09-24-2018 Council Minutes - Laserfiche WebLink

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MINUTES OF THE ORONO CITY COUNCIL MEETING Monday, September 24,2018 7:00 o'clock p.m. 7. LA18-000080—800 NORTH ARM, CITY OF ORONO ON BEHALF OF JAMES FRANZEL, EASEMENT VACATION RESOLUTION NO. 6900—Continued has not used this easement. A new easement was negotiated during the review of the subdivision to protect a useable actual access route to the lift station. The easement protecting the sanitary sewer infrastructure is correctly shown on the plat. The original access easement is proposed to be vacated because, while in place, it restricts private use of that portion of the property. A new easement, with the corrected legal description,has been prepared. Staff recommends the Council open a public hearing, receive any public comment, and then approve the easement vacation and the replacement easement. Mayor Walsh opened the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. There were no public comments regarding this application. Mayor Walsh closed the public hearing at 7:04 p.m. Dankey moved, Crosby seconded,to adopt RESOLUTION NO. 6899,a Resolution vacating an Access Easement Agreement within Franzel Addition. VOTE: Ayes 4,Nays 0. FINANCE DIRECTOR REPORT 8. ADOPT PRELIMINARY 2019 TAX LEVY RESOLUTION 6901 9. ADOPT PRELIMINARY 2019 BUDGET RESOLUTION 6902 Olson noted the preliminary tax levy needs to be set tonight by state law. The final levy and budget will be adopted on December 10, 2018, and public input will be allowed prior to the adoption. Revenues are increasing by$382,970 but only$34,950 or .8 percent is due to the property tax levy. One of the bigger increases in the budget was due to some administrative charges to more accurately reflect city staff time spent administering the Enterprise Funds. Total investment revenue will be increasing by $41,000 due to higher interest rates. As it relates to Orono's General Fund budget, approximately 51 percent is supported by property taxes and 29 percent is derived from public safety charges. Olson noted the 51 percent is a very low amount of the General Fund budget,especially when compared to other nearby cities. For example, in 2017 the City of Medina's General Fund budget was supported by over 70 percent in property taxes. Olson stated it is very advantageous to support the General Fund through other revenue streams since it saves the taxpayers money. The City's overall expenditures are increasing$382,969 or 4.69 percent. The City was able to accommodate that increase with only an 8 percent increase in the tax levy. Olson noted Staff and the City Council have been working on the budget since June, and if anyone in the audience has questions,they can call him. The City's overall expenditure budget consists of 57 percent for police and fire and 8 percent for building and zoning. Those two together are reported to the State as public safety, so 67 percent of the budget is Page 2 of 5