-taxation meeting and the 2012 budget will be approved.
 

None.
 

A motion was made by Councilmember O'Connor, to adjourn the meeting at 7:16 p.m. The motion was seconded. With all members voting in favor, the motion carried. Vote: 5 Ayes, 0 Nays.

Respectfully submitted,

Tanya Schmieg
TimeSaver Off Site Secretarial, Inc.